California decriminalizes marijuana

[Kloubek]

Shame 19 didn't pass. Would have been a great model for the rest of North America to follow.

Still, decriminalizing is a good first step, and the benefits should become apparent shortly.

[D'z Nutz]

Originally posted by ZenOps
And on a side note, Goodbye Governator Arhhnold.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqep14L2f7k

Haha Ahnold smoking green with the incredible hulk? That's bad ass!

[SJW]

It was the only way to save California.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[kertejud2]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak


I don't see what benefits you are talking about, the industry would essentially be regulated like cigarettes are, but the use would be regulated like booze. Once it is legalized it won't take long for the reports about how it causes lung cancer to surface, then a massive public backlash will start to come against it.

The benefits are that it would save billions on enforcement and incarceration costs, and a regulated industry allows some form of revenue to be gained by the government on what was already a widely used and produced substance.

As for the big corporations taking over, when its illegal its sort of like the mob taking over (think Capone), when its legal I see it going the way of the alcohol industry. Sure the big macro-producers will come out with shitty stuff that's rather cheap, but there will be a "microbrewery" movement as well with artisans just wanting to produce a good product. Right now few people are benefiting in any way, with a legal and regulated system everybody will benefit in some way and the problems they'd have would have been there regardless.

[ZenOps]

Originally posted by SJW
It was the only way to save California.

Nope, there is still option B.

Which is - wait for the big earthquake to hit and then bankrupt the federal US insurance companies.

[syeve]

Originally posted by Sugarphreak


I don't see what benefits you are talking about, the industry would essentially be regulated like cigarettes are, but the use would be regulated like booze. Once it is legalized it won't take long for the reports about how it causes lung cancer to surface, then a massive public backlash will start to come against it.

Big corporations would gobble up the market right away, then force out the smaller producers.

As it is now there is no red tape and no corporate take over because it is "illegal", probably is more beneficial to the people who use it for recreation and medical purposes as it is now.

Originally posted by kertejud2


The benefits are that it would save billions on enforcement and incarceration costs, and a regulated industry allows some form of revenue to be gained by the government on what was already a widely used and produced substance.

Yah, the point of decriminalizing wasn't to make money off of the sales, it was to ease pressure on the justice system. Something like 60% of court hearings in CA were weed related. Some massive number of inmates are also in jail for possession etc.

[syeve]

Originally posted by ZenOps


Nope, there is still option B.

Which is - wait for the big earthquake to hit and then bankrupt the federal US insurance companies.

[Sugarphreak]

...

[ZenOps]

As for its effects on the drug lords:

NOooooooo!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...ryId=130840027

134 tonnes of $80 per kilogram marijuanna and noones taking a hit... It just is so wrong on so large a scale.

A good quality peppercorn goes for about $40 a kilo.

[Xtrema]

[mx73someday]

The people calling themselves government can find ways to tax anything:

http://www.ksrevenue.org/faqs-abcdrugtax.htm

[sabad66]

LOL that's one of the most interesting things I've read in a while. I wonder how many dealers actually use this and affix a tax stamp to their dime bags