Twenty-three states have legalized medical marijuana and four have legalized recreational use by adults, with several more considering legalization of recreational use for adults and others considering legalized medical marijuana. With the end of prohibition finally in sight, pot growing is coming out of the back country and the basements of stoners and becoming a true…
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Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.
Mike January 27th, 2015 at 15:05
If republicans continue to be against legalization it could only be because they are anti-job, anti-business, and anti-American…
I hope they fight for the same tax breaks for pot as they do for oil companies…we’ll see…
edmeyer_able January 27th, 2015 at 15:20
Why would the pot industry need tax breaks? I thought there was an surplus in Colorado?
Mike January 27th, 2015 at 16:38
For the same reason big oil always needs a tax break…because they can…
edmeyer_able January 27th, 2015 at 16:58
Fair enough,it would be interesting to see the number R cons that support it.
Mike January 27th, 2015 at 16:05
If republicans continue to be against legalization it could only be because they are anti-job, anti-business, and anti-American…
I hope they fight for the same tax breaks for pot as they do for oil companies…we’ll see…
edmeyer_able January 27th, 2015 at 16:20
Why would the pot industry need tax breaks? I thought there was a surplus in Colorado?
Mike January 27th, 2015 at 17:38
For the same reason big oil always needs a tax break…because they can…
edmeyer_able January 27th, 2015 at 17:58
Fair enough,it would be interesting to see the number R cons that support it.
Suzanne McFly January 27th, 2015 at 18:06
Shouldn’t the party that supports an open and free market support legalization?
Suzanne McFly January 27th, 2015 at 19:06
Shouldn’t the party that supports an open and free market support legalization?
arc99 January 27th, 2015 at 18:43
Fastest growing industry fueled by the fastest germination-to-harvest cash crop. Now that’s synchronicity
arc99 January 27th, 2015 at 19:43
Fastest growing industry fueled by the fastest germination-to-harvest cash crop. Now that’s synchronicity
Roctuna January 27th, 2015 at 19:12
Never thought I’d read that headline in my lifetime.
Roctuna January 27th, 2015 at 20:12
Never thought I’d read that headline in my lifetime.
Robert M. Snyder January 27th, 2015 at 20:27
If I were a physician, I would not see this as good news. Drawing smoke into the lungs can lead to COPD, which is a devastating disease. How can it possibly be a good thing for millions of people to be drawing smoke into their lungs on a daily basis? Is there any reason why THC can’t be put into pill, liquid, or aerosol form for medical purposes?
edmeyer_able January 27th, 2015 at 20:40
It is.
Robert M. Snyder January 27th, 2015 at 21:25
Cleveland Clinic was, to my knowledge, the first of many hospitals in the US to prohibit employees from using tobacco, even at home. Some of these employers actually perform blood tests to look for nicotine.
If THC is available in non-smoking forms, I suspect these non-smoking policies would extend to marijuana. It’s hard to say no to tobacco smoking if you’re saying yes to marijuana smoking. (If their health plans cover THC in prepared form for medical use.)
Personally, I think these non-smoking policies go too far. If a person arrives at work smelling fresh and clean, and they don’t smoke in the workplace, then the employer should have no grounds for dictating what they do on their own time. Some people race motorcycles. Some people go scuba diving or skydiving. Some people engage in unprotected sex with people they meet in bars. And some people smoke. All of these activities can lead to increased healthcare costs. Public awareness and education are the best solution, not micromanaging people’s personal lives.
While I hate to see millions of people smoking any kind of cigarettes, I don’t want Big Brother dictating what they can and cannot do on their personal time as long as they are not endangering others.
arc99 January 27th, 2015 at 21:47
why should a person have to pay a pharmaceutical company for something they can grow in their back yard?
in any event, raw marijuana can be added to baked goods and other foods. let people get their marijuana in its raw state and decide for themselves how to consume it. we don’t need any more wealth transfer from ordinary citizens to corporations.
Robert M. Snyder January 27th, 2015 at 22:59
Yeah, I hear what you’re saying. My chief concern is what it does to people’s lungs. If a lot more people start smoking because they enjoy pot, then there will be health consequences. If I were a physician, I would not see that as a good thing. Sure, people can add MJ to food, but smoking seems to be the most common means of consumption.
