NOTICE To Club Polk Members - Don't Post When Pissed, Drunk or Stoned.

George Grand

My first real concert (Joplin, Hendrix) was also a first for something else. I ruined the occasion however by the time the 2nd act came on (The Chambers Bros.). By that point I had convinced myself there was no way my head was going to fit through any of the exits when it was time to leave, and I spent way too much time pondering that rather than paying attention to the rest of the show.

kevhed72

Here are the nations options on pot:
1. Continue to allow billions to go south of the boarder to violent criminal gangs.
2. Keep those billions in this country and tax something people are going do anyway.
common sense says option 2....

sucks2beme

3. bury your head and hope it goes away.

gdb

4. Universally condemn it's use because you were incapable of handling it in a moderate/responsible manner.

F1nut

kevhed72 wrote: »

Here are the nations options on pot:
1. Continue to allow billions to go south of the border to violent criminal gangs.
2. Keep those billions in this country and tax something people are going do anyway.
common sense says option 2....

Put the pipe down.

F1nut

gdb wrote: »

4. Universally condemn it's use because you were incapable of handling it in a moderate/responsible manner.

Explains everything.

tonyb

kevhed72 wrote: »

Here are the nations options on pot:
1. Continue to allow billions to go south of the boarder to violent criminal gangs.
2. Keep those billions in this country and tax something people are going do anyway.
common sense says option 2....

Common sense says you can't keep legalizing things that are illegal just to make a profit.

gudnoyez

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RjvZ5oYn1wA

I'm pretty sure a lot of us have been down this road a time or two some are still on this road some have exited this road.

Recorded at the Pink Pop Festival in Holland caught a few a pink Pop Festivals while living in Europe 11 of them to be exact.

Mikey081057

The taxing the **** out of pot argument is flawed because it is run by the gov't and the black market can always undercut the gov't price. Did anyone think for one minute that people were going to buy over priced and taxed weed? Tax revenues in Colorado are way lower than predicted. The government can't make a profit on a $15 hamburger on a train. They can't make a profit on off track betting...You have to be high think the gov't can do anything right.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/12/colorado-s-pot-revenue-goes-up-in-smoke.html

Nightfall

Mikey081057 wrote: »

Tax revenues in Colorado are way lower than predicted.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/12/colorado-s-pot-revenue-goes-up-in-smoke.html

I think it's because they taxed it *too* much. An 1/8 ounce in a recreational dispensary is in the $65 range where in a medical dispensary (it isn't difficult to get a red card) and illegal means of acquiring it (I understand that all means of acquiring it are federally illegal) that same amount is in the $25-30 range.

There should certainly be higher than usual tax on it, but when you're talking about double the price just because of taxes it's too much. People are going to go elsewhere, where they've been going since long before any of this started.

tonyb

Mikey081057 wrote: »

The taxing the **** out of pot argument is flawed because it is run by the gov't and the black market can always undercut the gov't price. Did anyone think for one minute that people were going to buy over priced and taxed weed? Tax revenues in Colorado are way lower than predicted. The government can't make a profit on a $15 hamburger on a train. They can't make a profit on off track betting...You have to be high think the gov't can do anything right.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/12/colorado-s-pot-revenue-goes-up-in-smoke.html

True....still it's added tax revenue, something is better than nothing, least that's how they look at it. Plus the legal pot dealers pay local taxes too supporting state and local governments.

Money is just one aspect though. I would assume government wants you high as a kite with your free time that way your not paying attention to the more important stuff government is doing, or not doing. Whats next ? Lower the drinking age to 10, get their money too ? After all, 10 year olds aren't driving.

Even governments know there is a limit to taxes without having a rebellion. So they invent new ways to tax people. They even have people on the payroll to come up with new ways to tax you. Morals be damned, because it's about money, and money trumps any society concerns.

I'm on the fence, but one thing I do know.....more people stoned can't be a good thing for society in general. Turning government into a drug dealer isn't exactly my idea of what I want my government to do in the first place. What people do in their own homes is up to them, but when you step out into the public arena, certain rules have to be abided by.

gdb

Ollie and Ron generated mega revenue with the CIA & Nicaragua without the use of taxation. Govt. is highly selective about whose drugs they decide are classified as illegal........especially their own ! LOL.

BlueFox

They used to give speed to pilots to keep them alert. Probably still do.

gdb

BlueFox wrote: »

They used to give speed to pilots to keep them alert. Probably still do.

It's Modafinil nowadays. Prescribed for lots of applications like shift work, narcolepsy or...... piloting a military aircraft for 40 hours straight !

