Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

mynorthwest.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

31–40 of 142 posts

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#31

Post by jordanthoms »

pixie_ wrote: post #24
TruthElixirX wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Has banning people from shooting meth into the webbing of their fingers stopped them? No. It has only made things worse. 100% legalization for all substances.

Really? How do you know, 'it hasn't stopped them.' How do you count the number of people who never got addicted to meth because it wasn't on sale at 7-11, or was never made the secret ingredient in McDonald's new meth burger. Do you know that without rules, there really are no rules, and the examples I just gave are the tip of a scary iceberg. Do you know what worse is? You have no idea.

If you could get meth at Mc'Ds, would you take it? No? Then why do you presume that everyone else would?

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#32

Post by aaronbrethorst »

askimto wrote: post #4
blackhole wrote: post #2

Provided we also legalize same-sex marriage, this voting cycle will make me proud to be a Washington native.

Y'all also fell for another initiative from Tim Eyman.

Not sure why you're being downvoted. We always fall for Eyman initiatives, sadly. Eyman, for those who aren't from here, is the guy who keeps getting initiatives on the ballot that make our government as ineffective as California's.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#33

Post by rdl »

MartinCron wrote: post #27
Tiktaalik wrote: post #15

It'll be interesting to see what, if any, effect this has north of the border in British Columbia. Marijuana decriminalization and legalization has often been discussed in Canada, but one of the main arguments against a change in the law is that the United States would not approve. Seems like that may be changing.

That, and Vanouver BC didn't want to be a destination for drug tourism. Vancouver, WA will now have that honor.

Felons can't go into Canada (and, there's customs search too), so BC as drug tourist/reup spot doesn't make as much sense as Vancouver WA drug tourist/reup spot.

(although I can't imagine anyone buying retail ounces and then selling them, legal supply chains tend to cover up illicit ones running in parallel, or allow diversion, so I could see the underground taking advantage of this.)

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#35

Post by bobzimuta »

koudelka wrote: post #19
[deleted] wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

[deleted]

I tend to agree that all substances should be legal, I'm just stumped when it comes to implementation. I'm sure most people wouldn't be too happy if a heroin or crack shop opened up in their neighborhood though. Should we allow the passing of ordinances preventing the operation of such shops? Should the selling be handled by designated shops at all?

Not all substances need to be legalized. There's no reason for the government to promote the use of drugs, however it should stay out of our personal choices as much as possible.

Borrowing from Portugal's drug policy, decriminalize possession of personal amounts of drugs and focus on rehabilitation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_Portugal#Laws_an...

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#36

Post by FaceKicker »

TruthElixirX wrote: post #25
pixie_ wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Really? How do you know, 'it hasn't stopped them.' How do you count the number of people who never got addicted to meth because it wasn't on sale at 7-11, or was never made the secret ingredient in McDonald's new meth burger. Do you know that without rules, there really are no rules, and the examples I just gave are the tip of a scary iceberg. Do you know what worse is? You have no idea.

Look at my rock. It is a magic rock. It keeps tigers away. I have never been attacked by a tiger while holding this rock. Who knows how many tiger attacks it has defeated. EDIT:: Also I don't give a shit if 7-11 sells meth. I'll just shop somewhere that doesn't.

As someone who thinks the 'war on drugs' is really stupid, I think it's dishonest to compare direct efforts to stop something (no matter how misguided those efforts may be) to a "magic rock". Obviously drug prohibition has stopped someone from acquiring or selling drugs at some point in time who otherwise would have. Of course, that doesn't make it a financially worthwhile or desirable goal.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#37

Post by WalterBright »

Kadin wrote: post #22
ComputerGuru wrote: post #8

I'm not someone who would take advantage of the legalization of marijuana, but I am in favor of legalization because I don't think it's the government's job to tell you what you can or can't do. If drinking is legal, smoking weed should be too. I understand the concept behind a tax on marijuana, but I don't understand a 25% tax on every stage of the process... If you're saying that it's legal to use marijuana respons…

> Is marijuana bad and the government needs to bribed to let it? "The government", no; but many voters, yes. There are a lot of people who don't use cannabis and don't have any interest in whether or not it's legal, but are swayed by the potential tax revenues. It was the bargain necessary to get the votes to pass it. Perhaps in the future the tax rate will be stepped down if it's really felt to be excessive or if th…

If the taxes are too high, the black market and its associated crime returns. This happened with high cigarette taxes a few years back, and the taxes were stepped back down.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#38

Post by WalterBright »

pixie_ wrote: post #24
TruthElixirX wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Has banning people from shooting meth into the webbing of their fingers stopped them? No. It has only made things worse. 100% legalization for all substances.

Really? How do you know, 'it hasn't stopped them.' How do you count the number of people who never got addicted to meth because it wasn't on sale at 7-11, or was never made the secret ingredient in McDonald's new meth burger. Do you know that without rules, there really are no rules, and the examples I just gave are the tip of a scary iceberg. Do you know what worse is? You have no idea.

We do have Prohibition - before, after, and during. Consumption went up during, and back down afterwards. Crime went up during, and back down afterwards.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#39

Post by Tuna-Fish »

ComputerGuru wrote: post #8

I'm not someone who would take advantage of the legalization of marijuana, but I am in favor of legalization because I don't think it's the government's job to tell you what you can or can't do. If drinking is legal, smoking weed should be too. I understand the concept behind a tax on marijuana, but I don't understand a 25% tax on every stage of the process... If you're saying that it's legal to use marijuana respons…

> I don't see the point of a whole 25% tax on top of that.

I would like to point out that a 25% tax on legally produced marijuana is very low. A 500% tax would still be low. Considering the amounts consumed, growing marijuana is really easy and cheap. Without the legislation against it, when grown in volume by professionals it should have a cost per kg nearing that of hydroponic cabbage, or some 1000 times less than it's present street price.

Re: Washington voters approve legalized marijuana

#40

Post by drivebyacct2 »

dreamdu5t wrote: post #21
ComputerGuru wrote: post #8

I'm not someone who would take advantage of the legalization of marijuana, but I am in favor of legalization because I don't think it's the government's job to tell you what you can or can't do. If drinking is legal, smoking weed should be too. I understand the concept behind a tax on marijuana, but I don't understand a 25% tax on every stage of the process... If you're saying that it's legal to use marijuana respons…

The government is a protection racket. Laws against weed violate the sovereignty of hte individual. It's absurd that the primary argument is tax revenue. Really shows how whacked politics and American's conception of government is.

I'm interested to know why you're being downvoted.
Post reply on HN