Thread: Marijuana decriminalized in Washington and Colorado

Originally Posted by Prince

Marijuana decriminalized in Washington and Colorado as voters reject police state 'War on Drugs'
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

(NaturalNews) Here's some good news in the election results: Voters in Washington and Colorado have decriminalized small quantities of marijuana for recreational use. This is an attempt to end the insane waste of law enforcement resources on small-time pot users who pose no threat to society.

Although I'm personally not a pot user and I don't advocate the smoking of pot for recreational use, this is nonetheless a victory for freedom in a nation that's increasingly crushing freedom on most fronts. It does, however, set the stage for state versus federal conflicts over the enforcement of federal drug laws.

Federal government mistakenly thinks it rules over states

According to President Obama, the federal government rules the nation and can bypass state laws to make arrests of pot users or growers, even when marijuana possession been deemed perfectly legal by the states! This is, of course, government arrogance and a gross overstepping of the limits of federal government as outlined in the United States Constitution.

But Washington D.C. does not seem to care about any constitutional limits of power. And the DEA, as always, is far more interested in expanding its own power than abiding by state laws. So watch for the DEA to specifically target marijuana users in Washington and Colorado in the near future in order to demonstrate some tyranny in the face of these new laws.

Government as gangs

The federal government is, after all, a lawless, tyrannical collection of three-lettered gangs: DEA, ATF, FDA, CDC and so on. Each of them has a "territory" of power and control, and when voters decriminalize marijuana, they threaten the territory of the DEA.

DEA agents don't like that. And as they are all half-cocked crazy sons of bitches, they will lock and load wherever it takes to prove they're still in charge.

Trust me on that point. I know some ex-DEA guys, and they're insane to the core. To them, it's not about law, it's about street power. It's about the rush of conducting an armed raid on a pot grower's house, and the thrill of being written up in the newspaper for a "marijuana bust." It's also about those shiny new AR-15 toys and the IR non-visible laser sights that only government agents can buy.

To these guys, being a DEA agent is like being paid to act like a modern-day cowboy and play with government guns being directed against the People. These guys won't give up their power (and their pensions) easily.

WELL F-ing PUT!!!!

Colorado's governor is warning residents of his state against marijuana use, noting that it remains illegal under federal law, despite voters approving its use under state law. (Nov. 7)

The thing that pisses me off the most is when people bitch about the size of the government and civil liberties, but then they say that pot should be illegal. Even worse, there are people on this board who believe they should have the right to use steroids, but pot should be illegal. It is fucking insane.

I voted for the decriminilization in WA (I-520).

Unfortuntanely the U.S. justice department may try to interfere. Some want this initiative because they say it has a chance to go to the Supreme Court.

As we know, this will not cause anyone to start smoking or smoke more. It just frees up the resources and time of the law enforcement and court system.

A good move.

There are already false stereotypes being promoted by the ignorant on this.

Holder and his cronies bust through the door in 5...4...3...2...

The Obama Administration has demonstrate time and time again that it cares less about state's rights.

Originally Posted by dogsoldier

The Obama Administration has demonstrate time and time again that it cares less about state's rights.

you might want to learn what presidents have been doing for the past 80 years.

Executive Orders Disposition Tables Index

One thing I just read in my hometown rag (*cough*) newspaper is the employers will still keep testing for MJ and you can still get fired by the Feds or at a private company in an at-will state.

So, this law is about decrim, and that's about it, IMO.

But the WA law is also allowing sales/dispenseries and taxation. --> Here come the feds.....

The states in question stand to gain quite a bit by taxing it. You'd think once the feds see how much money can be brought in by taxation they might take a different stance on the matter.

Originally Posted by Inner Rage

The states in question stand to gain quite a bit by taxing it. You'd think once the feds see how much money can be brought in by taxation they might take a different stance on the matter.

tax revenue is not their problem, keeping the US for profit prisons filled to capacity with low level street offenders that are easy to catch and get convictions on is. if not their budgets get reduced, it's nothing but a numbers game and the fact that those number are meaningless is moot.

.................... WEED...Legalize It......

Didn't really think about that end of the deal, but you're absolutely right!

Originally Posted by KelJu

The thing that pisses me off the most is when people bitch about the size of the government and civil liberties, but then they say that pot should be illegal. Even worse, there are people on this board who believe they should have the right to use steroids, but pot should be illegal. It is fucking insane.

AGREED!
Freedom for all adults to make there choice!

