I wonder if you guys realize how big an effect it can have on the country and World as a whole and in may ways? See, this isn't so much about canabis, for starters it's about the B.S. War on Drugs which the U.S. is the world leader in. It is about all the money being wasted on enforcing laws, housing prisoners, telling people what they can put into their own bodies, etc. The prison system is a big industry, lots of money involved. How much money right there will these states save? How much less canabis is going to come in from Mexico now? The budget is immediately changed. It's about the states right to sovereignty over the federal government. Now, if the Feds start raiding grow houses, etc. there are going to be challenges at the federal level. Also, there might be State run stores selling it! The Feds just won't have the man power to keep up with it all, they don't as it is. And once it comes out how the economy is improving in these states, and it will, the Federal government (given their financial state) better just stay clear.

Another thing, the first 40 million raised in taxes EVERY YEAR goes to the educational system (in Colorado anyway). The best way to dumb down a populace is to get control of the schools, well now, it looks like money is going to start going back into the schools. Though the feds might start cutting school funds or something like that.

Regardless of being for or against smoking cannabis, the larger implications here are tremendous. Control is really starting to shift. This just opened the mother-lode, well actually the medical marijuana laws did that, but this takes it to another level.

EMS

fishmike wrote:long ways away... its not legal for public and the federal gov is still cracking down hard on growers.

I agree though... nobody ever mugs someone or knocks over a gas station for a bag of weed. Weed is just easy money for dealers and org crime.

I think you will be wrong in the federal government cracking down hard on growers. Right now they don't have the resources to crack down big on medical marijuana dispensaries. Now, add TWO big states where it is legal, not just medical. AND PEOPLE CAN GROW IT IN THEIR HOMES. More States will follow and the financial benefits, educational benefits, rehabilitative benefits (from the money being used to help people with drug problems and not imprison them), etc. will make it clear which way to go.

The bigger question I mentioned above, is the challenge that is eventually going to follow at the federal level by States, especially if the Federal government again starts stepping in State decided law (e.g. - raids). There is still much debate over State vs. Federal law, but going as far back as the constitution, it appears (and many lawyers agree on this) that the Federal Government is not to tell states what they can and can't do. That is for the citizens of individual states. The federal government is more of an aid to States, rather than the supreme power of them. Over the years though, corruption at the federal level has tried to gain control over states imo. Remember, we are a democracy, not a monarchy/dictatorship (in theory).

The effects of this are HUGE when you start connecting the dots. Absolutely HUGE. As you said, it may take some time.

earthmansurfer wrote:Nalod - Marijuana being legal for use, isn't really the issue. It is what will follow. It is the money that will be generated and the challenges at the federal level that are going to be raised. This is a big thorn in the side of the federal government. The U.S. controls much of the world through drug policy. It is slipping even more now, or will start to.

As far as driving, laws will be the same, it will be illegal to drive under the influence, but more than likely there will be a safe amount, much like with alcohol. Further, once they start running tests on the impairment, or rather lack there of when compared to alcholol, things will get more complicated. Remember, for many athletes it is a performance enhancing substance outside of the clear use as pain killer and muscle relaxant. I can envision challenges to the NBA's policy as cannabis can probably reduce injuries due to it's muscle relaxant properties and many other properties. What would you rather take - a drug to deal with pain that can tax your kidney's/liver or a plant that is pretty safe and effective to use?

I never smoked when I was in school, college, etc. but had friends that did and were experienced in doing so. To many of them it was a mental stimulant and quite a few of them got A's on "it". My point here isn't that you could use it, but rather that it might be beneficial to some people. I am not looking at this personally, rather the larger implications, societal viewpoints, etc. I mean people here in Germany get prescriptions for drugs that act as study enhancers (forms of speed generally). I just see legalization of cannabis as eventually cutting heavily into segments of the pharmaceutical industries products. Which is a good thing. I imagine we can start growing industrial hemp in these States as well in due time, and that will help forests and hurt the petrochemical and cotton industry (which helps us in the short and long term).

The deeper you dive into this, the more you see it is the red pill of sorts. Not for right now, but for what is to come and the affects it will have.

EMS

I likley did not sound like it, but Im mostly in favor but people need to see a way that it can exist in the mainstream.

And since weed dealers have to make a living what happens to them?

Nalod wrote:

earthmansurfer wrote:Nalod - Marijuana being legal for use, isn't really the issue. It is what will follow. It is the money that will be generated and the challenges at the federal level that are going to be raised. This is a big thorn in the side of the federal government. The U.S. controls much of the world through drug policy. It is slipping even more now, or will start to.

As far as driving, laws will be the same, it will be illegal to drive under the influence, but more than likely there will be a safe amount, much like with alcohol. Further, once they start running tests on the impairment, or rather lack there of when compared to alcholol, things will get more complicated. Remember, for many athletes it is a performance enhancing substance outside of the clear use as pain killer and muscle relaxant. I can envision challenges to the NBA's policy as cannabis can probably reduce injuries due to it's muscle relaxant properties and many other properties. What would you rather take - a drug to deal with pain that can tax your kidney's/liver or a plant that is pretty safe and effective to use?

I never smoked when I was in school, college, etc. but had friends that did and were experienced in doing so. To many of them it was a mental stimulant and quite a few of them got A's on "it". My point here isn't that you could use it, but rather that it might be beneficial to some people. I am not looking at this personally, rather the larger implications, societal viewpoints, etc. I mean people here in Germany get prescriptions for drugs that act as study enhancers (forms of speed generally). I just see legalization of cannabis as eventually cutting heavily into segments of the pharmaceutical industries products. Which is a good thing. I imagine we can start growing industrial hemp in these States as well in due time, and that will help forests and hurt the petrochemical and cotton industry (which helps us in the short and long term).

The deeper you dive into this, the more you see it is the red pill of sorts. Not for right now, but for what is to come and the affects it will have.

EMS

I likley did not sound like it, but Im mostly in favor but people need to see a way that it can exist in the mainstream.

And since weed dealers have to make a living what happens to them?

I took that you were for it, but I wanted to mention my point of the bigger picture. This is an issue that is beyond most peoples "reality tunnel". I don't say that condescendingly. The war on drugs is a war on consciousness. Drugs like Caffeine, Nicotine and Cocaine play a fairly large role (to different degrees) in capitalistic countries. In a sense, all stimulants can or do. But "drugs" which cause us to relax, to question, to have a more open mind, to be more creative, musical, to maybe not take working so much as to dig an early grave, well now, that is a bit of a danger to a ruling elite.

As far as dealers, well, I think many of them have the experience and the fast track to applying for growing it legally, though you can't exactly put that on your application. ;-) Anyway, I think you will see the tobacco companies get their foot in the door first, of course. I just hope and pray we don't see GMO cannabis. I don't trust a large corporation having control over the plants we ingest, smoke, etc.