Amendment 44: The Colorado Initiative - Writers Forum

Jason_Bender · 10-24-2006, 08:19 AM

A few months ago, SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation) passed Initiative 100 in Denver, legalizing Marijuana. Anyone 21 and over can have less than an ounce of weed (a lot of weed) on them, and they can smoke it. They cannot, however, grow it or sell it (I think,) and the state laws still applied (meaning that the initiative would initially be useless.)

Now, on November 7th Coloradans will be able to vote on an amendment just like Initiative 100. Amendment 44. It states that if you are over the age of twenty-one, you may smoke and have possesion of up to one ounce of marijuana, and if you are under twenty-one, you will be issued a small fine of no more than one hundred dollars.

This is a huge breaking point that will change the views of Americans everywhere and make them ask "What really makes pot so bad?" And the answer is: Nothing.

In the sixties, the government tried to make it seem that pot was a deadly and dangerous drug, simply because the government couldn't think of a way to get money out of all those "Dope Deals." It is 2006 now, and we know differently. Scientists have proven that not only does pot help relieve chronic pain, but it also relieves nausea, helps people who have HIV/AIDS deal with their pain, helps cancer patients get better, helps people who have chemotherapy, relieves the effects of Azheimers, and gets rid of bad migraines (for those of us who suffer from frequent migraines.) There are a thousand more benefits, most likely, and it is also a very enjoyable thing to do. What's so wrong with pot?

And, just for the record, I have a "Yes! On 44" sign in my room!

CroZ · 10-24-2006, 12:24 PM

Quote:

"What really makes pot so bad?" And the answer is: Nothing.

ever smoke the stuff? I have, a lot.
Ever smoke it then sit on a crowded bus, alone?
If you've done that then you should know there is something wrong with hash. If you've never had the feeling I'm leening toward then maybe it's not a good idea to decide there is nothing wrong with it.

Often I've smoked and my breething has shallowed, and even though there's nothing really wrong with me I think my heart is about to give way.

I know for a fact it effects your ability to think no matter what evidence they might pull out. Unless your goal is to come up with ideas.

It makes you twitch too.

So there are bad things. There are plenty more bad things as well but I don't feel like listing them here. Including a certain goverment that would only be so happy to have all their people sitting around stoned all day long.

playstation60 · 10-24-2006, 01:25 PM

How about dependancy? How about the coughing? How about the mood swings? Are these things that you take into effect when saying that there is nothing wrong with pot?

The initiative that was passed was stupid. State laws always superceed *sp* local laws. So passing a local law that states it's ok to have an ounce of pot is pointless, because you will still get busted by the state for it. Besides if you can't grow it or sell it, how do you obtain it? It does nothing more than promote black market activities. Basically telling people to break the law.

hobbish · 10-24-2006, 03:24 PM

Not to mention the mass of mental illnesses it's been known to cause. I think the best way to legalise, is to have it PROPERLY legalised.
You could legalise it, then allow it to be mass produced, as long as it passed safety regulations. It could be given a stamp and sold in tobbaconists. Now here's the biscuit, tax that stuff. Like tobacco.
People would still sell it cut with all kinds of crap, probably for less money on the street, but if you wanted to know it was harmless stuff, you could buy it at your local newsagents. My best friends sister died of Cancer, and she was a regular user. She just wished she could get a reliable dealer who she could trust. She could not, unfortuantely.

Ilan Bouchard · 10-24-2006, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CroZ

ever smoke the stuff? I have, a lot.
Ever smoke it then sit on a crowded bus, alone?
If you've done that then you should know there is something wrong with hash. If you've never had the feeling I'm leening toward then maybe it's not a good idea to decide there is nothing wrong with it.

Often I've smoked and my breething has shallowed, and even though there's nothing really wrong with me I think my heart is about to give way.

How is this any different than being drunk? I have been both drunk and stoned and I can say that I was much likelier to hurt myself and/or others when I was drunk.

So, you've gotten high and sat on a bus. What then? You felt paranoid? Awkward? People get drunk, sit on the bus, and then piss themselves or throw up or pass out.

Quote:

I know for a fact it effects your ability to think no matter what evidence they might pull out.

So does drinking. Or skipping a meal. Or not getting enough sleep.

Should these all be illegal?

Quote:

It makes you twitch too.

So does sugar. (By the way, I have never seen anyone twitch after getting smoked up.

)

Quote:

So there are bad things. There are plenty more bad things as well but I don't feel like listing them here.

List them anyway.

Quote:

Including a certain goverment that would only be so happy to have all their people sitting around stoned all day long.

That wouldn't be very good for the economy, and the government knows that a good economy is a better way of appeasing people than drugs ever could be.

