Weed now legal in RI!

[GuitarBilly]

I would love to live in a society where grown adults can make the choice to put whatever they want in their body so long as they are not hurting others, which would include pretty much all drugs. I’ve just changed my position on whether or not our society is rooted and mature enough for that to actually be a good thing.

Well those who do drugs and hurt others will get the punishment they deserve since hurting others is already illegal in all 50 states. Those who don't do drugs but hurt others (plenty of that) will get the same punishment because it's the same thing.
And those who do drugs and don't hurt others can be left TF alone.

Personal accountability is at an all time low in this country. Across the board. Holy crap.

Are you 500lbs and taxing the system because you're on disability due to galloping diabetes? it's the junk food's fault. I mean, they put that delicious candy right at the check out line. UNNACEPTABLE.

Did you get drunk and decided to drive on the wrong side of the freeway? Fucking booze man. Too easy to get.

Did you get high and chased people with a knife? that fucking leaf did it again. goddamn (could be the knife fault too. TBD).

Wait, did you just open fire at a WalMart? Well clearly the problem was the gun.

Cheated on your wife? Well the apps like Tinder make it too easy and there's too much porn so you are too tempted.

I could go on and on about this... the common thread is .. Everybody's fault but yours. Actually, not even everybody. Let's blame Things! A leaf. A piece of metal. A bottle. A candy bar. A computer program. NOT you.

Let's make everything illegal then. The government knows what's best for us.

[Ostinato Rubato]

Decriminalization and legal commercialized access to weed are two very different things. I’m not gonna argue the government making everything illegal because that’s not my argument. Usually when people say “legal weed” they’re referring to walking into the weed store and buying recreational weed.

So like, you know when you drive into a neighborhood and there are pawn shops and a lot of liquor stores and you are aware that it’s not really a desirable place to live?

“This is your neighborhood on weed dispensaries.” Not a difficult concept to grasp.

I celebrate people in RI not having legal problems for using weed. I lament what commercialized legal weed being available in communities throughout the state will do long-term to those communities. It’s my opinion that it’s a net negative.

[spawnofthesith]

Prohibition is the cause of any legit “gateway theory” claims. Because when your buying drugs on a black market chances are pretty high that eventually your guy is going to have some other wares for sale.

Now this could be relatively benign drugs like psychedelics or mdma, or if you have a sheostier dealer could quickly be pills, heroin, meth etc.

[spawnofthesith]

If I’m being real tho, my actual interest in psychedelics began long before o ever drank alcohol or smoke weed, when I was around 10 in one of those DARE classes. I was captivated by the concept

[GuitarBilly]

Decriminalization and legal commercialized access to weed are two very different things.

They're different alright. Decriminalization still gets the people selling it in trouble and that's BS.

Usually when people say “legal weed” they’re referring to walking into the weed store and buying recreational weed.

Yep, no reason people looking for pot shouldn't be able to do exactly that. You don't have to go to the dispensary if you don't like it.

So like, you know when you drive into a neighborhood and there are pawn shops and a lot of liquor stores and you are aware that it’s not really a desirable place to live?

so like, no, I don't know that at all. I live in a very nice area with a medium home price of 600k and very low crime and we have several liquor stores and dispensaries here. Pretty sure there's a pawnshop somewhere around here too. Not a high crime area.
Cities/states have zoning laws so I highly doubt someone will open a weed shop next to your cul de sac.
But it's illegal drug dealers that make an area undesirable, not dispensaries and liquor stores. I don't think I have ever lived in an area without a liquor store or a pawnshop nearby and nothing over happened to me because of it.

Prohibition is the cause of any legit “gateway theory” claims. Because when your buying drugs on a black market chances are pretty high that eventually your guy is going to have some other wares for sale.

Now this could be relatively benign drugs like psychedelics or mdma, or if you have a sheostier dealer could quickly be pills, heroin, meth etc.

