Mass. Decriminalizes Marijuana

[ASTalumna06]

http://www.boston.com/news/local/bre...on_2_setu.html

"Massachusetts voters today approved a ballot initiative to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana, making getting caught with less than an ounce of pot punishable by a civil fine of $100. The change in the law means someone found carrying as many as dozens of marijuana cigarettes will no longer be reported to the state’s criminal history board."

Thoughts?

[moe.ron]

I think it should go further and make it legal.

[OneTimeSBX]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

I think it should go further and make it legal.

lets not get carried away lol! they are lucky this got passed...i am not a smoker, but i tell you one thing, if i had to try it to help with a disease...brownies anyone? lol! my grandmother passed a few months ago, and jokingly, we suggested she try it in brownies. she agreed, but ended up being sicker than we anticipated and never had the chance...

[Kevin]

I've never touched the stuff and wouldn't even if it was legal here, but I find the way the U.S. drug policy to be utterly insane. We spend billions of dollars fighting a war that absolutely cannot be won.

Here in Oklahoma, when the Department of Agriculture/IRS or whoever does the satellite analysis of what crops are where based upon the reflected light (or whatever, I'm not familiar with the science) of the various crops, they also include marijuana in their analysis. This newspaper looks at that marijuana crop and analyzes exactly how much tax revenue the state is missing out on if it could just be sold at an ordinary sales tax.

Last year, they figured that enough revenue would be generated by that crop to fund common education. That doesn't even take into account the amount of cash which wouldn't be spent paying for private prisons and other enforcement measures.

[squirrely girl]

michigan also approved the medicinal use of marijuana in the election yesterday. yay for progress!

[preciousjeni]

Originally Posted by Kevin

I've never touched the stuff and wouldn't even if it was legal here, but I find the way the U.S. drug policy to be utterly insane. We spend billions of dollars fighting a war that absolutely cannot be won.

Here in Oklahoma, when the Department of Agriculture/IRS or whoever does the satellite analysis of what crops are where based upon the reflected light (or whatever, I'm not familiar with the science) of the various crops, they also include marijuana in their analysis. This newspaper looks at that marijuana crop and analyzes exactly how much tax revenue the state is missing out on if it could just be sold at an ordinary sales tax.

Last year, they figured that enough revenue would be generated by that crop to fund common education. That doesn't even take into account the amount of cash which wouldn't be spent paying for private prisons and other enforcement measures.

Indeed.

[ZTAmillz]

Originally Posted by squirrely girl

michigan also approved the medicinal use of marijuana in the election yesterday. yay for progress!

Awesome to hear!! Super cool about Boston too!

GO NORML!!

[agzg]

Originally Posted by OneTimeSBX

lets not get carried away lol! they are lucky this got passed...i am not a smoker, but i tell you one thing, if i had to try it to help with a disease...brownies anyone? lol! my grandmother passed a few months ago, and jokingly, we suggested she try it in brownies. she agreed, but ended up being sicker than we anticipated and never had the chance...

My brother brought it up to my mom when she was sick with cancer - she said no for two reasons: 1. She knew my dad would FREAK OUT. 2. She said that she had no interest in returning to her college days.

[PeppyGPhiB]

We spend a ridiculous amount of money and time prosecuting drug users in this country, so I think this is great. I care way more about violent offenders getting their jail cell than I do the neighbor kid who smokes reefer.

It's been legal here for about 10 years, for medicinal purposes. But this is taking it a step further.

[PhiGam]

Good for them... it seems that we are becoming more progressive on marijuana decriminalization... hopefully this becomes a more popular stance.

[Kevin]

It already is a popular stance. It's just that there is too much at stake financially for the private prisons, etc. for the current regime to just go away.

[AOII_LB93]

About time someone gets a clue...I've not touched it, but hey if the govt. can make a profit and offset all the money issues, why not?

I'm all for keeping other drugs illegal, but jeez, carting people off for smoking weed? lame. Now getting a DUI while high on weed is a different story though...

[ZTAngel]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

I think it should go further and make it legal.

I don't use it but I still have to agree with you. Especially because I personally find it to be no worse than alcohol yet one is legal and the other is not.

[moe.ron]

Originally Posted by AOII_LB93

Now getting a DUI while high on weed is a different story though...

Dood, they'll be too lazy to even find the key, let alone drive anywhere.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by moe.ron

Dood, they'll be too lazy to even find the key, let alone drive anywhere.

yeah, really. Just walk. It feels good.