President Obama answers questions on YouTube

[Waking.Up]

Originally Posted by shiftmonkey

[B][COLOR="YellowGreen"]Sorry about the rant but I just wanted to comment on legalization since it's an issue that is very close to home for me.

Medical marijuana is already legal here in California and the growers here aren't convinced that legalization will benefit anyone except the government and big corporations. It certainly will not benefit the growers as they will tell you first hand.

Most of the growers here are families that work very hard to earn a living at it. Yes some make a good living, but they are very meticulous in their growing methods and most grow organic. They are already under an insane amount of imposed state restrictions that just keep piling up.

After legalization the federal restrictions will further undercut the small family operations and open the door to big corporations like Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds. These companies already own thousands of acres in South America just waiting for the legislation to go through. Restrictions will be such that it will be illegal to grow your own medicine.

Ok, I'm just curios how do you know what the restrictions are gonna be? How can it with legalization on a federal level be possible to still be illegal to grow your own pot? It seems pretty obvious to me, if you don't want to smoke corporation pot - grow your own.

Originally Posted by shiftmonkey

[B][COLOR="YellowGreen"]
The rabbit hole just keeps getting deeper my friend

You are confusing marijuana with hemp. Industrial hemp is quite different than marijuana. It's a completely different plant with a completely different growing and harvesting process- and it will only give you a headache if you try to smoke it. Yes, it is in the same "family" as marijuana but still very different.

The hemp/marijuana obfuscation was the key to demonizing the plant. It was done to protect the interests of the paper and timber industry. Hearst Paper pulled that one off in the 1930's.

A book called "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" is what you want to read. Below is a link.

You might also want to take a look at my last post about why legalization (the way the federal government wants to do it) might not be such a good thing.

I'm not confusing. I'm not American, so my vocabulary is not that detailed.
I'm aware of the differences between hemp and pot, and that's exactly what I was talking about. The true good side of the legalisation would be a new raw resource for the gigantic paper and clothing industry. Thats the most important thing in the legalisation of the plant, and that is where the money lays. So, I'm not all that assured that the corporations will focus on marijuana, because it will still be grown by small buisnesses, or on your own, but on hemp which would turn in to a multi-billion dollar industry.

Just my 2 cents.

[Waking.Up]

Well, the interview went exactly as I thought it would go. The questions were extremely filtered, nothing new was said. Go to sleep America, your goverment is in control.

http://www.youtube.com/citizentube?feature=ticker

[shiftmonkey]

Originally Posted by Waking.Up

Ok, I'm just curios how do you know what the restrictions are gonna be?

It's just an educated guess on my part based on the governments track record and the way things are managed here in California where medical marijuana legislation has already been passed.

Originally Posted by Waking.Up

How can it with legalization on a federal level be possible to still be illegal to grow your own pot?

You'll be able to grow your own pot if you have a doctors prescription. If you don't have a doctors prescription you will still get thrown in jail.

Originally Posted by Waking.Up

I'm not confusing. I'm not American, so my vocabulary is not that detailed.
I'm aware of the differences between hemp and pot, and that's exactly what I was talking about. The true good side of the legalisation would be a new raw resource for the gigantic paper and clothing industry. Thats the most important thing in the legalisation of the plant, and that is where the money lays. So, I'm not all that assured that the corporations will focus on marijuana, because it will still be grown by small buisnesses, or on your own, but on hemp which would turn in to a multi-billion dollar industry.

Just my 2 cents.

I apologize if I came across as presumptuous. The mix-up between marijuana and hemp is very common. I didn't realize that you have a limited vocabulary in English.

I totally agree with you. Hemp would be an outstanding resource for industry. The problem is that the majority of paper and textile factories are not set up to deal with hemp fiber. To convert the factories over to hemp will cost billions of dollars, so don't expect industry to be very supportive of hemp decriminalization.

[Waking.Up]

Originally Posted by shiftmonkey

It's just an educated guess on my part based on the governments track record and the way things are managed here in California where medical marijuana legislation has already been passed.

