Marijuana laws- O/T

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by packs

Medical marijuana has done some amazing things for children with behavioral and psychological disorders. Medical marijuana is not just about getting high like most of the nay-sayers seem to think.

...

It really bothers me that short-sighted people think I'm some kind of stoner looking to get high, or that I'm some gateway smoker in training for my future heroin or cocaine addiction.

As far as I know, beer has no medical benefits and it's still legal. Yep, people who see me at the end of the night in my local pub, think I'm some sort of ...well, heavy beer-drinker... stumbling home perhaps in what they would think to be an 'inappropriate' level of consciousness. Their judgement of me doesn't bother me at all, unless I cause problems for them because I'm inebriated, in which case some embarrassment on my part might be appropriate.

If I like to smoke pot, and it's legal (and even if it is NOT legal), I don't really care what people think my intent is, any more than I care what their intent is when they make their personal decisions. But let's remember - most people DO smoke pot to get high. If it bothers you that people are bothered by that, then I'm sure other unknown thoughts that people have about you might also be bothering you, which isn't healthy - you need to get over it.

[packs]

I think we are talking about two different things. You are talking about marijuana in general and I'm talking about medical marijuana which is prescribed by a doctor for medicinal use. Your beer analogy doesn't really have anything to do with the discussion. I am making points as to why some of the publics (and boards) views on medical marijuana users as stoners looking to get high are way off base and totally out of touch with reality. These decisions are voted on by the general public. If the general public is misinformed they make misinformed decisions that effect people like me who are informed.

I don't have to get over anything. I don't see how being bothered by people stereotyping me means I'm the one with the problem. Or that I have some unhealthy obsession.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by packs

I think we are talking about two different things. You are talking about marijuana in general and I'm talking about medical marijuana which is prescribed by a doctor for medicinal use. Your beer analogy doesn't really have anything to do with the discussion. I am making points as to why some of the publics (and boards) views on medical marijuana users as stoners looking to get high are way off base and totally out of touch with reality. These decisions are voted on by the general public. If the general public is misinformed they make misinformed decisions that effect people like me who are informed.

I don't have to get over anything. I don't see how being bothered by people stereotyping me means I'm the one with the problem. Or that I have some unhealthy obsession.

You are right - no one should tell you that you need to get over being bothered by the opinions that others have of you. That would mean that you should be concerned about the opinion of the person giving you the advice, which you shouldn't be (and obviously aren't).

I will give you one additional small piece of advice, which seems logical based on your response to my post: if you don't give a shit about my opinion, you shouldn't give a shit about why people think you are smoking pot.

[packs]

It's not about me though. Or smoking pot. It's about people like me who depend on medicinal marijuana and are routinely looked at as being some kind of low-life stoner, which inherently negates and minimalizes any type of physical or emotional pain I'm experiencing, rather than seeing me as a person in need of medication. People think medicinal marijuana is a joke rather than a life altering medication that enables millions of people with a variety of physical, emotional, and behavioral ailments to lead regular, healthy lives. That is the perception I want to change.

There are always going to be people who take advantage. But that is true with anything.

Don't believe this has been covered yet, but here are some of the key provisions to the marijuana law in Washington state:

1) Anyone over 21 can possess up to an ounce. In addition, there will be no charges for use of drug paraphernalia.
2) Marijuana cannot be displayed or used in public, and producers, processors, distributors, or advertisements cannot be located within 1,000 feet of public locations where children might be present.
3) Licenses would be required to sell, process or grow marijuana. Licenses would cost $250 with an annual $1,000 renewal fee.
4) By Dec. 1, 2013, the state LCB must establish procedures regulating the sale of marijuana in the sate, and will be a business regulating authority
5) A 25% tax will apply to each level of production and distribution. State and local sales taxes will also apply to retail sales.
6) A fixed amount of money raised from taxes will go to administration of the measure, youth substance abuse surveying, cost-benefit analysis of the measure and public health materials about marijuana use.
7) Of the remaining money, 50% will go to the state basic health plan, 15% to subsatnce abuse reduction and prevention programs, 10% for marijuana specific public health info, 5% for other health services, 1% for research into effects of marijuana use, .75% to program to prevent high school dropouts, The remaining 18.25% will go to the state general fund.

Hope this helps!