Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 51
  1. #1
    I don't know barbaro's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    on pacific ocean, south america
    Posts
    21,406

    California to Vote on Legalizing Recreational Pot Use

    We should be reminded by that:

    Decriminalization is for the individual, and

    Legalization is for the Taxman to collect $$$$.

    Still, this is a step in the right direction, IMO.
    « Previous
    Initiative to legalize marijuana qualifies for November ballot

    March 24, 2010 | 5:22 pm

    State election officials announced Wednesday that an initiative to legalize marijuana will be on the November ballot, triggering what will likely be an expensive, divisive and much-watched campaign to decide whether California will again lead the nation in softening drug laws.



    Los Angeles County election officials Wednesday turned in their official estimate of the number of valid signatures, putting the statewide figure above the 433,971 needed for the measure to make the ballot. The county, where one-fifth of the signatures were collected, was the last to report its count, filing just before 5 p.m.
    Polls have indicated that a majority of voters in California want marijuana legalized, but the margin is not enough to ensure the initiative will win. Two years ago, opponents defeated an attempt to relax the state's drug laws despite being outspent. "It's always easier for people to say no than to say yes for an initiative," said Mark Baldassare, the pollster for the Public Policy Institute of California. "Generally, all it takes is for people to find one reason to say no."



    The initiative would allow adults 21 or older to possess up to an ounce for personal use. Possession of an ounce or less has been a misdemeanor with a $100 fine since 1975, when Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown, who was then governor, signed a law that reduced tough marijuana penalties that had allowed judges to impose 10-year sentences. Legalization supporters note that misdemeanor arrests have risen dramatically in California in the last two decades. The initiative would also allow adults to grow up to 25 square feet of marijuana per residence or parcel.





    But the measure, known as the Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010, goes further, allowing cities and counties to adopt ordinances that would authorize the cultivation, transportation and sale of marijuana, which could be taxed to raise revenues. It's this feature of the initiative that supporters hope will draw support from voters who are watching their local governments jettison employees and programs in the midst of a severe budget crisis.
    Link & Entire: Initiative to legalize marijuana qualifies for November ballot | L.A. NOW | Los Angeles Times

  2. #2
    Thailand Expat
    Mid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    1,411
    it is obvious to all but Blind Freddy that the economics of prohibition v's legalization will prevail .

  3. #3
    I am in Jail
    Camel Toe's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Last Online
    18-02-2017 @ 10:41 AM
    Location
    Guadalajara
    Posts
    3,717
    It's been legal with a doctor's script for a decade at least. I think Alaska too, maybe Nevada. But any legislation won't stop the crack/coke/heroin thirst or cross-border trade, MM. I doubt there are any big Lat Amer crime organizations who deal in pot any more.

  4. #4
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
    slackula's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Behind a slipping mask of sanity in Phuket.
    Posts
    9,088
    If it passes, it will be interesting to see how many "state's rights" Republicans, the ones who want to sue to stop the federal government from forcing health care reform on the states, will suddenly point out that the California "pot is OK" law would be improper because it conflicts with federal "pot is bad" laws.

    You'll probably see even more constitutional gymnastics when pot laws are loosened like the same sex marriage kerfuffle.

    Also, the pot growers don't want it legalised because it will drive prices down:

    REDWAY, Calif. — The smell of pot hung heavy in the air as men with dreadlocks and gray beards contemplated a nightmarish possibility in this legendary region of outlaw marijuana growers: legal weed.
    If California legalizes marijuana, they say, it will drive down the price of their crop and damage not just their livelihoods but the entire economy along the state's rugged northern coast.
    "The legalization of marijuana will be the single most devastating economic event in the long boom-and-bust history of Northern California," said Anna Hamilton, 62, a Humboldt County radio host and musician who said her involvement with marijuana has mostly been limited to smoking it for the past 40 years.


    The Associated Press: Outlaw pot growers in California fear legalization
    bibo ergo sum
    If you hear the thunder be happy - the lightening missed.
    This time.

