Do you think marijuana will be decriminalized in your lifetime?

Would it be a good thing, or a bad thing?

I've talked myself out of several "joint" arrests already. You just have to treat the cop with respect.

Here is a 'factoid' 872,721 marijuana arrests in 2007, up 5.2% from 2006. Of those arrested in 2007, 89 percent - some 775,000 Americans — were charged with simple pot possession, not trafficking, cultivation, or sale.
Being lucky and/or priviliged is not the same as virtual legality for the hundreds of thousands of Americans arrested.

For example, in NC, possession of up to half an ounce(I think), is treated like a traffic violation. A ticket with a fine is all.

As more and more laws like that pass, the ridiculousness of criminalization will be exposed. We are still a long way from full legalization, but we will get there.

And, it will be a very good thing. Better than repealing Prohibition.

..... it's smoke 'em if ya got 'em, with common sense (read: Netherlands) regulation. :smoke:

The ballot question to make it a minor offense punishable by a $100 fine passed pretty overwhelmingly as I recall.
The State's still trying to figure out how to re-work the legal side, I think.

Possession and use is now considered a misdemeanor rather than a felony in Massachusetts.

The devil would be in the details...
but I don't see a downside.

Clears out the prisons, lowers
alcohol and prescription drug
abuse, raises revenue if handled
correctly....

What's not to like?

Yes

The history of how it got criminalized in the first place is unscientific and totally bogus. The most unhealthy thing about pot is suffering the draconian medieval laws still on the books.

I think cops are developing an attitude about enforcing marijuana laws; why are we wasting our time going after pot heads when there's more serious policing that needs to be done? Pot enforcement is like speeding enforcement these days; everybody does it, but a few unfortunates get caught and pay the fine. Unfortunately, the 'fine' for pot in socially retarded places can be years wasted in jail!

-90%

Many states have decriminalized marijuana to some extent,
small amounts are a misdemeanor, similar to a parking ticket.

http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4516



Decriminalization: The state has decriminalized marijuana to some degree. Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation.

Conditional release: The state allows conditional release or alternative or diversion sentencing for people facing their first prosecutions. Usually, conditional release lets a person opt for probation rather than trial. After successfully completing probation, the individual's criminal record does not reflect the charge.

Medical marijuana: This state has medical marijuana laws enacted. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors, and are neuroprotective. For more information see NORML's Medical Marijuana section.

Hemp: This state has an active hemp industry. Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa L. that contains minimal (less than 1%) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Various parts of the plant can be utilized in the making of textiles, paper, paints, clothing, plastics, cosmetics, foodstuffs, insulation, animal feed, and other products. For more information see NORML's Industrial Use section.

Drugged driving: This state has a per se drugged driving law enacted. In their strictest form, these laws forbid drivers from operating a motor vehicle if they have any detectable level of an illicit drug or drug metabolite (i.e., compounds produced from chemical changes of a drug in the body, but not necessarily psychoactive themselves) present in their bodily fluids above a specific threshold. For more information, see NORML's Drugged Driving (DUID) report.

Marijuana tax stamps: This state has a marijuana tax stamp law enacted. This law mandates that those who possess marijuana are legally required to purchase and affix state-issued stamps onto his or her contraband. Failure to do so may result in a fine and/or criminal sanction. For more information, see NORML's report Marijuana Tax Stamp Laws And Penalties .

Mandatory minimum sentence: When someone is convicted of an offense punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence, the judge must sentence the defendant to the mandatory minimum sentence or to a higher sentence. The judge has no power to sentence the defendant to less time than the mandatory minimum. A prisoner serving an MMS for a federal offense and for most state offenses will not be eligible for parole. Even peaceful marijuana smokers sentenced to "life MMS" must serve a life sentence with no chance of parole.

pot should have the same restrictions as alcohol. people should be able to grow a certain amount of pot like beer and wine. sales should be taxed.

now for my next fantasy.....

;-)

an African-American as president in my lifetime so you just never know. It's actually political poison. Any pol trying to legalize it federally would immediately branded as "soft on the war on drugs."

It would be a good thing if they would. So many decent people just like a toke every now and then. They don't belong in jail. I'd rather let the police go after violent people.

want it decriminalized too.

The only people I run into who DON'T
want marijuana available, decriminalized
and taxed are POLITICIANS and POLICE
ENFORCEMENT.

And THEY are bi-partisan on the issue
as well, whether they are left or right
leaning, politicians don't want to touch
this with a ten foot pole, and law enforcement
has made too much of an industry in jailing
and prosecuting weed smokers/sellers to turn
back now....

There are enough knuckle-dragger's out there to keep legalization off the table so I expect enforcement of existing law for longer than I'm going to be alive.

It's not hard to get a medical ID to buy it state legal here. The feds bust the shops from time to time. If it's something you want to do, it's possible to do it sort of legally here. Like raising taxes I think it's a pipe dream at the federal level because it's clear federally elected officials are spineless weasels on this issue.

its been decriminalized on a couple occasions around here but not since 2001. I was busted for seeds back in '72 and it cost me a year deferred sentence and about 1500 bucks cash and a couple years later a friend of mine was caught with about an ounce of good smoke with him in a traffic stop and all he got was a ticket, best I remember they didn't even take the pot.

I so wish I could grow a couple plants out back for personal consumption without having to run the risk of imprisonment, rather than having to deal with all these shady characters to get the stuff! I'll never concede use is a crime.

citizens through the court system. I think, sooner or later it will come down to dollars and cents. Push to have drug use considered a public health problem, not a law enforcement problem.