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Jun-23-2013 10:52
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Marijuana Legalization in the United States and Europe
Dr. Phillip Leveque Prof. of Pharmacology Salem-News.comIt has been estimated that 400 million people in the world use marijuana but I would guess that the actual use is twice or three times that.
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(PORTLAND, OR) - It is difficult to keep up with the legalization of marijuana by American states. Two have already decriminalized, and last week legislation was introduced to remove legal sanctions against pot in Oregon, and the number is growing rapidly, and now that states have figured out that marijuana business can be taxed and bring in many millions of dollars, it looks like real progress.
CNN had a show about marijuana Friday night. The advocates did an excellent job but the anti-marijuana scoffers were having a field day quoting 'Reefer Madness' and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) falsies. One of the scoffers was a police official from Vermont who didn't have a single word of acceptance. They also had the executive director of LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition) who did an excellent job. Somebody pointed out that police surveillance of drug activity was costing about $40 billion per year and that putting marijuana users in prison was costing roughly another $40 billion per year. Is this good?
The guy from Vermont stated that all of the European countries which had legalized marijuana were now reversing the laws. I did not believe it, so I checked the latest online information.
Marijuana is now more or less legal in Iceland, Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Holland, France, Italy, Denmark, Czech Republic, and the list keeps going. I also checked for Africa, it is illegal most places but widely used in Morocco, Algeria, Kenya, South Africa, and Malawi, where some of the best grass is growing. Central and South American countries are widely tolerant of marijuana use.
In eastern Europe it is still illegal but widely used. St Petersburg, Russia, sounds much like Vancouver, B.C.
It is also widely used in Japan.
It has been estimated that 400 million people in the world use marijuana but I would guess that the actual use is twice or three times that.
The scoffers, including the guy from Vermont, always introduce figures about the harm marijuana does and the automobile accidents which it does not cause.
California estimates that marijuana sales are $15 billion per year.
EUROPE WELCOMES POT SMOKERS! |
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KK June 24, 2013 9:17 am (Pacific time)
I will keep voting YES..Im being rail roaded because IM a OMMP card holder...
Dave Wisniewski June 24, 2013 12:21 am (Pacific time)
Arizona is going for it too. SaferArizona.com
jackenauf June 23, 2013 5:34 pm (Pacific time)
cannabis will be legal worldwide even if the DEA and the gov. keep spouting propaganda
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