I am a lot less afraid of someone going off the deep-end smoking marijuana than I am of a prescription user of Xanax or oxycodone.
Let's not forget the synthetic "pot" being made because it is technically legal to have, which is way more harmful to a users health than nature's own.
We don't have to agree with each other, to respect each others opinion.
They are harmful to the user. They can be addictive and can prevent people from being able to be productive, causing them to use whatever means necessary (read: illegal and dangerous) to procure more drugs. The actions of people on drugs can be a danger to public health and safety.
Honestly I think this whole "legalize it" movement is part of the entitlement culture.
-Cigarettes are harmful to the user, but legal. -Alcohol can be addictive and can prevent people from being productive, but it's legal. -The actions of a drunk person can be a danger to public health and safety, but alcohol is legal.
I hate entitlement, despise it. But, your argument doesn't stand up.
If alcohol and cigarettes were new inventions, and the effects of them on the users and on society (public health, medical costs) were known, then they would be made illegal. It is only because of their long, long history of being accepted as culture that they are legal.
Quote: I am a lot less afraid of someone going off the deep-end smoking marijuana than I am of a prescription user of Xanax or oxycodone.
Let's not forget the synthetic "pot" being made because it is technically legal to have, which is way more harmful to a users health than nature's own.
and on the flip end all the medicinal uses that could be explored with some of the illegal drugs. I know a few soldiers who could benefit off of shrooms if the new report that says shrooms reduce PTSD in mice. And all of weed's medicinal uses. Not to mention industrial uses of hemp.
Quote: The simple fact is that if a strong majority of people felt that drugs should be legalized, and they felt strongly enough about it, then it would happen. However, it has not happened. What has happened is that minor violators of low end drug possession have been allowed a pass. Those selling drugs are sent to jail, as it should be. Beyond the legal aspects, stuff these guys sell could have anything in it.
Agree.
I play in dart leagues and smoking weed looks to be a prerequisite to play anymore. I don't do it, but I have many GOOD friends who partake in smoking herb. They don't sell it. They don't push it. They just use it. Once in awhile one will get tossed in rehab (I know one guy who has been in there 3 times and laughs about it) when they screw up and come right back out. I don't see them getting the jail time like a dealer. So from my viewing point, taxes are being used already for rehab and not much for jail.
Quote: If we legalize marijuana, does anyone think that street level dealers will be legally permitted to sell it? It will be regulated, and regulated, and sold in authorized locations only to people over a certain age, much as liquor is. What will those street level drug dealers do then? Quit and become law abiding citizens?
Exactly. They may sell something different or just still peddle and sell at a cheaper cost and the users will still buy from them. Eventually the legal buyers will be buying from the WalMarts of the pot industry since they will save a ton of cash.
The only thing I see changing from legalization is that "Drug Checkpoints" will become legal along side the DUI check points.
And the walking on the left hand sidewalk analogy someone used earlier is hogwash. Not even apples to oranges; more like apples to staplers. Now if one wants to argue liquor to weed, I would agree that THAT is a great example in hypocrisy.
Quote: Which is completely dismissing the bigger question- one you would think a fiscal conservative would be all over- is that a good use of money?
If we legalize marijuana, does anyone think that street level dealers will be legally permitted to sell it? It will be regulated, and regulated, and sold in authorized locations only to people over a certain age, much as liquor is. What will those street level drug dealers do then? Quit and become law abiding citizens? Probably not. I bet we would see a larger influx of harder drugs, like cocaine, heroin, and so on in their place. Those drug dealers are going to need something to replace the money they currently make from selling pot. Seriously, does anyone think that people selling drugs on the street will say "Well, drugs are legal now, so I'm going to go get a job at McDonalds."? Other drugs and other illegal activities would take the place of pot in a large number of cases. I would bet money on that.
While we don't know what they would do, the rates of crime, homicide, and alcohol use plummeted after prohibition. What makes you think our current situation is any different than prohibition?
Because we have a different class of criminals on the street these days. They are unemployed people without any job skills at all, whose whole like is wrapped up in criminal enterprise. There aren't jobs for them to fall back into. Do you really think that the street dealer is just going to say "Yea! I don't have to sell pot anymore. I can just go to the store and buy it now! I can go get a regular job now, because I was only selling pot as a protest against current drug laws"? I doubt it.
