Washington could become first state to OK pot sales

Which sucks.. It'll be the worst of the 3 to set up examples of how states should handle this.. "Ok you want it legalized? Then you're gonna play by my rules" attitude..

honestly the little i know about this bill makes it sound like a step in the wrong direction.. it's like telling slaves that they are free.. but at the same time they are only allowed to get jobs working for plantations...

 

Whoa, not so fast...

http://releaf.co/?tag=nederland-colorado-marijuana

 

alcohol/tobacco gets taxed to shit on all levels.. why would pot sellers think they'd be any different?

 

I have no problem with tax. Pot is much cheaper to produce than Tobacco so presumably the base price would reflect that. Even at tobacco prices it would still be one hell-of-a lot cheaper than it is now. I'd buy a 20 pack of fat doobs for 10 bucks any day!

Right now the biggest opponents to full legalization is the Med pot industry...greedy bastards don't want to give up that 200$ oz BS. I fucking predicted Medical pot initiatives would hinder legalization but I never imagined this!

http://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163558766/three-ballot-measures-would-ok-pot-beyond-medicine

Blood level limits...thats the sticking point?
Fuck that, if you have to drive and you need medical marijuana
TAKE THE FUCKING BUS! It's just BS anyway, they really just don't want anything to effect their precious profits.

What we really need is to get the money out of weed...
Pot sellers be damned, I would grow my own and share with friends.
If most did that, betcha there would be plenty around for those that can't.

 

Are you really surprised? Remember.. in the end.. we're still in Amerikkka.. everyone for themselves.. unless of course.. you got money... doesn't surprise me one bit that MMJ insiders would rather keep their fat stacks of cash to help the few.. instead of paying taxes to help their whole state.. they sound like sketchy drug dealers.. like the one that'll sell to your friend.. but whenever you approach them.. they are like "i don't know what you're talking about man"

 

I don't really see how the small group of medical marijuana growers could successfully lobby hard enough to stop this bill if the majority of American society believes in liberalizing pot laws. Besides, wouldn't legalizing general consumption simply expand their potential customer base? They can use their existing infrastructure to capitalize on this massive new market before other companies can catch up and meet demand.

As someone from British Columbia -- the primary source of all illicit marijuana consumed in Washington state -- I applaud this bill. Organized crime here in BC is funded almost entirely by marijuana exports to the US, meaning that if Washington (and eventually other states) legalized the stuff, these organized crime syndicates would have fewer markets to service and less money to spend on guns, prostitution, human smuggling, money laundering, etc.... and the gang violence that comes along with this would be reduced as a result.

:afro:

 

If there were a solid majority I would agree with you. It seems though that the older the person, the less likely they are to agree with marijuana legalization. If I remember correctly, the last poll had those in favor of legalization at about 50% across the US (which is the highest it has ever been).

 

Where do your statistics come from? Some of the finest gardeners on the planet live on the west coast of the united states. All the supply that I have been involved with has been local/wa., and there is significant indoor production within urban/suburban centers. Northern California is the leading domestic producer.

You say that organized crime is almost entirely supported by marijuana exports and seem to suggest that prostitution, gun running, human smuggling, money laundering, etc. do not produce revenue for gangland activities, but represent a net expenditure for organized crime. This perspective lacks some degree of situational awareness but regardless, thank you for supporting legalization. I personally support deregulation.

 

Measure is currently passing 56 to 44 percent.

 

Colorado legalizes!! I think all three states were successful.. But I know for sure we did it here in Colorado!!

 

I believe Oregon failed.

 

Yup final word. Colorado and Washington pass! Oregon failed (which surprised me)
Let's hope we can create a world wide great example of this product

 

I'll jump in and congratulate all the mature people in Colorado and Washington that had the common sense to see beyond the Governments hype and propaganda and legalize. Mass legalized for medical use as well..Peace..DD

 

arty: horay for Colorado and Washington arty:

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/politics/marijuana-laws-eased-in-colorado-and-washington.html

Colorado and Washington are among 18 states with medical marijuana laws, but they become the first in the nation to approve the use for recreational purposes.

