Poll: Legalize it?

[grumpy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy29 Just to clarify my remark above, there would be one significant difference to how we should treat MJ compared to alcohol -- an absolute 100% ban on its usage in ALL public venues. It would only be allowed in private locations which are not "open to the public."

What, no contact high? Too bad.

[donheff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Independent Current poll results have 73% in favor of legalization. That's dramatically different from the US population opinion. What's going on with an "Early Retirement" forum that makes us so different?

I agree with the posters who attribute this to the generally brighter nature of folks here. I also think a lot of the people here who sound the most conservative lean libertarian.

[Independent]

Thanks for the replies on "what's different about this group?"

I was vaguely thinking along the same lines - people here are typically self-directed investors, LBYM'ers, uncomfortable with the structures of many j*bs. All those things reflect an independent (maybe even thoughtful) mindset.

In addition, donheff's comment on "conservatives" vs. "libertarians" hadn't occurred to me, but I think he is on to something when I think about the posts I've read here.

[mickeyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Independent Thanks for the replies on "what's different about this group?" I was vaguely thinking along the same lines - people here are typically self-directed investors, LBYM'ers, uncomfortable with the structures of many j*bs. All those things reflect an independent (maybe even thoughtful) mindset. In addition, donheff's comment on "conservatives" vs. "libertarians" hadn't occurred to me, but I think he is on to something when I think about the posts I've read here.

Probably are a lot more ERs "lighting up to relax" than would admit it too.

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Independent Current poll results have 73% in favor of legalization. That's dramatically different from the US population opinion. What's going on with an "Early Retirement" forum that makes us so different?

Have you noticed in the "chicken" thread how strange our eating habits are? People who eat their meat raw are surely not going to balk at a little grass burning. Maybe that is how we got into raw meat eating in the first place, just couldn't wait until the damn stuff cooked.


This board clearly draws from one strange sample space.

Ha

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mickeyd Probably are a lot more ERs "lighting up to relax" than would probably admit it too.

Except that those with crappy j*bs they want to leave may need the relaxation more. Then again, FIREd folks don't have to worry about peeing into a cup and losing their jobs by testing positive...

[Khan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by haha Have you noticed in the "chicken" thread how strange our eating habits are? People who eat their meat raw are surely not going to balk at a little grass burning. Maybe that is how we got into raw meat eating in the first place, just couldn't wait until the damn stuff cooked. This board clearly draws from one strange sample space. Ha

Hadn't thought of it that way before.

This is a self-selected sample.

[JonnyM]

You would have a divided market after legalization. The growers would keep growing, albeit without so much looking over their shoulder, depending on the details of the laws, and their good customers would happily continue to buy, although I expect the price would adjust downward somewhat as the risk reduces, so would the perceived value. Meanwhile there would be a group that would appreciate the convenience of being able to buy legal taxed tobacco style packaged dope in the easy carry 20 pack and be more than willing the pay a reasonable tax. The danger would be the BigCig companies seeing the writing on the wall and spending the billions to get in big time, lobbying big time to get the monopoly as quick as possible to have a future after people finally realize what a literal dead end tobacco really is. Weed is after all a weed. It is not expensive to produce exceptionally high quality dope, there is room for all kinds of tax in it that really could make a difference in this country. Currently all that money is being spent, but in the underground non-taxible economy. It gets turned over, but not in the most tax-effiecient way for the Feds.

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy29 I've never touched the stuff in my life -- not even a single puff -- not even in high school and college, and I have no desire to do so. The closest I've ever come to "using" was getting a few whiffs of the smoke at concerts in my younger days.

....thus the name Ziggy instead of Zig-Zag.....

[Purron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI ....thus the name Ziggy instead of Zig-Zag.....

I'm guessing Ziggy doesn't have many works by Cheech and Chong in his collection.

[donheff]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnyM The danger would be the BigCig companies seeing the writing on the wall and spending the billions to get in big time

Why a danger? That is precisely what the hope would be. If not cigarette companies, the current bad guys could go legit - not much difference. This is America - somebody needs to make a profit. We could tax it either way.

[mickeyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by donheff Why a danger? That is precisely what the hope would be. If not cigarette companies, the current bad guys could go legit - not much difference. This is America - somebody needs to make a profit. We could tax it either way.

I agree with your take 100%. Those BigCig guys are already situated and ready to market the hell out of pot. Seems like an ideal marketing situation for them.

