How long until the U.S. legalizes marijuana?

There are some folks out there who will answer "never," but according to the Washington Post, legalization advocates say it could happen within years. Right now, Gallup shows that 44 percent of Americans support full legalization of marijuana. And that number has been increasing by 1 to 2 percent each year. In some areas, like the West, the majority of people already do support legalization.

Comments

[jeano]

Yeah, it's time.

[G]

Decriminalize it. We don't need cops wasting time on petty drug possession cases, and filling our jails up with first time pot offenders because of ridiculous minimum sentencing laws.

But I wouldn't fully legalize it. Confiscate and fine for possession.

[The Golfer]

Most of the street names were developed by, wait for it,,,,, the TOBACCO companies.

Panama Red - Winston
Acapolco Gold - Marlboro

From back in the 20's before it was illegalized. They had planned on selling it just like cigarettes. Remember the Coca is Coca-Cola stood for Cocaine originally but it was illegalized.

Legalize it, sell it like cigarettes, and tax it. The deficit will go down.

[D-man]

6-8yrs. That's my guess. It may not be totally legal but the laws will have collapsed enough by then in enough states to make it harder for workplaces to test for it, criminal courts won't accept it, and states will start trying to get income off of it.

[Searching]

The work places wont have to quit testing for it. They still test for alcohol.

[Frank]

It should be fully legalized. Buying weed should be as casual as buying cigarettes.If it's going to be taxes, make it a reasonable one. Paying 35-$50 an ounce in taxes is outrageous !

[Frank]

er..I mean "taxed "...LOL

[cripjak]

I'm with "golfer" on this one about legalizing it and taxing it like cigarettes. At the very least it needs to be decriminalized. If you did either look what it would do for the snack food industry.

[a bmw driver]

I was hoping they legalize it before thanksgiving and freaking destroy that turkey.

[TYC]

Simple choice.

You can argue the pro and con points all day long and you will still be left with the fact that either the drug gangs or the gov't will distribute cannabis. You can talk about messages, children, age appropriate access, the law is the law, what part about illegal don't you understand, addiction, family problems, etc...but the bottom line is that cannabis will be distributed...either by the drug gangs or the gov't...but someone will distribute cannabis. People want it. That's how cannabis became the largest cash crop in 14 states. All under the noses of the police, dea, cia, border patrol, and (insert laugh here) GED educated homeland security personnel (seriously, that's all they require...a GED, scary).

Like the system currently in place? Then the drug gangs get to distribute. Want something different? Then the gov't gets to distribute. Cannabis will be distributed. Who do you want to do it? I say keep the drug gangs out, legalize, regulate, and collect taxes.

See? Simple.

[Jack Cass]

When that percentage of folks who support complete legalization reaches 55% or higher, some politician will have the sense to run on a campaign promise of making it legal or decriminalizing it.

It takes votes to win, and those votes will come from that percentage.

The higher the percentage......

[Jellybean]

At least by Christmas cookie season anyway.

[LookingForward]

And while they're at it, lawmakers should also reduce the drinking age back to 18. In an instant, the police would be freed up to persue serious criminals.

[matt]

Why is everyone always so eager to jump on the "and tax it!" bandwagon ? Personally, I don't think a plant that grows naturally and quite happily in ditches alongside a highway should really be taxed at all. Why's it any of the governments' business if I have dandelions or cannabis growing in my backyard ?

[D-man]

tax the commercial sale but allow for private citizens to grow their own. Just like beer. Everyone wins.

...No, that makes too much sense.

[aqua]

as soon as pot is legalized, I'm buying stock in cheetos.

[Jack Cass]

Actually aqua, Hostess cupcakes and Twinkies is where I'd put my $$$ !

[you]

I thought it was already legal.

[Chuck Rizzo]

NOOOO it will make my job harder. I'll have to try to explain to people "no unless you gave them a drug test at the scene there is no way to prove they were high."

[Drasil]

Hey Chuck, we need a driving while stupid law. That would solve a lot of the driving issues.

[Pro or Con]

A question for the lawyers out there. After legalizing it, can companies still test and withdrawl applicants because of a positive result...and what will the cut off point for positive results since it has a half life and will be in your system longer than alcohol (and for that matter, more hard core drugs?)

