So, Colorado legalized marijuana with the last election. I prefer a cold beer at my age. The logic is cost of enforcement and benefit of tax income. What do you think?
AEA wrote:From a LEO perspective (I am not a LEO).........
How will LEO determine if the Pot is legal/taxed Pot or illegal regular pot?
Will majority buy legal/taxed Pot or continue to buy illegal regular Pot?
Cigarettes and alcohol have tax stamps. So , a system of controls is in place currently for those items. Moonshine and out of state cigarettes is a problem in some states. LA city is making millions in taxes on pot. I do not drink moonshine because Jameson is better.
AEA wrote:How will LEO determine if the Pot is legal/taxed Pot or illegal regular pot?
I think it would work the same way they do for loose tobacco. Although that raises an interesting question about tax-free pot bought on an Indian reservation or military base.
We declare our right on this earth to be a man, to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary.
I'm ok with legalizing marijuana. To set the record straight upfront, I'm not a pot smoker nor have I ever been. Recreational use is not the reason I support legalizing it. I'm a cancer survivor. I spent thousands of dollars for prescription medications to assist in treating the side effects of chemo and radiation. Health insurance will only cover a specified number of doses of the prescription meds. Costs to the patient can be nearly $1000/month depending on how frequent the patient needs to take it. I was receiving treatment on and off for 2 years. Many times I couldn't afford the prescription and my quality of life was poor. I had friends who were being treated for cancer too. Some moved to states that legalized marijuana for medical use. Others used illegally. Their costs were substantially lower than mine and the marijuana was more effective in counteracting the side effects than the prescription. I will not break the law so therefore I would not use it unless it was legalized. Issues abound when legalizing it only for medical use. Anyone can find a doctor to prescribe it for an real or imagined ailment, therefore legalize it. Let the state gain taxes from its use. I don't forsee Texas ever legalizing it for any type of use. Thank God that I'm in remission now and I don't need it but for those still suffering it would be a viable resource for a better quality of life.
U R Noodle
CHL since 1/26/2012 - 41 days mailbox to mailbox
urnoodle wrote:I'm ok with legalizing marijuana. To set the record straight upfront, I'm not a pot smoker nor have I ever been. Recreational use is not the reason I support legalizing it. I'm a cancer survivor. I spent thousands of dollars for prescription medications to assist in treating the side effects of chemo and radiation. Health insurance will only cover a specified number of doses of the prescription meds. Costs to the patient can be nearly $1000/month depending on how frequent the patient needs to take it. I was receiving treatment on and off for 2 years. Many times I couldn't afford the prescription and my quality of life was poor. I had friends who were being treated for cancer too. Some moved to states that legalized marijuana for medical use. Others used illegally. Their costs were substantially lower than mine and the marijuana was more effective in counteracting the side effects than the prescription. I will not break the law so therefore I would not use it unless it was legalized. Issues abound when legalizing it only for medical use. Anyone can find a doctor to prescribe it for an real or imagined ailment, therefore legalize it. Let the state gain taxes from its use. I don't forsee Texas ever legalizing it for any type of use. Thank God that I'm in remission now and I don't need it but for those still suffering it would be a viable resource for a better quality of life.
I've never smoked pot but I would break the law to save my loved one and/or myself. The so-called war on drugs is an expensive joke, an expensive bad joke.
urnoodle wrote:I'm ok with legalizing marijuana. To set the record straight upfront, I'm not a pot smoker nor have I ever been. Recreational use is not the reason I support legalizing it. I'm a cancer survivor. I spent thousands of dollars for prescription medications to assist in treating the side effects of chemo and radiation. Health insurance will only cover a specified number of doses of the prescription meds. Costs to the patient can be nearly $1000/month depending on how frequent the patient needs to take it. I was receiving treatment on and off for 2 years. Many times I couldn't afford the prescription and my quality of life was poor. I had friends who were being treated for cancer too. Some moved to states that legalized marijuana for medical use. Others used illegally. Their costs were substantially lower than mine and the marijuana was more effective in counteracting the side effects than the prescription. I will not break the law so therefore I would not use it unless it was legalized. Issues abound when legalizing it only for medical use. Anyone can find a doctor to prescribe it for an real or imagined ailment, therefore legalize it. Let the state gain taxes from its use. I don't forsee Texas ever legalizing it for any type of use. Thank God that I'm in remission now and I don't need it but for those still suffering it would be a viable resource for a better quality of life.
