Archive for the ‘marijuana’ Category
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In last Tuesday’s california election, every proposition that the Governor Schwarzenegger backed was RESOUNDINGLY DEFEATED. Even with his threats to cut health care, education, and fire and police protection, the california citizens didn’t bite. So we will see if the threats made by the governor come to pass. But that is not the real question. Because with one vote, california already signed its fate. californians voted for Prop 8, which made marriage between Same Gendered Couples illegal.
Before the election and discussion might now be accelerated, there was talk of maybe legalizing Marijuana. This drug is called a “Schedule 1″ drug as far as the Federal Government is concerned, meaning it is one of the worse drugs in the world. Other Schedule 1 drugs include: Heroin, GHB, and Meth Amphetamine. And to show just how silly this really is, COCAINE is NOT a Schedule 1 drug but Marijuana is! Yet there is serious talk about legalizing a drug that is supposed to be one of the worse drugs in the world. californians would rather have a bunch of potheads instead of law abiding Same Couple Marriages.
An article came out on May 17, 2009, a few days before the california elections, which stated that the state of Massachusetts has gotten a 111 million dollar windfall since it legalized Same Couple Marriage. NOW, 111 million dollars is a drop in the bucket compared to the money that is needed to shore up the california budget, but the fact remains that Same Couple Marriage brings money and JOBS into the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts’ unemployment rate is at 8% and california’s is around 11%. The “trickle down theory” of the money being spent in Massachusetts and not in california should be lost here. Iowa, another state that has legalized Same Couple Marriage, has an unemployment rate of 5.1%. And their tourism industry is on the rise with Lesbian and Gay couples from surrounding states taking buses to Iowa to get married. Since there is a 3 day waiting period to get a marriage license, I wonder how much money is being spent in Iowa for hotels, Limos, food, lounging, and catering services, just to name a few. AGAIN, money that could be flowing into the coffers of california. Because the bottom line, and no offense to Massachusetts or Iowa, california is a better place to be and get married! Not only can you go from the beach, to the snow, and then to the desert in hours, but you are right near an international border in Mexico where you can have a whole other experience! People came from not just other states, but OTHER COUNTRIES to get married in california when it was legal! Don’t you get it!!!
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26
I’m trying to wrap my head around this concept. For those people living in california, you know that every time you look around, there seems a new tax, a rise in food prices, or gas prices, or a loss of jobs. And now there is a San Francisco representative, Tom Ammiano, who wants to tax marijuana .
Ok, first thing is that while californians have passed Prop 215 that allows for the growing and use of marijuana for medical purposes. Yet marijuana dispensaries are being raided on a weekly basis. And it is still against Federal Law. Second, and how I understand it, the state would put a $50.00 fee on an ounce of marijuana. L. M. F. A. O. !!! Why would I pay $150.00 for an ounce of marijuana when I can still go to the “neighborhood dealer” and get the same or BETTER marijuana for $50.00 less???? Why would a drug dealer pay $5,000.00 for a “franchise fee” and another $2,500.00, on a yearly basis mind you, when they don’t have to? How many legitimate business owners waited until they started making “real money” before they got all of the licenses, permits, and “legalese” worked out??? Many people want to keep the government out of their business. Why would I let them into something like this????
Lastly, and this is what really pisses me off the most. The citizens of this state voted against Same Sex Marriage. A decision that cost this state potentially $684 million dollars. The Williams Institute at U.C.L.A. predicted gay men and lesbians would spend alot of money on wedding cakes, photographers, tuxedos, hotel rooms, and related wedding trappings. So here we have an untapped market that has a “trickle down” effect and was voted away. Here is a market that would pull people from not only other states, BUT OTHER COUNTRIES as well, to add money to our state coffers. But noooooo! We would rather have the governor raise sales and income taxes, and have cuts to many social service programs.
Either way, the state of california loses. Because instead of people coming here to get married, they are going to Massachuttes, Vermont, and Rhode Island. Oh, and instead of californians staying here and getting married, we are “heading east.” Kinda puts a new spin on the “east coast, west coast” debate doesn’t it! To smoke or get married. What a dilema!