Canada Legalizes Marijuana Nationwide

[Keesha]

I thought you were done but you finally answered one question without skirting around it. It has plenty to do with the conversation. It's one of the cautions presented by the government on legalizing marijuana.

Why are you introducing alcohol? It has nothing to do with conversation.

I don't believe marijuana doesn't kill none.

Drug-impaired driving

Drugs can impair your ability to drive safely and increase the risk of getting into a collision. In fact, cannabis increases your chance of a car accident Footnote1. The percentage of Canadian drivers killed in vehicle crashes who test positive for drugs (40%) now actually exceeds the numbers who test positive for alcohol (33%) Footnote2.

Source: Government of Canada

I’ll recap Camper.


Pregnant women shouldn’t drink either or do other drugs including cigarettes.


What people do in their own time with their own life is their choice. It has nothing to do with me. It has nothing to do with the government. It has nothing to do with the conversation.


Why did I bring up alcohol.?
Oh we are recirculating the questions over and over again. You do this all the time.


It was brought up when you stated that drugs dumb people down and you’d never consider doing them. You also stated that you are addicted to gambling where you drink and you wouldn’t do it if the government hadn’t legalized it.


So theoretically you brought it into the conversation. I defined that both are considered drugs which we went over a few times for your sake.


Since you were declaring that cannabis is a dangerous drug which shouldn’t have been legalized because now people are going to use it and get hooked, I stated that most were using to begin with.


Then 911 brought it into the conversation because he spent a lot of time with the Pennsylvania State Troopers on the effects of marijuana on driving ability etc., with 5000 case studies that claimed that an MJ driver is less likely to get into an accident compared to an alcohol impaired one. He had some interesting data and added that these weren’t his personal opinions but that he was part of the investigation.


That’s how that got brought up.

 

[Keesha]

The end results? Pennsylvania does not have legalization yet. Canada does. We are faced with a fait accompli.

Yes I’m sure that illegal cannabis they were using in the 5000 case studies is going to make a huge difference to the statistics being studied, rather than legal cannabis. :lol:

 

[Shalimar]

Time for a hit in my cat pipe.

 

[Keesha]

Time for a hit in my cat pipe.

You’ve got a cat pipe?
What’s it made of ?
Glass?

Im munching on a cookie. :love_heart:

 

[Shalimar]

The bowl is blue and white ceramic, the stem a silver coloured metal. Very boho. Lol. Like me.

 

[Keesha]

The bowl is blue and white ceramic, the stem a silver coloured metal. Very boho. Lol. Like me.

A Boho pipe. It sounds cute. Is it anything like this

 

[Shalimar]

A Boho pipe. It sounds cute. Is it anything like this View attachment 66709

Yes, indeed. Identical, I think. Except mine may have a rounder head, difficult to tell.

 

[Camper6]

I’ll recap Camper.

Pregnant women shouldn’t drink either or do other drugs including cigarettes.

Good answer. Therefore they are harmful.

What people do in their own time with their own life is their choice. It has nothing to do with me. It has nothing to do with the government. It has nothing to do with the conversation.

On the contrary. Everything is not cut and dry and you do your own thing. You have a responsibility to others around you. You just don't jump into a car and do your own thing. You follow the rules the government posted.

Why did I bring up alcohol.?
Oh we are recirculating the questions over and over again. You do this all the time.

I wasn't the one making comparisons to alcohol. I didn't bring it up first. It was the pro pot posters who were trying to diminish the use of pot by comparing it to alcohol.

It was brought up when you stated that drugs dumb people down and you’d never consider doing them. You also stated that you are addicted to gambling where you drink and you wouldn’t do it if the government hadn’t legalized it.

I would have been perfectly happy without a casino in our city. Dumbing down to me, means impairing your brain with substances that affect your brain and I include all drugs in that category.

So theoretically you brought it into the conversation. I defined that both are considered drugs which we went over a few times for your sake.

You were celebrating the legalization of cannabis. I wasn't.

Since you were declaring that cannabis is a dangerous drug which shouldn’t have been legalized because now people are going to use it and get hooked, I stated that most were using to begin with.

Oh we know that. Plenty were using so why legalize it? My point again was those who were not using it because it was not legal were now going to start.