People want to drink they will drink, people want to smoke they will smoke, people develop issues.... dont make all the REST of us suffer who are responsible adults, deal with THOSE people in a way of mental ilness not criminal!

the kids???? let me tell you it was easy to get xtc or coke from the weed man in GRADE school then to get beer.....

it DOES NOT WORK!
the ONLY reason pot IS a gateway drug (where ware on drugs is active) is due to WHO IS SELLING IT and what else they got to push!!

think coffee...... no issue? why? its not made into one. and if you got addiction thats leading to life issues, you get treatment, NOT locked up!

NVM the whole tax dollars and crime related to the fact its illegal.

man it just pisses me off and im in Canada now!
NEVER thought it would be USA before Canada. but its pretty much legal unless you got an Ahole cop or alot.
im waiting for my MJ card so thats not an issue for me. but still what about the rest?
F-ing piss's me OFF!


vent over..... lol

Originally Posted by Inner Rage

The states in question stand to gain quite a bit by taxing it. You'd think once the feds see how much money can be brought in by taxation they might take a different stance on the matter.

not if the DEA has any say. they get billions of fight it..... but when it turns to favor political votes... im sure then it may change.

Marijuana decriminalized in Washington and Colorado...

Don't smoke it myself unless it's laced with Tren and Dbol...

Originally Posted by Big Smoothy

As we know, this will not cause anyone to start smoking or smoke more. It just frees up the resources and time of the law enforcement and court system.

Not sure I agree with this. I'd probably smoke it occasionally if it was legal. Smoked probably twice in my life when I was young, and I never saw a difference between it & alcohol (in terms of effects, and is probably less harmful... but it isn't worth the risk of getting caught, or worrying about a random drug test at work...

Originally Posted by blergs.

not if the DEA has any say. they get billions of fight it..... but when it turns to favor political votes... im sure then it may change.

government is nothing but the puppet of finance and the top capitalists, they make the laws in the US. it was them and Wallstreet that funded the rise of the US prison industrial complex and the prison labor system in the early 80's via legislation written by ALEC.

US federal pens are filled with low level non-violent offenders most in for various marijuana convictions. the top 30 large firms in the US make great use of the prison labor system where pay workers are paid wages of less than $1-$5 day and save billions in labor a year while also competing with the private sector driving down profits for them. the wages paid to prison workers are so low that they can not afford the monies they owe to pay for their incarceration (how the concept was sold) so the prison "owners" cry broke and tax payers have to pay the bills while they rake in big $ from stock share prices. the US prison system is seen as a MAJOR growth sector for investors. and it's why the US houses 25% of the worlds prison population but only has 3% of the total global population.

it goes far above just some federal budget monies, the corporate-state lives on unsustainable growth trends that are not built on market fundamentals but crony capitalism built on the exploitation of the culture and citizens here. all made legal by a corrupt system with laws and legislation written by the lobbyists and special interest groups that are paid handsomely by the markets. all of whom are subject to a different set of laws because of their positions of power and wealth.

The only issue with legalization that i see is the rights of the people. How will they non discriminatory test people for DUI and usage at work? They need to find a way to protect people who smoke responsibly. Any one that goes to work high or drives high deserves repercussions but with the life span of the drug in your system most users will all ways have it in their system. So if an employeer has it out for you they can just say you were high at work and drug test you.

My good friend and his father opened a dispensary where i live in CA and ended up facing prison charges by the feds, when they had every thing legit. Then attempted to portray them as drug dealers because they found guns locked in a safe in the back of their shop and at home that were all registered. The son is free, but the father is still in prison.

They could test for thc levels not just if they have it in there system. Weeds lifespan in the body is fairly long if you are a regular smoker but maybe they could test levels?

Personally, I don't care if someone wants to smoke it. If they stay put and don't get behind the wheel.
Unfortunately most of those who do smoke it feel it is just fine to drive or operate heavy equipment while stoned.
Just like those who feel it's OK to drive drunk or on prescription narcotics, they're fucking stupid.

Legal or not on a state level it is still illegal on a federal level.

Employers are able to set their own standards
Employers will still not hire someone based on positive test results.
They will also fire based on positive results.
Recreational users will have to look for "like minded" employers or continue living at home in their parents' basement playing video games and getting fat.

