Coast Guard War With Smugglers in So. Cal

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by salticrak

I have been watching an excellent show on the the telly called Miss Hit, now there is one tranny that could leave yer a bit confused D.O.J if not cold stone dead. great show.

It's called Hit and Miss I apologize for my part in getting this thread SO FAR off an important topic.

[David M]

Legalizing it would drop the price so much that it would not make it worthwhile for the cartels to bother. Is there any money in smuggling something that is legal? Crimes associated with stealing to get drug money would also fall dramatically. The cost of drug related law enforcement, which only reduces the flow of drugs slightly, would come to an end. Numerous costs to society related to drugs would either drop dramatically or go away. I'm afraid government would not get much tax money with a pot plant being worth roughly the same as a head of lettuce, if that, if people can grow it in their back yards for almost nothing.

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by David M

Legalizing it would drop the price so much that it would not make it worthwhile for the cartels to bother. Is there any money in smuggling something that is legal? Crimes associated with stealing to get drug money would also fall dramatically. The cost of drug related law enforcement, which only reduces the flow of drugs slightly, would come to an end. Numerous costs to society related to drugs would either drop dramatically or go away. I'm afraid government would not get much tax money with a pot plant being worth roughly the same as a head of lettuce, if that, if people can grow it in their back yards for almost nothing.

Yeah, but in WA it's still illegal to buy seeds, illegal to grow on and on. MOST people don't grow their own lettuce. A single plant can yield 2 pounds of Marijuana and the law allows possession of one OUNCE.

There's also a pretty good argument that a TON of jobs go away on the enforcement side

I agree that the goal should be just another crop but we ain't there yet by a long shot.

[Matt sachs]

Originally Posted by minaret

Here in WA state we just did exactly that.

So whats to stop a fine young mexican lad from loading his boat up with a few bales of his best weed and sailing it to WA to pay his taxes and sell his goods. Its legal now aint it?

[John A]

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

So whats to stop a fine young mexican lad from loading his boat up with a few bales of his best weed and sailing it to WA to pay his taxes and sell his goods. Its legal now aint it?

You ever tried to move a boat from Mexico to the PNW???? Most sane people sail to Hawaii as their first waypoint.

[Matt sachs]

Nope, never have. Ok, motoring it to the PNW.

[John A]

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

Nope, never have. Ok, motoring it to the PNW.

Still a dumb idea. going uphill on the Left side is difficult at best.

Besides, go back and read the attachment in the post that started this thread. The GC delights in chasing people with pot.

To be legal in Washington, where I live, you're going to need to wait until State run pot stores are opened and growers contract with the State to supply the stores. Growers will be licensed with the state, fees and taxes at every step of the way. States still decide what's legal and what's not. The only thing now legal is posession of an ounce of pot.

Be aware that records can be kept of how much pot you buy over a period of time. It's still a controlled substance, and the State is going to be in control more than ever.

This is just one more example of we the people creating an idea and getting a petition and voting on something without thinking the process through.

[Richard5]

Originally Posted by David M

Legalizing it would drop the price so much that it would not make it worthwhile for the cartels to bother. Is there any money in smuggling something that is legal? Crimes associated with stealing to get drug money would also fall dramatically. The cost of drug related law enforcement, which only reduces the flow of drugs slightly, would come to an end. Numerous costs to society related to drugs would either drop dramatically or go away. I'm afraid government would not get much tax money with a pot plant being worth roughly the same as a head of lettuce, if that, if people can grow it in their back yards for almost nothing.

You're ideally suited for unicorn wrangling down at the Rainbow ranch.

When it comes to criminal money-making there is no limit. Legalization will not result in this paradigm shift people hope and dream of. It will likely be same old thang but with different players on the "legal" side with the criminal side still intact. Basically a rule change. Don't believe the players won't adapt to expose every little loophole and opportunity.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by xymotic

There's also a pretty good argument that a TON of jobs go away on the enforcement side

Yup . More money made on the legal side of the recreational drugs industry than in the illegal side - which is one of the things that prevents a rational (pragmatic!) approach to them. Same with any other "War on".

A chicken and egg thing, gonna have to wait until "Big Pot" starts paying for lobbyists and donations.

