[brasscitybluenwhite]

State bill would decriminalize possession of less than an ounce of marijuana The Republican-American

This will get kids into college!!! (sarcastic)

[mlassoff]

It's about time... The resources wasted on minor drug crimes are ridiculous. I don't smoke pot, don't like pot, but I'd rather not have my tax dollars spent "fighting" it.

[jjbradleynyc]

I agree with Mlassof. The money wasted on arresting people with an ounce or less of the stuff is ridiculous. I hate the whole taste and process of smoking pot personally, but for those who swear by it, it's their business.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by jjbradleynyc

I agree with Mlassof. The money wasted on arresting people with an ounce or less of the stuff is ridiculous. I hate the whole taste and process of smoking pot personally, but for those who swear by it, it's their business.

Same here. I experimented in high school but was never a fan of the smell, taste or feeling (well, maybe not so much the third, haha). But the "crime" is so petty and so many people with medical problems really use it for comfort instead of getting high. As long as they aren't driving under the influence, more power to 'em. I see too many young kids in the suburbs with 5 kids packed into one car with smoke billowing out of the sunroof. Not too safe, but I can't say I didn't do it when I was 16...

[Rich Lee]

I've never tried any drugs. I did try rum and vodka in high school (literally...the senior lounge) and have never strayed. Unfortunately, vodka and I had a falling-out in April 1985, and we're estranged to this day.

P.S. It should be "One Giant Step Backward" without the "s"!

[brasscitybluenwhite]

Do you guys understand the penalties for having less than an ounce of weed? Here's what happens:

-You get pulled out of the car, patted down, searched for more, get taken in cuffs to the police station. Then, usually u get released and have to go to court. At court, they usually have you go to community service or pay a fine. The net result actually benefits the taxpayer, because u usually don't have a public defender when u see the judge.

Where exactly are those "taxdollars" that u guys are talking about going? Because no matter what, ur car will still get searched, and the same process will happen except for going to see a judge and pay a fine or do community service.

One step backwards actually implies we're going backwards from where we came from. Some of u guys believe that it would be bad for moral to leave Iraq. Some of you believe that we lost too many soldiers to just up and leave and say F*** the war. The same principle applies here. Although I am against the war, the idea of abandoning all of the cops that died fighting in the war on drugs leaves me clueless.

Kid, in the State of Connecticut, people with cancer-like diseases who need a marijuana-like drug are prescribed Marinol, a Schedule III narcotic that has basically the same properties as Marijuana. And not to personally attack you, but I dont understand ur logic. So, if a lot of the kids in the suburbs did heroin and cocaine in the 80s, do you think it would have been legal?

I feel that with this law, because so many kids in different socio economic classes do it, or they tried it and have been arrested for it, it should now be ok to do. But with that same logic, they should legalize and tax all drugs, right? "Its there business"

No. We should trust our government to have a positive influence on family and lifestyle, and this bill doesn't suit either of those. We are cash-strapped, so taxpayers are trying to find bills that they could do away with, even if they contradict morality. What ramifications would this have on teenagers? Well I know one thing, all the kids that sold nics and dimes before school will be selling them all day now, right in front of the cops, because its legal. Or will they? "Officer, I wasn't selling it. I was just holding it because it to show everybody because its legal"

Yeahhhh..

[heather121]

Originally Posted by brasscitybluenwhite

No. We should trust our government to have a positive influence on family and lifestyle, and this bill doesn't suit either of those. We are cash-strapped, so taxpayers are trying to find bills that they could do away with, even if they contradict morality. What ramifications would this have on teenagers? Well I know one thing, all the kids that sold nics and dimes before school will be selling them all day now, right in front of the cops, because its legal. Or will they? "Officer, I wasn't selling it. I was just holding it because it to show everybody because its legal"

Yeahhhh..

1) People have a positive influence on family and lifestyle, not the government. You can't legislate influence. The government are not parents.

2) The bill wouldn't making it legal to sell marijuana, or distribute, transport, grow, etc it would only decriminalize POSSESSION of less than 1 ounce. There's a huge difference. It's still a crime to possess more than 1 ounce, which is likely the amount that a "dealer" would be in possession of if he were going to be "successful" at selling it.

3) If the kid who got busted with 1/2 an ounce of pot has to go to jail, then to court, every minute of the time he is transported to the police station, booked and/or cited, appears before the judge, ALL of that is taxpayer money. Money that could be better used by a) the cops catching a REAL criminal, b) the real criminal being processed, c) the judge dealing with an actual crime, not some stupid kid.

