I think it's a big step - California is a large state and probably psychologically important to seeing the US cease wasting Federal resources on chasing personal use MJ.

I think that makes it more likely other countries will see sense and we can certainly use the taxes the government could earn - 15% in California, for example - as well as the money saved on enforcement - to do some more useful things.

Interesting as Nevada and Massachusetts also voted for legalisation in this election, as well as Florida, Arkansas, and North Dakota for medical use.

Surely it's only a matter of time until we see reform in Australia and NZ, economically it all makes sense, and public opinion is changing. I'll certainly welcome it.

JoshWright:

 

Interesting as Nevada and Massachusetts also voted for legalisation in this election, as well as Florida, Arkansas, and North Dakota for medical use.

 

Surely it's only a matter of time until we see reform in Australia and NZ, economically it all makes sense, and public opinion is changing. I'll certainly welcome it.

 

People lobbying in NZ seem to want it to go beyond medical use. It is a drug that provides health benefits for certain diseases, so it should be allowed for medical use.

NZ is stupid on this issue.  Alcohol is legal, why?  how many men beat up their wives when drunk?  how many people crash their cars driving drunk.

how many stoners do the same thing?

tax it, use the money for drug education and hard reduction programs.

nathan:

NZ is stupid on this issue.  Alcohol is legal, why?  how many men beat up their wives when drunk?  how many people crash their cars driving drunk.

 

how many stoners do the same thing?

 

tax it, use the money for drug education and hard reduction programs.

nathan:

 

NZ is stupid on this issue.  Alcohol is legal, why?  how many men beat up their wives when drunk?  how many people crash their cars driving drunk.

 

 

 

how many stoners do the same thing?

 

 

 

tax it, use the money for drug education and hard reduction programs.

 

I know bugger all about it, but I see it on the same level as smoking and alcohol.  It should be legal, I doubt that would do anything for stopping the stoned driving....but they have the same problem with drunk driving, although I wonder if people drive while high since they already figure they're doing something illegal by smoking in the first place.

Take the tax and run.  And it's another potential export market.

1eStar: My friend was in Oregon recently. He said it was disturbing how many stoned people were wandering around the streets. And would be strongly opposed to it being legalised anywhere.

http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2016/06/oregon_marks_1_year_anniversar.html

Not a great comparison, but how is it different from people wandering around drunk?  Any Friday/Saturday night in the main centers that's a common sight.  If it's so bad that stoned people are wandering around, then why don't they do something about all the drunk people?

Effect outside the US?

One thing is that at least there'll be better case study on the impact of legalisation change on use rates and social harm, so that any debate could be rather more scientific and rather less hysterical than it always seems to be.

MikeB4:

nathan:

 

NZ is stupid on this issue.  Alcohol is legal, why?  how many men beat up their wives when drunk?  how many people crash their cars driving drunk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

how many stoners do the same thing?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tax it, use the money for drug education and hard reduction programs.

 

My son is a Psychologist and has other medical qualifications. He can talk for hours why it should not be legal. NZ is not stupid at all.

I saw a news article from a doctor at a hospital in Colorado  who basically said the same thing.  Admissions for pot related  problems are way up.. 

60 minutes (tv2 on momday night?)had an article on the legalisation in the states.

The first couple of states that allowed it are seeing some bad effects.

Organised crime has moved in to start commercial farming - they think they are 'hiding in plain sight'.

They are very worried about increasing numbers of stoned drivers because they have no on the spot tests.

One doctor said he has seen an alarming increase in babies being born with high levels of THC - when the mothers are asked they say - it cant be that bad - its legal now.

There was also an increased number of hospital admissions from 'younger' people. One specialist said - the only good thing about alcohol is that it doesnt stay in your body. THC binds to the fats cells and sticks around for a long time. The brain is nearly all fat. THC is well noted as causing brain development issues and apparently the human brain does not finish that process until the late 20s.

I have no problem with controlled medical use if it has some proven value. I am not sure about making it a recreational product. 

robjg63:

 

60 minutes (tv2 on momday night?)had an article on the legalisation in the states.

 

The first couple of states that allowed it are seeing some bad effects.

 

Organised crime has moved in to start commercial farming - they think they are 'hiding in plain sight'.

 

They are very worried about increasing numbers of stoned drivers because they have no on the spot tests.

 

One doctor said he has seen an alarming increase in babies being born with high levels of THC - when the mothers are asked they say - it cant be that bad - its legal now.

 

There was also an increased number of hospital admissions from 'younger' people. One specialist said - the only good thing about alcohol is that it doesnt stay in your body. THC binds to the fats cells and sticks around for a long time. The brain is nearly all fat. THC is well noted as causing brain development issues and apparently the human brain does not finish that process until the late 20s.

 

I have no problem with controlled medical use if it has some proven value. I am not sure about making it a recreational product. 

 

OTOH adults should be able to make decisions for themselves and there is no logic in allowing adults (pregnant or otherwise) to consume 10 bottles of vodka a month and at the same time jail them for smoking a doobie on the deck.

Geektastic:

 

robjg63:

 

60 minutes (tv2 on momday night?)had an article on the legalisation in the states.

 

The first couple of states that allowed it are seeing some bad effects.

 

Organised crime has moved in to start commercial farming - they think they are 'hiding in plain sight'.

 

They are very worried about increasing numbers of stoned drivers because they have no on the spot tests.

 

One doctor said he has seen an alarming increase in babies being born with high levels of THC - when the mothers are asked they say - it cant be that bad - its legal now.

 

There was also an increased number of hospital admissions from 'younger' people. One specialist said - the only good thing about alcohol is that it doesnt stay in your body. THC binds to the fats cells and sticks around for a long time. The brain is nearly all fat. THC is well noted as causing brain development issues and apparently the human brain does not finish that process until the late 20s.

 

I have no problem with controlled medical use if it has some proven value. I am not sure about making it a recreational product. 

 

 

 

 

OTOH adults should be able to make decisions for themselves and there is no logic in allowing adults (pregnant or otherwise) to consume 10 bottles of vodka a month and at the same time jail them for smoking a doobie on the deck.

 

Their decisions don't affect just themselves.

MikeB4:

 

Geektastic:

 

robjg63:

 

60 minutes (tv2 on momday night?)had an article on the legalisation in the states.

 

The first couple of states that allowed it are seeing some bad effects.

 

Organised crime has moved in to start commercial farming - they think they are 'hiding in plain sight'.

 

They are very worried about increasing numbers of stoned drivers because they have no on the spot tests.

 

One doctor said he has seen an alarming increase in babies being born with high levels of THC - when the mothers are asked they say - it cant be that bad - its legal now.

 

There was also an increased number of hospital admissions from 'younger' people. One specialist said - the only good thing about alcohol is that it doesnt stay in your body. THC binds to the fats cells and sticks around for a long time. The brain is nearly all fat. THC is well noted as causing brain development issues and apparently the human brain does not finish that process until the late 20s.

 

I have no problem with controlled medical use if it has some proven value. I am not sure about making it a recreational product. 

 

 

 

 

OTOH adults should be able to make decisions for themselves and there is no logic in allowing adults (pregnant or otherwise) to consume 10 bottles of vodka a month and at the same time jail them for smoking a doobie on the deck.

 

 

 

 

Their decisions don't affect just themselves.

 

That's up to them, in the same way that is when they get behind the wheel or get drunk, both of which are perfectly legal provided you do not do them at the same time.