I would encourage you to explore your reasons. I can relate to you because I felt the same way at one point. I did not support "legalization," but didn't really know why or even what I did and did not support. As I learned more about the issue, I found that I had a lot of bias that was based on nothing but the empty rhetoric coming from the politicians. Fair enough. I have to admit that some "stoners" can be very annoying. However, do you really think that they deserve to be arrested for their choice of intoxicant? It is good to see that you are able to appreciate that mar1juana and other illegal drugs do not have a monopoly on the destruction of lives. My main contention is that a system of regulation other than prohibition would be more effective with regards to what I see as the two main problems with drugs in our society: 1) Availability to minors and 2) dealing with addicts. Companies can certainly choose to hire anyone they want. However, wouldn't a more appropriate response to mar1juana be to fire (or not hire) people who are actually intoxicated at work? If I choose to go home after work and smoke a joint (as opposed to drinking a few beers), why should my company care that mar1juana is my choice of intoxicant? I will not be impaired after a good nights sleep, there is no evidence that there is any type of mar1juana hangover, and there is no evidence that mar1juana use the day before reduces one's ability to do even very complex tasks. So, while companies would certainly be free to discriminate against mar1juana users, why should they?
Add to that the fact that he & Perry's guy are being either deceiptful or ignorant when they respond to Kinky's statement concerning *decriminalization* of pot with "I do not favor legalization". Max: of course there is a large (huge, primary) federal role in drug enforcement & border interdiction. That will not change. The whole point of the "decriminalization" mindset is to not use state & local resources to prosecute low-level end users (say, posession of under 1 ounce). I don't see how *that* is a federal issue at all.
Kinky has called for the the legalization of mar1juana and gambling in the state of the Texas? Kinky is a very interesting person and from what I've heard from people that have met him, a very very nice person. But I wonder if he actually thinks he's gonna win?
yes, why else would he run? nothing else new to add to this, other than i cringed when i heard his statement. i'm in agreement with him, but i can just hear it now how the other candidates (minus werner) will attack him for these "radical" idea.
Ya know even if Kinky were elected he couldn't introduce deciminalization legislation in the Texas House or Senate. If the Lt. Governor opposed it it would never be on the legislative agenda. He might have some discretionary powers to direct statewide spending on enforcement but I'm not sure he would even have that. Lawyers?
because state resources will still be used to enforce those federal laws. i remember a case in constitutonal law (ages ago! ) that said that the feds can't just manipulate all state resources (in that case, police officers) to enforce federal law. but state resources do get committed to things that have federal money/purpose written all over them. to the extent we're chasing drug runners at the border, i think state resources would still be involved. that's one example. i'm sure there are more. maybe it's a step in the right direction. i just don't think that issue will remotely be on my mind when i step to the voting booth in a governor's race. feels like a federal issue to me, because ultimately it will still be illegal. but truly, i don't care either way.
I've always agreed with your stance on the drug issue. In fact, so have a few a of my professors. One problem I see though -- How do you asses DUI's? Can there be a legal high limit? How the hell would you tell? The only thing that scares me about legalizing drugs is worrying about someone coked up or whatever and running a red light. I've already been hit by a drunk driver, I'd rather not add more things that could be potentially dangerous. That's my only real problem with legalizing and taxing drugs.
(do do do do-do do do! Do do do do-do do do! I rebel music; I rebel music.) Why can't we roam (oh-oh-oh-oh) this open country? (open country) Oh, why can't we be what we wanna be? (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) We want to be free. (wanna be free) 3 o'clock roadblock - curfew, And i've got to throw away - Yes, i've got to throw away - A yes-a, but i've got to throw away My little herb stalk! I (rebel music) - yeah, i'm tellin' you! - (i) i rebel music (rebel music). oh-ooh! Take my soul (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) And suss - and suss me out (suss me out). oh-ooh! Check my life (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh), If i am in doubt (i'm in doubt); i'm tellin': 3 o'clock roadblock - roadblock - roadblock, And "hey, mr. cop! ain't got no - (hey) hey! (hey, mr cop) - (what ya sayin' down there?) - (hey) hey! (hey, mr cop) - Ain't got no birth certificate on me now." --- /instrumental break/ (i rebel music) (i rebel music) (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) (open country) (oh-oh-oh) --- (do do do!) I (rebel music) - yeah, i'm tellin' you! - (i) i rebel music (rebel music). Oh-ooh! take my soul (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh) And suss - and suss me out (suss me out). oh-ooh! Check my life (oh-oh-oh-oh-oh), If i am in doubt (i'm in doubt); i'm tellin': 3 o'clock roadblock - roadblock - roadblock, And "hey, mr. cop! ain't got no - (hey) hey! (hey, mr cop) - (what ya sayin' down there?) - (hey) hey! (hey, mr cop) - Ain't got no birth certificate on me now."