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbish

Not to mention the mass of mental illnesses it's been known to cause. I think the best way to legalise, is to have it PROPERLY legalised.
You could legalise it, then allow it to be mass produced, as long as it passed safety regulations. It could be given a stamp and sold in tobbaconists. Now here's the biscuit, tax that stuff. Like tobacco.

I am sure this is what will happen. But legislation can't immediately jump to taxing something that was illegal the day before; we are on the path to having mainstream marijuana, and the first step is leniency.

Just like everything else, marijuana must be used responsibly. But it's about time it gets legalized, and I'm sure within our generation all the states will eventually grow more and more lenient.

PaPa · 10-24-2006, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbish

Not to mention the mass of mental illnesses it's been known to cause.

It's only known to cause psychosis when smoked heavily during your formative years (i.e. teens). Legalising it with an age limit will make it harder for younger people to get hold of it - drug dealers don't ask for ID.

Hodge · 10-24-2006, 03:56 PM

Croz, a lot of those symptoms you listed are similar to what happens when you've had a lot of caffeine. Adding to what Ilan said, should we make coffee illegal, too?

On another note, we're totally ahead of Colorado. In Alaska it's legal to possess up to three ounces of marijuana -- state law! That means only the feds can bust you.

10-24-2006, 04:05 PM

the way getting stoned effects one person is not likely to be the same way it effects another.

i have known some people who can't handle it, who have asked me for a blanket after smoking because they imagined they were getting extremely cold. i think in cases such as these, the person is most likely prone to panic in the first place or otherwise extremely sensitive to drugs in any form.

other people smoke it every day for years with no ill effects.

some people smoke and get tired.

others smoke and work more productively.

marijuana is in no way more dangerous than alchohol, and for most, i think it is much less dangerous. i have seen more than my share of violent, stupid drunks... but i have never encountered a person who smoked pot and started a fight because they were so high.

in a society where alcohol and tobacco are legal, it makes absolutely no sense that marijuana remains illegal.

if you're worried about cancer, pick up a bong. they are remarkably good at filtering out the toxins associated with smoking pot and thc is not water soluable.

if smoking pot messes with your mind, don't do it. people who have adverse reactions to alcohol abstain. why couldn't people who have adverse reactions to marijuana abstain also?

vodka

Wyndstar · 10-24-2006, 04:45 PM

If you've ever watched someone you love slowly die of cancer, the pain medication making them sick, doing massive damage, or they can't afford it because its so expensive (the chemo is bad enough), the last thing you care about is how it will affect them while they're on a bus.

Besides, how much worse is it than all the pharacuetical (I know, spelling) crap that has a list of side affects so long, its almost as bad to take it? Its problem is that drug companies can't patent it and control it--their profits will drop off if people buy an herb as opposed to chemicals not molecularly compatible with the human body's normal make up.

Hodge · 10-24-2006, 04:50 PM

Who'd buy it? Cannibis is one of the hardiest plants on the planet -- it'll grow anywhere. That's probably why the tobacco companies had it outlawed way back when in the 1940's.

According to a certain Canadian, it grows wild everywhere in British Columbia...

One more thing to add: most chemicals you buy are derived from natural sources. "Natural" does not mean healthy or better for you or anything like that, it's just a buzzword used to combat synthetic substances.

journyman161 · 10-24-2006, 05:05 PM

The illegality of dope has little to do with health effects at all. It is the story of greed & power, Dupont & oil companies.

Back in the 30's Henry Ford produced a car made of hemp products - he had men bash it with sledgehammers & they just bounced off, no dings, no damage.

Here or here you can find why it happened.

Download a video that gives more info.

Hodge · 10-24-2006, 07:05 PM

So you want us to look at a site providing news about the illuminati and a blog?

Come on. You can do better than that.

journyman161 · 10-24-2006, 07:11 PM

First site may be called Illuminati News but the subject is... The Marijuana Conspiracy - The Real Reason Hemp is Illegal

Second site may be a blog but the topic is... Why is Marijuana Illegal?

Come on, you are capable of reading things & evaluating for yourself whether or not the information is applicable? Rather than judging sites soley on what the site name evokes in your mind?

Edit: It took about 10 seconds with a google search to find many, many sites that refer to such things. As this wasn't my thread I simply gave the two most accessible to those who don't have a lot of background knowledge. The question of just why Hemp (marihuana) became illegal & vilified has raged since the 30's.

Hodge · 10-24-2006, 07:18 PM

I did click on the articles. The illuminati one has no sources to back up some pretty outlandish claims (it was illegal to NOT grow hemp in Virginia? Please.), and the blog makes a lot of sensationalist claims that aren't substantiated by its sources.

You might think about posting credible sources in the future rather than accessible ones. Wikipedia would even be better suited.

Amour · 10-24-2006, 07:23 PM

Edit: Deleted due to superior post by Hodge.