[harley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Independent Current poll results have 73% in favor of legalization. That's dramatically different from the US population opinion. What's going on with an "Early Retirement" forum that makes us so different? According to Gallup, legalizing is more popular with people who are: young, male, college educated, "liberal", non-religious, democrats, and westerners. I don't think that we have an unusual number of any of those groups on this forum. (Maybe more college grads, but an older average age.) Any theories? Who Supports Marijuana Legalization?

I think it would be more helpful to look at recent polls - Support for Marijuana Legalization is Growing in America | Stop the Drug War (DRCNet), Zogby Poll: Nearly Half Of Americans Believe Pot Should Be Regulated Like Alcohol -- Majorities In The East And West Coasts Back Legalization - NORML. I've noticed that as the topic is discussed more in the MSM, the numbers favoring legalization or decrim are growing. I personally think many people respond to "scientific" polls with what they tink they are supposd to say, as opposed to what they really think. If they do. I know these numbers are still lower than our poll, but I guess we're just ahead of the curve.

Seriously, as far as this forum goes, I think we're a group of more personal rights types, else we would all be planning on working until we die for patriotic reasons. Thus we vote "don't tread on me", and "why shouldn't the tokers be taxed just like everyone else".

[Independent]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley I think it would be more helpful to look at recent polls - Support for Marijuana Legalization is Growing in America | Stop the Drug War (DRCNet), Zogby Poll: Nearly Half Of Americans Believe Pot Should Be Regulated Like Alcohol -- Majorities In The East And West Coasts Back Legalization - NORML. I've noticed that as the topic is discussed more in the MSM, the numbers favoring legalization or decrim are growing. I personally think many people respond to "scientific" polls with what they tink they are supposd to say, as opposed to what they really think. If they do. I know these numbers are still lower than our poll, but I guess we're just ahead of the curve. Seriously, as far as this forum goes, I think we're a group of more personal rights types, else we would all be planning on working until we die for patriotic reasons. Thus we vote "don't tread on me", and "why shouldn't the tokers be taxed just like everyone else".

I wanted a source that provided some demographic breakdowns. I couldn't find the Zogby poll at all. (Do you have a link for it?) I found a press release for the CBS poll but in had just a sentence or two on age. I was more concerned about the differences between groups than the absolute numbers.

Regarding absolute numbers, I think the exact wording of the question matters. "Should we legalize marijuana and regulate and tax it just like alcohol?" will get more "yes" answers than "Should we legalize marijuana?". I like to believe that the first is closer to the real policy decision.

[mickeyd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by harley Seriously, as far as this forum goes, I think we're a group of more personal rights types, else we would all be planning on working until we die for patriotic reasons. Thus we vote "don't tread on me", and "why shouldn't the tokers be taxed just like everyone else".

I see us ERers as a group just like America, only better.

[Shredder]

It's been legal here in MI for medical use since spring. Prop 1 (MJ) passed with 63% of the vote higher than that for Obama. Only adverse affect I've seen so far is police raids on legal folks, then later have to eat crow because they did not check to see if the folks were legal or the police just not knowing the law. No excuse.... I know. But the police around here are slow learners going by the rate people sue them. I did read where one fellow was kicked out of a hud subsidized house because of his legal MJ use in MI, and that is now in court, so he may be able to live there yet. Back in April I seen a notice in the local rag for a compassion club meeting. For the heck of it I went. Much to my surprise the place was full of old timers, most of who were crippled or disabled. I expected a bunch of youngins looking to get high, but did not see any of that. It really swayed my opinion seeing that crowd, it would hard to say no now, they really did not seem like a threat to me or mine.......shredder

[mickeyd]

Quote:

Much to my surprise the place was full of old timers, most of who were crippled or disabled.

Seems like an interesting Medicare issue to me.

[unclemick]

The country has been going downhill ever since that dang trouble maker George Washington mobilized the militia and put down the whiskey rebellion. They moved to Kentucky and started NASCAR.

We needed hemp for cloth, rope, and sails back then. Till cotton replaced homespun.

heh heh heh - Old George's plantation was making 1/4 of the colony's rye whiskey back then - was that a noble gesture or a way of limiting competition? Speaking tin foil hat wise. .

[TromboneAl]

Ingesting Marijuana Versus Smoking Marijuana - Associated Content

[jIMOh]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dex "Obama has already called the drug war an "utter failure." How often have we heard someone say this? And yet I don't remember anyone saying why it is an "utter failure"

I have said on numerous occasions that Obama is "an utter failure" too.

LOL