Then 911 brought it into the conversation because he spent a lot of time with the Pennsylvania State Troopers on the effects of marijuana on driving ability etc., with 5000 case studies that claimed that an MJ driver is less likely to get into an accident compared to an alcohol impaired one. He had some interesting data and added that these weren’t his personal opinions but that he was part of the investigation.

Well I posted an article from the Government of Canada claiming that MJ impaired is outpacing alcohol.

That’s how that got brought up.

I followed the thread. I copy over and respond to all the posts I am interested in.

 

[Camper6]

Yes I’m sure that illegal cannabis they were using in the 5000 case studies is going to make a huge difference to the statistics being studied, rather than legal cannabis. :lol:

You can't be sure of anything. I posted a statistic from the Canadian government claiming use of other drugs is outstripping alcohol. So none is your claim?

Drug-impaired driving

Drugs can impair your ability to drive safely and increase the risk of getting into a collision. In fact, cannabis increases your chance of a car accidentFootnote1. The percentage of Canadian drivers killed in vehicle crashes who test positive for drugs (40%) now actually exceeds the numbers who test positive for alcohol (33%) Footnote2.

Source: Government of Canada

What you don't understand is that Canada introduced a Federal law covering the entire country.

The U.S. goes state by state. Some states are opposed. Others are in favor.

So the study in Pennsylvania finds your favor but the Canadian one does not?

We didn't get that choice by province.

I'm sure if we did a province by province analysis we would see a different set of statistics.

My real point in all this discussion? Cannabis was legalized. Let the chips fall where they may. It's not something to celebrated and be proud of.

 

[Keesha]

Yes, indeed. Identical, I think. Except mine may have a rounder head, difficult to tell.

Perhaps more like this then?


Or maybe this?



They look the same with slight distinctions.

 

[Lara]

Perhaps more like this then?
View attachment 66726

Or maybe this?

View attachment 66727

They look the same with slight distinctions.

That's crazy that you two have the same pipes! So you just put dried up marijuana leaves in there, light it, and puff on it? Or do the leaves need processing of some sort? My friend's son started a business a few years ago in Denver CO selling a product that is a cleaner for the plants while in the greenhouses. He's probably rolling in the money by now...no pun intended.

 

[Keesha]

That's crazy that you two have the same pipes! So you just put dried up marijuana leaves in there, light it, and puff on it? Or do the leaves need processing of some sort? My friend's son started a business a few years ago in Denver CO selling a product that is a cleaner for the plants while in the greenhouses. He's probably rolling in the money by now...no pun intended.

Oh sorry no. That’s Shali’s pipe. I found the picture online.
You don’t crush up the leaves. They get thrown out. The buds gets crushed up.

 

[911]

.

Though those are not your opinions you seem to be leaning in the favor of legalization. Many police organizations are opposing legalization.



Go into it. According to what I read it's not a simple test like the one for alcohol



In my opinion any foreign substance you inhale into your lungs is harmful. I don't agree that it is not considered to be a risk to lung health. And how about an unborn baby still in the womb. Is it safe?



Maybe for medical reasons when there is no other choice but we are talking recreational not medicinal.



That I don't believe. Any impaired driver causes a risk to his fellow drivers.



So the jury is still out on it.

There is a difference in the laws in Canada and the U.S. In the U.S. it's state by state.

In Canada it was Federal and when it's Federal there is no choice for a province to opt out. It applies to all. It's forced on everyone whether they like it or not.

Canadian police forces have opposed it and many state police forces have opposed it.

And when they do they get accused of because it's a money grab. Now the issue in Canada is the issue of an off duty police officer being able to indulge. You're supposed to show up ready for work. How long does it stay in the system?

How long does it stay in a person's system? It all depends on the person's usage. It can stay in a person's hair for up to 90 days and in your urine for maybe up to 3 days. Of course, as a Trooper, I am opposed to those who use it and then venture out onto the highways. There are numerous studies that have been conducted that does show that a user of MJ are less likely to have a serious accident compared to a driver that has been drinking alcohol. That's a given.