I think that those who feel that crime will somehow drop dramatically because of legalization of drugs are taking a rather Pollyanna like view on things. Criminals are in the drug trade ..... mainly criminals without any job history, or employment skills, and they aren't suddenly going to move on to legal enterprise because pot is legalized. I just don't see it happening.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Quote: Which is completely dismissing the bigger question- one you would think a fiscal conservative would be all over- is that a good use of money?
If we legalize marijuana, does anyone think that street level dealers will be legally permitted to sell it? It will be regulated, and regulated, and sold in authorized locations only to people over a certain age, much as liquor is. What will those street level drug dealers do then? Quit and become law abiding citizens? Probably not. I bet we would see a larger influx of harder drugs, like cocaine, heroin, and so on in their place. Those drug dealers are going to need something to replace the money they currently make from selling pot. Seriously, does anyone think that people selling drugs on the street will say "Well, drugs are legal now, so I'm going to go get a job at McDonalds."? Other drugs and other illegal activities would take the place of pot in a large number of cases. I would bet money on that.
While we don't know what they would do, the rates of crime, homicide, and alcohol use plummeted after prohibition. What makes you think our current situation is any different than prohibition?
Because we have a different class of criminals on the street these days. They are unemployed people without any job skills at all, whose whole like is wrapped up in criminal enterprise. There aren't jobs for them to fall back into. Do you really think that the street dealer is just going to say "Yea! I don't have to sell pot anymore. I can just go to the store and buy it now! I can go get a regular job now, because I was only selling pot as a protest against current drug laws"? I doubt it.
I think that those who feel that crime will somehow drop dramatically because of legalization of drugs are taking a rather Pollyanna like view on things. Criminals are in the drug trade ..... mainly criminals without any job history, or employment skills, and they aren't suddenly going to move on to legal enterprise because pot is legalized. I just don't see it happening.
Except we don't have a different class of criminals at all.
Quote: They're still legal, it doesn't matter if some people look down on users of them or if laws are more strict than 10 years ago.
the societal perceptions of today become the laws of tomorrow. so, yes it does matter.
In a few cases, yes. But, there is way too much money involved with tobacco and alcohol to ever ban them, no matter what the public perception is of them. Of course, we all know the ban on alcohol didn't work or last long during prohibition. Plus, I don't think society is going to wildly change its perception on tobacco or alcohol or in the future.
My point still stands that there are equally or more dangerous drugs than marijuana which are legal, so we can't use its advers effects as reasons to not legalize it.
well, as we have found out with cigarrettes, you can put rules/laws in place to make it harder and taxes in place to make it more expensive to price people out.
and, I don't understand why saying that there are harmful things that are legal that means we should allow more harmful things to be legal. that seems counter-intuitive to me.
Quote: They're still legal, it doesn't matter if some people look down on users of them or if laws are more strict than 10 years ago.
the societal perceptions of today become the laws of tomorrow. so, yes it does matter.
In a few cases, yes. But, there is way too much money involved with tobacco and alcohol to ever ban them, no matter what the public perception is of them. Of course, we all know the ban on alcohol didn't work or last long during prohibition. Plus, I don't think society is going to wildly change its perception on tobacco or alcohol or in the future.
My point still stands that there are equally or more dangerous drugs than marijuana which are legal, so we can't use its advers effects as reasons to not legalize it.
well, as we have found out with cigarrettes, you can put rules/laws in place to make it harder and taxes in place to make it more expensive to price people out.
and, I don't understand why saying that there are harmful things that are legal that means we should allow more harmful things to be legal. that seems counter-intuitive to me.
2/3 of the population drinks or has drank alcohol 1/5 of the population smokes. Neither of those will be going anywhere any time soon.
We have a lot of things that are harmful to people, but we still allow it because not everyone wants to be told what to do all the time. You're more likely to die from McDonalds, driving to work, falling out of bed than you will from marijuana. Are you suggesting we outlaw all of those too?
(A) the smoking number is certainly going down. a higher % of the older generations smoke.
(B) I never said we had to outlaw anything. I just find it curious that one of the stand-by arguments for legalizing something is that other things are harmful too (it sounds too much like "but Bobby's parents let him do it" argument kids use).
