(07-20-2009 02:30 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  If it is legal, I'd try to grow some in my garden like I grow tommytoes and jalapanoes..... I'd sell it to the local neighborhood hippy (who is also my USPS Mailman, haha!) and post it for sale on Craigslist, like I do with my banana pepper mustard.

Would you pay sales or income tax on what you earn? If your neighbor helps you grow it and you throw him/her a few bucks will you make sure s/he's covered under the workman's comp and other tax/business laws?

Legalizing pot will simply make the underground pot market larger while generating little revenue and tons of stoned out users.

(07-20-2009 08:09 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 02:30 PM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  If it is legal, I'd try to grow some in my garden like I grow tommytoes and jalapanoes..... I'd sell it to the local neighborhood hippy (who is also my USPS Mailman, haha!) and post it for sale on Craigslist, like I do with my banana pepper mustard.

Would you pay sales or income tax on what you earn? If your neighbor helps you grow it and you throw him/her a few bucks will you make sure s/he's covered under the workman's comp and other tax/business laws?

Legalizing pot will simply make the underground pot market larger while generating little revenue and tons of stoned out users.

that's not the message from NORML, As they say, taxing pot will generate tons of tax revenue with no human side effects, but as you say they are bunch of clueless, stoned out losers anyway. who could trust them.

Quote:California Tax Board Says Regulating Commercial Pot Sales Would Yield $1.4 Billion Annually — Also Predicts Decline in Use of Booze and Tobacco
July 16th, 2009 By: Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director


A revised budgetary analysis by the California State Board of Equalization (BOE) estimates that taxing and regulating the retail sale of cannabis by adults would raise approximately $1.4 billion in annual new state revenue.

The BOE’s estimate, released late yesterday, assesses a $50 per ounce tax on the retail sale of cannabis (among other state-imposed costs), as recommended under Assembly Bill 390: The Marijuana Control, Regulation and Education Act. This act seeks to license and tax the commercial production, packaging, and retail sale of marijuana to those 21 years of age or older.

As introduced, AB 390 would not impose taxation or licensing requirements on the non-commercial production of cannabis (up to ten mature plants), or on the not-for-profit distribution of pot. Further, the bill would not alter existing legislation on the use of medicinal cannabis, nor would it impose new taxes or sanctions on the medical cultivation of cannabis.

According to the BOE’s revised calculations, the enactment of AB 390 would raise an estimate $990 million annually from the proposed $50 per ounce levy on retail sales of marijuana in addition to another $392 million in yearly sales tax revenues.

The BOE assessment did not assess whether the enactment of AB 390 would reduce existing law enforcement and prosecutorial costs, which have been estimated by California NORML to average some $200 million per year. In 2007, a record 74,000 Californians were charged with marijuana offenses – the largest total since the state ‘decriminalized’ the personal possession of small amounts of marijuana in 1976.

The BOE report acknowledged that legalizing pot for adults would likely result in a “substitution effect” where consumers gravitate toward the use of marijuana “and away from cigarettes and alcohol.”

According to a May 2009 California Field poll of 901 registered voters, 56 percent of Californians say that lawmakers should “legalize marijuana for recreational use and tax its proceeds.” Presently, the state is facing a $26 billion budget deficit.

Assembly Bill 390 is presently before the Assembly Committees on Public Safety and Health, which are expected to take up the issue early next year.

I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

(07-20-2009 08:46 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

Lock yourself in the refrigerator, stoner.

.

What I am laughing so hard at and almost choking over is simple:

The 'Whack-Job Green Liberals and the Ultra-Retarded Greenie Hordes led by Al Gore and such other Super Stars', WHO have always claimed that Marijuana is Mojo Safe and can be grown at home with your own "Chia Pet Weed Planter", are NOW Screaming how Devastating to the Environment the Growing of Marijuana is and will need to be TAXED under the Carbon Tax Laws like a MOFO !!!!

YOU CAN NOT MAKE THIS STUFF UP ....

I swear I hope Jesus comes back soon and takes me away from all this foolishness.

Al Gore and the Greenies - - anything for a Dollar buddy, anything at all.

.

