M3, yea or nay?

[Achucker]

What gives you and the government the right to choose what's best for your fellow North Dakotans ? This mentality sooner or later will lead you to the short end of the stick . I don't really care what party you claim but I'll show you what it appears to be.

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Some of you Republicans need to stop acting like far left Democrats .

I like that. I guess I'm Republican. Your right we should all get rid of our laws and do what we think is best for ourselves.

Instead some guys a few years back come up with a system that the people get to elect officials that speak for them.(Although is being abused by those elected officials today). They debate and vote on what their constituents feel is the best for the greater good. Vote on what the majority wants and make laws.

This isn't about me telling you what to do. It's what I feel is better for the greater good of the people.

I also think that some far right Republicans need to come to the middle a bit.

 

[CatDaddy]

I like that. I guess I'm Republican. Your right we should all get rid of our laws and do what we think is best for ourselves.

Instead some guys a few years back come up with a system that the people get to elect officials that speak for them.(Although is being abused by those elected officials today). They debate and vote on what their constituents feel is the best for the greater good. Vote on what the majority wants and make laws. Then they drag their feet for two years, gut the law and make it unrecognizable, render the law ineffective for most, and eventually decide they better do something about it because another ballot initiative is forcing their hand.

This isn't about me telling you what to do. It's what I feel is better for the greater good of the people.

I also think that some far right Republicans need to come to the middle a bit.

Fixed it for you Chucker.

No one said get rid of all laws....however, you can't have a stance against over-regulation and be for personal choices, then pull the card of "we know what's best for all fellow North Dakotans" and decide for them.

 

[Lycanthrope]

https://bismarcktribune.com/news/st...5ec26996.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest

MINOT — Law enforcement and addiction professionals spoke out at a Minot news conference Friday against Measure 3, warning of what they say are dangers of recreational marijuana.

"This isn't about limiting liberties. It is really about protecting our quality of life," Kristie Spooner said, chairperson of Healthy & Productive North Dakota Against Measure 3. "North Dakotans would do well to step back and look at the experiences of other states – increased substance use, more impaired, drugged drivers on the roads, marketing of edibles to children and teens and thriving black markets. Is that what we want to see in North Dakota?"

"Growing large amounts, possessing large amounts and selling large amounts of marijuana is not something our state is ready for," Berthold Police Chief Al Schmidt said. He said overall drug trafficking would increase, as would crime and child abuse and neglect.


"North Dakota is one of the safest places to live, and it's always been something we could be proud of. That could change dramatically when narcotic traffickers and users flood to our state to purchase hundreds of pounds of marijuana. Our traffic fatalities would double. This is shown, because it happened in Colorado," he said, referring to one state that has legalized marijuana.

Burke County Sheriff Jeremy Grohs said passage of the measure will make the job of law enforcement officers difficult because it would conflict with federal drug laws that his department also must enforce.

It was noted at the news conference that use or possession of marijuana remains unlawful under federal law, which prohibits a user from owning a firearm. Providing false information on a firearm application is a felony.

Grohs added he has concerns about gang and drug activity.

"I strongly feel that we are going to end up having issues with the cartels and the large marijuana and drug industries," he said.

The bill's author, David Owen of Grand Forks, argued at a Measure 3 discussion in Minot Wednesday that the measure's liberal language discourages any incentive for large, out-of-state interests to come to North Dakota. He said the bill was written to encourage local growers and markets. He also discredited reports of increased traffic fatalities, stating studies reflected poor data or failed to account for other circumstances.

Ward County State's Attorney Roza Larson spoke about the measure's requirement to expunge records of marijuana arrests and convictions, stating there's no way to easily locate those records.

"We have a 30-day deadline to expunge all those records. It's already setting law enforcement agencies and local governments up to fail because we will not be able to meet that 30-day deadline," she said.

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She added fixing problems in the measure, if passed, before it becomes effective on Dec. 6, would require a special session. A special session in 2016 was estimated to cost $58,000, she said.

"Measure 3 makes our jobs more difficult," Minot licensed addiction counselor Bob Hayes said. "It will obligate the legislators and other branches of government, as well as employers, schools and business owners, to spend millions fixing the problems created by Measure 3 and its threats to public health and safety."

