Bill to legalize Marijuana introduced in California

[chipmunk2510]

There is a lot of misinformation in this thread so I felt like a had to post.

1. Yes marijuana has more carcinogens than cigarettes. If smoked from something that isn't filtered (joint, blunt, bowl etc.) If you smoke from a bong it eliminates most of the carcinogens that are soluble in water.
2. Eating or Vaporizing marijuana eliminates most if not all of the health detriments.
3. SMOKING ANYTHING WILL DAMAGE YOUR LUNGS. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH MARIJUANA BUT WITH THE METHOD.

I smoke marijuana regularly and I support this bill, but I felt that I had to comment to counter some of the so called "facts" in this thread.

 

[Souplex]

Californians need something to help deal with the fact that they are in California. Weed seems to be the best way to do so.

 

[Masika]

There are also 3-5 times MORE carcinogens in pot than tobacco. Carcinogens are what cause cancer. It also deacreses learning, reaction, common sencse. People who use pot are more likely to have their IQ drop, have more days absent or late from work or school and sooner or later, it will seriously affect your ability to function. But people don't actually care 'bout stuff like that.

 

[Masika]

Why does everything HAVE to be about money..

 

[Evilbunny]

I noticed this little article [http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/23/norml-breaking-news-california-assemblyman-introduces-legislation-to-tax-and-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol/] today and wanted to know what the escapist thought of this. Personally I think it's a great idea and would help stimulate the economy in this recession. This might just be the beginning, too. Perhaps if this passes and California is better of for it, the rest of the country may follow suit.

These bills are actually introduced pretty regularly.... they never pass, but we can always hope. Also, if it does pass, I'll be moving to Cali....

I'm pretty sure this is the first time a bill like this has been introduced. I know bills to decriminalize it are regularly introduced but I think this is the first of its kind. I may be wrong, though.

Edit: It is the first of its kind.

The proposal is the first marijuana legalization bill ever introduced in California.

According to the article, anyway.

 

[Jenkins]

1 billion extra in cash a year? damnnnn

I know like 99% of my school will like freak out in excitement over this.

but we all know the super conservatives will deny this bill...

unless...

 

[sheic99]

The federal government already as a law that stops the legalization of Marijuana.

I probably can't word this perfectly , but here it goes: Any animal, plant, or mineral that person plans to sell, consume or distrubute is illegal if another state, federal, foreign, or tribal law deems it to be illegal.

Yeah, I seriously fucked that up.

Edit:

*Sigh* Am I a pessimist for thinking this is only happening because Obama is in office?

I don't know why the myth of marijuana not being dangerous floats around. It has more carcinogens the cigarettes and thus has a higher chance of causing lung cancer. Overdoses on marijuana are far more likely the overdoses on booze. The only reason you DON'T hear about that stuff is because there are no ads saying don't do pot for (blah) reasons because its already illegal.

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

What a load of crap. Do you watch Fox News channel too? Overdoses on Pot? Never happened, never does happen, never will happen. Lung cancer from Pot? The same thing. Never happened, never does happen, never will happen. Stop believing the lies.

Actually you can get lung cancer from marijuana. You're still inhaling smoke after all.

There has never been an actual documented case of Lung Cancer from Pot. EVER.

Not pot its self no. But then again, for that to happen someone would have to only have smoked pot all their life, and then die of lung cancer. And even then I'm sure a coroner will blame cigarettes. Or say the person just spent too much time around an open fire. You do know that a major cause of death in firefighters is lung cancer right?
It doesn't matter what the source, inhaling smoke still leads to lung cancer. Lung cancer is caused because the inhalation of the smoke destroys the lungs, and the body kicks into overdrive repairing the lungs, and the white blood cell count just goes nuts.

I read that the average pot user also smokes cigarettes, so studies can't link lung cancer specifically to pot because of too many confounding variables.

 

[Rock Avich]

There are also 3-5 times MORE carcinogens in pot than tobacco. Carcinogens are what cause cancer. It also deacreses learning, reaction, common sencse. People who use pot are more likely to have their IQ drop, have more days absent or late from work or school and sooner or later, it will seriously affect your ability to function. But people don't actually care 'bout stuff like that.

