New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws • Hacker News Board

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#31

Post by Karunamon » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 12:39 AM UTC

michaelwww wrote: post #11

The article makes him sound like an opportunistic follower. "the latest of several instances in which he has embarked on a major social policy effort sure to bolster his popularity with a large portion of his political base."

That's politics for you. One of the many reasons it's taken so long to get this far with the legalization effort is that politicians are utterly terrified of being seen as soft on crime or not being for the safety of children or whatever the stupid political buzz-phrase of the moment is that tangentially supports the drug war.

Once more states see how it works out for the few that have dared to step forward, expect the rest to fall in line relatively quickly. The economic benefits alone are impossible to ignore.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#32

Post by smackfu » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 12:44 AM UTC

colinbartlett wrote: post #2

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

My thoughts exactly. Given the recent developments in other states, I thought it was an actual newsworthy event, instead of New York getting laws that I figured they already had.

NYTimes even sent this article out at as an alert. Guess they were proud of their scoop.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#33

Post by zoowar » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 12:57 AM UTC

michaelwww wrote: post #29

igravious wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is an amazingly well delivered monologue. Never heard of this guy, must keep tabs on him, I have new-found respect for mainstream journalism.

Like Chris Matthews, he has a tendency to talk too much and over his guests, but he's pretty bright and has solid progressive cred. The guy I really enjoy is Steve Kornacki, who fills in sometimes.

I too wish Chris Matthews would let his guests talk.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#34

Post by csarva » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 1:05 AM UTC

TillE wrote: post #9

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...

Even still, when combined with stop and frisk the penalties aren't applied very evenly.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#35

Post by notastartup » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 1:09 AM UTC

dmix wrote: post #4

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

As a Canadian and a retired buddha smoker, I would say United States has beat Canada at it's most sacred national treasure (hockey, basketball too).

No longer can we thump our chest and scream 'BC BUD BEST BUD'. L.A. MMJ surpasses B.C. easily and it's far more relaxed than Vancouver. Far more ridiculously easier to get MMJ.

Have you tried to get medical marijuana here in Vancouver? Doctors prescribe anti-depressants because it works better than medical marijuana.

Don't buy this Canadian propaganda bullshit or somehow we are above United States, if anything, we suffer from heavy market regulation and interference from the government, federal and provincial and then point fingers at America and say look at those barbarians!

How the hell does incompetent government workers who can't get shit done get paid more than highly intellectual human capital in the tech industry, AND get more benefits AND get more job stability? It must be that all of our hard earned money is going towards the upper echelons of Canadian government, with a fat ass mayor taking crack cocaine off the streets by consuming it all and running around like an idiot for one.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#36

Post by wahnfrieden » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 1:56 AM UTC

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.

My understanding is that many in NY are "gotten" by the additional charges, such as having paraphernalia on them, or merely exposing it or the paraphernalia when the cop asks about it which makes it no longer concealed.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#37

Post by NAFV_P » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 1:56 AM UTC

corin_ wrote: post #22

collyw wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Its pretty tolerated compared to UK and Austria (the countries I have lived in). You regularly smell it in the street, and police don't make such a big deal from anecdotal evidence.

I've on multiple occasions been on a UK street, witnessed a very strong smell of weed with police officers walking along near me, and had them do nothing. That said, I'd personally never take the risk of smoking in public in the UK (though I do know people who do). Belgium's another country that's very relaxed about it. The friends I have there who smoke have to drive over to NL to buy it (I guess there are street de…

> I've on multiple occasions been on a UK street, witnessed a very strong smell of weed with police officers walking along near me, and had them do nothing.

Whether or not you get busted depends on the personal opinions of the police officer.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#38

Post by corin_ » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 2:00 AM UTC

NAFV_P wrote: post #37

corin_ wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've on multiple occasions been on a UK street, witnessed a very strong smell of weed with police officers walking along near me, and had them do nothing. That said, I'd personally never take the risk of smoking in public in the UK (though I do know people who do). Belgium's another country that's very relaxed about it. The friends I have there who smoke have to drive over to NL to buy it (I guess there are street de…

> I've on multiple occasions been on a UK street, witnessed a very strong smell of weed with police officers walking along near me, and had them do nothing. Whether or not you get busted depends on the personal opinions of the police officer.

Sure, that's why I wouldn't take the risk myself :)

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#39

Post by Alex3917 » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 2:17 AM UTC

HNaTTY wrote: post #13

corin_ wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

The fact that NY laws regarding marijuana would directly conflict with Federal law is significant. As more states defy the Federal prohibition of marijuana, it creates more tension between the states and the USGOV. Eventually with enough tension of this kind, Congress will have enough political cover to actually do something.

Their isn't actually any conflict between state and federal laws, as there is nothing in the federal laws that requires states to make marijuana illegal. The whole idea of a legal conflict is just a conservative talking point.

Re: New York State Is Set to Loosen Marijuana Laws

#40

Post by Alex3917 » Sun, Jan 05, 2014, 2:21 AM UTC

colinbartlett wrote: post #2

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

This is actually pretty big. The fact that it's going to be dispensed by hospitals means that the state is going to have to create regulations governing production and distribution. Even though only a few thousand patients will be eligible, in terms of going towards full legalization this is actually a bigger step than many other states where it's easier to become eligible but there isn't any state infrastructure for distribution.