(07-19-2009 09:20 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(07-19-2009 08:14 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  People don't die from cannabis

I understand what you're saying - no one died from a bong hit. But how many people die in drug turf wars here and in Mexico? I also know you well enough to think that your response would be "if pot was legal they wouldn't be killing each other." But it ain't and they do.

Anyway, I believe pot to be a gateway drug. Don't have proof, don't have statistics, ain't got squat, but that's what I believe.

Also, if a guy inhales a few doobers on a Friday night and gets into an accident at work on Monday the almost required drug test many employers use in these situations will show pot was in his system and he'll lose his job. Making it legal still doesn't offset the reasons why employers don't want their employees smoking it.

And if you legalize pot in California, what is the NFL going to do to a player who gets high in California? Will they fine/suspend him for usig a legal substance?

Finally, I'm sure you all remember this tidbit from your parents: They call it dope for a reason."

If cannabis is a gateway drug...then so is nicotine and alcohol. It simply just arbitrary and both alcohol and cigarettes are direct medical killers.

I have no problem BTW with an employer demanding that employees do not use "any" of these substances, as long as it is part of the hiring conditions. I do not even have a problem with an employer demanding that employees live and healthy lifestyle...again...as long at it is contracted at the time of hiring.

The NFL should be able to have a drug policy...again...contracted at the time of employment. It is really none of my concern.

Scare tactic language obviously has not worked. I believe it has done just the opposite. Because cannabis is such a harmless substance, when teens try it...they realize just how much they have been lied to. They they wonder..."Just what other stuff have I been lied too about". If there is a gateway....the lack of honesty and the "forbidden fruit" aspect fuels it.

(07-20-2009 08:46 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

There is no evidence to support that claim. In fact the evidence is to the contrary. Portugal decriminalized cannabis about 8 years ago and saw no rise in usage. This has been shown also in other countries where the laws are not strict on the use of cannabis.

What we really have here is simply just control freaks deciding what substances are OK or what is bad. It all simply arbitrary.

In the case of cannabis the Law Enforcement fights this battle for one reason....It is were they get most of their money!! Without cannabis paying the bills....Where would they get the money to buy all their black jackboot riot gear...fancy armored vehicles and automatic weapons? Man damn...They are beginning to look like an army instead of "peace officers".

(07-20-2009 09:31 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(07-19-2009 09:20 PM)smn1256 Wrote:  

(07-19-2009 08:14 PM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  People don't die from cannabis

I understand what you're saying - no one died from a bong hit. But how many people die in drug turf wars here and in Mexico? I also know you well enough to think that your response would be "if pot was legal they wouldn't be killing each other." But it ain't and they do.

Anyway, I believe pot to be a gateway drug. Don't have proof, don't have statistics, ain't got squat, but that's what I believe.

Also, if a guy inhales a few doobers on a Friday night and gets into an accident at work on Monday the almost required drug test many employers use in these situations will show pot was in his system and he'll lose his job. Making it legal still doesn't offset the reasons why employers don't want their employees smoking it.

And if you legalize pot in California, what is the NFL going to do to a player who gets high in California? Will they fine/suspend him for usig a legal substance?

Finally, I'm sure you all remember this tidbit from your parents: They call it dope for a reason."

If cannabis is a gateway drug...then so is nicotine and alcohol. It simply just arbitrary and both alcohol and cigarettes are direct medical killers.

I have no problem BTW with an employer demanding that employees do not use "any" of these substances, as long as it is part of the hiring conditions. I do not even have a problem with an employer demanding that employees live and healthy lifestyle...again...as long at it is contracted at the time of hiring.

The NFL should be able to have a drug policy...again...contracted at the time of employment. It is really none of my concern.

Scare tactic language obviously has not worked. I believe it has done just the opposite. Because cannabis is such a harmless substance, when teens try it...they realize just how much they have been lied to. They they wonder..."Just what other stuff have I been lied too about". If there is a gateway....the lack of honesty and the "forbidden fruit" aspect fuels it.

I really don't look at Marijuana as being a "Gateway Drug" as in if you use it, you are Damned to a life on Meth or Crack, as I see Marijuana as a way "INTO" and Near people who DO USE harder Drugs and as we all know, PEER PRESSURE can be a Killer.

If you have moved into the Circle and are a trusted member and you are sitting over in the corner toking the bong of some Hydro Mary J, what are you going to say to several of your Buddies who are over in the other corner hitting the Crack Pipe and they invite you to join ???

