REEFER MADNESS!!!!!!

[LMNO]

RWHN (aka Killjoy):

I wanted to get your analysist's brain on this one, because you must have the numbers, and obviously the skill to deal with them.

This is also not a "gotcha" question.  It's a real-world "experiment" of sorts, that may help clarify people's positions.

It's been over two years since MA legalized small amounts of pot (less than 1 oz).  Have there been any trends that we can track, positively or negatively, that reflect on what effect this legalization may have had?

I ask because this is a real-world situation where we can gather pre and post statistics that may shed factual light on the various theories that have been flung around here.

[East Coast Hustle]

Speaking of legalizing marijuana...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-marijuana-legal-tax-rally.html

And the tax revenues don't go towards prevention or treatment.

Oh, it's ON like Tommy Chong!

Revenues go to law enforcement and higher education. Last I checked, Law Enforcement was in the business of preventing sale and/or distribution of drugs to kids, and I can't think of many better ways to keep kids from being losers than to educate them.

[East Coast Hustle]

I wouldn't worry too much, though. If it didn't pass in CA or OR, I seriously doubt it'll make it in Maine.

[AFK]

Speaking of legalizing marijuana...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-marijuana-legal-tax-rally.html

And the tax revenues don't go towards prevention or treatment.

Oh, it's ON like Tommy Chong!

Revenues go to law enforcement and higher education. Last I checked, Law Enforcement was in the business of preventing sale and/or distribution of drugs to kids, and I can't think of many better ways to keep kids from being losers than to educate them.

Except many kids start very young.  It's pretty common these days for kids to start on drugs in their tweens.  If it was going to be legalized and taxed there should be specific funding to go to the Office of Substance Abuse and to local health organizations, like say, mine, who have the knowledge-base to do the prevention work.  It's an awful proposal. 

[AFK]

RWHN (aka Killjoy):

I wanted to get your analysist's brain on this one, because you must have the numbers, and obviously the skill to deal with them.

This is also not a "gotcha" question.  It's a real-world "experiment" of sorts, that may help clarify people's positions.

It's been over two years since MA legalized small amounts of pot (less than 1 oz).  Have there been any trends that we can track, positively or negatively, that reflect on what effect this legalization may have had?

I ask because this is a real-world situation where we can gather pre and post statistics that may shed factual light on the various theories that have been flung around here.

I can't seem to find any good or current stats for your state to be able to answer that question one way or the other.  Here in Maine, we survey kids in schools every two years on substance abuse and other health topics.  Do they do that in Mass?  If they do and you can find me a link that would help.  It's likely, however, that even if it exists the data isn't current enough.  For my state, the most current data I have is 2009.  So you probably need to wait a couple of years to get a good snapshot of the effect of that policy change. 

Here, I will be looking at the 2011 numbers to see what impact the medical marijuana laws may have had on use.  I'm expecting to see the trend to either be flat or maybe even see a slight rise. 

[BabylonHoruv]

Speaking of legalizing marijuana...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-marijuana-legal-tax-rally.html

And the tax revenues don't go towards prevention or treatment.

Oh, it's ON like Tommy Chong!

Right in your backyard huh?  Have you seen any polls on how likely it is to pass?

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

Speaking of legalizing marijuana...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-marijuana-legal-tax-rally.html

And the tax revenues don't go towards prevention or treatment.

Oh, it's ON like Tommy Chong!

Revenues go to law enforcement and higher education. Last I checked, Law Enforcement was in the business of preventing sale and/or distribution of drugs to kids, and I can't think of many better ways to keep kids from being losers than to educate them.

This.

[AFK]

Speaking of legalizing marijuana...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-marijuana-legal-tax-rally.html

And the tax revenues don't go towards prevention or treatment.

Oh, it's ON like Tommy Chong!

Right in your backyard huh?  Have you seen any polls on how likely it is to pass?

If this were a citizen initiative it would have a decent chance to pass.  But since it is up to the legislature I don't think it has much of a chance.  Plus, we're mobilized.  I'm part of a grassroots/advocacy organization that has been pretty successful in defeating legislation like this. 