[uconn99]

Marijuana should be legal. Liquor is a worse drug and kills many more people than weed. Give me a break. And this is coming from someone who hasn't smoked pot in over 5 years and was never big into it. It is a joke how this drug is viewed and prosecuted in this country.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by brasscitybluenwhite

Do you guys understand the penalties for having less than an ounce of weed? Here's what happens:

-You get pulled out of the car, patted down, searched for more, get taken in cuffs to the police station. Then, usually u get released and have to go to court. At court, they usually have you go to community service or pay a fine. The net result actually benefits the taxpayer, because u usually don't have a public defender when u see the judge.

Where exactly are those "taxdollars" that u guys are talking about going? Because no matter what, ur car will still get searched, and the same process will happen except for going to see a judge and pay a fine or do community service.

One step backwards actually implies we're going backwards from where we came from. Some of u guys believe that it would be bad for moral to leave Iraq. Some of you believe that we lost too many soldiers to just up and leave and say F*** the war. The same principle applies here. Although I am against the war, the idea of abandoning all of the cops that died fighting in the war on drugs leaves me clueless.

Kid, in the State of Connecticut, people with cancer-like diseases who need a marijuana-like drug are prescribed Marinol, a Schedule III narcotic that has basically the same properties as Marijuana. And not to personally attack you, but I dont understand ur logic. So, if a lot of the kids in the suburbs did heroin and cocaine in the 80s, do you think it would have been legal?

I feel that with this law, because so many kids in different socio economic classes do it, or they tried it and have been arrested for it, it should now be ok to do. But with that same logic, they should legalize and tax all drugs, right? "Its there business"

No. We should trust our government to have a positive influence on family and lifestyle, and this bill doesn't suit either of those. We are cash-strapped, so taxpayers are trying to find bills that they could do away with, even if they contradict morality. What ramifications would this have on teenagers? Well I know one thing, all the kids that sold nics and dimes before school will be selling them all day now, right in front of the cops, because its legal. Or will they? "Officer, I wasn't selling it. I was just holding it because it to show everybody because its legal"

Yeahhhh..

Here is why I think you and I agree on this subject.

With all due respect to the others, they don't understand or have never lived with the culture you and I grew up with.

They have never seen the "gateway" effect it has on many people who come from our background. (At least not at the levels we have)

They don't know how much "a little weed" affects the lives of otherwise healthy young men who could make something out of their lives but lose all motivation and just want to sit around smoke "blunts" and get "high" all day.

I think this is a very bad thing and is basically greenlighting another drug for our youth. Is anyone ever going to send a message that you don't need drugs and alcohol but instead it's okay to be "straight edge"?

When does that message get preached? It's happening underground to a point but more of it needs to be made known IMO.

Here is an example of what I'm talking about:

Straight edge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Straightedge.com

For the record I had a step-father from age 8-14 who was one of those "doesn't bother anyone" potheads. I saw first hand the bad effect it had on him, our family and his life overall.

Originally Posted by heather121

1) People have a positive influence on family and lifestyle, not the government. You can't legislate influence. The government are not parents.

2) The bill wouldn't making it legal to sell marijuana, or distribute, transport, grow, etc it would only decriminalize POSSESSION of less than 1 ounce. There's a huge difference. It's still a crime to possess more than 1 ounce, which is likely the amount that a "dealer" would be in possession of if he were going to be "successful" at selling it.

3) If the kid who got busted with 1/2 an ounce of pot has to go to jail, then to court, every minute of the time he is transported to the police station, booked and/or cited, appears before the judge, ALL of that is taxpayer money. Money that could be better used by a) the cops catching a REAL criminal, b) the real criminal being processed, c) the judge dealing with an actual crime, not some stupid kid.

So let me get this straight. You are going to say it's okay to have and use pot, but you are going to put the people who give it to them in jail? That is simply absurd.

That's like saying it's okay to drink but against the law to run a liquor store.

As for #3, I have news for you...those things already run all day and night like a city bus, using them doesn't cost "more" to the state. There is not a "per use charge" for the icecream trucks. (Patty wagons to the old schoolers).

I can't really argue with #1, but at the same time the government should not be working AGAINST the cause of a healthy and productive society. What the government says DOES have influence, much like a parent.

[andthentherewere3]

Originally Posted by uconn99

Marijuana should be legal. Liquor is a worse drug and kills many more people than weed.

ITA. I think the current penalties for possession are too harsh.

I haven't smoked it in years, but I grew up in the '80's when all sorts of drugs were popular.