100%. Not to mention straight up lacing your shit and not telling you about it.

[TurboPablo]

Decriminalization and legal commercialized access to weed are two very different things. I’m not gonna argue the government making everything illegal because that’s not my argument. Usually when people say “legal weed” they’re referring to walking into the weed store and buying recreational weed.

So like, you know when you drive into a neighborhood and there are pawn shops and a lot of liquor stores and you are aware that it’s not really a desirable place to live?

“This is your neighborhood on weed dispensaries.” Not a difficult concept to grasp.

I celebrate people in RI not having legal problems for using weed. I lament what commercialized legal weed being available in communities throughout the state will do long-term to those communities. It’s my opinion that it’s a net negative.

What are the weed related violence/mental health statistics here in the northeast vs. out west where you are? Do they average equally across the country? I've never looked as the overall existence up here in southern New England is very serene and peaceful. That said, don't assume our neighborhoods are as seedy as anywhere you have lived. The dispensaries here are clean, run very professionally and exist peacefully in nice, regular neighborhoods. They are regulated and operate just like liquor stores, but with tight security. No ID, no service, get off the property. A lot of them are purposely staffed with retired cops. I have stood in line with people from all walks of life at the ones I have visited and I've never seen a single problem in my time. Well off folks who pull up in high end cars to 21 year olds in jalopy's. All standing in line together politely chatting away. I've seen a lot of people with obvious physical ailments that have apparently found some relief there. These are folks who really can't just go to your buddies house to pick up a quarter ounce. So, please understand that it isn't shady at all and you probably shouldn't presume to know anything else without visiting here to see for yourself.

Your energy would be better spent clutching your pearls over excessive alcohol consumption and legalized sports betting.

Finally, since we are assuming things today, I'll suggest that maybe, just maybe, up here in New England, we do civil society better than the rest of the country. Shit, we've been doing it longer than anyone else in America.

[Beef]

If anybody is interested, this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Unbiased-Truth-World%C2%92s-Popular/dp/1616495596
is a pretty insightful read on some of the relatively current research and understanding around marijuana from a seasoned professional who is involved in both clinical work as well as research in the field.. No connection to the author here and feel free to buy anywhere of course but it is an enlightening and interesting read regarding some of the things addressed in this thread.

[GuitarBilly]

If anybody is interested, this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Marijuana-Unbiased-Truth-World%C2%92s-Popular/dp/1616495596
is a pretty insightful read on some of the relatively current research and understanding around marijuana from a seasoned professional who is involved in both clinical work as well as research in the field.. No connection to the author here and feel free to buy anywhere of course but it is an enlightening and interesting read regarding some of the things addressed in this thread.

Cool. I'll check it out.

Studies like this are a good thing, regardless of the conclusions.

If there's anything that's proven effective to curb addiction is education and awareness.

Just look at the enormous success awareness campaigns had in reducing cigarette smoking vs the absolute failure that is the war on drugs.

I agree that cannabis needs to be more studied and their positive and negative effects aren't completely understood.

But throwing people in jail because of it is a stupid policy with 50+ years of failure behind it.

[RyanDistortion]

Decriminalization and legal commercialized access to weed are two very different things. I’m not gonna argue the government making everything illegal because that’s not my argument. Usually when people say “legal weed” they’re referring to walking into the weed store and buying recreational weed.

So like, you know when you drive into a neighborhood and there are pawn shops and a lot of liquor stores and you are aware that it’s not really a desirable place to live?

“This is your neighborhood on weed dispensaries.” Not a difficult concept to grasp.

I celebrate people in RI not having legal problems for using weed. I lament what commercialized legal weed being available in communities throughout the state will do long-term to those communities. It’s my opinion that it’s a net negative.

Finally, since we are assuming things today, I'll suggest that maybe, just maybe, up here in New England, we do civil society better than the rest of the country. Shit, we've been doing it longer than anyone else in America.

Pardon me, sir, but you dropped your monocle.