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This post was mentioned on Twitter by sitfu: Boxer: Legalizing pot could increase crime, car accidents: California Sen. Barbara Boxer has a message for marijua… http://bit.ly/aer2Mt...

Edeva . . . I totally agree, both parties need a wake up call. Even though Texas was unable to vote out Rick Perry in the Rep primary and put a Ron Paul Libertarian (Debra Medina) in the race for the Governors office, she received close to 20% of the vote which was better than I expected from Texas voters. I would love to see Texas put forth some type of legislation concerning the reform of Marijuana laws in 2011. If California gets it done this November, then Washington and soon all the other States will not be able to deny the harmless, or dare I say beneficial, nature of this plant. The past 70+ years has done more harm to Americans with this “War on Drugs” than this plant could ever do. Millions of people across the Nation will be watching California this November. Don’t let us down . . .

You got that right.

In this area, namely, science, both parties are no where near even. Save Sen. Boxer here, Democrats rely on sound scientific evidence, while Republicans drum up uncertainty and doubt, especially when it concerns product safety and the environment, but also in things such as missile defense. Read The Republican War on Science by Chris Mooney. The abuse of science on the right overwhelms any on the left, by far. No contest.

let’s not forget the Pharm Co.’s who want you to buy their manufactured drugs, not grow your own to help with stress, depression and a host of other made-up syndromes, (shakey leg syndrome,etc). Politicians dont want to lose the big Pharm contributions…

Because those are great points, you should tell her.

https://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm

You sound like a priest. Spare the rest of us your sanctimony and lectures why don’t ya, and go have yourself another shot, hypocrite.

Good point, let her know:

https://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm

I guess I still have difficulty coming to terms with the fact that everything is so backwards.

Boxer must be switching parities! The Republicans are the ones who usually ignore evidence and reason in favor of politically expedient nonsense.

Considering the hundreds of thousands of alcohol-related traffic fatalities, how can she make an assertion like that and her tongue not catch fire and fall out of her mouth?

FREE AMERICA

REVOLUTIONARY (DIRECT) DEMOCRACY

Or … oR … OR!!! you could come out on the APPROVING side of the measure, and assure a landslide victory!

Well, that was an asshole like statement.

Prohibition of a drug already failed about 80 years ago–the drug called alcohol. All that prohibition did back then was give rise to black markets & gangsters, just as it's doing today! How can politicians & people fail to see this?

The phony, endless war on drugs has ruined many people's lives while providing police departments, lawyers, judges, the prison industry, DEA, etc., all sorts of job security, bonuses, overtime pay, ever increasing revenue & powers, their own smuggling/dealing/money-laundering opportunities, etc.!!! (And this is just the tip of the rotten, corrupt iceberg!)

There is a concerted effort by our “authorities” to get everyone thrown into “the system”, whether it be the legal system, the prison system, welfare system, etc.!

Has anyone heard an explanation of how Senator Boxer thinks that having less crime on the books will lead to more crime? Does she think that citizens who will be able to grow their own for free instead of paying outlaws through the nose will go out and knock over a liquor store out of nostalgia for the days when they were considered criminal?

Eliminating legal penalties for personal marijuana possession would result in substantially decreased funding for local police forces. Arrests for simple possession make up the majority of busts for most police forces. Removing that offense would mean much lower arrest stats and a decreased need for funding. Privately run prisons would see fewer incarcerations and so their funding would also decrease. It's hard to imagine a more disingenuous person than Boxer. In a time of collapsing state revenues, she is arguing for continuing to funnel people into the maw of the legal machine. It would be great if Boxer lost the upcoming election, but her challengers are supported by the same constituents and so nothing is likely to change. In the end, only severe economic dislocations are likely to rein in this circus show and its adherents.

This is crap. The expenditures vs. recoveries in the “war on drugs” are staggering, and the incarceration costs are killing states. The fines for simple possession don't even start to cover it.

If she was SERIOUS that “drugs are bad”, rather than just trying to make sure her next campaign is well-funded, then she’d work toward the outlawing of poppies, morning glories, etc. As of right now, you can buy poppy seeds in the spice section of the baking aisle in the grocery store and you can buy morning glory seeds in the gardening section of the grocery store.

Boxer isn’t the only Democrat that ignores science. A lot of them are big disappointments.

She's an idiot. And this article proves it. It's time to step into the new millennium toots. The lies and propaganda spewed forth by our lying-ass government, have been dis proven years ago. But the government is so stupid they believe their own lies.