Stoned Driving Nearly Doubles the Risk of a Fatal Crash

By Maia SzalavitzFeb. 10, 20122 Comments





Getty Images Related

• Marijuana Nearly Doubles Risk of Collisions CNN
• Driving on Marijuana Nearly Doubles Chances of Serious Car Crash Scientific American
• Pot Use May Double Risk of Serious Car Crashes The Washington Post

People who drive within three hours of smoking marijuana are at nearly twice the risk of being in an accident that leads to serious injury or death, compared with sober drivers, according to a new review of the research.
About 4% of the American adult population ? nearly 11 million people ? report having driven under the influence of a drug other than alcohol, overwhelmingly marijuana.
Prior research on the risks of stoned driving has been mixed, with about half of the studies finding that marijuana raises the chance of crashing and the rest showing either no effect or a slight decrease in risk. Driving simulation studies with experienced marijuana users suggest that when people have consumed high doses of the drug, there?s an increased risk of accident, but that, unlike with alcohol, users are aware of their impairment and tend to drive more cautiously, rather than with greater recklessness.
MORE: Why Pot Smokers Are Paranoid
For the new review, published in BMJ, Canadian researchers pooled the results of nine well-designed, high-quality studies that included nearly 50,000 drivers involved in crashes in multiple countries. They found that recent marijuana use was associated with a 92% increased risk of fatal or near-fatal accidents. The better the quality of the study, the more likely it was to show an increase in marijuana-related risk.
The risk for minor collisions, however, was not raised significantly ? possibly reflecting the fact that many stoned drivers attempt to be more cautious and can therefore compensate for some risks. That compensation may fail, however, when quick reflexes are most needed.
While driving stoned is clearly risky ? and combining marijuana with alcohol is even more dangerous ? drunk driving remains a bigger hazard on the road. Driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 ? the legal limit ? nearly triples the risk of crashing; a blood alcohol concentration of .10 almost quintuples it. Although drunk driving deaths have dropped by more than half since 1982, they still represent about one-third of all auto fatalities and kill about 11,000 people annually.
MORE: How Medical Marijuana Laws May Cut Traffic Deaths
Determining the precise role of marijuana in traffic deaths is more complicated than studying alcohol because blood levels of marijuana?s active ingredient, THC, are not always directly linked with levels of impairment the way blood alcohol levels are.
Interestingly, researchers have also found that states that legalize medical marijuana have fewer fatal car crashes, largely because of a decline in drunk driving. In other words, people may be substituting marijuana for alcohol ? and while it?s not advisable to drive under the influence of either ? the net result, when it comes to traffic deaths, could be a reduction in harm because smoking pot raises the crash risk less than drinking does.
Maia Szalavitz is a health writer at TIME.com. Find her on Twitter at @maiasz. You can also continue the discussion on TIME Healthland?s Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIMEHealthland.


Read more: Stoned Driving Nearly Doubles the Risk of a Fatal Crash | TIME.com

Originally Posted by Big Smoothy

One thing I just read in my hometown rag (*cough*) newspaper is the employers will still keep testing for MJ and you can still get fired by the Feds or at a private company in an at-will state.

So, this law is about decrim, and that's about it, IMO.

But the WA law is also allowing sales/dispenseries and taxation. --> Here come the feds.....

some companies test for alcohol use as well, all dot jobs make you take randoms. I've taken 6 in a month. Hair samples piss breathelizers. Do you care if the kid at jack in the box was drunk or high making your cheeseburger probably not. Do you care if I'm high and I just put the fuel pump on the airplane engine and your about to board that plane. I'd say yes. Maybe I smoked a little bowl on my break and forgot the tiny clip that holds the coupler shaft in place that drives the fuel pump and it disconnects on take off.

The big problem is I have never meet a responsible pot smoker... Not saying there isnt any just have never meet one. Every one I know feels its fine to smoke in public places, while driving, and ect.

Originally Posted by jay_steel

The big problem is I have never meet a responsible pot smoker... Not saying there isnt any just have never meet one. Every one I know feels its fine to smoke in public places, while driving, and ect.

that is like saying there are no responsible alcohol drinkers either, they all drink & drive, and drink in public, give me a break.

Originally Posted by Prince

that is like saying there are no responsible alcohol drinkers either, they all drink & drive, and drink in public, give me a break.

The big problem is I have never meet a responsible pot smoker... Not saying there isnt any just have never meet one. Every one I know feels its fine to smoke in public places, while driving, and ect.

I am on your side with this.. but please don't take what i say out of context...

Originally Posted by jay_steel

The big problem is I have never meet a responsible pot smoker... Not saying there isnt any just have never meet one. Every one I know feels its fine to smoke in public places, while driving, and ect.

I have and still do all kinds of drugs, and never have I done them when I know I will have to drive. Even alcohol, i might have one or 2 with a meal and then wait an hour or more before driving.

yeah, all my friends when ever we go out it is all ways wait let me quick blaze, hold up lets light up. My cousin even has a usb powered way to smoke weed with out having any smoke... Charges it in his car and smokes while driving. Like I said every one I know...So dont get me wrong I believe it should be legal, just stated all my friends are basically retards and would take advantage of this.

I drive about an hour and a half every day in traffic. I have seen it all. Guys shaving, texting, reading maps/books, chicks putting on makeup, doing their hair. Now I have to worry about the stoned drivers....