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66 Comments
- the2989, on 03/11/2009, -3/+42Decriminalize != Legalize
I hate these misleading article titles. - LordSkywalker, on 03/11/2009, -2/+36***** decriminalization. You get a fine of $100 or more for possessing the product, and at the same time, it's still illegal to sell. This allows the illicit black market to continue to exist, including the residual effects of crime, violence, DEA raids, etc. What is needed is a sensible policy that is "based on science, not political ideology", problem being that the US government has to approve of these studies, and rarely ever do.
Almost all of the studies done within the last 8 years or so, have been done outside the US. These studies show direct scientific evidence that refutes the claims made by the Federal Government, including the DEA, that cannabis has no medical values. Besides, when we're facing dire economic times, shouldn't we reconsider a resource that could generate over 5,000 different products, creating multi-BILLION dollar industries, providing jobs, not to mention the hundreds of millions of dollars from the tourism it would create? - NikoKun, on 03/12/2009, -0/+10Yup. And in case people still don't get the difference...
Decriminalization = No arrests of simple users, but still technically illegal since businesses are still banned from selling it. This isn't really a solution to the drug problem, and only gives end users back their rights of freedom over their own body, but doesn't really solve the problem of the black market or other such related problems. Decriminalization is usually supported by people not fully informed of the issue, because it sounds like a good neutral point at first glance.
Legalization = Fully legal for responsible adults, legal for licensed stores to sell it, and regulated for potency/quality, safety, and age of sale. Since legal businesses can produce and sell it, this effectively forces the black market out of business, since they cannot compete with legal businesses and their profits would drop so much that it wouldn't be worth selling. And with that goes the crime and violence and drug cartel related problems, when concerning Marijuana. Legalization actually helps solve a lot of the problems they currently blame on the drug itself. Prohibition uses circular logic to justify itself.
Legalization really is the better policy to support, even if you're a middle-ground person, or even if you hate drugs and want to protect people, since it actually addresses the real problems and issues with a solution that works, instead of just fighting the problems with police, which makes the problems related to that increase to a level far beyond the true problems related to just the drug itself.
I really don't support decriminalization, and honestly I think that decrim would make things worse, since it doesn't fix the problems at all. It is not a solution, unless your only problem with Marijuana, is that people get arrested for it. But by the same logic, I could never support Prohibition either (duh), because of all the 3 solutions, it solves the fewest problems, while creating FAR worse ones. And if you don't see that, there's something wrong with you.
IMO, if people were more informed on this issue, we'd have a far better chance of selling them Legalization, than Decriminalization. But then again, if people were more informed on this issue, we'd have ended Prohibition YEARS ago. - Lavarock, on 03/12/2009, -0/+8Well it's really not so terrible if possession of a substance the government has banned turns from the source of life destroying incarceration and criminal registration to something along the lines of a parking violation. I kind of like that.
- TJ11240, on 03/12/2009, -0/+7College kids are under-represented in every poll out there, because very few have land lines, or own homes.
- JiveRabbit, on 03/12/2009, -0/+6How much is the toll for the bridge you live under, troll?
- zakatak, on 03/12/2009, -0/+5Connecticut should legalize large amounts of marijuana.
- cruisinaruban, on 03/12/2009, -1/+6I'm not sure I agree with you. I've lived in CT my whole life. I think people underestimate how liberal CT is. While prudish on the outside, most people I've met here have a "it's none of your damn business" view on government. See gay marriage passage, Griswold v. Connecticut, and the recent failure to pass the constitutional convention (to repeal gay marriage). Wine and spirits haven't been in grocery stores that I can ever remember. We have packages stores for those. I think people are just used to that.
- voteforblank, on 03/12/2009, -1/+6Dumb Law.. all the crooked cops in this state... and it's full of them, would steal the ***** anyways and resell it. Yeah, it's that bad here.
- jmac9, on 03/12/2009, -0/+4
Even law enforcement is backing the end of prohibition: www.leap.cc
Here is the link to write - email your Congress members .
http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/index.html
demand that they re-introduce, support and pass HR 5843
Which ends the federal ban on adult use of marijuana-cannabis.
Use the bits listed here for your email - let's flood the Congress with emails demanding an end of this prohibition.
This link is a video by the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition group - exposing the fraud and failure of prohibition:
http://leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=Content&pid= ...
Why its so important to end the prohibition against cannabis-marijuana:
The Bush/Cheney abuses of illegal wiretaps, invasion of privacy, denial of constitutional rights to a fair trial, destruction of other civil liberties, seizure of personal assets, illegal searches -- violations of your Bill of Rights - the 4th, 5th and 6th amendments in particular -
all had there beginnings in the failed "war on drugs".
$69 Billions a year of taxpayer money continue to be wasted on government intrusion
into adult decision and adult responsibility.
All DEA claims of harm from cannabis-marijuana use have been discredited,
Marijuana Myths Marijuana Facts by Lynn Zimmer and Dr. John Morgan
www.drugwarfacts.org, are just 2 of many sites and books with the facts.
Marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man
quote from: DEA Administrative Law Judge Francis L. Young 9/6/88
1982 World Health Organization
found no injury of biological harm, psychological impairment, or social dysfunction from cannabis use.
1995 British medical journal Lancet:
the smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health.
Here is the story of the threats made against legislators for even trying to discuss ending the prohibition:
http://www.leap.cc/cms/index.php?name=News&fil ...
Why was cannabis-marijuana made illegal? American racism.
Harry Anslinger - the first drug czar chief did say: "Reefer(marijuana) makes darkies think they are as good as white men."
and William Randolph Hearst, the American newspaper owner who campaigned for making cannabis illegal did say:
"marijuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men's shadows, and look at a white woman twice." - Jerrbear1, on 03/12/2009, -0/+4Poll: United States should legalize marijuana.
- WHauser, on 03/12/2009, -0/+41200 is an acceptably large sample size. Assuming the population is evenly split on the issue (the most conservative assumption and the assumption that is standard in the industry) the margin of error at the (again traditional) 95% confidence level would be plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.
The differences in the poll are well outside the margin of error. What this means is the actual difference in the population could be 2.8% larger or smaller but the relationship would be fundamentally unchanged (i.e. more support than oppose).
Keep in mind though that when we look at subsamples such as men vs. women or over 65 vs. under 65 the subsamples are considerably smaller and thus the margin of error may be quite large. How large I can't say with out knowing how many people fell into each subsample (e.g. how many men, women, over 65, and under 65).
As to the issue of bias, TJ is correct. Young people are underrepresented for all the reasons listed. They are also generally hard to get a hold of because they are often out in the evening hours when researchers generally call (out drinking or chasing girls). Telephone surveys tend to over represent women and older individuals. - squash5574, on 03/12/2009, -1/+5I live in CT and loved seeing this article in the paper this morning.
Massachusetts decriminalized so we have to copy them of course! =)
This pole was taken by quinnapiac university but only had 1200 responses.
Our governor Jodi Rell proposed a bill to legalize for medicinal uses earlier in the year.
DIGGGGGG IT. I would do the same for your state! - akeating, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3I think they can only sell beer, etc. I can't say I've seen any with hard alcohol or spirits, and none with wine, obviously.
- WHauser, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3drugs are bad mmmmkay.
Seriously though, decriminalizing it would reduce the burden on the CJ system which could save money. But the real boon to be had is from taxation and that won't happen unless it's legal. I would prefer that it be regulated like other recreational drugs but I suppose people could grow their own.
I wonder if the legalization and/or decriminalization movement really will get going. The next 10 years might really be interesting. - thegrantman, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3They want to keep the ban on wine and liquor sales by grocery stores because they take too much business away from the package stores.
- upstream1, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3I bet personal fines will be imposed instead of community service
- LibertyLady7, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3That was long, but very informative. Now, if everyone would just take the time you just took and write their representatives, those reps may actually start listening. The minute these guys/gals think they may be voted out of their seats, they're going to do whatever the people want them to in order to keep their nice, cushy Government jobs. Use your voices people! Just say NO to the War on Drugs!!!
- Lavarock, on 03/12/2009, -4/+7This proves the old saying that most people value not freedom, but license. They're voting to make marijuana legal not because they think it's right to be free but because they want to SMOKE SOME WEED. Then they ban grocery stores from selling wine and spirits because only other people drink that stuff.
- Demand911Truth, on 03/13/2009, -0/+3A step in the right direction, but a far cry from justice.
- cruisinaruban, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3UUUUUCONN...
- DrHoliday, on 03/12/2009, -1/+4UUUUUCONN...
(It won't fly as it's own comment, so I'll just say that I hope CT does follow in Mass' footsteps on this one. I love CT) - ShavedBusch, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3I'm going to ***** grow it in my garage.
- inactive, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3I disagree, I live in Hamden and I don't know any og "the rest white trash to dumb to know what's going on." CT is a pretty socially liberal state.
- LibertyLady7, on 03/12/2009, -0/+3Source needed middleblocker. That's probably too much to ask though, eh?
- LibertyLady7, on 03/12/2009, -0/+2Go away troll!!!
- LibertyLady7, on 03/12/2009, -0/+2@QuestionQQQQ. You and middleblocker should get together since you are both annoying trolls.
- porkins21, on 03/12/2009, -0/+2LEGALIZE IT ALREADY!!!!
Seriously though, this is progress folks. Laws and gov't policy move in baby steps. Keep your resolve and it will be legal within the next decade. It will be 1 less fear mongering subject that will be taken off the table, too, thank God. - sailadayaway, on 03/12/2009, -0/+2HUSKIIIIIIEEEEESSSS!
- JigoroKano, on 03/12/2009, -0/+2I've lived in both kind of states and my suspicion is that people want to control _where_ alcohol is sold... mostly to keep the trash away.
- WHauser, on 03/12/2009, -0/+2so, you're saying you have a parent with a drug problem?
the plural of anecdote is not "data."
