18 years in prison

Quote: Evenbob

It doesn't matter what YOU believe, it
matters what the law says. Your personal
beliefs mean squat in court, try it sometime.

The Governor of Nevada believes he can levy a 15% retail tax on marijuana, even though it's illegal under federal law. Members of the Nevada state legislature believe they have the right to legalize and license marijuana smoking lounges marketed for tourists, even though the entire enterprise is illegal under federal law. Members of the Vermont state legislature believe they have the right to legalize recreational pot even though it's illegal under federal law.

None of those politicians will go to jail. The federal government should prosecute all of them for aiding and abetting the distribution of pot, but it won't happen. If marijuana is as evil as the federal government says it is, then the damage that those politicians are doing is exponentially more damaging to society than letting Gary Howard wander around with 1/2 ounce.

Quote: reno

The Governor of Nevada believes he can levy a 15% retail tax on marijuana, even though it's illegal under federal law. Members of the Nevada state legislature believe they have the right to legalize and license marijuana smoking lounges marketed for tourists, even though the entire enterprise is illegal under federal law. Members of the Vermont state legislature believe they have the right to legalize recreational pot even though it's illegal under federal law.

None of those politicians will go to jail. The federal government should prosecute all of them for aiding and abetting the distribution of pot, but it won't happen. If marijuana is as evil as the federal government says it is, then the damage that those politicians are doing is exponentially more damaging to society than letting Gary Howard wander around with 1/2 ounce.

Tenth amendment: states rights.

Quote: reno

If marijuana is as evil as the federal government says it is ...

Nobody believes that nonsense.

> damaging to society
Nobody cares about damage to society; they care about damage to voting blocks such as Guard's Unions, Prison Construction and Operation Companies, Prosecutors, Judges, Parole Officers, Rehabilitation Managers, etc.

You might just as well be passing laws about opening eggs at the top or at the bottom.

Ain't no rationale to the laws other than that illegality makes it profitable.

For the first time ever, a major poll determined that a slim majority of Republicans now support legalization.

Quote: Andrew Malcolm

The newest poll, released this morning by Gallup, was conducted Oct. 5-11 involving 1,028 adult Americans. It found that 64 percent of them now support marijuana legalization. When Gallup first asked the question in 1969, only 12 percent did.

Support rose to 28 percent in 1978, then held generally steady in the mid-20-percent range through the 1980’s and 1990’s. In 2002, it jumped to 34 percent and with a couple of minor dips, has been generally rising ever since. It passed 50 percent in 2013 and 58 percent the next year.

Of course, a majority of Democrats has long supported legalization. You’d expect that. But this year for the first time a majority of Republicans joined in (51 percent), up nine percentage points in just the last year.

Quote: reno

For the first time ever, a major poll determined that a slim majority of Republicans now support legalization.

Things tend to work like this. Once it's legalized for medical use, and then for recreational use, and the sky doesn't fall down, people tend to support further legalization.

The irony is the worst drug epidemic these days, began with legal prescription pills approved by the FDA.

Quote: reno

For the first time ever, a major poll determined that a slim majority of Republicans now support legalization.

I think it is more a combination of not caring and being tired of losing our liberty to the war on drugs.

I just don't care anymore. People want to bake their brains and damage them, feel free. Thin the herd.

Quote: AZDuffman

I think it is more a combination of not caring and being tired of losing our liberty to the war on drugs.

I just don't care anymore. People want to bake their brains and damage them, feel free. Thin the herd.

Unfortunately, innocent folks are going to die as DUI pot users get behind the wheel. There is a human cost to this tax revenue generator. How many lives per million $ in taxes is acceptable?

Quote: Ayecarumba

How many lives per million $ in taxes is acceptable?

I'm sure they have those numbers
crunched..

Quote: Ayecarumba

Unfortunately, innocent folks are going to die as DUI pot users get behind the wheel.

Possibly so. But there is a human cost on the war on drugs, too, where innocent people wind up either dead, injured or in jail due to police actions.

There is no one perfect solution to any problem.