Yeah, hopefully it will pave way to decriminalization and eventually legalization.

Yeah, hopefully it will pave way to decriminalization and eventually legalization.

It will. However in Oklahoma it may be 25 years. Im sure we will be one of the last states to decriminalize it.

It will. However in Oklahoma it may be 25 years. Im sure we will be one of the last states to decriminalize it.

Still, I find it highly remarkable what has been going on with positive moves this year being made in trying to reform anti-marijuana laws, considering that Republicans quite strongly dominate. During the final years Democrats ruled, they didn't do much of anything to make up for passing insane anti-marijuana laws from decades ago. I recall a marijuana decriminalization bill got voted on, but was easily defeated.

So I'm more optimistic. I think significant reform in less than a decade can be accomplished, especially if positive news stories rule negative ones about the outcome of marijuana legalization in Colorado and Washington, assuming feds don't shut it down. It probably in large part depends on how much Oklahomans want this. The current intense public apathy on this issue may be the biggest deterrent of all.

One more state is joining in.

Maryland lawmakers pass medical marijuana bill (http://news.yahoo.com/maryland-lawmakers-pass-medical-marijuana-bill-002615875.html)

I saw some folks smoking a doob the other night in the Plaza District -- as a cop car passed by without incident. It should be legal for personal use at this point. I'm thinking it's going to be very soon -- and I predict gay marriage will be widely accepted nationally very soon as well. We're there now.

On a side note, when marijuana is finally legalized / decriminalized in Oklahoma, I will celebrate by taking exactly one hit (which is all I ever seem to need to get flat stoned by pot today; the strength is so much greater than that with which I grew up).

If nothing else, it's ridiculous that marijuana isn't legalized for medical use. We allow doctors to essentially prescribe heroin for anyone who has or says they have pain. We sell cigarettes, which some studies have indicated are more addictive than heroin, and cause far more morbidity and mortality. We sell alcohol, which has the same purpose as recreational marijuana. And by making it illegal, we allow organized crime a foothold. I'm astounded that it generates any emotion stronger than indifference in our lawmakers.

There's probably a better thread to post this to, but i couldn't find it. For a little while longer you can watch a really good documentary on the failed war on drugs from the PBS website at this link.... The House I Live In (http://video.pbs.org/video/2341636421) - Some of it is filmed in Oklahoma (as local as OKC).

More changes on the way?

New bill would ease state-federal pot conflict | News OK (http://newsok.com/new-bill-would-ease-state-federal-pot-conflict/article/feed/526555)

Here is an interesting interview with Will Foster's daughter who was only 11 when her father was arrested. An interesting quote from her, "It’s a double-edged sword. [The Drug War] is the thing that hurt me the most but [marijuana activism] has been the best for me." FROM: THE WAR ISN'T OVER: My Dad Was Sentenced to 93 Years in Prison for Marijuana (http://ladybud.com/the-war-isnt-over-my-dad-was-sentenced-to-93-years-in-prison-for-marijuana/)

I used to be totally ignorant about how massively wrong and insane the laws in Oklahoma were against marijuana, until I came across the Will Foster case during the mid 1990s. (It was sure about time I did. Before this, a paraplegic in a wheelchair had been sentenced to life in prison largely over marijuana.) Foster's case also made me first aware marijuana had medical use for treatment of serious ailments. It was unfortunate back then how many, many Oklahomans were unlike me and remained untouched, unconcerned, or simply still ignorant about how unjust the Foster case was and the extreme draconian laws associated with it as if they came from straight out of the Dark Ages. Fortunately, after a decade, slowly more and more Oklahomans are coming around as to how wrong such over the top anti-marijuana laws are.

Ooops..... Looks like recently former defense attorney here in OKC, Robert Sisson, left for the marijuana promise land in Colorado and was arrested the other day for selling it. Seems that while you can sell pot in Colorado, you can't sell it for a profit. I see Sisson has since his arrest returned to OKC to resume practicing law.

El Dorado, California Deputies Arrest 6 on Marijuana Charges - KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - (http://www.ktvn.com/story/21893470/el-dorado-california-deputies-arrest-6-on-marijuana-charges)

Ooops..... Looks like recently former defense attorney here in OKC, Robert Sisson, left for the marijuana promise land in Colorado and was arrested the other day for selling it. Seems that while you can sell pot in Colorado, you can't sell it for a profit. I see Sisson has since his arrest returned to OKC to resume practicing law.

El Dorado, California Deputies Arrest 6 on Marijuana Charges - KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - (http://www.ktvn.com/story/21893470/el-dorado-california-deputies-arrest-6-on-marijuana-charges)

This happened in California, not Colorado.