You'll be able to grow your own pot if you have a doctors prescription. If you don't have a doctors prescription you will still get thrown in jail.

I'm sorry, but that is not what legalization means. Legalization laws have been passed in Netherlands for many years now. You can buy, grow and smoke your own pot wheter you have or have not a doctors prescription.

Originally Posted by shiftmonkey

I apologize if I came across as presumptuous. The mix-up between marijuana and hemp is very common. I didn't realize that you have a limited vocabulary in English.

I totally agree with you. Hemp would be an outstanding resource for industry. The problem is that the majority of paper and textile factories are not set up to deal with hemp fiber. To convert the factories over to hemp will cost billions of dollars, so don't expect industry to be very supportive of hemp decriminalization.

It's really not a problem. I'm sorry if I came across too crude. Thats just my style of thinking in english
I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[Firstlook]

Shiftmonkey,

The underlying justifications for your "responses" to authority seem like this :

The government will do this, The Industry will do that. People will make the wrong choices.

Yet Ive been accused of having the grim outlook.

I think you might be less independent in your intent then you realize.

You have explained politics. You loose by default. You support the infringement on Individual Choice. It is the same for all issues within politics and law.

What I am trying to explain is reality in the most neutral way possible. Duality. People will always make wrong choices and do harm to others. When I say "will" its for the sake of being neutral. Its not a "grim" outlook, its the structure of something important. Free Will. Its the human ability to do either negative or positive.

I want things to get better. I dont want to get distracted by numbers, compromises, laws, "responses", etc......

I think people on this thread agree "FULL" legalization is what we want. And yet I have a sinking feeling that people think its something to be planned. Nope. You say one thing. Full legalization. Thats it.

I understand the urge to use government for good by keeping things tougher for Industry and Corporate America to do. We are all scared of things. Thats why you follow laws that you dont agree with. You meaning most people. But all your really talking about is control. Not freedom. Safety. Its backwards talk. Surely you see the conflict.

If you watch politics and engage in the process. Then thats the problem. I'm sorry they have guns and will use them. Thats about as far as my understanding goes about Politics.

I could have made this point alot easier by just stating that I try to avoid the law as much as possible. I lie to the authorities when need be. I do not believe in government what so ever.

I know we both have the right concerns and best wishes at heart. I merely see where the issue is more..........fearlessly?


I dont have a family to support, so my burden is of my own. But I do not compare burdens and decide which are more important. This is the thinking in which your logic on this issue is based. Others too?

But I digress. Perhaps this is something for another thread.

For now I'll quit while Im...............awww ****.


peace my friend.

[Firstlook]

I did it again.


I would like to apologize for any useless words i have used. I have made this more complicated then it should be, by not stating where I'm coming from in a clear manner. I do understand this flaw despite the evidence.


Sorry for causing any distraction to the topic. My bad.


I and respect everyone on this forum trying to connect.

[shiftmonkey]

Originally Posted by Firstlook

I did it again.


I would like to apologize for any useless words i have used. I have made this more complicated then it should be, by not stating where I'm coming from in a clear manner. I do understand this flaw despite the evidence.


Sorry for causing any distraction to the topic. My bad.


I and respect everyone on this forum trying to connect.

Go easy on yourself and just have fun with it.

We are all just here to share our views and learn a thing or two.

[shiftmonkey]

Originally Posted by Firstlook

Shiftmonkey,

The underlying justifications for your "responses" to authority seem like this :

The government will do this, The Industry will do that. People will make the wrong choices.

I do not see my input as an attempt to justify my responses. I am simply giving my opinion based on my own observations.

Originally Posted by Firstlook

Yet Ive been accused of having the grim outlook.

I'm not accusing you of anything. This is what you yourself wrote: "Im sorry that things will escalate, but that is inevitable. Politics is a sink hole. There is always gonna be someone with a gun in their hand telling you what to do. Im also sorry that is so."

Based on your statement above- yes it appears to me that you do indeed have a pretty grim outlook.

Originally Posted by Firstlook

I think you might be less independent in your intent then you realize.

I don't fully understand what you are getting at here. If you want a response you will have to clarify your position.

Originally Posted by Firstlook

You have explained politics. You loose by default.

I have stated my opinion to bring attention to what I believe to be a motivating factor within "the system" for the legalization of pot. I don't understand how this qualifies me as a loser. I didn't realize that this was a competition. I was under the impression that it was a discussion. Apparently it's important for you to "win" at something, so here is your trophy Have fun with it

Originally Posted by Firstlook

You support the infringement on Individual Choice. It is the same for all issues within politics and law.

How on earth do you come to the conclusion that I support infringement on individual choice?

Originally Posted by Firstlook

What I am trying to explain is reality in the most neutral way possible. Duality. People will always make wrong choices and do harm to others. When I say "will" its for the sake of being neutral. Its not a "grim" outlook, its the structure of something important. Free Will. Its the human ability to do either negative or positive.

I'm really not clear on what you are trying to put across here about reality- reality seems to be a fairly subjective viewpoint.

Originally Posted by Firstlook

I want things to get better. I dont want to get distracted by numbers, compromises, laws, "responses", etc......

If you didn't want to discuss what I posted as my own observations why did you respond to my post with a numbered and point-by-point breakdown?

Originally Posted by Firstlook

I think people on this thread agree "FULL" legalization is what we want. And yet I have a sinking feeling that people think its something to be planned. Nope. You say one thing. Full legalization. Thats it.

Okay...

Originally Posted by Firstlook

I understand the urge to use government for good by keeping things tougher for Industry and Corporate America to do. We are all scared of things. Thats why you follow laws that you dont agree with. You meaning most people. But all your really talking about is control. Not freedom. Safety. Its backwards talk. Surely you see the conflict.

I can definitely see a conflict with the way most people look at politics and law.

Originally Posted by Firstlook

If you watch politics and engage in the process. Then thats the problem. I'm sorry they have guns and will use them. Thats about as far as my understanding goes about Politics.

I don't watch politics or engage in the process because I believe the current system to be compromised and corrupt.

When I saw the original post titled "President Obama answers questions on YouTube" I decided to take a peek out of sheer curiosity. I came across some posts referring to legalization of marijuana and decided to post my own opinions. It wasn't my intention to get into a lengthy discussion on politics.

You then posted a point-by-point breakdown of my post which engaged me into such a discussion. So here I am discussing it with you. Are we having fun yet?

Originally Posted by Firstlook

I could have made this point alot easier by just stating that I try to avoid the law as much as possible. I lie to the authorities when need be. I do not believe in government what so ever.

I suppose you could have.

We all have our own way of dealing with the system... or not dealing with it.

Originally Posted by Firstlook

I know we both have the right concerns and best wishes at heart. I merely see where the issue is more..........fearlessly?

Yes we both have good intentions. This is good.

I don't understand why you are under the impression that your vision is more "fearless"... maybe you need another trophy... here you go!

Originally Posted by Firstlook

I dont have a family to support, so my burden is of my own. But I do not compare burdens and decide which are more important. This is the thinking in which your logic on this issue is based. Others too?

But I digress. Perhaps this is something for another thread.

I don't fully comprehend what you are attempting to communicate here. Perhaps it is something for another thread.

Originally Posted by Firstlook

For now I'll quit while Im...............awww ****.

peace my friend.

Peace to you as well

[shiftmonkey]

Originally Posted by Waking.Up

I'm sorry, but that is not what legalization means. Legalization laws have been passed in Netherlands for many years now. You can buy, grow and smoke your own pot wheter you have or have not a doctors prescription.

Yeah... legalization in the Netherlands is a completely different scenario. Here in the USA the government wants to legalize it only for medicinal purposes. I live in California where some of these laws have already been passed.