Obviously legalisation ain't gonna solve everything - but the approach should be about harm reduction to a society not for the individual (free will is a bitch - if folks are dumb enough to get addicted, including "your" kids , then that's simply Mr Darwin in action)..........so, just seems plain common sense to at least remove pot as an entry level product from hard drug dealers. Works with Tobacco and Booze. and Chocolate .

On harder drugs I favour simply medicalising the problem, opiates on prescription . A damn sight cheaper than chasing after, then processing (ad nauseum ) and then locking up folks - let the problem folks come to pappa and remove the (best) repeat customers from the illegal drugs market. Party drugs? Who cares? , for those who go OTT (ability to cope personally / financially) their is then always free Heroin - accept no substitutes .

But I suspect I have gone a little off topic.........

[Blue Crab]

[QUOTE=John A;1104388]Still a dumb idea. going uphill on the Left side is difficult at best.

Besides, go back and read the attachment in the post that started this thread. The GC delights in chasing people with pot.

To be legal in Washington, where I live, you're going to need to wait until State run pot stores are opened and growers contract with the State to supply the stores. Growers will be licensed with the state, fees and taxes at every step of the way. States still decide what's legal and what's not. The only thing now legal is posession of an ounce of pot.

Be aware that records can be kept of how much pot you buy over a period of time. It's still a controlled substance, and the State is going to be in control more than ever.

This is just one more example of we the people creating an idea and getting a petition and voting on something without thinking the process through.[/QUOTE]


Not for long. I think the Feds will strike back. Tough to give up authority (and funding). Consider Arizona's squabbles. New talk of sucession. Continuing water issues. Shale oil. Dream Acts. "Entitlements" ...

The war FOR state's rights is in the skirmish stage. Since it's our own people, I hope nukes, lasers, chems, and bugs are out. That leaves boots on the ground. Coming soon to a community near you.

[xymotic]

Originally Posted by Matt sachs

So whats to stop a fine young mexican lad from loading his boat up with a few bales of his best weed and sailing it to WA to pay his taxes and sell his goods. Its legal now aint it?

As long as he moves it one ounce at a time! And selling it is still illegal.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Richard5

You're ideally suited for unicorn wrangling down at the Rainbow ranch.

When it comes to criminal money-making there is no limit. Legalization will not result in this paradigm shift people hope and dream of. It will likely be same old thang but with different players on the "legal" side with the criminal side still intact. Basically a rule change. Don't believe the players won't adapt to expose every little loophole and opportunity.

Dramatically increase the supply with the same demand and the price drops significantly. That is ECON 101 in a nutshell.

[Richard5]

25 suspected illegal immigrants detained after panga is intercepted off Rancho Palos Verdes - The Daily Breeze

Because it's all about pot.

[Blue Crab]

[QUOTE=Richard5;1104821]25 suspected illegal immigrants detained after panga is intercepted off Rancho Palos Verdes - The Daily Breeze QUOTE]

I saw that citation from the Daily Breeze, my hometown paper. But look at the other news column on the left. Wow. I was a tad homesick until I read that. I headed out of Cal after college and never looked back. Too many people too close together for me back in the 60s.

[salticrak]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Yup . More money made on the legal side of the recreational drugs industry than in the illegal side - which is one of the things that prevents a rational (pragmatic!) approach to them. Same with any other "War on".

A chicken and egg thing, gonna have to wait until "Big Pot" starts paying for lobbyists and donations.

Obviously legalisation ain't gonna solve everything - but the approach should be about harm reduction to a society not for the individual (free will is a bitch - if folks are dumb enough to get addicted, including "your" kids , then that's simply Mr Darwin in action)..........so, just seems plain common sense to at least remove pot as an entry level product from hard drug dealers. Works with Tobacco and Booze. and Chocolate .

On harder drugs I favour simply medicalising the problem, opiates on prescription . A damn sight cheaper than chasing after, then processing (ad nauseum ) and then locking up folks - let the problem folks come to pappa and remove the (best) repeat customers from the illegal drugs market. Party drugs? Who cares? , for those who go OTT (ability to cope personally / financially) their is then always free Heroin - accept no substitutes .

But I suspect I have gone a little off topic.........

I suspect we are kindred spirits here. In Australia at the moment you are getting kids ordering drugs on line from places on the dark net, you simply cannot stop people frying their brains with legislation. I wonder what the % of people in American prisons are there for drug offences. Surely medical intervention would be cheaper.And another thing is the sailing community probably would not get the third degree while going thru customs and immi.