Latest drug addict loons.

[MSimon]

More lunatics:

http://www.theweedblog.com/y-combinator ... ivery-app/

[williatw]

..And of course if enough people have that much of an issue with food stamps being used to pay for pot, you could always change the law and make it illegal to use foods stamps to buy pot. A law that a legal licensed provider would be obliged to follow; unlike an illegal drug pusher who would of course completely ignore it.

From "Dio" 's posted link:

Proposed legislation which is scheduled to be revealed next week would not only add marijuana dispensaries to banned places to pull welfare cash from ATMs, but also force ATM owners to rig machines into declining welfare debit or “Quest” Cards. House legislators tell FOX31 Denver they would also like to see bi-annual audits conducted to identify abusers and create a system which would warn, then ultimately financially penalize repeat violators.

In other words if enough people have an issue with using welfare debit cards to purchase questionable items like booze, gambling, and pot you can address it with laws that licensed legal pot providers would be obliged to follow; unlike illegal providers who wouldn't give a rat's rear end about following the law.

[MSimon]

....McWilliams said Sullivan's blood alcohol level the day of the assault was 0.41 -- five times the legal limit for driving in Michigan, which is .08.

"It's a recipe for tragedy," he said. "That's just out of sight."

First-degree murder carries a mandatory penalty of life without parole. Sullivan's next court date is Feb. 12.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/slow-cooker ... wyer-says/

Alcohol. A very dangerous drug. Something must be done.

I know. We could pass a Constitutional Amendment....

[Diogenes]

Awwwwww... now who coulda seen that coming?

So that's the reason you support the WOD? The idea of those lazy welfare sods getting high on your dime?

This is like saying you are against fire because you don't like smoke damage. No, it goes way beyond just sucking off the government teat, but i'm not going to ignore that problem either.


I know quite a few potheads, and they are all either on welfare, or getting some sort of SSI check. Well, except for that one guy who deals weed, as far as I know he's not on welfare.

[Diogenes]

In other words if enough people have an issue with using welfare debit cards to purchase questionable items like booze, gambling, and pot you can address it with laws that licensed legal pot providers would be obliged to follow; unlike illegal providers who wouldn't give a rat's rear end about following the law.

If we may get off the stupid drug topic for just one message or so, I would say I have a problem with how the entire wellfare system is designed. I don't want them buying potatochips, candybars, soda pops, ice cream, and so forth.


I don't even like the idea of allowing them to have discretionary spending. People who are poor are often poor because they have no idea how to make appropriate financial decisions. I think poor people ought to get a commodities basket, and live on that.


I think it should contain basic staples such as Eggs, Milk, Meat, Bread, and so forth. It should be items that require preparation. People need to be put in the position of working to better themselves if they are able, and learning how to cook and prepare their own food ought to be one of their skill sets.


But giving them money? That's the dumbest idea anyone ever came up with. At least in terms of helping them. You help people by making them learn to stand on their own two feet.


Benjamin Franklin had the right idea 200 years ago.


“I am for doing good to the poor, but...I think the best way of doing good to the poor, is not making them easy in poverty, but leading or driving them out of it. I observed...that the more public provisions were made for the poor, the less they provided for themselves, and of course became poorer. And, on the contrary, the less was done for them, the more they did for themselves, and became richer.”

[MSimon]

I think poor people ought to get a commodities basket, and live on that.

But what if the food in the basket is not good for them?

=========================================================

As for bad choices? Some times the choice is not made by them but for them.

Think if the current Prohibition was alcohol and you got a lifetime stigma for some minor Prohibition crime. Would that be fair?

Or take my case of having a medical condition that prevents me from taking a drug test. Is that fair? And you know what I get told by every Prohibitionists that hears of my condition. "You are faking it." F you and the arse you rode in on.

I used to hate welfare the way you do. But after I was kept from getting a job by a program promoted by our government I'm sucking up every dollar from government I can. It is the least I can do as a revenge for Prohibition. And that doesn't even count my brother killed by a drug gang on the streets of Oakland in '74.

As long as government wants Prohibition I favor as much welfare as possible. Make the stupidity of Prohibition cost as much as possible until it ends.

Fortunately by now a majority of Americans has had enough. It is so bad legislatures are considering ending it by legislative action. You can follow that here: http://norml.org/act

And you will note: of the people you think are debilitated by drugs (how do you know they aren't self medicating for PTSD - have you checked?) all are getting the drugs despite prohibition. The Prohibition which supports gangs like the one that killed my brother. It still hurts. Every day.

With me it is a grudge match. And note the Republicans of 1932 opposed ending Prohibition. History repeats.

Have a nice day.

