A natural permutation for a liquor lawyer

And labor attorney

Good blog. Glad this can be discussed without being too political. I am incredibly saddened by the direction we are headed with the legalization movement. I don't think that pot is the end of the world and I think medicinal marijuana is a matter of decency. However, I also know that there is a massive drug problem in this country...especially in schools. I know that marijuana is a gateway drug and that it is absolutely addictive (even if only psychologically). Legalizing pot will absolutely send a message to kids that it is alright to do. The drug problem does not end with pot, but if often starts there. I spent Thursday at a wake for a young woman, 22 years of age. She had a bubbly personality and worked hard. She had a habit of making bad decisions and had some challenges that she was trying to work out, including a rift with her parents. It was the type of thing she could have worked on with maturity. The only difference is that her substance abuse got the best of her and now she will not have that opportunity.

I do not harshly judge those who use marijuana. However, I can't remember ever hearing from any of my friends over the past 25 years that they had too much difficulty getting small amounts of pot when they wanted it. There are kids in high school who make money by selling drugs to their friends. Right now they know they are doing something wrong, and it is generally only the worst kids that are willing to partake in this activity. How do we convince kids that they are doing something wrong if we turn around and say that it is OK. Or perhaps the pro-pot groups think that kids selling pot is a worthwhile job for a young kid since there is nothing wrong with it.

I have heard a lot of people come up with reasons why we should do this. To make money, to regain freedom, to reduce crime. I've even heard some claim that fewer kids will do it if it is not illegal. To me, these concepts are either immoral, impractical or just simply ridiculous. Some people claim that we have to put an end to the war on drugs, which is also ridiculous unless you plan n legalizing all drugs, which would unquestionably put more and more kids in graves.

Don you presented this topic in a rational way so I don't want my comments taken to be directed at you or your blog, but rather the issue which has been bothering me a lot lately and I appreciate the opportunity to express my feelings in an intelligent forum.

I have never understood why the use of medical marijuana is illegal in any state. It has many proven clinical uses and in many cases is a better and less harmful treatment than what doctors are allowed to prescribe. There are many controlled substances at their disposal, why should marijuana be any different?

Now if they legalize it will all of the people serving time for selling it be set free? And if this is so are they legalizing it to free up some space in jails for more serious crimes? I have no problem with pot for medicinal purposes (and I do agree with Erik), I think this is just the tip of the rabbit trap we are going down, down, down. Certainly there must be some other drugs out there that people in pain can take without taking something which is addictive...or maybe pot is the least addictive drug they can give. Why have I not seen nor heard the medical professionals weigh in on this? And Don, you have enough college aged kids out there....you could have gotten pot in a NY minute if you really wanted to...but I ramble on...this is a huge conversation...

It makes sense to help people with ailments; and who know, perhaps the legal sale of cannabis, taxed like that other currently legal unhealthy weed, might help local, state and federal deficits.

As a Republican with a strong Libertarian streak in me, I am for the legalization of all drugs. Legalize it, tax it and regulate it. Put the foreign drug cartels out of business, lower crime. Think of the taxes raised! As Janet points out, we could free a whole lot of non-violent offenders languishing in prison, which would save a lot taxpayers' money.

If we look at other countries, such as Great Britain, if you're a heroin addict, you get a prescription from a doctor and you get your heroin. England's a civilized, successful country, why not emulate it?

We've tried for years to squelch drug use, and nothing's worked. So let's try legalization. Yesterday, please!

Having watched my cousins sneak pot to my aunt who was dying of breast cancer when I was 17, I have always been a proponent of medical marijuana. But, having visited California last year I was shocked at how loosely the term "medical marijuana" is interpreted. At the Venice Beach Boardwalk, there is a store on, at least every block, with a young girl dressed in a tight "nurse's uniform" encouraging people to come in. It's a joke.

There are several "Pot Lawyers" currently practicing. The demand for the legal advice is there. I have dealt with this personally when I attempted to bond these marijuana companies in CT. The legislation is not very straight forward and most states are not forthcoming with information about the licenses. If anyone knows an attorney that is looking for an area to expand into, this will be a high growth sector over the next several decades.