(C) I find it difficult to believe that smoking marijuana is that much better for you than smoking cigarrettes. So, we would have to start looking at the health consequences of smoking in general and the long-term effects rather than the numbers while it is illegal.
(D) McD's now serves apples in Happy Meals and reduced the size of the fries there for a reason. It wasn't because they wanted to do it. Obesity is another public perception area where we are moving towards the healthier side of things.
Quote: They're still legal, it doesn't matter if some people look down on users of them or if laws are more strict than 10 years ago.
the societal perceptions of today become the laws of tomorrow. so, yes it does matter.
In a few cases, yes. But, there is way too much money involved with tobacco and alcohol to ever ban them, no matter what the public perception is of them. Of course, we all know the ban on alcohol didn't work or last long during prohibition. Plus, I don't think society is going to wildly change its perception on tobacco or alcohol or in the future.
My point still stands that there are equally or more dangerous drugs than marijuana which are legal, so we can't use its advers effects as reasons to not legalize it.
well, as we have found out with cigarrettes, you can put rules/laws in place to make it harder and taxes in place to make it more expensive to price people out.
and, I don't understand why saying that there are harmful things that are legal that means we should allow more harmful things to be legal. that seems counter-intuitive to me.
I really don't think people are being priced out of cigarettes. I have no stats to back this up, but I haven't heard anyone say they've quit because they've gotten too expensive. Instead, they complain about how expensive their cigarettes are as they light up.
It seems contradicting and counter-intuitive to say marijuana should be illegal while we allow other drugs that are just as harmful which are legal. If you're going to allow alcohol and cigarettes to be legal, why not marijuana? If you're going to make marijuana illegal, why not make alcohol and cigarettes illegal?
Make marijuana legal, tax it, create new jobs via manufacturers, control its distribution, and cut down on crimes and taxpayer money going to prisons to house those who break laws connected to pot possession and dealing. We'd also have fewer police officers wasting time on petty marijuana charges, allowing them to place their focus elsewhere. We have just improved a number of issues.
Quote: We'd also have fewer police officers wasting time on petty marijuana charges, allowing them to place their focus elsewhere.
That's actually a huge factor in all of this.
Most police forces in major cities are pretty much trained to focus on drug busts. And not even important drug busts. Petty ones. Because it helps their career.
If they have 25 drug arrests in a month, it looks better on their stat sheet than one or two arrests for important crimes that takes real police work. And they get more court pay.
The incentive is in just making minor drug arrests.
Quote: Make marijuana legal, tax it, create new jobs via manufacturers, control its distribution, and cut down on crimes and taxpayer money going to prisons to house those who break laws connected to pot possession and dealing. We'd also have fewer police officers wasting time on petty marijuana charges, allowing them to place their focus elsewhere.
Do you really think so? If you follow your method outlined above, then wouldn't any current pot dealer still be breaking the law? And, do you think they would stop selling just because it's legal to possess now?
Further, do you think the police would stop arresting people and getting their money & arrest-counts from these people?
Again, you are trying to make a complex problem seem simple.
You may be interested in the documentary The House I Live In on the drug/prison business in our country. I have not personally seen the whole film yet, but from what I understand it is at least thought provoking.
On a side note, I just found out last week that a childhood friend of mine was in prison - serving 20 years - for selling drugs. It's his 3rd time in prison.
He was born in Toledo. Bad family. He got sent to a family near here as a result of a court order. A "foster" kid. He loved it, and that's when I got to know him.................as just a young kid. Turns out, he got sent back to his "home" in Toledo. He hated it. He had the system figured out though, because his older siblings filled him in. Run away 3 times, you'll be back in the system.
He did, he was, and he luckily got placed with the same foster family. They called us "salt and pepper", as I had white hair, he was of hispanic descent, with black hair.
Anyway, the first 2 times he was in prison, he did his time, learned a trade, and was good when he got out. Each time, he went back to selling though. He married a classmate of mine. That didn't last long. And, he's in Florida in a federal prison with a sentence of 20 years, of which he's served 8.
I just found this out from his foster sister 2 weeks ago. Obviously, he and I weren't close in recent history, but we were pretty decent friends from about age 5 through age 18, aside from the short time he was back with his birth mother.
Thanks for sharing that post, arch. It truly does cast a personal light on some of what we've been talking about in here... and it couldn't have come at a better time.