This happened in California, not Colorado.

Which it even says in the link itself. LOL /sigh

This happened in California, not Colorado.

Does it matter what state he was arrested in ??? lol

Does it matter what state he was arrested in ??? lol

Only if you want accurate information.

This happened in California, not Colorado.

Not sure why I typed Colorado - must have had it stuck in my head and it flowed out my fingers. Regardless, doesn't really change the story. The part I like is the 100% stereotypical look in his mugshot. Reminds me of 'Doug Wilson' from WEEDS.

Here is an interesting interview with Will Foster's daughter who was only 11 when her father was arrested. An interesting quote from her, "It’s a double-edged sword. [The Drug War] is the thing that hurt me the most but [marijuana activism] has been the best for me." FROM: THE WAR ISN'T OVER: My Dad Was Sentenced to 93 Years in Prison for Marijuana (http://ladybud.com/the-war-isnt-over-my-dad-was-sentenced-to-93-years-in-prison-for-marijuana/)

I used to be totally ignorant about how massively wrong and insane the laws in Oklahoma were against marijuana, until I came across the Will Foster case during the mid 1990s. (It was sure about time I did. Before this, a paraplegic in a wheelchair had been sentenced to life in prison largely over marijuana.) Foster's case also made me first aware marijuana had medical use for treatment of serious ailments. It was unfortunate back then how many, many Oklahomans were unlike me and remained untouched, unconcerned, or simply still ignorant about how unjust the Foster case was and the extreme draconian laws associated with it as if they came from straight out of the Dark Ages. Fortunately, after a decade, slowly more and more Oklahomans are coming around as to how wrong such over the top anti-marijuana laws are.

Will Foster is a poor example. First, he had a prior DRUG CONVICTION before being busted for growing a bunch of pot in his basement. His sweet daughter, who I knew, didn't understand what a fool her dad was! Ed Rosenthal's testimony at the trial was wasted on the Tulsa jury. Will's "severe rheumatoid arthritis" was shown on Dateline (or somesuch) to be a fraud.

Jimmy Montgomery, in contrast, was a genuine paraplegic who kept pot in the pocket of his wheelchair but didn't have a grow room. He was an auto mechanic despite his disability. I understand he's been out of prison for many years now and never did exploit his case with the High Times bunch.

Will Foster is a poor example. First, he had a prior DRUG CONVICTION before being busted for growing a bunch of pot in his basement. His sweet daughter, who I knew, didn't understand what a fool her dad was! Ed Rosenthal's testimony at the trial was wasted on the Tulsa jury. Will's "severe rheumatoid arthritis" was shown on Dateline (or somesuch) to be a fraud.

Jimmy Montgomery, in contrast, was a genuine paraplegic who kept pot in the pocket of his wheelchair but didn't have a grow room. He was an auto mechanic despite his disability. I understand he's been out of prison for many years now and never did exploit his case with the High Times bunch.
Well, I didn't know that any part of Foster's case story involved fraud, if true. I seem to remember his only prior conviction for drugs was for possession of marijuana, but it was dismissed. Foster claimed he told his doctor he was using marijuana. If he had a regular doctor, was it not over his arthritic condition? As far as Rosenthal's testimony, it couldn't have been over him trying to make use of medical marijuana as a defense for Foster, because as I understand it, doing that was denied by the judge.

The first legal federal medical marijuana patient, Robert Randall, won his case by using medical marijuana as a defense. Use of it stood as his only hope to keep from going blind from glaucoma, with doctors backing him. Often since then, judges have denied allowing medical marijuana as a defense against marijuana convictions.

As I recall from reading about Jimmy Montgomery the local police thought they would get back at him, because him and his mother would not sell their house to them where the police wanted to build a new police station. The Montgomery case is even more outrageous and harder to comprehend than Foster's.

Anyway, Okiethink believes a man growing marijuana, even if only in a backyard cellar, is a scarier threat to society than a man who burns your house down. The max punishment for arson is 35 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Foster initially got 93 years in prison and a $65,000 fine. Okiethink is thinking stuck in the Dark Ages.

And I wonder if drunk drivers in Oklahoma still only tend to get a year or two in prison after killing someone? I reckon Okiethink reasoning on that goes is that every time a drunk driver kills some one that is only an accident. When people are convicted of something like growing marijuana, that is fully intentionally done and far, far from an accident.

http://www.okmedicalmarijuana.org/rr.jpg "Any sane person who knew they were going blind, who know marijuana could prevent them from going blind would break the law to obtain marijuana. And that activity was not criminal, but rather an act of self preservation." Robert Randall from 1976 in his successful use of necessity as a defense against charges of marijuana cultivation. He died in 2001, still with sight.

