Should ND legalize Marijuana

[Greenhorn]

 

[Greenhorn]

There is obviously some tax revenue, but also consider all the saved expense when it comes to law enforcement and the criminal justice system? Theres a reason that prison guard unions have been vocally against it... Also consider all the harm that is done to individuals by making them lifelong criminals, and often even felons, for simply using the wrong substance for recreational purposes. That harms our society overall by forcing people out of more productive life paths and into the meat grinder of our penal system.

To your first point, does the tax revenue exceed the increased expenses for its negative effects? I don’t believe this is the case in states that have legalized it, but feel free to correct. Do we have any evidence from the dozens of states that have legalized it showing that it has had net positive effects?
And to your second point, is this still the reality? Are significant amounts of tax-payer money going towards marijuana enforcement?

 

[Lycanthrope]

To your first point, does the tax revenue exceed the increased expenses for its negative effects? I don’t believe this is the case in states that have legalized it, but feel free to correct. Do we have any evidence from the dozens of states that have legalized it showing that it has had net positive effects?
And to your second point, is this still the reality? Are significant amounts of tax-payer money going towards marijuana enforcement?

good questions, another thing that needs to be considered is if we should criminalize all things that arent good for people... if so there are a lot of food products that would be illegal, along with a mess of other stuff like gambling, porn, being lazy. Even if its not a net positive for society, if you truly believe in what I think are the core principles of our society, destroying people for a relatively harmless plant is something I find morally/ethically deplorable.

 

[Obi-Wan]

the best way to keep homeless out of ND is to give homeless people less benefits if they are here. This means shelter, food, etc. What happens when you feed stray cats?

This doesnt mean we cant help people who end up in bad circumstances. If you are a ND resident, give TEMPORARY benefits, like housing and food. If a non ND resident shows up here asking for free stuff, the only free thing they should be given is a one way bus ticket to the nearest liberal state.

Didn't the city of Bismarck give homeless people bus tickets out of the state 20-30 yrs ago ? If I recall correctly they gave a few bus tickets to Denver

 

[Lycanthrope]

Didn't the city of Bismarck give homeless people bus tickets out of the state 20-30 yrs ago ? If I recall correctly they gave a few bus tickets to Denver

not sure, but I would support it!

 

[johnr]

good questions, another thing that needs to be considered is if we should criminalize all things that arent good for people... if so there are a lot of food products that would be illegal, along with a mess of other stuff like gambling, porn, being lazy. Even if its not a net positive for society, if you truly believe in what I think are the core principles of our society, destroying people for a relatively harmless plant is something I find morally/ethically deplorable.

Being fat is not a danger to the general population, nor is blowing all your cash gambling, being a whore is just whoring. Getting all smoked up and voting is no good.

 

[Walleye Slayer]

I like all of the back and forth. I am on the fence for Recreational legalization. One argument shifts me one way the next shifts me the other. I don't know where the balance is for myself, yet.

Medical MJ in SD is legal. Which I think it should be.
There is a place for it medicinally, I believe. No one will change my mind on this. So please don't argue it with me cause I will just ignore you.

Let me preface this with a stoner is a stoner, Period. No laws will change this. These people will be what they are regardless.

Legal or not there will always be a black market.

Recreational to me means occasional use, like once a week. More than this to me means Stoner.

There are a lot of caveats to the thing as a whole. Where is the line of legal or illegal depending on scenario if it is legalized?

One thing I do believe is that even if legalized it should not be legal to be smoked in a public space. If you want to do edibles so be it but no smoking in public. It affects to many other people. Just like cigarettes. I absolutely deplore cigarette smoking I cant stand it.

Am I glad smoking was removed from bars and restaurants, Yes. Did I vote for this, No. I still think it is govt overreach to force a privately owned business to do this. It should be the establishments choice. If a bar said it was smoke free, that's the one I would visit regularly, not one that wasn't. OOPS different soap box.

