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Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

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Re: Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

#51

What will this look like 20 years from now when marijuana is decriminalised? I always wonder that when seeing these sad stories. How will our future selves view the ignorance of the past in regards to drug laws? Even 5 years ago I never thought gay marriage had a chance in America. But now it seems like just a matter of time and entirely obvious. There will come a tipping point with drugs laws in America where mariju…

It likely is not going to take 20 years... at least, for states that aren't Texas. My state (Washington) is the front-runner to regulate the sale of marijuana in this year. I-502 polled with an 8 point lead last month, with 47% in favor, 39% opposed, and 15% undecided. [1] Of course, the initiative in California polled well last year and still failed, but this is almost certainly going to pass in less than twenty yea…

The fed atty general in Colorado just the other day said medical marijuana clinics and laws are meaningless in the eyes of fed drug laws.

So legalize all you want (and that's a necessary first step), but the fed is going to take a long time to come around.

Re: Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

#52

I am constantly amazed that people seem so surprised that when people break the law, they get in trouble. Just because you don't like a law, doesn't mean you should be surprised when, like so many people before them, people get caught for breaking it. I often wonder if I am the only person in the tech world who wouldn't mind much higher penalties for possessions of narcotics, instead of this current "illegal, but mos…

ORLY? I'm against higher penalties for narcotics, since the penalties themselves don't seem to provide a deterrent, and just serve to increase the prison population. People are gonna do what they're gonna do, and I'm for lower penalties, since I think that would mean less people in prison.

Are you sure that a fixed prison sentence, enforced on everybody, for possession of any amount of cannabis, wouldn't cause many people to stop?

I'm fairly sure it would, looking at my friends who smoke because they believe (rightly) the worst they will get for possession is a smallish fine.

Re: Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

#53
post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think it will look exactly like it does now: like a brutal and dysfunctional police state violating the privacy and dignity of its citizens and locking them in cages for trivial offenses that harm nobody. P.S. My mom told me in the 90s that they had these same conversations in the 70s. A 20 year time frame may be optimistic...

Please think again when you say it does nobody any harm. Its well documented, that MJ coming from Mexico does a great deal of harm. You must think of the entire production process. If it were legalized, it would still do people harm. Its been well documented, that doing enough of it will just tune out your senses... Making you a "pot head" and a lazy ass, that I don't want to have to support when you decide to live o…

It does harm because it's illegal. If it were legal, people wouldn't need to buy it from Mexican gangsters. Notice how Chicago isn't filled with people massacring each other with tommy guns since alcohol prohibition ended.

Re: Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

#54
post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Please think again when you say it does nobody any harm. Its well documented, that MJ coming from Mexico does a great deal of harm. You must think of the entire production process. If it were legalized, it would still do people harm. Its been well documented, that doing enough of it will just tune out your senses... Making you a "pot head" and a lazy ass, that I don't want to have to support when you decide to live o…

It does harm because it's illegal. If it were legal, people wouldn't need to buy it from Mexican gangsters. Notice how Chicago isn't filled with people massacring each other with tommy guns since alcohol prohibition ended.

Chicago's still well-known for its organized crime, and it's still largely fueled by drug prohibition.

It'd be more correct to say that people in Chicago aren't brutally massacring each other over alcohol since alcohol prohibition ended.

Re: Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

#57
post #39

It's unfortunate that Austin, such a creative and progressive city, is surrounded by the rest of Texas.

"If I owned Texs and Hell, I'd rent out Texas and live in Hell" is how Ben Franklin put it.

First, you miss attributed this. It was Philip Sheridan; a Union General assigned to occupy Texas and oversee reconstruction after the Civil War. He was less than popular and removed from his post by president Andrew Johnson for his harsh application of the Military Reconstruction Acts.

Which leads me to a much better quote.

"Fuck You! I'm from Texas."

The guy wasn't even arrested in Texas. He was arrested by the Feds... who Texans usually have no love for. Succeed is on bumper stickers here. But yeah, I admit... Texas enforcement and sentencing can be BS. So don't break our laws and we wont break you.

Re: Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

#58
post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

People in Italy drive Camaros? God, I can think of a couple dozen cars I would rather drive in Italy than an American muscle car. Hell, any Alfa Romeo will likely be classier and of a better build quality.

No, they don't:-) A "Bitchin' Camaro" is not an actual car, it's a state of mind...

Ah, being an American, when I hear "bitchin' Camaro" I think of a muscle car with a loud exhaust.

Re: Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

#59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ORLY? I'm against higher penalties for narcotics, since the penalties themselves don't seem to provide a deterrent, and just serve to increase the prison population. People are gonna do what they're gonna do, and I'm for lower penalties, since I think that would mean less people in prison.

Are you sure that a fixed prison sentence, enforced on everybody, for possession of any amount of cannabis, wouldn't cause many people to stop? I'm fairly sure it would, looking at my friends who smoke because they believe (rightly) the worst they will get for possession is a smallish fine.

I'm sure that's not the prevailing reason for their choice.

Please do not pursue a career in government or law enforcement.

Re: Geohot Arrested for Marijuana Possession En Route to SXSW

#60
post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are you sure that a fixed prison sentence, enforced on everybody, for possession of any amount of cannabis, wouldn't cause many people to stop? I'm fairly sure it would, looking at my friends who smoke because they believe (rightly) the worst they will get for possession is a smallish fine.

I'm sure that's not the prevailing reason for their choice. Please do not pursue a career in government or law enforcement.

Do you think that everyone who currently smokes cannabis would continue to smoke it, even if the penalties were massively increased, and strictly enforced?

I find that fascinating. I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't think introducing prison sentences would reduce usage, and believe that the existing scientific evidence backs my viewpoint. You clearly disagree with me. Unfortunately ycombinator is not the best place to have a discussion about such things, but I would recommend in future if you would like cannabis to be legalised, you shouldn't be so dismissive and insulting to people who hold an opposing viewpoint to you, who I assume you would want to convert.

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