LEGALIZE MARIJUANA AND PROSTITUTION

[Keith-N-Jax]

To tell you the truth I would rather he be neither!!!

[Ernest Street]

That doesn't take much thought. How do you perceive someone drunk? slurring speech,odor of alcohol,red/glassy eyes.
How much different are the "Symptoms" of being high? If it isn't perceived is there a problem?
Do you ask your Doctor what Prescriptions they or another Doctor have prescribed them?
We all know non-smokers can sniff any scent out of our dirty air (and frequently do) maybe they can be "Door Sniffers" Both for Alcohol and Pot. Maybe Shands Hospital should start this first.

[Shwaz]

I would like to see you same people talking about the legalization of marijuana lay on a hospital bed getting ready for a procedure and half the staff is high on pot, oh, but wait maybe we can banned it from hospital emoployees and people operating unsafe equipment. Restrict some and allow others, legalize because the war on drugs is expensive and ineffective. Wow you guys have just solved all the worlds probelms. What a great country we live in.

You do realize almost every job (accept for maybe bartender and ad man in the 1960's) does not allow you to be intoxicated at work.

[JaxNative68]

I would like to see you same people talking about the legalization of marijuana lay on a hospital bed getting ready for a procedure and half the staff is high on pot, oh, but wait maybe we can banned it from hospital emoployees and people operating unsafe equipment. Restrict some and allow others, legalize because the war on drugs is expensive and ineffective. Wow you guys have just solved all the worlds probelms. What a great country we live in.

Right now you have the same chance of the hospital staff showing up drunk, but they don't do it.  Just because it is legalized does mean everyone in the world will start getting and staying stoned 24/7.  Reasonable and responsible people will be able to sustain their life without getting high or drunk for that matter when the time isn’t right or if they will be putting their jobs or other lives at stake.

The thought that if it is legalized suddenly everyone will start showing up at their jobs high is ludicrous.  It will be just like alcohol, some people will abuse it, but all in all everyone isn’t drunk because its there.

[Deuce]

Thanks Shwaz and Ty. I was about to point out how fatuous that line of reasoning was. Maybe we should create a poll for this on metrojax just to see where people stand. Judging from the responses so far, it seems a majority might favor it.

[TPC]

That would be a good poll. I think that once California legalizes it for recreational use other states will follow suit.

[ac]

Oakland, California, passes landmark marijuana tax

OAKLAND, California (CNN)  -- Oakland's bid to become the first U.S. city to tax proceeds on medical marijuana passed Tuesday by a landslide vote.

About 80 percent of voters chose to impose the tax on Oakland's medical marijuana facilities, according to the Alameda County Registrar of Voters.

Some celebrated the news at Oaksterdam University by hand-rolling large marijuana cigarettes or stuffing cannabis into pipes. The school trains students for work in the medical marijuana industry.

"It is important because the city of Oakland is facing a massive deficit like many jurisdictions in California," said Steve DeAngelo, a leader of one of the city's cannabis clubs. "And we decided to step up to the plate and make a contribution to the city in a time of need."

DeAngelo, one of the people who led the effort to get the tax approved, said his business will now have to pay more than $350,000 from the new tax next year.

Oakland's City Council was also behind the move.

"Given that the medical cannabis dispensaries are something that was legalized in California, why not have revenue from it?" said councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan.

There was no formal opposition to the effort, but some drug fighters say the tax sends the wrong message.

   
"The taxation of a federally unlawful drug is just not something that the community should accept," said Paul Chabot of the Coalition for a Drug Free California. "With the state in dire straits in finances and the country looking for ways to pay down debt, looking at illegal drugs is the absolute wrong thing to do."
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The measure, passed in special mail-in election Tuesday, imposes a 1.8 percent gross receipts tax on the four licensed medical cannabis dispensaries in Oakland.

These facilities would have to pay about $18 in taxes for every 1,000 in marijuana sales.

So now that a city government will be reaping the benefit of taxing it, is it only a matter of time now before they do away with the whole "medical Marijuana" pretense completely?

[JaxNole]

Yeah, now that's it's passed, they'll "forget" the medical par...  What was I saying?

