The elephant in the room. Rational individuals from both parties call for it. Instead of spending money to block its growth and jail users, it could be a cash crop for American farmers, and revenues from taxes on the product could be funneled into treatment and education programs to reduce dependancy on the more dangerous drugs like meth.

But there is 0% chance Obama will suport this, at least until after the election in November.

yeah, because that's what Obama has to worry about right now, legalizing pot.

What does he care? It's not like he's going to ever get busted.

Mugato: What does he care? It's not like he's going to ever get busted.

Willie Nelson would like a word with you.

ManateeGag: yeah, because that's what Obama has to worry about right now, legalizing pot.

Yeah, the president shouldn't be expected to multi-task EVER! I hate when this argument is brought out on anything.

stpauler: ManateeGag: yeah, because that's what Obama has to worry about right now, legalizing pot.

Yeah, the president shouldn't be expected to multi-task EVER! I hate when this argument is brought out on anything.

I'm not saying he shouldn't multi-task, I'm saying this shouldn't be one of the things he spends his time on. There are way more important issues in this country other than people who want to get high.

Pot leads to mad Plinko skillz.

stpauler: ManateeGag: yeah, because that's what Obama has to worry about right now, legalizing pot.

Yeah, the president shouldn't be expected to multi-task EVER! I hate when this argument is brought out on anything.

It's not about time, it's about political capital.

Can you imagine the scale of the derpstorm? Obammy is going after our white wimminz!!11!!

ManateeGag: stpauler: ManateeGag: yeah, because that's what Obama has to worry about right now, legalizing pot.

Yeah, the president shouldn't be expected to multi-task EVER! I hate when this argument is brought out on anything.

I'm not saying he shouldn't multi-task, I'm saying this shouldn't be one of the things he spends his time on. There are way more important issues in this country other than people who want to get high.

Well, if it were just that, but it's also the economy, tax revenue, state vs federal law issues, law enforcement resources, and TONS of people in jail for possession. But it's definitely not as myopic as just 420 folks.

stpauler: ManateeGag: stpauler: ManateeGag: yeah, because that's what Obama has to worry about right now, legalizing pot.

Yeah, the president shouldn't be expected to multi-task EVER! I hate when this argument is brought out on anything.

I'm not saying he shouldn't multi-task, I'm saying this shouldn't be one of the things he spends his time on. There are way more important issues in this country other than people who want to get high.

Well, if it were just that, but it's also the economy, tax revenue, state vs federal law issues, law enforcement resources, and TONS of people in jail for possession. But it's definitely not as myopic as just 420 folks.

And you will still have people who grow it in their basements and sell it on the streets, you'll just be arresting them for a different crime.

When you add taxes and overhead to it, you are going to make the price of that product go up. The kid who wants to smoke a joint isn't going to go to the 7-11 and buy a joint at $10 when he can still go to the guy on the street corner and pay him $5 for the same product.

Also, how do you regulate it? Is it OK for everyone? Do you have to be over 16 to use it? 18? 21? what if I'm caught driving while high? is the same as drunk driving or worse or is it ok since it's just weed? Will it be legal to smoke it in the bar? at restaurants? on the street? There's a stark difference between 2nd hand cigarette smoke and 2nd hand marijuana smoke.

It's not as simple as waving a magic wand and viola, weed is legal.

ManateeGag: When you add taxes and overhead to it, you are going to make the price of that product go up. The kid who wants to smoke a joint isn't going to go to the 7-11 and buy a joint at $10 when he can still go to the guy on the street corner and pay him $5 for the same product.

Why go to a bar or a liquor store when you can get booze cheaper from a bootlegger?

ManateeGag:
And you will still have people who grow it in their basements and sell it on the streets, you'll just be arresting them for a different crime.

When you add taxes and overhead to it, you are going to make the price of that product go up. The kid who wants to smoke a joint isn't going to go to the 7-11 and buy a joint at $10 when he can still go to the guy on the street corner and pay him $5 for the same product.

