Massachusetts Decriminalizes Pot

The Patriot Room ^ | January 3, 2009 | Bill Dupray

[Bill Dupray]

Of course they did. It's Massachusetts. The voters passed a ballot initiative that made possession of less than an ounce marijuana a civil violation with no criminal consequences. And since Massachusetts is run by libtards, the law has shockingly caused a whole lot of problems. For starters, the police have given up - they won't even bother to write the ticket.

More . . .

[cynwoody]

I see your point but the guy those two border agents are in jail for shooting was smuggling pot.

Pot is not a victimless crime.

Bush's fault. For failing to pardon the agents. For failing to fire the US attorney who prosecuted them. But don't blame me, even though I voted for the guy twice — the alternatives were worse!

BTW, I voted yes, yes, no. Yes on abolishing the state income tax, yes on legalizing pot, and no on banning dog racing. The only hard one was the third — I like dogs, but done right, dog racing does not harm the animals, but banning it loses jobs in a recession.

[SmallGovRepub]

Things are different here than in Oregon. Average incomes are at the bottom end of the scale, even for professionals in most cases. It's hot as hell much of the year and indoor growing would require a lot of air conditioning. Mexican pot is everywhere and dirt cheap, and there is no way the higher potency of indoor grown pot comes anywhere close to justifying the exorbitant prices some people will pay for it. We have no medical marijuana and our cops and prosecutors make a killing from asset forfeitures, conviction or no conviction. Often we can buy a better deal for our clients by having them come up with a few grand or more as an “asset forfeiture” that prosecutors get to keep and use for important prosecutorial things like their “company cars,” cell phone bills, memberships to the gym, every kind of fancy techno gadget for their plush offices, sweet all expense paid continuing legal education trips, bonuses and a salary or two. And I almost forgot to include things like the furniture they “loaned” the chief judge for his private break room. It's a damned racket.

[nobama08]

Life is full of unintended negative consequences. The government doesn’t always know what is best for us. Marijuana should be allowed for medical reasons. Many people can benefit from it. There are many prescription drugs much more dangerous and less effective. Follow the money, as always.

[bamahead]

Libertarian ping! Click here to get added or here to be removed or post a message here!

[bamahead]

Yeah your 420 friendly folks make ideal brain surgeons.

LOL Bump to # 85.

[Gondring]

Too many people, just from within the GOP at every political level, are still acting like they don’t fully understand everything that just happened to them on November 4, 2008.

You're right. It has been that way for years; see my tagline.

[GSWarrior]

In the Bay Area there are numerous pot clubs--prescribed by a physician--in order to gain access to the clubs. It costs about $150 to get a prescription and another $100 to purchase the card itself.

There is a lot of money at stake.

[GSWarrior]

What I meant to post was the in order to get a “pot club” card one needs to have a prescription from a physician.

[uncommonsense]

"The government doesn’t always know what is best for us. Marijuana should be allowed for medical reasons. Many people can benefit from it. There are many prescription drugs much more dangerous and less effective."

The government rarely knows what's best, and I agree with the medicinal use.

As I understand from testimonies from people with diseases where marijuana helps them, they've tried it as a last resort and it provides the only effective relief. The garbage grown by government sanctioned companies does not work nearly as well as the illegal stuff.

To deny them effective treatment from such an innocuous drug is just outright sinful.

[sweet_diane]

"The problem is the lowered barriers that are in place until you go nappy."

And the amount of time one is walking around with those lowered barriers. You see alot on COPS!

[sweet_diane]

"I begin to see why so many people related to pot get killed in fits of rage."

Wow...that goes absolutely against what I've learned from Law Enforcement and Addiction specialist. Rage and pot?? lol

[TigersEye]

I'd like to see a credible study that proves pot improves coordination in the average person. HA!

UK: Alcohol Impairs Driving More Than Marijuana: New Scientist, 20 March 2002

AUSTRALIA: Cannabis Not Risky (to drivers): The Advertiser, 31 October 2001

No proof cannabis put drivers at risk: 31 October 2001

Cannabis could help computer players, says firm

Dope Drivers Safe: The Province, Canada, 21 August 2000

MARIJUANA AND ACTUAL DRIVING PERFORMANCE: U.S. Department of Transportation Exposing Marijuana Myths Claim #12 : Marijuana is a Major Cause of Highway Accidents

# No proof cannabis put drivers at risk: 31 October 2001

As for second hand smoke, if pot was legalized just like cigarettes, of course people would be subjected to it without consent (esp kids of smoking parents).

Since all the studies done showing harm from second hand tobacco smoke were found to be bogus that is meaningless. Not to mention that it is not governments's place to tell parents how to raise their children.

My body can't handle being around smoke anymore and I'm damn glad that the smoking Nazis have made it illegal to light up in most public places. No one has the right to make me sick just because I want to grab a bite to eat somewhere besides my own kitchen.

That explains a lot. You're not a conservative you're a liberal statist. You don't believe in property rights. You don't expect me to have sympathy for a communist do you?

[TigersEye]

This fact seems to be causing deranged responses from the pot smokers here for some reason.

I find it strange that a statement from someone with experience is characterized as deranged and you expect the statements of a completely inexperienced person should be taken as expert. I question the mental clarity of that logic.

...but I can understand why you may be over sensitive to critique since paranoia is a common side effect.

Paranoia is not a common side effect except for very inexperienced smokers. You also assume that people posting are under the influence while they are posting. Making assumptions is not a sign of clear thinking.

[TigersEye]

And the amount of time one is walking around with those lowered barriers. You see alot on COPS!

Are they high on pot alone or are they also drunk or on other harder drugs? I don't watch those kind of shows much because they tend to show police violating people's rights in a very positive light which I think is intended to break down perceptions of what is legal and what is not. But the episodes I have seen show mostly violent drunks, crack heads, meth heads, hookers and gang bangers.

[TigersEye]

Here is another one.

University Of Toronto Study Shows Marijuana Not A Factor In Driving Accidents

[sweet_diane]

"Are they high on pot alone or are they also drunk or on other harder drugs?"

Alcohol, IMHO, is the culprit most of the time. That what was I was referring to in my post. Rage, violence, driving a car fast, starting a fight etc is what happens during the "lowered barriers" period of drinking (the period before one passes out, according to another poster). As far as I know, you just don't see those kind of behaviors with pot.

Re: the TV show COPS. I agree with your assessment, tho I admit to watching with Hubby. He's a recovering/recovered alcoholic (8 yrs this past Dec:) and he enjoys poking fun at the way drunks act!

[TigersEye]

I am sorry I misunderstood your intent. I may be too wrapped up in my political views to enjoy watching COPS and like shows. When I see them ride roughshod on people’s rights it makes me crazy. Hooray for your husband though! Whatever helps him stay strong is a good thing for him.

[wendy1946]

Place close to where I went to school, a bunch of hippies hid their drugs in one stash place in their house and in the other 300 places hid cayenne pepper, red pepper, black pepper, curry powder, chile powder, and everything in the world guaranteed to make some poor hound dog sneeze. Cops tried to force the poor dog to keep at it and the dog finally had enough and bit the daylights out of two of the cops.

[nobama08]

I agree.

[Free Descendant]

“Massachusetts Decriminalizes Pot”

Who cares? Have we won the war on terror? Have we turned the economy around? Let me know when we do and then I’ll think about adding pot to my list of things to worry about.