TresSugar

Which Will Be Legalized First: Pot or Gay Marriage?

TresSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 07:00:46 -0800

Can you believe it used to be against the law in America to have a nice cold beer or a refreshing glass of wine? I can't! Perhaps that's what future generations will say when they look back at some of our more moralistic laws, specifically those banning marijuana and gay marriage.

Slate ran a piece yesterday arguing that America will soon get rid of these modern prohibitions. In fact, Maine is voting today on a referendum that would legalize gay marriage and another that would legalize medical marijuana, so I guess we'll get to test that thesis soon.

Now that we have a justice department that will not prosecute medical marijuana possession - not to mention a president who once said: "I inhaled. . . frequently. That was the point." - it's not such a stretch to think Americans might soon be able to get high without fear of the jail time. And while many states still have all-out bans on same-sex marriage, the public seems increasingly supportive of marriage equality. Which do you think has a better chance of becoming fully legalized first?

Front Page: US Won't Prosecute Medical Marijuana Users

TresSugar — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:00:29 -0700

The Justice Department is set to tell prosecutors that it is a waste of resources to arrest people who sell or use medical marijuana. - AP
Criminal charges will be filed against balloon boy's father Richard Heene after police determined that the incident was a hoax. - CNN
Sarah Palin has posted her resume on LinkedIn. - Huffington Post
Home foreclosures are forcing former homeowners into homeless shelters. -New York Times
Where the Wild Things Are lived up to big expectations, coming in at number one at the box office this weekend. - BuzzSugar

Stranger Than Fiction: Preschool Teachers Eat Pot Brownies

TresSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:00:00 -0700

Snack time gets scandalous! Several teachers at a Los Angeles preschool got sick last year after eating a batch of brownies that one of the teachers purchased from "what she thought was a church bake sale." But after munching on one brownie each, the teachers got a serious case of the munchies, not to mention some silliness and confusion.

You can probably guess how this turns out: the supposed "church bake sale" was actually a random sidewalk vendor, and the brownies were actually pot brownies. The truth was reported five months later in the the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Apparently, none of the teachers had smoked or ingested pot before and didn't like it one bit.

Though accidentally eating pot brownies has been played for laughs everywhere from the season one finale of 90210 to the movie Taking Woodstock, it would be pretty horrifying if you thought you were eating regular brownies and suddenly came down with a serious case of stonedness. However, I find it weird that the teacher supposedly thought she was buying the brownies from a church bake sale. Do you buy that story?

Ask an Accountant: Should I Let My Boyfriend Smoke Pot?

TresSugar — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:00:46 -0700

Conventional Wisdom is a different kind of advice column. Your questions will be answered by people from all walks of life rather than by advice experts. This week, an accountant advises a woman who's having a tough time with her boyfriend's pot smoking. Want to throw your hat into the ring? You can submit questions here.

Today's Question:
My boyfriend of over three years has been smoking pot since he was a teenager. I knew this before we started dating, but really thought he would quit by now. He is now 32 years old and still smokes multiple times a day. I've already talked to him about how I don't like it at all and wish he would quit. He then argues that it is better to smoke pot than to drink alcohol or do other heavier drugs. I see his friends that have families and they smoke around their babies and toddlers, but I do not want our kids (if we ever have any) to be exposed to it. Should I put my foot down harder or just let him have his "hobby"?

Signed,
Feeling Low

To see the accountant's answer, read more.

Dear Feeling Low,

It may be true that someone who smokes a lot of pot is no worse than someone who drinks a lot of alcohol, but you are wise to consider your future.

Now unless you are really warped, having kids usually makes you grow up and become responsible to some extent. But since you and he hang around others that haven't changed, my guess is that you can't count on a baby to stop the drug habit.

Now consider some really hard facts. Having kids will cost a lot, and smoking pot will really cut into your diaper budget. Since weed doesn't come with a filter, he is wrecking his health. Not to mention, lung cancer kills! So do you really want your boyfriend to increase his chances of contracting this nasty disease in the future? And don't forget about paying for all that extra medical attention. I don't know about you, but I think that insurance companies take our medical premiums and then tell us it isn't covered when we get sick. Besides, when was the last time you paid less when you went to the doctors? Cut out the weed and you can plow that money into a 401K so that when you retire you won't have to work a part-time job as a Wal-Mart greeter!

The bottom line, as we accountants like to put it, is that you need to find a new boyfriend and hang around with folks that get high on life. Ask yourself the question: how much do I love myself? Take it from a CPA, if you value yourself, the choice to move on with a new guy should add up and pay you many dividends in the future. Good luck!