Frankly, I don’t understand why people think they need intoxicants. If alcohol, marijuana, and every other non-medical drug were outlawed tomorrow, it would not affect me in the least. No, I am NOT advocating that they be made illegal. I am simply saying that I do not understand why people think they need the stuff. I can understand pain relief. I can understand antidepressants. I can’t understand my neighbor’s kid who uses drugs recreationally, claims to have tried every drug there is, has recently lost his license and his job, and got arrested for breaking into a stranger’s house after wrecking his motorcycle while high on drugs. The headline of this article says marijuana is the fastest growing industry. Pardon me for not being thrilled.
greenfloyd January 27th, 2015 at 23:17
I will not “pardon” you until all non-violent cannabis offenders have been pardoned and their civil rights restored. I will not pardon you for your willful ignorance about the widespread impact of cannabis prohibition. I am sorry, “Pardon denied.”
Robert M. Snyder January 27th, 2015 at 23:41
Hey, you’ll get no argument from me on the senselessness of incarcerating cannabis users. I’ve been griping about that for years. It makes no sense that someone can drink a whole case of beer in their living room on a weekend and, unless they drive a car or do something stupid, it is perfectly legal, but if the light up one joint it’s a crime. Yeah, I agree. It’s crazy.
All I am saying is that I just don’t understand why anybody needs any of that stuff. I have a number of good friends who use intoxicants. I just don’t get it. Whenever I encounter a friend or a neighbor who is intoxicated, I am embarrassed for them. People who have their act together don’t need that crap. Drugs are for losers.
greenfloyd January 28th, 2015 at 00:53
Generally you do not need to understand why “anybody” else uses “stuff,” it’s none of your business. Unless of course it’s someone you know and care for, then it can be difficult to deal with. I wish you luck and you know, Obama Care covers rehab for “anybody” that wants it.
Such an old, hollow refrain, haven’t seen it in awhile. At any rate, Legalization is for winners.… as the numbers above indicate. As well I’ve seen reports Colorado, after a full year of adult legalization, is seeing fewer overdoses, less traffic accidents, less gang activity and police violence. The point is America has a green, sustainable new sector of the economy. I think we should nurture and guide it.
Robert M. Snyder January 28th, 2015 at 01:39
I think you’re missing the big picture. Drugs, pot, and booze might help artists and musicians to be more creative and productive. But if you’re a student or a worker trying to learn difficult new concepts, or solve difficult or complex problems, you need your brain to operate at peak efficiency. Sure, Winston Churchill loved his brandy, but I doubt whether he would have recommended it for anyone else. I just think it’s a really bad idea to ingest substances that might damage the organs.
I got my first colonoscopy a few years ago. They wanted to give me a general anesthetic. I refused. It took a couple of phone conversations before the doctor relented. But I got my way and remained awake for the procedure (which was no big deal, BTW). Why? Because my brain is my self. If it gets messed up due to some rare problem with anesthesia, then my intellectual potential is compromised. I’ve invested too much time, money, and effort in developing certain intellectual capabilities to take unnecessary risks. Taking drugs or drinking booze is like spraying water inside your computer. You might get away with it, but why take the risk?
If your life is so bad that you feel the need to escape, then maybe you should remain sober so you will have the motivation and the ability to fix what’s wrong with your life. The same thing goes for relationships. The winners are the ones who find the strength to work on their problems, who find happiness in making progress. The losers are the ones who run away from their problems.
greenfloyd January 28th, 2015 at 03:44
I think you’re the one missing the “big picture.” You may never realize or admit it, but you’ve lost this debate and nothing is going to stop legalization.
Robert M. Snyder January 28th, 2015 at 08:22
I am not advocating government regulation or other forms of external regulation. I am advocating self regulation. The United States was founded on the principle that people could govern themselves; that they didn’t need an external authority dictating what they can and cannot do. It is based upon the assumption that, given the freedom to choose, most people will choose wisely, with a sense of responsibility to the society in which they live. It is not enough to just coast along. Somebody’s got to do the things that need doing in society.
Imagine one hundred people shipwrecked on an island for a year, like Tom Hanks in Cast Away. If every person asks himself “What can I do to help my fellow citizens?”, then the group will prosper. But if half of the people spend their days growing and smoking marijuana, then a lot of useful things aren’t being done and the society as a whole is worse off.
Each of us has the ability to improve the lives of our family, friends, coworkers, and community in meaningful ways using the talents and abilities that God or Nature has provided them. We can tax the rich at 99%, but it will make no difference if nobody chooses to become a nurse, a doctor, an engineer, a scientist, a carpenter, an electrician, or a garbage collector. Somebody’s got to do the work in society, and there’s a lot of important work that is unpaid, such as being a parent to your children or providing care to an elderly parent.