He cited federal statistics showing 4.2 million Americans, ages 12 or older, met the criteria for substance use disorder based on marijuana use.

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"During the time I have worked in the field, I have personally witnessed many individuals who have become addicted to the THC in marijuana and the shattered lives and broken families that have been left behind," Hayes said. "We don't have enough resources in North Dakota to meet the current demand from those suffering from substance abuse disorders, let alone now proposing the legalization of recreational marijuana."

Spooner, director of First Step Recovery Center in Fargo, said the THC component in marijuana used to be about 4 percent in the 1990s. Through genetic modification of the plant, it is now more than 21 percent, and extracts can be as high as 99 percent, she said.

"Not everyone that tries marijuana is going to become addicted, but we know that there's that certain percentage of folks that are – that 9 to 10 percent," she said. "If people start before age 18, that doubles to about 17 percent."

As perceived risk of marijuana goes down, use increases, she added.

"There's been a 65 percent increase in first-time users in Colorado," she said. "Just in September, a study came out that said we have 8,300 new marijuana users every day."

Addiction professionals participating in or attending the news conference said they are unaware of studies cited by proponents indicating that marijuana legalization reduces opioid use and can help with drug treatment.

Hayes said studies have been contradictory on marijuana, and the National Institutes of Health recently released an article saying there's nothing conclusive. However, he said, he's never read that use of one psycho-active drug discourages use of another psycho-active drug.

so many lies, hard to believe these people can talk with a straight face... 4% thc in the 90's, that's a knee slapper!

 

[Reprobait]

I remember a school assembly from jr High in the late 70's and they gave us the same line about how the weed was so much stronger just a few years before. They also told us the gov't was spraying paraquat on it.

 

[JayKay]

I would like to see someone go to recovery meetings like AA for MJ. You would get laughed out of the meeting. It’s hard to see nice people spread lies like I’m seeing on this thread.

As someone who's been to an AA meeting or three, I know they have a point of dealing with alcohol only. I forget the term, but they don't delve into other addictions. Gambling, food, drugs, etc. The term is something like division of purpose. I suppose it keeps the meetings smaller, so they're more focused.

However, in intake in addiction counseling, you'll see mj users. Granted, they're usually kids. Forced to be there by courts or parents. Older mj users, who are ONLY using mj are probably smart enough to stay off the radar of law enforcement etc. And of course, they don't have parents breathing down their neck.

However, a lot of the harder drug users DID graduate from mj, and likely went to mj from other even-less insidious drugs. Beers from the garage fridge. Cigs out of mom's purse, etc. Again, just a series of poor decisions.

To speak to your comment though, in several years of AA, I have never seen ANYONE laughed out of a meeting. Obviously, at least some people there are serious.

I see the points being made here though. I realize that if the medical marijuana had been handled correctly in the beginning, and if it were as available as other scrip drugs, we likely wouldn't be having this LONNNG conversation about recreational mj.

 

[Jigaman]

I would like to see someone go to recovery meetings like AA for MJ. You would get laughed out of the meeting. It’s hard to see nice people spread lies like I’m seeing on this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEberTUvrsE

 

[Lycanthrope]

As someone who's been to an AA meeting or three, I know they have a point of dealing with alcohol only. I forget the term, but they don't delve into other addictions. Gambling, food, drugs, etc. The term is something like division of purpose. I suppose it keeps the meetings smaller, so they're more focused.

However, in intake in addiction counseling, you'll see mj users. Granted, they're usually kids. Forced to be there by courts or parents. Older mj users, who are ONLY using mj are probably smart enough to stay off the radar of law enforcement etc. And of course, they don't have parents breathing down their neck.

However, a lot of the harder drug users DID graduate from mj, and likely went to mj from other even-less insidious drugs. Beers from the garage fridge. Cigs out of mom's purse, etc. Again, just a series of poor decisions.

To speak to your comment though, in several years of AA, I have never seen ANYONE laughed out of a meeting. Obviously, at least some people there are serious.

I see the points being made here though. I realize that if the medical marijuana had been handled correctly in the beginning, and if it were as available as other scrip drugs, we likely wouldn't be having this LONNNG conversation about recreational mj.

Ive been to a few AA meetings, not for me. Always amazes me how many ex-alcoholics are hardcore nicotine addicts. Its kinda hilarious actually... Seems to be totally accepted. Its unfortunate they focus so much on alcohol because alcohol isnt really their problem, its ADDICTION!