[williatw]

If we may get off the stupid drug topic for just one message or so, I would say I have a problem with how the entire wellfare system is designed. I don't want them buying potatochips, candybars, soda pops, ice cream, and so forth.
I don't even like the idea of allowing them to have discretionary spending. People who are poor are often poor because they have no idea how to make appropriate financial decisions. I think poor people ought to get a commodities basket, and live on that.

Well my views on welfare food stamps are:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3327&hilit=+welfare

Instead of the existing welfare/food stamp system I have an alternative. Any one (able-bodied)who receives any type of government largess, be it welfare/food stamps/ lives in government paid housing, who is of working age lets say 18-65. This person is required to work at least 35 hours a week at no less than minimum wage. Instead of a welfare check, he/she must work 8 hours a day five days a week paid minimum wage at least. If he can't find private employment the government will find something they can do for pay. He/she may find themselves fixing potholes, sorting garbage at the waste treatment plant, picking apples on a farm, or whatever the gov finds for them to do. If he doesn't show up for work no pay. If he turns 18 lives in a household that receives government benefit (is not a full time student) he has 6 months or so to find work, if not work will be found for him or he has to leave the residence. To qualify for food stamps same deal no work no food stamps. If one is in prison and is deemed low risk, he/she can work on work release same deal minimum wage.
I would add that if he has kids out of wedlock by different women his wages will be progressively garnished for the cost of the upkeep of said kids. Even if it is only a portion of the true cost borne by the state in taking care of his kids, he would have skin in the game so to speak whether he likes it or not.

After all I don't care if the person on welfare is using it to buy illegal pot or legal chardonnay wine, the point we shouldn't be forced to subsidize a able-bodied (I assume) person's indolence.

Simply put paying someone to do nothing breeds indolence whether it is or isn't their fault they can't find work. Maybe if they have to sweat for their supper like most of the rest of us have to they will be less likely to want to blow it all on intoxicants; legal or otherwise.

[Diogenes]

If we may get off the stupid drug topic for just one message or so, I would say I have a problem with how the entire wellfare system is designed. I don't want them buying potatochips, candybars, soda pops, ice cream, and so forth.
I don't even like the idea of allowing them to have discretionary spending. People who are poor are often poor because they have no idea how to make appropriate financial decisions. I think poor people ought to get a commodities basket, and live on that.

Well my views on welfare food stamps are:

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=3327&hilit=+welfare

Instead of the existing welfare/food stamp system I have an alternative. Any one (able-bodied)who receives any type of government largess, be it welfare/food stamps/ lives in government paid housing, who is of working age lets say 18-65. This person is required to work at least 35 hours a week at no less than minimum wage. Instead of a welfare check, he/she must work 8 hours a day five days a week paid minimum wage at least. If he can't find private employment the government will find something they can do for pay. He/she may find themselves fixing potholes, sorting garbage at the waste treatment plant, picking apples on a farm, or whatever the gov finds for them to do. If he doesn't show up for work no pay. If he turns 18 lives in a household that receives government benefit (is not a full time student) he has 6 months or so to find work, if not work will be found for him or he has to leave the residence. To qualify for food stamps same deal no work no food stamps. If one is in prison and is deemed low risk, he/she can work on work release same deal minimum wage.
I would add that if he has kids out of wedlock by different women his wages will be progressively garnished for the cost of the upkeep of said kids. Even if it is only a portion of the true cost borne by the state in taking care of his kids, he would have skin in the game so to speak whether he likes it or not.

After all I don't care if the person on welfare is using it to buy illegal pot or legal chardonnay wine, the point we shouldn't be forced to subsidize a able-bodied (I assume) person's indolence.

Simply put paying someone to do nothing breeds indolence whether it is or isn't their fault they can't find work. Maybe if they have to sweat for their supper like most of the rest of us have to they will be less likely to want to blow it all on intoxicants; legal or otherwise.

I agree with your thinking on this topic, but i'm not sure empowering the government to run this work force is all that good of an idea. Among other things, I suspect there will be more people than potentially useful jobs available, and we will end up hiring more government bureaucrats who's job it will be to try and figure out things they can get this work force to do. We also don't want to put them in competition with actual existing businesses and thereby destroy their ability to make a living.


It's a thorny problem with lots of potentially unforeseen consequences.


I've been thinking along the lines of "if we can't find any work for them to do, we ought to require that they attend classes to learn stuff."


But I don't know. The one thing I do know is that giving them free money is a dumb idea. It either ought to be paid as recompense for work, or it ought not be fungible.

[MSimon]

Food stamps are supposedly not fungible. And yet people manage to trade them for what they want. At a steep discount.

The way to make it work is to shrink government to its Constitutionally limited functions and according to M. Friedman the economy will grow at 10% a year. That will draw into the labor market everyone. Because the price of labor will get bid up.