[BabylonHoruv]

Speaking of legalizing marijuana...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-marijuana-legal-tax-rally.html

And the tax revenues don't go towards prevention or treatment.

Oh, it's ON like Tommy Chong!

Right in your backyard huh?  Have you seen any polls on how likely it is to pass?

If this were a citizen initiative it would have a decent chance to pass.  But since it is up to the legislature I don't think it has much of a chance.  Plus, we're mobilized.  I'm part of a grassroots/advocacy organization that has been pretty successful in defeating legislation like this. 

Ahh, the ones in CA and OR were citizen initiatives.  I haven't heard about any other states putting tax and regulate up before the legislature.

[East Coast Hustle]

Speaking of legalizing marijuana...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-marijuana-legal-tax-rally.html

And the tax revenues don't go towards prevention or treatment.

Oh, it's ON like Tommy Chong!

Revenues go to law enforcement and higher education. Last I checked, Law Enforcement was in the business of preventing sale and/or distribution of drugs to kids, and I can't think of many better ways to keep kids from being losers than to educate them.

Except many kids start very young.  It's pretty common these days for kids to start on drugs in their tweens.  If it was going to be legalized and taxed there should be specific funding to go to the Office of Substance Abuse and to local health organizations, like say, mine, who have the knowledge-base to do the prevention work.  It's an awful proposal. 

Yeah, I don't really disagree with you at all, I was just being reflexively disagreeable because it was this thread.

[East Coast Hustle]

If one more fucking person says some dumb "happy 4/20!" shit to me today, I may have to start strenuously objecting to the legalization of marijuana on the grounds that it will make alot of people even more annoying.

[Bruno]

I'VE READ SEVERAL EXTENSIVE STUDIES THAT CONCLUSIVELY PROVE THAT YOU ARE A DOODIEHEAD!

SIR, I'VE READ SEVERAL OTHER EXTENSIVE STUDIES THAT DISPROVE YOUR THEORY AND PROVE THAT IT IS YOU WHO IS IN FACT A POOP-FACE!

YOUR SCIENTISTS EAT BABIES AND HAVE SEX WITH GOATS.

OUR SCIENTISTS CAN LEVITATE AND THEIR FARTS SMELL LIKE BUTTERED POPCORN!

[LMNO]

Speaking of legalizing marijuana...

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-marijuana-legal-tax-rally.html

And the tax revenues don't go towards prevention or treatment.

Oh, it's ON like Tommy Chong!

Revenues go to law enforcement and higher education. Last I checked, Law Enforcement was in the business of preventing sale and/or distribution of drugs to kids, and I can't think of many better ways to keep kids from being losers than to educate them.

Except many kids start very young.  It's pretty common these days for kids to start on drugs in their tweens.  If it was going to be legalized and taxed there should be specific funding to go to the Office of Substance Abuse and to local health organizations, like say, mine, who have the knowledge-base to do the prevention work.  It's an awful proposal. 

Yeah, I don't really disagree with you at all, I was just being reflexively disagreeable because it was this thread.

If one more fucking person says some dumb "happy 4/20!" shit to me today, I may have to start strenuously objecting to the legalization of marijuana on the grounds that it will make alot of people even more annoying.

I think these are the two most important posts in the thread.

[P3nT4gR4m]

Try living in the UK - I can't keep up with the legislation over here. First it was bad then it was good, now there's a rumour they've reclassified it as bad again. Come on guise just make a decision and stick to it - legal, illegal or compulsory - it'll make no difference to most of the people who smoke it anyway but at least you'll give off the illusion of consistency. 

[ñͤͣ̄ͦ̌̑͗͊͛͂͗ ̸̨̨̣̺̼̣̜͙͈͕̮̊̈́̈͂͛̽͊ͭ̓͆ͅé ̰̓̓́ͯ́́͞]

This is also not a "gotcha" question.

What do you mean by a "gotcha" question?