but meowgi, if we take away the laws then what will we have to rebel about? or write rebel songs about?
I'm a rebel, soul rebel I'm a capturer, soul adventurer I'm a rebel, soul rebel I'm a capturer, soul adventurer See the morning sun, the morning sun On the hillside If you're not living good, travel wide You gotta travel wide Said I'm a living man And I've got work to do If you're not happy, children Then you must be blue Must be blue, people say I'm a rebel, let them talk, Soul rebel, talk won't bother me I'm a capturer, that'w what they say Soul adventurer, night and day I'm a rebel, soul rebel Do you hear them lippy I'm a capturer, gossip around the corner Soul adventurer. How they adventure on me But, see the morning sun, the morning sun On the hillside If you're not living good, travel wide You gotta travel wide Said I'm a living man I've got work to do If you're not happy, then you must be blue Must be blue, people say I'm a rebel, soul rebel I'm a capturer, soul adventurer Do you hear me I'm a rebel, rebel in the morning Soul rebel, rebel at midday time
With mar1juana, there is a breathalyzer. They use it in Holland already. The existing DUI laws should and (in a system like I would design) would be updated to include other psychoactive substances. For substances where there is no breathalyzer available, the police officer would administer a field sobriety test and if the person appears impaired, we can use blood samples to detect the amount of a substance in the blood stream. The people who are using drugs now have very little reason NOT to drive since there are only a few states with "drugged driving" statutes, though many apply the DUI laws if you fail a field sobriety test. I believe that regulation would reduce the number of drugged drivers on the street, particularly in the case of pot since there is a breathalyzer for it.
And one of your favorites, Meowgi! "Rebel Yell" Last night a little dancer came dancin' to my door Last night a little angel Came pumpin cross my floor She said "Come on baby I got a licence for love And if it expires pray help from above" In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more" With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more" In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more" With a rebel yell- "more, more, more" More, more, more. She don't like slavery, she won't sit and beg But when I'm tired and lonely she sees me to bed What set you free and brought you to be me babe What set you free I need you hear by me Because In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more" With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more" In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more" With a rebel yell- "more, more, more" He lives in his own heaven Collects it to go from the seven eleven Well he's out all night to collect a fare Just so long, just so long it don't mess up his hair. I walked the world with you, babe A thousand miles with you I dried your tears of pain, babe A million times for you I'd sell my soul for you babe For money to burn with you I'd give you all, and have none, babe Just, just, justa, justa to have you here by me Because In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more" With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more" In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more" With a rebel yell she cried "more, more, more" More, more, more. Oh yeah little baby she want more More, more, more, more, more. Oh yeah little baby she want more More, more, more, more.
Yeah, but when it comes to issues of herb, spirituality and freedom I will give Bob Marley more credit than Mr. Idol...
What???? I can't believe it! Legalizing pot takes all the fun out of it. There is no rush like driving by cops with your car clouded up with smoke. I used to smoke and sell pot when selling it could get you life in TX and getting caught with one joint could get you 30 yrs. Come on Kinky you been there, done that- stop trying to ruin it for the next generation. Next thing you know prostitution will be legalized.... where will it end. You're trying to take all the sneeking fun out of being a rebel.
Any idea how that works? That would be entirely too complicated, IMO. There's different types of mar1juana, different ways to smoke it, which induce different effects. I think we'd have to have the system perfectly designed out before we could look at legalizing it. What are the reports from Denver and Seattle(?)? Did they notice a decrease in crime?
