World's 1st legal/regulated/taxed adult marijuana market

[test_recordings]

Even if they only had one term, it wouldn't change the lobbying because they can still just take the money and run.... in fact, I think It' d be worse because they know it doesn't matter what they do, they ain't coming back anyway so if they're corrupt they'll be even worse without the threat of removal

[Genevieve]

yeah but then you could penalize people who do it. it wouldn't be called lobbying anymore, it would be called corruption. hopefully that would deter at least some people from doing it. and lobbying not only fucks the poor, it totally distorts the purpose of government and the actions of politicians. it is literally a softer form of corruption compared to taking bribes for instance.

The CIA are drug trafficers. Do I really need to say any more?

I'm against any government, but I prefer legal lobbying over illegal lobbying. Because then I have a better view over who's calling the shots. You think government would legislate against itself?

another way to do it is to get rid of multiple terms. if politicians only had one term, then they would never have to worry about re-election, and lobbyists would then have no power over them. that's what it all comes down to - getting re-elected. and that's why the senate is so fucked - because there are no term limits. you can be a senator for 50 years if you keep getting re-elected.

Lobbyists would fund election campaigns for their guys. Lots of corporate moguls run for office. Doesn't matter if one guy only gets one term, when his corporate shareholder buddy gets the next.

[titchbit]

lobbying is not the same as bribing. bribes are explicitly illegal. lobbyists do not give money to politicians as gifts. if they do, that is illegal. lobbying is essentially getting someone elected in exchange for pushing the lobbyist's agenda.

[alphacat]

All things aside, the real, deep, fundamental problem is the lack of distinction between our political system and our economic system at this point. Politics are supposed to serve the interests of the polity and economics the interests of business; we've got it so badly intermingled that it's almost inconceivable that they could be extricated from each other. Everything serves the interests of business. And business don't give a fuck about anything but the bottom line.

[titchbit]

this is what happens when one party totally rolls over and meets all of the demands of the radical teabaggers.

[alphacat]

It's been going on much longer than that. Eisenhower warned us, in fact. That's how far back it goes...

[titchbit]

yeah but it's grown exponentially worse since bush took office.

[Genevieve]

The presidents and who's 'in office' has nothing to do with that. It started in 1913 and it's been the same since.

[Genevieve]

lobbying is not the same as bribing. bribes are explicitly illegal. lobbyists do not give money to politicians as gifts. if they do, that is illegal.

I don't believe you get what I was trying to say with "CIA are cocaine trafficers"

[skell1ngton777]

im reading u loud n clear

pm me your prices

[titchbit]

lobbying is not the same as bribing. bribes are explicitly illegal. lobbyists do not give money to politicians as gifts. if they do, that is illegal.

I don't believe you get what I was trying to say with "CIA are cocaine trafficers"

well maybe i did, maybe i didn't. care to elaborate?

[scspkr99]

Sorry if it's been mentioned but what are the legal implications for small growers? Whatever the concerns about big business it seems that if people are able to produce their own it'll rein in the excesses. I'd also imagine that mj is better positioned to support a micro and medium sized grow market than any other given the relatively low cost of setup and production.

[wormcode]

Iowa worst state in disparities for black arrests for marijuana use
Blacks Found to Be 3.3 Times More Likely to Be Arrested for Marijuana Possession Than Whites in Michigan, Despite Equal Usage Rates
D.C., Maryland Top The Nation In Rates Of Arrest For Marijuana Possession
Blacks Far More Likely than Whites to be Arrested for Marijuana in DC

[BonerJams04]

holy shit iowas super racist

[alphacat]

Sorry if it's been mentioned but what are the legal implications for small growers? Whatever the concerns about big business it seems that if people are able to produce their own it'll rein in the excesses. I'd also imagine that mj is better positioned to support a micro and medium sized grow market than any other given the relatively low cost of setup and production.

Excellent point: ironically the whole system has been so slanted against this kind of grower that it's the reason for factory farmed gang product. Another problem has been that the "industry" (the indoor growing supply biz, not the weed biz) has also gone out of its way to go after the big money and shunned smalltimers for the most part. If there was a sort of revolution along the lines of the artisanal/organic/local movements it would be a much-needed counter to the McDonalds effect currently in play.

holy shit iowas super racist

And TBH the place kinda sucks too (no offense intended to any Iowan ninjas, but... damn. How the fuck do you live there?) It's just endless flat nothing.

[test_recordings]

I heard corn's good there

[dickman69]

ppl like wrestling in iowa so theres that

[alphacat]

Tru story:

On a cross-country road trip, found ourselves outside Council Bluffs on a Friday night. When we tried to get a motel room, every single goddamn room in town was booked; when we asked why, it was explained to us that because there are so many casinos there in town and so little to do in the rest if the entire state (and neighboring states) that half of Iowa came to Council Bluffs each weekend to get supremely loaded, lose their money, and pass out in the streets and yards while they had perfectly good motel rooms waiting for them.

Supremely telling if you ask me.

If ever there was a place that could demonstrate a visible improvement in quality of life due to cannabis...

[dickman69]

that sounds like a decently awesome place to go on the weekend tho

[BonerJams04]

i live in iowa
fuck all of you