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The Marijuana Policy Project began running an ad campaign touting the legalization of marijuana as a way to help California dig their way out of their current budget crisis. The 30 second spot features a 58 year old school teacher, Nadene Herndon, who points out that taxes could help offset cuts faced by schools, health care and police:
We have a major problem in California with our budget," said Herndon, 58, a former state analyst who started eating marijuana-infused treats after a series of strokes three years ago left her with shoulder spasms. "We need to explore other alternatives. Source: Sacramento Bee
California is one of 13 states that have legalized medical use of marijuana beginning in 1996. In 2004, California expanded the program to allow patients to cultivate marijuana plants collectively. Over the last six months, the number of dispensaries has grown exponentially. The City of Sacramento alone has 30 such distribution centers. The growth of these pot stores has been attributed to the Obama Administration's promise not to prosecute dispensaries as long as they adhere to state laws.
Seems like pretty exciting times for advocates of ending marijuana prohibition. Not if you live in Florida. We read about Florida's number one ranking in prescription drug overdoses and the rapid expansion of pain clinics and wonder why that isn't being given more attention. To combat the prescrition drug issue, the State passed a law that critics say will do nothing to curtail what has become the true drug problem in Florida.
Drug dealers come to Florida from all over the country to buy prescription drugs because the laws are so weak and yet if you are caught with marijuana, even for medical reasons, they can put you in jail. In Florida, the lawmakers seem more interested in carrying out their political agendas then in doing what is in the best interest of all of the people of Florida. Sadly, but not surprisingly, Florida's legislature did not see fit to include any marijuana policy reform on their recent legislative agenda.
Although President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have both stated that the federal government will no longer expend resources interfering with state medical marijuana laws, Florida legislators have yet to catch on to what modern scientific research, the public, and at least 13 other states already know — sick and dying patients do not belong behind bars for using medicine that has been recommended by a doctor. Please contact your legislators today and ask them to introduce medical marijuana legislation next session. Source: MMP.org
Not only does Florida possess the harshest marijuana laws in the nation, but at a time when most of the country is coming to the conclusion that perhaps it's time to ease off the penalties with regard to marijuana, Florida upped the ante:
On June 17, 2008, Gov. Charlie Crist (R) signed into law HB173/SB390, which carelessly lumps real drug dealers and small time offenders into the same category by creating the ridiculous judicial presumption that as few as 25 marijuana plants — one-fourth the amount the federal government considers a trafficking threshold — makes one a "drug trafficker." Florida already had the dubious honor of having the nation's harshest marijuana possession laws — less than 20 grams can land you in jail for a year and cost you $1,000. Even worse, possession of more than 20 grams is a felony. This new law puts Florida even further ahead of the draconian pack as the Sunshine State can now claim a trafficking standard 4 times as tough as the federal government's! MMP.org
Whether or not the push for outright legalization of marijuana in California is successful is anyone's guess. Between the success of the medical marijuana program and the current budgetary disaster, it certainly seems like the stage is set for a breakthrough to occur. In May, Governor Schwarzenegger stated that "it's time for California to study whether to legalize and tax marijuana for recreational use". That's a pretty strong statement for a Republican Governor to make and those in favor of legalization are pulling out all the stops to continue the momentum that is building.
The timing of the Marijuana Policy Project's ad couldn't be better. Other states facing similar revenue shortfalls should watch carefully to see if California decides to pull the trigger on this much debated issue. If they do, they would become the first state brave enough to stop the hypocrisy that continues to exist with regard to prohibition in this country.
Economically, statistics are so one sided in pointing out the cost benefit analysis regarding legalization that 500 of our country's top economists were moved to sign an open letter to the President in support of legalization of marijuana:
We, the undersigned, call your attention to the attached report by Professor Jeffrey A. Miron, The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition. The report shows that marijuana legalization -- replacing prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation -- would save $7.7 billion per year in state and federal expenditures on prohibition enforcement and produce tax revenues of at least $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like most consumer goods. If, however, marijuana were taxed similarly to alcohol or tobacco, it might generate as much as $6.2 billion annually. Source: About.com
The Marijuana Policy Project takes a very pragmatic approach in their arguments for legalization of marijuana:
1.Prohibition does not work.