People who have a sense of responsibility and who want to help others and contribute to society have no time and no desire for intoxicants. We are all citizens of an island called Earth. We are all capable of using our talents and abilities to make life on this island a little better for some of our fellow citizens. People who get stoned on a regular basis are wasting their potential. They may not be hurting anyone, but they are not helping either. We all benefit from the things that society provides us. We should all seek to do our part by developing our talents and abilities (education) and using them to benefit others (paid and unpaid work).
This is not something that can be imposed by government or external authority. In times and places where it happens, it springs up organically. It happens when parents, teachers, and religious educators speak to young people about civic responsibility, and demonstrate by their own actions how to live a life of service to others. That is the big picture that I am talking about. It’s not about external regulation. It’s about self regulation that stems from a sense of purpose. That’s what’s missing from this debate.
greenfloyd January 28th, 2015 at 22:33
Gross generalizations and false assumptions does not a cogent argument make. Even so, “self regulation” is at the core of this debate and it is exactly the goal we wish to achieve without Big Brother or the Nanny State dictating to us under color of law.
Sick and tired January 28th, 2015 at 11:06
All of the above. It is available in pill form called “marinol” it doesn’t work very well. For some reason the body doesn’t absorb the THC very well, it could be due to THC being fat soluble…which is why edible pot products work well. THC is put into baked goods and chocolate, which have a good fat content. Pot can also be vaporized at a lower temperature than burning, so you inhale water vapor with the THC in it. Oils are also made to be vaporized. So, no, you don’t have to smoke it anymore.
Robert M. Snyder January 27th, 2015 at 21:27
If I were a physician, I would not see this as good news. Drawing smoke into the lungs can lead to COPD, which is a devastating disease. How can it possibly be a good thing for millions of people to be drawing smoke into their lungs on a daily basis? Is there any reason why THC can’t be put into pill, liquid, or aerosol form for medical purposes?
edmeyer_able January 27th, 2015 at 21:40
It is.
Robert M. Snyder January 27th, 2015 at 22:25
Cleveland Clinic was, to my knowledge, the first of many hospitals in the US to prohibit employees from using tobacco, even at home. Some of these employers actually perform blood tests to look for nicotine.
If THC is available in non-smoking forms, I suspect these non-smoking policies would extend to marijuana. It’s hard to say no to tobacco smoking if you’re saying yes to marijuana smoking. (If their health plans cover THC in prepared form for medical use.)
Personally, I think these non-smoking policies go too far. If a person arrives at work smelling fresh and clean, and they don’t smoke in the workplace, then the employer should have no grounds for dictating what they do on their own time. Some people race motorcycles. Some people go scuba diving or skydiving. Some people engage in unprotected sex with people they meet in bars. And some people smoke. All of these activities can lead to increased healthcare costs. Public awareness and education are the best solution, not micromanaging people’s personal lives.
While I hate to see millions of people smoking any kind of cigarettes, I don’t want Big Brother dictating what they can and cannot do on their personal time as long as they are not endangering others.
arc99 January 27th, 2015 at 22:47
why should a person have to pay a pharmaceutical company for something they can grow in their back yard?
in any event, raw marijuana can be added to baked goods and other foods. let people get their marijuana in its raw state and decide for themselves how to consume it. we don’t need any more wealth transfer from ordinary citizens to corporations.
Robert M. Snyder January 27th, 2015 at 23:59
Yeah, I hear what you’re saying. My chief concern is what it does to people’s lungs. If a lot more people start smoking because they enjoy pot, then there will be health consequences. If I were a physician, I would not see that as a good thing. Sure, people can add MJ to food, but smoking seems to be the most common means of consumption.
Frankly, I don’t understand why people think they need intoxicants. If alcohol, marijuana, and every other non-medical drug were outlawed tomorrow, it would not affect me in the least. No, I am NOT advocating that they be made illegal. I am simply saying that I do not understand why people think they need the stuff. I can understand pain relief. I can understand antidepressants. I can’t understand my neighbor’s kid who uses drugs recreationally, claims to have tried every drug there is, has recently lost his license and his job, and got arrested for breaking into a stranger’s house after wrecking his motorcycle while high on drugs. The headline of this article says marijuana is the fastest growing industry. Pardon me for not being thrilled.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org January 28th, 2015 at 00:17
I will not “pardon” you until all non-violent cannabis offenders have been pardoned and their civil rights restored. I will not pardon you for your willful ignorance about the widespread impact of cannabis prohibition. I am sorry, “Pardon denied.”
