Can someone explain to me why pot smoking is OK? (immigration thread)

[mdmc]

Why do so many DU'ers support illegal pot smoking? Pot can be smoked legally in Amsterdam. Since there is a legal route for pot smokers to take in order to smoke pot legally, we shouldn't allow or support smoking pot illegally. If Americans want to smoke pot, they should go to Amsterdam. They would be legally allowed to smoke in Amsterdam.

So why do Americans smoke pot illegally when there is a legal route that they can follow that would allow them to legally consume their precious herb? :shrug:

[Blue_In_AK]

1. Ha - or move to Alaska.

[mdmc]

2. why do you hate 'merika?

:shrug:
(In NYS, possession is a violation / you get a ticket and pay a fine. What is the deal-i-o in AK?)

[Blue_In_AK]

44. Possession of up to four ounces in your home

is protected by the Alaska state constitution's very strong privacy clause. This has been upheld for 30 years following the Ravin v. State decision in 1975. http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/legal/l1970/ravin.htm Our clueless Governor Murkowski tried to pass a new drug bill this year combining recriminalizing marijuana with logging pseudoephredine purchases, dubbed the "methajuana bill." It went down in flames in the House and is dead for this year. By next year we'll have a new governor, so hopefully that kind of nonsense will go away.

[mdmc]

73. very nice

as a northern exposure fan, I always wanted to visit your great state. I will have to check it out some time

[Blue_In_AK]

85. Of course, you know that Northern Exposure

was filmed in Washington. :rofl: If you want to see some Alaska pics drop into the Photo Group periodically. I post a lot there.

[mdmc]

90. I will do that.

The photo group here does some neat work.
I once posted in the Washington State Forum here about Roslyn. I would like to visit there too.

[ShortnFiery]

143. Oh that's good to know ...

Visiting Alaska to see old friends is much more appealing now! :hi:

[tridim]

5. Or Denver..

It's legal to possess and smoke small quantities here. Unfortunately the Feds disagree even though we voted and passed the law several months ago.

Americans want pot to be legal. It's the politicians and corporations that don't.

[ShortnFiery]

140. Oh the wingers are already prepared to nix that avenue - outlaw in Alaska

Hey, I don't use but, I believe it should be legalized. It's far less dangerous to society than Alcohol Abuse.

Folks who smoke pot tend to "stay in place" ergo the term "stoned."

Ah ... that Dylan Song is now running through my brain :P

[kineneb]

3. really simple

It needs to be legalized. Period.

Ever heard of someone dying from a pot overdose? Alcohol is far more dangerous and has caused the demise of a number of my relatives. Also, tobacco has killed more than pot ever will. The prohibition is because Big Business can't make a killing (pun intended) from the product.

[wildbilln864]

59. more than just that!

Corporations would loose vast amounts of money due to all the industrial uses of canabis/hemp/marijuana! We've been played for fools for decades!


www.jackherer.com

[JuniperLea]

111. Bingo!

Just the lost revenue for blood pressure and glaucoma drugs alone... not to mention the anti-nausea drugs for people undergoing chemo or with AIDS, etc.

[ComerPerro]

131. Well, according to the OP, it doesn't need to be legalized because

it is already legal.

(that was the context of the argument)

Its legal in other countries.

The pot smokers here just don't have enough respect for the law to legally smoke, through the proper channels.

[Gabi Hayes]

4. christ...I thought your electricity was still off....

you write like you're VERY high, doncha know?

[mdmc]

12. I'm at an undisclosed socialist haven

the public library. Very high like the Gonz, Kesey and Bukowski, or high like an idiot?

[LiberalPartisan]

6. A better question is why is it wrong at all?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. You're Right. I'm COMPLETELY In The Wrong. Forgive Me For Doing It

anyway while knowing it's completely wrong, ok?

:smoke:

[Gabi Hayes]

9. hey! check your PMs in a minute or two

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

26. Please Don't Ever Do That Again.

I do not condone such behavior and find it to be completely against the standards of this community.

[Gabi Hayes]

35. ?

fine...what're you, a COP?

who cares?

it was, uh, private...that's why I PMed you

lighten up

jesus

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

39. No, I'm A Liberal. And Making It Private Didn't Make Any Less Childish.

It just made it more cowardly in my opinion.

I don't think it serves this community to wage smears in private, and I'd rather not have to be part of such a thing again. I'm not sure what in any of my posts in my history here would make you think I would want to take part in such childish games.

I'm sorry you thought I would rah rah it when in reality I found it to be disgusting.

[Gabi Hayes]

40. right...goody for you

smear? interesting characterization?

the whole point was to keep it private. that's what the P stands for.

and try being more full of yourself

and quit smearing ME!

I may be many things, but I ain't no coward

mommy!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

41. I Was Just Being Honest.

I'm not trying to smear you, I just want to make it clear that I don't condone such things, so that you won't be under the wrong impression next time.

That's all I have to say about this.

[Gabi Hayes]

47. so I give my opinion (in private ), it's a smear.

you, on the other hand smear me, in public, and it's just expressing your opinion.

interesting

stop continuing to SMEAR me, or I'll tell my mom!

and YOU/re the one who took this public. why on earth would you do that?




does the phrase "self-involved blowhard" mean anything to you?

you have become, as usual, tiresome

touch my monkey

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

49. You Forced Me Too. And I Kept My Initial Reply Extremely General

My intent wasn't to take it public, but I felt I had to since you explicitly stated here that you were PM'ing me. I don't want anyone having the wrong impression that I wanted the PM, condoned it, or in some way am the type of person that would take part in such things. I don't know you, yet you sent me the message you did. How am I to know if you sent it to others as well? And if you did, would they now think I was laughing at it or condoning it since you stated you sent one to me?

I don't want to be related to such garbage, and that's why I said so publicly. I don't want anyone to be under the impression that I wanted the PM or initiated it, or in any way normally engage in such things. But I kept it extremely general. It was you who feels the need to keep bringing it out into the open more, with all due respect.

[Gabi Hayes]

53. I forced you to? funny stuff.

self inolved much?

clue vision for you: nobody cares about you as much as you do


and I thought you were't going to respond anymore; knew you wouldn't be able not to, ha!

I only read the first few words of your last silly post, btw, and I'm going to very easily be able to skip anything else you have to say about this

but we all know how you have trouble letting go

just ask those poor McKinney thread readers

now, raust mittensie. go bore somebody else

[RagingInMiami]

88. What did he tell you?

If you're going to discuss it in public then give us the full details. Otherwise, just keep it private.

[ComerPerro]

132. Yeah! Secrets don't make friends!

[mdmc]

14. but... there is a legal way to do this...

why don't pot smokers and illegal immigrants follow the legal process for doing what they do(smoking and earning a living)?

[tuvor]

8. Sure, just a quick hike over to Amsterdam.

:wtf:

[IChing]

11. That is the "legal route" why does the op hate democracy?

That is my question when communities, cities and states have voted for it?

[mdmc]

18. iching - check it -

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1063165 :shrug:

[mdmc]

54. i was attempting to make a correlation between herb and illegal

immigration (Why don't immigrants follow the law to get in to this country). I apologize for any confusion.

[Cocoa]

10. soon you will just have to go to Mexico

their proposed new drug laws sound more liberal than Amsterdam's.

[Scout1071]

13. Or Canada.

Which has become much more tolerant of marijuana.

[mdmc]

15. A freedom spreads across the globe

and detainment camps get set up here.

[laheina]

43. And then,

how many of us will follow the freedom, like our brethren now follow the work?

Who will be deporting who then? :shrug:

[mdmc]

63. i think it would be great to live in a place where the leaf was free

our neighbors are always looking better and better.

thanks for your posts... really

THANK YOU

[foo_bar]

31. plus a liberal dose of shakedowns by crooked cops

The nice thing about Amsterdam is hospitals, transportation, the rule of law, and a guild system that stopped torturing people around the Renaissance. But I'd smoke a blunt with Sub-commandante Marcos if it was the good organic shit.

