Laws 'Up In Smoke' ? BC Mayors vote to decriminalize Pot

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by MarkoD

it would be a smart idea. maybe if they taxed pot, they might give us a break on the gasoline taxes

I'd vote YES on that

[Myka]

I think it's quite hilarious that the photo they used is not even a pot plant.

I don't partake in pot smoking, but I see a lot of value in collecting taxes off the sales. I'm really not sure why the government doesn't see it in the same way. There is very little science suggesting that pot smoking is actually harmful at all besides the inhalation of any type of smoke, and indeed even the smoke is much less harmful than cigarette smoke.

I think the Canadian government is hesitant to decriminalize because "no one else is doing it". Don't wanna stick the neck out now, do we?

[Coralgurl]

Hmm, I have a hard time with this. I don't smoke pot, to each their own. I lost my husband to addiction, alcohol, pot, then crack. He overdosed which left him severely brain damaged, lived 4 years in a nursing home and passed away 2 years ago. He left behind 2 daughters. My step son ended up in the hospital after smoking pot and eating shrooms, he tripped out, had a seizure and tried to bite his tongue off.

I know these are extreme cases, abuse happens. I don't see the benefit of taxes at the risk of lives. The social programs in place do not help and the burden on taxpayers to support addicts is bigger than you think. Same could be said for alcohol I know, I drink but not excessively. I worked with someone who killed a woman drinking and driving, he got 5 years.

This is a touchy subject and Im not at all preaching. Just mixed feelings as there's a huge trade off, just for a few tax dollars. I don't see the positive side of this.

[Myka]

I'm sorry for your loss. That must have been a horrible thing to go through for you and your family.

Alcohol (which is a legal substance) statistically kills more people than any illegal substance including illegal prescription medication abuse.

You can overdose and die from crack. Crack is physically addictive. You can't overdose on pot, and it is not physically addictive.

The "effective" ingredient in "shrooms" is Psilocybin which is a poisonous compound. Pot is not poisonous.

I don't like pot. I don't like the effect, I don't like the smell, I don't like anything about it for me. I think pot can be most closely associated to alcohol in which case recreational use is not harmful, and may even have some benefit. There is medical pot, where there is no medical alcohol (although red wine has health benefits), nor is there medical crack, nor medical shrooms, nor medical heroin. I don't see why the government doesn't take advantage of the possible tax benefits. Alcohol and cigarettes are both taxed heavily and both kill many people, and in general most people do not want to illegalize either of those...doesn't make sense to me.

I actually do think cigarettes should be illegalized and pulled off the market as (in a very objective view) it seems the costs of medical care associated with cigarette addiction far outweigh the tax dollars coming in. Plus, I'm sick of breathing in cigarette smoke on the streets (barf), not that pot smoke would be much less annoying.

[Proteus]

The fact of it is it's hard for te gov to retract 73 years of law and lie. When chetien went to decrimilize the states threatened to close the border on us.
The benifit of regulation is multi billions of dollars but the down fall is loss of jobs on law enforcement. Dea and Canadian police force target pot because of a high return and easy funding. Also big pharmaceutical also hinders the idea of medical since they cannot patent a natural plant

I've smoked pot for 17 years. I rarely drink and treat pot with respect. Anyone can abuse a substance weather legal or not.

Some people have addictive personalities and do step over a line. We need to know our limitations rather than let the government police us with laws that were made for the wrong reasons.

For those who don't know the real reasons behind reefer madness and prohibition. It all had to do with hemp overtaking the lumber industry and finding a way to deport forign workers (Mexican). During a terrible economic time. Pot was made illegal in 1937. The hieght of the dirty thirties

[Proteus]

My dad was run over in 92 by a front end loader. After 20 years of t4 and oxy. Canna butter( butter made from weed) was the only thing that would allow him to sleep at night and be able to get up pain free.

A close friend grew for the compassion club of Canada. All product was given free to patients with no monetary gain. The gov supplied all nessacery equipment. It was sent to labs for QC then distributed. The permits were rediculous with the cops at the door the day of expiry.

I am all for medical. But it would be a abused system as it is in the US.