 

[Walleye Slayer]

We are battling this same question in SD

 

[Lycanthrope]

Being fat is not a danger to the general population

Obesity is a grave public health threat in the United States, posing significant challenges to individuals and the nation as a whole. It is linked to numerous chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. The health implications are profound, with obesity accounting for 18 percent of deaths among Americans ages 40 to 85, according to a 2013 study challenging the prevailing view that obesity is not a leading cause of premature death. The magnitude of the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is staggering. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 42.4% of U.S. adults had obesity in 2017-2018. This number has been steadily increasing over the past decades. The trend is alarming, with projections indicating that the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. will continue to rise. By 2030, it is estimated that nearly half of U.S. adults will have obesity. The economic burden of obesity is also substantial. The annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was estimated to be $147 billion in 2008. The medical costs for people who have obesity were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight. These costs are expected to increase as the prevalence of obesity continues to rise. Obesity also poses a significant threat to national security. The U.S. military has expressed concern that the increasing prevalence of obesity among potential recruits could undermine the nation's ability to defend itself. A report by Mission: Readiness, a group of retired senior military leaders, warned that obesity rates threaten military readiness and national security. The report found that 71% of young Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 are ineligible for military service, with obesity being one of the leading disqualifying factors. Furthermore, obesity has been linked to decreased productivity and increased absenteeism in the workplace. Obese workers are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions, resulting in more days off work and reduced productivity. This has significant economic implications, with the total cost of lost productivity due to obesity in the U.S. estimated to be $8.65 billion annually. The social implications of obesity are also noteworthy. The condition is often stigmatized, leading to discrimination and social isolation. This can have a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of individuals with obesity. Moreover, the prevalence of obesity is higher among certain racial and ethnic minority groups, exacerbating health disparities. In conclusion, obesity poses a significant threat to the United States. It has far-reaching implications for public health, the economy, national security, and social well-being. Addressing this epidemic will require a comprehensive approach, involving changes in policy, environment, and individual behavior.

 

[jdinny]

For the record I guess I don’t care one way or another however. Like all stats there’s some misleading shit I’m gonna assume the CDC is using BMI as the obesity standard and that simply is a dog shit way and number to go off plenty of generally athletically built people who will be “ obese” by BMI standards as it doesn’t tak into consideration muscle mass. I’d be willing to bet Danielle hunter, JJ watt and the likes are “ all obese “ according to their BMI with that being said America is fatter than fkn shit and would rather take a pill or jab than live a healthy lifestyle

 

[johnr]

Obesity is a grave public health threat in the United States, posing significant challenges to individuals and the nation as a whole. It is linked to numerous chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and certain types of cancer. The health implications are profound, with obesity accounting for 18 percent of deaths among Americans ages 40 to 85, according to a 2013 study challenging the prevailing view that obesity is not a leading cause of premature death. The magnitude of the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is staggering. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 42.4% of U.S. adults had obesity in 2017-2018. This number has been steadily increasing over the past decades. The trend is alarming, with projections indicating that the prevalence of obesity in the U.S. will continue to rise. By 2030, it is estimated that nearly half of U.S. adults will have obesity. The economic burden of obesity is also substantial. The annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was estimated to be $147 billion in 2008. The medical costs for people who have obesity were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight. These costs are expected to increase as the prevalence of obesity continues to rise. Obesity also poses a significant threat to national security. The U.S. military has expressed concern that the increasing prevalence of obesity among potential recruits could undermine the nation's ability to defend itself. A report by Mission: Readiness, a group of retired senior military leaders, warned that obesity rates threaten military readiness and national security. The report found that 71% of young Americans between the ages of 17 and 24 are ineligible for military service, with obesity being one of the leading disqualifying factors. Furthermore, obesity has been linked to decreased productivity and increased absenteeism in the workplace. Obese workers are more likely to suffer from chronic health conditions, resulting in more days off work and reduced productivity. This has significant economic implications, with the total cost of lost productivity due to obesity in the U.S. estimated to be $8.65 billion annually. The social implications of obesity are also noteworthy. The condition is often stigmatized, leading to discrimination and social isolation. This can have a profound impact on the mental health and well-being of individuals with obesity. Moreover, the prevalence of obesity is higher among certain racial and ethnic minority groups, exacerbating health disparities. In conclusion, obesity poses a significant threat to the United States. It has far-reaching implications for public health, the economy, national security, and social well-being. Addressing this epidemic will require a comprehensive approach, involving changes in policy, environment, and individual behavior.

