Make school more interesting and fewer teens will toking up to get though it.

Every study I have read from all over the world shows that when cannabis is tolerated use remains about the same, some times even decreases, use among minors almost always decreases, hard drug (heroin, meth, ect) use among minors significantly decreases.

So won't someone please think of the children?!?!?

/No I won't provide sources, it's Saturday morning and I'm lazy
//The googles they will do something.

Because you can't feed the machine when you're stoned, Subby. Yes, we're watching you.

No reason to do anything about it at this point. The schools still have the right to expel students who bring drugs to school, even ones that are legal (or decriminalized) for people over the ages of 18 or 21, and employers still have the option of not hiring you or firing you if you test positive for anything they object to. Let the kids figure out on their own that what they choose to do carries with it consequences that they might not want.

The reason is: Some people just can't bear the thought that other people might be enjoying themselves.

mitchcumstein1: Tax the crap out of it, just like cigarettes.

GAT_00: Never smoked pot, or even a cigarette in my life, and I think it should be legalized and taxed. I mean, why the hell not? It's safer than alcohol.

Only after they start 'heavily' taxing the fatties.

If you can tell they're high expell them, they'll get the hint it still is a big deal (at least at school), if you can't tell who's high, who cares

Kome: No reason to do anything about it at this point. The schools still have the right to expel students who bring drugs to school, even ones that are legal (or decriminalized) for people over the ages of 18 or 21, and employers still have the option of not hiring you or firing you if you test positive for anything they object to. Let the kids figure out on their own that what they choose to do carries with it consequences that they might not want.

THIS. Legal or illegal, if you show up to school (or work) under the influence of ANYTHING, you might have a problem. I've probably smoked my own body weight in weed over my lifetime, but I don't do bong hits before work. (I have been know to W & B on my day off, though) I drink, but I don't order a beer at lunch.

What I'm trying to say is, well I forgot. But it should totally be legal, just not in schools or around heavy equipment.

/I just had to fire a guy for a post accident screening.
/He was a great guy and a good worker, too bad he was the guy that took the trash out after some idiot diabetic improperly disposed of a needle. I'll pay for his blood tests for the next six months, but he can't work here anymore.

Kome: The schools still have the right to expel students who bring drugs to school, even ones that are legal (or decriminalized) for people over the ages of 18 or 21

actually if you RTFA they specified that the school can only expel for felonies, the penalty is now 5 days suspension

So should we get rid of the minimum drinking and smoking ages? If a child really wants a joint, who's to stop her?
How about legalizing small amounts 'shrooms and acid? Does taxing it make it ok?

SilentStrider: Sorry folks, but you lost this one. Don't like it? TOUGH.

/doesn't smoke
//still thinks it should be legal

Joce678: The reason is: Some people just can't bear the thought that other people might be enjoying themselves.

And with a bit of luck their lives will be ruined - forever thinking that just behind some narrow door in all their favorite bars, men in red Pendleton shirts are getting incredible kicks from things they'll never know.

/We can't stop here. This is bat country.

/I just had to fire a guy for a post accident screening.
/He was a great guy and a good worker, too bad he was the guy that took the trash out after some idiot diabetic improperly disposed of a needle. I'll pay for his blood tests for the next six months, but he can't work here anymore.

depending on the job, weed actually enhances performance. there are less mistakes under the influence in jobs that require a steady hand and attention to detail like electronic assembly, and since it is mindless and repetitive, who the fark cares if they toke up on their break?
so your random drug test caught someone who takes a toke or two in the evening after a stressful day instead of having a six pack of beer. what do you want, hung over employees or people who are relax, refreshed and ready for a brand new day????
you loose. you just admitted you fired a damned good employee.

I'm heading to my favorite dispensary later today so I'm getting a kick outta these replies...

/it's already legal in California

damn english language anyway

you lose.

Oh there are good policy grounds for legalizing marijuana? That doesn't stop potheads from undermining their own position by their selfish support for violent criminals.

Weaver95: Great idea - teach kids that self important authoritarian douchebags believe themselves to be above the law.

I thought this was one of those lessons that people learned no matter what, because there are so many examples all over the place. School's usually the first time people experience it though. If they implement this policy stupidly, then there will be a lot of kids in that school who'll learn to distrust authority--which is probably a good thing, and more significant in the long run than whether kids are smoking weed.

Despite "the change in legislation, we can still expel kids for this"... He wasn't certain if the law allowed districts to expel students who had less than an ounce of pot... but "If drugs are involved, we're going to make sure the police are involved" said Brucato.

Even though there's no criminal offense being committed. Apparently he views the police as his personal morality enforcers.

GAT_00: Never smoked pot, or even a cigarette in my life, and I think it should be legalized and taxed. I mean, why the hell not? It's safer than alcohol.

