Ron Paul and Barney Frank team up to legalize weed

[zahc]

It's still sad that a bill needs to be passed to get the feds from doing something they have no authority to be doing in the first place.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/43508025

I was also wondering, if this passed, where exactly would weed be legal (before the state-level scrambles to illegalize it)? I think most states have their own laws against it but I'm sure there are some that don't.

[AZRedhawk44]

I dunno, but the BP and DEA would have a lot less traffic, and the Mexican pot gangs would get real poor for awhile until they switched over to meth or coccaine and built appropriate supply lines and infrastructure.

Hell, decriminalizing the growing and smoking of it in quantities of less than half a dozen plants and posession of less than a pound would make a huge dent in narco-crime.

[longeyes]

You want to make the big banks that do the money-laundering collapse?  What are you suggesting?

[MechAg94]

I doubt you will see much difference until you see Winston THC cigarettes at the corning store.

[Ben]

I've become a lot more libertarian-minded regarding my views on drugs and drug laws, but somehow because Barney Frank is for this, I want to be against it.

[MicroBalrog]

I don't like to be a spoilsport, but I suspect this is a gesture.

That said, to paraphrase a Russian blogger: "There's no choice. We need to praise Barney Frank now."

[roo_ster]

I've become a lot more libertarian-minded regarding my views on drugs and drug laws, but somehow because Barney Frank is for this, I want to be against it.

I understand, I really do.

Gotta recall the old saws about broken clocks, "enemies of my enemies," and such.

I don't like to be a spoilsport, but I suspect this is a gesture.

That said, to paraphrase a Russian blogger: "There's no choice. We need to praise Barney Frank now."

Heh. 

I think I understand the sentiment.

[Ron]

There are more pressing areas regarding liberty that need to be addressed before precious energy is expended and wasted on the pot issue, IMHO.

[Jamisjockey]

It's still sad that a bill needs to be passed to get the feds from doing something they have no authority to be doing in the first place.

http://www.cnbc.com/id/43508025

I was also wondering, if this passed, where exactly would weed be legal (before the state-level scrambles to illegalize it)? I think most states have their own laws against it but I'm sure there are some that don't.

Well, according to the constitution, the states may have the right to regulate weed.  The Fed, has absolutely no right to do so.
I don't buy the argument that billions in tax revenue will be generated, as most states won't legalize it.

There are more pressing areas regarding liberty that need to be addressed before precious energy is expended and wasted on the pot issue, IMHO.

Actually, there are many areas regarding liberty that are being pissed on by our betters because of the pot issue.  Get caught with a joint and a gun? 
Individually, they are misdemeanors. Together, they are felony with mandatory sentencing. 
Selling a little pot to your friends?  Get a no-knock warrant while federal storm troopers storm your house.  Hell, the war on drugs and the possiblity of evidence being destroyed is what brought us the no-knock.

[Ben]

  Hell, the war on drugs and the possiblity of evidence being destroyed is what brought us the no-knock.

QFT.

[longeyes]

We are all smoking the weed of oppressive governance, like it or not.  It is nothing less than a mind-altering substance.  Unfortunately, it's neither recreational nor illuminating.

[Ron]

Posted by: JamisJockey

Hell, the war on drugs and the possiblity of evidence being destroyed is what brought us the no-knock.

QFT.

If it wasn't pot they would come up with some other reason. Maybe something like not paying back your student loans...

[Perd Hapley]

To paraphrase a Russian blogger: "There's no choice. We need to praise Barney Frank now."

Meh. He gets no praise for being on the right side of one issue. Not when he's opposed to life and liberty on so many other things.

[AZRedhawk44]

Actually, there are many areas regarding liberty that are being pissed on by our betters because of the pot issue.  Get caught with a joint and a gun? 
Individually, they are misdemeanors. Together, they are felony with mandatory sentencing. 
Selling a little pot to your friends?  Get a no-knock warrant while federal storm troopers storm your house.  Hell, the war on drugs and the possiblity of evidence being destroyed is what brought us the no-knock.

