Reefer Madness in Ca.. Beer Pushers vs Pot Growers.

[Solus]

I tend to be a little ambivalent when people talk about legalizing pot.  We (Colorado) have "medical" mj which is creating a lot of headaches at this point.  But if you start talking about legalizing coke or anything else (a lot of the meth comes from Mexico), you have totally lost me.  Drugs of that nature are pure destruction and need to be eradicated.

As we know, they will never be eradicated. Try as you might, it just won't happen.  So we are spending billions on a useless fight, creating a black market that encourages gang activity and finances terrorism. 

And it is a victimless crime.  It might not be smart to use drugs, it might be stupid and totally destructive all that is true.  But many folks will say the same thing about a non-vegan diet, or drinking alcohol, or driving over 25mph, or having firearms, or suicide. 

All of those have been or are considered destructive by some segment of the population.  And all of them could have bad effects on the family of the person who partakes of one of these "destructive" activities, but that does not make them a victim of a crime.

While all of those things might be stupid or destructive to the person who partakes, they should not be illegal.  (believe it or not, suicide is illegal, but attempted suicide is not....go figure)  Each person is able to make their own decision and has the right to destroy themselves if they choose.  You might not think that decision is smart or like what they are doing at all, but that does not give anyone the power to take away their free choice in how to live their lives.

We can start a discussion about should 5 year old kids be allowed to have free access to coke and I'd say that an age of consent has been legally established and that would be the age folks can make their own choices.  And I know that then has the unintended consequence of forbidding under age folks of buying McDonalds or eating candy bars or any of the other stupid and destructive foods that I don't approve of.   

So, let's just keep this to able minded adults.

[tombogan03884]

People like TAB and Ichiban do not seem to have learned anything from Prohibition.
FQ is right, after 70 (Ish ) years of abject failure, any one who supports the continued war on some drugs is insane, and fiscally incompetent.

[Ichiban]

Do not take my desire to see the eradication of hard drug use as an endorsement of the current anti-drug policies - which are stupid, ineffective, costly, and more about empire building than drug control.  As far as a "victimless crime" goes, well, let's just say that maybe we've seen the situation from different angles.  No man is an island - your actions and decisions affect others whether you want to acknowledge it or not.

[TAB]

Tom, every one drinks, very few people get high.

[Timothy]

Tom, every one drinks, very few people get high.

According to the studies, 31 percent of people in their mid thirties smoke dope at least occasionally.  The numbers probably go up as the age group gets older.  Hell, there is a "head shop" next to the liquor store I just stopped at for a six pack!  I'm an old guy and I grew up smoking dope, drinking excessively and chasing skirts!  All the things I was expected to do!

I'm just pointing out one little fact, I'm not getting into this argument.

If you have gangs in the area, MOVE to another area or shoot the little fuckers!

[Sponsor]

[TAB]

According to the studies, 31 percent of people in their mid thirties smoke dope at least occasionally.  The numbers probably go up as the age group gets older.  Hell, there is a "head shop" next to the liquor store I just stopped at for a six pack!  I'm an old guy and I grew up smoking dope, drinking excessively and chasing skirts!  All the things I was expected to do!

I'm just pointing out one little fact, I'm not getting into this argument.

If you have gangs in the area, MOVE to another area or shoot the little fuckers!

No matter where you move, gangs can still get you.   Shooting them will mean you will be taking it in the rear from thier gang in jail. 

[Timothy]

I'm at least thirty miles into the boonies from the nearest small city and 70 miles from Providence, also a small city.

We have no gangs where I live unless you consider the busloads of elderly people going to Foxwoods.

TAB, I've lived all over the country in the last 53 years.  I would never in a million years live where you live.  The cities of this fine country are toilets of humanity that I choose to avoid.  We have choices and mine is to keep my distance.

[TAB]

You have to live where you can work.  There are tons of great places I'd love to live, but there is no work.

I can think of two small towns that I'd move to right now if I could get a job.

[Timothy]

You have to live where you can work.  There are tons of great places I'd love to live, but there is no work.

I can think of two small towns that I'd move to right now if I could get a job.

You're a talented kid with a working spouse.  Make it happen somehow!  I drive about twenty miles to work myself but have traveled as much as 75 miles (one way) in the past.  Some folks do it daily and have for years.

Most of the people that work in the Boston area have at least an hour commute.  They can't afford to live there....

I also have it on good authority that a cannabis farm is good for at least 100K a year!

 

[TAB]

I'm at about 45 miles each way right now.  My wife is at 2.  we pretty much have to live with in 30 mins of where she works doing to being on call.  Reality, I need a population of about 10k so I can work.

  Even then I will be having to take work away from the guys already there.  What I really need to find is a place that is growing fast with alot of "well off retiring couples"  For the last 5 years that was bend OR.  That was until the houseing crash.  Now its has unemployement of about 25%.