I've never smoked pot but I would break the law to save my loved one and/or myself. The so-called war on drugs is an expensive joke, an expensive bad joke.
Well there...now that is something we can share a over! In the case of substances....prohibition is less than effective and has caused massive problems. Treatment would be much more effective.
SAHM to four precious children. Wife to a loving husband.
"The women of this country learned long ago those without swords can still die upon them!" Eowyn in LOTR Two Towers
AEA wrote:From a LEO perspective (I am not a LEO).........
How will LEO determine if the Pot is legal/taxed Pot or illegal regular pot?
Will majority buy legal/taxed Pot or continue to buy illegal regular Pot?
Cigarettes and alcohol have tax stamps. So , a system of controls is in place currently for those items. Moonshine and out of state cigarettes is a problem in some states. LA city is making millions in taxes on pot. I do not drink moonshine because Jameson is better.
True.....but illegal cigarettes stuffed into a tax paid package would be a pain, whereas buy one tax stamped baggie of Pot and refill that baggie from your stash of illegal (better) stuff practically forever.
Moonshine does not look like Bourbon in a tax stamped bottle. And one sniff/taste tells you what it is. Not that I know anything about it!
I'm just saying that it will not remove the illegal Pot problem. Only "good guys" will buy and use legal Pot while the others (majority) will find a way to not pay the tax and get better quality stuff.
It may be a cash cow for the Govt. But it does not/will not address the problem of illegal stuff.
Alan - ANYTHING I write is MY OPINION only. Certified Curmudgeon - But, my German Shepherd loves me!
NRA-Life, USN '65-'69 & '73-'79: RM1 1911's RULE!
AEA wrote:True.....but illegal cigarettes stuffed into a tax paid package would be a pain, whereas buy one tax stamped baggie of Pot and refill that baggie from your stash of illegal (better) stuff practically forever.
Moonshine does not look like Bourbon in a tax stamped bottle. And one sniff/taste tells you what it is. Not that I know anything about it!
I'm just saying that it will not remove the illegal Pot problem. Only "good guys" will buy and use legal Pot while the others (majority) will find a way to not pay the tax and get better quality stuff.
What makes you so sure that the illegal pot would be higher quality? And while there is still illegal alcohol and cigarettes, it's not like they're huge problems.
I am not a lawyer, nor have I played one on TV, nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, nor should anything I say be taken as legal advice. If it is important that any information be accurate, do not use me as the only source.
You'll never take the illegal out of it but I think it would decrease substantially. Not only that, the result would be a safer pot. Today most recreational pot users are at risk for buying marijuana laced with toxins or harder drugs from people they don't know on the streets. If legalized, more resources would be available that would provide a safer product. Additionally, legalizing would open communications on more health conscious methods of using it such as using vaporizers and food products decreasing the health expenses related to smoking. IMHO. I think there should be laws similar to alcohol to prevent child consumption. I don't have all the answers and it can't be solved in a day. Without an open dialogue, tax payers will continue to spend more $$ on incarcerating people for possession.
U R Noodle
CHL since 1/26/2012 - 41 days mailbox to mailbox
I USED to support the criminalization of cannabis, however, that was long before some of our states implemented their medical programs, and I no longer hold this position. There is just too much medical evidence that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that cannabis can help improve the quality of life for some citizens with certain medical issues.
Alcohol is far more dangerous than cannabis, and while our society does have some issues with alcohol, those problems do NOT warrant criminalization and prohibition. I feel the same way about cannabis.
Never read a story about a kid dieing because they used too much cannabis. That happens every year with alcohol.
88 day wait for the state to approve my constitutional right to bear arms...
I've never smoked pot but I would break the law to save my loved one and/or myself. The so-called war on drugs is an expensive joke, an expensive bad joke.