^^ This.  Although I don't understand how "Individually," getting caught with a gun is a misdemeanor.  That's why I have my permit and that's why my State passed Constitutional Carry.  Because carrying a gun isn't "wrong."

I have people I no longer hang out with since I've started carrying several years ago, due to the whole (guns+drugs+zero_criminal_intent)=(PMITA_Fed_Time) issue.

Despite these associations, I've never smoked so much as one whiff off a joint/bong/whatever.

[Balog]

Ron: I'm wondering what you view as significantly higher priority? Millions of people are in jail for weed, and in many cases that results in broken families (which increase the likelyhood of the children becoming criminals), a guy who's only "crime" is smoking a plant becoming a hardened violent criinal in order to survive jail, massive state local and federal $ being wasted, jail overcrowding resulting in actual criminals getting early release etc... I could go on, but the cost to society both in dollars spent, famiies destroyed, and police powers expanded has been enormous.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Millions of people are in jail for weed,


really??


http://www.mahalo.com/answers/how-many-people-are-in-jail-for-marijuana-related-crimes-how-much-does-that-cost-society-what-percentage-are-violent

heck even norml's not trying to fly that, though its a good sound bite


heres norml's link i left out
http://www.skeptically.org/recdrugs/id8.html

[MillCreek]

^^^^ Now those were some very interesting statistics cited there.  Hmmm.

[Balog]

Huh, I was guessing and apparently I was off. Good job, you must be so proud of yourself!  :rolleyes:

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

not especially.  i just know i've sat in jail.  and no one there more than overnite was there for possession.  in point of fact i've gotten caught with 1/4 pound and walked and i've sat in court and seen 2 guys go home with mom and dad after getting caught with a bale of pot.  heck last time i was in dc jail they came round for pretrial and asked "do you do any drugs?"  "just pot."  "doesn't count.""  and that was 20 years ago

[Jamisjockey]

^^ This.  Although I don't understand how "Individually," getting caught with a gun is a misdemeanor.  That's why I have my permit and that's why my State passed Constitutional Carry.  Because carrying a gun isn't "wrong."
I have people I no longer hang out with since I've started carrying several years ago, due to the whole (guns+drugs+zero_criminal_intent)=(PMITA_Fed_Time) issue.

Despite these associations, I've never smoked so much as one whiff off a joint/bong/whatever.

Oh I fully agree.  But the reality of the issue is that in most states, carrying without a permit is a crime.  Here in Texas, its only a Class A Mis, unless you're in a school (then its an F).  And of course in some states it jumps right to the big F.

[MechAg94]

Huh, I was guessing and apparently I was off. Good job, you must be so proud of yourself!  :rolleyes:

Honestly, my first response was the same.  I really didn't think there were that many there just for pot. 

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

its hard as heck to go to jail for "just pot"  usually if you look you find a host of other offenses.  sometime with a good lawyer you can get a deal to  plead to a pot bust so as to not ruin your life but then folks try to scam and claim it was all they did.  does it happen occasionally?  yup usually when someone tries to get cute in court or has bad/no legal help

[MicroBalrog]

its hard as heck to go to jail for "just pot"  usually if you look you find a host of other offenses.  sometime with a good lawyer you can get a deal to  plead to a pot bust so as to not ruin your life but then folks try to scam and claim it was all they did.  does it happen occasionally?  yup usually when someone tries to get cute in court or has bad/no legal help

Well that makes everything okay then.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

being stupid is supposed to have consequences.
you gotta see it to believe it.  some burnt out 19 year old standing up and proclaiming loudly "this is bogus dude!  he never read me my rights!"  and then that sad look as they go through "that door"
"

[MicroBalrog]

being stupid is supposed to have consequences.

You keep using that word.

It doesn't mean what you think it means.