cannabisnews.com: Weed Reform Would Benefit All
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Weed Reform Would Benefit All
Posted by CN Staff on October 10, 2010 at 17:07:46 PT
Editorial
Source: Central Florida Future
Florida -- Nearly all of us have done it, everyone from Lil Wayne to President Barack Obama. Yes, we're talking about marijuana, pot, reefer, Mary Jane, whatever you want to call it.Next month, California will vote on Proposition 19 - the Regulate Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 - and if it passes, it will decriminalize marijuana in the state of California. If the proposition passes, only a federal agency - such as the Drug Enforcement Administration - would be able to arrest pot smokers, but the odds of that happening are highly unlikely.
California has been a forerunner in marijuana reform laws.In 1996, it was the first state to legalize medical marijuana, and since then, 13 other states and the District of Columbia have done the same.Last week, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a major stride by reducing the penalty for an ounce or less - about 30 joints - to an infraction, resulting in a small fine and no criminal record.In Florida, if you are found with 20 grams or less - about 25 joints, or slightly less than an ounce - you may be forced to pay a $1,000 fine or spend a year in prison, along with a misdemeanor being added to your criminal record.We think California should pass its marijuana mentality this way.In the past, many have regarded marijuana as a gateway drug and have cautioned against its adverse health effects, but recent studies show that mind set is starting to burn out.The Journal of Health and Social Behavior published a study last month which found that marijuana had very little to do with whether an individual eventually moved on to harder drugs.Instead, the study contributed hard drug use to life factors such as employment status and stress.According to the American Council for Drug Education, when smoking marijuana, one may experience dry mouth, impaired coordination, lack of balance, delayed reaction time and other mild symptoms associated with the high, many of which are similar to the effects caused by alcohol consumption.As for long-term medical side effects, frequent marijuana users can experience chest colds, bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma and, at worst, lung cancer.These side effects are nearly identical to those caused by cigarette smoking, which is legal in the U.S.A recent poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California found that 52 percent of likely voters favor Prop. 19, and only 41 percent oppose it.Really, this means the vote next month could go either way, but we're hoping to see the proposition pass.We think that if passed, the proposition could generate much needed revenue through taxation and it would allow law enforcement officers to concentrate on more serious offenders.A study by the Cato Institute found that if marijuana were legalized, regulated and taxed, it could potentially save $8.7 billion in law enforcement costs and generate $8.7 billion in revenue nationwide.This sounds like a good idea to us.We say that if people want to unwind and indulge in a little herbal therapy, they should be allowed to; we see no societal harm in people getting stoned and eating Twinkies.We'll be keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that California voters decide to embrace their inner-hippy and vote to pass Proposition 19 in the upcoming election.If history repeats itself, this proposition may pave the way for other states to adopt similar laws.We can only hope that Florida will eventually jump on the bandwagon and decide to spark up.Source: Central Florida Future (Orlando, FL Edu)Published: Sunday, October 10, 2010Copyright: 2010 Central Florida FutureContact: http://tinyurl.com/2t5sy4URL: http://drugsense.org/url/kqy6pttSWebsite: http://www.centralfloridafuture.com/CannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 12, 2010 at 10:23:28 PT
More News About Florida
Florida Attorney General Candidate Jim Lewis: Just Say Yes To PotBy Michael Mayo October 12, 2010URL: http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/columnists/mayo/blog/2010/10/florida_attorney_general_candi.html
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Comment #7 posted by Canis420 on October 11, 2010 at 17:37:49 PT:
Nice to hear this outa Fl
They did not get all their facts right but still good to hear outa Fl
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Comment #6 posted by museman on October 11, 2010 at 08:46:58 PT
I like it!
A slight modification, and I have a new bumper sticker;"Embrace your Inner-Hippy."LEGALIZE FREEDOM
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 11, 2010 at 05:16:48 PT
Had Enough
You are very welcome. Florida isn't a lost cause. 
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Comment #4 posted by Had Enough on October 10, 2010 at 20:24:01 PT
Thank You from the Sunshine State
For posting this article from FL...Many people think that this area is a lost cause for reform...Well it certainly has it’s own problems with the wrong people in places of power (but what place does not) and many look down the state...really down upon it...But for those observing...It’s still ripe for change,,,Harvest time is now...All we need is for the people to pick the fruit...
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Comment #3 posted by FoM on October 10, 2010 at 19:24:04 PT
CBS: Legalizing Pot May Take More Than Vote in CA
October 10, 2010URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/10/10/eveningnews/main6945762.shtml
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 10, 2010 at 19:22:28 PT
Debate: Make Marijuana Legal?
Make Marijuana Legal? California Leads Way in Drug Policy DebateOctober 10, 2010URL: http://drugsense.org/url/E0jfnqxp
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Comment #1 posted by Universer on October 10, 2010 at 18:56:19 PT
Good One
I believe the children are our future....And if those children happen to be forward-thinking college students with opinionistic tendencies that evolve into political activism, then so much the better.Good one.
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