BTW, I don't use any illegal substances. - Mmmslash, on 03/12/2009, -1/+3I also disagree, I've lived here my entire life, and I have a hard time imagining most other places being nearly as liberal as we are.
Hell, out of the two states to pass gay marriage, we're one of them.
@cruisinaruban: There's been alcohol for sail in groceries for as long as I can recall. I never really notice until I go in after 9PM, or on Sundays, when they have the large tarps covering all of it. - DrHoliday, on 03/13/2009, -0/+2HUSKIIIIIIEEEEEEEESSSS!
- upstream1, on 03/12/2009, -0/+2You can already by beer with your bread at Stop & Shop, do you really need that gin?
Package Stores are the way to go, I lived in the South for a while and they have
the ABC stores.
Whats the point anyway we have the blue laws so you cant buy anything,
from grocery or packies after 8.
as for pot, it probably has more to do with teens getting pulled over by bored state
troopers then anything else.
Decriminalization of small, not large enough to be sold,
quantaties of pot would just save the tax payer money
from prosecuting these folks. - AttackGypsy, on 03/12/2009, -0/+2I feel that we're about 2-3 years from the legalization of pot.
As concerns the grocery stores, the reason why is because CT allows privately owned liquor, called package, stores here. There is no need for grocery stores to be selling wine and spirits. - DivisibleByZero, on 03/12/2009, -1/+2Legalization of small amounts would be disastrous for the environment. How the hell are you going to distribute the stuff without a crapload of cars?
- DrHoliday, on 03/12/2009, -0/+1It's not bad all... don't judge the whole state by New Haven.
Frankly, if you're an urbanite living in CT is a terrible idea. You're missing out on what CT is really about if you think the whole state is like New Haven.
I love CT and will probably end up buying a house in my rural suburban hometown. :D - mcberg182, on 03/12/2009, -0/+1I feel like squash meant to say opposed... or he's just plain retarded. I'll give him a fighting chance.
And if you hate it here so much then why don't you just leave? - XC2k24, on 03/12/2009, -0/+1what's with the hate for CT? I love living here.
- porkins21, on 03/12/2009, -0/+1"These studies show direct scientific evidence that refutes the claims made by the Federal Government, including the DEA, that cannabis has no medical values"
Sooooo true. Anyone who disagrees has never smoked weed while hungover. lol. - dmbfan41, on 03/12/2009, -0/+1yeah i see your point haha.
- diggmeordie, on 03/12/2009, -0/+1She recently said she is not opposed to decriminalization. She said she vetoed the medical marijuana bill because she didn't like the how patients would be allowed to grow their own plants.
- sailadayaway, on 03/12/2009, -0/+1I've also lived in CT my whole life, and definitely don't find that to be the case. I grew up in Fairfield county, which judging by javy's comments must be where he's from. And even though a bunch of people are a little stuck-up and have a self-centered attitude, there is much outside and inside of Fairfield that's pretty sane. I've lived across the state, and found plenty of down-to-earth people.
I do have to say that when talking to friends about different states making these new pot laws, I have place CT as one of the last states to make any huge changes, and I'm still sticking to that. This poll has nothing to do with legalization, and will only bring us to where NY has been for years.
On a side note, I have to say that having package stores closed on Sundays is retarded, and certainly loses tax revenue for the state. Also closing at 9 does the same thing. I've lived on all 3 state borders, and for a reason, so that we can run over to NY, RI or MA after the package stores have closed... - NikoKun, on 03/12/2009, -1/+2*correction: "Legalization actually helps solve a lot of the problems, created by Prohibition, that they currently blame on the drug itself."
Oh, and I guess decriminalization wouldn't make things worse than they are NOW, unless the problems prohibition has created bleed over into the new policy... I was thinking more from a better-solution standpoint, than an overall standpoint.. Frankly, Prohibition causes the worst problems, when you look at it overall, so anything is better than that. lol - inactive, on 03/13/2009, -0/+1And somehow, courts avoid the First Amendment issue of the prohibition of someone's *****' SACRAMENT, and voters accept it. Not me. That's part of why I tend to vote "***** you" third party for the Constitution. Proudly.
- LordSkywalker, on 03/13/2009, -0/+1Good point I guess, Lava. Maybe as a very short interim, though the way things are going, it may be sooner than later.
- RonPauls, on 03/12/2009, -1/+2poll: people in Connecticut should elect peter schiff
- Vullkan, on 03/12/2009, -3/+3well Rastafarian's smoke the holly ***** but don't drink alcohol, which makes you stupid....makes sense to me !!!!!
- voteforblank, on 03/12/2009, -1/+1YOU ARE AN IDIOT. Rell never proposed a bill to legalize for medical users SHE VETO'd IT. Get your facts straight. And Rell is a stupid old bitty bitch if you'd ask me. Her approval ratings come from ignroant white trash and rich stuck up Puritans who still haven't left the state in 300 years.
And YES I live in CT. and it's a ***** ass state that taxes the ***** out of you, has poor service and nothing to offer except that New England Fall *****. - icemanGFX, on 03/11/2009, -4/+5Me too, you would think they would learn the freaking difference
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