Yea, right…she may be correct concerning the traffic accidents, but I doubt it would be much of an increase…anyone who would drive under the influence of weed would drive under the influence of alcohol, and probably already is, routinely.

As for crime…she must have been smoking something when she said that.

We have entire crime cartels that operate without restraint, killing, brutalizing, dismembering…not only public officials & police, but innocent bystanders. And the one drug they smuggle the most of into this country is marijuana. There is simply a large enough percentage of the population that wants to use it, that they will find a way to get it no matter the legality…and all the turf wars being fought over this market is costing lives & tons of money trying to enforce.

Legalize it, and it becomes nothing more than a weed…you can grow it in your garden, in a closet under grow lights, or on a farm to sell as a cash crop.

You don't see cartels slaughtering entire villages to control the green-bean market in the U.S., do you?…or even another legal drug, like the coffee or tobacco markets, do you?

Legalize it, and we save dumpster-loads of money in enforcement & judicial costs, as well as thousands of lives every year.

Or we can continue this never-ending “war”, with the same failed results and the attendant murders, for-friggin'-ever…

It's pretty simple to understand. Boxer is a say anything to gather campaign support and contributions politician . Especially now that she's in danger of losing her seat. Law enforcement unions are huge money contributers and she'll do anything for money and the vote so she's not kicked off the money train.
As most lawmakers go, Boxer doesn't have the guts to do the right thing.

The people will have to do it themselves in November.

Besides, Marijuana is already here. Where's the increased crime and car accidents? They don't exist.

Great – more reruns of “reefer madness”?

The poppy seeds you can buy in a grocery store are supposed to be sterile. As for the morning glory seeds…SSSHHHH!…if they find out about it, it will just be another beautiful flower we won’t be allowed to grow in our gardens!

The “expenditures” & “incarceration costs” are largely our tax dollars being stolen & used against us!!!

“higher costs for local law enforcement agencies”

I think that means they won't be able to steal people's property for being 'drug related' as much as they do now.

Yeah, pot smokers are totally violent. And, they probably drive about 15mph, so tailgating laws would have to be stricter. Geez, these politicians are hypocrites. They say what they need to dependent upon which way the wind blows.

sorry to burst your bubble but both parties do this. Neither Democrats nor Republicans care about what is good for the people, only what will keep them in power. We need to vote the powers that be out of office. I say anyone, any party, that accepts corporate money should be voted out. Anyone who accepts money from lobbyists should be voted out. Anyone who meets privately with corporate heads for backroom deals should be voted out. We need to break the power base of the two party system.

Boxer's in a tight race, so she plays the fear card. BFD. When are voters going to wake up and get it that politicians will say anything to get elected. Boxer abandons all rational thought and goes into reptilian mode with her fear-mongering. The research about marijuana's effect on humans is decades old and it repudiates everything that Boxer says. But we can't let science get in the way of a political dogfight, can we?

First of all I don't now nor have I ever smoked pot . That being said marijuana does not alter the senses anywhere near as seriously as alchohol at least according to the studies. If Boxer does not want to legalize it and then tax it then by all means stop criminalizing it because all it does support the prison industry by having the taxpayer pay all these bills for housing and medical. Furthermore once a person has a criminal recore THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WORK ANYWHERE. This is what will increase crime. It's a shame to have all these people behind bars for non violent offenses that is and will ruin their lives forever.

I suggest that you read up on the research regarding marijuana's influence on driving. You might be thoroughly surprised. Studies done in western Australia, for instance, show that people under the influence of marijuana have fewer accidents than those in a control (straight) group. You're likely to find quite a number of studies like this at Media Awareness Project in the web. It's been around for many years, has an extensive database of information on research and drug policy worldwide.

If she were a devout xtian, she should have come across Genesis 1:11-12, to wit:

1:11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the HERB yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. 1:12 And the earth brought forth grass, and HERB yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was GOOD.

God made weed, humans made alcohol. Who do you trust?

America is a country of inadequate and uninformed citizens. From the education of our young to the behavior of our adults, putting off the work of thinking, conduct, reading and citizenship is what got us into the mess we're in.

America does not have reason, capacity or time to 'smoke up.' The last thing thing a country in dire trouble needs to do is bake its head on marijuana with a new-found complacency.

Partying is rightly done in celebration of accomplishment and milestones, otherwise it is detrimental escapism amounting to nihilism.

Partying before the work is done is called 'mortgaging your future.' Party after the work is done: it's time to make our government work for us, and our country and world a better place.

Celebrate when our worthy accomplishment is evident in all that surrounds us.