[Ms. Clio]

16. Or now they can go to Mexico!

put that in your pipe and smoke it. ;)

[mitchtv]

17. I don't think that they want Murkins(or others)

smokin in old Amsterdam. I'm right , you're wrong, guess I'll have to stay here.

[mdmc]

19. but... THINK OF THE CHILDREN!

:)
(quoting Maude Flanders)

[mitchtv]

20. I had to explain "waterboarding" only last week

[mdmc]

22. waterboarding like snowboarding, waterskiing, or tubing?

ohh... i googled it - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterboarding - modern waterboarding :scared:

[Bassic]

155. Wasn't that Helen Lovejoy? nt

[rucky]

21. And prison has been such a great deterrent.

why wouldn't we use it to solve the immigration problem?

:shrug:

[mdmc]

23. good point

:patriot:

[RufusEarl]

24. Well for me it's a really bad law,

so i choose to ignore it! Nixon started the war on drugs, that's all i should have to say. But over the years it seems any intelligent move to decriminalize pot has been met with scorn, and now we have agencies (DEA) that make a living by putting pot smokers in prison.

[mdmc]

25. any similarities with our immigration law?

:patriot:

[RufusEarl]

33. Immigration Law?

We've had immigration laws on the books for years, they've never been enforced. It's simple for me to understand, i was in the working poor class till i turned thirty years old, then i found a real position and had a career.

I retired in 1997 and have enjoyed a second career, but i had one thing going for me that illegal immigrants don't have I'm a white american.

IMHO, corporate america & affluent american have used illegal immigrants to pick their crops and wash their dish's and mow their lawns for years. And law enforcement have been ordered to turn a blind eye, i have to ask myself why?

Well it's becoming apparent to anyone who pays attention, that we love cheap labor in this country. And if allowed to continue all americans without a college degree will be competing against illegal immigrants for jobs.

My humble solution to this problem would be this, bring the minimum wage up! Thats the first thing we need to do, a living wage for all americans. Help Mexico bring there standard of living up so Mexicans and other south americans can earn a living in their on country.

Wasn't that the whole idea with NAFTA? and moving all those jobs to Mexico? That was my impression from the get go. Look i have mexican friends, and they deserve a decent life.

So lets get busy and figure this out before we get ourselves into trouble, and thats exactly going to happen if we don't come up with a solution fast.

[mdmc]

36. organize, unionize, organize

and UNIONIZE!

Thanks for your post. Peace and low stress

[Warpy]

27. If Americans want free speech, they should go to the UK

If Americans want health care, they should go to Sweden.

If Americans want job security, they should go to France.

If Americans want a religious government, they should go to Iran.

If Americans want complete freedom from taxes, they should go to Somalia.

Hey, buster, how about YOU go and leave the rest of us here to work on overturning stupid and cruel laws and ousting the corporatists from power and making this a country of the people and for the people, with a government by the people.

Oh, and by the way, nobody said smoking pot is a good thing. It's just not a BAD thing.

[Ms. Clio]

28. with all due respect, I think you missed the joke?

It's meant (I think?) to be a clever and funny jab at the types who are so outraged by those scum of the earth lawbreaking undocumented workers, yet probably break the drug laws their own selves.

Anyway, just my dos centavos.

[mdmc]

56. thank you for your post ms. clio

I was trying to draw a correlation between herb and illegal immigrants.

It didn't go over too well.

[Ms. Clio]

60. so sorry, mdmc, some people just aren't "it-getters"

And sometimes in this format, things are so easily misconstrued. I totally did not take it as a slam on the divine herb at all. :)

[mdmc]

61. again thanks for your post

peace and low stress

[teknomanzer]

71. Perhaps you should have used the sarcasm smiley... n/t

:sarcasm:

[mdmc]

78. i am working on my writing skills

perhaps you are right teknomanzer. Thanks for your post.

[teknomanzer]

79. Actually that was a joke...

seems like many peoples posts are being misinterpreted... and in nearly every thread where this has occurred someone mentions the :sarcasm: smiley.

[teknomanzer]

80. Actually that was a joke...

seems like many peoples posts are being misinterpreted... and in nearly every thread where this has occurred someone mentions the :sarcasm: smiley.

[mdmc]

81. :-)

I'm working on my comprehension too! :D

[mdmc]

29. I am willing to say that smoking pot is a good thing

peace and low stress

[Warpy]

30. It sets off my asthma

but I still don't consider it a bad thing. I remember smoking it in the 60s with a little nostalgia. I would dearly love the right to make myself a batch of loaded brownies whem my pain is at its worst.

And I resent the hell out of prunefaced moralists on both sides playing to suburban parents and keeping it illegal.

[mdmc]

32. I wish you all the best in regards to the pain that you describe

God willing, we will be able to use all that God has given us to ease our ailments and make ourselves happy.

Peace -

[ShortnFiery]

145. Very nicely put!

:applause: :hippie:

[cpousnret]

34. civil disobedience,bad law,better for you then

oxycotin

[mdmc]

82. yes!

:D

[ShortnFiery]

147. Um .. you're comparing a mild psychedelic (THC) to a narcotic (Opiate)?

[Nikia]

37. Marijuana does not hurt other. Illegal immigration can

Marijuana is usually a temporary act that might be done serially. Most illegal immigrants are not visiting for short periods of time, potentially many times over long periods of time.

[jbnow]

38. I can see it now

People with neurologically induced spasms, tremors or pain and the other disorders it is known to help more then any medicine should just take regular jaunts to Amsterdam. Cool. Of course many need it every day and they likely can't become legal immigrants but with all those disability bucks they can manage all those trips.

I never thought of it. I should have scolded my mom when she was so sick from chemo and nothing was helping and she asked about pot. I am so ashamed I broke the law and brought her some and she could finally eat. I should have asked her to go to Amsterdam. Wish you had written sooner, you are a few years late.

But I do have a friend with intention tremors so bad she can't feed herself unless she smokes, food goes flying off her fork on the way to her face otherwise or she needs to be fed. Medicines don't work so she smokes. Lawbreaker! I am going to tell her I do not support her disregard for the law and if she wants to feed herself legally she can go to Amsterdam.

Have to go tell her off now. Thanks!

[laheina]

45. I don't think that the OP would disagree.

I hope that both your mother and friend are doing better. :hi:

[mdmc]

51. thank you for your post.

and I am sorry.

[Gabi Hayes]

48. thanks for that. one of our finest members, who shall remain nameless,

and whose site used to be very popular, has/had cancer.

she used medically prescribed pot to reduce her nausea/pain, and it helped immeasurably

sadly, I haven't heard from her for over a year, and I'm afraid she's no longer with us

I've been too scared to check. but that's because I'm a COWARD, apparently. a childish one, at that

[mdmc]

52. I fully support legalization and medical herb.

I am very sorry for any confusion and bad feelings that resulted from this thread. I really am.

I am trying to figure out your problem with me, and I hope we can resolve this as you seem like a very kind, caring, liberal. If it is that I was callous toward those who are suffering, you have every right to be angry. I want to clarify that I support the same things that you support (med. herb and legalization), and I am sorry of all confusion.

I hope that the popular DU'er that you mentioned above is doing well. I will say a prayer to that effect.

Peace.

[mdmc]

50. I am very sorry to hear your story

It makes me very mad to hear that people are suffering and are not able to use what is available to assist them to get better.

I also apologize for the confusion of this op. I fully support medical marijuana and legalization of herb.

I am a religious person, and will say a prayer for you, your mom, and your friend. Again, I am sorry for the confusion caused by the op. I fully support the same things that you do.

I am so very sorry.

[jbnow]

66. I did misunderstand

so I'm sorry too. It's OK.

My mom didn't make it but at least she could eat and feel better during chemo. She passed peacefully and felt ready. I miss her but I know she is doing fine.

I wish we could spend the money we spend in fighting it on things that could really help people. Really wish industrial hemp was legal too.

We wish a lot of things. Prayer never hurts. (Well except in that recent study where heart patients that were prayed for did worse. Odd. Maybe the best prayer is I will to will Thy will?))

