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New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

nytimes.com

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Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#3

Post by corin_ »

colinbartlett wrote: post #2

Barely loosen. Like the most mundane loosening possible. Great job, New York Times headline copywriter.

Isn't it a bit of a slippery slope (in a good way - if you support legalisation), in that it's a much bigger change of policy to go from no use to a few uses than it is to go from a few uses to many uses. I'd think this is a big step even if it's short-term impact is extremely limited.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#5

Post by benihana »

dmix wrote: post #4

Loosing laws on medical marijuana? Catching up with Canada circa 1990s. United States is so progressive these days.

It's still forward progress. Why the snark though? Is there anyone who doesn't know the United States isn't socially progressive relative to other western nations? The fact that we're loosening dumb laws is good.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#6

Post by Aqwis »

benihana wrote: post #5
dmix wrote: post #4

Loosing laws on medical marijuana? Catching up with Canada circa 1990s. United States is so progressive these days.

It's still forward progress. Why the snark though? Is there anyone who doesn't know the United States isn't socially progressive relative to other western nations? The fact that we're loosening dumb laws is good.

On the topic of marijuana, the US is more liberal than most European countries. In exactly two European countries, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, can you obtain marijuana for medical purposes without risk of a fine or in the worst case ending up in jail.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#7

Post by Aqwis »

Can someone tell me how marijuana is currently treated by the police in New York? According to the article, New York has "long one of the nation’s most punitive states for those caught using or dealing drugs", but according to Wikipedia, marijuana is decriminalized in New York, which as far as I understand the term means that those caught with marijuana only get a relatively small penalty.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#8

Post by stevoski »

Aqwis wrote: post #6
benihana wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still forward progress. Why the snark though? Is there anyone who doesn't know the United States isn't socially progressive relative to other western nations? The fact that we're loosening dumb laws is good.

On the topic of marijuana, the US is more liberal than most European countries. In exactly two European countries, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, can you obtain marijuana for medical purposes without risk of a fine or in the worst case ending up in jail.

And Spain - at least, in Barcelona, where there are legal ways to obtain marijuana, and not even for medical reasons.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#9

Post by TillE »

Aqwis wrote: post #7

Can someone tell me how marijuana is currently treated by the police in New York? According to the article, New York has "long one of the nation’s most punitive states for those caught using or dealing drugs", but according to Wikipedia, marijuana is decriminalized in New York, which as far as I understand the term means that those caught with marijuana only get a relatively small penalty.

For quite a long time now, simple possession of under an ounce has been treated as a civil infraction. Anything else (sale, cultivation) is still a crime, of course.

http://norml.org/states/item/new-york-penalties-2?category_i...

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