Robert M. Snyder January 28th, 2015 at 00:41
Hey, you’ll get no argument from me on the senselessness of incarcerating cannabis users. I’ve been griping about that for years. It makes no sense that someone can drink a whole case of beer in their living room on a weekend and, unless they drive a car or do something stupid, it is perfectly legal, but if the light up one joint it’s a crime. Yeah, I agree. It’s crazy.
All I am saying is that I just don’t understand why anybody needs any of that stuff. I have a number of good friends who use intoxicants. I just don’t get it. Whenever I encounter a friend or a neighbor who is intoxicated, I am embarrassed for them. People who have their act together don’t need that crap. Drugs and booze are for losers.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org January 28th, 2015 at 01:53
Generally you do not need to understand why “anybody” else uses “stuff,” it’s none of your business. Unless of course it’s someone you know and care for, then it can be difficult to deal with. I wish you luck and you know, Obama Care covers rehab for “anybody” that wants it.
Such an old, hollow refrain, haven’t seen it in awhile. At any rate, Legalization is for winners.… as the numbers above indicate. As well I’ve seen reports Colorado, after a full year of adult legalization, is seeing fewer overdoses, less traffic accidents, less gang activity and police violence. The point is America has a green, sustainable new sector of the economy. I think we should nurture and guide it.
Robert M. Snyder January 28th, 2015 at 02:39
I think you’re missing the big picture. Drugs, pot, and booze might help artists and musicians to be more creative and productive. But if you’re a student or a worker trying to learn difficult new concepts, or solve difficult or complex problems, you need your brain to operate at peak efficiency. Sure, Winston Churchill loved his brandy, but I doubt whether he would have recommended it for anyone else. I just think it’s a really bad idea to ingest substances that might damage the organs.
I got my first colonoscopy a few years ago. They wanted to give me a general anesthetic. I refused. It took a couple of phone conversations before the doctor relented. But I got my way and remained awake for the procedure (which was no big deal, BTW). Why? Because my brain is my self. If it gets messed up due to some rare problem with anesthesia, then my intellectual potential is compromised. I’ve invested too much time, money, and effort in developing certain intellectual capabilities to take unnecessary risks. Taking drugs or drinking booze is like spraying water inside your computer. You might get away with it, but why take the risk?
If your life is so bad that you feel the need to escape, then maybe you should remain sober so you will have the motivation and the ability to fix what’s wrong with your life. The same thing goes for relationships. The winners are the ones who find the strength to work on their problems, who find happiness in making progress. The losers are the ones who run away from their problems.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org January 28th, 2015 at 04:44
I think you’re the one missing the “big picture.” You may never realize or admit it, but you’ve lost this debate and nothing is going to stop legalization.
Robert M. Snyder January 28th, 2015 at 09:22
I am not advocating government regulation or other forms of external regulation. I am advocating self regulation. The United States was founded on the principle that people could govern themselves; that they didn’t need an external authority dictating what they can and cannot do. It is based upon the assumption that, given the freedom to choose, most people will choose wisely, with a sense of responsibility to the society in which they live. It is not enough to just coast along. Somebody’s got to do the things that need doing in society.
Imagine one hundred people shipwrecked on an island for a year, like Tom Hanks in Cast Away. If every person asks himself “What can I do to help my fellow citizens?”, then the group will prosper. But if half of the people spend their days growing and smoking marijuana, then a lot of useful things aren’t being done and the society as a whole is worse off.
Each of us has the ability to improve the lives of our family, friends, coworkers, and community in meaningful ways using the talents and abilities that God or Nature has provided them. We can tax the rich at 99%, but it will make no difference if nobody chooses to become a nurse, a doctor, an engineer, a scientist, a carpenter, an electrician, or a garbage collector. Somebody’s got to do the work in society, and there’s a lot of important work that is unpaid, such as being a parent to your children or providing care to an elderly parent.
People who have a sense of responsibility and who want to help others and contribute to society have no time and no desire for intoxicants. We are all citizens of an island called Earth. We are all capable of using our talents and abilities to make life on this island a little better for some of our fellow citizens. People who get stoned on a regular basis are wasting their potential. They may not be hurting anyone, but they are not helping either. We all benefit from the things that society provides us. We should all seek to do our part by developing our talents and abilities (education) and using them to benefit others (paid and unpaid work).
