Now that Bannon and Trump are beefing directly, I think it’s safe to say this entire administration has been an ignorant, impulsive joke even before their cuntrag was elected. Rappers are less socially retarded than the cabinet. Think about how hilarious that us.
The internet tells me this morning that Sessions is going to go after legalized marijuana. Muh states rights indeed.
I hope the internet is wrong. It feels like it may be too soon to tell, but do the states that have legal weed have good data on consequences yet? I mean, obviously, pizza sales are up. But, how has it impacted crime overall, drug crime, use of heavier drugs, etc? No change, better, worse?
I tend to think the only thing they will focus on is the increased taxation revenue. Works for drinking and smoking, and now that they have a taste of that cash, there’s no way in hell they’re going to just give it up.
I haven't read much about crime rates or drug use, but I do know that Colorado's schools are flourishing because of tax revenue. The state also created the Marijuana Tax Cash Fund "which will help create housing programs, aid mental health programs in jails and contribute to health programs at local middle schools." http://time.com/money/4801768/colorado-marijuana-industry-tax-revenue/ (I apologize that I'm retarded and don't know how to create a hyperlink thing)
Yeah, but I can guarantee that they’re going to be propping up the ten (?) people who have had family members killed in an accident where someone was driving high to show how it will ruin this country. But if you proposed making alcohol illegal (again) they will ignore the over 10,000 alcohol related deaths each of the past three years. Not to say driving impaired while high is not going to be an issue, but more to say Sessions is an asshole more interested in playing to his base than doing his actual job and it’s shameful that we continue to elect these people. All the while wasting taxpayer money by going after “criminals”. And then wasting more by keeping them in jail. (Rant over)
If driving while high was an issue you would have known twenty years ago. Legal or illegal, you can get it pretty much anywhere you want. Sessions is a stupid, ignorant hillybilly fucktard buried deep into corporate pockets. Your country will NEVER have a decent AG ever again, they haven’t since I’ve been alive. Anything to take the focus off all those perfectly safe, legal and entire non-addictive opiates stockpiled to the ceiling in every drug store on the planet.
I was/am very cautiously optimistic as well. I sort of anticipated something like this happening. Jeff sessions equates weed with things like heroin. I knew it was a matter of time before he started flexing his muscles on the issue. I am waiting for the smackdown; I am hoping this comes down to a legality problem where the courts have to decide whether they uphold the states rights or uphold the federal side of things. The scheduling of drugs further complicates the issue, but I think it is going to come down to States suing the federal government. This is a cash cow that they are not going to let go at this point. With California's GDP something like 50% of the entire country, and with their new recreational legislation rolling out, I think that there is a big fight around the corner unless Jeff sessions wisens up and backs down. Honestly, I think this is the only way that marijuana could become legal in this country. The scheduling problem is a non-starter. The fact that a president allowed states to operate as they wished without Federal prosecution allow it to become an actual issue versus just an idea. I hope this is the beginning of Jeff sessions spiraling the drain. I really hate that little Elven looking fuck.
I absolutely get that people want to get high, and they are going to. I honestly have no issue with that but until we get a test that can determine, accurately, if someone is currently high or just was sometime in the last week or so I don't see how it can be legal. Operating machinery at work high will get your ass fired. Or simply failing a drug test should an accident occur. Mess yourself up at work? Fired for failing the test. Many employers have no discretion on this if they want to keep their insurance and avoid liability. Once that test is developed I think the road is clear for legalization, until then I don't see it.
There is some saliva swab test but it pops for use over the last 2 to 3 days I think. Personally, I think if you don't have any motor deficits or any strange behavior or any way to tell that you have consumed something are not driving erratically or badly, then it should not matter. If you are driving erratically then deal with that because that is the issue. Whether you were driving erratically because you were not paying attention due to a cell phone, or a poor skill-set, or because you smoked a joint 2 hours before, it should not matter. Look at the actual functional result and that would be that the dangerous driving needs to be addressed. In general the way that we police our drivers needs to be changed. The bar to getting a license should be raised and people who are driving erratically should actually be addressed. On a daily basis I see people speeding erratically, not using turn signals as they cut people off with no notice, running lights, almost hitting pedestrians, and generally being very unsafe drivers. I am sure very few of them are even on any substances. I am not saying that you are wrong to want a quantifiable test when it comes to marijuana, but I tend to take a different approach when I look at the driving situation. I'm surrounded by poor drivers constantly, and it's not a substance problem. If you want to increase the safety on the roads this is sort of working from the wrong direction. You need to ensure that your drivers are prepared to be on the roads to start with. Someone who is a good safe driver is probably not going to risk smoking weed before taking the car out. Perhaps I'm off in my logic, but I would think that someone who is more likely to partake in this or other illegal substances would also be more likely to drive while intoxicated. Ie: more of a risk taker.
