We have spent over a trillion dollars and nearly 50 years fighting a war on drugs. Time for a new approach.
I caught this podcast. I have to say it was eye-opening. Cannabis needs to be researched, not criminalized.
Here’s another argument. Let’s see if anyone notices a pattern…
I can’t believe some would think this is a good idea. I drank alcohol in high school and I can tell you no good comes from doing drugs. These people in government that think it’s a good idea are just plain stupid. I hope it doesn’t pass. People are distracted enough behind the wheel the way it is. More kids will start trying it and I bet underage drinking will start sky rocketing too. Just plain dumb.
I can see it now, BATFM. It has a nice ring to it.
I think this post needs to be put on another site, this has nothing to do with the outdoors and is going to become a political topic.
Let’s try to make it an outdoors topic.
I might be aware of some naturally growing weeds in the wild. I’m sure it is so weak that it is worthless. Either way, will I be able to harvest this similar to mushroom hunting?
Let’s say I’m out looking for chaga and run across some wild weeds. Mine!
I understand and can agree with positions on both sides of this topic, but I think it’s kind of ironic that the discussion to allow recreational marijuana is being seriously discussed at the same time that legislators are seriously discussing hands-free cell phone while driving, and cities and counties are talking about and enacting laws to raise the age to 21 to purchase tobacco products.
I might be aware of some naturally growing weeds in the wild.
Probably wild Hemp. Farmed here through WW2. Tons of it grows along the shores of lower Pool 2. Recently made legal again to produce. You will start seeing fields of Hemp again this year.
It will not get you stoned if you smoke it…..
-J.
Many many many people already smoke pot, I know a lot of people who both smoke pot and dont smoke pot. I dont personally see any issue with it. As far as work <nobr style=”font-size: inherit”>place</nobr> injuries, drug test will still be the same through employers. May be legal in the state but federally still illegal. Companies still ban the use and can enforce that. My wife’s mom has a house in Colorado and we go back and forth alot. It’s not some crazy drug town. I’m more worried about these “kids” getting drunk and doing dumb stuff.
EXACTLY.
personally i could care less one way or the other. employers have drug policies, until the feds take it off there illegal drug list employers will continue to legally not allow pot. in my line of work there is also this thing called “saftey sensitive” workplaces.
You got the stash, i got the bait
I think this is a stupid idea, but then I don’t need any mood altering, am not depressed and am happy with life.
I wonder how many of the kids that have been given a free pass on school for the next couple days while the parents are working are at home catching a buzz.
I think this is a stupid idea, but then I don’t need any mood altering, am not depressed and am happy with life.
what an ignorant, broad brush stroke train of thought.
I wonder how many of the kids that have been given a free pass on school for the next couple days while the parents are working are at home catching a buzz.
I know, right. hot damn and schnapps help keep you warm in them cold temps.
alcohol is a far worse drug.
x1000
Ask any ED doc how many times they had to call a parent cause some stoner jump the center line and crashed head on at 60mph.
Ask any ED doc how many woman came to the ED breathing off a vent cause the stoner beat them almost to death.
Ask any ED doc how many frost bite pt’s passed out on the street cause they were too high
Ask any ED docs of stories like “here, hold my joint while I jump through this fire on a moped”.
All those above and many more is a typical day in the ED with ETOH pt’s.
counties are talking about and enacting laws to raise the age to 21 to purchase tobacco products.
Pretty sure in rec states, you have to be 21 to purchase marijuana.
But i’m of the opinion that if you can join the military at 18, vote at 18, you should be afforded the full privileges of adulthood at 18.
“Reefer madness” 
It’s the drug that ruins all.
But drinking booze is healthy and ok. Only now because the government tells you so. Back when it was a prohibition then it was the devils juice and you were a bad person to touch it. But now because big brother can make money on it , it’s ok
Hurry, someone post some boobs while the moderator is in a good mood. Seriously, nice to see a controversial topic not get shutdown immediately.
I predict huge increases in air freshener sales.
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I wrote a paper in college discussing how our government feels justified in the fact that alcohol is legal while marijuana is not. As if one mood-altering substance is inherently more or less harmful than the other. Don’t be fooled – marijuana isn’t illegal because it’s dangerous, just as alcohol isn’t legal because it’s safe… those are inaccurate assumptions.
I don’t foresee an abrupt increase of marijuana users if the day ever comes that it’s legalized here in MN. Alcohol is legal, but there are many people choose not to over-indulge or even drink at all. With legalization comes regulation.
Along these same lines, I’m surprised the general public seems to have more of a problem with pot than with sugar. Sugar can be just as addicting as most common drugs and it’s considered no big deal despite the increasing obesity rates here in the US.
Sharon, sugar is just the tip of the iceberg. I don’t think people eat much different food than we did 50 years ago, technically healthier if anything. I point to all the food additives and chemicals, obesity and cancer.
What I can’t stand is this: Where’s the sense of freaking legislative priorities?
Really? Legalizing pot is the most important thing we have to debate right now in MN? Like there’s NOTHING else that’s more important that our legislature could be working on?
It seems like every legislative session goes down to the wire or to overtime and we’re debating whether or not to hold a special session because the work didn’t get done, but hold the phone, we gotta spend time debating legal weed for half a session.
