Comments on: High Stakes: A Call to Legalize Marijuana

California Desperately Needs Tax Revenue, Prompting Some to See Green in Making Grass Legal

[rsteeb]

So true... 22 March 1972* was the "high time" to abolish the abomination that is cannabis prohibition. Cast off those chains, people.

*"Shafer commission" --look it up.

[rsteeb]

Sounds like a quote from Richard Milhouse Nixon...

[wethepeopleoftheUSA]

It is political suicide NOT to support bill HR2943, and that the American people do not wish to see someone in office who puts their own reputation in front of the efficacy of the country's economy and law enforcement, as well as a basic sense of morality found within the constitution of the United States.

[EyeCeeUs]

Cailifornia needs to legalize Pot and Opiates , then charge for supervised use so it can get it's self out of debt.

[nimo1776]

Drugs and the financial collapse of the United States

By: Nimo

Bear with me here its all connected. The drug war has cost one trillion tax dollars, when you add to that the lost productivity of the millions of working tax payers destroyed, and unemployable, after being convicted it is much more. Many of the convicts are no longer productive, they are now economic liabilities of the state for life. If economics is your priority, last year over 700,000 Americans were prosecuted for marijuana crimes the vast majority for possession. Most of the people arrested for marijuana and many other drugs have jobs and pay taxes, they function well in society. After being convicted they can no longer find good jobs or contribute to the economy or society, in the ways they could have. What do think they will do to survive. The drug war is actually creating more of the very criminals Americans are so concerned about. Give an American a good job and some hope and you will have less crime and less organized crime, it really is not that hard to understand.

The drug war is a civil war with one faction imposing its will at gun point and great cost on the other. You do not have to approve of drug use, but the drug war is worse than the drugs. There are more drugs, stronger drugs, they are cheaper and anyone even kids can get them, that is the reality of the drug war. Regulation, honest education, and treatment is better. What have you got for your trillion dollars, For 10% of what it now cost just in tax dollars to wage the drug war, you could get a much better result. Then add the benefit of productive Americans instead of economic liabilities and I believe you will get more than your 10% investment back, in taxes and consumer spending.

If drugs were legal would you run out and do them. Most people would not, people who want to use drugs can get them very easily right now

Violence is escalating around the world, Mexico being a prime example. The drug war has made a health issue into a huge criminal problem. We have over 2 million Americans in prison now, that is 6 times the world median. We have 5% of the worlds population with 25% of the worlds prisoners.

No one has ever died from an overdose of Marijuana. Alcohol diseases killed 150,000 last year, tobacco 450,000, while marijuana is actually used to treat countless diseases.

Open your eyes and your mind, help unite Americans. The drug war is an ongoing problem, has failed, and is destructive to Americans and America. Yes drugs are a problem, a health problem, help your brother instead of destroying him you may just need him.

Make no mistake this is about profits but not just for dealers and organized crime. The prison industrial complex, the pharmaceutical industry and law enforcement, depend on the drug war. and reap billions of tax dollars from it. Politicians can not throw enough of your money away on it, so much time has passed that the raw data is there for all to see. The numbers and results speak for them self. Let me say it again what have you got for your trillion dollars???..any questions?

[Logic4hire]

Thumbs up to CBS news for appearing to join the 21st century! Yes on A.B. 390 save California!!

[musclecarfreak]

Youare calling right in regards ThoughtItWasFunnyNOPE's post. What a tool!

[Dr_Freewill]

Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.
The only purpose for which power can be rightfully exercised over any member of a civilized community, against his will, is to prevent harm to others. His own good, either physical or moral, is not sufficient warrant. The only freedom which deserves the name is that of pursuing our own good in our own way, so long as we do not attempt to deprive others of theirs, or impede their efforts to obtain it. Each is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental or spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering each other to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.

[rbenn908]

As I am a person who use to drink I realize that alcohol is actually a more dangerous drug. If any have noticed you will find alot of crimes against others are commited by people who drink and not people who smoke marijuana. i think it should follow laws of alcohol as in only people over 21 can consume and a level of deciding if you are under the influence while driving. I have seen many fights in bars but at parties where people smoke they are mellow people just having a good time.

[StevenEmory]

Here is what I gather from my intelligence:

A Controlled Substance in the United States of America: Completely the opposite. Not controlled at all, therefore the black market controls the substance. Alcohol prohibition was overturned for this fact alone, the alcohol being produced by the black market was highly poisonous compared to what we REGULATE and TAX presently.

It's black and white. Very simple to understand without all of the propaganda.

I was 10 years old and in the D.A.R.E. program when I first experienced CANNABIS. (not marijuana as the government likes to call it)

Why was I able to do this? Because it is the complete polar opposite of being CONTROLLED by the government.

Everything the Federal Government "controls"... is utterly lacking the control that is so desperately needed. Sounds like a complete failure of democracy in the simplest of terms.

Age 22, can't get a job to save my life because the economy is completely ruined. (It's made up in the first place) Federal Reserve Notes? Sounds more like an I.O.U. to me. Where is the value of the dollar? Long gone.