Legislators aim to snuff out penalties for pot use!!

Truley

"The vast amount of human activity ought to be none of the government's business,"

here here!

Sounds good to me! Personally I hate the stuff and ask that others not smoke around me, but I don't see it as any more socially disruptive than alcohol. In fact, probably less so. 

Cita

Personally I hate the stuff and ask that others not smoke around me, but I don't see it as any more socially disruptive than alcohol. In fact, probably less so. 

My definition of "socially disruptive" includes anything that forces me to leave a gathering.  I can stay around amiable people that are drinking, but if folks are smoking anything and polluting my air with smoke, I have to leave. 

If anyone tried to force alcohol down my throat, they would be jailed for assault.  Why should polluting my air with a drug (nicotine or THC) be any different?

All my life the "right to smoke" has equaled "the right to exclude me"!!  If people want to smoke (tobacco or pot) in private, fine, but not publically.

While I avoid the stuff personally, I do smoke regular cigarette's. It is my choice. I do not force my choice on anyone outside of, your ride in my car, or come to my home, I'm going to smoke, the choice at that point is yours.

In regards to in the public? I don't have a problem with limiting or stopping smoking inside public buildings, but I do with outside. But only in the terms of I have rights too.

Truley

I don't have a problem with limiting or stopping smoking inside public buildings, but I do with outside. But only in the terms of I have rights too.

I agree with you to some extent.  However, I disagree about smoking near entrances/exits, in crowds, or any place where one forces other people to move to get away from the smoke (bus stops, for instance). 

I understand that you feel that your rights have been restricted, but my right to breathe trumps anyone's right to indulge in a drug addiction in public.  You may not like to look at that way, but that is the way I see it. 

Not sure what the race issue had to do with it...but how in the HECK are folks in authority...supposed to tell a "resposible" user from irresponsible? That to me...is lame.

IMO as someone who grew up in an MJ laced home, and has worked with folks who come to the job stoned,...it's effects on families and individuals...are far, far from harmless.

I am not about MJ used legally, anyplace outside of a monitored hash bar type place. Know where the potheads hang out so you can avoid it...and put parking meters out front to generate revenue for the city when they get so stoned they don't remember to put more change in and their car gets booted...that's a win win to me.

If marijuana were legalized, I don't think it would affect the places where smoking tobacco currently is or isn't allowed. Just in the places people are currently smoking tobacco, in the future some might also be smoking marijuana.

Cita

Just in the places people are currently smoking tobacco, in the future some might also be smoking marijuana.

Many parents may have some tolerance for exposing their kids to a small amount of tobacco smoke (stimulant).  They will have no tolerance for exposure to marijuana smoke (intoxicant).

Smoking marijuana should be in private only. 

janet_rose

Smoking marijuana should be in private only. 

i think that is very reasonable!

CA has one of the strongest "no smoking" policies anywhere so I would guess that whatever applies to tobacco would also apply to marijuana. Here there's no smoking in any public building, bar or restaurant and no loitering around outside to smoke.  You can smoke outside if you're on your way from one place to another, in your own home or in your own car .... but you can't smoke in the car if you have a minor child as a passenger. You will get stopped for that - and fined.

Joyce

rwbeagles

Not sure what the race issue had to do with it...but how in the HECK are folks in authority...supposed to tell a "resposible" user from irresponsible? That to me...is lame.

IMO as someone who grew up in an MJ laced home, and has worked with folks who come to the job stoned,...it's effects on families and individuals...are far, far from harmless.

While I agree that pot is not as harmless as many fans would like to believe, I don't see that it is any worse than alcohol.  Maybe my point of view is a little different because I had quite a few alcoholics around me growing up.  My dad had his troubles and both of my best friend's parents were raging alcoholics--I was a regular at their house from fourth grade through college and can count on one hand the number of times I saw her mom sober).  I've known lots of people who have been caught driving drunk and got a first hand lesson on the effects of driving drunk after seeing a young motorcyclist splattered all over the road after a drunken run-in with a semi.  I just can't imagine pot being any more destructive than booze.

I can tell you that I think that people should either be doing it in their own homes only or in specially set aside bars--NOT in public. 

sillysally

While I agree that pot is not as harmless as many fans would like to believe, I don't see that it is any worse than alcohol.  Maybe my point of view is a little different because I had quite a few alcoholics around me growing up.

I totally agree. I haven't seen my dad since I was 9 because of alcohol. If he was just a pothead, chances are he'd still be around.

I have a cousin who is stoned half the day, every day, and yet he's an incredibly hard worker, and very responsible. If he was drunk or even just "buzzed" half the day, you think that'd be true? No WAY.

FWIW, I hate being around pot...the smell makes me nauseous (I hate being around cigarettes as well. Instant pounding headache!). I've never smoked pot, and I seriously doubt I ever will. But I think it should be just as legal as alcohol (meaning no driving stoned, no walking around smoking it, etc.).

I personally don't smoke pot or tobacco but I do live in a house of 4 other guys who are heavy smokers of tobacco and do smoke pot at night. They've made changes to how and where they smoke to make my life easier in the house so I'm not being smoked out. There are designated places in the house that are smoke free where I can sit in peace.

I don't agree with forcing people to smoke else where out side without offering some coverage and benches where they can sit in peace and somewhat comfort.  

Having lived with an alcoholic for the first part of my life, I'm more afraid of the drinkers then pot smokers. Infact where I live the drunks rule the streets and have been seen bothering people walking down the street for money. I have on many occasions been harassed on my way to the bottle depot just because I MIGHT have money in 10 minutes. 

Crack addicts also rule the streets here. I can't walk through the local park after dusk with out seeing somebody on the park bench with a pipe or needle. Our police system here is so corrupt that it's pathetic. With all these problems walking down the street and they're worried about the pot problem. In my eyes there are bigger problems to fix before cracking down on the pot.

So if a pothead came up to me on the street, 10 to 1 I know the person. And they might be stoned but they don't walk down the street smoking a joint. So yeah, I agree pot should be legalized with some guidelines, like alcohol. Living in BC, especially the coast, there is a large pot growing industry here.

I agree that the public should have the choice of going somewhere smoke free (being a nonsmoker my self) but I also think that there should be designated spots where the pot smoker can go and relax with the munchies. Lol.  Pulling the feet out of from under a smoker without giving them a place to go in my eyes is wrong. The legal people should give them a place to go.  

Hopefully this post made some sense. Lol.  

oranges81

I agree that the public should have the choice of going somewhere smoke free (being a nonsmoker my self) but I also think that there should be designated spots where the pot smoker can go and relax with the munchies.

Yes, your post makes sense, except for the public having to do anything but avoid places where smoking is permitted.

Individuals should have the choice of going somewhere smoke free when they are living with smokers.  Individuals should have the choice of going somewhere smoking is permitted. 

The public should not have to look for someplace smoke free.  That should be the "default".