[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Titus99

For those who don't know the real reasons behind reefer madness and prohibition. It all had to do with hemp overtaking the lumber industry and finding a way to deport forign workers (Mexican). During a terrible economic time. Pot was made illegal in 1937. The hieght of the dirty thirties

Hemp never overtook the lumber industry it was a major crop longer than there was a lumber industry, but yes in the US there was a must grow law instated in 1619 as there was a world wide shortage of hemp fiber.

the US didn't ban hemp untill, ... hmm the first state was 1910 and I think it was banned in most by 1927. the real reasons, yes raceism of the mexican, blacks, cubans, ect. was a big part, but the biggest reason was religion. specificaly the morman church.

In canada it was 1923 when it was added to the Confidential Restricted List. cannabis was added to the list because of Canadian involvement in international conferences where it was discussed. According to one government official, cannabis was outlawed after the Director of the Federal Division of Narcotic Control returned from League of Nations meetings where the international control of the drug was broached.

also canada's control on it was influenced by the writings of Emily Murphy, and the move to exclude the Chinese immigrants from Canada.

lots of other stuff involved, but lumber was never a concern. back them lumber was for building housed furnature ect.. hemp was for making clothing, ropes, and higher quality paper.

Steve

[reefermadness]

Hypocrisy and miss-information are the only reasons it is still illegal.

Personally I feel that as the public becomes more informed the more likely that decriminalization and even complete legalization is possible. Legalization and regulation can bring tax dollars, save on enforcement and incarceration and reduce crime.

On a side note I believe we can be doing a better job with addiction services in this country. I've never heard of someone is was using marijuana only needing such services but tax dollars brought in from the regulated sale of marijuana can help provide funding for improved addiction services.

It's hard to find a down side.

[Spyd]

My father passed away from cancer last year after battling it for over 3 years. He started smoking pot and I can tell you that it definitely helped him in that aspect!! It helped him with his appetite. Also, he was on a lot of prescribed steroids, morphine pills, etc. etc. and pot was the only thing that would settle him down enough so that he could actually get some sleep at night. The prescription pot did absolutely nothing for him so he had to source it elsewhere.

Pot would provide a good source of income. One issue that would be affected though is that kids would be more exposed to it. Even more so than they are now. Also, driving well being high puts you at a greater risk of getting in an accident. It is a tough call. There are pros and cons to both sides.

[Coralgurl]

My dad was run over on his bike by a pick up truck in '90. 3 years ago, my dad and daughter were in an accident, both seriously injured. Dad was in ICU for 2 weeks. As a result of this accident and progress in pain management, he lives and feels better today than he did 4 years ago. A number of years ago, we found him some pot to try to see if it would help him (much to my mom's dismay), but it didn't work for him.

I think pot today is much different than it was when I was in high school. Its stronger, lasts longer and affected me much differently than it did 20 years ago. I don't follow pot trends, nor read articles or research nor care to, I just know that something is different.

Understanding both pot and mushrooms are natural, the point was it lead to an event that although serious as it was, could have been much worse if his friends had not intervened. Mixing even natural substances can be fatal.

As in everything in life, if abused, it can and will have consequences. Fast food, alcohol etc. I smoke and totally addicted, if it was illegal when I was 16 would I have started, not likely. Do I understand the health risks and costs? Obviously, I still chose to smoke.

My past is extreme and I know that better than anyone, I would not wish my experience on my worst enemy, but not everyone ends up where we did. Raising teenagers, I have to cope with their choices, knock on wood, so far so good. My 14 year old came home stoned last year, I went off the deep end, but thankfully my bf reminded me she is not her father and we worked through it. One day at a time, I know I will live the rest of my life this way.

I do believe that abuse of one substance can be a gateway to others. Alcohol to pot, pot to crack, always looking for that extreme high. No, not all or even most alcoholics will reach for something different. It is though a fine line and no one knows who will be pre disposed to such actions. No I do not speak with scientific knowledge or research, just my heart. I do not judge those who use, have friends who do, its just not for me.

I'm not looking for sympathy, I just feel sometimes the ugly side of substances that alter our bodies and brains is not portrayed with a dose of reality. Some people smoke pot, some drink beer, its all good, but there are so many other things out there that can kill so fast and it does not just affect one person, it affects all that know that 1 person. Where does legalization then stop??