Gimme some pot, make it legal
Or else forget about it

You can't legalize pot because it's way to easy to grow and that makes it untaxable.

Sure, some people would buy official pot cigarettes, but way, way, way more people would just grow the shiat in their back yard and if it's regulated like cigs are then there won't be enough money to fight all the pot growers (for tax evasion, I suppose).

I mean, don't get me wrong, let's legalize pot, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to be hauling in the tax money if you do.

to too

I, for one, approve of this message. Pizza included.

timmy_the_tooth: You can't legalize pot because it's way to easy to grow and that makes it untaxable.

Sure, some people would buy official pot cigarettes, but way, way, way more people would just grow the shiat in their back yard and if it's regulated like cigs are then there won't be enough money to fight all the pot growers (for tax evasion, I suppose).

I mean, don't get me wrong, let's legalize pot, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to be hauling in the tax money if you do.

Bullshiat. Growing tomatoes and pot are pretty much the same. If I grow my own (of either) I will get a taste and texture that cannot be compared to a store bought version. Yet almost everyone continues to buy their tomatoes from the grocery store. It costs good money to run lights in my basement. It stinks like crazy too. If I could pick up a bag of quality stuff at my local herb shop, I'd gladly pay for the convenience.

Gee...think he's serious about this?

cambie: Bullshiat. Growing tomatoes and pot are pretty much the same. If I grow my own (of either) I will get a taste and texture that cannot be compared to a store bought version. Yet almost everyone continues to buy their tomatoes from the grocery store. It costs good money to run lights in my basement. It stinks like crazy too. If I could pick up a bag of quality stuff at my local herb shop, I'd gladly pay for the convenience.

Growing tomatoes won't get you high, so people aren't willing to put in the work.

Case closed.

It'll give rise to U-Grow locations.

Plus, growing tomatoes in my yard in the PNW is a huge pain in the ass, the crop only goes off once a year, resulting in feast or famine with tomatoes, and is far more costly than going to the store and picking up a nice hot-house tomato from B.C.

Pot, on the other hand, is easy to grow, would be way cheaper than buying it, and did I mention that it gets you high?

People would still buy it, but it's by no means a tax panacea as some people want to portray it.

cambie: timmy_the_tooth: You can't legalize pot because it's way to easy to grow and that makes it untaxable.

Sure, some people would buy official pot cigarettes, but way, way, way more people would just grow the shiat in their back yard and if it's regulated like cigs are then there won't be enough money to fight all the pot growers (for tax evasion, I suppose).

I mean, don't get me wrong, let's legalize pot, but don't fool yourself into thinking you're going to be hauling in the tax money if you do.

Bullshiat. Growing tomatoes and pot are pretty much the same. If I grow my own (of either) I will get a taste and texture that cannot be compared to a store bought version. Yet almost everyone continues to buy their tomatoes from the grocery store. It costs good money to run lights in my basement. It stinks like crazy too. If I could pick up a bag of quality stuff at my local herb shop, I'd gladly pay for the convenience.

never underestimate the capacity of americans to be lazy. especially potheads. i know i would buy it from the store.

timmy_the_tooth: People would still buy it, but it's by no means a tax panacea as some people want to portray it.

Are you kidding? A pack of 20 cigarettes, containing 20 g of tobacco, costs $7.50 in Massachusetts. Most of that is tax, most of the rest is marketing cost, the manufacturing cost is literally pennies.

Say you had a pack of 8 cigarette-sized joints. A little over a quarter-ounce. If the pot were legally and commercially grown, it would cost even less to manufacture than a pack of cigarettes. People used to paying $40 for a quarter would certainly pay $10 for eight perfect one-gram joints, and $8 of that could be tax and the manufacturer would still show a way better profit per pack than Phillip Morris.

Approve..

// I would by it from a store, growing quality herb is too much work.

Obama to Carlos Santana: No.

timmy_the_tooth: You can't legalize pot because it's way to easy to grow and that makes it untaxable.

Bollocks.

We just need one more pot thread today for the dookie trifecta.