  5. #5
    Banned Muadib's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    HELL
    Posts
    4,774
    Medical Marijuana is now legal in 27 states, which is contrary to the federal laws that criminalize the use... It many other states, a small quantity is only a misdemeanor offense with a slap on the wrist if caught... It's only a matter of time before the talking heads realize the benefits of legalization and taxing the proceeds...
    Give a man a match, and he'll be warm for a minute, but set him on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

  6. #6
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:30 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,903
    Quote Originally Posted by slackula
    "The legalization of marijuana will be the single most devastating economic event in the long boom-and-bust history of Northern California,"
    Will put a bunch of small business entrepreneurs out of business for sure. Same thing after prohibition repealed. Poor buggers will just to move on to bigger and better things when the corporate weed farms take over.


  7. #7
    Member
    Ghandi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Last Online
    13-08-2010 @ 08:20 PM
    Posts
    822
    Quote Originally Posted by Muadib View Post
    Medical Marijuana is now legal in 27 states, which is contrary to the federal laws that criminalize the use... It many other states, a small quantity is only a misdemeanor offense with a slap on the wrist if caught... It's only a matter of time before the talking heads realize the benefits of legalization and taxing the proceeds...

    Well put. Cigarettes and Alcohol earn states foruntes in tax revenue and marijuana is hardly any worse.


  8. #8
    Thailand Expat
    billy the kid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Last Online
    19-11-2016 @ 07:57 PM
    Posts
    7,636
    How many will be heading to California for a relaxing holiday ?

  9. #9
    Member
    MustavaMond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Last Online
    17-07-2015 @ 11:54 AM
    Location
    Moon's Shadow
    Posts
    920
    Quote Originally Posted by billy the kid View Post
    How many will be heading to California for a relaxing holiday ?
    Ballot is not voted, yet. Someone check if referendum is binding?

    If not , would Arnold "The Toker " sign or veto?

  10. #10
    Banned Muadib's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    HELL
    Posts
    4,774
    ^ He's probably salivating over the potential tax proceed windfall given the financial shape of California... Next step is to release all inmates in California prisons who were sent up on marijuana charges for quantities deemed 'personal use'... That will reduce the burden on tax payers for housing those inmates...

  11. #11
    Member
    MustavaMond's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Last Online
    17-07-2015 @ 11:54 AM
    Location
    Moon's Shadow
    Posts
    920

    Tax Oil instead

    ^
    Or, maybe he could actually charge tax to all the oil companies with operations in the state.

    A California tax on oil drilling? Why not? - Los Angeles Times

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


    A California tax on oil drilling? Why not?

    June 15, 2009|MICHAEL HILTZIK
    The most persistent misconception about Californians is that we hate to raise taxes. The truth is that we adore raising taxes -- as long as someone else is paying, that is.
    So nonsmokers vote to raise cigarette taxes, teetotalers to raise liquor taxes. The middle and working classes want to hike taxes on the rich, who are happy to return the favor.


    Yet this only compounds the mystery of why we're so resistant to raising taxes on perhaps the biggest, fattest target of all: the oil industry.
    At least twice since 1981 Californians have considered proposals to impose a so-called severance tax on oil -- a levy on every barrel that drillers take out of the California ground. Both times they went down to defeat -- most recently in a $150-million initiative campaign that set a new standard for obscenity in campaign finance, thanks to Chevron and its fellow oil companies. The 2006 defeat of Proposition 87, which would have steered the tax proceeds to alternative fuel programs, preserved California's status as the only one of the 22 major oil states to give the industry a free ride. And we're the third-biggest producer in the country.
    How embarrassing is it for California to be hanging out there alone? That outstanding anti-tax crusader, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, in 2007 raised her state's tax to 25% of the value of extracted oil and gas. Proposition 87 would have capped California's levy at 6%. So even if it had passed, we'd still be suckers.
    With the state's fiscal disaster having concentrated the minds of political leaders as never before, the oil severance tax is back on the table in Sacramento. We can expect the oil industry to trot out the same arguments it employed to defeat the tax the last time, so to save time it might be helpful to deflate them now.
    But first, let's place the proposal in fiscal perspective.
    According to the state Energy Commission, about 240 million barrels of crude were extracted last year from California lands and waters, including federal waters offshore.
    At the current world benchmark price of about $70, the 6% tax contemplated by Proposition 87 would have generated more than $1 billion a year from that haul.
    Consider some "what if" scenarios: At last year's peak benchmark price of $130 for California crude, the take would be nearly $2 billion. Palin's tax rate of 25% would generate $4 billion at a $70 price and nearly $8 billion at the top.



