Posted on 08/21/2016 10:34:48 AM PDT by DeweyCA
(Snip)
The middle and upper classes have been the ones out there pushing for decriminalization and legalization measures, and they have also tried to demolish the cultural taboo against smoking pot. But they themselves have chosen not to partake very much. Which is not surprising. Middle-class men and women who have jobs and families know that this is not a habit they want to take up with any regularity because it will interfere with their ability to do their jobs and take care of their families.
But the poor, who already have a hard time holding down jobs and taking care of their families, are more frequently using a drug that makes it harder for them to focus, to remember things and to behave responsibly.
(Snip)
In fact, the typical user is much more likely to be someone at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, whose daily life is driven, at least in part, by the question of how and where to get more marijuana. Just consider the cost. Almost a third of users are spending a tenth of their income on marijuana. And 15 percent of users spend nearly a quarter of their income to purchase the drug. The poor have not only become the heaviest users, but their use is making them poorer.
To all the middle-class professionals out there reading this: Do you know anyone who spends a quarter of their income on pot? Of course not. But these are the people our policies and attitudes are affecting.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Did you watch it?
I bet you do not have the courage to watch it.
I’ll be waiting for your response to it.
George Orwell, had a lot to say about the poor. I recall that in one of his books he talked about hoe the poor would rather spend a nickel on some candy rather than something healthy like an apple. His reasoning was that people have a need for a little luxury in their lives, and they take it wherever they can find it. Pot is simply some folks candy or sugary drink, the rich have different luxuries.
This is why both parties want more dopes. Get them high, on drug, and then tell them the evil person over there running is taking away your drugs, thus the dopes come out to vote.
Prohibition WORKED for it’s stated purpose. All of the effects of excess consumption were significantly reduced, both the personal effects and social.
It also brought in a whole new set of ills. Organized crime being the most well known. And disdain for Law Enforcement.
I agree. There is no right answer because too many people simply can’t control themselves and society is unwilling to increase the penalties to the point of deterrence. I live in WA and so far crime has not dropped after legalization. There is also good evidence that more people are using the drug. The state is simply happy to collect tax money from it, but they don’t enforce their own laws so people are growing it and selling it in violation of the state law. It has for all intents and purposes, despite what they said to pass it, been treated as full legalization.
agreed
What about reduction?
No. The point was millions of government bureaucrats/politicians are too lazy and irresponsible to perform a simple job and legitimately represent the people instead of themselves and their own self interest.
Pot haters love their booze
It’s always been like that
Go to a DEA cookout and watch them get blitzed on booze
Prosecution of murders is not about stopping murders though, is it?
The purpose of the death penalty is not to create a deterrent for others, is it?
The purpose of the death penalty for murder is simply punishment. Retribution. Justice. Vengeance.
Do you think that the correct course of action to take with an addict is to punish them? Do they need retribution? Justice? Vengeance?
Do you think putting them in cages with hardened criminals is going to stop their addiction?
If you are going to try to save someone, then perhaps you may consider trying something that has a chance at working, instead of trying something that obviously does not work, and then saying oh well at least we are trying.
Because the truth of the matter is you’re not trying.
The social impact of alcohol is far worse
So you’re right it’s not relative
Pot is the religion of the sheeple. -- 'me'
There is no increasing the penalty to the point of deterrence.
A single does of heroin can kill a person.
Does that stop the heroin addict from injecting?
Let’s ask Philip Hoffman.
Just like being an Alcoholic. What a shocker.
Yup. Lots of middle class and upper class people including many here who want to profit from self destructive weaklings. They say, “if we can’t raise them up, we may as well raise our profits off of them.”
That's too bad, but at least they're more free.
This is just like so many other liberal ideas.
Liberal ideas? LOL!
Subjecting an individual to prison for possessing the wrong plant is hardly "conservative".
If George Washington were around today, he'd be subjected to life in prison for one of the crops thath he grew, even though it wouldn't even get anyone high.
The Prohibitionist mind, with its absurd "logic", is truly a wonder to behold. The intellectual somersaults that some will perform in order to rationalize Tyranny, are breathtaking.
No thanks. I'll "tolerate" big, scary Freedom, with all of its challenges and inconveniences, before I'll ever adoppt such a submissive attitude towards Contraband Law, and the bloated nanny-state that is necessary to enforce its edicts.
"Big government" conservatism lives...
Vote Trump!
A a wedding the Lord Christ turned water into wine, not brush into blunts!
What about it?
Did people smoke pot when it was illegal?
Do people still smoke pot in the states where it is still illegal?
This is not a matter of law.
This is a matter of why does a person choose to alter their state of mind rather than being sober?
What is it about sobriety that causes some people to run from it as fast as they can?
What are they running from?
Turkey and Michelob?
I bet the guy who came up with that one was stoned on pot.
Drink up, then. I’m sure it’s fine.
We live in Washington also. You are absolutely right. As soon as it was “legalized” the police immediately started looking the other way. All sorts of people are growing and selling it and not paying any taxes on it, and not getting in trouble for doing it either. Even out in the open. Nothing that they promised to get it legalized was true. And usage is not just up, at least where we live... it has sky rocketed. You can't go anywhere without smelling it in the air.
A friend of mine hired his nephew to help him with his pest control business. As soon as marijuana was made “legal” the nephew decided he could do a lot better growing and selling marijuana. Growing it and selling it is simple; but it is hard to figure out how to do it legally, so of course he makes no effort to do it legally. There used to be some risks involved, but now the kid doesn't even bother to make an effort to conceal what he does. And he has been making money hand over fist. What do you think the chances of him ever trying to get a real job are after this?
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.