Ding ding ding ding, we’ve got a winner! (Referring to “Politicians don’t want to lose the big Pharm contributions”)

This stuff comes out of one of her other holes.

Barbara, Barbara, Barbara! Grow up! Can't you see that the majority want to free weed? Supporting the bill to free weed will win you MORE votes and NOT less. Besides, it makes economic sense.

Boxer is following the old line of stupid is as stupid does policy. Most people that want to use cannabis already do. Where are the bodies? Crimes are perpetuated by prohibtion dumby! Both parties suffer from reefer madness. It's time to throw out all the backward thinking polititcians and start over. I thought we'd gotten further than this? Oh well, if cannabis stays illegal at least the prices will stay high (with great margins) for all the non taxed growers, dealers, and cartels.

The single biggest contributor to traffic accidents is …… .giving people LICENSES. Period. So, by her logic, we can cut out all traffic accidents simply by no longer giving out licenses! And as noted in earlier posts, lots and lots of drunk driving accidents out there but we've learned not to make alcohol illegal. You punish those that break the rules, not those that are responsible. (note: we have no way to quantify if someone is stoned or not, which is probably the single biggest concern of these politicians.. making a law that's not enforceable because there's no quantifiable measure to balance it against and subjective laws don't stand).

I, like others, would LOVE to hear how “crime will increase”.. The crimes associated with cannabis at present only exist because we've said it's a crime. If we say “smoking, growing, carrying cannabis is NOT a crime”, then crime INSTANTLY is REDUCED by the number of “criminals” who are in possession of or using cannabis. Why does she think there will be more crime created by smoking than all that crime that goes away by legalizing the herb? If 100 crimes go away because those 100 people are no longer criminals by having a bud, she is suggesting 101+ crimes will then be committed? by WHO? for WHAT? …. I'm guessing Boxer is a devout xtian, too.. believing things absent any evidence only because it fits in her own twisted perception of what reality is. Facts be damned, apparently.

Boxer, a Status Quo Democrat..

She's Boxering herself into a semantic corner.

Well, then, I assume she's going to be getting behind a new law that makes alcohol illegal, right?

Barbara…. you are simply wrong about this. I know you want to look clean and tough against your opponents, but a MAJORITY of California voters, myself included, support this measure. It makes no sense whatsoever to arrest and incarcerate users of this harmless weed be it for recreation or medical reasons. You have no right to oppose what the MAJORITY of voters want in any case. I'm sorry you feel this way and I do believe it will cost you votes. Marijuana is not only harmless, it is healthful for a veriety of medical complaints and would be a great boon to the California economy. It would also provide thousands of new jobs… what are you afraid of? Millions are already smoking it so it certainly won't cause any more crime or accidents. Your argument is nonsensical.

She's assuming that prohibition works and that there is an army of people out there just waiting for pot to become legal so they can burn up and get behind the wheel and that's just not so. People who drive under the influence by definition don't do so “responsibly”. The people who will be driving under the influence if marijuana becomes legal are ALREADY out there driving under the influence. As for increased crime: Horseshit. Weed doesn't make people go out and rob others to support their habits like meth, cocaine and heroine can, nor does it provoke and fuel aggression and fighting like alcohol does. Sounds like Boxer is being bribed by somebody who has a vested interest in continued prohibition to me.

Back when I used to smoke the stuff, I always did so any time I drove just about anywhere. Certainly logged at least a few 100.000 miles stoned. I never ever considered driving drunk. I also used to downhill ski, including “bumps” where milliseconds of loss of control can cause one to fall, with no apparent loss of ability. I also used to skateboard pools and ramps stoned. Try that drunk!! Never cared for alcohol anyway. Cannabis most assuredly does not impair one anything like alcohol. Now twenty years later, I would not be prepared to say a given set of people would perform better behind the wheel stoned than not, but just saying, cannabis is a completely different animal than other drugs.
Ms. Boxer is really letting her political posturing and or her ignorance hang out for all to see.

This is why we should not support Democrats just because they are Democrats. Boxer is a plutocrat. She will sell us down the river for votes or promise of favors. I think she exemplifies whats wrong with the Democrats .

“Yea, right…she may be correct concerning the traffic accidents,…”
That's ridiculous. You are both assuming that there are irresponsible people out there who would be willing to drive impaired who are responsibly waiting for it to become legal so they can smoke. The people who WILL drive under the influence ARE ALREADY driving under the influence. Prohibition does. Not. Work.

What do you people in California see in this two faced bitch really? Feinstein sucks bad, but this one is worse because she acts like your friend and stabs you in the back for hire.

Now take my senators and reps here in Florida, every one of them a cowardly, back stabbing thief, but at least they proudly admit it.

This has NOTHING to do with legalizing pot and EVERYTHING to do with Boxers campaign. She won't lose any votes coming out against pot, but will lose votes aligning herself with legal pot. End of story.

She musta saw “up in smoke” one too many times

So how will legalizing a frequently committed crime lead to more crime? sigh….

Didn't I see a blurb on Huff pose about her being one of the smartest senators? Lord, please deliver us from intelligence like this. That remark of hers was just stupid.

Senile Senators should not throw stoned without checking her prescribed facts; California physicians cannot write a prescription for cannabis, they can only recommend it, under Prop-215.

Sen. Boxer is lying because she knows that older people vote in mid-term elections and old people tend to be more conservative. I'm sure she is well aware of the facts.

Crime?? What crime? Eating too many brownies? Or cheetos?

Accidents??? What accidents??? Rear end collisions because the stoner forgot to hit the gas pedal and the light changed?

Alcohol-related crime: let's see…assaults, property damage, domestic violence, driving while under the influence and hurting other people,… yet we keep THAT legal.

Dumb@$$.

It has been well established that too much work and not enough “stress relief” causes burn out and degraded function. “smoking up” is not “partying”, it is engaging in stress relief that is required by our psychology for normal, healthy functioning. Telling adults they are not allowed to manage their lives and stress as they see fit, when they are not hurting anyone, is unacceptable.

“America does not have reason, capacity or time to 'smoke up.' The last thing thing a country in dire trouble needs to do is bake its head on marijuana with a new-found complacency.”

This sentence is so full of broken logic and lack of reason that it amazes me you can feed yourself. Clearly we have the “capacity” (in all definitions) to “smoke up”, reason is an individual thing, not a sweeping generalization and you don't punish reasonable people because of the individuals who are lacking. You punish those who do wrong and let those who are not causing any harm to live their lives. Period. “Bake its head”? WTF does that even mean? Have you ever been high? Have you ever toked? Do you have ONE clue what you're talking about? or are you using the stereotypical “stoner” to make your “informed, reasoned” opinion?

In this modern world, every day that you manage to fulfill all of your obligations and maintain your sanity is an accomplishment in and of itself, worthy of a little toke in celebration and to recharge your will for the next day's tribulations. Who the fuck are you to tell me that I can't wash away my stress as I see fit?

“putting off the work of thinking, conduct, reading and citizenship is what got us into the mess we're in.”

and that happened because we were run ragged by the ruling elite; under constant attack by the corporations looking to enslave us for their benefit. Guess what helps people SEE that, and UNDERSTAND where they must focus? .. hmm.. getting stoned and calming down and asking questions. When you ask, and get answers, you can become informed. You say the death knell is legal pot, and I say that bell tolls for the ruling elite. We can't afford NOT to legalize cannabis and let the masses become relaxed and push out the noise put there by the oligarchs and THINK. Standing up for freedom; you don't see that as a good start, hmm?

zomg she is afraid of losing pie

Oops!

She's just another “liberal” who is not actually so liberal, is she?

Give me a real liberal, or anyone who believes in FREEDOM.

Law Enforcement is hooked on the million$ of dollar$ in the Drug War's anti-pot cash stream.
Also, pharmaceutical companies see pot as displacing their expensive prescription drug$$.

These are 2 big lobbies in place who will fight legalization all the way.
They own a lot of politicians.

It's about FREEDOM, people!!

Sheesh!!

Having broken the law on smoking pot for the greater part of my life, and never having been arrested, or incarcerated for this “crime”. I think that I will go along with those who are beginning to see the light.

I do not use alcohol for anything other than a cleaning solvent. I have never found it to be anything other than a source of trouble. For sure I have seen the problems produced by alcohol on myself and others, and have never seen a problem rising from the use of cannabis, unless you consider the facts that any problems are the ones that are being created by having all the bad laws on the books over something that is both medically and physically not harmful. Besides removing hundreds of thousands of people from prisons and other form of incarceration. It would lead to a fair and equitable tax system that just might help the country out of our dilemma today. But again, what do I know? I am only a common man, a retired navy enlisted person. No it is too important to have a straw man for the churches and those pandering to the loonies out there.

Barbra, I have supported you for years, but unless you change your point of view on the subject of marijuana, not only will you lose that support, but I will also work against you to see that someone who will support the will of the people is elected in your stead.

Just this old Chief's 2¢

I won't vote for Boxer unless she supports legalization.

End of story.

Right wingers, all!!

