Burnsville man gets 10-year sentence for pot operation

[ZenBirdist]

Mr V wrote:

<quoted text> Why do the libs think taxation is the answer to everything? This plan of yours would eventually go the same way as gas prices. Everytime the gov't needs to fund a pet project or things light light rail, a dog park, more medical care for the increasing invasion of illegals, whatever. They will add another half cent here a penny there, a nickel for a new ball park. It all adds up until the product, in this case marijuana, just keeps becoming more and more expensive until it becomes more affordable through a black market. Just like gas, marijuana would just become another revenue source, a tax source, to dig deeper into the consumer products. Enough with the taxes already. The loss of a free market society is killing the middle class. If there is a market for any product or project, free enterprise will meet that demand. We don't need more government involvement, in the way of more taxes, to meet the needs of government greed. Damnn you tax and spend democrats. Vote conservative for smaller government.

Why wouldn't we tax it much like we do alcohol and tobacco? The revenues raised could go back into something beneficial to us all as a society (improving schools, for one example).

I suggest treating marijuana with a similar set of laws as what's in place for alcohol consumption. Beer is a huge part of the free market, for example. Corporate profit drives product quality and keeps prices in check, and in the end the consumer benefits through this competition. No one is allowed to brew their own unregulated home beer and sell it, but you can brew your own and enjoy it yourself. Get behind the wheel after you've indulged in too much (it matters not, home brewed or store bought) then you'll find yourself in appropriate trouble. Supply it to minors and you're in trouble. Enjoy it responsibly and no one bothers you about it. The taxes you pay on it goes to some larger purpose than your enjoyment of the libation.

That's how it needs to be with marijuana. It would take the 'free market' out of the hands of drug dealers who engage in the sale of harder, more dangerous substances.

[OJs Girl]

ZenBirdist you took your picture off. Why? Was it because of the mustache? I for one thought it gave you charactor. Put it back please.

[Consistent]

ZenBirdist wrote:

<quoted text>
Why wouldn't we tax it much like we do alcohol and tobacco? The revenues raised could go back into something beneficial to us all as a society (improving schools, for one example).
I suggest treating marijuana with a similar set of laws as what's in place for alcohol consumption. Beer is a huge part of the free market, for example. Corporate profit drives product quality and keeps prices in check, and in the end the consumer benefits through this competition. No one is allowed to brew their own unregulated home beer and sell it, but you can brew your own and enjoy it yourself. Get behind the wheel after you've indulged in too much (it matters not, home brewed or store bought) then you'll find yourself in appropriate trouble. Supply it to minors and you're in trouble. Enjoy it responsibly and no one bothers you about it. The taxes you pay on it goes to some larger purpose than your enjoyment of the libation.
That's how it needs to be with marijuana. It would take the 'free market' out of the hands of drug dealers who engage in the sale of harder, more dangerous substances.

More money=Better schools. Duh!!! why didnt someone else think of that in the past 60 years!
If we tax enough, we can have 60% passing/reading rates...COOL Idea, thanks. Gonna go call my representative RIGHT NOW!.....exiting concept!

I have an idea....tax very little.

We have enough Parasites living off the Productive Class already!

Stop criminalizing all Substances, and let people choose their own path to destruction!

[ZenBirdist]

Consistent wrote:

<quoted text>
More money=Better schools. Duh!!! why didnt someone else think of that in the past 60 years!
If we tax enough, we can have 60% passing/reading rates...COOL Idea, thanks. Gonna go call my representative RIGHT NOW!.....exiting concept!
I have an idea....tax very little.
We have enough Parasites living off the Productive Class already!
Stop criminalizing all Substances, and let people choose their own path to destruction!

For what it's worth, I also feel that adults should be allowed to choose their own poisons. But I have a few questions for you:

1. Who are the parasites and how does taxing marijuana equate to them living off the productive class?

2. Who is the productive class, and how does taxing marijuana equate to them supporting the parasites?

3. I specifically stated that marijuana should be legalized. What part of my post led you to tell me to "stop criminalizing all substances"?

[ZenBirdist]

OJs Girl wrote:

ZenBirdist you took your picture off. Why? Was it because of the mustache? I for one thought it gave you charactor. Put it back please.

Ah, I see the Topix Brain Trust has arrived!

[Madman]

Consistent wrote:

<quoted text>
More money=Better schools. Duh!!! why didnt someone else think of that in the past 60 years!
If we tax enough, we can have 60% passing/reading rates...COOL Idea, thanks. Gonna go call my representative RIGHT NOW!.....exiting concept!
I have an idea....tax very little.
We have enough Parasites living off the Productive Class already!
Stop criminalizing all Substances, and let people choose their own path to destruction!

Why cry out against taxation when W has run up a staggering debt? Why are "tax and spend" liberals berated terribly, while "spend and borrow" conservatives are somehow honorable?

I agree -- we have enough parasites living off the Productive Class already! Halliburton, Blackwater, FEMA ....

This is yet another case of justice gone awry! Ten years for running weed, while a shopaholic mother allows her toddler to drown while shopping and gets 6 months with visitation, or the soldier's wife that sold their house, cleaned out his accounts, and moved the kids out of state gets 30 days!! High time (no pun) to stop criminalizing recreational drugs when there are REAL Crimininals out there!

[ZenBirdist]

ZenBirdFlu wrote:

<quoted text> Christina Webber, 420 Dud, ZenBirdbrain and Ms Rosemount are all the same person. Like Sybil only all the personalities and agendas are the same. He/she posts under different identities and agrees with his/her own posts, thinking it gives them creedence. How pathetic. Troll. At it's lamest.

LOL!

It's a pretty creative theory, I have to admit. Christina is Ms. Rosemount, she has stated so herself. I don't know anything about 420DuDe other than his peaceful affinity with weed. I am only me, myself, Zen. I've only ever been Zen and have never posted under another name and my posts are kept public so I'm always accountable for what I've posted. I like to think that gives me some creedence without having to create several identities. Um, know what I'm saying, "Zenbirdbrain"?

Thanks for the laugh, though!

[ZenBirdist]

ZenBirdist wrote:

<quoted text>
Um, know what I'm saying, "Zenbirdbrain"?

Oh, wait, you called yourself "ZenBirdFlu" this time.

...clever.

[Madman]

Mr V wrote:

<quoted text> We don't need more government involvement, in the way of more taxes, to meet the needs of government greed. Damnn you tax and spend democrats. Vote conservative for smaller government.

Darn those greedy Marines! Spendthrift Army grunts! Don't they realize the debt they are running up with this Iraq thing? Bullets are expensive, and so are Humvees -- they better quit wasting them. Lets save money and simply eliminate the whole Defense budget -- with Russia no longer a key player, who needs it?

I still want to know why "tax and spend" liberals get no respect, yet "borrow and spend" conservatives are somehow better? Why is it better to waste money paying compound interest to finance the war than pay-as-we-go? Is it "conservative" to have China own us?

We have just suffered 6 years of conservative government, and we are fiscally far worse off than with ANY liberal government in our history! Even drunken sailors know better than to greatly increase their spending and cut their income at the same time! They are sailors, not magicians nor illusionists. Too bad W is just a very bad illusionist!

[Tired]

10 years for pot.... You can get less time for crimes that cause death.

[Mark]

The contrast between the state of our controlled substance laws and the informed opinions of the populace (as viewed in your posts, here) is amazing to the point of a genuine disconnect between the laws and the people. The non-violent should not be behind bars, and it's an appalling accident of history that some relatively harmless substances are banned, while more injurious substances remain legal. The curious identification of the counter-culture with this drug is what prevents it from being on the table politically: i.e., do you really want to take a public stand on an issue when Cheech & Chong will be sidling up to you as allies? The potential exists for the baby boomer generation to reform the law. Until we can get past our cultural divisions, this will remain potential only.

[Nick]

Make it a right to grow as much as you like and to sell as much as you like. Do not tax it because the government will waste the money. Leave all the money in the community and it will be put to better use.

Take the current funds used to ban marijuana and apply them to meth and cocaine. Make all importation of any illegal drugs including non home grown weed a major crime. I would apply the death penalty to foreign importers.

Repeat, DO NOT TAX IT, let the people spend their own money. The government is not to be trusted with tax money.

[ZenBirdist]

Nick wrote:

Make it a right to grow as much as you like and to sell as much as you like. Do not tax it because the government will waste the money. Leave all the money in the community and it will be put to better use.
Take the current funds used to ban marijuana and apply them to meth and cocaine. Make all importation of any illegal drugs including non home grown weed a major crime. I would apply the death penalty to foreign importers.
Repeat, DO NOT TAX IT, let the people spend their own money. The government is not to be trusted with tax money.

Interesting! I bet the interest in horticulture classes would skyrocket, lol. Actually, I see the wisdom of your suggestions (except the death penalty for importers, that's a bit rash). Everything else sounds nearly brilliant.

[Nick]

The importation of meth, cocaine and heroin cause a multitude of death and destruction. I believe the death penalty would be the punishment fitting the crime. Execute a few and it may discourage others. If nothing else it will permanently retire a dope dealer.
No criminal Columbian or Mexican dealers life is worth the damage their drugs to Americans.

[tjwillie]

Isn't ironic that this man gets 10 years while first and even second time rapists are out in 7. Even meth wouldn't have got him that much time. I agree that it should be legal and regulated, but then the entire gov would have to admit the last 80 years of calling it one of the worst drugs in the U.S. was complete bs

[JPJP]

Since someone else took this a bit off topic. For clarification "borrow and spend" republicans are NOT conservative. A conservative would responsibly evaluate both income and expenses of the government and the legislation that they introduce. There are very few conservative politicians.
As far as you high asses wanting to legalize it. I bet you can get that done if you come up with a way to tell if a driver is currently baked. A way that is solid enough to used by law enforcement.

[Open eyes]

Mr V wrote:

<quoted text> Why do the libs think taxation is the answer to everything? This plan of yours would eventually go the same way as gas prices. Everytime the gov't needs to fund a pet project or things light light rail, a dog park, more medical care for the increasing invasion of illegals, whatever. They will add another half cent here a penny there, a nickel for a new ball park. It all adds up until the product, in this case marijuana, just keeps becoming more and more expensive until it becomes more affordable through a black market. Just like gas, marijuana would just become another revenue source, a tax source, to dig deeper into the consumer products. Enough with the taxes already. The loss of a free market society is killing the middle class. If there is a market for any product or project, free enterprise will meet that demand. We don't need more government involvement, in the way of more taxes, to meet the needs of government greed. Damnn you tax and spend democrats. Vote conservative for smaller government.

It is already Black Market...sell it in liquor stores - tax it etc. etc. come on.

[tjwillie]

Police do have tests for drivers that are impaired from pot, they even have their own DUI classifcation. This is a matter of the government not wanting to admit they have been wrong for the last 80 years.

[Open eyes]

JPJP wrote:

Since someone else took this a bit off topic. For clarification "borrow and spend" republicans are NOT conservative. A conservative would responsibly evaluate both income and expenses of the government and the legislation that they introduce. There are very few conservative politicians.
As far as you high asses wanting to legalize it. I bet you can get that done if you come up with a way to tell if a driver is currently baked. A way that is solid enough to used by law enforcement.

Well, I'm sure if they have the ability to have a breathalisor detect alcohol - one that could detect THC could also be created.
Legalizing it would ease the criminal element at bit as well - you never see gang bangers pushing alchol and the street corner.