Rupert Pupkin

Well, I'm extremely baked right now, and I feel like being philosophical. Basically I just want to start a thread discussing people's thoughts on legalization.

I'll start: do you guys think that marijuana will be legal in the near future?

I think that it might be legal on a state to state basis but probably not on a federal basis, which would effectively be the same as being illegal if the DEA can just bust in on you.

I like to hope that Obama just might do something to change the federal regulation of marijuana and make it legally a state to state thing. I know that here in Seattle there is a big movement towards legalization in the college age group.

Anyways, I'm just interested in hearing everyone's thought on the subject. For/against? Think it will happen? Etc.

Gee

I haven't heard 1 single legitimate reason for it to remain illegal so I'd be 100% for the government leaving cannabis and hemp the hell alone (as it should be!) or 99% for the government taxing and regulating it.

__________________

Tokin' Talker

Personally, I think that if the media continues in the direction it's going, the economy remains struggling, and opponents aren't able to renew fear's grasp, cannabis should be legal for adult consumption and tax in California and possibly Oregon by November of 2010. Once a couple states are raking in the income from this new tax source, many of the medical marijuana states will likely follow suit and legalize. At that point, other states will probably start toying with medical marijuana as well.

Based on his handling of the dispensaries, Obama will likely come out with new "guidelines" to protect the casual consumers from prosecution if they're abiding state law. Shortly after that, I suspect several other states will start looking into legalization more, but some will probably keep it illegal for another 10 years or so. Gotta remember the states that remained "dry" for decades after the alcohol prohibition ended.

Oh, that's also assuming that the Feds don't reschedule the drug from Schedule I. If/when that happens, we'll see a huge surge in medical marijuana applicants and prescriptions, in addition to better odds of statewide legalization.

MetallicaFan495

I think it will definitely be legal in the future. If you look at the increase in support for legalization, the numbers are growing every day. Basically when we get get over half of america to support legalization, is probably when the ballots are going to pass. Im hoping for the best in 2010!

metanoia

Are you asking is it legitimately legal or publicly legal? It's very debatable, I think it will be legal in more than two states in at least a decade. It's very tough to say though. In my opinion, with many many speeches, and lot's of public rally's. Yes.

__________________
wooo!

"Hey Man, is my driving ok?
I think we're parked, Man."
Cheech n Chong

Freedom_User

I believe we are at the very end of marijuana prohibition.

California or Massachusetts will in my opinion be the first states to legalize marijuana in 2010, with California having a higher(lol) chance of passing.

Soon after that, the law will be in place. When other States, and the ignorant people realize that they have nothing to fear, the Country will soon follow.

__________________
The feds continually use and twist this simple clause as an excuse to expand their own power - at the expense of our liberty.

"If you shot a ton of pot to the Sun, will it burn up and get everyone high?"

Rocketman

Sorry just had to tell you that made me laugh my ass off... the "Higher(lol)."

Sykes

If Obama really wanted to legalize marijuana, he would of done it by now.

__________________
Smoke Moar.

If you read this you must smoke a bowl.

joshpackr

I don't believe it will be re-legalized anytime soon. Not until the pro-legalization movement has more money to spend on getting it re-legalized than the pharmaceutical and other industries has to spend on keeping it illegal.

It all boils down to money, and if cannabis were re-legalized it would be a threat to many industries, not the least of which being the pharmaceutical industry.

Obama isn't going to do a thing. I'm not sure why people think he will. He would be committing political suicide if he were to push re-legalization at this point in time.

__________________
"Imagination disposes of everything; it creates beauty, justice, and happiness, which are everything in this world."
-Blaise Pascal

Tokin' Talker

That all depends. If we were talking about legalization through bugging our congress and senate or president to take action, then I would agree with you. However, California, Oregon, and most other states have some form of referendum and/or initiative in place to allow the people to make laws when their "representatives" won't. Provided the people are smart enough to see through the propaganda and lies, there's a very good chance that some states will be able to get it legal at the state level (like medical marijuana is now). And where the people go, the politicians will follow, otherwise they're out of a job. So, once it's legal at the state level, it would be political suicide for Obama NOT to allow the states to determine the legality.