    Profiteering From War and Disease, Corporate Owned "News" Media Deliberately Dis-Informs in Order to Further Its Own Agenda- PROFIT

  12. #12
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:30 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,903
    Quote Originally Posted by MustavaMond
    Someone check if referendum is binding?
    Referendum is binding. In this case it will be called a "proposition". If passed it has the same authority as a bill passed by the legislature. It will go to the governor for signature. If vetoed, a 2/3 vote in the legislature is required to override.

    Quote Originally Posted by MustavaMond
    Arnold "The Toker " sign or veto?
    Sign it for sure.
    "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect,"

  13. #13
    Banned Muadib's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    HELL
    Posts
    4,774
    ^ I have an idea that all American citizens & corporations are going to be feeling higher taxes across the board in the very near future...

    ^^ Arnie will probably fire up a spliff at the signing ceremony...

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat
    SEA Traveler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    01-11-2014 @ 09:25 AM
    Location
    Villa Sariano, Phala Beach, Ban Chang, Rayong, Thailand
    Posts
    3,790
    Little doubt that recreational use of pot in Calif will be legalized for the purpose of filling the depleated monetary coffers. That does not necessarily make it right to do so though. I suspect that the legalization may very well creat other and new delimas that will need to be faced. Will organized crime become a more influential factor with the legalization of pot? Don't misunderstand, I'm neither for or opposed as I don't see myself doing anything but possibly passing through Calif. I do however feel that reasonable analysis be made to determine what the short and long term impacts will be and to plan on appropriate measures to deal with these potential impacts.
    "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff....and it is all small stuff"

  15. #15
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:30 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,903
    Quote Originally Posted by SEA Traveler
    I do however feel that reasonable analysis be made to determine what the short and long term impacts will be and to plan on appropriate measures to deal with these potential impacts.
    Just watched a piece on CNN. The pro/con forces will be raising money to pay for adverts. Doubt advert arguments will be an "analysis" but the pro forces are expecting to raise over $1M to promote a yes vote. Opposition expected to raise much less.

    California's current economic problems and the need for more tax revenue are surely going to be a strong selling point for the pros.

    As with other political issues the side with the most money usually wins the argument.

  16. #16
    Thailand Expat
    SEA Traveler's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Last Online
    01-11-2014 @ 09:25 AM
    Location
    Villa Sariano, Phala Beach, Ban Chang, Rayong, Thailand
    Posts
    3,790
    Quote Originally Posted by Norton View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by SEA Traveler
    I do however feel that reasonable analysis be made to determine what the short and long term impacts will be and to plan on appropriate measures to deal with these potential impacts.
    Just watched a piece on CNN. The pro/con forces will be raising money to pay for adverts. Doubt advert arguments will be an "analysis" but the pro forces are expecting to raise over $1M to promote a yes vote. Opposition expected to raise much less.

    California's current economic problems and the need for more tax revenue are surely going to be a strong selling point for the pros.

    As with other political issues the side with the most money usually wins the argument.
    Agreed. No dispute from this end.

  17. #17
    Pronce. PH said so AGAIN!
    slackula's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Behind a slipping mask of sanity in Phuket.
    Posts
    9,088
    Quote Originally Posted by Norton
    Opposition expected to raise much less.
    I guess once the Focus on the Family type groups get fired up the money will start flowing to the anti side.

  18. #18
    Thailand Expat
    robuzo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last Online
    19-12-2015 @ 05:51 PM
    Location
    Paese dei Balocchi
    Posts
    7,847
    Quote Originally Posted by Camel Toe View Post
    It's been legal with a doctor's script for a decade at least. I think Alaska too, maybe Nevada. But any legislation won't stop the crack/coke/heroin thirst or cross-border trade, MM. I doubt there are any big Lat Amer crime organizations who deal in pot any more.
    The Mexican cartels do ship large amounts of pot over the border- full of pesticides and god knows what else.

    Decrim of small amounts for possession and growing a limited number of plants is fine. Legalization, which would probably be followed by commercialization, is probably a bad idea and something we don't need.
    “You can lead a horticulture but you can’t make her think.” Dorothy Parker

  19. #19
    Member

    Join Date
    May 2008
    Last Online
    11-10-2012 @ 09:43 AM
    Posts
    345
    Never tried the stuff and never had the urge to. It does seem to be a popular recreational drug in California so decriminalizing it maybe the way to go.

    Back in the early 80's i spent a lot of time in Sacramento and made good friends with a cop and his wife. I went on ride alongs with official approval when he went out on patrol.

    I was told most cops at that time would just confiscate any grass they found and send the offender off with a verbal warning.

    My friends wife liked the occasional joint and when supplies ran low he would pull over a car and any grass confiscated would go to his wife. The other cops working with him did the same.

  20. #20
    Banned Muadib's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    HELL
    Posts
    4,774
    ^ I've had that happen to me also, many, many years ago...

    I don't believe there is going to be a great upsurge in usage if it is legalized... Those people who want to smoke, do so... Just like those who want to drink alcohol, also do so... There is obviously no shortage of pot available in California anyway, legalized or not...

    Prohibition never works...

  21. #21
    Thailand Expat
    robuzo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Last Online
    19-12-2015 @ 05:51 PM
    Location
    Paese dei Balocchi
    Posts
    7,847
    California reefer farmers meet to brainstorm methods of keeping post-legalization prices high:
    Southern Humboldt marijuana legalization discussion ends with ideas of branding, business models and regulation

    Donna Tam/The Times-Standard
    Posted: 03/24/2010 0110 AM PDT

    During a discussion on how marijuana legalization would effect Humboldt County's economy, growers, business owners and community leaders tossed around several ideas of what can be done, including branding, regulatory agencies and -- weed tasting rooms.
    More than 100 people gathered at the Mateel Community Center in Redway Tuesday night to have a frank discussion about what the county -- and its the residents who depend on the marijuana industry for income -- will do when pot is legal.
    ”Once we remove the stigma of it being illegal, I don't know what it will do -- no one does. Image the possibilities,” California NORML member Ellen Komp said to the crowd. Komp, echoing the discussions of several growers and business people, mentioned following a wine business model, which includes her longtime dream for weed tasting rooms.

  22. #22
    Thailand Expat
    Cold Pizza's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2016
    Last Online
    @
    Location
    Alliance HQ
    Posts
    4,525
    California and 7 others states to vote on whether to legalize / deciminalize marijuana on November 8.

    I'm interested in these up coming referendums. I think it can pass in all states except Arizona.

    AZ is a little different, IMO.



    California among 8 states to vote on legal weed in November
    by Aaron Smith
    June 29, 2016

    Eight states, including California, will vote to legalize weed either for recreational or medical purposes in November.

    The legalization of marijuana for recreational use will be on the ballot on Nov. 8 in California, Nevada, Arizona, Massachusetts and Maine, according to Allen St. Pierre, executive director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML. Legalization for medical use will also be on the ballot in Florida, Missouri and Arkansas on that same day.

    California among 8 states to vote on legal weed in November - Jun. 29, 2016

  23. #23
    Thailand Expat terry57's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Last Online
    07-12-2022 @ 03:12 PM
    Posts
    26,746
    Big shift In Australia for legalising it for Medical purposes, in fact they have just done it in a few states.

    They make of point of saying they will not go down the legalisation route for recreational use though.

    Of course they will eventually as one follows the other.

    Only a matter of time before the Weed is set free.

  24. #24
    Days Work Done! Norton's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Last Online
    Today @ 06:30 PM
    Location
    Roiet
    Posts
    34,903
    Quote Originally Posted by terry57
    Of course they will eventually as one follows the other.
    Yep. Fine line between medical and recreational use. Medical you need a doctors prescription which are easy to get. Recreational all you need is a local shop.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat
    aging one's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Last Online
    @
    Posts
    22,637
    But in general its passing in states because of support from believe it or not police departments. Crime has gone down and tax income up through the roof in states that have legalized.

    Sales of take away food has gone up dramatically as well. No cops have been called to the scene of a bunch of stoners fighting and disrupting public order.

    Kind of win win.

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •