General Assembly voting for popularity. ....

[ked0607]

They know how deep in shit they are at this point. They saw how close the ballots were when it came to same sex and casino bills. They see how many newly registered voters are coming out of the wood works. Thats why they are trying to decriminalize marijuana. Let these jackasses know we are tired of them and their popularity contest. If you want to do somethimg for the damn kids lets educate them. Lets give them stronger security at schools. Lets get the kids with mental illness help. Lets provide their parents with better options and support to prevent tragedies like Sandy hook and any other school shooting. There should never be any support for these emotional rollercoaster rides they have been taking for popularity.

 

[Infantry23]

I agree 100%. I wish politicians had one iota of integrity. Yes, some do... but some are just politicians because they can't do anything else.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

I still think the libertard agenda will rule. I am already hatching a plan to take my income (upper 3%) and leave this state, and go somewhere my law-abiding, tax paying, civic minded self is appreciated.


Does anyone have any clear analysis where this is likely to go?

 

[ked0607]

No where email every news outlet with letters to the editors. The washington post did a good article almost in our favor. Blow up the media. If the damn deer in rock creek park can get on fox so can we.

 

[Jimbob2.0]

No where email every news outlet with letters to the editors. The washington post did a good article almost in our favor. Blow up the media. If the damn deer in rock creek park can get on fox so can we.

Not sure FOX helps us bud, either way, frankly I think things like nudging the gazette towards the center help more than anything.

But keep it up everyone.

 

[MDFF2008]

Why is legalizing weed a bad thing? I support firearms freedom and cannibus freedom. (Of course, they should be enjoyed separately)

 

[fabsroman]

Yep, I am all for legalizing the softer drugs and taking some of the money flow out of the gang's pockets in the craplands of Maryland (e.g., Baltimore City and PG County). Those are the areas with gang problems, along with some spots in Montgomery County and Frederick County. Not a single person I know that uses drugs has any problem right now obtaining them. Best thing to do is to get rid of the failing war on drugs, downsize police departments so they don't look like war machines, and make the police department get back into being part of the neighborhood instead of an "us against them" situation. Take the money currently spent on the war on drugs and put it into drug education and drug treatment. Sell the softer stuff at pharmacies where the buyer has to ask for it directly from the pharmacist, but make it over the counter with a sin tax on it. However, make it so the price point is affordable enough that gangs will have NO desire to create pot crops in our national forests. The war on drugs is 40 years old. Enough already unless somebody actually has a plan to win the war.

I think the best plan is proper parenting and education. However, that costs money. In the end, I think more teachers and less police will be the key.

 

[Shift]

I'm all for legalizing a small amount of pot, I dont personally use it but I think it could help open up cells for the real criminals. Maybe its a step in the direction of keeping violent felons behind bars.

 

[Maverick0313]

Why is legalizing weed a bad thing? I support firearms freedom and cannibus freedom. (Of course, they should be enjoyed separately)

I agree with you but for those working on Ft. Meade it will still be illegal to use herbal mood enhancers....ahem...if you know what I mean...

 

[HKB]

Not legalize...decriminalize

It would still be illegal but instead of goong to jail you get a ticket, much like a speeding ticket, for amounts under a certain size(I dunno, maybe an ounce?). JMO

 

[highwayheat]

Legalizing it and taxing it will do nothing to stop a black market. They tax the hell out of cigarettes. However, individuals still travel to VA and NC to avoid the tax for either purchase or black markets sales. Sounds good in theory but there will still be a black market competition. What will the politicians do when what they deem a "legal" grow or dispensary starts getting robbed, burgalrized, or shot up like in CA and CO because they are easy targets. There is no magic solution.

 

[AKbythebay]

I have no problem with decriminalizing small quantities of marijuana to be honest. It's one of the few times I agree with the libtards.

 

[HKB]

. There is no magic solution.

See the post above
It may not be "magic" but at least it would lessen the burden on the prison system to make room for real criminals.

 

[Threeband]

The problem I see with decriminalizing is that it leaves "supply" in the hands of the gangs.

 

[Ripfubar]

I don't mind legalizing it but the substantial crime rate drop will then be attributable the gun laws that where passed around the same time. The data will never be separated and used to enact more draconian laws.......I know! Part of the agenda.