I like Obama. I supported him in the primaries and the general, and think he is doing a fine job now. And I understand that there are currently bigger fish to fry, and going for this is going to alienate a lot of people who honestly understand nothing about drug laws, prohibition, or the effects drugs have on their bodies.

That said, I really, really hope that at least towards the end of his first term he moves to decriminalize it.

I've never smoked and I fully support marijuana's legalization.

timmy_the_tooth: You can't legalize pot because it's way to easy to grow and that makes it untaxable.

can't legalize booze either because it's too easy to make and that makes it untaxable...oh, wait.

flaminglip: Fatslave: Obama to Carlos Santana: No.

Not so fast, Fatso. This thing ain't over yet.

Indeed. We're just gaining momentum. Having Jim Webb on board is a good sign.

pandabear: better profit per pack than Phillip Morris

Than? Who do you think will be in the production and distribution business if pot is legalized?

Fatslave: Obama to Carlos Santana: No.

eh, hopefully between this, the town hall question, the recent interviews with economists, and articles being written about it, the issue doesn't go away at least.

timmy_the_tooth: Growing tomatoes won't get you high, so people aren't willing to put in the work.

Case closed.

Simple, non-sarcastic answer is Economies of Scale. You can amortize the cos

If weed goes legal, I am putting all my money in Frito Lay.

I Said: Fatslave: Obama to Carlos Santana: No.

eh, hopefully between this, the town hall question, the recent interviews with economists, and articles being written about it, the issue doesn't go away at least.

It won't, but he doesn't have the political capital to even consider it right now.

Is Carlos Santana a US citizen?

/legalize it.

If you legalize it, it won't be $60/eighth.

Clash City Farker: If weed goes legal, I am putting all my money in Frito LayPepsiCo.

Am I the only one that finds it incredibly ironic that fear of brown people led to the criminalization of marijuana, and now fear of brown people is a leading factor in calling for its decriminalization?

Obama, without going into details, said that he does not think legalizing pot "is a good strategy to grow our economy."

So no, it's probably not going to happen in the next 4 years.

I don't drink alcohol, and I despise cigarettes, and I think decriminalization would solve more problems than it creates.

Lost Thought 00: I Said: Fatslave: Obama to Carlos Santana: No.

eh, hopefully between this, the town hall question, the recent interviews with economists, and articles being written about it, the issue doesn't go away at least.

It won't, but he doesn't have the political capital to even consider it right now.

Precisely. This is why his dismissal of the question during last week's "Open for Questions" session doesn't vex me. The wailing and gnashing of teeth from the Right, had he given the idea of legalization its due and proper consideration, would already be unbearable. Especially if he is elected to a second term, we'll see some movement in the right direction, eventually.

RussianPooper: If you legalize it, it won't be $60/eighth.

Take a look at how cigarratte taxes are going and think again...

Lost Thought 00: timmy_the_tooth: Growing tomatoes won't get you high, so people aren't willing to put in the work.

Case closed.

Simple, non-sarcastic answer is Economies of Scale. You can amortize the cos

By the way, what is this magical aspect of pot that makes the government unable to require licenses for production of cannabis for recreational use? If there were only another psychotropic substance that were commonly available but home production is severely limited...

/homebrewing ain't that hard, just takes time and effort
//neither is distilling, if you can stand it tasting like gasoline
///It'll getcha drunk!

Um, Obama isn't the Emperor. He can't just change the laws by himself. Anyway, the pharmaceutical industry would kick his ass if they legalized weed.

This country is ruled by the corporations. There's no reason for tobacco to be legal if not for the Big Tobacco lobby, for example. Substances that are direct poisons to your body are legal or illegal because of the whims politically influential corporations.

timmy_the_tooth: cambie: Bullshiat. Growing tomatoes and pot are pretty much the same. If I grow my own (of either) I will get a taste and texture that cannot be compared to a store bought version. Yet almost everyone continues to buy their tomatoes from the grocery store. It costs good money to run lights in my basement. It stinks like crazy too. If I could pick up a bag of quality stuff at my local herb shop, I'd gladly pay for the convenience.