[mdmc]

67. that is a very good prayer indeed

recently two conservative republicans in NYS (Tom Kirwin and Pat Manning) publicly supported medical marijuana. Both are retired law enforcement officials and both know people that suffered from chemo.

Peace and low stress, and thank you kindly for your post. :)

[Zhade]

42. Technically, it's illegal in The Netherlands!

Surprised me to find that out!

[laheina]

46. Really?!

That sounds interesting, although it's contrary to what I've been led to believe. More info?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

55. Why is drinking alcohol OK when it clearly causes more damage?...

...What's your real issue here?

[mdmc]

57. i agree with you

I had replied to an illegal immigration thread that immigrants can't follow the 'legal' route because it is too difficult to do so.
I thought that equating this to having to go to Europe to smoke legally would be funny.

Many people took it the wrong way.

I apologize for any confusion.

Worse, some have really show a dislike for me, perhaps as a result of this thread.

peace?

[Media_Lies_Daily]

58. Peace. I think there is so much frustration and anger with the....

...direction our once-great country is currently going that it tends to spill over onto the DU boards.

[mdmc]

62. agreed

I just got back from chargin my batteries at the NYC peace protest. I feel good! :)

[spanone]

64. You're assuming the illegality of marijuana is not in question.

check our www.norml.org . There is no basis for marijuana being illegal whatsoever.

[mdmc]

75. thanks for the link

I also like www.mmp.org
I belong to both

[Squeech]

65. In enlightened societies

citizens have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, right? Well, one of the more interesting traits of marijuana is its contribution to the pursuit of happiness.

I should say something about legal prohibitions against DWI and things of that nature, but only to emphasize that they're not about penalties for just being in an altered state, but for engaging in risky behavior with great potential for harm to oneself and innocent bystanders (and other drivers). But the prohibition on marijuana isn't because you might drive while you're high and hit somebody, it's the fact of marijuana itself.

I think the politics of the War on (Some) Drugs are what make it crystal clear that the government is not a benign overseer, balancing out conflicting interests, but an entity with its own agenda. There is no scientific reason why pot should be illegal if alcohol and tobacco aren't, since it's less harmful than either of the latter. But not only does the government maintain a prohibition that alienates many of our most creative citizens, and costs absurd amounts of money to boot, but also acts in really bad faith to prevent good science from being done on topics like medical marijuana (while funding "research" that's essentially propaganda). We see in the War on (Some) Drugs the same conditions that made Prohibition such a debacle, while our legislators refuse to see the parallels. (Indeed, one reason we have a War on Drugs is that the functionaries that administered Prohibition, chiefly Harry Anslinger, needed a new job for after repeal.)

[Tsiyu]

68. My friend with fybromialgia here in the US

(yeah, I probably spelled it wrong) no doubt thanks you for the sentiment.

Sure, he should just move away from his home, business, friends, family just to get relief that works?

Explain your fear of pot to me...Can you?

[mdmc]

96. this is actually an immigration thread

where I compare illegal immigration / legal immigration with illegal pot smoking / legal pot smoking.

I love pot, and fear Prohibition. Peace.

[teknomanzer]

69. Who is going to pay for my flight to Holland?

What real justification is there for making marijuana illegal? Lets apply the same standard to all drugs then... especially alcohol a much more dangerous drug in fact.

[KitchenWitch]

70. Really the only thing that keeps pot from being legalized

is the pressure on our Congress by Big Pharma. Pot cannot be patented, and can be used to treat so many things that Big Pharma has patented, therefore if pot were made legal, Big Pharma would lose profits.

Can't have that now, can we? :eyes:

Let the record reflect, I do not smoke pot, but I do not see anything wrong with people who do.

[LaPera]

72. POT IS FUN! POT IS FUN! POT IS FUN!!!

And my God says its legal and moral, good for the mind, body & soul...and also the blessing of pot is good clean organic medicine for many, found in every state and every country in our world...Thank you God!!

So mind your OWN business, would you please?