It is still not legal to sell non-medical marijuana here in Colorado. The regulations are still being crafted and the actual "sale date" isn't until next year. You still have to go the medical marijuana route to legally buy or sell right now.

Well, I didn't know that any part of Foster's case story involved fraud, if true. I seem to remember his only prior conviction for drugs was for possession of marijuana, but it was dismissed. Foster claimed he told his doctor he was using marijuana. If he had a regular doctor, was it not over his arthritic condition? As far as Rosenthal's testimony, it couldn't have been over him trying to make use of medical marijuana as a defense for Foster, because as I understand it, doing that was denied by the judge.

The first legal federal medical marijuana patient, Robert Randall, won his case by using medical marijuana as a defense. Use of it stood as his only hope to keep from going blind from glaucoma, with doctors backing him. Often since then, judges have denied allowing medical marijuana as a defense against marijuana convictions.

As I recall from reading about Jimmy Montgomery the local police thought they would get back at him, because him and his mother would not sell their house to them where the police wanted to build a new police station. The Montgomery case is even more outrageous and harder to comprehend than Foster's.

Anyway, Okiethink believes a man growing marijuana, even if only in a backyard cellar, is a scarier threat to society than a man who burns your house down. The max punishment for arson is 35 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Foster initially got 93 years in prison and a $65,000 fine. Okiethink is thinking stuck in the Dark Ages.

And I wonder if drunk drivers in Oklahoma still only tend to get a year or two in prison after killing someone? I reckon Okiethink reasoning on that goes is that every time a drunk driver kills some one that is only an accident. When people are convicted of something like growing marijuana, that is fully intentionally done and far, far from an accident.

http://www.okmedicalmarijuana.org/rr.jpg "Any sane person who knew they were going blind, who know marijuana could prevent them from going blind would break the law to obtain marijuana. And that activity was not criminal, but rather an act of self preservation." Robert Randall from 1976 in his successful use of necessity as a defense against charges of marijuana cultivation. He died in 2001, still with sight.

You're right that Foster couldn't use a medical defense in court. He had no viable defense in his situation. He went for public sympathy and outrage, got attention for the cause. My problem with him is that I don't believe his garden had anything whatsoever to do with a medicine. BTW I didn't read the link to his daughter's article until after I posted and noticed mention of two national tv magazine shows, only one of which provided a link. I presume the unlinked show, Dateline, was the one where he is seen in prison romping about, devoid of obvious pain, making a very public and embarrassing mockery of the medical marijuana issue. People who think medpot is a scam need only see stuff like that.

Robert Randall was an honorable guy who did indeed suffer from glaucoma. As you know, he was the first of eight(?) people in the US to receive government provided pot. He recoiled at the sight (pun not intended) of hempsters and rallies.

State Rep. Cory Williams has stated the reason why his bill to reduce the 2nd charge of marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor did not come up for a vote in the House. It had been approved 14 to 0 by a judiciary committee. It was because Republicans leaders feared Republicans who voted in favor of it would find their opponents for reelection pointing out what they did in mail out pieces. So Oklahomans need to do more work in giving their legislators the impression they won't vote them out of office, if they lighten up criminal charges on marijuana.

State Rep. Cory Williams has stated the reason why his bill to reduce the 2nd charge of marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor did not come up for a vote in the House. It had been approved 14 to 0 by a judiciary committee. It was because Republicans leaders feared Republicans who voted in favor of it would find their opponents for reelection pointing out what they did in mail out pieces. So Oklahomans need to do more work in giving their legislators the impression they won't vote them out of office, if they lighten up criminal charges on marijuana.

Why don't these Republicans talk to their constituents? Are they really that scared of them? Can they not explain why they voted on a particular bill? I think it's a BS excuse.

Why don't these Republicans talk to their constituents? Are they really that scared of them? Can they not explain why they voted on a particular bill? I think it's a BS excuse.

The penalty for downloading child porn is 30 days to 10 years in prison. The penalty for second offense for possession of marijuana can be 2 to 10 years in prison. Why should any rational minded Oklahoman think fooling around with marijuana should be regarded just as bad or worse than fooling with child porn?

Bunty, point that out to your typical legislizard and demand action. Dollars to doughnuts any change passed will be an increase in the punishment range of the porn offense, not a reduction in the punishment range of the weed offense.