2.They would rather see a regulated industry with standards and guidelines rather than leaving it up to drug dealers and cartels as it is today.
3. With 40% of all arrests in this country related to marijuana, (over 870,000 users and growers) the police have much more important things to do.1.Prohibition does not work.
As for Florida, a local group called People United For Medical Marijuana (PUFMM) is currently circulating a petition to place a medical marijuana question on the 2010 statewide ballot. PUFFM will need to collect 676,881 valid signatures to present the question to voters.(If you are interested in signing the petition, you can click on their link above) We can only hope that enough people can convince our legislators that people who are sick and in pain shouldn't be penalized for using a substance that eases that pain. It's the last thing they should have to worry about.
Please share your thoughts.
To read more on this topic:
Legalize marijuana: Watch CNN Video of Pros and Cons
The tax beer and cigarettes-is it time to legalize and tax marijuana?
Top 10 Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana
cheryl3539@yahoo.com Follow me on Twitter
Comments
Here is a positive thought: The funds could go to paying and giving over-due increases to Florida Teachers, since nothing else in any budget has been able to do so. Just a thought...
maybe if Florida teachers did a better job...
don't bogart that joint my freind
just be quiet..you know the goverment owns you, you have no rights they dont give you, facts about the harmlessness of cannabis means nothing,just be happy they let worship them from afar
Dear Cheryl,
Thank you for pointing out the dire circumstances that patients in Florida face. I often wonder why Florida insists that a Dr. and a Patient dont have the right to determine treatment options that suit the patient. I keep hearing about the conservative nature of our politico's; individual freedom, less government not more, etc. Action not words, will be the test in the 2010 election cycle, and those politico's who continue to intrude on the Dr. and Patient relationship will face the boot. I support the state-wide effort of People United for Medical Marijuana (www.pufmm.com) and urge all to support them in their efforts.
Scott: Our conservative politicos are only interested in individual freedom when it's politically expedient for them to support it. i.e. against pro choice and gun control but for prohibition; RIDICULOUS I am so tired of politicians ignoring the facts.
PUFMM was founded by an Orange County Republican Executive Committee Member.. The Republicans are getting on board with compassion.
http://www.PUFMM.org
To Cheryl,
Gov. Crist is not a conservative. He only won because of Jeb Bush's coattails. I'm a conservative/libertarian and I don't like many of the guy's policies and positions.
Crist seems to be formed in the same mold of McCain.
Florida is going down the tubes, first with the 2-years of massive hurricanes followed by massive increase in property taxes and property insurance. Get out while you can.
Happy 420.
This isn't a liberal/conservative issue. It is a humanitarian issue!
Stop making it out to be one, this issue needs a bi-partisan favor if you think anything will ever happen.
I am a Tradional Conservative who is totally in favor of marijuana legalization not just decriminalization. Prohibition is against fundamental ideals of the founding fathers.
BTW - Many "conservatives" who call themselves Republicans are NEO-Conservatives. Figure it out and educate yourself liberals...
Which is why I never go to Florida for vacation anymore, I go on vacation to relax and have a good time, I don't want to be hassled by cops on vacation for doing something that I enjoy and hurts no one.
Doesn't florida have the largest population of old people out of all of the US states, Or at least one of?
Cause that would make sense. Most people who were born before the sixties have a totally unrealistic view of the cannabis plant. Where most people who were born after the sixties have a more realistic view and can usually admit prohibition doesn't work, but yet don't like the idea of legalization, like Obamas view seems to be. Then you get to the people that were born after the eighties, to most of us it's as normal as having a beer.
So in about 20 years we should be laughing.
How come we elect people that don't care about us? That want to hurt us! Maybe the big problem is who we all are allowing to become our leaders, and maybe soon we will start asking the people running for office their stance on such issues before we elect them. The only real way to change laws is to change who we allow to make them.