Do we have a test like this for controlled substances? I understand the issues with it and it’s different when you’re trying to legalize things versus something that is already legal. I know with opiates or other medications you can be charged with a dui while using them. Do we have tests for all of those that show what level of impact they had at the time? Edit: I don’t mean that as disagreeing with you. I agree that there are issues that need to be sorted out. But I don’t think any of them are so great that it can’t be done and genuinely curious as to how we handle that in similar situations
I agree. You can be driving under the influence of alcohol and not reach the legal limit. And still get in trouble. People drive under the influence of all sorts of other medications. I don’t think that smoking weed leads people to start behaving crazy the way alcohol does. In fact, when I smoke I’m far less likely to want to go out and drive anywhere at all. But ymmv.
I have never smoked so much weed that I was like "man, you know what would be so much fun?? Getting out and doing something active!!!! Let's go drive somewhere!!" The last thing I want to do if I smoke is anything involving more energy than it takes to lay my ass on the couch and binge netflix. However, I have sometimes had enough alcohol where I tried to convince myself I was perfectly fine to drive even though I wasn't. Just sayin.
I get where you are coming from and I don't disagree to a point. My point was, I own a factory and my insurance company dictates what I have to do in situations where someone is injured using a saw, a forklift, or a hammer. It doesn't matter if they are acting erratically or if they appear stone cold sober. For that matter I have to fill out injury reports for OSHA every year as well. I could care less what everyone does when they go home but I don't have a choice when it comes to work loss injuries, or even ER visits I turn in to workers comp. Drivers (commercial) are a different story and are subject to random testing under DOT guidelines, also would be a good use for a test that is accurate in determining if someone got high yesterday or are currently high. I think it would help in normal driving circumstances to have that test, but I was only talking about work related driving and other normal work related activities that could result in injury and a subsequent insurance or OSHA related drug testing.
I definitely understand where you're coming from too. In general I think that workplace drug testing has gotten out of control. However, especially with safety of large numbers of people involved, I see the legitimacy of drug testing in certain situations. It really all comes down to insurance and lawsuits. Both of which are a whole nother ball of Wax.
I tried to rep you but what I'm talking about are realistic barriers to legalization, I'm not against legalizing it. I do feel that we (collectively) would face some issues if we don't either have a test or relax insurance requirements or OHSA regulations regarding mary jane. I'd probably partake if I didn't have to worry about random DOT tests.
Alcohol’s inebriation power far outweighs pot. Booze also comes with far worse mood swings and health effects. People get drunk and beat their spouse. People get stoned and they FORGET to beat their spouse.
Fixed that for ya. The funny part is, if all these people up in arms about the "danger" of marijuana, would just have a little toke of it, it'd calm them the fuck down enough that they'd realize it's not that big of a deal. People get drunk and want to pick fights with cops. People get stoned and ask cops to take a selfie with them in handcuffs. I've gotten injured while drunk wayyyyyyy too many times. The last time I smoked a little bit someone suggested I cut up some cheese and I said I didn't want to because my kitchen knives are way too sharp. I get drunk and forget how to work shit, forget where I placed half the things are in my house, and end up usually breaking at least one thing that I can't repair in the morning. When I've smoked, I become an inventor. I make things that don't exist out of spare scraps that otherwise had zero use. I clean like my wife dreams I would. Sadly, because it's (currently) illegal, I haven't been able to smoke in a while...... I do think it's going to become legalized nation-wide though. At least for medicinal use. I'm betting by the 2020 election cycle.
That's a pretty flimsy argument for keeping it illegal. I don't see why a small percentage of the population needing to remain sober for safety and insurance purposes should have any bearing on what is legal for the rest of the population. Those people need to be sober, that doesn't have to change for those jobs and employers. I'm semi-retired, why the hell do I need to be sober? I want, and expect, some people to be sober while they are working. Pilots are a good example, find people who want to both pilot something and remain sober, give them the job. Let us, those whom nobody relies on to keep them safe, let us sit on a dock with a fishing rod and a pipe.