[Ocklawaha]

So I'm for decriminalization of weed, but WAY not for prostitution. The reason being if the government legalizes pot they will control the crop and tax it at some wild rate which will still encourage bootleggers.

Prostitution is NOT a victimless crime, in fact most (and last I looked the number was around 97%) of the prostitutes themselves are life long victims of heinous child abuse, spouse abuse, addiction etc. The problem won't go away by making it legal. The way to help this is both a job for mental health and spiritual guidance.

OCKLAWAHA

[Deuce]

do away with the whole "medical Marijuana" pretense completely

That's the idea. This legitimizes the business of selling weed. That's why DeAngelo lead the effort. Most business men would not want new or additional taxes on their business, but he knows this helps pave the way to expand his sales market.

[Shwaz]

So I'm for decriminalization of weed, but WAY not for prostitution. The reason being if the government legalizes pot they will control the crop and tax it at some wild rate which will still encourage bootleggers.

Prostitution is NOT a victimless crime, in fact most (and last I looked the number was around 97%) of the prostitutes themselves are life long victims of heinous child abuse, spouse abuse, addiction etc. The problem won't go away by making it legal. The way to help this is both a job for mental health and spiritual guidance.

OCKLAWAHA

Ock I agree that a majority of prostitutes are victims... they're alos victims of violent "Johns", pimps, police and serial killers also STD's. 

[macbeth25]

Ocklawaha -- I'm sure your point is quite valid, especially for anywhere prostitution is not legal.  I don't know how things work in the parts of Nevada where it is legal but I really do not not think the ladies at the Bunny Ranch or whatever it's called fall into the category you have described.  I've never been there, nor am I likely to go, but from what I've read and seen on the Internet and other locations, many young ladies (or if you prefer, women) like to work there and they have quite a few applying. For anyone who's interested, here's what wikipedia has to say: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prostitution_in_Nevada.

[Ocklawaha]

Of course this brings up the ancient argument of which is worse, booze or pot. Pot has a few positives and so does drinking:

Drinking does not have to be in the mode of getting drunk, in fact most drinkers do so for the relaxation and nothing more.

Nobody on Pot has ever stood in the middle of the road and pissed all over themselves.

Alcohol is forever old, it can be kept forever and used as a disinfectant, wound cleanser or pain killer.

Pot is used as a pain killer, eye treatment, as well as treatment for mental health and dozens of other medical issues.  

Alcohol comes in an endless variety of flavors or forms, and many drink it as a way to travel the global flavors.

Contrary to popular belief, Pot is used to assist addicts to more powerful drugs. It is not a foot stool to LSD, Speed or Heroin, but it CAN reduce the pains of withdrawl from those substances.

Alcohol effects everyone differently and sadly many become uncontrollable angry, aggressive or have a need to speed.

Pot, generally effects everyone as a "Soma for society", all pressures off, relaxant, the worst traffic fine a pothead must guard against is a ticket for going 3 miles per hour in the fast lane of I-95.

For Christians it should be noted that both are in the Bible:


Alcohol:
John 2:10 Tells us Jesus left the good wine until last, those among us that are Baptists or a similar faith have been told this is always "New Wine" aka: grape juice. The fact is, like it or not, the wine was indeed WINE as 1. It was the only way to preserve a drink  2. Timothy 3:3 warns us against becoming addicted to it (try fitting grape juice into either of these passages.

Marijuana:
Genesis 1:29 God gave us every herb bearing a seed and to us he says it is to be as meat. Kind of hard to see Pot as a sirloin but it is an herb bearing seed. The closest relation is your garden variety tomato plants and "yes Martha, tomato's DO produce low grade amounts of THC. Stoned on tomato leaves? It's completely possible go obtain lift off without a rocket.

Enjoy... hell it's almost 4:20!

OCKLAWAHA

[macbeth25]

Didn't Jesus turn water into wine?  http://www.ccel.org/bible/phillips/CN171-MIRACLES.htm.  If so, then I would conclude that Jesus is not against the use of alcohol -- though He may be very against someone's getting drunk, especially if they harm others.

[macbeth25]

But they didn't run out of safe drinking water, they ran out of wine.