Abuse of Prescription drugs is a problem, but so is marijuana use among young people. To say that an untested smoked substance like marijuana is safer than medicines that have gone through the FDA process destroys the regulatory process in the U.S.
In California young people can get marijuana with a phony doctor's recommendation for virtually anything. It is de facto legalization. The idea promoted by the ad that marijuana can help schools is a scam as use of marijuana hurts students' education. Drug use in middle and high schools is one of the problems with education. Promoting marijuana as safe and as medicine will not help education but will increase the problem. Kids who are stoned cannot learn in school! Marijuana advocates don't care about kids--they care about getting high.
Drug policy is not perfect, so it could be improved. Legalization would be worse.
your point is moot...drug use in middle schools and high schools would acually decrease...it is easier for a kid to get a joint than a 6 pack since drug dealers have no fear of losing there licence
are you for realy you thing oxycottan is safe then weed i was an oxycottan addicted for 4 years omust od 6 time in one week you cant o.d on weed you cant get addicted to weed if the doc could give out weed where i come from i would never of had oxy 80 mg on oc 80 well make some one a junk chack the fack befor you say some weed is a lot safe then oxy pecs viks opana xanax vailum kpins and most of the the other drugs on the market
dude and dudet i stated smokeing at 9 years old got my deploma and a+ certifecate and i became a computer tech and doing very well and still smokeing herb im 44 years old now .my point is its not the herb its the person that you are.like for example if your a ass hole when you smoke herb you become a super ass hole.for example im a very well manored person then i become a supper well manored person.for example if you want to learn school stuff when high on herb you want to learn even more .for example if you dont care about school when high on herb you become a bum.what i am saying stop downing herb when its actully the person that is the problem most times..???.ps and as far the law why make weed legal when they are makeing soo much money off the down side of it..if you ask me i think the law is just as bad as the drug cartel with one difference the law has america backing them.stupid people.grow up and look beyond your nose at what the law is actully doing...????.herb is harmless alcohole is dangerest...daaaaa...????your not going to change the cartel,s mind and your not going to change the law,s mind....to much money involved....the law has distroyed to many good people as the cartel has....its just the way it is grow up and get over it....will never change....??
almost forgot this will always be my email s3131@netzero.net im not scared of the bugger bear....it is as it is in heaven gods the same way as the law... he gave you life just to take it away soo give it your best here on earth because this is all you got enjoy........
Dave - please look up some research regarding marijuana smoke. Dr. Donald Tashkin for example. Dave are just ignorant towards the fact of marijuana as an acceptable medicine for thousands of years that is all. By the way smoking marijuana isn't the only way to use...
You also forget thousands of teenagers use marijuana regularly already... keep living in the closet. That is what prohibition is.
Dave: I wouldn't be so quick to hold the FDA up as the be all and end all for what is safe.
Further, you cannot deny the fact that the "war" on drugs has been a dismal failure that has wasted valuable resources for state and local governments. If marijuana was legal and regulated there have been numerous studies supporting the theory that it would NOT lead to an increase in its use. It would still be illegal for those under 18. Besides, as has been pointed out below, they're doing it anyway. Prohibition didn't work for alcohol and hasn't worked for marijuana. It's time to end the hypocracy. It's as ridiculous as saying vodka is legal but scotch isn't.
Marijuana Ingredient Blocks Opiate Dependence, Study Says
Paris, France:
The administration of oral THC in rats suppresses sensitivity to opiate dependence, according to preclinical findings published in the June 24 issue of the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
An international team of researchers from France and Canada assessed the impact oral THC (dronabinol) exposure in maternally deprived rats.
(Rats that are deprived of their mothers immediately after birth are far more vulnerable to opiate dependence than non-deprived subjects.)
"[D]ronabinol treatment on maternally deprived rats normalized ... morphine consumption and suppressed sensitivity to morphine conditioning," researchers reported. "These findings point to the self-medication use of cannabis in subgroups of individuals subjected to adverse postnatal environment(s)."