Don't bet on any reduction. It's quite clear the power the private prison lobby has on Oklahoma after yesterday's announcement of the head of the DOC resignation. Word is that his stepping down was largely a cause of the private prison influence.

Stories of legislators taking money from private prison interests aren't complete until an investigation of their voting records is done to prove they're really voting in favor of prisons.

Interestingly enough, a bunch of residents of some small towns in Colorado are troubled with Reefer Madness. I wonder if they would also be in an uproar from a chain drug store wanting to open across the street from one of their schools. Probably not. This is also probably how it would go in most Oklahoma towns:

MARIJUANA JOINTS SPARK FEAR, LOATHING AT TOWN FORUM

Attendees cite spousal abuse and violent crime in pleas for board to opt out of retail pot sales

Accompanied by bursts of applause, the crowd of over 40 Norwood and Wright's Mesa citizens at Wednesday's Amendment 64 forum plead with the Norwood Town Board of Trustees to opt out of licensing retail cannabis stores, testing facilities and grow operations.

Only one attendee admitted to being among the 150 Norwood voters who approved Amendment 64 locally in the November elections, outvoting opponents by 60 votes.

Largely, forum attendees expressed fears of increased domestic abuse, violent crime, imperiled child welfare and a bad reputation for the town should retail adult-use cannabis facilities of any type be allowed within Norwood.

"This is not the answer to economic growth," said Rich Nuttall. "And it's certainly not the message our elected officials should be sending to our youth."

Nuttall spoke of the moral obligations of the government and pointed out what he characterized as the "oxymoron" of allowing adults to use the drug while educating children that it is wrong.

"We don't want to become a source of drugs for Telluride," Nuttall said, before questioning why people would oppose what he called "traditional" West End businesses like hunting and mining, yet be proponents of ingesting drugs.

Nuttall was one of several residents who characterized any tax benefit related to the sale of adult-use cannabis as "dirty money."

New Norwood resident John Dotson wondered if funds from marijuana sales earmarked for school construction would be worth possible troubles, asking, "If the federal government is saying this is illegal, what are you going to do with this money? Put it in the bank? If we do, are we laundering drug money?"

"We've already got a huge drug problem here," commented Joseph Taylor. "I think this will only make things worse."

The worsening of what some some perceived as a local drug problem was raised more than once during the forum, with some pointing to a September 2011 assault and robbery of two medical marijuana growers outside of Norwood, which initiated a lockdown at Norwood Public School.

"Is this what we really want our kids to see on a daily basis?" asked Redvale resident Cheryl Eades. "We don't need the dangers that it's going to bring."

"Who's going to protect our babies from stuff like that if we open up pot shops?" Janine Spor queried the board. "We open up one in our little town, we're asking for the crime rate to go up and endangerment to our children."

Many speakers warned that the presence of retail pot facilities would put a black mark on Norwood's reputation as a family-friendly town and asked that board members send a message to the county that marijuana was not welcome on Wright's Mesa.

Others warned that children would almost certainly gain easy access to the drug if it were made available in town.

For some, the concerns were less specifically linked with the sale of adult-use marijuana and more with cannabis use in general.

Teacher and Wright's Mesa resident Ann Wright characterized marijuana as "very evil."

"I don't see anything endearing about pot. I know very few successful people that smoke pot," Wright said.

Carrying a hammer as an object lesson, Davis Watson noted that the tool could be used to strengthen a home by being used to help family members, or tear it down by bludgeoning your wife.

"We're not talking about hammers, we're talking about marijuana," Watson said. "There's nothing about marijuana that strengthens the family. When anybody takes something that alters your mind, you never know what might happen with it. You may start beating your wife or your children."

After arguing the money for regulation would likely outstrip the money gained from sales, Joe Bowman put his opposition to marijuana as a drug more succinctly, saying simply "We all know the statistics say pot is not good for us. It doesn't matter who you are."

Shortly after the forum, the board was addressed briefly by San Miguel County Sheriffs Department Deputy Dan Covault who is in charge of enforcing marijuana regulations in the county. Covault spoke primarily about the regulations recently put in place by the Colo. legislature.

"What the folks here tonight are missing is the larger picture," Covault explained. "Whether or not there's a retail center here is truly irrelevant because under adult-use marijuana, every one of us in here can grow six plants of our own, in our home, per adult."

Covault suggested that marijuana was already being grown in Norwood by private individuals and there was little recourse for the town to stop it.

Covault did say, however, the town could create provisions like Boulder County's nuisance smoke ordinance which makes it a citable offense for any kind of outdoor smoke, marijuana or tobacco, to drift from one person's private property to another.

The board has until October to make a final decision regarding the licensing of retail adult-use cannabis facilities. They agreed to a work session with deputy Covault in the interim.

FROM: US CO: Marijuana Joints Spark Fear, Loathing At Town Forum (http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n283/a10.html?204)

What the Feds want to do with those in Montana involved in the medical marijuana industry, whether or not they were obeying state law, is enough to make your jaw drop.

What Gives? Obama Appointee, U.S. Attorney Mike Cotter Wants To Lock Up Legal Pot Growers in Montana for Good | Alternet (http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/life-sentence-growing-pot-legally?page=0%2C0&akid=10607.1072880.Yv0of8&rd=1&src=newsletter858726&t=7)

Again, as physicians we can prescribe heroin (basically...it's synthetic, but pretty much the same thing). Any outrage against medical marijuana is ridiculous considering that fact, IMO. Heroin addiction is physiologic, marijuana addiction (if it exists) is psychological. The fear generated by marijuana pretty much flabbergasts me.

The fact that the American Medical Association advised against banning marijuana and was ignored, should tell people something was pretty fishy about getting marijuana banned.

Meanwhile, Sen. Johnson wants to get a interim study of marijuana policy approved by Sen. Bingman:


TO: The Honorable Brian Bingman
President Pro Tempore, Oklahoma State Senate
2300 North Lincoln Blvd., Room 422
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

FROM: Senator Constance N. Johnson

SUBJECT: Interim Study Request: Marijuana Policy Analysis in Oklahoma

Dear Senator Bingman:

I am requesting an Interim Study on Marijuana Policy Analysis in Oklahoma, to be assigned to a special committee consisting of select members of the Senate Health and Human Services, Business and Labor, Judiciary and Public Safety Committees.

This study will explore the present status of policies regulating marijuana use, possession, and punishment in Oklahoma.

Sincerely yours,

Constance N. Johnson
Oklahoma State Senator, District 48

Again, as physicians we can prescribe heroin (basically...it's synthetic, but pretty much the same thing). Any outrage against medical marijuana is ridiculous considering that fact, IMO. Heroin addiction is physiologic, marijuana addiction (if it exists) is psychological. The fear generated by marijuana pretty much flabbergasts me.
Yep, my father-in-law was on morphine the last week of his life (as he went into hospice in the hospital two weeks ago today). I remember the hallucinations that my grandfather and father had when they were on morphine after different surgeries they had. Well beyond anything that marijuana could provide.

Don't bet on any reduction. It's quite clear the power the private prison lobby has on Oklahoma after yesterday's announcement of the head of the DOC resignation. Word is that his stepping down was largely a cause of the private prison influence.

It would help, if rich people had their toes stepped on over the issue. When was the last time a rich person, or his or her child, got arrested over marijuana?

It would help, if rich people had their toes stepped on over the issue. When was the last time a rich person, or his or her child, got arrested over marijuana?

I'm sure it happens, it just "goes away" because they can afford lawyers. I know a rich guy who paid like 10k to get a DUI expunged.

If you're a poor bloke caught with a dime bag, you're pretty much screwed.

...
If you're a poor bloke caught with a dime bag, you're pretty much screwed.


Regarding poor folk: many, many, walk away from courtrooms with very decent opportunities for fresh starts, via a deferred disposition agreement or a diversion program. Sadly, a number of these folk also elect to squander away the opportunities laid squarely in their laps.

Yes, we at times have overly aggressive prosecutions or law enforcement. However, we also have people unwilling to help themselves end their dependency on substances and/or crimes associated with the lure of easy money.

I'm sure it happens, it just "goes away" because they can afford lawyers. I know a rich guy who paid like 10k to get a DUI expunged.

If you're a poor bloke caught with a dime bag, you're pretty much screwed.

Wish I could quickly find it but the stats overwhelmingly show that you are much more likely to be arrested and sentenced to jail time for drugs if you are a minority.

And you can also just look at how crack cocaine (prevelent use among minorities) has much harsher laws than just plain coke (used more by whites).

This story could quite easily happen in Oklahoma, too: Lindsey Rinehart: My Children Were Taken From Me Because I Am An Activist? (http://www.ladybud.com/2013/06/24/lindsey-rinehart-my-children-were-taken-from-me-because-i-am-an-activist/)

Wish I could quickly find it but the stats overwhelmingly show that you are much more likely to be arrested and sentenced to jail time for drugs if you are a minority.

And you can also just look at how crack cocaine (prevelent use among minorities) has much harsher laws than just plain coke (used more by whites).

