Posted on 06/06/2011 7:47:41 AM PDT by Blue Turtle
HARTFORD —— By the slimmest of margins, the Senate on Saturday approved a bill that decriminalizes the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The vote was 18-18, with Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman tipping the balance with the tie-breaking vote.
After years of false starts, Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and other supporters were able to assemble a coalition that championed decriminalization as both a cost-saving measure and a more appropriate way to punish young people who experiment with the drug.
(Excerpt) Read more at courant.com ...
I agree.
Who would you rather see on the highway the drunk who thinks he bullet proof flying down the road, or the guy who's paranoid, driving 25 mph and has had his blinker on for the last 3 miles?
But, we’ll run out of Twinkies within weeks!
Whoopee
/Sarcasm OFF
I’m anti-drugs and I believe that marijuana is a ‘gateway’ drug for some but I also realize that it is readily available to anyone who wants it and that U.S. society has basically decided to ignore it’s medical and cultural negatives at this point. Hence, laws ‘decriminalizing’ pot now abound in many states. To some, a bold step forward and a good thing. To others, a step backward as a society and one that we may regret some day. History will be the judge.
What - was that YOU behind me last night??
I believe that marijuana is a ‘gateway’ drug for some
<><><><><<><
I opine that that by the time the folks you describe get to pot, they’ve already passed through the gateway of tobacco and alcohol.
Just ‘cuz they’re legal, we don’t get to ignore their gateway properties.
JMO, based on the folks I know and have known over the years.
I think im for decriminalization. I have seen far more damaging properties to alcohol abuse than I have ever seen of pot abuse. Regulating the substance and cheapening it could potentially lessen certain drug wars but not all of it.
THere is always unforeseen consequences to decriminalizing pot though so I wont pretend to be an expert. I have never touched it and dont intend to.
Victory for freedom!
Like alcohol, however, marijuana is not risk free, as you point out.
The way I would approach decriminalization would be to make it clear that any voluntary use (I suppose someone could eat a pot brownie without knowing it had pot in it ... I did once in the early '60s) means you (or your parents if you are underage) accept complete personal responsibility for all negative consequences, including health problems, accidents, etc., etc. And, driving under the influence should result in permanent loss of driving privileges.
Punish the actual negative behavior, not the casual smoker.
Driving is a right not a privilege.
Seriously? Pot is not a gateway drug any more than milk is a gateway drug to alcohol.
Just because pot might be decriminalized does not in anyway mean I am in favor of stoned driving any more than I would be in favor of drunk driving.
More marriages driven to divorce because of pot? Honestly, your reaction to pot is an over reach.
Sorry. I had to get some Nacho Cheese Doritos.
My blinker is off now.
Pot is not a drug to get high, to alter your state of mind? Are you kidding me that it is not a gateway drug to more powerful drugs and higher kicks?
Lord, I used to hear my friends in High School say somethings like this, 'That is a cool drug, if you really want to try something, try this Dude'. And of course, others would say 'Oh Wow, you've got to do it Man'
Many of those are now dead. A good number are divorced because the drugs messed up their lives and their wives dumped them. And yes, some did try Crack later and did have Crack Babies.
So, my reaction is definitely not an 'over reach'.
I deal with Alcoholics and other users, and when they say "It's not a Problem for me", I know there going to find themselves up a brick wall, or go through a number of bad cycles until they finally say "I've had enough with that stuff", or "My girlfriend is leaving me over it, I've got to get off it, now". Then I know there is hope for them.
Otherwise, I never hear from them, or see them in an Obituary or in a Funeral Home laid out flat.
Drugs are a real bummer and when they get cheaper or easier to get - now that's a community bummer Dude.
But millions do. Alcohol produces a goodly percentage of Alcohols just as Drugs produce a goodly percentage of out of control drug users. Don't kid yourself, every one of these folks said "It'll never happen to me".
From the fact you are trying to malign me tells more about where your at and where your going. Your crack about Police saying everyone is a criminal tells me that you may meet them in the near future and that it may not be an overly friendly chat. The affects may make it hard, if not impossible to hold the anger in; resulting in an involuntarily seated if not horizontal position.
Drugs can enhance anger, arrogance and to blame everyone but self when under pressure even after being off of them for weeks.
But, the Lord has the power to free one from any addiction even the minor ones. He gives lifetime joy instead of a temporary kick. He is near to the broken hearted. When there, call out His name while there is still time.
Being high on drugs is a bummer Dude, and a sad waste of ones life.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.