:smoke: :bounce:

[mdmc]

74. sure

what does your handle mean? At first I thought that it was LaPerla http://www.laperla.com/ :wow:

(ps- I'm down with the leaf)

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

76. Come right up folks and get your magic clogs here!

All you have to do is to click your heels 3 times, and say there's no place like Amsterdam, there's no place like Amsterdam, there's no place like Amsterdam. Oh I forgot, travel doesn't work that way. ;)

[mdmc]

77. its been a long day ommm

:)

[Walt Disney]

83. Because I live here and I own me.

Now, if you were to take the federal government out of the equation to the degree that each state could define their own laws with respect to marijuana, I would be in total agreement. That's the way it was meant to be.

[mdmc]

91. welcome to du , walt disney

peace and low stress

[Swamp Rat]

84. Because it makes people feel good/better

Why should we waste money and petrol preventing people from smoking a weed?

And yes, it is a precious herb - a gift from God to those who are ill, especially those with no money, health insurance, or even a home.

Why take away a person's right to enjoy a few moments on Earth?

[mdmc]

106. i agree

this was about immigration.

[Swamp Rat]

113. sorry

I din't know about that thread.

[mdmc]

114. Go! Create!

This was actually sort of a copycat thread based on this http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1063165 OP. I really should have posted it upthread much earlier.

Perhaps it work better in cartoon form (two hippies sit on the couch. One says, "Why don't immigrants follow the legal process to come here?" The other reflects, then says, "Probably for the same reason that we don't fly to Amerstdam to get high."

[redwitch]

156. You poor thing!

Never was a thread so misunderstood by so many for so long! I don't think...

P.S. There should be something besides the sarcasm smiley to use in such situations. Perhaps an IRONY ALERT!!!?

[yellowdogmi]

86. Because some of us can not afford to fly

to Amsterdam. Why shouldn't we be able to grow our own? It would eliminate any profits terrorists receive from pot sales. The plant was put here for our use. It is sort of like criminilizing your home herb garden. What plant will be illegal next?

[Joe Fields]

87. I issued a signing statement allowing for my own interpretation

of the pot laws.

[mdmc]

92. I think that everyone should do that!

:patriot:

[shanti]

89. you gonna buy the plane ticket?

:smoke:

[slackmaster]

93. I don't support illegal pot smoking

I think it should be legalized.

:smoke:

[porphyrian]

94. The beauty of our system is that we can change stupid and outdated laws.

Our laws aren't set in stone. They're just what we have until we come up with something better. The criminalization of pot in America had very little to do with public will and, to this day, a whole lot to do with corporate lobbies buying out elected officials to pass laws in spite of us. Besides, as the republicans have taught us, breaking the law is only wrong if you get caught.

[mdmc]

95. i'm down with changing drug laws

and immigration laws.

peace and thank you for your post

[sweetheart]

123. can we?

Seems like the laws change if you're stoned and you look
at them through tinted glasses. ;-)

Otherwise, its corporate law for the corporate citizens,
and consumer law for the expendible economic units.

[porphyrian]

125. Yes, the corporate take-over has rendered the system impotent.

That's why they must not be able to buy influence in government.

[mdmc]

129. yes!

[ShortnFiery]

146. Yes! YEs! YES! Says our most suave diplomat ...

The pseudo "war on drugs" still serves some within Corporate Elite ... fills the coffers through that illustrious BLACK market. At least it squashes any hope of a competitive market. And that's a good thing - for them. :P

[donco6]

97. We should build a wall.

'Er somethin'.

[mdmc]

107. lol

i wan't expectin that! :)

[donco6]

108. I was afraid no one would get it!

Damn potheads. Why don't they just all go back to Amsterdam where they come from? :sarcasm:

[mdmc]

112. :-)

:D
peace and low stress

[shadowknows69]

98. I can't afford to move to Amsterdam

I buy too much expensive, illegal, American weed.

[redqueen]

99. Awesome metaphor.

:applause:

[mondo joe]

100. I don't support illegal pot smoking. I support changing the law

because I believe in personal autonomy.

I also believe in managing our borders and immigration.

[shadowknows69]

102. While alcohol and tobacco are still legal

The laws against Marijuana are unjust, hypocritical and immoral and I won't obey them.