Well, when you look at alcohol and its effects you kind of got to shrug.

 

[Ancientgamer]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)

While it may not have tar, canabis smoke has a large amount of toxins such as ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. Of course, that can be lowered by %40 by using a vaporiser instead of smoking it straight.

http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSHKG10478820080129

cannabis could be expected to harm the airways more than tobacco as its smoke contained twice the level of carcinogens, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons, compared with tobacco cigarettes.

Of course, it's a victimless crime, so I'm glad this bill is out there.

 

[Yog Sothoth]

I noticed this little article [http://blog.norml.org/2009/02/23/norml-breaking-news-california-assemblyman-introduces-legislation-to-tax-and-regulate-marijuana-like-alcohol/] today and wanted to know what the escapist thought of this. Personally I think it's a great idea and would help stimulate the economy in this recession. This might just be the beginning, too. Perhaps if this passes and California is better of for it, the rest of the country may follow suit.

These bills are actually introduced pretty regularly.... they never pass, but we can always hope. Also, if it does pass, I'll be moving to Cali....

I'm pretty sure this is the first time a bill like this has been introduced. I know bills to decriminalize it are regularly introduced but I think this is the first of its kind. I may be wrong, though.

Edit: It is the first of its kind.

The proposal is the first marijuana legalization bill ever introduced in California.

According to the article, anyway.

OK, the difference that I see here is that this is the first bill that's not a citizen sponsored initiative. Considering the current economic climate, I'd say that this bill actually has a decent chance of passing considering the revenue it could generate for the state.

I'll start packing my bags now......

 

[Evilbunny]

who cares if its legal or not. people still smoke it and can get away without getting caught easily

Yes, but now we don't have to be secretive about it. We don't have to deal with criminals to get our beloved plant, and more importantly, the government can make billions off the taxes and get us out of this damn recession.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

It is a huuuugeeee way to make money for the government if they just make it legal. They already make plenty of money on it through illegal deals, and we all know it, but I'm all for making it legal. I don't do the stuff, but people are going to do it regardless, so might as well regulate it. Same idea goes for prostitution.

 

[Seydaman]

cool. i don't intend to smoke unless i see some scientific evidence of it being safe, it will help the economy tho,

 

[sheic99]

Good. It is about damn time. It is less harmful than both cigarettes and booze yet it is illegal. California could make billions on taxes from Pot. It is a larger cash crop than wine grapes or any other product. If the little guys in the Emerald Triangle want to stay in the game they should get licenses and sell to the State run stores.

Marijuana = 4 Cigarettes.

Still, there are people who go through whole packs of cigarettes in one day so go for it.

It's actually 2 cigarettes. According to a study the average smoker uses 14.5 cigarettes daily. So, I could smoke about 7 joints a day and be fine.

What people don't realise is that NO ONE truly and honestly KNOWS what marijuana does to a person. People know tobacco can give you cancer and you can die from alcohol. People use the "Oh, but you can smoke and drink, but you can't smoke pot. They'd make so much money from it!" Yes, while that is true, no one knows what it does to people. It is legal for medical reasons in Canada (maybe the states, not totally sure.) Because it can assist with some issues in that sense. But if people don't know and the government is "suposedly" supposed to do what's best for us, they shouldn't be allowed to let people legally smoke marijuana without them being able to be fully aware of the consequences.

I pretty sure the government knows what the effects of marijuana does to people. They teach it in health class.

 

[Papopapo456]

What I understand is that the negative effects of Marijuana are caused mostly for the stuff they put in it, but the pure marijuana doesn't have any of those effects.

The biggest problem with the legalization of the marijuana, is that if the government puts a high tax on it, people will still buy marijuana form illegal sources (which would be cheaper), and thus consuming potentially risky stuff.

 

[crepesack]

All the crime caused by marijuana from stealing to murder just for marijuana would go away over night.

that is if california can keep its hemp prices competative with cartel prices.