Prop 64 passes Colorado election

[NUG]

Marijuana will be legal in Colorado sometime in the next year, for citizens over 21. What are your thoughts? I love living here, we are a very unique state to say the least.

[Miguel]

LA allowed medical marijuana clinics. They proved popular. Too popular.

2009:

The Los Angeles City Council cracks down on marijuana clinics

...The Los Angeles City Council took the first steps Tuesday to close existing medical marijuana clinics and prevent the opening of new ones until a permanent law governing their use is adopted.

..."The problem is in 2005 when we first adopted this interim control ordinance, we had four clinics in the city," Councilman Dennis Zine said. "Now we have more than 500. ... We are doing something wrong here."

Zine and other officials said they support the concept of Proposition 215, which allows the sale of medical marijuana.

But what concerns them is the number of facilities that have opened without permission and have spread across the city.

"There are more medical marijuana clinics than there are Starbucks in some parts of the city," Zine said.

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12555020

Today:

Palo Alto Pot Measure Appears Headed for Defeat

...Palo Altans voted on the issue at a time when federal agents are cracking down on dispensaries across the country, including where they are legal under state and local law. Seventeen states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana, with laws varying by state. None offer protection against federal prosecution.

Soon after President Barack Obama took office, his attorney general, Eric Holder, Jr., stated that federal authorities would target shops that use medical cannabis as a front for drug trafficking. But last year the federal stance shifted and authorities began to crack down on dispensaries more broadly, including landlords who leased space to them.

The federal government has shut down dispensaries in California cities including Los Angeles, Berkeley and San Francisco.

http://peninsulapress.com/2012/11/07/pal...a-results/

[Tusk]

MJ legalisation also passed in Washington
I posted this in Casey's thread:

I'm Casey and I just got stoned?

Casey Abrams ‏@IAmCaseyAbrams
Weed is now legal in Colorado and Washington?!?!? Party time!!!!!!!!

Finally a reason for him to come up here and perform...and maybe bring Haley along too

(BTW...it's still illegal Federally, so it's a 'pipe' dream ATM, pardon the pun )
Although it has been decriminalised, put on lowest priority, the outgoing Governor refused to allow washington state employees to be involved in any of the process of distribution for medicinal use.

She said it puts her employees at risk of federal prosecution, which is true, because the feds did raid a bunch of dispensaries in this state and got hold of their customer lists.

While I'm one that believes it has been unconscionable how much wasted resource and how many lives have been ruined because of the over reaction to the 'dangers' of marijuana by the government (not to mention all the jail space taken up by small time weed offenses that could be used for much more violent criminals ex. rapists, pedophiles, gang bangers, some who get early release because 'we have no space in our jails')

I can't help but believe that many will get a rude awakening when the day of 'legal' marijuana consumption comes.

-Even though the DA in WA st has moved MJ possesion to it's lowest priority before this, It is still federally illegal

-most jobs ban it and will test for it

-There will be idiots who can't handle it or take it to the extreme and will be used as examples for why it 'was a bad idea'

-They will come up with a test for it for DUI offenses. Marijuana can stay in your system for weeks up to a month (they can test it even in your hair). That means even if you're no longer under it's influence, if you are pulled over and are tested for it, there's a good chance it will still be in your system, therefore, even if you are no longer 'high' you can get popped for a DUI. Alcohol washes out of your system relatively quickly compared to MJ.

-Even though the feds said they would lower its priority on it, they still acted to raid dispensaries in Washington, got their 'client list' and now have a handy dandy list of people who 'use' for further investigation. Even though it is legal now, it may get federally over turned in the future, which means there is a record of you purchasing that might be investigated in the future. Even though in civics class, we are taught our founding Fathers created a government 'for the people', that is not the government we have now, almost 300 years later. Big Brother is indeed watching. (This is not a comment on the current administration or any political party, this is just a reality of the Federal mindset in the 21st century/'post 9/11 America', regardless of political affiliation.)

-The alcohol industry is a big contributor to political parties and the 'political process' and will not take being 'demonized' in the public, while, pot is celebrated. Don't be surprised if they take part in criminalizing it again.

-Even in Amsterdam, they have pulled back their stance on MJ. Like Gambling, alcohol or any vice, there will always be a criminal aspect to MJ as long as it's still illegal elsewhere. They have found that criminals go there to get the MJ to sell it where it's illegal, thus creating a criminal underground pipeline. They have had to revisit their opinions and are moving towards stricter regulations and rules in selling it for commercial or tourism purposes because of the criminal element/industry that has grown around it. Unless MJ is completely legal everywhere, there will still be criminal activity attached to it....even in Holland.

-Local government will likely be as 'hands off' as possible in it's distribution, also for the taxes they collect in fear of federal penalties that they still have to abide by. Meaning, their employees would be subject to federal laws covering distribution of a banned substance (like what happened in Washington)

There are other things that make this not as great a victory as one might think, but these are what I can think of, off hand. I get a 'cheese in the mousetrap' feeling to this...lure in the unsuspecting with the 'MJ is finally free of prohibition' cheese, then spring the trap, a way to get the MJ users to show themselves in the light, for easy gathering .....

One interesting, and at the same time, worrying thing about this go around of legalizing Pot in Washington, there was minimal, if any, opposition to the vote. For some reason, this time, the anti-pot people spent hardly any money at all, I don't know that I saw an ad against it...which makes me wonder if they have a 'larger' plan, and also strengthens my sense that this is a 'cheese in a mousetrap' situation.

