In Washington State as of December 6, marijuana is legal

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   ThompsonPenposted 12 years ago

   The taxes made from this are going toward marijuana research, rehabilitation centers, after school programs, education and a very small percentage of it is going towards bridges.
   It is estimated to bring in half a billion dollars in its first year of shops being open, and growers and processors of marijuana being legal (2014). What's your opinion?

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      Sarra Garrettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think all states should legalize pot.  This would slow down most of the illegal trafficing and the tax money can be put to good use.  Pot doesn't make you sick, nobody ever killed anyone after smoking pot, its used for medicinal purposes for cancer patients and other diseases. Pot is relaxing and doesn't make you hyper, You never have a hangover from smoking pot and no one gets all pissed off from smoking pot as they are either zoning out on the couch or laughing their butts off.  Of course you can't forget the munchie attacks.  Smoking pot does not lead to doing other drugs.  If given the choice of drinking or smoking, I'd smoke for sure and wouldn't drink.  Oh, and you get a good nights sleep too.  Yes, I smoked pot and would again if someone offered me a joint.....I never inhaled  lol

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         ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I was on the cover of Seattle Times yesterday smoking pot..I didn't inhale

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            Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I live in the Seattle area, I did inhale! lol

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      Ralph Deedsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Marijuana should be decriminalized and taxed. Addictions of all kinds should be treated, not criminalized.

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   donotfearposted 12 years ago

   I think it should be legal for medicinal use only; cancer, etc.
   
   Too much recreational use causes a lack of motivation and is bad for the lungs.

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      ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I agree that it can cause lack of motivation and it can be bad on the lungs, but both of those have varying variables. It depends on the person -  some people are highly functional (pun intended), while others are useless on it - myself included, which is why it's once in a very blue moon should I partake. But I know a lot of highly motivated folks that indulge in it very regularly.
      The lungs I agree with as well, but to an extent. It depends on the device smoking out of. The smoke itself is going to have carcinogenics in it. That's a fact. However, I am curious as I have read both ways: it can be harmful to you because of the smoke, but then I have heard that the medicinal properties in the marijuana counteract the harmful properties and thus it doesn't do anything to you - unless you're smoking from metal or tin cans or something gross like that. I think that's a debated one though

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      Paul Wingertposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Pot being treated the same way as liquor. Use common sense and there shouldn't be a problem. But tell that to the fools that get DUIs and rather get drunk or high than find a job. By decriminalizing pot, that adds extra revenue (taxes) and saves a ton of money on arresting, jailing, and court cost for people who get caught with it. And when some is arrested for possesion or even smoking it, all it does is cost money to prosecute the person in which it does no good.
      The war on drugs has been a huge money pit since it was created.

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   wildernessposted 12 years ago

   I don't have a problem with it, as long as all those extra taxes come from the general sales tax on the product.
   
   Specialty taxes targeting just a small group of people while used for the general welfare are just plain wrong.  Popular with those not paying them (of course) but wrong.

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      ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      what do you think about the dedicated funding for the money made from taxing the marijuana?
      <link removed>

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         wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Nowhere did I see any funds specifically targeted at helping those paying the tax.  No research on growing marijuana, no provisions for irrigation, no special projects to help build new stores to sell it.  Nothing whatsoever that is targeted towards those paying it.  Instead, it is carefully calculated to provide the maximum income possible to the state, paid for by a select few citizens that receive no particular benefit from it.
         
         That's wrong, IMHO.  If Washington needs money for new bridges, roads, education - things used by all - then let all Washington citizens participate in paying for those things.
         
         I have to say as well that taxing weed as high as possible "to discourage usage" is a little ironic considering that is was made legal.  Usage of the tax code to discourage or encourage certain activities may be effective but is also just another case of big brother babying and taking care of supposedly adult citizens (often against their will).  When the objective of those taxes is to "enforce" or "discourage" activities based on morality it becomes even more offensive.

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   mdavis1984posted 12 years ago

   Does anyone know where they are getting the pot from? Yeah, it would be the busts on the Drug Trade, the pounds acquired by seizures from Trade members and then resold by the government legally? Isn't that some kind of discrimination? Being that most weed growers and distributors are of the mindset that marijuana is a cultural right? Try the Blackfoot Legend... Oh and it's not like the Trade itself hasn't attempted to work with the government on legalization. They've offered a business plan to make their practice legal, Conversion Initiative of 2012. The CDT...Continental Drug Trade, even supported Obama in this year's election. Legalize weed, right. It's downright evil how they're doing it...

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      relacheposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      WA weed predominantly starts out as BC bud, which is another way of saying a truly stunning amount is grown in Canada and smuggled across the border by US gangs who swap crystal meth for it to their Canadian counterparts and partners.
      
      The Canadian government is currently looking at making marijuana legal there so that they could ship it south and cut out all the gang activity, thus cutting off the cash flow to crime and creating a nice tax base.  Theoretically of course....

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   relacheposted 12 years ago

   You seem to have overlooked that so far the WA law makes it legal to possess marijuana but it is still illegal to buy it or grow it.  No tax money is being made or collected yet.  And the Federal government still hasn't said anything in response to the State Attorney General's questions.
   
   As the newspaper here in Seattle said yesterday, if an ounce of weed should happen to fall from the sky, you can pick it up and take it home to smoke it.  But that's it...

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      wildernessposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maybe the feds will donate what they collect in busts?

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      ThompsonPenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Salut fellow Washingtonion!
      The way I figure it, It can be donated or given, as long as no money is exchanged, it's good.
      I was down in your neck of the woods among the celebrations on the 6th, and even made it on the seattle times

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   psycheskinnerposted 12 years ago

   Technically it is decriminalized, not legal. You can't have more than an ounce or smoke in public and minors can't possess it (Schedule I).  But yes, you will be able to buy it from licensed producers and vendors.
   
   https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/p … e_text.pdf

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      mdavis1984posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah once again, licensed - the dealers (“criminals”) themselves want to be licensed. What’s wrong with that?

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