[mondo joe]

104. Your choice. I personally wouldn't use it even if it were legal.

Or if I did, I wouldn't use it much.

But this thread is really just a straw man about immigration anyway.

[mdmc]

118. I support ending the drug war and legal immigration

open immigration.

[mondo joe]

142. Yes, you support both these things. Now you just have to acheive your

objectives. If you can.

[Occulus]

138. People who don't already use marijuana will not have an interest.

Therefore, pot must be smoked by someone before the laws banning it will change. Saying "I do not support illegal pot smoking" is the same as saying you don't want people to understand why it shouldn't be illegal, but only controlled.

The ones who want pot to remain illegal are the ones who will never ever touch it. They have a voice because the people who make the laws publicly (who knows about at home, or on their innumerable vacations) don't smoke it either.

Therefore, the only ones who want the laws to change are either ones who smoke or have smoked pot; those who don't and haven't and never will but still support decriminalization are a relative few by comparison.

In other words, on this issue, changing the laws criminalizing marijuana can only be realistically achieved if there are people out there willing to break those laws. I have the feeling this has become true for other laws as well.

[mondo joe]

141. Incorrect. I DO want the law changed, though I have no intent to use

whether it is legal or illegal.

[Rex]

101. Silly argument.

Are you going to pay for every American pothead to fly to Amsterdam and back so they can feel better about themselves? :eyes:

[mdmc]

116. very silly indeed

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x1063165

[Xenotime]

103. Just go to California...you can smoke it there too.

[mondo joe]

105. Now apply it to domestic spying. Why are dems so upset with the

President for violating a law that he thinks is in our best interest to violate?

After all, if you don't like a law just don't obey it.

Or something like that. :eyes:

[mdmc]

119. not too shabby mondo joe

not too bad at all...

[ShortnFiery]

148. Uh huh, and we ALWAYS drive the speed limit ...

So smoking a joint in one's home is equivalent to *spying* on private citizens. Whoa Joe! :(

[madokie]

109. cause I like smoking it, drinking it or eating it.

Peace.

My question to you is why ask such asnine questions?

[mdmc]

122. analogous to the immoral immigration laws

thought stoners could understand what the immigrants were goin through.

[ShortnFiery]

149. Those of us - even those who do not use but support legalization

are now "stoners" by extrapolation? ... is there a hidden agenda here? :shrug:

I don't get this "campaign" ... there are horrible laws that many do not follow. It's not on the same level or "mindset" as illegal immigration as it does NOT harm society when done in moderation.

[JuniperLea]

110. And why all the hate for Bush when he ignores laws?

:shrug:

I think a lot of people are starting to cherry pick which laws they want to see enforced and which should be ignored... well, if that is their right, to ignore laws I mean, then what's to stop someone from ignoring laws agains robbery, burglery, rape and murder?

[mdmc]

134. good points juniperx

I only advocate overturning immoral laws. I think immigration and prohabition are two areas that need reform.

[ShortnFiery]

152. It's not close to comparable ... you know that too, don't cha?

[walldude]

115. Nice thread... clueless

Why do people break the speed limit, drink and drive, run red lights, not wear seatbelts, cheat on their taxes. Gimme a fucking break. I've been to Amsterdam and I felt safer in that city than in any city I've been to in America(and I travel for a living, I've been everywhere). To directly answer your really pointless and stupid question, smoking pot hurts no one except the smoker, and sometimes it actually helps the smoker. Pot is illegal because there are tons of people making money off the fact that it's illegal. Have you ever driven over the speed limit? Maybe you should move to Germany the Autobahn has no speed limit. Einstein.

On edit: Maybe you ought to research "their precious herb" before you go shitting on it. Wanna solve half this nations problems in one fell swoop? Legalize. Clothes, rope, food, oil, the list is endless on what Hemp can do. It would also give struggling farmers a killer new cash crop and the government an incredible amount of new tax dollars. Maybe all you anti-pot smokers should move and let us smokers do the smart thing.

[mdmc]

120. legalize?

this is a thread about immigration. I'm down with herb. People don't go to Amsterdam to smoke cause prohibition is a stupid and immoral law. The drug war should end.