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My Wife has been a social worker for over 30 years. For almost half that time, she worked as a supervisor for the NW Ohio division of a private Foster Care agency. I got to know a good many of the kids who were under her care during those years.
She ran a great division. She set high standards for her workers & staff, had weekly contact with all the Care Families, and knew (by name & family history)every one of the 80+ kids in placement. My Girl was the consummate pro... and had the success stories to prove it.
The main reason that her division performed as well as they did was a simple, agency-wide concept.policy called: "Wrap-around"... in which counselling, life skills training, and structured support were given to the families of the kids in care.It was labor-intensive- and involved continual contact, collaboration and cooperation with the committing counties, the court-appointed 'specialists,' family therapists, and other social support entities. In all the tie she worked that job, I never saw her put in less than 55-60 hours of work per week.
On a 40 hr./wk salary.
I once asked her why they provided such extended services, and why she worked so hard "off the payroll books"... and her answer was this:
"These kids come into the system because of breakdowns in their own families. We can take the kid out, stabilize them, and get them on the right track, but we'll lose them if they get sent back to the same dysfunctional environment. This is Treatment Foster Care... we don't just warehouse castoff kids..."
I asked that question only once.
_________________________
Your friend's story is archetypical: He thrived- even flourished- in a stable, nurturing environment... but had to take drastic measures to extricate himself from a toxic home environment once he was reunited with his 'birth family.' His "recidivist runaway" tactic was a call for help... and should have been a "call to arms" for those who were charged with giving him a chance. Had they known then what they did when My Wife was Divisional Director, there's a chance that something (more) could have been done. In your friend's case, we'll never know if that extra "Wraparound" effort could have made a positive difference.
So, so, so many of our nation's prison population shares a similar story to this fellow. An unbelievable number of them began life- through no fault of their own- with at least one strike against them before they could even learn to walk. For every one like your friend, there were 10-20 more who didn't see the inside of a foster home... and many of them are now his prison mates, too. Only difference between him and them: those inmates fell through the cracks without any intervention at all... and didn't get the chance to be raised in a foster home near Archbold/Bryan/Napoleon/Delta... and never got the chance to have a friend like you. Not even once.
What a bleak childhood existence.
My Gal and her team were able to save a lot of kids who otherwise might have found themselves where your childhood chum now finds himself. (A few actually did end up with the same fate... and Hunny always took it as a personal defeat.)
It's amazing, but some of those 'kids' are now in their 30's- raising families of their own, making it in the world... and we still hear from them, via the occasional phone call, e-mail or Christmas card. I view each of those little gestures as a "thank you" from these good people.
________________
As an adjunct to my job onstage, I also supplement my income with private studio lessons. As a result, I regularly see some of our community's most promising young people on a weekly basis. Hunny and I regularly talk about the fact that "Her Kids" and "My Kids" are sometimes separated from each other by only a couple blocks/miles/minutes of street travel... but they might just as well have been born on opposite sides of the Earth, for as differently as their respective lives unfold.
Right here in America. Right here in NW Ohio. Right here in my zip code.
___________________ ___________________
If we are to talk frankly about the makeup of prison populations, we must also include into that discussion, that nebulous, 'shades-of-gray' topic of 'Social Justice'... and how it shapes public policy, personal perceptions, and the way our Law Enforcement branches (from blue-clad footsoldier to the Supreme Court) dispense the Law of the Land.
But that would also require us to honestly explore the roots of oppression, class, and caste that are dug deep within the soil of America...
...and 'honest discourse' is hard work.
I wish we'd all put in 1/10th the effort in this all-important national conversation than I saw My Wife give to those kids every day-for a decade and a half. We could probably fix this epidemic problem in one generation.
-But that would require listening to actual people... instead of political hacks, paid pundits, and canned talking points which reinforce our respective personal biases/proclivities.
Do you really think that as many people would use the local pot dealer that was illegal than purchasing it legally at the store? I'm not saying there would be no illegal sales, but it would decrease drastically.
[color:"green"] "World domination has encountered a momentary setback. Please talk amongst yourselves." Get Fuzzy[/color]
Quote: Make marijuana legal, tax it, create new jobs via manufacturers, control its distribution, and cut down on crimes and taxpayer money going to prisons to house those who break laws connected to pot possession and dealing. We'd also have fewer police officers wasting time on petty marijuana charges, allowing them to place their focus elsewhere.
