Pot Legalization

[jplvr]

What are the actual chances that it is legalized in the lifetime of a 20-30 y/o?

I'm not so sure. The "drug war" has been such a great tool for the government to pry into people's lives. Search and seizure laws and their ilk are like gold for people who want to know what you're doing at all times.

[Bruce McAuley]

1. I don't think you have long to wait...

I'd give it happening whenever the next Dem is elected...
:hi:

Bruce

[arcos]

6. Usually Dem officials are not very pro-legalization. n/t

[SuperZippy]

7. i hope you are right

sounds great to me

[newyawker99]

13. Hi SuperZippy!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[kixot]

2. I don't think it'll happen.

Though nothing would make me happier, I just think there are too many propagandized yahoos out there who think "refer addicts" will stab their mothers or something.

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

3. Good question - who is against legalizing marijuana right now?

I've always heard the cigarette and alcohol companies were, but it seems to me they'd be gunning for another recreational drug to be legalized - hell it's safer than tobacco certainly.

I think law enforcement in general is against it - perhaps because the drug war is a huge money maker for them?

I'd bet that most Americans under 40 who vote would be okay with legalizing, and decriminalizing for sure.

[liberalmuse]

5. HUGE moneymaker...

Politicians love the drug war because they are largely uncreative and need something to demonize in order to pull in the votes and the money from fear-ridden Americans. The religious leaders love the drug war because nothing pulls in the converts like stories of the saved junkie. The military and CIA love the drug war, because it gets them funding for special ops. The dictators we prop up love it because it gets them all kinds of money and military toys from the U.S., and they use the 'drug war' as a guise to kill and torture people off their lands. It's all about money.

[liberalmuse]

4. One state at a time...

until D.C. is eventually owned by Big Reefer.

[Terwilliger]

8. in your lifetime? 1 chance in 5

at best

[durutti]

9. Very good chances, I think

There's a trend toward liberalization of drug laws that's occurring world wide. As soon as Canada decriminalizes or legalizes it (which is likely to happen within a few years' time), the U.S. will soon follow.

Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part.

[Terwilliger]

10. This is the United States of America

if pot becomes legal, then the problems in this society will be dealt with in a vastly different manner. Frankly, I don't see THAT happening for some time.

[killbotfactory]

11. 20/30 years? I have no idea.

The best we can hope for right now is to have drug use be treated as a health problem instead of criminal problem.

[SyracuseDemocrat]

12. Shit, I dunno.

Even medical marijuana is only legal in about a dozen states, and we're talking about full legalization. I'm all for it, but believe me, we have a long way to go.