Growing tomatoes won't get you high, so people aren't willing to put in the work.

Case closed.

Are you farking high?

Here is a real case summary for you: it is easier to buy prepackaged weed than to become an amateur urban farmer.

Most people that would try to grow it themselves would just end up with ditch weed. The real good stuff is hard to grow. It involves more than just throwing seeds in ground. I see weed growing wild all the time in Iowa but I would never smoke any of it because its not quality. And thats where the market is.

CDP: // I would by it from a store, growing quality herb is too much work.

Me too. I don't smoke very much, and would have no idea what to do with a pound of dope from a harvest. That would last me years, and it doesn't keep that long.

As a kid, I used to lay awake and think
When was Santana gonna make a drink?

pandabear: People used to paying $40 for a quarter would certainly pay $10 for eight perfect one-gram joints

And those of us who live in places where $40 a quarter are relics of the '90s, would certainly have no trouble.

Everyone I know is freaking angry you can't seem to get any right now for less than twice that. Or more.

timmy_the_tooth: You can't legalize pot because it's way to easy to grow and that makes it untaxable.

I think the benefit of legalizing (or decriminalizing) pot is that it reduces the number of kids going to jail for possession. They don't get penalized the rest of their lives by having jail time on their record. They be more productive and earn more. Now you are screwed for life if you get a possession charge.

Obama understands the importance of keeping marijuana illegal. (new window)

AnotherDisillusionedCollegeStudent: By the way, what is this magical aspect of pot that makes the government unable to require licenses for production of cannabis for recreational use? If there were only another psychotropic substance that were commonly available but home production is severely limited...

/homebrewing ain't that hard, just takes time and effort
//neither is distilling, if you can stand it tasting like gasoline
///It'll getcha drunk!

Personally, the bigger question is how to get from here to there. We don't have any infrastructure built up for monitoring/regulating/distributing, it isn't something where you can simply pass a law and overnight everyone can get legal pot at the store.

This is why medical marijuana is critical, because it allows us to develop the infrastructure. The we get over-the-counter pot. And then move towards more relaxed constraints. But the whole process can't just magically happen

Brown Sauce: Obama understands the importance of keeping marijuana illegal. (new window)

Damn, the comments on that blog are pure gold! The internet sure has killed people's ability to ascertain sarcasm, hasn't it?

pandabear: Say you had a pack of 8 cigarette-sized joints. A little over a quarter-ounce.

Jesus, how big are those cigarettes?

That'd be a great way to stand on the issue before Congress. Say it's for the children, and that'll scare a few more into supporting it.

Nobody ever wants to be against the children. Good heavens.

/sarcasm

No American would ever suggest that everyone will grow their own. Americans know that we are completely addicted to convenience.

/ Is cutting tomatoes too hard for you?
// Buy this thing!

Muta: timmy_the_tooth: You can't legalize pot because it's way to easy to grow and that makes it untaxable.

I think the benefit of legalizing (or decriminalizing) pot is that it reduces the number of kids going to jail for possession. They don't get penalized the rest of their lives by having jail time on their record. They be more productive and earn more. Now you are screwed for life if you get a possession charge.

not necessarily. I was charged with possession several years ago. Only had an eighth (I won't go into the details of the arrest, let's just say I did something pretty damned stupid). The charge was reduced to "possession of a dangerous drug not to be introduced into interstate commerce" and I was given drug counseling and a $1000 fine.

this was three weeks before the Nevada law was changed to a misdemeanor for possession under one ounce. I got the only intelligent judge in the city.

chopit: pandabear: Say you had a pack of 8 cigarette-sized joints. A little over a quarter-ounce.

Jesus, how big are those cigarettes?

Mugato: Um, Obama isn't the Emperor. He can't just change the laws by himself. Anyway, the pharmaceutical industry would kick his ass if they legalized weed.

I see it happening like gay marriage, a few states take the plunge and it slowly gains acceptance across the country. Some states will commence with the gnashing of teeth, but fark them, I'm sick of them holding us back from progress.

Pharma can get into the game too and sell THC pills or distillates for those who don't want to smoke or vaporize.