Also, how do you regulate it? Is it OK for everyone? Do you have to be over 16 to use it? 18? 21? what if I'm caught driving while high? is the same as drunk driving or worse or is it ok since it's just weed? Will it be legal to smoke it in the bar? at restaurants? on the street? There's a stark difference between 2nd hand cigarette smoke and 2nd hand marijuana smoke.

It's not as simple as waving a magic wand and viola, weed is legal.

Well, there are things like California Prop 215 that has shown that a magic wand does (sort of) work. It's still problematic, but there aren't many laws out there that aren't.

Aarontology: ManateeGag: When you add taxes and overhead to it, you are going to make the price of that product go up. The kid who wants to smoke a joint isn't going to go to the 7-11 and buy a joint at $10 when he can still go to the guy on the street corner and pay him $5 for the same product.

Why go to a bar or a liquor store when you can get booze cheaper from a bootlegger?

Some people don't have access. however, if you are actually intelligent, you wouldn't get it from a bootlegger because it could kill you.

ManateeGag: Some people don't have access. however, if you are actually intelligent, you wouldn't get it from a bootlegger because it could kill you.

Same would apply to weed. With the street dealer you don't know if that's actual weed, or if it's been laced with something. If you could buy it from the store, you would know that it's real and "clean" like with alcohol.

While I wouldn't expect (and don't even fault) Obama for not pushing for legalization for hopefully obvious reasons, he could get the DEA and the IRS to back off businesses that are selling medicinal marijuana legally under state law.

As it stands, for some reason the IRS is actively trying to drown an otherwise legal, tax paying industry in the bathtub.

veedeevadeevoodee: Spliffy ?

Yup. Your objection?

I imagine Obama might say, "It doesn't appear to be any trouble for you to obtain it."

ManateeGag: stpauler: ManateeGag: stpauler: ManateeGag: yeah, because that's what Obama has to worry about right now, legalizing pot.

Yeah, the president shouldn't be expected to multi-task EVER! I hate when this argument is brought out on anything.

I'm not saying he shouldn't multi-task, I'm saying this shouldn't be one of the things he spends his time on. There are way more important issues in this country other than people who want to get high.

Well, if it were just that, but it's also the economy, tax revenue, state vs federal law issues, law enforcement resources, and TONS of people in jail for possession. But it's definitely not as myopic as just 420 folks.

And you will still have people who grow it in their basements and sell it on the streets, you'll just be arresting them for a different crime.

When you add taxes and overhead to it, you are going to make the price of that product go up. The kid who wants to smoke a joint isn't going to go to the 7-11 and buy a joint at $10 when he can still go to the guy on the street corner and pay him $5 for the same product.

Also, how do you regulate it? Is it OK for everyone? Do you have to be over 16 to use it? 18? 21? what if I'm caught driving while high? is the same as drunk driving or worse or is it ok since it's just weed? Will it be legal to smoke it in the bar? at restaurants? on the street? There's a stark difference between 2nd hand cigarette smoke and 2nd hand marijuana smoke.

It's not as simple as waving a magic wand and viola, weed is legal.

Wrong. You're acting as if the gov't would just take the street price of cannabis and tack on another 20% (that's not how it works)

Guess what, the average price to produce a gram of 'good' cannabis is around $1-2. Street prices go anywhere from $10-25 a gram depending on where you are.

Fireproof: Yanno, one of the big arguments for ending Prohibition was the added tax revenue that would come from the sale of liquor that was suddenly much more important now that the Depression had set in. I'm kind of surprised that more people aren't making that parallel to today.

I believe "legalize and tax" is the primary argument of the legalize it movement here on Fark. Although "it's not harmful" is probably the best moral argument but "we can profit" is probably the biggest motivator for a capitalist society.

Snoop Dogg goes to the White House and asks the burning question of our time: Yo Prez, can we legalize marijuana already?

What you did there...

Mentat: Mugato: What does he care? It's not like he's going to ever get busted.

Willie Nelson would like a word with you.

*snert*

Yeah, but Willie's black.