Signed,
The CPA (Certified Pot Adviser)

Marijuana vs. Booze: Between Pot and a Hard Place

TresSugar — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 04:00:34 -0700

When Michael Phelps partied at the University of South Carolina last November, he was reportedly slamming beers and acting obnoxious. But it was smoking marijuana out of a bong that got him suspended from swimming and dropped by sponsors. In the forthcoming book Marijuana Is Safer: So Why Are We Driving People to Drink?, authors Steve Fox, Paul Armentano, and Mason Tvert wonder if our country has it all backwards.

You can read an excerpt from the book, which comes out in September, on Alternet. In it, the authors point out that the Phelps bong photos hit the web on Super Bowl Sunday, as millions of Americans were drinking beers and watching beer commercials on TV - activities that are expected and encouraged.

Marijuana Is Safer looks at the laws governing both substances and attempts to shatter many of the myths associated with marijuana use. When you consider alcoholism and drunk driving, not to mention revenue that legalizing marijuana could bring, do you think our country has it backwards? Which substance do you think is safer?

Marijuana Supporters Think Legalization Is Coming- Do You?

TresSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:00:00 -0700

April 20 has long been considered marijuana's unofficial holiday. Fans of the drug-in-exile gather for weed-fueled concerts, festivals, or college smokeouts. But today's widespread use won't change the fact that marijuana is illegal. High on hope, advocates think the legalization debate is moving from the fringe (and Sean Paul songs) to the mainstream.

There have been some signs of modest movement toward legalization. Obama's Justice Department declared that it will no longer prosecute those who get high for medical purposes. In California, state lawmakers have also introduced legislation that would legalize recreational pot. The reason? It's not compassion for those undergoing physical pain, but rather because of cold hard cash - if taxed, the green cash crop could bring in billions for the state.

But if you ask Obama, like many people did during his online townhall, he has no plans to legalize pot. He doesn't think it's a good strategy to grow our economy. I guess Obama assumes Americans would be too stoned to get to work.

Source

Briefing Book! Obama Dashes High Hopes For Pot Legalization

CitizenSugar — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:30:26 -0700

Obama dismisses online pot army by saying legalizing pot is not a good economic policy. - Wonkette
Michael Steele says his Rush Limbaugh controversy was totally planned and strategic. - Talking Points Memo
Twitter to be taught in school: what else should be taught? - geeksugar
G20 welcoming committee gets ready. - Boing Boing
McCain's chief strategist Steve Schmidt comes out in support of gay marriage. – Huffington Post

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Briefing Book! Ron Paul and Stephen Baldwin War on Drugs

CitizenSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 12:54:09 -0700

Ron Paul debates Stephen Baldwin about marijuana legalization. - Wonkette
Eliot Spitzer for Treasury secretary? - Gawker
AIG takes its logo off its building. - New York Daily News
In honor of Spring break, check out some Washington, DC, crazy party antics. - Indecision Forever
Secretary Geithner refuses to endorse punitive bonus tax bill. - Huffington Post
New Jersey ditches plan to ban the risky Brazilian wax. - BellaSugar

Marijuana Might Be a Wonder Drug For California's Budget

CitizenSugar — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 10:30:59 -0800

Marijuana might make a smoker mellow, but one lawmaker hopes it will stimulate the economy. California State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano has a plan to legalize and regulate marijuana with the intention of creating $1 billion in tax revenue and thousands of green jobs.

The San Francisco Chronicle broke down the specifics last week. The law would allow people over 21 years old to grow, buy, sell, and possess cannabis. There would be a $50-an-ounce tax on retail sales. A report shows that it would drop the price by 50 percent and increase consumption by 40 percent. There would most likely be a drop in prison population, thus saving the state money, too.

In an interview with Salon, Ammiano explained why he wants to legalize it: it's the economy, stupid. He said:

There's gold in them thar hills! We have one of the worst budget situations we've ever had, and it's a $14 billion industry that's not going away. Everybody knows this and nobody has wanted to go after it. I, frankly, think the time has come.

Do you think economic benefits make legalization of marijuana a good idea?

Source

DEA Won't Raid Medical Marijuana Facilities Under Obama

CitizenSugar — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 08:00:56 -0800

In a stunning move, Attorney General Eric Holder announced that federal drug enforcement officials will no longer raid medical marijuana facilities. This may come as a surprise, since the feds have been cracking down on medical pot since California voted to legalize it in 1996. But Holder says we shouldn't be so shocked; after all, Barack Obama did promise to stop prosecuting medical usage during the campaign.

In fact, Obama used his mother's own experience with breast cancer to inform his opinion. On the trail, Obama said he didn't see any difference between the morphine his mom took and marijuana.

Last week, Holder explained the policy motives behind the move. He said: "The president believes that federal resources should not be used to circumvent state laws." And there you have it. If a state wants to legalize medical marijuana, the federal government will stay out of it!

Source