Hot Topic (12/19): Should marijuana be legalized and taxed?
Marijuana should be legalized and taxed, says Mayor-Elect McGinn
Mayor-elect Mike McGinn's "open-source" transition encourages the public to tell him their top ideas for Seattle, and so far two ideas have shot to the top, garnering the most votes on his web site: "Expand as much light rail and subway as possible" stands far and above at No. 1. Lagging behind at No. 2, "legalize marijuana and tax it."
McGinn is in favor of both. Speaking on the public radio station KUOW today, he said that within two years, his administration will put together a proposal for expanding light rail to present to voters. And he said he supports a state bill to legalize pot for people over age 21. House bill 2401 was pre-filed last week by six House Democrats: Mary Lou Dickerson and Scott White of Seattle, Roger Goodman of Kirkland, David Upthegrove of Des Moines, Mary Helen Roberts of Lynnwood, and Sherry Appleton of Poulsbo.
"I think the public sees that it’s just not a sensible set of laws," McGinn said of current pot laws. Marijuana should be "regulated," not considered criminal activity.
“I actually took this position during the campaign and nobody noticed,” he added.
The Stranger's online Electionland section four months ago asked McGinn during the primary: "Do you favor the Legalization and Taxation of cannabis?"
Today, he stood by his reply to that query: "Yes. If every politician who ever smoked pot supported this it would happen in a heartbeat. I would support efforts at the state and federal level to decriminalize marijuana."
What are the odds the state pot bill will pass? "If only they wanted to tax it enough to solve the budget shortfall, it might have a chance," opined Peter Callaghan of The News Tribune.
* * *
Are you in favor of the legalization and taxation of marijuana?
What about other illegal substances?
Do you think marijuana is a "gateway" drug which will lead to the use of other "hard" drugs?
Are you in favor of the legalization and taxation of marijuana?
Yes. But will they do to it the way they did tobacco? That is lace it with crazy deadly chemicals to make it keep burning instead of going out.
What about other illegal substances?
For hospital use only.
Do you think marijuana is a "gateway" drug which will lead to the use of other "hard" drugs?
No more than wine.
On a side note: It will never be legal in any country, (maybe tolerated more in some places) because it destroys mutated cells. (Read between the lines on that one.)
Hell to the yeah.
Just like alcohol or tobacco. And leave the pot alone. It's fine just the way it is.
"I'll fight for a person's right to speak so long as that person will, in return, fight to allow me to challenge their opinions and ridicule them as the content of their ideas merit."
Are you in favor of the legalization and taxation of marijuana?
No.
What about other illegal substances?
No, and alcohol and tobacco should be illegal as well.
Do you think marijuana is a "gateway" drug which will lead to the use of other "hard" drugs?
Yes.
Non-biased proof of your last assertion, please. I think you're smart enough to realize that it is an emotionally-based opinion that is BASELESS in fact.
Quoting IhartU:
Are you in favor of the legalization and taxation of marijuana?
No.
What about other illegal substances?
No, and alcohol and tobacco should be illegal as well.
Do you think marijuana is a "gateway" drug which will lead to the use of other "hard" drugs?
Yes.
I'm a Darwinist. If someone wants to put lethal, dangerous substances in her body to the point of overdose, who am I to tell her no?
In all seriousness, yes mj should be legalized and with about as much regulation as homegrown tomatoes. It is absurd that there is anything otherwise.
This War on Drugs is a money pit that has benefitted few and cost the rest of us plenty. How many of us here know of a least one person who has spent time in rehab, jail, or paying a lawyer to avoid them as a result of getting caught with some weed? Again, absurd.
Yes. I think it should be legal (or make alcohol just as illegal).
I don't think it's a "gateway" drug. If so, I missed THAT bus. I'm 51, and smoke it.....I've been smoking it since i was 15. I haven't tried other illegal drugs.
Exactly. I have been a daily smoker for 21 years now and don't even drink alcohol let alone harder drugs.
Quoting EireLass:
Yes. I think it should be legal (or make alcohol just as illegal).
I don't think it's a "gateway" drug. If so, I missed THAT bus. I'm 51, and smoke it.....I've been smoking it since i was 15. I haven't tried other illegal drugs.
Yes it should.
No hard drugs I believe are totally different and more destructive than MJ
No I don't think it is anymore than, alcohol, cigarettes or anything "legal" anyone can get their hands on.
If a person is looking to get a "high" on something....they are going to get high on something...this gateway thing is a farce. Geez when I was a teen I would get "high" off of No-Doz...or prescription pills if I could get my hands on some....
Gateway Drug = FARCE FARCE FARCE
If a person is going to do something - THEY ARE GOING TO DO IT...MJ isn't some magical substance that make a person then try other stuff. *rolls eyeballs*
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