Trouble is too many sucking off the government tit. Can you imagine DEA agents wanting to get jobs that don't involve 3AM SWAT raids? Me either. Although we have seen at least one go into a different business.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/arc ... ss/282197/

Patrick Moen is a 36-year-old former supervisor at the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, where, until recently, he led a team based in Portland that fought methamphetamine and heroin traffickers.

Now, he is embarking on a career change. A rather dramatic one. The Wall Street Journal reports today in a delightful article that Moen has become the in-house lawyer at Privateer Holdings Inc., "a private-equity firm that invests solely in businesses tied to the budding legal marijuana industry."

In other words, the revolving door between business and government just made an unexpected, and very druggy, turn.

Wonkblog's Lydia DePillis thinks this has the makings of a Ben Affleck movie, presumably because Moen's beard has "Argo" written all over it. Me, I think this has more of a Showtime original series vibe. But beyond that, it's a telling sign of how quickly marijuana entrepreneurs have gone corporate, both to make a profit and, you know, avoid federal prosecution.

Founded by a pair of Yale MBA's, Privateer has $7 million in funding so far, and is one of at least two private equity firms aiming to civilize the cannabis industry a bit and mainstream its business practices. Rather than invest in U.S. growers or dispensaries, which operate in a legal gray area, it purchases the pot-consultants, insurers, and websites that provide them services without ever buying or selling any marijuana.

[hanelyp]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... -warn.html

Smoking cannabis can lead to manic behaviour: Hyperactivity, aggression and delusion are all strongly linked with the drug, researchers warn

Scientists found a 'significant link' between marijuana and manic episodes
Mania includes symptoms such as depression, anger and aggression
Also includes hyperactivity, less need for sleep and feelings of elation
In extremes, can cause people to become delusional and hear voices
Cannabis can make mania worse in people with bipolar disorder, they said

[MSimon]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/artic ... -warn.html

Smoking cannabis can lead to manic behaviour: Hyperactivity, aggression and delusion are all strongly linked with the drug, researchers warn

Scientists found a 'significant link' between marijuana and manic episodes
Mania includes symptoms such as depression, anger and aggression
Also includes hyperactivity, less need for sleep and feelings of elation
In extremes, can cause people to become delusional and hear voices
Cannabis can make mania worse in people with bipolar disorder, they said

That is so different from alcohol - which is the only drug statistically associated with violence.

But the real question is - how well does prohibition work compared to legal access?

Use by youth is down slightly in legal Colorado.

BTW all the bad things pot was supposed to do to the brain? It doesn't -> http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/4/1505.short

When they controlled better for alcohol all the bad stuff went away. Now that alcohol is a really dangerous drug. Maybe we should try Prohibiting it? Ya think?

40 years of Police State tactics and the kids are voting against it. Who could ever have imagined that?

Kids these days.

They would rather be protected from government than protected from drugs.

[williatw]

I agree with your thinking on this topic, but i'm not sure empowering the government to run this work force is all that good of an idea. Among other things, I suspect there will be more people than potentially useful jobs available, and we will end up hiring more government bureaucrats who's job it will be to try and figure out things they can get this work force to do. We also don't want to put them in competition with actual existing businesses and thereby destroy their ability to make a living.

I would expect that the gov would very quickly "encourage" cajole, arm-twist private companies into hiring as many of the welfare recipients as possible; by a combination of carrot (tax breaks etc.) & stick (you have a government contract guess what goes with getting it...welfare hires). The final default would yes be government made busy work; hate that idea but still better than paying someone to play with their blank all day long. Snow removal, infrastructure repair, grass-cutting/landscaping, garbage sorting, picking up trash; sure we could find something useful they could do. Although allot of new gov hires at something close to minimum wage might put the scare into some of our unionized "irreplaceable" government workers; at the local, state, and federal level. Imagine a long nasty strike of say sanitation workers demanding their contracted pay raises/benefits that a bankrupted city (or state) can no longer afford to pay; suddenly a solution materializes; millions of ex-welfare recipients in need of work. Either report back to work by a certain date at whatever they can afford to pay you or kiss your job goodbye.

[Diogenes]

'Sniper' accused killer used anti-psychotic meds, pot

STEPHENVILLE, Texas — Authorities found a marijuana grinder, a bong, a mostly empty bottle of whiskey and ammunition while searching the home of a former Marine charged with killing the author of American Sniper and his friend, a Texas Ranger testified Friday.

New evidence was presented in the murder trial of Eddie Routh on Friday. According to testimony, marijuana and other drug paraphernalia were found inside the suspects home the night he was arrested. VPC

Routh's uncle, James Watson, 45, later testified that he smoked marijuana the day of the killings with his nephew.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nati ... /23377299/

[paperburn1]

I guess it did not help his PTSD....

[MSimon]

I guess it did not help his PTSD....

Obviously the dose was inadequate. Or the mix of cannabinoids was wrong.

http://healthland.time.com/2012/05/30/m ... cal-trial/