As the theory goes, anti-drug laws were primarily made to enable bigoted parts of society to legally get back at types of people not liked. Interesting how President Nixon decided it was time to get tough on drugs not too many years after landmark federal civil rights laws had been passed, not to mention all those hippies smoking pot while being against the Vietnam War.

And of course, crack was invented by the CIA to attack the black panthers, and aids was engineered under Reagan to attack the gay community.

And of course, crack was invented by the CIA to attack the black panthers, and aids was engineered under Reagan to attack the gay community.

Then what motivated the creation of laws against marijuana so extreme in Oklahoma that if you sell someone some joints and get caught, you could be told you face as much as life in prison? People accused of 2nd degree manslaughter, as can be the outcome of drunk driving, don't have to worry about being told of time anywhere near that. Federal laws against marijuana can also be very punitive. I wish the justice system used its laws more to get back at drunk drivers. Imagine a drunk driver being told he could face up to life in prison due to his 2nd offense. Or maybe some people would want that told to the first offense.

And the non-white woman of mixed races from Kingfisher County, who initially got sentenced to around 10 years in prison for selling pot, claimed whites never get sentenced that long for first offense as hers was. Anyway, the Republicans can rightfully blame the situation on Oklahoma Democrats who passed such laws from the past. But instead of correcting mistakes Democrats made on formulating such laws, they're more interested in finding additional ways to make anti-marijuana laws even more punitive.

To blame Nixon is silly, though. Nixon actually worked to reduce/eliminate the laws. He repealed the federal minimum sentences to marijuana possession (which were tougher than other controlled substances). He also put efforts into switching from punishment to treatment. The phrase "war on drugs" was popularized during his admin, but Robert DuPont, the "Drug czar" in the Nixon Administration, stated it would be more accurate to say that Nixon ended, rather than launched, the "war on drugs".

We've had some strict prohibitions on drugs since the early 20th century. We did see a major uptick on the war on drugs under Reagan/Bush, but I think that was more driven as a way to create an interventionist policy in central and south america.

There are some complicated reasons/history behind drug prohibition and laws, and rarely were they race based (at least traditionally). If you want to blame a boogie man, look towards religion, which drove much of the movement in the beginnings.

I agree with your thoughts on drunk drivers. At the minimum, I think they should lose their license at the first offense.

Anyway, the Republicans can rightfully blame the situation on Oklahoma Democrats who passed such laws from the past. But instead of correcting mistakes Democrats made on formulating such laws, they're more interested in finding additional ways to make anti-marijuana laws even more punitive.

Well, yeah. No one from either party wants to look "soft" on crime. I'm not sure how that's going to change anytime soon.

...thoughts on drunk drivers. At the minimum, I think they should lose their license at the first offense.

They do, six months on first offense. An exception can be made to grant a modified license, if there is an ignition interlock device attached to the vehicle, at the defendant's expense. If the alcohol level is above .15, then the device runs a minimum of 18 months on a first offender.

They do, six months on first offense. An exception can be made to grant a modified license, if there is an ignition interlock device attached to the vehicle, at the defendant's expense. If the alcohol level is above .15, then the device runs a minimum of 18 months on a first offender.

Sorry, when I meant lose, I meant lose. As in, their right to drive. Forever. If you commit a felony with a gun, you lose your 2nd amendment right forever. Why should cars be any different?

... Why should cars be any different?

Possibly because politicos, their children and their major donors use far more cars than firearms.

More likely it's because firearms used in crime create indirect and direct threats to others. And while threat of harm or even actual harm can also be true in DUI offenses, far and away the majority of DUI stops are non-accident situations and often involve only the defendant/driver. While it is stupid for someone to incur the risk of creating harm and fiinancial pains involved in a drink/drive scenario, it's not something, in my opinion, that should make someone a walker/jogger/passenger for life.

There is an uptick in drunk driving arrests in Austin every two years when the legislature is in session.....then you have the Travis County DA who was arrested a few months ago for DWI. Most politicians aren't likely to make it a very harsh penalty because they could become ensnared by their own law.

I don't approve of legalizing pot. I know it doesn't matter a hill of beans
but I was a tremendous pot smoker in the 60's and 70's. There wasn't a
time that I ever thought it should be legalized. It goes for hard drugs,
too. I'll never forget the Libertarian joker at the Tulsa Fair telling me
I should be able to use heroin and how it wouldn't harm anybody. I told
him he was nutz. That's the main reason I refuse to join the
Libertarian Party.

As far as revenue goes, Congress has too much revenue as it is and
they've shown us,they aren't about to spend it wisely. The argument
for more revenue flies out the window when common sense and history
are brought into the picture.

Don't legalize cannabis for recreation purposes. Don't ever do it.

Why don't these Republicans talk to their constituents? Are they really that
scared of them? Can they not explain why they voted on a particular bill? I
think it's a BS excuse.
What the heck? Why should they be scared of them. There's not a good
reason for being afraid or for legalizing pot.

Good grief.

I don't approve of legalizing pot. I know it doesn't matter a hill of beans
but I was a tremendous pot smoker in the 60's and 70's. There wasn't a
time that I ever thought it should be legalized. It goes for hard drugs,
too. I'll never forget the Libertarian joker at the Tulsa Fair telling me
I should be able to use heroin and how it wouldn't harm anybody. I told
him he was nutz. That's the main reason I refuse to join the
Libertarian Party.

As far as revenue goes, Congress has too much revenue as it is and
they've shown us,they aren't about to spend it wisely. The argument
for more revenue flies out the window when common sense and history
are brought into the picture.

Don't legalize cannabis for recreation purposes. Don't ever do it.

An odd, rather clashing viewpoint, lacking substance. So to go by your reasoning, don't even think of trying to ban cigarettes, because you didn't smoke that stuff during the 60s and 70s?

From Yahoo

''It's legal to light up in Colorado and Washington, and soon smoking pot could be legalized across the country following a decision Thursday by the federal government.

After Washington state and Colorado passed laws in November 2012 legalizing the consumption and sale of marijuana for adults over 18, lawmakers in both states waited to see whether the federal government would continue to prosecute pot crimes under federal statutes in their states.

Both Colorado and Washington have been working to set up regulatory systems in order to license and tax marijuana growers and retail sellers, but have been wary of whether federal prosecutors would come after them for doing so. They are the first states to legalize pot, and therefore to go through the process of trying to set up a regulatory system.

Consumption and sale of marijuana is still illegal in all other states, though some cities and towns have passed local laws decriminalizing it or making it a low priority for law enforcement officers. There are also movements in many states to legalize pot, including legalization bills introduced in Maine and Rhode Island, discussion of possible bills in states including Massachusetts and Vermont, and talk of ballot initiatives in California and Oregon''

-http://news.yahoo.com/marijuana-ruling-could-signal-end-prohibition-pot-151612677--abc-news-topstories.html

Slowly getting closer to decriminalizing it. Regulate and tax it. Focus enforcement efforts on those that grow/sell/import illegally.

think if we would be just fine if we treated just like we do alcohol consumption. You can drink at home, you should be able to smoke at home. If you drink in public you get picked up for open container. If your wasted in public causing problems, the police can pick you up for public intox. (9 times out 10, you will be driven to Detox by OCPD released when your sober.)

If they are concerned bars might be havens for pot smoking, all they would have to do is go non smoking at all bars just like they did in the People's Republic of California.

The DUI statute could also apply. Let's face it, the only time you should be driving is when your head is free and not under the influence of anything that could effect your motor skills.

I believe it will be legal on the national level or in Oklahoma in no more than 10-15 years. Regulate, tax it and control with the same laws that are used for alcohol.

While requiring a strong dose of optimism, I think Oklahoma could approve of legalizing medical marijuana within 2 to 4 years of Arkansas doing it. Since the election results were so close with its first try, Arkansas might be able to approve of it in 2014. The challenge of not having enough activist enthusiasm or enough money to pay signature gatherers will be the main stumbling block toward getting medical marijuana on the ballot in Oklahoma. I believe that Republican legislators at the State Capitol won't dare make the process much easier by putting it on the ballot, out of fear the question would draw out too many Democrat voters, though this assumes the question would not also draw out hordes of Republican voters to defeat it. To speed things up, one could hope leading Republicans could allow a vote on Sen. Johnson's medical marijuana bill from them having been touched by close friends or relatives needing it, but that requires the tall order of developing some compassion as it relates to the benefits of medical marijuana toward your sick fellow human beings and putting it ahead of politics and Reefer Madness myths.

Ideally, though, it would be best to just skip the medical marijuana legalizing process and legalize in general. Hopefully, to encourage that to happen, legalization will go surprisingly well in Colorado and Washington, with very few, or no horror stories.

Public consumption of marijuana is still illegal under Amendment 64 in Colorado, smoking in public is still subject to fines and/or arrest. They are still trying to determine all the rules and regulations for recreational marijuana and THC/Blood level is one of the things they are trying to sort out. There are still a lot of things that need to be sorted out, I think the growing aspect is one on the biggest issues and field/factory type growth should be encouraged instead of the basement growing practices the state is trying to keep it at. Professional growers would make it easier to regulate.

Public consumption of marijuana is still illegal under Amendment 64 in Colorado, smoking in public is still subject to fines and/or arrest. They are still trying to determine all the rules and regulations for recreational marijuana and THC/Blood level is one of the things they are trying to sort out. There are still a lot of things that need to be sorted out, I think the growing aspect is one on the biggest issues and field/factory type growth should be encouraged instead of the basement growing practices the state is trying to keep it at. Professional growers would make it easier to regulate.

FWIW - I went to the OneRepublic concert at Red Rocks this past Thursday night. On the climb up to the venue, there were young people offering to sell joints to everyone walking by. I'm sure they had some takers, as the smell was fairly thick during the concert.

Well....it was Red Rocks concert.....there was some going around at The Beach Boys concert there last year. Just like many things, just because it is illegal doesn't mean that it will be enforced all the time.

Well....it was Red Rocks concert.....there was some going around at The Beach Boys concert there last year. Just like many things, just because it is illegal doesn't mean that it will be enforced all the time.

Reminds me of a few years back when Willie was at ZooAmp along with Ray Price and Merle. Someone lit up slightly upwind from us and my lovely commented how bad their cigarette smelled. I explained it wasn't a cig and suggested we just shift upwind a spell.

It took a minute and she got a really surprised look on her face. I was only surprised it hadn't already happened several times ... being that it was a Willie concert.

We had an "incident" at a Zoo concert, my cousin's band (Restless Heart) was opening for Glenn Frey in his solo heyday, after my cousin's set he came out and sat with us in the grass. My grandfather (who thought Pat Buchanan was too liberal for his liking) was sitting there with us when a joint was being passed down the row. It was offered to my grandfather who politely replied "no thanks, I don't smoke", we almost broke out laughing when that happened.

I have come to the conclusion that the drug laws in this country are kept in place because the government makes a crap load of money off of seizure and prosecution of drug users, drug trafficking and distribution.

Over the last few years, I have noticed that the majority of people liberals and conservatives alike don't see the need in locking up users until they start committing crimes to support their habit. The way I see it you should be able to put in your body whatever you want to provided your not out in public causing problems for everyone else. I work for a local hospital and I see more people intoxicated on booze who cause more trouble than those who use drugs. From what I have seen the meth heads are the ones out there causing real trouble these days.

On a side note: I was watching Dragnet the other day and caught an interesting comment from Joe Friday. Somebody was grilling him on TV show about marijuana. The person made the point that booze causes more problems then most drugs. He replied with "If you don't like the laws change them by talking to your elected leaders."

On a side note: I was watching Dragnet the other day and caught an interesting comment from Joe Friday. Somebody was grilling him on TV show about marijuana. The person made the point that booze causes more problems then most drugs. He replied with "If you don't like the laws change them by talking to your elected leaders."

Talking to elected leaders may not do any good and end up making a legislator decide against you. In asking my State Senator to do something about legalizing medical marijuana, he said he didn't know much about the issue and so asked a doctor's opinion about it. The doctor said the medical community didn't need medical marijuana. He asked a cop about it. The cop said marijuana is a gateway drug. So my State Senator now opposes so much as legalizing medical marijuana.

Talking to elected leaders may not do any good and end up making a legislator decide against you. In asking my State Senator to do something about legalizing medical marijuana, he said he didn't know much about the issue and so asked a doctor's opinion about it. The doctor said the medical community didn't need medical marijuana. He asked a cop about it. The cop said marijuana is a gateway drug. So my State Senator now opposes so much as legalizing medical marijuana.

Then his doctor is clueless or is fine with getting money for peddling prescription drugs that overdosed and killed nearly 2 people a day in Oklahoma in 2011 and 2012. Also, there are plenty of cops that agree that using police resources to fight pot is a waste of time and a losing battle. The Senator simply doesnt care about and Im guessing would rather focus on Sharia Law or something...

WOW! Shocking new poll results from the Sooner Poll (reputable Oklahoma pollster) on Oklahomans' opinion on medical marijuana and decriminalization. Folks, there's a broad majority of Oklahoma registered voters who now favor medical pot. More details included in this Observer article. Someone needs to call the Republican Party nitwits at the Legislature and ask them to quit blocking Constance Johnson's bills. This seems like a great opportunity for an initiative petition.

New Poll: Sooners Embrace Medical Marijuana | Oklahoma Observer (http://www.okobserver.net/2013/09/18/new-poll-sooners-embrace-medical-marijuana/)