As soon as the laws are certified, it will be legal under Colorado and Washington law for adults 21 years and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana. In Colorado, people will be able to grow as many as six plants. In Washington, users will have to buy their marijuana from state-licensed providers.

“They can’t arrest you for it, and they can’t seize it,” Mr. Stamper said. “It’s yours.”

 

Not saying that there isn't domestic marijuana growth & consumption in Washington State -- I'm sure there is. But there's no question that a massive quantity of marijuana is grown in BC and exported throughout the United States.

One of my major undergrad papers was written on the impact legalizing marijuana would have on organized crime syndicates in BC, and although that was several years ago, I suspect very little has changed since then. Marijuana growth and export remains one of the top 3 industries fueling BC's $160-billion annual GDP.

"British Columbia is affected by the organized-crime groups which control its huge marijuana industry. These gangs produce and export BC Bud to American consumers, including the 6.8 million residents of Washington state. ....... The fight for these riches explains why Seattle’s former top federal prosecutor, John McKay, has said, 'British Columbia-based gangs smuggling high-grade pot are the dominant organized crime in the Northwest.'" Seattle Times

"The marijuana trade is one of the largest - if not the largest - industry in B.C., generating around $4-billion in revenue annuallyfor at least the past seven years. ...... About 70 per cent of marijuana produced - about $3-billion worth - is exported to the U.S. ....... The impact on organized crime - which distributes and sells the drug - would be significant." Globe & Mail Newspaper

"It is reasonable to conclude that most of the British Columbia crop is exported to the United States ....... exports of nearly $2 billion in year 2000." Fraser Institute Report

"Some would call marijuana British Columbia's largest export to the United States. The border patrol and local sheriffs have recently stumbled across massive shipments in cars, trucks — even a kayak." NPR Radio

Perhaps it was foolish of me to suggest that prostitution and human smuggling are a result of the wealth resulting from marijuana exports. Clearly these produce income in and of themselves.

I'm simply saying that the majority of organized crime income is from marijuana exports (I've seen stats suggesting it's between 70 and 90% of gross revenue, but obviously no-one is entirely sure as they don't tend to file tax returns).... and the ensuing struggles for control of this extremely lucrative industry result in violence and many other crimes needed to operate the grow-ops and the export networks.

Removing the very easily accessible Washington State market can only make life more difficult for organized crime syndicates, and that bodes well for overall crime levels here in BC.

Anyway, no question deregulation is a logical move for so many reasons -- and I'm very pleased that Washington voters have realized that. Hopefully we'll follow suit here north of the 49th parallel. :2thumbsup:

 

50% of the population is enough to elect a President and certainly enough to drown out a small group of medical marijuana growers.

You may be right that they pose a threat to the deregulation/legalization movement, but I don't think they'll be able to do much long-term damage.

Old people are dying and the younger generations have a much more liberal view of marijuana in general so I suspect that 50% number is only going to rise as time goes on.

Last poll I saw put public support for deregulation in Canada at around 57%; I suspect it may be higher in liberal Western European countries. More global support for deregulation = more chance of politicians jumping on board.

 

Thank you for your excellent response.

I would point out that marijuana/drug supply interdiction is big business and
projected/suspected volumes assure job security for agencies that are into that.

 

"Some folks come to Colorado and enjoy some marijuana while they are here today," Aldworth said.
The sheriff of the county including Aspen was sanguine about the prospects of pot-smoking visitors.
"For me, it's going to be live and let live. If people want to come to Colorado because pot is legal — and that's the sole reason — it's up to them," Pitkin County Sheriff Joe DiSalvo told The Aspen Times. "I am not the lifestyle police."

"There's a lot that remains to be seen," Rudolph said with a chuckle. "I guess you could say we're waiting for the smoke to clear."

http://news.msn.com/pop-culture/marijuana-tourism-looms-large-after-election-results