Clinical data published this month in the July/August issue of the American Journal on Addictions reported that drug treatment subj
I can't believe how bad our government is. NH just had it's medical marijuana bill vetoed by the governor. Such BS considering how tight that law was written.
“I understand and empathize with the advocates for allowing medical marijuana use in New Hampshire,” he said. “However, the fact remains that marijuana use for any purpose remains illegal under federal law.”
Funny how in California the counties that tried refusing to issue medical marijuana cards were forced to do so by the supreme court. This shows me state law trumps federal. As it should, our states are different and need different laws. Our states should have the say if they want to legalize or not.
With the legalization of marijuana it would open tons of jobs for people to work in a legit cannabis industry with it properly regulated it could give people jobs out on the farms producing the marijuana and jobs to new distilery's
Marijuana prohibition has been a total failure and is perhaps this country's greatest mistake. Not only has it created criminals out of nearly a third of the country's populace, it costs our society billions of dollars every year, creates a strain on our prison system, and has little or no effect on marijuana use in the US. In some cases, prosecuting marijuana use has turned non-violent, middle class kids into violent and unpredictable, career criminals. Once a person has a criminal conviction on their record, they are far less likely to find a good job and become a useful member of society. Other countries with more liberal drug laws have much lower rates of drug addiction among their people. I invite you to my web-page devoted to raising awareness on the assault on our civil liberties: free the gods dot com
We are making a huge impact here in Florida however we are all volunteers and need your help! 700 volunteers collecting 1000 signatures each will make this happen.
Think you can spare 1% (2 hours) of your time to make this happen?
Medical Marijuana in Florida - PUFMM.org
Actually Dave I have friends who have add a rather normal problem among teenagers and the only way they could study was while either on adderall (addictive drug) or by smoking marijuana (non-addictive drug). As far as marijuana being untested and the drugs approved by the FDA, you do realize drugs approved by the FDA are taken off the shelves periodically.
I've been smoking in Florida for over 7 years. We may have the harshest Marijuana laws, but the authorities do not bother with private use of it. Even smoking in the car is acceptable as you can have heavy tints to block out the sun. My point is that regardless of these horrible laws, the real smokers in Florida are still at ease and have nothing to worry about. It's those partaking in illegal operations such as growing plants or trafficking that feel the full force of the law. The police are not stupid and can differentiate between harmless users and harmless criminals. Just because you are harmless does not make you any less of a criminal. Smoke safe.
I am only 21 years of age and have been living in florida the whole time,my father is a vietnam vet,smoking marijuana has always been the norm for us,the same as a beer or cig for anyone else,i smoked my first joint at 7,by my own according and not obtained from my father,he refused to partake in any of it until i was 18,i can agree that it does alter the learning process,god i wish i wouldnt have smoked in my younger teenage years,but now that ive gotten older,i no longer buy it from dealers,i have my own home grown,so its personal use,i can say,florida is the meanest when it comes to getting caught,luckily i never have,but ive had friends do 10 years in prison for 1 single plant ,and for me,my own therapist recommends it,i see him for sleep deprevation,i smoke,i sleep,i dont,i wont....so whos to tell me its wrong to lay in bed at the end of the day and smoke a doob so i can sleep...people murder,rape,and rob while true marijuana advocates get put away for watering a plant,sheesh
and to the guy below,ive been smoking in florida for 14 years,more than half my life,i know im young but,i beg to differ,ive been in FL my whole life,true ive never been arrested,ive been caught and had cops just have me scrub my buds on the concrete into dust (sad sight) but ive never carried more than a joint on me so its no prob,but i know plenty of cops that smoke pot,and will turn right around and go out arresting ANYONE they can for pot,and just take it home instead of to the evidence room,one of them was a long time dealer,a COP....thats how florida makes revenue,it will lose revenue by legalization because the profit on court is so high alone with marijuana users,cops do not look at the difference,they arrest....point blank,ive seen people arrested for a roach that wasnt even pot,just resin.....the Fl officials wont legalize because this is the only state where the money made is more from marijuana criminilization than legalization,and they know it...but i am for legal buds!
You want the laws to change?? Change them!!
PUFMM is an all volunteer effort, and they need your help!!!
visit PUFMM.org or email me at gieseghj@gmail.com to learn more about how to help!! Let's stop HOPING this happens and MAKE it happen!!
i like florida, down south sucks, i suggest if you stay in florida go north west florda, it fukings awsome!
yeah pills are a dime a dozen in florida. theres more pill dealers then weed. i think they should be more tight on pills. people die from those. weed? u just fall asleep lol. i mean its fun and safe if u dont do certin things while your high. it should be legal. and they should just put an age limit on it like they do every other drug or posion the government taxes
pot is the only drug that helps not hurt (push to decrimanalize marijuana)
Just teens can get weed from a phony doctor gies the same for prescription drugs everyday people go to pain doctors to get prescribe pain medication to sell to take and there so addicting and to some individuals marijuana help them in a lot of way for example instead of taking a Xanax for anxiety an which they are also very addictive weed will have the same affects and will
help your anxiety the
most dangerous drugs are prescription drugs roxy and oxy are opiates and they are also synthetic heroin you can't say that weed is not safe than that drug dealers come from other states to Florida for the purpose of gettin pills because it's so easy to get them so people who think approves drugs are better them smoke a plant like weed are idiots
I'm not going to sugar cote this but Florida is runned by a bunch of republicans. I came from Hawaii to Florida, I can no longer obtain my Marijuana (medication) legally any more. I am a criminal in this state (Florida). Please decriminalize Marijuana because it is the right thing to do. Please educate yourself by reading the satatistics & benefits from the states where it is not a crime, you will find that the crime rate is significantly lower. I am a terrific mother, however I am a criminal because I smoke Marijuana for chronic pain. I wish not to get hooked on pain pills that are physically addicting. I just would like the same rights to my medication that I did in the state of Hawaii where I had my Med Marijuana card. However I WILL continue to smoke my Marijuana on a daily basis as I did on the Big Island Hawaii. They can arrest me, waste tax payers money and then arrest me again. Does this make sense? Ummm... we are not going anywhere so give up and decriminalize Florida.
By the way, I smoke in front of my kids and my kids love cleaning my brand new awsome 2 foot glass bong. It's like a "family thing" I'm not going to tell my kids there is anything wrong with it. It wouldnt be right to lie to them. They know it is the best thing for some people and I spend way to much time deprogramming them from what the school has told them about us criminals who smoke. What business does the school have anyway to fabricate a bunch of lies to tell our children in school. only. All we need is voters and activists. Stop closet smoking as I did for years and get involved.
Oh Yeah and why wont this website let me use the two words a s s h o l e & republicans in the same sentence?
Its upsetting that I live in Florida. Even though this article is nothing new to me considering last year I was put in jail 2 days for having less than .01 grams on me. Literally flakes of marijuana and 4 months of drug tests and over 1,500 dollars later. What a joke!
I'm 26. I started smoking weed when was 19. I took all the BS from D.A.R.E. and everything to heart and never tried anything until I moved out on my own. I tried MJ of my own volition and was never pressured. since i started smoking i have yet to come across any negative effects. I suffer from migraines and MJ is the only thing that completely takes away the pain, nearly immediately. My roommate was prescribed too high a dose of the wrong meds for her epilepsy by a local hospital! she took the meds as prescribed and slowly began to O.D. her boyfriend, my other roommate, smoked a bowl w/ her to calm her down and went to the hospital the next morning. Three hospital employees: two doctors and the drug test tech, all told her that she would've died the night before had she not smoked MJ. it slowed her heart rate enough to keep her from O.D.'ing. that is the biggest reason i will never think that MJ is a bad thing. The sooner FL legalizes/ decriminalizes MJ, the better.