Mikey081057

tonyb wrote: »

Mikey081057 wrote: »

The taxing the **** out of pot argument is flawed because it is run by the gov't and the black market can always undercut the gov't price. Did anyone think for one minute that people were going to buy over priced and taxed weed? Tax revenues in Colorado are way lower than predicted. The government can't make a profit on a $15 hamburger on a train. They can't make a profit on off track betting...You have to be high think the gov't can do anything right.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/12/colorado-s-pot-revenue-goes-up-in-smoke.html

True....still it's added tax revenue, something is better than nothing, least that's how they look at it. Plus the legal pot dealers pay local taxes too supporting state and local governments.

Money is just one aspect though. I would assume government wants you high as a kite with your free time that way your not paying attention to the more important stuff government is doing, or not doing. Whats next ? Lower the drinking age to 10, get their money too ? After all, 10 year olds aren't driving.

Even governments know there is a limit to taxes without having a rebellion. So they invent new ways to tax people. They even have people on the payroll to come up with new ways to tax you. Morals be damned, because it's about money, and money trumps any society concerns.

I'm on the fence, but one thing I do know.....more people stoned can't be a good thing for society in general. Turning government into a drug dealer isn't exactly my idea of what I want my government to do in the first place. What people do in their own homes is up to them, but when you step out into the public arena, certain rules have to be abided by.

Just b/c it created revenue does'nt mean it covered the cost to administer the program

tonyb

Mikey081057 wrote: »

tonyb wrote: »

Mikey081057 wrote: »

The taxing the **** out of pot argument is flawed because it is run by the gov't and the black market can always undercut the gov't price. Did anyone think for one minute that people were going to buy over priced and taxed weed? Tax revenues in Colorado are way lower than predicted. The government can't make a profit on a $15 hamburger on a train. They can't make a profit on off track betting...You have to be high think the gov't can do anything right.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/12/colorado-s-pot-revenue-goes-up-in-smoke.html

True....still it's added tax revenue, something is better than nothing, least that's how they look at it. Plus the legal pot dealers pay local taxes too supporting state and local governments.

Money is just one aspect though. I would assume government wants you high as a kite with your free time that way your not paying attention to the more important stuff government is doing, or not doing. Whats next ? Lower the drinking age to 10, get their money too ? After all, 10 year olds aren't driving.

Even governments know there is a limit to taxes without having a rebellion. So they invent new ways to tax people. They even have people on the payroll to come up with new ways to tax you. Morals be damned, because it's about money, and money trumps any society concerns.

I'm on the fence, but one thing I do know.....more people stoned can't be a good thing for society in general. Turning government into a drug dealer isn't exactly my idea of what I want my government to do in the first place. What people do in their own homes is up to them, but when you step out into the public arena, certain rules have to be abided by.

Just b/c it created revenue does'nt mean it covered the cost to administer the program

It doesn't matter if it doesn't covers the cost, what government program does ? Why doesn't it matter ? Because they think they can run deficits until the cows come home and Bieber is elected President of Canada. Which gets into kicking that can down the road as we see so often time and time again.

Federal government that is, local and state are more accountable and can't print their way out of trouble. Instead, they drive up debt, funnel your tax money to their friends, until it all goes belly up. Then what ?

Then the federal government comes in and bails them out, or they stiff a lot of pension holders, or a little of both, and start the cycle all over again. When it gets to a point where your actually scared for letting big banks hold on to your money, they'll tell you sorry, can't have it all. Think Cyprus. Plus I believe that as of last June, your limited to the amount of money you can keep off shore. That way, your money is not out of reach for them to take should the need arise. Red flag anyone ?

But.....if your leisure time is spent being stoned or drunk most the time, none of this is on your radar anyway. Think that might be appealing to some in power ? Social issues are best left to local societies, not governing bodies thousands of miles away. Granted, within the confines of our constitution anyway.

Polkie2009

gimpod wrote: »

Well they don't call it dope for nothing.

As some of you know I'm about as anti-alcohol as you can get also I don't think they should legalize drugs even pot. There was a guy (if he's still alive) who I went to high school with who didn't start smoking pot until his senior year and that's all this guy does is smoke pot, no other drugs but his whole life revolves around pot nothing else matters. Last time I saw the guy he was beyond what you would call burnt and would make a perfect poster child for the anti-dug movement.

