Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal • Hacker News Board

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#31

Post by toomuchtodo » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:32 AM UTC

jimbob45 wrote: post #12

toomuchtodo wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Imho, a significant part of the problem is gerrymandering [1]. A certain party has outsized influence because of gerrymandering (but this shouldn’t absolve moderate/corporate Dems of their failings either, especially with Biden opposing legalization; read the room my dude). 1.8 million voters over the age of 55 age out every year, and election cycles are every two years. We’ll get there eventually (on Medicare for Al…

That’s a bit myopic to claim that the nation’s struggles are due to one party’s inability to achieve a majority, isn’t it? Evil sits on both sides of the aisle. The Democrats have a majority now and did in 2010. They haven’t even attempted to pass marijuana legalization. I have my theories as to why but they certainly have nothing to do with gerrymandering.

Schumer has legislation in the Senate teed up. Needs enough support to get past Republican holdouts and Biden.

> Key Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), said Tuesday they would work to repeal federal prohibitions on marijuana cultivation and use, vowing to make progress on an issue that has growing public support but still faces sharp objections from most Republicans.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congress-schumer-mar...

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#32

Post by AlexTWithBeard » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:32 AM UTC

elliekelly wrote: post #17

tamaharbor wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Have you ever been on Medicare? Frankly, it’s not that good.

I bet it will improve rather quickly once Congress is on it, too.

I've been through a couple of countries with government-run medicine. The very first thing that happens in these systems is people are assigned to a specific medical center, usually using either home or office location.

Rest assured: hospitals in Washington, DC will never be short of personnel, out of supplies or, god forbid, overcrowded.

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#33

Post by paxys » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:32 AM UTC

1cvmask wrote: post #2

Majority of Americans support Medicare for All. But both parties are against it. Marijuana legalization is easier to pass than healthcare because there are no entrenched corporate interests against it: https://morningconsult.com/2021/03/24/medicare-for-all-publi...

Majority of Americans supporting Medicare for all is meaningless if they don't also agree on the details, like how to pay for it.

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#34

Post by triceratops » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:32 AM UTC

tamaharbor wrote: post #5

1cvmask wrote: post #2

Majority of Americans support Medicare for All. But both parties are against it. Marijuana legalization is easier to pass than healthcare because there are no entrenched corporate interests against it: https://morningconsult.com/2021/03/24/medicare-for-all-publi...

Have you ever been on Medicare? Frankly, it’s not that good.

Better than nothing.

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#35

Post by 01100011 » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:33 AM UTC

wwweston wrote: post #16

I've supported legalization efforts in two states. But I kindof have regrets, now. And in fact, if I were in charge, I might leave it as an infraction. I don't really want it to be illegal, but as far as I can tell, the same thing that happens to cigarette smokers happens to weed smokers: perspective on the fact that smoking is the atmospheric equivalent of peeing in the pool is lost. And I wake up like I did last ni…

That existed before legalization. The only difference is now you can't tie up precious law enforcement resources because of unfavorable air currents. You can still appeal to your city or landlord. They might not take it seriously, which, given the level of your personal suffering, seems reasonable.

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#36

Post by chenzhekl » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:34 AM UTC

Are there any goods to legalize marijuana? If there had been a chance, I would have voted to ban cigarettes as well.

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#37

Post by astrea » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:34 AM UTC

ianai wrote: post #21

I come to it from the view of prohibition being a known source of power for cartels. I suspect if the various prohibitions were relaxed enough (and safely) that cartels would lose a lot power. Could see less immigrants fleeing cartel violence? But I fear legalization too. I fear people taking it too far and forcing a backlash and a new prohibition.

They're not just smuggling Marijuana and that's assuming they're not already deeply entrenched in their localities.

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#38

Post by yazaddaruvala » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:35 AM UTC

tamaharbor wrote: post #5

1cvmask wrote: post #2

Majority of Americans support Medicare for All. But both parties are against it. Marijuana legalization is easier to pass than healthcare because there are no entrenched corporate interests against it: https://morningconsult.com/2021/03/24/medicare-for-all-publi...

Have you ever been on Medicare? Frankly, it’s not that good.

I've experienced the Canadian healthcare system (similar to Medicare for All) as a patient, and I've experienced the American healthcare industry as a "customer" (Note: I've always had private insurance through great jobs).

I can easily say, "having private insurance in American, frankly, its not that good."

Proposals I've previously heard: Medicare for All, Medicare for Children, Medicare reduced age, a public-private option, improved transparency in costs (i.e. a menu), pin costs to Medicare + X%, allow insurance companies to operate across state lines, better subsidize preventative medicine, force clinicians to be able to speak to costs (similar to dentists/chiropractic/optometrists/dermatologist), reduce patent length or add a maximum return on investment to patents (e.g. 10x or 100x R&D costs?), etc.

Literally any of these would be an improvement. Please tell all of your representatives (regardless of politics) to fucking execute on any of them so things improve at least a bit from where it is now.

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#39

Post by infogulch » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:35 AM UTC

1cvmask wrote: post #2

Majority of Americans support Medicare for All. But both parties are against it. Marijuana legalization is easier to pass than healthcare because there are no entrenched corporate interests against it: https://morningconsult.com/2021/03/24/medicare-for-all-publi...

I know you just brought it up as an example, but I'm much more interested in a Direct Primary Care healthcare strategy over Medicare for All. https://www.dpcare.org/

Re: Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal

#40

Post by person_of_color » Thu, Apr 22, 2021, 1:35 AM UTC

I am interested in the devil's advocate to current trend of Marijuana legalisation. _EVERY_ discourse on the internet (besides religious cranks it seems) tends to favour legalisation. If something is too good to be true, then it is.

There could be a significant population who are risk of adverse outcomes, especially 18-24 users whose brains are still developing.