[D-man]

My guess is that they will have to perfect a method to determine whether a person is currently intoxicated and then ensure that the blood test/urinalysis doesn't test for it at all since someone might claim that they were not hired because of trace levels.

[Greg]

For all intents and purposes, marijuana IS legal. Well, at least in sunny California, where in Los Angeles alone are more than 1000 cannabis clubs, and getting a doctor to recommend it, is as easy as buying a burrito.
So, as California goes, so does the rest of the nation.
Just look at these websites, and you'll be seeing how things will be all across the US in the near future:
http://www.budbay.com
http://budtrader.com
And: http://www.420expressdelivery.com

"It's 4:20. Do you know where your bong is?"

[cripjak]

HEADLINE: POT LEGALIZED: STOCK IN FRITO BRANDS AND INTERSTAND BRANDS SOARS!!! DOLLY MADISON SOON TO FOLLOW.

[D-man]

cripjak, soon after Chevrolet will reintroduce the El Camino and Taco Bell will get a seat in the House of Representatives.

[cripjak]

D-man---There's a movie done in very late 60's or early 70's called "Wild in the Streets" with Christopher Jones and Ed Begley Sr that might interest you. Had great music for the time. Dealt with "Don't trust anybody over 30". Had alot of pot and LSD in it.

[cripjak]

Look what it would do for horticultural supply sales and the publishing industry.

[lakua]

It's my body... I have a right to ingest whatever I want as long as I don't violate the equal rights of others. When the government says I can't use cannabis, they're implicitly saying that they own my body.

[Barbara]

The way the government is bending us over these days the least they could do is let us get stoned. Hell, I might even like Obama if I was high enough.

[Drasil]

There isn't enough marijuana in the world to make me like Obama.

[Dr Thompson]

I remember 'Wild In The Streets'. If my memory serves me correctly, a guy with a bad haircut wanted to kill everyone over 30. One toke over the line.

[Buzzby]

"You can argue the pro and con points all day long and you will still be left with the fact that either the drug gangs or the gov't will distribute cannabis."

How about a third alternative? The government doesn't sell alcohol or tobacco. Why should it sell marijuana? I expect that marijuana, when legal, will be marketed just like other legal recreational drugs. I expect that in a few years I'll be able to walk into my neighborhood convenience store and buy a pack of Acapulco Golds from a rack right next to the Marlboros.

[Oldtimer]

I believe that the reality of decriminalization of pot is still in for a couple of major hurdles. The tens of thousands of police, government anti-drug units, prison guards, etc. are not going to easily give up their jobs so the rest of us no longer have to pay to keep the stuff illegal. One other thing to consider. Pot is a major industry in the inner cities of most of Americas urban areas. By making it legal, it removes this source of income to many who now rely upon it. Private enterprise and the government will take away the livelihood of many who have no legitimate way of making a living, other than flipping burgers or sweeping floors. Tough choices.

Having said that, it cannot remain illegal. It is simply too expensive and doesn't work. However, be prepared for the fallout.

[politicalzoo]

I love living in a country that likes to brag about how free it's society is then locks people up for consuming a harmless plant. Meanwhile FDA approved drug commercials warn of side effects including death on TV.

God Bless America

[Todd]

If gallop has 44% then a closed curtain vote has over 50% for sure. It is a crime against democracy to arrest and jail individuals for laws not supported by the Majority. Time for a change needs to happen like, today.

[CDeez]

no Oldtimer, that police force would then be able to focus on real criminals; rapists, murderers and theives. Think what our society could be.
And the income made off pot is nothing, unless you're big time, which there are few of those. And besides, those corner hustlers, nickle and dimers, can work in a pot shop. Where their activities would be legal, inciting less illegal and dangerous activity

[Oldtimer]

CDeez, sorry, but you're dreaming. Making pot legal would be a good thing, but will not, necessarily, mean a reduction in other crime. In fact, it is just as likely that other crime will go up. More cops doesn't mean less crime, any more than cops will be willing to work harder, if they don't have to chase down all those, currently criminal, users of pot. The only thing we will possibly see is an increase in traffic tickets.