Do you really think so? If you follow your method outlined above, then wouldn't any current pot dealer still be breaking the law? And, do you think they would stop selling just because it's legal to possess now?
Further, do you think the police would stop arresting people and getting their money & arrest-counts from these people?
Again, you are trying to make a complex problem seem simple.
They're selling it on craig's list in Washington state.
If the prices or tax on weed was ridiculous I could see people continuing illegal sales. It is easy and inexpensive to grow, and the quality doesnt suffer. Differs greatly from alcohol and tobacco in those respects.
Quote: If the prices or tax on weed was ridiculous I could see people continuing illegal sales. It is easy and inexpensive to grow, and the quality doesnt suffer. Differs greatly from alcohol and tobacco in those respects.
Yes, if it was legal, the illegal dealers would have to be price competitive with the legal dealers or why would anybody bother?
It is legal to buy liquor but some people still make and sell shine or other home brews.. why would somebody buy illegal booze when you can buy legal booze? Generally because the alcohol content is significantly greater than what is legal...
So in order for illegal pot dealers to have any business at all, they would have to separate themselves from legal pot dealers somehow either by improving on the product or being a lot cheaper... otherwise nobody would take the risk.
Quote: Make marijuana legal, tax it, create new jobs via manufacturers, control its distribution, and cut down on crimes and taxpayer money going to prisons to house those who break laws connected to pot possession and dealing. We'd also have fewer police officers wasting time on petty marijuana charges, allowing them to place their focus elsewhere.
Do you really think so? If you follow your method outlined above, then wouldn't any current pot dealer still be breaking the law? And, do you think they would stop selling just because it's legal to possess now?
Further, do you think the police would stop arresting people and getting their money & arrest-counts from these people?
Again, you are trying to make a complex problem seem simple.
Why would a smoker go to an illegal dealer to get their marijuana and risk getting arrested when they could go down to CVS and pick it up legally? Aside from a minority of the marijuana users in the country, it would make a huge overall difference and be effective with dealing with many of the problems currently associated with pot. The dealers and illegal buyers you're talking about would likely always exist, but the numbers would be extremely reduced from what we see now. Most complex problems are simple if they're broken down to the core and you ignore all of the little aspects surrounding it. Every single problem has a solution, we tend to make the solutions more complex than they need to be and halt progress because of it.
Quote: Do you really think that as many people would use the local pot dealer that was illegal than purchasing it legally at the store? I'm not saying there would be no illegal sales, but it would decrease drastically.
I'm totally ripping this example from the show "Weeds", but yes, people would.
All it will take is for people to realize that when shopping at the store, your name and what you bought goes into a database that is tracked (as happens in pretty much every medical marijuana store).
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
Quote: Do you really think that as many people would use the local pot dealer that was illegal than purchasing it legally at the store? I'm not saying there would be no illegal sales, but it would decrease drastically.
I'm totally ripping this example from the show "Weeds", but yes, people would.
All it will take is for people to realize that when shopping at the store, your name and what you bought goes into a database that is tracked (as happens in pretty much every medical marijuana store).
If it's as legal as cigarettes and alcohol, why would they care?
Kind of what I was thinking . As far as "them" knowing ....who cares ? There is no reasonable person who thinks that they have any expectation of privacy in todays world .
Quote: If it's as legal as cigarettes and alcohol, why would they care?
Because there is still going to be a public perception about it...
If you got in an accident or accused of a crime and it was brought up in court that you bought marijuana... or if you went to a job interview and they found out you were using it... or applied for some kind of government clearance... Who knows? People just don't like (and rightfully so) a lot of people keeping data on them because they DON'T know how it might ultimately be used.
Quote: If it's as legal as cigarettes and alcohol, why would they care?
Because there is still going to be a public perception about it...
If you got in an accident or accused of a crime and it was brought up in court that you bought marijuana... or if you went to a job interview and they found out you were using it... or applied for some kind of government clearance... Who knows? People just don't like (and rightfully so) a lot of people keeping data on them because they DON'T know how it might ultimately be used.
I don't think that kind of paranoia would keep most people away from legally purchasing marijuana and drive them to buying it illegally on the streets.
