Comments on: Democrats' Evolution On Marijuana Policy http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/04/17/democrats-evolution-on-marijuana-policy/ Reality-based political commentary Wed, 20 May 2026 00:37:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Chris Weigant http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/04/17/democrats-evolution-on-marijuana-policy/#comment-47709 Chris Weigant Sat, 19 Apr 2014 04:01:58 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=8962#comment-47709 Bleyd - That's an interesting idea. You're right, eventually it's going to have to become a political slogan before it actually happens in DC. And probably an election cycle or two, to boot. Paula - So far, we've got two different laws. Don't quote me (don't live in either state), but I think CO allows for a certain number of plants homegrown, but maybe WA doesn't. It's one or the other, as I recall, but not both. My guess is that even in states where it is illegal, it'll happen but maybe not as much as you think. I mean, I would peg it (say, five years after legalization -- after the novelty wears off) at about the same percentage of people who make their own beer. They are indeed out there, but for most folks it's just too much hassle. That's just a gut feeling, though, I'm not basing that on much of anything. -CW Bleyd -

That's an interesting idea. You're right, eventually it's going to have to become a political slogan before it actually happens in DC. And probably an election cycle or two, to boot.

Paula -

So far, we've got two different laws. Don't quote me (don't live in either state), but I think CO allows for a certain number of plants homegrown, but maybe WA doesn't. It's one or the other, as I recall, but not both. My guess is that even in states where it is illegal, it'll happen but maybe not as much as you think. I mean, I would peg it (say, five years after legalization -- after the novelty wears off) at about the same percentage of people who make their own beer. They are indeed out there, but for most folks it's just too much hassle. That's just a gut feeling, though, I'm not basing that on much of anything.

-CW

]]> By: Paula http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/04/17/democrats-evolution-on-marijuana-policy/#comment-47693 Paula Fri, 18 Apr 2014 20:48:23 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=8962#comment-47693 I'm not a pot smoker so I don't have a personal dog in this fight, but I absolutely agree it should be legal, decriminalized, etc. My question is: what about people's ability to grow their own? Where are the laws going on that? When you discuss regulating and taxing -- how does that impact someone's right to grow their own weed for their personal use? It seems to me that people should be able to do that. I suppose you could limit them to growing their own and not being able to sell it (without taxing and regulating), but I find it disturbing that people should HAVE to buy from someone else instead of being able to grow it for themselves if they want to do so. I'm not a pot smoker so I don't have a personal dog in this fight, but I absolutely agree it should be legal, decriminalized, etc. My question is: what about people's ability to grow their own? Where are the laws going on that? When you discuss regulating and taxing -- how does that impact someone's right to grow their own weed for their personal use? It seems to me that people should be able to do that. I suppose you could limit them to growing their own and not being able to sell it (without taxing and regulating), but I find it disturbing that people should HAVE to buy from someone else instead of being able to grow it for themselves if they want to do so.

]]> By: Bleyd http://www.chrisweigant.com/2014/04/17/democrats-evolution-on-marijuana-policy/#comment-47685 Bleyd Fri, 18 Apr 2014 15:10:19 +0000 http://www.chrisweigant.com/?p=8962#comment-47685 I think an ideal starting point would be "Reschedule and Reduce", as in reschedule marijuana to at least schedule 2 and probably schedule 3, and significantly reduce penalties for possession. Alliteration is usually catchy, so it could work nicely as a slogan or soundbite. It would be a decent stepping stone towards eventually deferring to state and county laws, just like is done with alcohol and tobacco, but without necessarily going so far that it completely alienates voters who haven't fully evolved on the issue. I think an ideal starting point would be "Reschedule and Reduce", as in reschedule marijuana to at least schedule 2 and probably schedule 3, and significantly reduce penalties for possession. Alliteration is usually catchy, so it could work nicely as a slogan or soundbite. It would be a decent stepping stone towards eventually deferring to state and county laws, just like is done with alcohol and tobacco, but without necessarily going so far that it completely alienates voters who haven't fully evolved on the issue.

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