How’s about we work on something important first? State budget maybe? Infrastructure? If this is a bonding bill year, at least that would stave off legislative boredom maybe? School funding overhaul?
Grouse
Isnt tax revenue important business too!
What I can’t stand is this: Where’s the sense of freaking legislative priorities?
Really? Legalizing pot is the most important thing we have to debate right now in MN? Like there’s NOTHING else that’s more important that our legislature could be working on?
It seems like every legislative session goes down to the wire or to overtime and we’re debating whether or not to hold a special session because the work didn’t get done, but hold the phone, we gotta spend time debating legal weed for half a session.
How’s about we work on something important first? State budget maybe? Infrastructure? If this is a bonding bill year, at least that would stave off legislative boredom maybe? School funding overhaul?
Grouse
hey i just read the introduced a bill to name the lab as the state dog!!!!!!!!!! 
Grouse, to make matters worse, there are THREE bills that have been introduced at the state capitol and another on the way!
I think the smart politicians realize they’ll be a big loser if they don’t get smarter about weed and the demographics behind it. That’s why it’s a priority.
How’s about we work on something important first? State budget maybe? Infrastructure? If this is a bonding bill year, at least that would stave off legislative boredom maybe? School funding overhaul?
Grouse
It’s not just a question of whether we want to let some people have fun legally or not, there is a significant amount of money involved too.
There are about ~9,000 pot related arrests per year in Minnesota. That’s a lot of money taxpayers are spending to move those through the system. There’s also another ~9,000 residents who might have their earning potential affected by a conviction. There’s also all of the potential tax money the state could collect on the sale of it. Legalizing could help with all of the things you just mentioned.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Outdraft wrote:</div>
I think this post needs to be put on another site, this has nothing to do with the outdoors and is going to become a political topic.Buzzkill!
Pun definitely intended LOL
Personally, considering the fact that anything that is currently illegal can be had relatively easily today, why not profit from it and perhaps have a way to regulate it. Tax revenue, reputable shops selling it so users don’t have to worry about it being tainted with something that will kill you? Sounds like a good idea to me.
Those who want to partake, will. Those who don’t, won’t.
How’s about we work on something important first? State budget maybe? Infrastructure? If this is a bonding bill year, at least that would stave off legislative boredom maybe? School funding overhaul?
Grouse
All valid and legitimate arguments, but how about if Pot were legal, with additional incoming Tax revenue it would lead to a new flow of cash for said initiatives correct? Sometimes the “lower” priority items have a high impact on high priority needs.
its my understanding the legal………..medical stuff is way more spendy then the illegal stuff currently. i know someone who has the prescrip…….costs more not always in stock……..cheaper and easier the other way!!!!!!! they have MS!!!!!!
its my understanding the legal………..medical stuff is way more spendy then the illegal stuff currently. i know someone who has the prescrip…….costs more not always in stock……..cheaper and easier the other way!!!!!!! they have MS!!!!!!
I have a buddy who’s dad has cancer. After his treatments he is sick can’t eat and extremely uncomfortable. Now if he smokes after wards he is comfortable his nausea goes away he can nap and gets a bit of a appetite.
But some of these guys have their eyes glued shut and it always just negative and bad things.
Geez !!!!
Make it legal! Sell it! Tax it!
Fix our god#!?@ roads with some of the $$$ ?!?!?!?
Pot use isn’t gonna go up if legal. Everybody in my era(teen in 80’s) wanted to try it just because everybody said”stay away”
Some need to realize pot is just a plant that starts from a seed.just a plant, not a drug..
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Kyhl wrote:</div>
I might be aware of some naturally growing weeds in the wild.Probably wild Hemp. Farmed here through WW2. Tons of it grows along the shores of lower Pool 2. Recently made legal again to produce. You will start seeing fields of Hemp again this year.
It will not get you stoned if you smoke it…..
And that is why it is called ditch weed.Ditch weed=a good headache and nothing more.
I worked in shops where some guys would smoke weed,and they had nary a problem with performance.Now the guys that were doing pills,like snorting crushed Oxycontin were a different bunch.No different than the lunch-time drinkers.The pill guys did the most damage,followed by the drinkers.One guy that was snorting Oxy did over 12k damage to a CNC vertical mill.
-J.
Hey where did the Wall post go maybe get that back up we can read both and get us to Fri being no one is outside.
Of topic sorry did smoke some pot in VietNam 1967 dont remember anything 
All valid and legitimate arguments, but how about if Pot were legal, with additional incoming Tax revenue it would lead to a new flow of cash for said initiatives correct?
Not from what I’ve read based on CA and CO’s experience. Legalizing actually costs more than it brings in. All of the licensing, inspection, and policing of pot growing and retail costs way more than the tax revenue brings in. Maybe this goes down over time, but to me it’s yet another reason not to spend time on this now.
Also, Canada has just legalized nation-wide and sales (and tax income) were dramatically lower than expected. Still early days, but Canada pursued a high tax and it appears that this strategy may have backfired and sent consumers back to their black market sources, which means no tax revenue.
Strictly based on a revenue argument, I’d say again there are VASTLY higher returns on the legislative time investment by pursuing other priorities.
Grouse
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