Anyone who thinks Pennsylvania is close to legalizing pot must be smoking something
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Anyone who thinks Pennsylvania is close to legalizing pot must be smoking something
Philly.com's newish pro-pot columnist (pictured on Philly.com here ,on left, proudly breaking the law...where are the David Gregory cops?) is still lighting it up on the Internet:
Locally, there was one brief test last weekend of Obama’s “bigger fish” statement. More than 150 supporters gathered on Independence Mall near the Liberty Bell on December 15 for a demonstration called “Smoke Down Prohibition.” Activists, including a registered nurse, a cancer patient and myself addressed the crowd. At 4:20 p.m., most of those in attendance lit up marijuana joints.
National Park Service police and a contingent of Philadelphia City Police watched from across the street. The event took place on federal property in an area preserved for 1st Amendment protests. There were no arrests or citations.
Why demonstrate? Well, as Thomas Jefferson said “If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it; he is obligated to do so.”
OK -- but whatever happened to the big banks and the 1 Percent? Sigh. Meanwhile, there's an article speculating on the prospects for medical marijuana or any other type of pot legalization in Pennylvania. Basically, the commonwealth is engaged in a race to the bottom to see what will cross the finish line last -- medical marijuana or gay rights. I don't expect to live long enough to find out, as evidenced by this circa-1967 spokesman for Gov. Corbett:
"He believes that smoking marijuana is a crime, should remain a crime and that marijuana is a gateway drug," Harley said.
In other words, let them inhale fracking chemicals.
I know 3 chronic unemployment milkers. Just can't seem to find a job. All 3 smoke weed. Probably just a coincidence though.— Bobski5000- If pot were legal people would grow their own. There would be no benefit to the general population.It's better to lock people up or fine them because it helps the economy...— thomas j barnes
- Every summer when I see all those community gardens in vacant lots around the city I get very depressed and concerned.
Just imagine what all those tomato plants - not to mention the zucchini and melons - are doing to strangle the income of commercial farmers everywhere - virtually crippling the economy. - Hamlet- to say that heroin users are stupid is very stupid...some may be, but a huge number now are people who get hooked on pain killeres by their doctors and then turn to heroin as the only way to stave off the horrible physical withdrawal from those legal meds— cdw1262
- Every citizen should be allowed to grow a few pot plants. We can grow tobacco, lettuce, tomatoes, but not pot. I think the police and prison industries may find legalizing pot a threat. There would be fewer folks in jail, and fewer criminals to catch. Think of the savings to the American taxpayer. I know it will not happen in PA in my lifetime. Growing a few plants could be good as added income for seniors though. If we could each grow 6 plants, our lives would be that much better because we would be able to pay more bills.— misterpond
Bobski, you should begin to "know" some other people— 835union- I don't care if someone smokes pot, but if they need to go to rehab, it should be paid cash out of pocket by the user. No insurance, no government, no nothing. If they get fired from their job because their stoned all the time, no unemployment compensation. Let them stand on their own and reap the consequences of their choices.— jmc
By all means keep it illegal because that is really stopping people from growing, buying or smoking it. The "War on Drugs" has been such a calamitous disaster of wasted money, resources and lives and people still continue to be able to acquire marijuana whenever and wherever they want. It's easier for a kid to get pot than a beer so keeping it illegal prevents what exactly?- jmc - Does that go for alcohol abuse too? How about trans-fat abuse? Old age abuse? Or is it just things YOU don't like?
- Corbett cant even handle the liquor store fiasco and he is supposed to tackle this?— tdoc
- Some conservatives just seem to have all the answers and they are always the smartest people in the room! Anyone not with them is Liberal, just ask them. The far Left doesn't suffer from this malady as much, they don't seem to know what they want or where that line that means far Left really is.
Look at Prohibition, that worked out. Anyone want to come on here and explain that alcohol doesn't kill far more people and cost society far more than POT? Tobacco is legal and everyone grows their own, right? Lots of incentive now too; you see the taxes they get on cigarettes? Let's cut spending but not at the expense of high costs for (and to) law enforcement. Oh, btw most cops make too much money and get far too sweet a deal on their benefits (according to many who post on here). Does anyone really want to make the investment to totally 'solve' the problem or is status quo their answer? Is this like speed limits? We post 65 but enforce at 75 and most people drive 80 - it's okay - everyone does it, it's just the way it is so move on.
All chronic unemployed must be weed smokers. Weed has completely wiped out ambition which they had in spades before they discovered POT. Of course, don't get in their way if they are trying to go find some weed, then ambition shows up. That's just a coincidence though.— elbrewador - What does any of this have to do with political views? Or is this using Corbett to brush every conservative with a wide brush? Also, you were nicely hypocritical in your 1st paragraph. "Conservatives think they know all the answers, but the liberals don't, so they're smarter." Well played.
— verve 
Don't legalize it. Just stop prosecuting it as a crime. If they legalize it, prices will double sure as the sun rises. Look at how Jersey is screwing it up...No need at all for John Law to get involved.— The Monk- .— The Monk
- Legalizing pot is a necessity for PA's tax base. Just like the wind fall from casino's, the state needs to realize it should not pick and choose the vices simply because of a 1960's stigma. Between alcohol, pot and gambling, I can assure you that the less dangerous option is pot.— LGbalsac
- Andrew Sullivan
- Blinq
- Blogorrhea
- Blonde Sagacity
- Free Republic
- Instapundit
- James Taranto
- ScrappleFace
- The Corner
- Buzzmachine
- Eat the Press
- Editor and Publisher
- Media (Huffington Post)
- Media Bloodhound
- Mickey Kaus
- Pressthink
- Romenesko
- The Inksniffer
- A List of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago
- Above Average Jane
- BlankBaby
- Citizen Mom
- Keystone Blog
- Metroblogging Philadelphia
- Phawker
- Philadelphia - America's Hometown
- Philadelphia Will Do
- Philebrity
- Philly Future
- Phillyblog
- Phillyist
- The Clog
- The Next Mayor
- Welcome to Phillyville
- Young Philly Politics
- Afro-Netizen
- All-Spin Zone
- Atrios
- Bad Attitudes
- Billmon
- Booman Tribune
- CorrenteWire
- Fables of the Reconstruction
- iFlipFlop
- Kiko's House
- MyDD
- Philly (Dragonballyee)
- Rowhouse Logic
- Slacktivist
- Suburban Guerilla
- Tattered Coat
- upyernoz
- AmericaBlog
- Andy Borowitz
- BuzzFlash
- Crooks and Liars
- Cursor
- Daily Kos
- David Sirota
- Drudge Report
- Echidne of the Snakes
- Fire Dog Lake
- Glenn Greenwald
- Hullabaloo
- Jesus' General
- Jon Swift
- Josh Marshall
- Juan Cole
- Kevin Drum
- Mad Kane
- Majikthise
- Matthew Yglesias
- Oliver Willis
- Raw Story
- Swing State Project
- Talk Left
- Taylor Marsh
- TBogg
- The Carpetbagger Report
- Think Progress
- War and Piece
- Wonkette
- A Citizen's Blog
- Balls, Sticks and Stuff
- Beer Leaguer
- Dick Polman
- Phillies Nation
- Philling Station
- Shallow Center
- The 700 Level
- The Good Phight
