Vermont Senate approves marijuana legalization 16-13

[Confounding]

More to follow soon I hope!

Vermont Senate approves marijuana legalization 16-13

The Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill to legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by adults in the state. Approval came on a 16-13 roll call vote after about two hours of debate.

 

[Moonglow]

Huzzah!!

 

[DGS49]

Why are none of the Presidential candidates offering to end the bizarre situation where MJ is illegal under Federal law, but legal in the states that choose to legalize it? Why not just leave it up to the states and get the Feds out of it?

The current situation causes some serious banking problems, as nationally affiliated banks are virtually prohibited from opening accounts for LEGAL MJ-related businesses, because they are still ILLEGAL under Federal law.' Thus, these businesses are forced to deal on a "cash only" basis, and must deal with having ridiculous amounts of cash on hand that has to be secured.

It also inhibits investment in these companies.

It's insanity.

 

[Iceweasel]

I thought the Bern was all for legalization outright?

 

[waltky]

Legalized pot harms the lower class the most...

Legalized pot is making America’s lower class poorer and less responsible
August 20, 2016 | Pot for the poor! That could be the new slogan of marijuana-legalization advocates.

In 1996, California became the first state to legalize the use of medical marijuana. There are now 25 states that permit the use of marijuana, including four as well as the District of Columbia that permit it for purely recreational use. Colorado and Washington were the first to pass those laws in 2012. At least five states have measures on the ballot this fall that would legalize recreational use. And that number is only likely to rise with an all-time high (no pun intended) of 58 percent of Americans (according to a Gallup poll last year) favoring legalization. The effects of these new laws have been immediate. One study, which collected data from 2011-12 and 2012-13 showed a 22 percent increase in monthly use in Colorado. The percentage of people there who used daily or almost daily also went up. So have marijuana-related driving fatalities. And so have incidents of children being hospitalized for accidentally ingesting edible marijuana products.

But legalization and our growing cultural acceptance of marijuana have disproportionately affected one group in particular: the lower class. A recent study by Steven Davenport of RAND and Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon notes that “despite the popular stereotype of marijuana users as well-off and well-educated . . . they lag behind national averages” on both income and schooling. For instance, people who have a household income of less than $20,000 a year comprise 19 percent of the population but make up 28 percent of marijuana users. And even though those who earn more than $75,000 make up 33 percent of the population, 25 percent of them are marijuana users. Having more education also seems to make it less likely that you are a user. College graduates make up 27 percent of the population but only 19 percent of marijuana users.

The middle and upper classes have been the ones out there pushing for decriminalization and legalization measures, and they have also tried to demolish the cultural taboo against smoking pot. But they themselves have chosen not to partake very much. Which is not surprising. Middle-class men and women who have jobs and families know that this is not a habit they want to take up with any regularity because it will interfere with their ability to do their jobs and take care of their families. But the poor, who already have a hard time holding down jobs and taking care of their families, are more frequently using a drug that makes it harder for them to focus, to remember things and to behave responsibly. ‘ Legalization and our growing cultural acceptance of marijuana have disproportionately affected one group in particular: the lower class.’ The new study, which looked at use rates between 1992 and 2013, also found that the intensity of use had increased in this time. The proportion of users who smoke daily or near daily has increased from 1 in 9 to 1 in 3. As Davenport tells me, “This dispels the idea that the typical user is someone on weekends who has a casual habit.”

Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and lecturer at Yale, says “it is ironic that the people lobbying for liberalized marijuana access do not appear to be the group that is consuming the bulk of it.” Instead, it’s “daily and near-daily users, who are less educated, less affluent and less in control of their use.” In fact, the typical user is much more likely to be someone at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, whose daily life is driven, at least in part, by the question of how and where to get more marijuana. Just consider the cost. Almost a third of users are spending a tenth of their income on marijuana. And 15 percent of users spend nearly a quarter of their income to purchase the drug. The poor have not only become the heaviest users, but their use is making them poorer. To all the middle-class professionals out there reading this: Do you know anyone who spends a quarter of their income on pot? Of course not. But these are the people our policies and attitudes are affecting.