Drugs and Alcohol, just another way to get stupid and avoid responsibility. IMO

I have to agree, drugs have done more damage to the moral fabric of our society and caused untold problems in the family structure. I'm also sick and tired of hearing nearly every morning on the news about some drunk driving the wrong way on the freeway killing someone, usually the drunk survives. Folks, life really isn't all that bad being sober. If you are going to drink, do it at home and responsibly. Sorry for the rant...

tonyb

Like a good rant... Agree though, nobody gives a rats behind what you do in your own home. However, you better be straight by the time you step into public, driving a motor vehicle, or simply walking.

sucks2beme

You can't make things stop by making them illegal, either.
If there's a demand, there will be a supply. Anybody who wants drugs can get them.
All you can do is make it more difficult and expensive to get.
Legislating morals never works. Coke, meth and other hard core
drugs have caused untold havoc. If I could wave a magic wand and
make it go away I would. The war on drugs goes on. No amount of law
enforcement is going to stop it. That's a sad fact. In the big picture, grass is
a minor player. Legal or not, my interest is about the same as booze.
No thanks.

voltz

well i don't do drugs that I know of, but I'd sure would miss a good glass of wine with my steak or Lasagna or dinner roll.

ken brydson

voltz wrote: »

well i don't do drugs that I know of, but I'd sure would miss a good glass of wine with my steak or Lasagna or dinner roll.

Apparently you're weak, just like me...

halo71

Guys, yall know by now these types of threads general end badly.

deronb1

Yes they do! Staying out of this one.

mantis

I look at it this way,
I find no place in my life to get high in any way. I don't drink to get drunk, I enjoy a beer here and there and a nice glass of wine.
I find those kinds of things to be to fill holes in peoples lives that need it for whatever their reasons are. I'm not here to judge them but I will state this , I just don't have any place in my life for it.
I don't care what they make legal , it's just not for me. I'm perfectly happy with a glass of wine here and there or a great craft beer from time to time.
I actually cut a lot of that out of my life due to the fact I cleaned up my life style after going deep into Nutrition. I learned about all the damage all those things do to your body and have no desire to add problems in my life.
So again I'll say I don't judge anyone who wishes to do any of those things, it's your life and you get to choose how you live it, I just don't have any place in mine for it.

tonyb

sucks2beme wrote: »

You can't make things stop by making them illegal, either.
If there's a demand, there will be a supply. Anybody who wants drugs can get them.
All you can do is make it more difficult and expensive to get.
Legislating morals never works. Coke, meth and other hard core
drugs have caused untold havoc. If I could wave a magic wand and
make it go away I would. The war on drugs goes on. No amount of law
enforcement is going to stop it. That's a sad fact. In the big picture, grass is
a minor player. Legal or not, my interest is about the same as booze.
No thanks.

also true......murder is illegal too, but you'll never stop it from happening. Another point in making drugs legal is to relieve the over populated prisons which eat up the tax revenue coming in the door. Money.....it's always about money. So you save money by not as many being jailed, and gain some revenue from taxes....and the revenue from more traffic tickets from driving under the influence. That's called a win-win in political circles. Add to that, you please all the boneheads who say your picking on minorities by jailing them for drug use. Also a win for the votes.

But is society in general better off ? That's the question you need to ask yourself. Look beyond your own personal needs to smoke a joint once in a while and answer that.....honestly.

jflail2

tonyb wrote: »

But is society in general better off ? That's the question you need to ask yourself. Look beyond your own personal needs to smoke a joint once in a while and answer that.....honestly.

I'm a clean dude these days, but had a wild past. So I also have strong experience both of those substances (booze and the tweeds.) Honestly, it varies person by person. I chose to quit drinking entirely when I finally got off my arse and went back to college. So instead, I'd have a puff once or twice a week, since it didn't make me feel hung over or affect my school work. I graduated magna **** laude, and have been working in the world of finance for 11 years, so I can honestly say I made the right decision.......for me personally.

These days, I'd say I have 1-2 beers a month, with many months seeing 0 consumed. I just don't like the out of control feeling alcohol brings me, so I have trimmed my consumption down to about nil. I might have a puff once every few months, when out and about at a party or whatever, but don't bother with it otherwise. That being said, the tweeds simply don't affect me nearly as negatively as alcohol. They just don't.

In regards to society at large, yes I do think it would be better off were that stuff legal, for many of the reasons shown here. Less revenue to cartels. More tax revenue (however big or small) for states. Less wasted time and money putting people in prison for walking around with a nickel bag one time too many. Stronger focus on the harder drugs that actually do ruin people's lives. Availability of CBDs for children with seizures, cancer patients. Movement of pulp manufacturing (which is a truly filthy process) from trees to hemp. etc etc.

Honestly, people are going to do what they're going to do. Instead of trying to keep it illegal, let's ensure that it's sold in regulated, ABC type stores, ensure that the quality is there (leave the pesticides out please) and price it at a point that the cartels continue to lose money. As long as you're not out driving like a madman, baked out of your mind, whatever. But I'm very libertarian in that regard, and feel as if, as long as what you're doing doesn't hurt others, then you should be allowed to do it.

So do I personally think society would be better off with the legalization of them tweeds? Yessir, I most certainly do.

jflail2

Fixed.