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Massachusetts Decriminalizes Pot
The Patriot Room ^ | January 3, 2009 | Bill Dupray

Posted on 01/03/2009 6:54:45 PM PST by 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 . . .

(Excerpt) Read more at patriotroom.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: bluestates; civilfine; decriminalize; dope; legalizemarijuana; libertarians; marijuana; massachusetts; mrleroyrejoices; wod
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1 posted on 01/03/2009 6:54:46 PM PST by Bill Dupray
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To: Bill Dupray

I don’t see how any of the “problems” posed in the article are essentially bad. I’d rather have cops fighting real criminals than going after potheads who are otherwise committing no real crimes.


2 posted on 01/03/2009 6:57:19 PM PST by pnh102 (Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
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To: Bill Dupray

From what I’m hearing, you can walk into a MALL in California and buy pot from one of the “medical outlets”.


3 posted on 01/03/2009 6:58:25 PM PST by samtheman
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To: Bill Dupray

I’ll appreciate this as my glaucoma worsens Im sure


4 posted on 01/03/2009 6:59:04 PM PST by PfluegerFishin
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To: Bill Dupray

To be honest, I think ‘weed’ is the most neligible drugs out there, even among legal drugs. It would make more sense if cigarettes were illegal and weed was legal.

JMO.


5 posted on 01/03/2009 6:59:14 PM PST by Rick_Michael (Have no fear "Senator Government" is here)
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To: Bill Dupray
It passed with the approval of 65 percent of the people in Massachusetts so it is pretty clear that is what the people there want. What type of society would you rather live in: one where people who want to can smoke some marijuana, or one where the police have their drug dogs sniffing around to catch people at a personal vice?
6 posted on 01/03/2009 7:00:23 PM PST by KarlInOhio (11/4: The revolutionary socialists beat the Fabian ones. Where can we find a capitalist party?)
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To: pnh102

“I’d rather have cops fighting real criminals than going after potheads who are otherwise committing no real crimes.”

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.


7 posted on 01/03/2009 7:00:37 PM PST by driftdiver (I could eat it raw, but why do that when I have a fire.)
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To: KarlInOhio

What about the guy who has less than an ounce, which is essentially legal, and is selling it to school kids? The police can’t even make the guy give his name.


8 posted on 01/03/2009 7:02:49 PM PST by Bill Dupray
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To: samtheman

It’s true. All one needs is an medical marijuan ID card, which is ridiculously easy to obtain. Inside the “clubs” one can buy baked goods (cookies/brownies cooked with marijuana butter) and virtually every popular strain of cannabis imaginable.


9 posted on 01/03/2009 7:05:29 PM PST by Mr. Mojo
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To: Bill Dupray

>>>>>the law in Virginia states that possession of any marijuana (even just residue in a pipe), is a misdemeanor..... more than 1/2 ounce is typically charged as felony distribution with up to 10 years in prison.<<<<<

As a Virginian, I have to say that the felony threshold is absolutely insane. That will ruin a college kid ***for life***.

I might add that marijuana is America’s largest cash crop.

Table 7. Top Cash Crops in the United States (Average Value 2003 – 2005)

Rank / Crop / Average Production Value ($1000s)
1 Marijuana $35,803,591
2 Corn $23,299,601
3 Soybeans $17,612,200
4 Hay $12,236,638
5 Vegetables $11,080,733
6 Wheat $7,450,907
7 Cotton-All $5,314,870
8 Grapes $2,876,547
9 Apples $1,787,532
10 Rice $1,706,665

Source:
Marijuana Production in the United States (2006)
By Jon Gettman, Ph.D.


10 posted on 01/03/2009 7:05:59 PM PST by angkor ("All you could hope for ...in the world's most august deliberative body." - Baldwin on Franken)
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To: Bill Dupray

It is a civil violation - that means the police can get his name. I also do not think that is covers selling.

Section 2. Chapter 94C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting therein a new Section 32L, making the possession of one ounce or less of marihuana punishable only by civil penalties and forfeiture. That new section shall read as follows:

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2008/massachusetts/question2_text/


11 posted on 01/03/2009 7:06:31 PM PST by DevNet (!dimensio || !solitron)
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To: Bill Dupray
What about the guy who has less than an ounce, which is essentially legal, and is selling it to school kids? The police can’t even make the guy give his name.

I don't think the law was changed for sales, especially sales to minors, thus they are still subject to arrest. Do you have any more strawmen set up?

12 posted on 01/03/2009 7:06:33 PM PST by KarlInOhio (11/4: The revolutionary socialists beat the Fabian ones. Where can we find a capitalist party?)
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To: driftdiver

That is only because it is illegal. If it weren’t there wouldn’t be border wars over it. Hell, I’d plant my fields in it. I haven’t had a good pot buzz since I was 19 (33 yrs ago).


13 posted on 01/03/2009 7:06:51 PM PST by P8riot (I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop.)
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To: driftdiver

“Pot is not a victimless crime.”

Either was alcohol during the prohibition of alcohol.


14 posted on 01/03/2009 7:07:46 PM PST by ExpatGator (Extending logic since 1961.)
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To: driftdiver

but if pot were legal, they wouldnt have been smuggling it in. Pehaps you can show pot is not a victimless crime, but your example doesnt seem to work.


15 posted on 01/03/2009 7:07:49 PM PST by Carolina_Thor (It's always better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.)
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To: Bill Dupray
FAR OUT, MAN!
16 posted on 01/03/2009 7:07:56 PM PST by LiberConservative ("You may not like the things we do. Only idiots ignore the truth." -Adam Ant)
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To: angkor

Ping!

I run a Garden Center. Man, am I in the wrong business, LOL!


17 posted on 01/03/2009 7:08:26 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin ('Taking the moderate path of appeasement leads to abysmal defeat.' - Rush on 11/05/08)
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To: driftdiver
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.

You're comparing apples and oranges. The person being shot was also violating our border and deserved to be shot for doing that. I do agree with you that smuggling drugs is a real crime... but someone smoking pot, getting high, and doing no other crime is no real threat to anyone. I'd rather have cops going after the real crooks instead.

Someone who gets high in their free time, harming no one else in the process, should not be prosecuted, put through the criminal justice system, and be marked for life as a criminal because of some inconsequential "recreational" activities done in their free time.

18 posted on 01/03/2009 7:10:37 PM PST by pnh102 (Save America - Ban Ethanol Now!)
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To: samtheman

>>>>>From what I’m hearing, you can walk into a MALL in California and buy pot from one of the “medical outlets”.<<<<<<

I suspect there is or soon will be a thriving pot trade at Harvard Square, Kenmore Square, and Cleveland Circle.


19 posted on 01/03/2009 7:10:45 PM PST by angkor ("All you could hope for ...in the world's most august deliberative body." - Baldwin on Franken)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

“This is a hybrid. This is a cross of, ah, of Bluegrass, Kentucky Bluegrass, Feather Bent, and Northern California Sensimillia. the Amazing thing about this stuff is, that you can play 36 holes on it in the afternoon, take it home and get stoned to the bejeezus-belt that night on this stuff.” - Carl Spackler (Caddyshack 1980)


20 posted on 01/03/2009 7:12:20 PM PST by P8riot (I carry a gun because I can't carry a cop.)
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