Why should it be taxed?

"After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing after all as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true."

I believe the answer you're looking for in the headline is cold...hard...cash.

/Land of the fleeced
//Home of the repossessed

MentalMoment: Despite "the change in legislation, we can still expel kids for this"... He wasn't certain if the law allowed districts to expel students who had less than an ounce of pot... but "If drugs are involved, we're going to make sure the police are involved" said Brucato.

Even though there's no criminal offense being committed. Apparently he views the police as his personal morality enforcers.

I'm assuming the decrim law only applies to adults and schools are drug free zones anyway. At school you have very few rights.

Lehk: Kome: The schools still have the right to expel students who bring drugs to school, even ones that are legal (or decriminalized) for people over the ages of 18 or 21

actually if you RTFA they specified that the school can only expel for felonies, the penalty is now 5 days suspension

I don't really see the long term benefit of either action. My high school had in-school suspension (ISS.) Basically, instead of getting expelled they would put students in an isolated room for 1-5 days. They had to eat lunch in silence in the room and were required to read and do the homework they would normally need to complete. These students also had to walk in a line to the lunch room, get their lunch in silence, and return in silence. It wasn't fun for them and we didn't have the same people getting in trouble over and over again.

/went to a smaller school, though...don't know how this would work at a large school.

Weaver95: Despite "the change in legislation, we can still expel kids for this," he said.

Great idea - teach kids that self important authoritarian douchbages believe themselves to be above the law.

Well it's an important life lesson.

Really though -- I'm all for complete legalization and regulation of marijuana, but I'm okay with schools disciplining kids who bring alcohol/drugs/whatever into schools.

But speaking of rules, you've been arrested dozens of times in your life. Specific incidents aside, what's common to these run-ins? Where do you stand vis-à-vis the law?
"Goddammit. Yeah, I have. First, there's a huge difference between being arrested and being guilty. Second, see, the law changes and I don't. How I stand vis-à-vis the law at any given moment depends on the law. The law can change from state to state, from nation to nation, from city to city. I guess I have to go by a higher law. How's that? Yeah, I consider myself a road man for the lords of karma."

TheWizard: Why should it be taxed?

I can't speak for the United States, but in Canada the health costs associated with smoking fall on the state and thus taxpayers. There is an argument to be made that some of the cost should be allayed through taxation of the products that cause the problem.

Or, it's a cash grab.

8bit4life: Lehk: Kome: The schools still have the right to expel students who bring drugs to school, even ones that are legal (or decriminalized) for people over the ages of 18 or 21

actually if you RTFA they specified that the school can only expel for felonies, the penalty is now 5 days suspension

I don't really see the long term benefit of either action. My high school had in-school suspension (ISS.) Basically, instead of getting expelled they would put students in an isolated room for 1-5 days. They had to eat lunch in silence in the room and were required to read and do the homework they would normally need to complete. These students also had to walk in a line to the lunch room, get their lunch in silence, and return in silence. It wasn't fun for them and we didn't have the same people getting in trouble over and over again.

/went to a smaller school, though...don't know how this would work at a large school.

My school had it and it generally was the same kids over and over. I had it a couple times and it was pretty terrible, lunch was brought to the room to keep your further isolated.

Then they switched to "Saturday school" same concept only it was 4 hours on Saturday morning.

I am all for legalization but this notion that it is good for you is a joke.

SilentStrider
"Sorry folks, but you lost this one. Don't like it? TOUGH."

What folks are you talking about? Are you in MA? The referendum passed by a good margin.Heck, my parents that are around 80 voted in favor of the law change, as did I.

I think the problem with legalization is that a lot of people think that it means "People will smoke all the time, and everywhere." It'll end up being treated like alcohol is already. Only allowed in smoking sections of restaurants, not allowed to bring to school or work, shouldn't smoke before driving, etc. It'd be something people do in their personal time.

Should there be an age limit on marijuana like there is with alcohol and tobacco? Eh, probably. It won't stop some people of course, but I don't think it's something that a 15 year-old should be able to walk in and buy, for example.

thistime: I am all for legalization but this notion that it is good for you is a joke.

Yet hundreds of years of human experience and countless studies on the varying effects prove you wrong. Must suck huh?

/It can inflame the lung tissue if inhaled (being burning planet material and all) but there's no link to COPD

loabn: I can't speak for the United States, but in Canada the health costs associated with smoking fall on the state and thus taxpayers. There is an argument to be made that some of the cost should be allayed through taxation of the products that cause the problem.

This is actual the major reason why I cannot support state healthcare. At least here in the United States, until the government can demonstrate that it won't use healthcare costs as an excuse to legislate behavior, I won't support it.

But, that's the same reason why I don't support taxes based on the concept of behavioral modification.