This is not something that can be imposed by government or external authority. In times and places where it happens, it springs up organically. It happens when parents, teachers, and religious educators speak to young people about civic responsibility, and demonstrate by their own actions how to live a life of service to others. That is the big picture that I am talking about. It’s not about external regulation. It’s about self regulation that stems from a sense of purpose. That’s what’s missing from this debate.
floyd[@]greenfloyd.org January 28th, 2015 at 23:33
Gross generalizations and false assumptions does not a cogent argument make. Even so, “self regulation” is at the core of this debate and it is exactly the goal we wish to achieve without Big Brother or the Nanny State dictating to us under color of law.
Sick and tired January 28th, 2015 at 12:06
All of the above. It is available in pill form called “marinol” it doesn’t work very well. For some reason the body doesn’t absorb the THC very well, it could be due to THC being fat soluble…which is why edible pot products work well. THC is put into baked goods and chocolate, which have a good fat content. Pot can also be vaporized at a lower temperature than burning, so you inhale water vapor with the THC in it. Oils are also made to be vaporized. So, no, you don’t have to smoke it anymore.
William January 27th, 2015 at 23:52
I don’t smoke it myself. Other than the glass of merlot at dinner, I guess I’m not much fun.
I do however hope someone starts gathering data IE the reduction in violence in states that have freed marijuana from the insane restrictions of the past. My theory is that people given a choice, prefer pot, and it’s effects on their demeanor is so different than booze.
During my years as a cop ,nearly all my domestic violence calls were alcohol related, however during all that time I arrested exactly 2 “stoners”. Both were completely unrelated to pot use. Old warrants. One for a fish and game violation that was so old the law was changed to a civil violation, after the warrant was issued and another for an old traffic offense. In both cases I believed these guys when they told me “I forgot to go to court”.
Unlike drunks, I have never met a violent pot user. Heck you toss a snickers bar In the back seat, or tell them we’re stopping at Dominoes on the way to jail and they hop right in.
The next time you have an occasion to talk to a cop, ask them what they prefer.
Dealing with a drunk guy, or a pot smoker?
Sick and tired January 28th, 2015 at 11:02
LOL thanks for my morning laugh. I have heard these kinds of anecdotes before from cops. I absolutely believe it to be true. I have a few friends who I wished smoked pot instead of drinking so much…
William January 28th, 2015 at 00:52
I don’t smoke it myself. Other than the glass of merlot at dinner, I guess I’m not much fun.
I do however hope someone starts gathering data IE the reduction in violence in states that have freed marijuana from the insane restrictions of the past. My theory is that people given a choice, prefer pot, and it’s effects on their demeanor is so different than booze.
During my years as a cop ,nearly all my domestic violence calls were alcohol related, however during all that time I arrested exactly 2 “stoners”. Both were completely unrelated to pot use. Old warrants. One for a fish and game violation that was so old the law was changed to a civil violation, after the warrant was issued and another for an old traffic offense. In both cases I believed these guys when they told me “I forgot to go to court”.
Unlike drunks, I have never met a violent pot user. Heck you toss a snickers bar In the back seat, or tell them we’re stopping at Dominoes on the way to jail and they hop right in.
The next time you have an occasion to talk to a cop, ask them what they prefer.
Dealing with a drunk guy, or a pot smoker?
Sick and tired January 28th, 2015 at 12:02
LOL thanks for my morning laugh. I have heard these kinds of anecdotes before from cops. I absolutely believe it to be true. I have a few friends who I wished smoked pot instead of drinking so much…
rg9rts January 28th, 2015 at 09:29
And Kentucky is in the top 5 producers….Hear that Paul????
rg9rts January 28th, 2015 at 10:29
And Kentucky is in the top 5 producers….Hear that Paul????
Sick and tired January 28th, 2015 at 11:00
When did AK and OR pass recreational pot? I heard about DC, but not the others… that flew under the radar.
Sick and tired January 28th, 2015 at 12:00
When did AK and OR pass recreational pot? I heard about DC, but not the others… that flew under the radar.
Sick and tired January 28th, 2015 at 11:11
Also, now we can grow ‘the pot’ maybe states will allow industrial hemp production.
Sick and tired January 28th, 2015 at 12:11
Also, now we can grow ‘the pot’ maybe states will allow industrial hemp production.