Marijuana in the VI - Sound off pro or con open discussion

There is another thread that I just contributed to on this. I'm all for legalization and building the MJ industry in the VI, especially for export. Its a perfect fit for our agricultural and cultural heritage. My concern is that, by the time the GVI moves forward on MJ, the rest of the world will have left us far behind. Can't we be leaders on anything but crime and government waste?

Pro as it keeps me off serious poison drugs. You know the ones that are approved by the FDA. Those were killing me. Seriously, they were!

There is another thread that I just contributed to on this. I'm all for legalization and building the MJ industry in the VI, especially for export. Its a perfect fit for our agricultural and cultural heritage. My concern is that, by the time the GVI moves forward on MJ, the rest of the world will have left us far behind. Can't we be leaders on anything but crime and government waste?

I'd like to hear how you think it will be exported.

I read online that Monsanto has patents on weed. Great more GMO Frankenweed!

Pro
If someone wants to smoke weed,.......They are already doing it.

U.S. Legalizing should put a dent in the Mexican Cartel's market.

If you know someone that smokes pot, tell me why they should be sent to jail for it.

Pro: revenue
Con:harder to find Funyons

I seriously cannot believe the VI or the world is even debating this. Like I said I do not even use it. I still wouldn't. Be on the right side of history VI since we all know you will let a 2000+ year old book keep you on wrong side of history over marriage equality

Sparty continues to crack me up with the Funyon comments 🙂

I will say this to begin, I am a proud board member of USVI NORML and have been involved with the efforts here for 6 years or so. I have testified before the senate several times with regards to moving the issue forward... This thread may go dead but I hope not. USVI NORML has always wanted to educate on this issue and show people with evidence from all sides that Marijuana does have its place. I hope that more respond here that are on either side. If there are any people curious about efforts here PM and I will answer as best I can.....

This is what it is all about for me. I could care less about who does/doesn't use

http://www.drugsense.org/cms/wodclock

Or this to show what Colorado did in one year

The revenue created pales in costs saved ending incarceration of drug offenders. That money can and should be used for treatment programs including refunding the gutted mental health departments.

Yes, Sparty but this is the USVI.
Where everything so far that the VI GOVERNMENT touches has been mismanaged, misused, misappropriated, wasted and outright stolen.

I have no problem with medical marijuana for those in need and qualify but not so sure about the legalization of recreational use marijuana.

There are lots of issues and liabilities that go hand in hand with
legalizing recreational use.

Especially with our VI Legislature crafting laws pertaining to it.

There are a lot of ramifications to legalized recreational use and very many ways it can be abused. IMO
That's my concern.

,

Alana33. The "abuse of marijuana" argument always cracks me up or even the "ramifications of recreational use".

Everyone seems to be ok with alcohol being legal.

Which is more dangerous?

"There are a lot of ramifications to legalized recreational use and very many ways it can be abused"
Those who want to use it are already doing it, sometimes right out on the streets! So I don't think legalizing will change things much, except give the politicians "Teefs" more money!

i have always had mixed feelings about this. the thc levels in skunk are about 10 times higher than the thc levels in the pot of my day. that is something to consider. heard that the other day-not sure where so dont ask.

i am all for medical MJ, possible personal use MJ. but i still think you will have the same issues to a lesser degree that you have with alcohol.

i have no sympathy for those in jail because of it-they knew the law when they chose to use.
yes, every day we all break the law in some way-we know this and should be willing to pay the consequences

have there been enough studies done to see what the long term affects are? how does it affect your lungs? how does it affect your cognitive abilities? your reaction time-especially when driving?

Burning any material and putting it in your lungs is not good. That is why there are other methods of getting desired affect.

How do you think the police forces of today are affording tanks etc? Civil forfeiture laws which are another part of war on drugs. So you are ok with an overburdened criminal justice system full of users and small time dealers who after being institutionalized become hardened criminals? The laws are archaic. Money is better spent on treatment and mental health. Just wait. It is already happening. Private prisons. Incarceration for profit. Louisiana is a perfect example. They have privatized their prisons and guess what state has highest incarceration rate?

I was once steadfast against any drugs. I have seen firsthand the toll they take on people. This issue is way deeper than a few joints. This is a socio economic issue at its core.

Research has been ongoing for decades and isn't hard to find but those interested may find these articles comparing the effects of marijuana versus alcohol to be of interest:

http://www.livescience.com/42738-marijuana-vs-alcohol-health-effects.html
http://archive.saferchoice.org/content/view/24/53/
http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/20/health/marijuana-versus-alcohol/

As far as, "the thc levels in skunk are about 10 times higher than the thc levels in the pot of my day", the truth is that thousands of strains of marijuana have been developed which vary hugely in THC content and even back in your day there were different strains available of varying potency. One could make the analogy that one glass of beer will affect you way less than the equivalent measure of 100+ proof alcohol (which could well kill you). There has been no evidence over years of study that one can overdose to death on marijuana.

You're certainly right about the dangers inhaling smoke of any kind.

Thankfully, we now have convenient little vaporizers and an abundance of delicious pot edibles here in the territory!

There's never been a time when there's been so many consumption options!

vicanuck and sparty so true on the other methods of consuming- i do tend to forget that.

An extra $58 million sounds nice

http://m.mic.com/articles/116308/colorado-has-58-million-in-extra-marijuana-taxes-here-s-what-happens-next

An extra $58 million sounds nice

http://m.mic.com/articles/116308/colorado-has-58-million-in-extra-marijuana-taxes-here-s-what-happens-next

Now prorate that to the VI. That's works out to 1 million for the VI if managed correctly.

You have to factor in MJ tourism if marketed appropriately. Obviously would not be $58 million but if done right 10-15 seems feasible on top of money saved from incarcerations

Come to the VI - MJ is legal here! Smoke to your hearts content!

And don't forget to bring your young children!

As opposed to come to the VI, get shitty drunk and let your children roam the beaches freely?

People seem to be a bit blind to the fact that it's not just THC in MJ. It's the other properties that provide medical benefits. It's possible to reduce the THC and get the benefits. I have started to use cannabis oil for a particular medical condition. It helps.

I personally do not like the feeling of being "high" so the dose I've used is very low.
I am hopeful that medical MJ is legalized here so the oil can be produced (legally) without the THC. Then I could take higher doses and get significant relief. Living with chronic pain is the hardest thing I have ever had to do/go through. Even my doctor at the Mayo Clinic agrees that cannabis can significantly improve my life if used correctly (not smoked) - but of course that comment was "off the record".

People need to stop seeing it as a "pothead" issue and realize the multitude of benefits this plant can provide.