Republican Gov of MA and democratic Mayor of Boston

Willie99 · Nov 2, 2016

are out campaigning against the legalization of marijuana, it's on the ballot for next Tuesday, and MA is a socially liberal state

I support the legalization of pot and cocaine for the following reasons (not in any particular order)

1) mitigate health concerns for users who often suffer from bad dope
2) mitigate violent crime associated with illegal drugs
3) empty our jail cells
4) free up our judicial system
5) source of revenue for governments

Prohibition didn't work, the war on drugs is an epic failure, it's time to try a different path

I'm posting this to emphasize how anti-drug laws (as well as gambling laws) are a bipartisan effort

BostonBettor · Nov 2, 2016

Yeah I've been pretty dismayed but not surprised by Mayor Marty and Baker not facing up to reality. Part of the problem is they see weed as a gateway drug, which imo is just b.s. Also they bring up "we have to keep the children safe" argument. You are right on - prohibition didn't work, and neither does the war on drugs. Going to be a close vote, but even if it passes Charlie and Marty will drag their feet when it comes to retail sales.

REDEYE · Nov 2, 2016

makes to much sense to legalize it .. probably why there is so much resistance to it..we have to many stupid people in this country , and to many agendas tied into it also

PatsFan1283 · Nov 2, 2016

Baker is a savvy guy, has the highest approval rating of any Governor in the country.

My guess is his people have done the math and he realizes that opposing this is what his core constituency of suburban moderate/conservative voters want at a time when drug related issues involving oxy/heroin are becoming more and more prevalent. Sure weed to that stuff is apples to oranges but when there are issues with 1 type of drug, it definitely doesn't help the legalization/liberalization of another type in the minds of many voters.

Willie99 · Nov 2, 2016

I never heard MA voters described as "moderate/conservative"

just saying

PatsFan1283 · Nov 2, 2016

Willie99 said:
I never heard MA voters described as "moderate/conservative"

just saying

There are obviously some. MA has had a lot of Republican governors.

I'm not just limiting it to that voting bloc though. People in general who don't smoke weed recreationally sometimes tend to lump all drugs in together. I think with all the oxy/H stuff going around people are just leery of any liberalization now.

But who knows, maybe it passes.

Another thing is Baker probably knows if it passes then that is just another issue he has to deal with and it could be used against him in 2020 if the results aren't great.

Willie99 · Nov 2, 2016

I jest, I'm a deplorable that resides in ultra blue Connecticut, hence I appreciate misguided generalizations

PatsFan1283 · Nov 2, 2016

I actually saw a poll from Harvard. I dunno how accurate it was, but it said whites overwhelming supported the weed while blacks/hispanics were more split.

That surprised me. I know hispanics are very culturally/socially conservative but blacks love the weed. Maybe they're just skeptical of any type of legalization of vices since that tends to hurt those on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale more similar to cigs, lotto, scratch offs, etc

http://iop.harvard.edu/survey/details/political-issue-marijuana

edit: guess the poll is only 18-29 y/o bloc.

barman · Nov 2, 2016

At the national level, the Prohibition industry is upwards of a quarter of a T-rillion dollars annually, with 40% or more being federal government dollars being directed to state/county/city law enforcement agencies.

Legalizing just marijuana at the national level effectively ends the arrest of approximately 700,000 Americans annually. Each arrest triggers federal,dollars to the arresting agency.

And since more Americans are arrested annually for marijuana possession than for all violent crimes combined , legalization would - in a bit of an inverse consequence - result in a 15-20% reduction in employment for the criminal justice system nationwide

ML Dog · Nov 2, 2016

PatsFan1283 said:
I actually saw a poll from Harvard. I dunno how accurate it was, but it said whites overwhelming supported the weed while blacks/hispanics were more split.

That surprised me. I know hispanics are very culturally/socially conservative but blacks love the weed. Maybe they're just skeptical of any type of legalization of vices since that tends to hurt those on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale more similar to cigs, lotto, scratch offs, etc

http://iop.harvard.edu/survey/details/political-issue-marijuana

edit: guess the poll is only 18-29 y/o bloc.

Seems obvious to me that this poll question when asked of a Black would be equal to:

"Would you Vote YES to close a Black Operated business in your neighborhood and transfer that to The (White) Man?"

Whether they do weed or not, 18-29, many questioned live or have grown up in areas where weed sales were common.

Hell No they're not going to Vote to strip their 'hoods of that business so that can be given over to The Man.

Yeah, like you said too: Those who use weed would fear having to pay more but going deep:

Some Blacks questioned conditioned to answer a question about Drugs with a response that is not gonna implicate them?

I mean: Ya don't tell The Man (or anyone you do not know) anything. You just don't volunteer info like that. Street Code plus:

Why would you?

If accurate, that would explain some "Don't Support" Votes.

Mostly I think it'd be the "Ours vs. Theirs" deal though.

Troubling post from barman bcuz I've always wondered why Cops/Courts/Government would want to actually Prevent Crime when to do so effectively would cost many of them their jobs. Very -EV for these to do their jobs effectively. If they did then less people Jailed and we know what a MASSIVE industry locking people up is, in this country.

I believe we are the worldwide leader, in jailing people.

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