Not a counterpoint, but interestingly the rate of psychosis does not go up in legalization states. Study: Legalization and Psychosis-Related Health Outcomes
Don't have a problem with legalization or de-criminalizing it. It's on par with alcohol so not a big deal with it but I voted no for this reason. Where does someone's right to smoke pot begin and my right to smell clean air end. I'll be sitting in my car at a stop light and all of a sudden you can smell it coming from someone's car. It's much more potent and smells much worse than the Gainesville Gold I had back in the 90's. The Publix Greenwise parking garage smells like pot every time I go there.
It should obviously not be allowed in indoor spaces. Should be treated like cigarettes, basically. I view that as a separate issue from “legalization”. The guy in the car example could be a DUI.
desi used $4M form opiod settlement. doesn't seem legal..what can an average citizen do when the guvnr does something illegal? DeSantis Faces Backlash For Using Opioid Settlement Funds On Anti-Cannabis Campaign Florida is using millions of dollars in settlement money from opioid manufacturers and distributors to bankroll Governor Ron DeSantis's ongoing anti-cannabis campaign, according to state records. State law stipulates the opioid settlement trust fund is meant to "abate the opioid epidemic" and provide resources for affected communities. However, the state Department of Children and Families, reported the Tampa Bay Times on Friday, spent $4 million to pay a marketing agency for an "advertising campaign aimed at educating Floridian families and youth about the dangers of marijuana, opioid, and drug use," raising questions about misusing resources earmarked for the opioid crisis. A group of bipartisan officials and public health experts voiced concerns over what they said was a misuse of public money by the DeSantis administration to undermine the cannabis legalization initiative, known as Amendment 3, but mostly noting that such a campaign does not align with the primary purpose of the opioid settlement. Over the next 20 years, Florida is expected receive about $3 billion in money from lawsuits. "Under no circumstance should the state government be able to decide, without input from the legislature, that $50 million owed to the taxpayers will be spent on a political agenda," said attorney John Morgan in a press conference Friday along with State Senators Joe Gruters (R) and Jason Pizzo (D).
I do have a problem with the smell. Is my right to breathe clean air worth less than someone's right to light up? At least cigarette smoke dissipates quickly.
I agree with all of that. Now, just because it's not right doesn't mean there will be people refraining from smoking while driving. Not many sobriety checkpoints at 4 in the afternoon on the way home.
No, but don't sit there and waste our time by prefacing it with "I don't care. . . ." Because you DO care. Clearly you care or you wouldn't have voted no. I'm curious, why the need to write that preface in the first place? You're against it. You've presumably always been against it. Were you trying to soften the blow or something?
Trust me, you'd rather me on the road after smoking a joint than after a Venti Cafe Mocha from Starbucks. The latter - under certain circumstances - is a freakin' menace.
This is the issue for a lot of LEA's, who are split. One camp just wants to focus on bigger things and move on. The other likes the ability to do searches due to "smells" and laments the potential loss of DUI revenue (Grady Judd, etc.). Further, it's almost impossible to get people on DUI for pot. The minute I see those lights, the shot of adrenalin that shoots through my body kills any buzz dead and there isn't a single field-sobriety test I won't pass with flying colors.
No softening. The only thing I don't like is that I have to go through my day with someone else's decision affecting my enjoyment of going to the park. But thanks for answering, my right to not smell it is less than your right to puff away. Glad you think others rights are not as important. And not always against it. Used it while in school. But today's stuff is not that. It sticks to everything and hangs in the air. I had friends that were regular users and their clothes, house, car etc. never smelled.
Why are you putting words in my mouth weirdo? Can you not just stick to the topic without having to create an imaginary argument from the other side in your head? Nobody said shit about "your rights vs other's rights". I was just wondering why you felt the need to qualify your answer seeing as how your mind has always been set on this issue? Just admit it. You don't like the smell so you voted "No". No big deal. We get it. Not sure why you felt the need to pseudo play both sides. Jesus! Nail yourself to the cross much?
I went to Portland one night and could only find one room left in the city - a nice hotel - and it reaked of pot. There were no alternatives. Was at a nice air bnb in Oregon with the windows open and pot smoke from nearby rental balcony blew in. I asked them to stop and they complied. It wasn’t just about me but also my recovering addict daughter with me. In lower end hotels and apartments even in TX they permanently smell of pot even in the hallways.
I was just in Portland for a week, downtown, and did not have the same experience. A couple of times I smelled pot while walking around, but nothing much. Hotel was fine. I was also with someone in recovery fwiw. Worst for pot smell is the lower east side in NYC. Doesnt bother me but others commented on it. Second worse is Downtown Durham NC, where it isn't even legal. So go figure.
If they tied it to both marijuana AND opioids, it probably gives some legal cover in a technical sense as to how the funds were used. Not that anyone would prosecute these crooks even for blatant corruption, but on this one I can see a legitimate argument at least. That being said, still a pretty shitty thing to use these funds on. But what else do you expect from people who want to jail people over smoking? Can’t spend money on treatments, gotta spend it making sure the prison lobbyists get what they paid for. Free state of Florida.
I was in Berkeley on a Saturday afternoon, 6 months after legalization passed and we were the only people in the dispensary. In fact, we drove past it twice (we too were looking for the obvious cliché's), and it's right there on the main road. Which is why I can only laugh at the commercials saying "we don't want to be like California!!!!" After 10 years of medical (sound familiar?) Legalization was greeted with a collective yawn by the entire state, just as it will in FL. Most people who want it already have a card. Also, I think it's going to pass due to purely unscientific, anecdotal evidence. I.E. I went to a Trulieve the other day and everyone in there was older than me. And I'm 57. So, you know, take that for what it's worth.