This effects the lard ass, not you, or any other dude walking around America. Our health insurance rates should be rated, just like car insurance, if you are a fat bastard you pay more, being you will use more. Obamacare effed this up. Life insurance rates are health based, as should all insurance, credit scores are used in insurance too, as a person with poor credit is a higher risk.

But the huge bitch across the street poses no danger to me, unless I was for some reason under a chair she was sprawled out on

 

[Jiffy]

Long boring story short....

I went in for a physical for insurance reasons about 10 years ago. This was back when I was running 50-60ish miles a week and racing marathons and half marathons at a fairly high level for an old white guy.

I'm 5' 8" and at the time I weighed in at a whopping 140 lbs. I still remember the nurse telling me "congratulations, you are right where you should be for your height and weight."

What?!?! I weigh 140 stinking pounds, run 60 miles a week and eat crap I absolutely DON'T want to for every single meal and you're telling me I'm right where is should be? WTF?!?

Their standards aren't realistic. To put it mildly.

 

[Shockwave]

Am I glad smoking was removed from bars and restaurants, Yes. Did I vote for this, No. I still think it is govt overreach to force a privately owned business to do this. It should be the establishments choice. If a bar said it was smoke free, that's the one I would visit regularly, not one that wasn't. OOPS different soap box.

I agree with this 100%. When this passed, I was a smoker and it absolutely pissed me off. I no longer smoke and cannot stand the smell of cigarette smoke so it is nice going to establishments and not having to deal with it. However, I still strongly believe that the choice should be left up to the owner, and people have the choice to visit those establishments or not.

 

[Skeeter]

This effects the lard ass, not you, or any other dude walking around America. Our health insurance rates should be rated, just like car insurance, if you are a fat bastard you pay more, being you will use more. Obamacare effed this up. Life insurance rates are health based, as should all insurance, credit scores are used in insurance too, as a person with poor credit is a higher risk.

But the huge bitch across the street poses no danger to me, unless I was for some reason under a chair she was sprawled out on

Now don’t be knocking on fat bottom girls, they make the world go round

 

[701FishSlayer]

It's all fun and games til the whores come in.

 

[Fester]

I fucking hate the smell. Vegas last trip was nothing but a haze of that shit, couldn't get away from it, at all.
My kids are all adults now, but agree, lets not make it easier for them to become stoners.

Lol ND is farthest from the Vegas strip..we can't even gamble..thanks ART

 

[lunkerslayer]

https://blog.signature-products.com/uses-of-hemp/
25000+
And the possibility of the chemical substances like thc and canoids are really unknown. I know this pisses of the liberal hippy tree huggers something fierce but the reality is no matter if it's legal or not some people will never try it in its natural form. So someone is going to produce products that will be appeasing to those who won't. And that's the way capitalism works and I am going to try to tap into that corner of the market because when the government does drop mj from a schedule 1 to 3 will increase the demand 10 fold. Well atleast I'm hoping so

 

[Fester]

I agree with this 100%. When this passed, I was a smoker and it absolutely pissed me off. I no longer smoke and cannot stand the smell of cigarette smoke so it is nice going to establishments and not having to deal with it. However, I still strongly believe that the choice should be left up to the owner, and people have the choice to visit those establishments or not.

Yup agree..owner has a choice to allow smoking, people have the choice to work or go to the business...stop taking peoples freedoms away. regardless of whether you approve or don't approve..we all have choices.

 

[Fester]

It's all fun and games til the whores come in.

Is that supposed to be bad?

 

[Fester]

Long boring story short....

I went in for a physical for insurance reasons about 10 years ago. This was back when I was running 50-60ish miles a week and racing marathons and half marathons at a fairly high level for an old white guy.

I'm 5' 8" and at the time I weighed in at a whopping 140 lbs. I still remember the nurse telling me "congratulations, you are right where you should be for your height and weight."

What?!?! I weigh 140 stinking pounds, run 60 miles a week and eat crap I absolutely DON'T want to for every single meal and you're telling me I'm right where is should be? WTF?!?

Their standards aren't realistic. To put it mildly.

What do you think you would have weighed if you did the same physical activity but could eat whatever the hell you wanted?