 

[HollowPoint]

They know how deep in shit they are at this point. They saw how close the ballots were when it came to same sex and casino bills. They see how many newly registered voters are coming out of the wood works. Thats why they are trying to decriminalize marijuana. Let these jackasses know we are tired of them and their popularity contest. If you want to do somethimg for the damn kids lets educate them. Lets give them stronger security at schools. Lets get the kids with mental illness help. Lets provide their parents with better options and support to prevent tragedies like Sandy hook and any other school shooting. There should never be any support for these emotional rollercoaster rides they have been taking for popularity.

Hang carrot (marijuana legalization, gay rights, gun laws ... etc.) in front of donkeys (liberals) nose. Donkey follows to vote them into office. Never deliver carrot. Apply as needed.

 

[Tidewatcher]

See the post above
It may not be "magic" but at least it would lessen the burden on the prison system to make room for real criminals.

That would be great if the assumption was accurate. Being inaccurate here is a good thing. It shows you have never been exposed to this element of our society...state prisons specifically. Maryland prisons are not full of nor do they contain mere recreational drug users. If a person has a bunk in a state prison they are there due to serious crime and behavior. An extremely low number of state prisoners have long histories of arrests and convictions of misdemeanors where they have demonstrated they cannot conform to a lawful society. They normally do not stay long. The majority of all offenders have a history of substance abuse including marijuana and more serious illicit drugs. Marijuana is a gateway drug for many that advance to more dangerous drugs. Drug abuse and crime continues in prison. Aging seems to be the most effective method of violence reduction and cds reform for those that survive.

Statewide, the overwhelming majority of cds arrests are disposed of at the District Court level and the offenders never receive incarceration. The greatest frequency occurs in Baltimore City where the District Court caseload including all offenses is nothing short of remarkable.

 

[fabsroman]

That would be great if the assumption was accurate. Being inaccurate here is a good thing. It shows you have never been exposed to this element of our society...state prisons specifically. Maryland prisons are not full of nor do they contain mere recreational drug users. If a person has a bunk in a state prison they are there due to serious crime and behavior. An extremely low number of state prisoners have long histories of arrests and convictions of misdemeanors where they have demonstrated they cannot conform to a lawful society. They normally do not stay long. The majority of all offenders have a history of substance abuse including marijuana and more serious illicit drugs. Marijuana is a gateway drug for many that advance to more dangerous drugs. Drug abuse and crime continues in prison. Aging seems to be the most effective method of violence reduction and cds reform for those that survive.

Statewide, the overwhelming majority of cds arrests are disposed of at the District Court level and the offenders never receive incarceration. The greatest frequency occurs in Baltimore City where the District Court caseload including all offenses is nothing short of remarkable.

Yeah, I will agree with this. I have yet to have a client get a jail term over a CDS violation. However, it is something that the court has to deal with and I know for a fact that the Court dockets are rather full right now. Takes about 6 to 7 months for a DUI in Montgomery County to be scheduled. Just more resources that we don't need to spend on petty drug charges even if the offenders are not getting jail time. If the offenders are not getting jail time, why even have the law on the books. Is it just to increase revenue? Just so the police can have a job to do? Just to try to discourage youth from even thinking about drugs? Just to give attorneys another way of earning a fee?

 

[2AHokie]

Legalizing it and taxing it will do nothing to stop a black market. They tax the hell out of cigarettes. However, individuals still travel to VA and NC to avoid the tax for either purchase or black markets sales. Sounds good in theory but there will still be a black market competition. What will the politicians do when what they deem a "legal" grow or dispensary starts getting robbed, burgalrized, or shot up like in CA and CO because they are easy targets. There is no magic solution.

The problem for CA, CO, and WA is that the feds still say it's illegal. It's also illegal in bordering states. That would be a problem for MD too. In other words, there is still money to be made for organized crime in breaking these laws and no other option for residents of other states except to buy from those who are breaking the law.

I think a better source for comparison is alcohol and the ending of prohibition because it happened nationwide. We still have some illegal alcohol production in the US, but it's a tiny fraction of what went on during prohibition and it isn't a source of cash for organized crime anymore. I, theoretically, could seek out a moonshiner and buy untaxed alcohol today, but it's not worth it to me. As long as marijuana tax rates are reasonable when it is legalized, plenty of other adults will do the same math on that substance and decide to buy it legally.

 

[ked0607]

You all are loosing focus. Who really flipping cares about the pot. The point is they have gone out their way to reach every popularity point to offset their unpopular stuff. The US senate should set the standard in droppin this useless bill. They need to stop playing on emotions and start basing their on cold hard facts.