cannabisnews.com: Experimenting With Pot
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Experimenting With Pot
Posted by CN Staff on October 30, 2010 at 06:22:16 PT
Editorial
Source: Los Angeles Times
California -- Just days ago, Proposition 19's prospects seemed shaky. A Los Angeles Times/USC poll found likely voters opposing it by 51% to 39%, and the Yes on Prop. 19 campaign was short on funds. Then George Soros, the billionaire financier and philanthropist with a long-standing interest in loosening drug laws, resuscitated its chances with a last-minute $1-million donation.In a statement outlining his support for ending marijuana prohibition, Soros said, "Regulating and taxing marijuana would simultaneously save taxpayers billions of dollars in enforcement and incarceration costs, while providing billions of dollars in revenue annually." Legalizing marijuana, he added, would "also reduce crime, violence and corruption associated with drug markets, and restore civil liberties lost by the mass incarceration of otherwise law-abiding citizens."
Well, maybe it would and maybe it wouldn't. But those broad, sweeping arguments for legalizing marijuana don't really speak to the numerous problems with this badly drafted ballot measure. The Times completely agrees that there are deep flaws in the nation's drug policy. We're even willing to concede that there might be benefits to ending the ban on pot. But a close look at Proposition 19 suggests that it is the wrong vehicle to accomplish that.That the so-called drug war has been a disaster is widely acknowledged. Even the Obama administration has abandoned the terminology and places increasingly greater emphasis on prevention and treatment rather than incarceration of low-level drug users. Rather than making marijuana unavailable or reducing consumption, prohibition has led to the imprisonment of 750,000 people a year on possession charges, a black market that fuels gang rivalries and contributes to the violence among the Mexican drug cartels, and an unequal enforcement of drug laws that has fallen heaviest on black and Latino communities.But Proposition 19 isn't the answer. Even voters who want marijuana legalized should beware of a measure that permits each of California's 478 cities and 58 counties to create local regulations regarding cultivation, possession and distribution. Plus, marijuana, though legal in California, would remain a prohibited Schedule I drug under federal law, setting up an inevitable conflict. Its strength and purity would not be overseen by federal drug authorities, and whether or not the much-hoped-for tax revenue comes in would depend on local governments — the ones that choose to, that is — setting up new and untried bureaucracies and enforcement agencies. Meanwhile, Californians, understandably confused by a crazy quilt of laws throughout the state, could actually end up more likely, not less, to face federal prosecution.It's easy for residents of other states to encourage Californians to experiment with their safety on the broad, general principle that marijuana should no longer be illegal. But California voters have to look at the details. Opposition to the unsuccessful war on drugs is not sufficient reason to support a counterproductive solution such as Proposition 19. One has almost no relationship to the other. Source: Los Angeles Times (CA)Published: October 30, 2010Copyright: 2010 Los Angeles TimesContact: letters latimes.comWebsite: http://www.latimes.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/z7DK37kbCannabisNews  -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #14 posted by b4daylight on October 31, 2010 at 16:17:58 PT
Abject failure
"But Proposition 19 isn't the answer"So stick with our answer for the last 40 years, because it is so much better. "That the so-called drug war has been a disaster is widely acknowledged. Even the Obama administration has abandoned the terminology and places increasingly greater emphasis on prevention and treatment rather than incarceration of low-level drug users. Rather than making marijuana unavailable or reducing consumption, prohibition has led to the imprisonment of 750,000 people a year on possession charges, a black market that fuels gang rivalries and contributes to the violence among the Mexican drug cartels, and an unequal enforcement of drug laws that has fallen heaviest on black and Latino communities."
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Comment #13 posted by kaptinemo on October 30, 2010 at 16:53:47 PT:
The LA TIMES editorial staff should immediately
purchase several bottles of ketchup.Because they'll need it to cover what would have to be the awful taste of their own toes for having rammed their feet into their mouths with this plainly weak attempt at swaying a determined public from voting in their best interests.Pathetic.
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Comment #12 posted by FoM on October 30, 2010 at 12:05:23 PT
gloovins
Hi back at ya! These are amazing times!
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Comment #11 posted by gloovins on October 30, 2010 at 11:45:00 PT
Great editorial here
BTW hi all ....!http://walnutcreek.patch.com/articles/why-you-should-vote-yes-on-prop-19Cant wait to cast my vote to LEGALIZE in a cpl days.Hope all are having a great weekend.Much peace.
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on October 30, 2010 at 09:38:13 PT
Live Video Stream of Rally
URL: http://www.comedycentral.com/dcrallylive/
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Comment #9 posted by FoM on October 30, 2010 at 09:23:02 PT
Hope
That makes me very happy!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by Hope on October 30, 2010 at 09:16:20 PT
  :0)  
Comment 7Got it going on.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on October 30, 2010 at 09:11:19 PT
Dankhank
It looks like a very large crowd. I thing this is great! I hope everyone who can get Comedy Central has this on their TV now! 
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 30, 2010 at 08:50:22 PT
Mornin' Dankhank!
What a great day! 
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Comment #5 posted by FoM on October 30, 2010 at 08:49:27 PT
HempWorld
I really laughed too! Oh my god look at those dragons! LOL!
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Comment #4 posted by Dankhank on October 30, 2010 at 08:47:51 PT
rally
Morning FoM ... all ...'I, too, shall record it.Peace to all who value sanity ...
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Comment #3 posted by HempWorld on October 30, 2010 at 08:35:53 PT
Thank you Galifianakis!
That was awsome!Great stunt just before the election, you pulled it off!Thank You!
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Comment #2 posted by FoM on October 30, 2010 at 06:41:23 PT
Galifianakis Smokes A Joint On Bill Maher's Show
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRyLbsW3wZE
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 30, 2010 at 06:31:06 PT
Thousands Expected at Stewart-Colbert Rally in DC
Comedy Central will start airing the Rally today at 12 noon ET. It will be on for at least 3 hours! I'm recording it!***October 30, 2010Excerpt: Groups planning to enlist supporters at the event include Naral Pro-Choice America; D.C. Vote, which aims to give D.C. a voting representative in the House; and backers of California's Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana.URL: http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=13411718URL: http://www.rallytorestoresanityandorfear.com
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