 

[Davey Crockett]

I only know of 3 people that were in AA , One I worked for in the oilfield when I was 18 years old and the most miserable person I have ever worked with , Another was a concrete contractor The way he treated his kid and another helper made me want to kick him in the nuts but the kids did the right thing and found a better job. Third one was my Dad , I'd seen how he was as a drunk and compared that to his sober life and what a difference. This is just a FWIW but those that claim pot is just another form of stress relief that is as bad as if not worse than booze I just can't see it .

 

[701FishSlayer]

Anybody see Mexico is the new Canada? Happened yesterday. Full recreational. Funny a guy don't see the local news stations letting that one out of the bag.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Its been eye opening to me to see the extent that local media stations are controlled/influenced by elected officials and $$$. I didnt know before that most letters to the editor are just paid advertisements... Unfortunate! If M3 passes after all the lies and dirty tactics that the anti's groups engaged in, it would have passed by a HUGE margin on its own merit!

 

[Obi-Wan]

 

[CatDaddy]

Its been eye opening to me to see the extent that local media stations are controlled/influenced by elected officials and $$$. I didnt know before that most letters to the editor are just paid advertisements... Unfortunate! If M3 passes after all the lies and dirty tactics that the anti's groups engaged in, it would have passed by a HUGE margin on its own merit!

I heard a radio ad today stating that MJ THC levels have increased, and I quote, "20 fold" since the 1970's. Then says that MJ in the '70's had a THC level of 5%. Sooooooo.......they are claiming that MJ now has a THC level of 100%? The highest concentrations of medical are 25%. Fake news.

 

[Achucker]

https://science.howstuffworks.com/marijuana5.htm

 

[BDub]

From what I have been reading early voting has been extraordinary. You can bet if 3 goes down it will come back. Supporters now know the opposition tactics. Anyway it’s going that people are voting.

 

[espringers]

Extraordinary in what way?

 

[BDub]

Heavy early voting.

 

[1bigfokker]

http://www.jamestownsun.com/letters/4521967-opponents-measure-3-need-get-their-facts-straight

 

[westwolfone]

I heard on the news last night that if M3 is defeated one of the state lawmakers has a bill ready to introduce that will decriminalize small amounts for adults and make it legal to possess/use in your own home.

I didn't get all the details, but it sounded reasonable.

 

[Lycanthrope]

I heard on the news last night that if M3 is defeated one of the state lawmakers has a bill ready to introduce that will decriminalize small amounts for adults and make it legal to possess/use in your own home.

I didn't get all the details, but it sounded reasonable.

This is absolute BS, an attempt to pull people away from M3 by promising something more palatable to some voters if it fails. Becker tried previously to decrim MJ and it failed miserably. They decide to do this, using a rookie legislator who has no actual clout, 1 week before the vote on M3? Even a blind person should be able to see what they are doing... Last I heard they wanted to decrim 1oz of weed and up to 6 plants? Well say on average you get 3oz of bud from a single plant, so if you were to grow 6 plants, youd have 18oz of weed, enough to send you to prison for not a short stay. They just want to keep the black market alive, a lot of people in ND depend on it for their bread and butter...

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I heard a radio ad today stating that MJ THC levels have increased, and I quote, "20 fold" since the 1970's. Then says that MJ in the '70's had a THC level of 5%. Sooooooo.......they are claiming that MJ now has a THC level of 100%? The highest concentrations of medical are 25%. Fake news.

Highest natural THC % I think are around 30%. The higher percentages are extracts and achieved via distillation they can get over 99% pure, they are comparing apples to oranges. Luckily THC is less harmful than the smoke produced when burning the plant, so theres a case to be made for modern weed being better for you, especially if you are smoking it.

 

[Obi-Wan]

FYI
I Just completed a call to WSI to see if they would have any new policy changes if #3 passes and they said they are not implementing anything new. If you are in a work accident and test positive for THC you most likely be denied benefits, her comment was" impaired is impaired" when I asked if there was a limit. Now she did say with a medical card 15 nanograms is the impaired threshold, I have no clue as to how much it takes to get to 15 nanograms and the time it takes to dissipate.