troublemaker_42

The majority of voters may support medical marijuana, but I've never seen ANYTHING that says the majority of voters support ending the drug war. At best, the Gallup polls have shown approximately 33% of voters support legalizing marijuana.

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Ted Nugent: "To my mind it is wholly irresponsible to go into the world incapable of preventing violence, injury, crime, and death. How feeble is the mindset to accept defenselessness. How unnatural. How cheap. How cowardly. How pathetic."


If total government control equals safety, why are prisons so dangerous?

WeedGod

Which means he isn't going to do anything as first timers don't do hard time unless they are major dealers. First time drug USERS usually get a pass.
Seriously folks, this guy isn't any different than any other politician. He's just black, thats all.

Bhikku

I don't think he's "just black." He's pretty progressive compared to the last eight years of hell we've been through.

If he got picked for leader, he would have a lot of power at his disposal, because the American people are ready to throw the reins at *anybody* who can do a better job than the people in charge now. That gives him the option to do big things, if he chooses.

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FunkySkunky

At least he's talking about it. Most "other politicians" are running away from drugs as if they were... well... drugs.

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WeedGod

He isn't even talking about it and is pretty much avoiding it like the plague now, thanks to his preacher and his friends from the Weather Underground.

Mike C

Having a criminal record for life in some states as well. I know it is effecting my life in a big time way. I am a professional stuck because of getting arrested five years ago for one joint. It has major ramifications if you are a licensed professional. Big time. Sucks because the money was great and I am great at the career.

Andrew87

Most people (I would go as far as to say over 99%) in this situation don't do any time, let alone 'very long periods.' Even for "hard" drugs.

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The welfare of humanity is always the alibi of tyrants. -- Albert Camus

troublemaker_42

I would argue those stats. I know here in SD, possession of even residue left in a snort tube or baggie sends people to prison, often for periods of 5 years or better( I worked in a prison here in SD, and know this to be true not only from inmate accounts, but also from reading their files and sentences). 99% is a HUGE number, and if SD is even remotely on the same page as other states, its in no way accurate. I'd guess that 50%, even 75% of SD felony (any drug other than weed) offenders serve at least a significant stinty in county jail with most of them serving some prison time, often years. I know in major urban areas, it isn't feasible to lock every drug offender up, but in many areas it cqan and does happen on a very regular basis. If I were caught here with a tabof lsd or a gram of coke, you can count on me taking an extended vacation in the South Dakota State Pen

Andrew87

I was referring solely to first offenders, as was originally posted.

If your statement implied this, not only do I stand corrected, but totally shocked. I have never heard of a single case where a first timer received jail for user amounts (of anything - let alone pot).

troublemaker_42

I too am talking about first offenders. Its not only possible, but common, for people charged with possession of a controlled substance to serve time

Drug Possession Sentences - Online Lawyer Source
Granted, far fewer people are serving time for first time violations than there were 20 years ago. However, that doesn't mean much to the first time offenders who ARE serving time. It can and does happen, with more frequency than one would like to believe.