Legalize Pot in Ohio ?

Just read they are going to try and place this on the Ballet. Wow. I guess there are pro`s and con`s to this.
As an ex Cop I can say that drunk people run Stop signs.

High people wait for the sign to turn Green.

 

Reading the posts here I thought they already had.

 

They've been debating this among the employees at work. It's not going to open it up for them to smoke it since our company has a zero tolerance drug policy.

 

I think it should have been legal in the first place. It's my choice to do drugs or not. I have chosen not to do drugs legal or illegal, that's my choice not the governments. Rick

 

Rick, I happen to be Libertarian-minded on most things and, until a couple years ago, I would have totally agreed with what you said. But then I learned all the gory details of a close friend's son who went right up the drug ladder from pot to heroin, and beyond. This is a good, educated, conservative, religious family but the kid got one taste of drugs and it was all over. When I asked my friend if legalization wouldn't free up lots of wasted tax money to help people like his son get off drugs, he convinced me that government "legitimization" of drugs would actually bring a whole new group of young people into the grips of addiction and, in many cases, pot would end up being a stepping stone just like it was for his son and a million others like him. This nightmare nearly bankrupted my friend as he put his son through rehab after rehab. His only mental/financial relief is when his son is locked up in prison. And amazingly, each time he gets out of prison he's addicted to NEW drugs that were available in the joint.

So again, I totally agree with your principles on liberty and it feels odd typing these words of disagreement but after much thought and debate with my very well informed friend, I have changed my stance on legalization. There is a whole new and gigantic segment of society who will be willing to try drugs once the government officially deems it "OK" via legalization. The results would be costly. Study the opium epidemic in China during the 19th century and the history of drugs here and I think you will reconsider your position like I did. We should not forget those lessons.

Respectfully

Gary

 

I used to hang out with a kid back in the 60's who couldn't ever drink enough. The bar we hung around at helped him get wasted almost every night. I lost him in a NJ bar one Friday night and didn't find him until Sunday afternoon in another state. The kid could throw a ball through a brick wall but peed away a promising career.

Just for sh--s and giggles I looked him up, found him in TX, as a retired plant manager at a cement mill. Some people can turn things around while others can't!!

 

Another downside to legal drugs is when they get older most don't have a pot to pee in and their health is bad due to the abuse. Guess who gets to pay for the medical treatment?

A friend in Colorado says the media hardly mentions that the crime rate is up and the illegal pot is still cheaper the legal stuff so who do you think gets the business?

 

LOL.

 

If anyone truly thinks the revenue gained from legalizing pot will help states with their money problems they are naïve to say the least! Personally I doubt the state of Colorado can properly control their growing pot users, plus manage the pot growers and retail shops before it falls back into criminal hands and moves about the country to non-conforming states.

One only has to look at the gambling casino's propaganda promises of revenues which really hasn't materialized. Nor were they truthful about the addiction, crime, and trouble they bring to communities that bought into this farce.

Ohio has too many impaired citizens out and about as it is now, just watch the evening news.

Eddie

 

Over 30 yrs ago I had a good buddy that was on the drug squad, he used to say that if pot was lagalized it would lead a lot more people into harder drugs. It appears that he had great insight.

 

Has anyone heard of someone being pulled from the line or disqualified from being under the influence of drugs?

 

I once tested off the charts for Ibuprofen.

-Gary

 

Advil, Prilosec, Potassium, Formula 303, Fish oil and Lotrel. All washed down each night with several bottles of Rolling Rock. But I outlived many of my friends!

 

If you buy state legal pot how do you fill out the yellow sheet the next time you go to buy a gun? In the eyes of the feds you would still be an unlawful user of illegal drugs, correct? How many will trade the right to buy pot for the right to own firearms maybe without even knowing it?
Doug Allison

 

Dbl,

Pot is still an illegal drug according to federal law. We have a CIC and a former Attorney General who refuse to enforce the law. God only knows what the new AG will do but I wouldn't bet anything on enforcement wise.

 

The trapshooting community is always turning the cheek when it come to performance enhancing drugs. I bet 1 in 9 takes insulin before a big shoot.

 

Being from Washington, which followed Colorado into legalizing pot, I've got a few observations. First of all, the idea that "everyone is doing it, so, we might as well tax it" may look good on it's face, but, when you're dealing with a product that can still be purchased easily from the guy down the street, for a fraction of the cost, you're fooling yourself if you think that you've found a new, untapped revenue stream, which is exactly what our state has discovered. The taxes just haven't kept up with the lofty expectations. Secondly, its amazing how many "pot shops" have opened up. Makes Starbucks look like a Mom n' Pop coffee franchise. I think that marijuana has a place in society, in the very least as a medicinal option, but honestly, I'm comfortable with it as a recreational option, as much as I am with alcohol. I know that may not be popular, but, considering marijuana the gatekeeper to addiction to harder drugs just doesn't hold water with me.

 

Pot smoking should not be legalized any where. It leads to all kinds of problems, especially n young girls being raped Etc.

 

Gary, thank you for your thoughts on this matter and I respect them. I have given this much thought, that is why it took me so long to respond. I think about everyone has a story to tell. I'm sorry this happened to your friend, I truly am. I had a best friend from high school until we turned about 30, we even married sisters and he became my best friend and brother in law, our families done everything together we was real close. We was out one day with some of his friends and they wanted to light up, I think we was about 27 when this happened. I took a puff off of one and gave it back and said this is not for me and never touched it or any type of drug again. My brother in law didn't stop and as you say, went right up the drug ladder. He chose that path and I didn't so we kinda went our separate ways as far as doing things together. I tried to talk to him about it but it didn't seem to matter to him what I said. He ended up losing everything, his job, wife, family, money and ended in prison for awhile, so I do know some of what your friend is going through.

I think that no matter if it's legal or illegal we are going to have this kind of a problem and what Oneshot said, when you're dealing with a product that can still be purchased easily from the guy down the street, its just to easy to get and I think if you are going try it, you are going to no matter if it's legal or not. . I don't know how to fix this problem but I wish I did because it destroys lifes and that's a shame.

I have always lived by my teaching and morals that I received from my parents and it has served me well. I'm not saying I didn't stumble a few times in life because i'm no angel either.
I think I will stick to what I believe and respect your beliefs.


Respectfully, Your Friend

Rick

 

I doubt it would ever be legal here in Ohio if Gov. Kasich has anything to do with it.

He is anti-drug and has said so many times.

However, on the Medical front, there seems to be some good from Cannabis oil; that I am all for.



Regards....Gerald

 

Doc, "It leads to all kind of problems", that's already been with us for a lot of years.

Respectfully, Your Friend
Rick

 

All I have to say is that you all who are saying you or anyone else is anti drug had better not be drinking booze of any kind. Pot and booze go hand in hand. The only diff is one goes to your liver and the other to your head.

In both cases there are people who can handle things and those who can't. Some say pot will lead them to harder drugs. That can also be said about beer.

We all have seen people who can drink beer and be fine. How ever if they touch the hard liquor they go from Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde. Just mean and unruly.

I haven't seen mean pot smokers. It just makes people mellow. I will agree with some being unruly at time but not to bad. I would rather be around a smoker then a drunk.

There is a pro's and con's to both drinking and smoking. It is also good income tax wise for the state just like booze is for the states. Income is income.

The reason some politicians don't want pot legalized is the fact it will compete with the booze. Whether they are getting paid by the distilleries I don't know but I will not rule that out. Politicians are Politicians.

 

I imagine it will be just a matter of time until its legal everywhere.

Like the 2 hole target.

If everyone is breaking the rule it must be OK.