MORE

See also:

Pot smoke is worse for you than you thought
August 2, 2016 | Mellow music, chill vibes and an amazing array of snacks — even though stoners may be great company, they might be bad news for your health. And yes, that holds true even if you don’t inhale.

A new study from the University of California, San Francisco, found that just one minute of marijuana smoke impairs blood vessel function to the same extent as tobacco. However, the cardiovascular effects of pot smoke last three times longer. The study was performed on rats, which researchers say have arteries that function in a similar way to humans. When blood flow increases, arteries widen, a process known as flow-mediated dilation (FMD). While studies have previously been performed to determine the effects of second-hand tobacco smoke on FMD, this study was the first to study second-hand marijuana smoke in this way.

Both types of smoke compromise FMD, however, researchers discovered the effects can last up to 90 minutes after exposure in the case of marijuana smoke, while FMD returns to normal levels 30 minutes after tobacco smoke exposure. A reduced FMD increases the risk of heart attack, narrowing arteries and other heart issues.

While the harmful effects of secondhand tobacco smoke are well-documented, there is scant research on marijuana smoke due to its illicit nature, which requires approval from numerous federal agencies prior to experimentation. “At this point, we’re saying that inhaling any smoke is detrimental to your health,” says study author Matthew Springer, Ph.D., in statement. “I think that people should avoid inhaling smoke, whether it’s from tobacco or marijuana cigarettes, forest fires, barbecues — just avoid smoke. To be safe, it’s best to avoid Grateful Dead tribute bands, too.

http://nypost.com/2016/08/02/pot-smoke-is-worse-for-you-than-you-thought/

 

[TheOldSchool]

Legalized pot harms the lower class the most...

Legalized pot is making America’s lower class poorer and less responsible
August 20, 2016 | Pot for the poor! That could be the new slogan of marijuana-legalization advocates.

In 1996, California became the first state to legalize the use of medical marijuana. There are now 25 states that permit the use of marijuana, including four as well as the District of Columbia that permit it for purely recreational use. Colorado and Washington were the first to pass those laws in 2012. At least five states have measures on the ballot this fall that would legalize recreational use. And that number is only likely to rise with an all-time high (no pun intended) of 58 percent of Americans (according to a Gallup poll last year) favoring legalization. The effects of these new laws have been immediate. One study, which collected data from 2011-12 and 2012-13 showed a 22 percent increase in monthly use in Colorado. The percentage of people there who used daily or almost daily also went up. So have marijuana-related driving fatalities. And so have incidents of children being hospitalized for accidentally ingesting edible marijuana products.

But legalization and our growing cultural acceptance of marijuana have disproportionately affected one group in particular: the lower class. A recent study by Steven Davenport of RAND and Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon notes that “despite the popular stereotype of marijuana users as well-off and well-educated . . . they lag behind national averages” on both income and schooling. For instance, people who have a household income of less than $20,000 a year comprise 19 percent of the population but make up 28 percent of marijuana users. And even though those who earn more than $75,000 make up 33 percent of the population, 25 percent of them are marijuana users. Having more education also seems to make it less likely that you are a user. College graduates make up 27 percent of the population but only 19 percent of marijuana users.

The middle and upper classes have been the ones out there pushing for decriminalization and legalization measures, and they have also tried to demolish the cultural taboo against smoking pot. But they themselves have chosen not to partake very much. Which is not surprising. Middle-class men and women who have jobs and families know that this is not a habit they want to take up with any regularity because it will interfere with their ability to do their jobs and take care of their families. But the poor, who already have a hard time holding down jobs and taking care of their families, are more frequently using a drug that makes it harder for them to focus, to remember things and to behave responsibly. ‘ Legalization and our growing cultural acceptance of marijuana have disproportionately affected one group in particular: the lower class.’ The new study, which looked at use rates between 1992 and 2013, also found that the intensity of use had increased in this time. The proportion of users who smoke daily or near daily has increased from 1 in 9 to 1 in 3. As Davenport tells me, “This dispels the idea that the typical user is someone on weekends who has a casual habit.”

Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and lecturer at Yale, says “it is ironic that the people lobbying for liberalized marijuana access do not appear to be the group that is consuming the bulk of it.” Instead, it’s “daily and near-daily users, who are less educated, less affluent and less in control of their use.” In fact, the typical user is much more likely to be someone at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, whose daily life is driven, at least in part, by the question of how and where to get more marijuana. Just consider the cost. Almost a third of users are spending a tenth of their income on marijuana. And 15 percent of users spend nearly a quarter of their income to purchase the drug. The poor have not only become the heaviest users, but their use is making them poorer. To all the middle-class professionals out there reading this: Do you know anyone who spends a quarter of their income on pot? Of course not. But these are the people our policies and attitudes are affecting.

MORE

See also:

Pot smoke is worse for you than you thought
August 2, 2016 | Mellow music, chill vibes and an amazing array of snacks — even though stoners may be great company, they might be bad news for your health. And yes, that holds true even if you don’t inhale.

A new study from the University of California, San Francisco, found that just one minute of marijuana smoke impairs blood vessel function to the same extent as tobacco. However, the cardiovascular effects of pot smoke last three times longer. The study was performed on rats, which researchers say have arteries that function in a similar way to humans. When blood flow increases, arteries widen, a process known as flow-mediated dilation (FMD). While studies have previously been performed to determine the effects of second-hand tobacco smoke on FMD, this study was the first to study second-hand marijuana smoke in this way.

Both types of smoke compromise FMD, however, researchers discovered the effects can last up to 90 minutes after exposure in the case of marijuana smoke, while FMD returns to normal levels 30 minutes after tobacco smoke exposure. A reduced FMD increases the risk of heart attack, narrowing arteries and other heart issues.

While the harmful effects of secondhand tobacco smoke are well-documented, there is scant research on marijuana smoke due to its illicit nature, which requires approval from numerous federal agencies prior to experimentation. “At this point, we’re saying that inhaling any smoke is detrimental to your health,” says study author Matthew Springer, Ph.D., in statement. “I think that people should avoid inhaling smoke, whether it’s from tobacco or marijuana cigarettes, forest fires, barbecues — just avoid smoke. To be safe, it’s best to avoid Grateful Dead tribute bands, too.

http://nypost.com/2016/08/02/pot-smoke-is-worse-for-you-than-you-thought/

Gloom and doom. Fuck off.

 

[Moonglow]

They trash pot yet accept the multitude of alcohol problems and death...

 

[waltky]

Gloom and doom. Fuck off.

They trash pot yet accept the multitude of alcohol problems and death...

Musta hit too close to home, heh?...

... but then mebbe ya don't mind supportin' dem Mexican cartels...

... and all their violence, murder and mayhem

 

[TheOldSchool]

Gloom and doom. Fuck off.

They trash pot yet accept the multitude of alcohol problems and death...

Musta hit too close to home, heh?

No. It's a far safer alternative to alcohol, the economic boom to states that have legalized it have been huge, and marijuana use among minors is actually down.

You are on the side of the drug cartels for wanting to keep it illegal. That's pretty despicable.

 

[Anathema]

Okay. Already a state I avoid, so no big deal. Massachusetts will likely legalize by vote in November. It will still be illegal on my property and in my vehicle. Just like drunkenness is. No need for that shit, ever.

 

[Moonglow]

Gloom and doom. Fuck off.

They trash pot yet accept the multitude of alcohol problems and death...

Musta hit too close to home, heh?...

... but then mebbe ya don't mind supportin' dem Mexican cartels...