One good thing that comes from this...if more states legalize it, the federal government will eventually have to 'come clean' as to why they are pushing so hard to suppress the weed's use. MJ has been one of the least officially studied, 'natural' herbs, mainly because of the classification and ban that the government has put on it. Just like many natural and organic plants that have been successfully used for medicinal purposes for 1000's of years in orient, there are Pharmaceutical interests with deep pockets that would prefer you to use their product which BTW has TONS of side effects which they happen to also have a pill for.

Pharmaceuticals don't take kindly to cures for mild ailments that you can just grow in your back yard. They'd much prefer you use their fabricated cures, that cost ridiculous amounts, that create more ailments as side effects that they can also 'help' you with. For example, think about the side effects of a 'sleep aid' like Ambien, when you can just take a hit of MJ and the worse you might get is the 'munchies'
...it's all about sustaining the market for their drugs

MJ is a threat to many BIG interests, Pharma, Alcohol/Tobacco and the Federal prison system to name a few (which is also connected to the disproportionate number of African Americans and Latinos jailed for it, compared to caucasians...a subtext to racial profiling)

The legalisation in CO and WA is just a blip...the fairly large conservative population are more willing to listen to their government about the 'evils' of MJ and ignore the more 'evil' and significantly more destructive, health-wise, but legal, Alcohol and Tobacco industries, and will likely help in the push back to quash these advances, unfortunately.

I wish it could be as easy as "MJ is Legal"....but experience has shown me that it's never as easy as it seems...

[NUG]

....or as Denver Mayor Hickenlooper puts it, "The voters have spoken and we have to respect their will. This will be a complicated process, but we intend to follow through. That said, federal law still says marijuana is an illegal drug so don’t break out the Cheetos or gold fish too quickly."

[Tusk]

The tipping point will be when the government finally decides to do a factual accounting of the effects, good or bad, instead of 'reefer madness' hysteria and half truths. It also needs to be done independant of pressures of the deep pockets of it's big money detractors with self interests.

They refuse to lift the ban so that there could be an honest evaluation of the plant. All this time, it's been demonised by name calling and mythologies...time for some facts.

It isn't the demon spawn many would like to characterise it as, there are so many 'man made' vices and medicines that do far more damage than MJ.

[NUG]

A large reason it passed here is because we've seen the positive effects of tax dollars coming in. People who don't want their children to try it, voted for it anyway for the income. It is so widely accepted here, many companies do not test, many parents are open with their kids about it, and everyone I've talked to, considers it to have less of a negative effect on peoples actions than alcohol. I personally have told my teenage son my preference is that he not drink OR try pot until he's over 21, but we talk openly about our opinions because I want to have good communication with him. He said that it seemed to him pot smokers were "happy and mellow" but drinkers seemed "more agressive".

[Babbs234]

I think people who smoke pot will continue to smoke pot. I thought the law meant that if you are caught with pot on your person by the cops, if it's a small amount, you will get a "ticket" rather than be charged with an offense that could put you in jail.

---

.A large reason it passed here is because we've seen the positive effects of tax dollars coming in People who don't want their children to try it, voted for it anyway for the income. It is so widely accepted here, many companies do not test, many parents are open with their kids about it, and everyone I've talked to, considers it to have less of a negative effect on peoples actions than alcohol. I personally have told my teenage son my preference is that he not drink OR try pot until he's over 21, but we talk openly about our opinions because I want to have good communication with him. He said that it seemed to him pot smokers were "happy and mellow" but drinkers seemed "more agressive".

I haven't read much about this. What income are you referring to?

---

Marijuana will be legal in Colorado sometime in the next year, for citizens over 21. What are your thoughts? I love living here, we are a very unique state to say the least.

I love Colorado! I was raised in a "skiing family". I lived in Vail for a while after graduating from college. I went skiing every day and loved it! hehehe

[Tusk]

I think people who smoke pot will continue to smoke pot. I thought the law meant that if you are caught with pot on your person by the cops, if it's a small amount, you will get a "ticket" rather than be charged with an offense that could put you in jail.

What you are describing is the 'decriminalization' of MJ. Putting it into a lowered importance for prosecution, so a fine or community service. Which was where Washington State is atm.

I think people don't realise, that that would have been better than what these laws start the ball rolling on. The law forces a showdown between state and federal opinions, which means if you partake, you are certainly at risk of arrest, until it's determined.

It also forces developement of a test that, because of varying degrees of MJ potency, cannot reliably determine each individual's level of influence. As I posted upstream, the THC in MJ remains in your body a whole lot longer than alcohol and you can still be subject to penalties if it's detected while you were driving, whether you're still high on it or not.

[Babbs234]

I think people who smoke pot will continue to smoke pot. I thought the law meant that if you are caught with pot on your person by the cops, if it's a small amount, you will get a "ticket" rather than be charged with an offense that could put you in jail.

What you are describing is the 'decriminalization' of MJ. Putting it into a lowered importance for prosecution, so a fine or community service. Which was where Washington State is atm.

I think people don't realise, that that would have been better than what these laws start the ball rolling on. The law forces a showdown between state and federal opinions, which means if you partake, you are certainly at risk of arrest, until it's determined.

It also forces developement of a test that, because of varying degrees of MJ potency, cannot reliably determine each individual's level of influence. As I posted upstream, the THC in MJ remains in your body a whole lot longer than alcohol and you can still be subject to penalties if it's detected while you were driving, whether you're still high on it or not.

Ok Now I get it. I just looked up the law. So you will be able to grow up to 6 plants on your property or in your house. I see what you mean Tusk. You can smoke it, but your job may not allow it, and if they test you, it remains in your system for up to 30 days, which is true. If you get stopped while driving, it will remain illegal to drive and "smoke".
Complicated...better not to smoke it, since it remains in your system for so long.

[midnightblues]

Just get high on Haley.never a DUI and it's legal