Also: as funny as he put it, Katt Williams was absolutely correct. happy, hungry, sleepy- thats all you get from weed... other than the medical benefits. weed is the only "drug" i partake of other than cigs. cigs are worse than MJ. damn near every other drug known to man, most of which are made by man, are also worse, way worse. MJ has the lowest statistics of any drug pretaining to O.D. How many prescription drugs have you heard advertised that have possible side-effects that are worse than what that drug treats? pretty F'ed up if u ask me. i would say that MJ is safer than any prescription pill on the market. research shows that MJ is not physically addictive, whereas most pills prescribed have a warning that they could be addictive if used wrong. just a few more reasons why i like MJ. I could go on forever.
A word of advise to dugout users, for years I was able to get through the screen at the airports (TSA) with my regular dug out. When I wore it out, and had to buy a new one, the only thing that webee joys had, was a dugout with a handle grip similar to a pistal, do not I repeat DO NOT try to take take that dugout through the screening process (TSA). I got busted with 3 grams of MJ spent an entire day in jail, missed my flight. God made MJ just the way he wanted, these F*&K*ng buricrates think they can trump GODS hand. Repubiclicans are the better of the 2 parties, remember no body is perfect!
If marijuana isnt legal in this state by the time that im out of college i will have no hope for this state and will be forced to move out of florida regardless of the siesta beach
The only reason why Florida does not legalize Pot is becasue they get funding for everyone they put in jail , plus the Drug Dealers who fund Most of the Local Political Parties in Dade and Broward Counties
would loose money in the daily imports of Drugs coming from south America Central America and the Caribean.
What you ...think...do you really think that the Goverment in FL wants to do something for nothing>?
same reason with the Arizona immigration law.. its all about getting the grants for the programs your state participates ..
just legalize it. people get put in jail for reason, only because its a law. there is nothing wrong with weed. if anything, liquer and all that should be illigal, because thats what does damage. there has never been one death recorded in the history of man kind for smoking pot. its a damn plant. greens! look at the bright side, no one will ever get hurt. if u have something against it, fine, no one cares, just do your thing and dont smoke it, its that simple. but the people who want to smoke it, let us make the mistakes. stop bitching about what other people want to do, its a free country isnt it? a place where we all live.
just legalize it. people get put in jail for reason, only because its a law. there is nothing wrong with weed. if anything, liquer and all that should be illigal, because thats what does damage. there has never been one death recorded in the history of man kind for smoking pot. its a damn plant. greens! look at the bright side, no one will ever get hurt. if u have something against it, fine, no one cares, just do your thing and dont smoke it, its that simple. but the people who want to smoke it, let us make the mistakes. stop bitching about what other people want to do, its a free country isnt it? a place where we all live.
i think they should legalize marijuana in Florida because hey marijuana inst bad, its good for your health. i smoked marijuana and then went to soccer practice and ran 2 miles without stopping, hmmm i would have ran more, but the coach stopped me.
There is nothing wrong with smoking marijuana. I have smoked for many years and never once have I overdosed or heard of anybody doing so. Their are doctors who say it doesnt cause cancer, and that it has so many medical purposses. by the way, I am not a failure either I am going to start college next year for engineering or phsycology ( possibly join the peace corp). Smoking Marijuana has a relaxing, stress and pain releiving high. You have never heard anybody kill or rob simply because they were high on pot and needed money to get some. Maybe those idiots out there killing for the money of large amounts. I say legalize it tax it if you must and watch the crime rates drop and the state hell even the governments debt lower. Most of yall government officials know the truth and hell a good % of you do or did smoke it. So open your eyes and try it out.
P.S- I would rather have a bunch of marijuana smokers walking around then drunks anyday....
Here, look at it the way i see it for a second. The question is wether to legalize or not, not wether or not it is bad for you. People in Amsterdam are able to use marijuana recreationaly without being bothered however the amount of marijuana smokers there is just about the same percentage in the U.S. Now with that being said i believe that the fact that there is a law against it will NOT stop many people at all from using it. I would much rather those people buy from dispensaries than the street. Think about it. And i believe in personal freedom. who are you to tell someone how to live their life? thats just sick.
i think that people who are against national healthcare in the name of getting the government out of the healthcare should surport the right for a person to smoke pot especially if the person is using it for medicine
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