MJ users normally will draw deep breaths when inhaling, which if they smoked the same number as a cigarette user, then they may suffer some of the same effects as a cigarette smoker. But, normal MJ users will only use a few joints per day. Keep in mind that although MJ does not contain nicotine, it does contain tar, which is what causes arteries to clog.

What surprises me is that no one has posted that MJ is considered to be a gateway drug. Or, maybe someone has and I missed it. But even that statement has become argumentative among health professionals and scientists.

Me, personally, have never used it or even tried it. Not even when I was in the Marines and a lot of guys around me were using it. But, if people are going to use it regardless, why shouldn't the states be able to collect the taxes that are not being paid?

 

[Camper6]

How long does it stay in a person's system? It all depends on the person's usage. It can stay in a person's hair for up to 90 days and in your urine for maybe up to 3 days. Of course, as a Trooper, I am opposed to those who use it and then venture out onto the highways. There are numerous studies that have been conducted that does show that a user of MJ are less likely to have a serious accident compared to a driver that has been drinking alcohol. That's a given.

Not according to the Canadian Government.
Drug-impaired driving


Drugs can impair your ability to drive safely and increase the risk of getting into a collision. In fact, cannabis increases your chance of a car accidentFootnote1. The percentage of Canadian drivers killed in vehicle crashes who test positive for drugs (40%) now actually exceeds the numbers who test positive for alcohol (33%) Footnote2.


Source: Government of Canada

MJ users normally will draw deep breaths when inhaling, which if they smoked the same number as a cigarette user, then they may suffer some of the same effects as a cigarette smoker. But, normal MJ users will only use a few joints per day. Keep in mind that although MJ does not contain nicotine, it does contain tar, which is what causes arteries to clog.

Well what about the second hand smoke and the effect on family members and young people? There are heavy smokers and there are light smokers similar to tobacco smokers. You can't tar everyone with the same brush.

What surprises me is that no one has posted that MJ is considered to be a gateway drug. Or, maybe someone has and I missed it. But even that statement has become argumentative among health professionals and scientists.

Many of the claims for and against are argumentative. I'm waiting to see the long term effect on legalization in Canada.

Me, personally, have never used it or even tried it. Not even when I was in the Marines and a lot of guys around me were using it. But, if people are going to use it regardless, why shouldn't the states be able to collect the taxes that are not being paid?

It has been found that the taxes collected are a small part of the policing budget and the social costs for treatment.

 

[RadishRose]

But, if people are going to use it regardless, why shouldn't the states be able to collect the taxes that are not being paid?

911, why should we pay taxes on it?

I wonder what Colorado for instance, does with the state sales tax they collect on it? Or do they collect?
Since pot is still illegal in some states, do Colorado sellers have to pay Federal income tax?

 

[Camper6]

How do you know it won’t?

I didn't say work. I said perfected.

 

[Camper6]

This question is about as ridiculous as me asking if you would smoke it while pregnant :waiting:

In your opinion anything that is against your opinion is ridiculous.

And I wasn't asking a question. I was replying to your claim that it got suddenly into the conversation. It didn't.

 

[Keesha]

In your opinion anything that is against your opinion is ridiculous.

Camper. We debated this topic and I’m done. I’d appreciate if you would stop making derogatory statements towards me personally which hold no merit.

You have the opportunity to keep debating the topic without making personal attacks. Thats done best by sticking to the topic and I am not the topic.

Thank you kindly

 

[911]

911, why should we pay taxes on it?

I wonder what Colorado for instance, does with the state sales tax they collect on it? Or do they collect?
Since pot is still illegal in some states, do Colorado sellers have to pay Federal income tax?

Now come on, Rose, you know dang well that if Pennsylvania legalizes MJ, it will surely be taxed. PA taxes everything. If they could figure out a way to tax someone when they let out a fart, believe me, they would. (They meaning the state government.)

I enjoyed debating this topic, but I have had enough. Sometimes you just have to be able to walk away. Too many posts written here have been taken out of context and made to read as the dissenter wanted it to read. IOW, the dissenter has chosen to read into a post things that were not stated. As we say here in PA: "Just because I didn't tell you what you wanted to hear doesn't mean that I am wrong."