[SKC Scapegoat]

It should be legalized now. One of the main reasons it is not is because it would cause job loss to law enforcement such DEA and other city Drug Task Force agencies.
If you're telling me that marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol, than you are highly uniformed. There needs to be reform and soon. Prisons are overcrowded with victimless crimes and taxpayers carry that burden. WAKE UP AMERICA!

[Kirk Muse]

I say it's high time to fully legalize pot. Not just remove the penalties for its use or possession. Only fully legal products of any kind can be regulated, taxed and controlled by any government agency.

Speaking of taxing pot, it seems to me that non-marijuana users would be
in favor of taxing pot. Around these parts, taxing someone else's vice
is very popular.

[scot]

Good point Matt, if it's legalized why not grow it in your backyard? Is it legal to grow tobacco in your backyard?

[rl]

if they legalize marijuana, then what happens to all the ppl in jail for it. Should they be released as the crime they commited wouldn't be a crime anymore. or should they be forced to sit in jail at the taxpayers expense. I think that if they legalized it that a majority of the tax money gained from it should be used to fight other crimes so that we can get the real criminals off the street. If the criminals buy marijuana then they are basically donating to their own convictions instead of all of the money coming from the taxpayers.

[Scott Goodman]

These pollsters only ask middle-class voters, and never ask people in poor, low-income, or minority neighborhoods. If they did ask a real cross-section of the community, the statistic in favor of legalization, regulation, and taxation would be much, much higher.

Support safe access to medical cannabis.

[John]

Exactly as lakua stated:

"It's my body... I have a right to ingest whatever I want as long as I don't violate the equal rights of others. When the government says I can't use cannabis, they're implicitly saying that they own my body."

-------

Self-Sovereignty is KEY

And the right to get keyed is gaia-given, just like weed :)

I think a more potent question is: How quickly can we get release of all of our POWs (prisoners of the "drug war"). And, when will "governments" honor our providers of consciousness modulators instead of sentencing them to death such as in Malaysia?

Are CEOs of pharma companies ever sentenced to death for creating products that kill thousands of people every year? No, but providers of the flowers of a potent yet non-lethal plant were... Here's absurdity at it's saddest:
http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20091124/tts-court-drugs-bm-993ba14.html

[Disgusted with deviants]

Users are losers...

[GOCats23]

"The war on drugs may be well intentioned but it falls f*%$kin flat when you stop to mention an overcrowded prison where a rapist gets paroled for a dude who has sold a pound of weed, to me thats a crime, heres to good people doin time ya'll" -311

As someone said earlier it would cause a loss of jobs for the DEA and Drug Task Enforcement, it could actually help them look for the people that are manufacturing and trafficking the harder drugs, such as crack, acid, etc. I actually think it would open more jobs when companies started forming the "marijuana" industry, just like the alcohol and tobacco industries. Companies like Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Budweiser, MillerCoors have thousands of employees. Why couldn't a company such as "Panama Red" have just as many employees? We are in a recession right, and more jobs are needed...just a thought.

[DWhigh]

So know there will be peeps driving DWhigh. Ummm.....

[Keith Shingleton]

It's time for the leagalization of Marijuana. I would much rather have a man come home at the end of the day and smoke a couple of joints and mellow out, rather than guzzle some booze and end up abusing his wife, kids, and the family parakeet. Pot mellows you and is more likely to make you a loving person who spends time with his family than someone who drinks booze and (as all drunks do) become aggressive and beat up his family. Give me pot anytime and leave the rot-gut poison to the beasts.

[PTBitte]

The War on Drugs is a farce. There has been no significant change in drug usage since 1991.

The 18th Amendment and Prohibition gave us Al Capone and the Mafia.

The War on Drugs has given us the Mexican Drug Cartels and financed the war in Afghanistan against us.

[JLB]

Once again GOD made pot, Man made beer and cigaretts. WHO DO YOU TRUST?

[JLB]

When they legalize it the thought of making alot of money goes out the window. The price of pot will be super cheap cause everyone can grow it in there own backyard.