Decriminalize Marijuana in the USA

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Decriminalize Marijuana in the USA

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Locus Coeruleus

7/30/2008 1:42 PM

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If you live in the USA write your rep. a quick email urging them to support HR 5843, especially if they are Republican! Legislators aim to snuff out penalties for pot use If HR 5843 were passed by the House, marijuana smokers could possess up to 100 grams -- about 3½ ounces -- of cannabis without being arrested. It would also permit the "nonprofit transfer" of up to an ounce of marijuana. The resolution would not affect laws forbidding growing, importing or exporting marijuana, or selling it for profit. The resolution also would not affect any state laws regarding marijuana use. Rob Kampia, director of the Marijuana Policy Project, said marijuana arrests outnumber arrests for "all violent crimes combined," meaning that police are spending inordinate amounts of time chasing nonviolent criminals. The U.S. should stop arresting responsible marijuana users, Rep. Barney Frank said Wednesday, announcing a proposal to end federal penalties for Americans carrying fewer than 100 grams, almost a quarter-pound, of the substance. Allen St. Pierre, spokesman for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), likened Frank's proposal -- co-sponsored by Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas -- to current laws dealing with alcohol consumption. Alcohol use is permitted, and the government focuses its law enforcement efforts on those who abuse alcohol or drive under its influence, he said. Good ol' Ron Paul. Gotta love 'em. The "War on Drugs" is a joke, and this legislation is a step in the right direction.
-- HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY!

Bismarck2990

7/30/2008 1:49 PM

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Yeah, America really needs more weed heads running around...
-- -Of course we must all fear evil men, but there is another evil that we must fear more… and that is the indifference of good men. -New term started, $1,425 (US) for classes, let's see how much books will run up to. MEH.

Locus Coeruleus

7/30/2008 1:53 PM

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Do you really think this is going to result in an increase? How many people in this country already use marijuana already? Millions. Many of them actually hold down professional jobs and are upright citizens too. Misconceptions.
-- HERE I COME TO SAVE THE DAY! Edited: 7/30/2008 1:54 PM by Locus Coeruleus

Bismarck2990

7/30/2008 3:01 PM

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Do I think it would increase? Well, duh, especially if people are allowed to carry it on their person and experiment openly without fear of being penalized for it. Also, the "professional" statement is pretty funny as well. There's a reason "weed head" isn't a compliment.
-- -Of course we must all fear evil men, but there is another evil that we must fear more… and that is the indifference of good men. -New term started, $1,425 (US) for classes, let's see how much books will run up to. MEH.

-M-

7/30/2008 3:57 PM

lame duck

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Nor is drunkard any more flattering. Point here is that War on drugs is costing a lot of money. Money that can be used elsewhere on more pressing matters.
-- Never try to impress a woman, bcz if u do she'll expect u to keep up the standard for the rest of ur life. W. C. Fields Edited: 7/30/2008 3:58 PM by -M-

jerm

7/30/2008 5:41 PM

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I think it's pretty clear that use would go up, especially among young people. I won't use it just because it's legal. Also, other than for recreational use, weed is destructive IMO. Most people use it recreationally but habitual users do have negative effects. This is a valid point but not a strong enough argument for me to have the substance outlawed. If alcohol is legal, marijuana should be legal. It seems inconsistent to have one but not the other. Alcohol is far more destructive and addictive. I even go as far to say all drugs should be made legal (though I don't argue that they're all equally "safe"). The larger point is that it would completely halt the black market on it. The criminal aspect will be shut down. The streets will be slightly safer, though weed is not the only drug out there. It'll even make the drug safer since it will have to disclose it's ingredients. This will save the taxpayer money and it will create revenue as well via taxation. The bill will absolutely not pass. I can guarantee you that more people will write their congressman telling them to vote it down. Like it or not, it's not popular to "legalize it" in this country.
-- -A government that is powerful enough to do anything for us is powerful enough to do anything to us. -Fred Thompson -There are two races of people, the decent and the indecent. - Victor Frankel -They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security. - Benjamin Franklin Consequences

Roadkill

7/30/2008 6:08 PM

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-What is it now, 1 out of every 140 of the American population in prison? Half of them having committed a non-violent crime? EDIT: Wouldn't bee too happy with the USA decriminalizing Marijuana before Norway though...
-- "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." -- Albert Einstein (1879-1955) "The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness." -- Joseph Conrad (1857-1924) With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. --Steven Weinberg(1933- ) Edited: 7/30/2008 6:09 PM by Roadkill

Nuclearcow

7/30/2008 6:41 PM

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My 1st thought is that if people didn't break the law to become fond of marijuana, there wouldn't be a drive to legalize it, and now its just lawbreakers asking to make their habits legal after they broke the law. My 2nd thought is more of a Libertarian type view, or summed up by referencing a quote by Clint Eastwood I saw on TV when he was talking about government. "They should just leave people the hell alone." (from memory, so perhaps not word for word ) Anyways, I think both are true. I've never tried pot, btw, in case that somehow makes my opinion less or more valid.
-- "For in the final analysis, our most basic common link, is that we all inhabit this small planet, we all breathe the same air, we all cherish our children's futures, and we are all mortal. " -- John F. Kennedy "Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." --Patrick Overton "It doesn't matter where you are as much as where you are headed." --Mike Shanahan

jerm

7/30/2008 6:54 PM

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This has always been one of those few issues that Rk and I probably have almost identical views on. I suspect that Norway will probably get there first on this one. Nuke, I get what you're saying on your first point but I think that people already sentenced would probably stay in prison. Your second point is the point though.
-- -A government that is powerful enough to do anything for us is powerful enough to do anything to us. -Fred Thompson -There are two races of people, the decent and the indecent. - Victor Frankel -They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security. - Benjamin Franklin Consequences