What are you going to do if they start to Tease You about being a Wuss for not smoking a little Crack or Meth with them ??? I mean it is just a little and it won't hurt you any; it's just like Pot after all.

There's your "Gateway" - - have seen it first hand way too many times.

.

(07-20-2009 08:49 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:46 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

Lock yourself in the refrigerator, stoner.

I've kept more marijuana out of the states than you can imagine. It doesn't happen in Ft. Myers as much as a Miami, but people still try to sneak us. So I've done my fair share of work for your cause I would guess.

(07-20-2009 10:10 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:49 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:46 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

Lock yourself in the refrigerator, stoner.

I've kept more marijuana out of the states than you can imagine. It doesn't happen in Ft. Myers as much as a Miami, but people still try to sneak us. So I've done my fair share of work for your cause I would guess.

My only cause is to keep it (all drugs, alcohol too) out of the hands of minors, and if you do that, I am grateful to you. It is the noblest thing you could ever do.

(07-20-2009 10:10 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:49 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:46 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

Lock yourself in the refrigerator, stoner.

I've kept more marijuana out of the states than you can imagine. It doesn't happen in Ft. Myers as much as a Miami, but people still try to sneak us. So I've done my fair share of work for your cause I would guess.

No offense...but...You know this interdiction is really just a waste of stolen wages. I doubt the amount of cannabis smuggled in is even calculateable. It puts more people in danger..particularlly law enforcement... than it does good.
Remove the risk and you remove the violence.

(07-21-2009 12:54 AM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 10:10 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:49 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:46 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

Lock yourself in the refrigerator, stoner.

I've kept more marijuana out of the states than you can imagine. It doesn't happen in Ft. Myers as much as a Miami, but people still try to sneak us. So I've done my fair share of work for your cause I would guess.

My only cause is to keep it (all drugs, alcohol too) out of the hands of minors, and if you do that, I am grateful to you. It is the noblest thing you could ever do.

If your goal is to keep drugs out of the hands of minors...then why do you allow an easy access to them? The black market does not care about your kids. It cares about profit. At least legitimate businessmen that would have to adhere to regulation would have an incentive to not sell to minors. This is all about fear. Everyone is just scared to do what they know should be done. Meanwhile kids are buying drugs and people are being hurt.

(07-21-2009 05:49 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 10:10 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:49 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:46 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

Lock yourself in the refrigerator, stoner.

I've kept more marijuana out of the states than you can imagine. It doesn't happen in Ft. Myers as much as a Miami, but people still try to sneak us. So I've done my fair share of work for your cause I would guess.

No offense...but...You know this interdiction is really just a waste of stolen wages. I doubt the amount of cannabis smuggled in is even calculateable. It puts more people in danger..particularlly law enforcement... than it does good.
Remove the risk and you remove the violence.

Compared to what's already being grown here in every American city, it's a very small amount. And in reality, I want there to be no incentive for dealers in the US to buy from wherever they get it. It means that my on-call nights could be a little less dangerous.

(07-21-2009 11:27 AM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(07-21-2009 05:49 AM)Fo Shizzle Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 10:10 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:49 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  

(07-20-2009 08:46 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  I don't know how many new people would start using pot if it were legal. It's already deadly easy to get and if you want a smoke, you can get that smoke within 15 minutes. I just think that the more stoned out user argument is weak.

Lock yourself in the refrigerator, stoner.

I've kept more marijuana out of the states than you can imagine. It doesn't happen in Ft. Myers as much as a Miami, but people still try to sneak us. So I've done my fair share of work for your cause I would guess.

No offense...but...You know this interdiction is really just a waste of stolen wages. I doubt the amount of cannabis smuggled in is even calculateable. It puts more people in danger..particularlly law enforcement... than it does good.
Remove the risk and you remove the violence.

Compared to what's already being grown here in every American city, it's a very small amount. And in reality, I want there to be no incentive for dealers in the US to buy from wherever they get it. It means that my on-call nights could be a little less dangerous.

Yes....and lets don't be fooled....Cannabis is huge business for not only growers and dealers...but the government also. Neither of these two groups would want to see it decriminalized and sold legitimately for that reason. They both would lose vast amounts of income.