Quote: Do you really think that as many people would use the local pot dealer that was illegal than purchasing it legally at the store? I'm not saying there would be no illegal sales, but it would decrease drastically.
I'm totally ripping this example from the show "Weeds", but yes, people would.
All it will take is for people to realize that when shopping at the store, your name and what you bought goes into a database that is tracked (as happens in pretty much every medical marijuana store).
If it's as legal as cigarettes and alcohol, why would they care?
1. Have you ever seen how freaking paranoid people get on pot and other drugs? Throw rational thought out.
2. I wouldn't want anyone tracking anything I'm doing, regardless of how innocuous it is. Would you be Ok with the Gov't tracking all of your alcohol purchases? Don't forget, they now run the health care system... .if they can track your purchases, now they can actually claim medical right to send you to rehab or "education" classes.
Browns is the Browns
... there goes Joe Thomas, the best there ever was in this game.
Heck, I don't smoke anymore, and haven't in years ..... but I see people of all ages buying cigarettes, and they are required to give the cashier their driver's license in a lot of stores, and it is checked, and swiped, into the register. They follow a similar approach with a liquor purchase. I see the same thing happening with pot, if it is ever legalized. No company wants to take the chance of selling any such drug to an underage person.
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
Quote: If it's as legal as cigarettes and alcohol, why would they care?
Because there is still going to be a public perception about it...
If you got in an accident or accused of a crime and it was brought up in court that you bought marijuana... or if you went to a job interview and they found out you were using it... or applied for some kind of government clearance... Who knows? People just don't like (and rightfully so) a lot of people keeping data on them because they DON'T know how it might ultimately be used.
Making drugs legal doesn't mean anyone approves of their use. It will be like tobacco is now. Many places won't hire someone if they test positive for nicotine. People have to make the choice whether to use or not. Laws are not a deterrent for those that currently use, and there aren't a bunch of people that would suddenly start using if it were not a crime. Legalization would free up the burden on law enforcement and the legal system. I'm also not buying the argument that most dealers will resort to other crimes if this source of income were taken away. Most of the small time bootleggers during prohibition ended up being normal law abiding citizens once alcohol became legal again. I don't see this as being any different.
And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. - John Muir
Quote: Do you really think that as many people would use the local pot dealer that was illegal than purchasing it legally at the store? I'm not saying there would be no illegal sales, but it would decrease drastically.
I'm totally ripping this example from the show "Weeds", but yes, people would.
All it will take is for people to realize that when shopping at the store, your name and what you bought goes into a database that is tracked (as happens in pretty much every medical marijuana store).
If it's as legal as cigarettes and alcohol, why would they care?
1. Have you ever seen how freaking paranoid people get on pot and other drugs? Throw rational thought out.
2. I wouldn't want anyone tracking anything I'm doing, regardless of how innocuous it is. Would you be Ok with the Gov't tracking all of your alcohol purchases? Don't forget, they now run the health care system... .if they can track your purchases, now they can actually claim medical right to send you to rehab or "education" classes.
1. Are you saying a large amount of pot smokers would be paranoid when it was time to go to CVS to get their pack of marijuana, so they would instead end up getting it illegally? Again, you're pointing out a very small number of the population. The number of people who would be like that would be very small, essentially inconsequential.
2. You're pretty much being tracked with everything you do at this point. Phone calls you make, texts sent, Facebook and Twitter messages, what you post to this message board, products you purchase with credit cards or checks or use a store's discount membership card when paying with cash, what you watch on TV, where your car goes if using GPS, etc. Let's be realistic, we're all connected to information collection databases for pretty much everything we do and can be found out about with just about anything we do that isn't completely personal. Why would you suddenly care about the government knowing about a legal drug that you purchase? This country is turning into a 1984 society anyway, it's just a matter of time before it's fully realized. You might as well enjoy your marijuana en route.
Quote: 1. Are you saying a large amount of pot smokers would be paranoid when it was time to go to CVS to get their pack of marijuana, so they would instead end up getting it illegally? Again, you're pointing out a very small number of the population. The number of people who would be like that would be very small, essentially inconsequential.
The biggest factor in the drug's illegality is that the number would be large, and very consequential.
Anyone else find it interesting that so many of the lobby groups who sank money into legalizing medical marijuana are suddenly balking at the idea of outright legalization?