 

[SeaBreeze]

I wonder what Colorado for instance, does with the state sales tax they collect on it? Or do they collect?
Since pot is still illegal in some states, do Colorado sellers have to pay Federal income tax?

It looks like they pay federal taxes but have to pay them in cash until the laws change. Here is some info.

https://www.denverpost.com/2019/06/12/colorado-marijuana-revenue-one-billion/

Colorado has surpassed $1 billion in tax revenue from marijuana sales since recreational use was legalized in 2014.

Marijuana tax, license and fee revenue has reached $1.02 billion, and marijuana sales over $6.5 billion, the Colorado Department of Revenue announced in a news release. Colorado has 2,917 licensed marijuana businesses and 41,076 licensed individuals working in the industry.

Marijuana revenue funds a range of youth and public health programs in Colorado, including mental health services, youth literacy initiatives and anti-bullying programs in schools. Marijuana tax revenue goes to both state and local governments.

“This industry is helping grow our economy by creating jobs and generating valuable revenue that is going towards preventing youth consumption, protecting public health and safety and investing in public school construction,” Governor Polis said in a statement.

https://qz.com/1595906/how-much-tax-do-marijuana-businesses-pay/

Although marijuana is illegal under federal law, cannabis businesses in the United States still pay federal taxes on gross income. They are not allowed any deductions or credits for business expenses, by law, which can mean an effective federal tax rate as high as 90%.

The US government collected an estimated $4.7 billion in taxes from cannabis companies in 2017 on nearly $13 billion in revenue. Unlike most American businesses, which pay electronically or by check, most of these marijuana firms are unbanked and were forced to pay their federal taxes in cash, something the IRS is still trying to get a handle on.


At the state level, marijuana for non-medicinal adult use is legal in nine states and taxable in seven, which also impose costs on each sale:

State	Grower tax, flower	Grower tax, trim	Excise and sales taxes
Alaska	$50/oz	$15/oz	By locality
California	$9.25/oz	$2.75/oz	By locality
Colorado	None	None	15% on sales from grower to retailer; 15% on retail sales
Massachusetts	None	None	10.75% state excise tax; local sales tax capped at 3%
Nevada	None	None	15% on sales from grower to retailer; 10% on retail sales
Oregon	None	None	17% state excise tax; local sales tax capped at 3%
Washington State	None	None	37% state sales tax

According to the Tax Policy Center, a partnership between the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, states with marijuana taxes put a portion of the funds toward the following:

• Alaska steers 50% of its cannabis revenues to its general fund, and 50% to crime reduction programs.
• California uses its cannabis revenues for administrative costs related to legalization, with extra funds going toward economic development, academic studies, and youth programs.
• Colorado earmarks its cannabis revenues for education.
• Massachusetts pays for various public safety programs with the cannabis taxes it collects.
• Nevada uses its cannabis revenues for education programs and to supplement its rainy day fund.
• Oregon finances education and drug treatment-and-prevention programs with its cannabis revenues, with some going to local governments.
• Washington State uses its cannabis revenues for healthcare.

Unlike cannabis companies, recent changes to the law now allow industrial hemp producers to deduct ordinary business expenses for tax purposes—as long as their product contains no more than 0.3% THC.

 

[Shalimar]

Perhaps more like this then?
View attachment 66726

Or maybe this?

View attachment 66727

They look the same with slight distinctions.

The bottom one is mine.

 

[Ruthanne]

The bottom one is mine.

Wow, that is very very nice!

 

[RadishRose]

Thanks, SB. I'll be going over that tomorrow. For now tho' I'm wondering where they stash all that cash? How do they track those funds that we used to benefit the community?

911, lol- I'll warn people not to pass gas in PA layful:.
As to the second part of your post, I'm not involved in that conversation.

 

[Camper6]

Camper. We debated this topic and I’m done. I’d appreciate if you would stop making derogatory statements towards me personally which hold no merit.

You have the opportunity to keep debating the topic without making personal attacks. Thats done best by sticking to the topic and I am not the topic.

Thank you kindly

Sorry you have no room to talk. You have made many personal attacks and I have stuck to the topic.

And if you are done as you claim. I'm looking forward to it.

 

[Shalimar]

Wow, that is very very nice!

Thanks, I love it.