GCASA director suggests marijuana should be legalized

Well-get the bill to congress and we could always buy the votes to make It pass(ya know-well your state will be the only supplier of Topeka gold or your state gets all the new contracts for rolling papers. "Dave Markham 4 weeders of America" "This really amuses me on a miserable winters day" guess It's more entertaining than a pic of a fire hydrant

Although that story is very sad and certainly newsworthy, this site generally covers Genesee County. I was actually quite surprised to see Mr. Markham's views on legalizing marijuana - a view that many on this site agree with. However, raising the drinking age to 35 is just silly. Never gonna happen.

One of the problems with our country. Marijuana, pot, grass, should have been legalized decades ago. From Refer Madness to Up in Smoke, pot has always been seen as a gateway or a drug that makes you go insane. Lets fast forward. Crack cocaine, crystal meth. have both proved marijuana should be legalized. Their have been more crimes with these two drugs and more violence than marijuana has ever produce. How about Oxy-Contin, or the many subscription drugs that have ruined The United States. Ask, Judy Garland, Jimi Hendrix, Anna Nicole Smith or Michael Jackson. Today's politicians are living in a fairy tale world, blaming marijuana for the problems of today's social ills. Lets not forget demon alcohol. Blamed for many more deaths than marijuana, plus its legal for anyone over twenty one years old. Older politicians are one thing, any politician, who graduated High School when Late President Regan became President, need to sit down, hold town hall meetings, ask constituents, what type of bill and tax, can they come up with, to get this mindless and ridiculous issue to rest,and move.

I knew it! Mindy Jones is really Jerome Grasso! lol :)

I don't smoke marijuana specifically because it's illegal. If it was legal, I would probably have some once in awhile, much as I have a drink once in awhile. I'd feel pretty stupid having to explain to the judge why a 50 year old man feels smoking reefer is so important he'd risk getting busted, about as stupid as I'd feel getting a DWI. When I was young, I didn't care as much and didn't have as much to lose. I agree it should be legal, and people who treat it irresponsibly should be dealt with the same way irresponsible alcohol users are. You're always going to have people with addictions and substance abuse issues, legalizing marijuana isn't going to change that in any way.

Dave, that's the most ridiculous thing I've heard you say. "You would if it were legal but you don't because it isn't." Huh? If you don't smoke it now, why would you if it became legalized? It makes no sense at all. I've had morphine in the hospital for kidney stones and know perfectly well why people with no self control get hooked on heroin. It was probably the best buzz I've ever had and I enjoyed the crap out of it but would I do it if it ever became legal? The answer: "No". I could do it now if I wanted to even though it's illegal so why would I if it became legal? It's already a choice. Like Howard said, he wouldn't smoke marijuana even if it became legal. He's already made his choice and I doubt the law had anything to do with it. Howard realizes that the choice is already there for everyone to make and people will do what they will regardless of the law so lets stop making people into criminals. Take responsibility for yourself. If you're going to use marijuana, do it responsibly. Medicinal benefits aren't just for pain relief, nausea relief or for appetite stimulation. It's also medicinally used the same way as prescription medications are for anxiety or sleep disorders. Like any other medication or even alcohol, abuse should not be the goal. Just because you enjoy something occasionally doesn't mean you're abusing it. Dave says he has a drink once in a while which is fine. I have a beer just about every day. One or two consumed over a period of hours and I enjoy it immensely. I simply can't see marijuana being any different for those who choose to smoke it. The police have bigger fish to fry than to worry about catching people with marijuana. If you could grow your own, you wouldn't need to buy it from some dealer. The black market value would disappear the same way that it did for alcohol when prohibition was repealed.

It's not ridiculous, Doug, it happens to be the way I feel about it. It must get boring for you to always be the smartest guy in the room. I agree with you though let's stop making criminals out of people over this. I smoked a boatload of marijuana in my 20's, I enjoyed it. I think I'd still enjoy it now. I stopped because as I grew older, started a career, raised a family, bought a house etc etc, I didn't see getting busted or fired from a job as worth the risk. I think I am taking responsibility for myself, and although I don't agree with the law, I'm still not willing to pay the penalty for breaking it.

OK, I'm tired of this issue anyway, as are most people

Dave Olsen's personal choice to live by the law is not so unusual. Despite the existence of detox kits and home remedies for beating drug tests, the threat of losing one's livelihood over a positive-test is a deterent. I know pot smokers who have given their paychecks higher priority than weed. On the other hand, most companies only test new hires and screw-ups. Typically, indulgers get clean for the initial test and revert after they are hired. There are potheads and partyers and occasional users- no different from drinkers. Some folks can't get out of bed without a bong hit, then there are weekend bingers, and those who smoke on rare occasions. Where one fits on the use-scale depends on one's circle of friends and addictive-personality ranking. The use-scale also determines whether one can opt-out when a job or personal issue competes. The wildcards are those who mix recreational drugs with politics, the Hunter S. Thompson-types whose dope-smoking translates as a proclamation of libertine values. Bob Marley and Jerry Garcia are dead. High Times magazine's subscriber-numbers have dropped from 213,000 to 150,000. The 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health reports 14.1 million Americans smoke pot at least once a month. A 1969 Gallup Poll estimated that 10,000,000 had smoked marijuana. According to NORML, 786,545 Americans were arrested for marijuana violations in 2005- 88% of whom were prosecuted on possession without intent to sell. NORML also noted that the arrest figures for 2005 represent an increase of 200% over 1990 figures. A 2009 Angus Reid poll indicates 53% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana.