I recently read some articles that said the government of Amsterdam was cracking down on weed cafes and trying to change the laws...

Michale.....

Here's a slogan: "the states should be laboratories of democracy!"

I agree -- let's let CA give it a try. The War On (some) Drugs seems to me to be the ultimate example of the hoary old "trying something over and over and expecting different results is one definition of insanity" if ever there was one.

After all, most of the horrible worst-case scenarios predicted by the opposition to medical marijuana just haven't come to pass. So maybe, just maybe, if Prop. 10 passes in CA, it won't be as bad as the opponents make it out to be.

But then, I've been to Amsterdam, and know that it can indeed work, so maybe I'm biased.

-CW

Oh, I have plenty of idea of the effects. Just not from personal experience.. :D

As I said, I am "all over this"...

I think it sets a very bad precedent.

"Hay, let's legalize armed robbery. It's just too darn hard to enforce."

But, as I said above, let's try this experiment and see if easing drug laws because they are too hard to enforce is the answer..

YES ON PROP 19!!!! :D

I am also curious as to the national republican response will be. This issue being classic states rights should be defended by the Republicans except for the strong desire to legislate everyone in to a narrow concept of morality.

It will be interesting to see the GOP response.. Which will win out??

State Rights??

Or the natural conservative tendency to want to punish law breakers...

Michale.....

You really have no idea of the effects of marijuana do you? I've seen many, many more people act like buffoons after several beers than after getting stoned...

I would think you would be all over this. A certain amount Mexican cartel smuggling is marijuana and should prop 19 pass it will reduce total smuggling, county wide. Why try to smuggle over a guarded border when you can buy in California and drive it across unguarded state borders? Which in your parley means less of a vector for terrorists to come in to the country from the southern border.

It won't stop cartels completely as cocaine and heroin still make money. I am curious as to whether hard drug use rates will drop as they have in Holland.

Once marijuana starts crossing state borders but legally purchased in California will the Interstate commerce clause of the constitution come in to play?

I am also curious as to the national republican response will be. This issue being classic states rights should be defended by the Republicans except for the strong desire to legislate everyone in to a narrow concept of morality.

Yer welcome. :D

But, I have to say. As I was reading this commentary, I found myself thinking, "Ya know, why NOT let California be the guinea pig in all of this."

Let's let California try this grand experiment and see what happens. Will we have a California that is free from drug violence and populated with responsible adults who use their new toy responsibly??

Or will we have a California who suffers MORE drug violence when Cartels add ANOTHER target to their litany and where Californians are nothing more than drug-addled buffoons who won't be able to even remember their own names...

When you make marijuana as acceptable as cigarettes and beer how long do you think it will be until California's kids' lives are ruined by marijuana?

So support Prop 19, I say. Let's see how legalization will work in real life, rather than in theory.

I'll be happy to admit I am wrong..

IF I am wrong...

Michale.....