Hogue used to have a morning show in Sacramento and he can, from time to time, provide thoughtful commentary on our freak show of a legislative process. And, unlike a thousand or so local businesses in the Sacramento area, he knows how to correctly spell "Capitol". I have a special contempt for those who cannot.
The first topic raised by Hogue during his show was new initiative that would legalize marijuana in the California. If the proponents can gather the necessary signatures, the initiative should be on the ballot next year.
This initiative would legalize up to one ounce of marijuana ONLY in local areas that choose to legalize, tax, and regulate the use in their communities. There are other specifics, but this should suffice for now.
As a pragmatic libertarian type, I was expecting to hear the same reactionary anti-drug rhetoric that is typical whenever this topic is raised.
Proponent: "Pot is no more dangerous than alcohol. You never see a stoned guy beating his wife... blah, blah, blah."
Opponent: "Pot is a gateway drug, do we really want to send this message to our children... blah, blah, blah."
I was surprised to hear a series of calls from listeners - all conservatives - that were supportive of the initiative in broad terms. Meaning, they were supportive of the concept.
I was encouraged by the discussion not because I like to smoke pot - those days are behind me and I don't have time to be baked with a mentally challenging career, an 11 month old, and a baby on the way. Besides... I have a huge lawn. It would NEVER get mowed if I were stoned and then I would be THAT NEIGHBOR (you know who you are).
I was encouraged because it was the first time in a long time that I heard Republicans take a thoughtful approach to an issue that could easily be approached with the same old tired logic.
This is what I heard:
1. Why not let the state legalize pot and tax it? It would help address the budget deficit and keep taxes low for the rest of us.
2. We have clearly lost the war on prohibition, why not redirect those law enforcement funds to more pressing issues like monitoring sex offenders and enforcing laws that protect people and property?
3. Pot is supposedly a $14 billion industry in California alone. If we are anti-crime why would we continue to support a policy that directs $14 billion to drug cartels and gangs and helps to fund violent criminal enterprise?
4. Isn't this an issue of personal freedom and don't we invite the government further into our lives when we support this type of policy?
5. We have overcrowded prisons in California, we would save a considerable amount of money through legalization and we could avoid having to let other criminals out of jail (as is being proposed in CA).
Even if you stack up all of the concerns with the legalization of marijuana, these arguments clearly prevail.
I was encouraged to hear callers from a very conservative audience, one of them was even devout LDS, addressing this issue in such an enlightened manner.
It's time to get past the tired old arguments that have trapped us in prohibition. Lets all get over it... let people smoke pot if they want. Why do you even care?
-- Rotten Stinking Moderate
I’d support this. What better way to show that the GOP actually believes in small government that isn’t intrusive than by supporting a proposal that restricts government power?
Hey, Cali is going down in flames, might as well get high and enjoy the ride.
Legalize it to assert states’ rights and individual rights, but tax it? Come on man, only a Democrat would think of that.
Personally I don’t care. Although I think it’s the most negligible issue out there.
"But, if we legalize it, what do we do for fun and money?!"
But another reason to legalize it is that kids now are smoking pot that has been grown with harsh Mexican insecticides and herbicides. Smoking these chemicals right into the bloodstream is hazardous to say the least. If it's legal we could at least have safe organic marijuana.
We could do pretty well with that pot tax in CA. My favorite reason!
Just remind me to stay off the 405 on weekend evenings...
Because it makes it legal for LE to steal/tax the public for "enforcement" funds, and also enables them to steal from the criminals they created!
It's freakin win win buddy! Until the criminals they create get too large, too well armed,and too violent for them to want to deal with.
So our "choice" is to accept the status quo until ms13 starts beheading cops. Then they will consider ending this unconstitutional prohibition.
It’s only illegal because of nanny-state liberals (who were also behind Prohibition BTW), Bible thumpers, and the timber industry who would lose alot of money if hemp was used instead of timber and fibers in the papermaking industry. Pot has never done much for me, and I’ve given it plenty of opportunities. But then again, I’ve never enjoyed whiskey much either. And whiskey is far more dangerous than pot. Vice laws and vice cops are beyond reprehensible.
I see you’re a newby who just signed up today, so I’ll assume you’re a pot advocate who is lobbying us? Fine with me, and I liked your story (made up or not?), and I hope you can work to get some signatures for this initiative.
I apologize if you are not a pot-troll, but someone who actually wants to be active on FR. If so, welcome.
In case you are for real, then have you thought about becoming a signature collector for this idea? I had more to say, but have lost track of time and memory, and things seem to be moving slow. . .well, maybe just one more bowl.
p.s. Have you seen the Youtube video Weed Card by a cute duo named Garfunkel and Oates? A pretty good song and presentation.