... and all their violence, murder and mayhem

Amazing how I must have hit close to home, since I grow my own...

 

[Moonglow]

Okay. Already a state I avoid, so no big deal. Massachusetts will likely legalize by vote in November. It will still be illegal on my property and in my vehicle. Just like drunkenness is. No need for that shit, ever.

Why would you carry it around in your vehicle?

 

[Anathema]

Why would you carry it around in your vehicle?

I don't and never will carry it anywhere. However, I have relatives-in law who carry it and use it regularly. They've been told it is not allowed anywhere around me, but I know that has been violated more than once. Thankfully for them I found out too late to call the police.

 

[Moonglow]

Why would you carry it around in your vehicle?

I don't and never will carry it anywhere. However, I have relatives-in law who carry it and use it regularly. They've been told it is not allowed anywhere around me, but I know that has been violated more than once. Thankfully for them I found out too late to call the police.

They should respect your house...

 

[ScienceRocks]

Freedom and personal liberty!!!!! Awesome.

 

[Anathema]

They should respect your house...

Twice in my vehicle and once at my home. They've been told if they get caught it's a police call. I'm Trying the point of forcing get people to turn out pockets and bags before I let them into my space.

 

[WillowTree]

Why are none of the Presidential candidates offering to end the bizarre situation where MJ is illegal under Federal law, but legal in the states that choose to legalize it? Why not just leave it up to the states and get the Feds out of it?

The current situation causes some serious banking problems, as nationally affiliated banks are virtually prohibited from opening accounts for LEGAL MJ-related businesses, because they are still ILLEGAL under Federal law.' Thus, these businesses are forced to deal on a "cash only" basis, and must deal with having ridiculous amounts of cash on hand that has to be secured.

It also inhibits investment in these companies.

It's insanity.

Freedom and personal liberty!!!!! Awesome.

Oh, here we go again. I hope you allow your pilots and surgeons that Liberty!

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Legalized pot harms the lower class the most...

Legalized pot is making America’s lower class poorer and less responsible
August 20, 2016 | Pot for the poor! That could be the new slogan of marijuana-legalization advocates.

In 1996, California became the first state to legalize the use of medical marijuana. There are now 25 states that permit the use of marijuana, including four as well as the District of Columbia that permit it for purely recreational use. Colorado and Washington were the first to pass those laws in 2012. At least five states have measures on the ballot this fall that would legalize recreational use. And that number is only likely to rise with an all-time high (no pun intended) of 58 percent of Americans (according to a Gallup poll last year) favoring legalization. The effects of these new laws have been immediate. One study, which collected data from 2011-12 and 2012-13 showed a 22 percent increase in monthly use in Colorado. The percentage of people there who used daily or almost daily also went up. So have marijuana-related driving fatalities. And so have incidents of children being hospitalized for accidentally ingesting edible marijuana products.

But legalization and our growing cultural acceptance of marijuana have disproportionately affected one group in particular: the lower class. A recent study by Steven Davenport of RAND and Jonathan Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon notes that “despite the popular stereotype of marijuana users as well-off and well-educated . . . they lag behind national averages” on both income and schooling. For instance, people who have a household income of less than $20,000 a year comprise 19 percent of the population but make up 28 percent of marijuana users. And even though those who earn more than $75,000 make up 33 percent of the population, 25 percent of them are marijuana users. Having more education also seems to make it less likely that you are a user. College graduates make up 27 percent of the population but only 19 percent of marijuana users.

The middle and upper classes have been the ones out there pushing for decriminalization and legalization measures, and they have also tried to demolish the cultural taboo against smoking pot. But they themselves have chosen not to partake very much. Which is not surprising. Middle-class men and women who have jobs and families know that this is not a habit they want to take up with any regularity because it will interfere with their ability to do their jobs and take care of their families. But the poor, who already have a hard time holding down jobs and taking care of their families, are more frequently using a drug that makes it harder for them to focus, to remember things and to behave responsibly. ‘ Legalization and our growing cultural acceptance of marijuana have disproportionately affected one group in particular: the lower class.’ The new study, which looked at use rates between 1992 and 2013, also found that the intensity of use had increased in this time. The proportion of users who smoke daily or near daily has increased from 1 in 9 to 1 in 3. As Davenport tells me, “This dispels the idea that the typical user is someone on weekends who has a casual habit.”

Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and lecturer at Yale, says “it is ironic that the people lobbying for liberalized marijuana access do not appear to be the group that is consuming the bulk of it.” Instead, it’s “daily and near-daily users, who are less educated, less affluent and less in control of their use.” In fact, the typical user is much more likely to be someone at the bottom of the socioeconomic ladder, whose daily life is driven, at least in part, by the question of how and where to get more marijuana. Just consider the cost. Almost a third of users are spending a tenth of their income on marijuana. And 15 percent of users spend nearly a quarter of their income to purchase the drug. The poor have not only become the heaviest users, but their use is making them poorer. To all the middle-class professionals out there reading this: Do you know anyone who spends a quarter of their income on pot? Of course not. But these are the people our policies and attitudes are affecting.

MORE

See also:

Pot smoke is worse for you than you thought
August 2, 2016 | Mellow music, chill vibes and an amazing array of snacks — even though stoners may be great company, they might be bad news for your health. And yes, that holds true even if you don’t inhale.

A new study from the University of California, San Francisco, found that just one minute of marijuana smoke impairs blood vessel function to the same extent as tobacco. However, the cardiovascular effects of pot smoke last three times longer. The study was performed on rats, which researchers say have arteries that function in a similar way to humans. When blood flow increases, arteries widen, a process known as flow-mediated dilation (FMD). While studies have previously been performed to determine the effects of second-hand tobacco smoke on FMD, this study was the first to study second-hand marijuana smoke in this way.

Both types of smoke compromise FMD, however, researchers discovered the effects can last up to 90 minutes after exposure in the case of marijuana smoke, while FMD returns to normal levels 30 minutes after tobacco smoke exposure. A reduced FMD increases the risk of heart attack, narrowing arteries and other heart issues.

While the harmful effects of secondhand tobacco smoke are well-documented, there is scant research on marijuana smoke due to its illicit nature, which requires approval from numerous federal agencies prior to experimentation. “At this point, we’re saying that inhaling any smoke is detrimental to your health,” says study author Matthew Springer, Ph.D., in statement. “I think that people should avoid inhaling smoke, whether it’s from tobacco or marijuana cigarettes, forest fires, barbecues — just avoid smoke. To be safe, it’s best to avoid Grateful Dead tribute bands, too.

http://nypost.com/2016/08/02/pot-smoke-is-worse-for-you-than-you-thought/

Putting them in prison instead of so much better for them

 

[Moonglow]

Why are none of the Presidential candidates offering to end the bizarre situation where MJ is illegal under Federal law, but legal in the states that choose to legalize it? Why not just leave it up to the states and get the Feds out of it?

The current situation causes some serious banking problems, as nationally affiliated banks are virtually prohibited from opening accounts for LEGAL MJ-related businesses, because they are still ILLEGAL under Federal law.' Thus, these businesses are forced to deal on a "cash only" basis, and must deal with having ridiculous amounts of cash on hand that has to be secured.

It also inhibits investment in these companies.

It's insanity.

Freedom and personal liberty!!!!! Awesome.

Oh, here we go again. I hope you allow your pilots and surgeons that Liberty!

There is a time a place for use....Not all the time and not every place..

 

[Preacher]

More to follow soon I hope!

Vermont Senate approves marijuana legalization 16-13

The Vermont Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill to legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by adults in the state. Approval came on a 16-13 roll call vote after about two hours of debate.

Whatever. Not my state,not even close to my state. I am 100% behind medical marijuana but not for allowing immature adults living in moms basement getting high for the hell of it.