Lots of cluelessness goin on bro.

Peace

[walldude]

127. Well if your thread is really about immigration then your

metaphor doesn't make any sense. At least not to me. Maybe I should get off the pot... hehe :toast:

[mdmc]

128. thanks walldude here is the juxtaposition in a nut shell

immigrants come here illegally, because the legal process is too cumbersome.
herb smokers smoke illegally here because it is too cumbersome to travel to Amsterdam.

peace and low stress walldude. thanks for your posts bro!

[ShortnFiery]

153. "I'm down with herb. "

:wtf: over

[TankLV]

117. Because it's essentially HARMLESS?!

Just a wild guess from EXPERIENCE.

And the fact it is PROVEN to have good therapeutic/medicinal value.

The pot laws are a travesty.

[mdmc]

121. what is harmless?

immigration? herb?

I agree on both accounts.

[mrreowwr_kittty]

124. I think I get it...

You're comparing the expense and difficulty of legal immigration with the expense and difficulty of going all the way to Amsterdam to smoke pot.

Am I right?

[mdmc]

126. You are correct catburgler!

Thank you for your post here. I did put (immigration thread) in the subject line in the OP.

Welcome to DU. Thanks again for your post here. Peace and low stress

[Spider Jerusalem]

157. Except that it's not that expensive, nor is it that difficult...

to go to Amsterdam. (Comparatively speaking, that is.)

Depending on the time of year, one can travel round-trip for as little as $350-400; if you're a US citizen with no pending felony trial or parole, you can get a passport very easily (if you don't already have one), and you can even get the process expedited (for a total cost of about $160, with service usually within a week); and you can find a room in a good hotel for as little as $60-80 a night if you know where to look. (Not everyone, granted, has the disposable income to just drop a grand or two on a pleasure-jaunt overseas, but it's less hard than you make out.)

Compare that to legal immigration, which can cost thousands of dollars in various fees (including, possibly, retaining an attorney/advocate); requires many hours of paperwork and bureaucratic red tape ('no, sorry, you'll need to fill out a 427B stroke zed for this, this isn't the right form') and takes five years from application to completion in any case.

[ComerPerro]

130. Damn, dude that's deep

seriously, good point.

[mdmc]

133. thanks for the post bro

lots didn't like, but a few did. thanks and peace.

[ShortnFiery]

154. Deep, yes! For most of us, we're having to put on our WADERS

:rofl:

One almost needs wings to rise above it. ;)

On Edit: No personal dig on you but such a comparison ... well, it's just IMO, not viable. Perhaps I need to alter my conscious to understand better? PssT! Pass the bong my way, will ya? :P
Best to you - you reached some folks. Let me have a few shots of Jack and a couple of hits, then I promise to get back with ya. <teasing!>

[mdmc]

135. one last kick

[Bridget Burke]

136. You forgot to capitalize ILLEGAL!

From the other threads where the word is popular, it appears that upper case is compulsory.

[mdmc]

137. too late now ms. Burke

but thanks for the post! :)

[Occulus]

139. That's because the Empire IS Law, and the Law is Sacred.

Praise be Akatosh, and All the Divines.

:silly:

[Spider Jerusalem]

144. Because it creates jobs in Mexico?

:shrug:

[APPLE314]

150. CHEW THE SEEDS - THAT'S LEGAL

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

151. Just watching the show...

:popcorn:

[mdmc]

158. almost over now

:D

[El Fuego]

159. You know it's illegal, you just try not to get caught.

It's just like speeding or zipping through an stoplight when it's "orange." We all do it, we know it's illegal, but we try not to get caught.

So it is with illegal immigration. They know it's illegal, so should try to just live their lives here under the radar, and just try not to get caught.

[no name no slogan]

160. go back to Russia, you hippie

:smoke:

[dysfunctional press]

161. it's not exactly easy to go to Amsterdam to spark a joint.

what a stupid fucking post.

[Ms. Clio]

162. No, that would be your post

Did you even bother to read any of the thread AT ALL???