People already smoke and drive, just like people drink and drive. Just use the same penalties for driving under the influence. Also, there will be no increase in crime. That argument is completely bereft of any semblance of logic. When you take something criminal, and then make it NOT criminal, that means LESS crime. Legalizing pot would DRASTICALLY decrease crime, as it would immediately eliminate the cartel's influence on the market.

The only reason Washington big-wigs don't want weed legalized is because there's no money in it for the directly. And paying off the deficit? Well that's just crazy talk!

This is another typical knee jerk reaction by a politician up for reelection catering to the right in a year where the corporate media, with FAUX Noise and the domination of right wing radio leading the way, trying to manipulate a climate of fear and anger at those on the left. The same thing is happening with McCain in Arizona. He is bowing to the right wing extremists out of fear. The same thing went on during the Clinton administration except the manipulative machine is now larger and more powerful.

I am disapointed in Senator Boxer cowing to the media fear machine. I'm sure she knows the financial benefits legalizing pot would do for California.

Does anybody remember who was in power for eight years before a Democrat won the White House and the damage that led to where we are now? Oh yeah, the right wing media machine (the puppet masters) were manipulating their listeners to not pay attention but instead to turn their attention to demonizing the left.

Here y'go, Fellow tokers: http://tinyurl.com/npjk8o

Boxer taking this stand is even MORE proof that the Damnocrats are leaning to the right to piss on “We the People” and individual freedoms like a dog leans to piss on a post.

Can someone explain how the fuck legalizing pot will INCREASE

crime? Consumption of Snackables, maybe.

I hate ignorance.

I was a criminal defense atty and prosecutor for 25 years and NEVER EVER saw a case where someone was driving high (and this was a huge metro area where getting pot was as easy as getting a Slurpee).

No Ms. Boxer, you won't get my vote.

If my personal research into the effects of marijuana on driving skills, I find that a reasonable dose of THC can actually increase performance, if my high scores on Pole Position, Hard Drivin', etc are any indicator.

Is she channeling Feinstein or something?

she is an idiot….. but people keep letting all these politicians make bad decisions without having any reprisal. Have to let them know they cant just talk stupid all the time. People with knowledge need to step up considering all the people without knowledge are speaking loudly

Senator Boxer is (in my opinion) a twit. No one, NO ONE, has the right to illegalize a plant unless they are claiming to be God. (and they are not God)

The marijuana law is a law against free thought(free speech is useless without free thought), it is a law against experience. Only cowards are afraid of a plant. Senator Boxer says the world will end, notice the picture she is painting, all hell will break loose if this happens, right, well the ignorants said the same things, and raised a big fuss, before health care passed, before women were allowed to vote, before blacks were allowed to vote…all the ignorant scum of the earth stood up and proclaimed: “The world will end!” Well it didn't.

In my opinion, Cops want the laws in place because they are greedy, not because they want to help you, they could care less about serving the public, that's why they are cops, they are just ignorant thugs, just like Sentor Boxer.

The Infantile Sentor Boxer and the infant cops have no idea what would happen if marijuana was legal!!!…Maybe heaven on earth! Peace, less crime, people will become more caring and more intelligent, maybe that will happen.

Don't listen to these Doom and Gloom preachers, they are liars and cowards.

More crime, more accidents? State your source. Did the same thing happen when they legalized alcohol?

Ignorant. Just flat ignorant.

Write her. Just google “write my representative” or “email barbara boxer”

It will take you less time to do that than to tell me why you think that is a waste of your time. Please… do it, because it will make me happy!

And because you'll feel some satisfaction in doing so and your skin will look younger and fresher, you'll finally loose that stubborn 10 pounds, and people will be nicer to you where ever you go.

Thank you! google “email barbara boxer”

Please email her and let her know. Because you have that expertise. It will just take 30 seconds of your time. google “email barbara boxer”

https://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomme…

That's the link! Fill it out. Because it will take you less time to do that than to tell me why you think that is a waste of your time. Please…

I'm in Texas and I am sure the private prisons and their lobbyists are working hard(bribing/donating to politicians like Boxer) to to keep the laws as tough as possible. Prisons should not be private business . . . they are one of the major problems keeping outdated laws in place so they can continue to incarcerate more and more non-violent Americans . . . and rake in around 25K per inmate per year of the tax payers money. They are making huge profits and we are slowly becoming a Country of slaves to the government. Time to take back America . . . for the people by the people.

“Senator Boxer does not support this initiative because she WANTS THE SUPPORT of CORRUPT police chiefs, sheriffs and other law enforcement officials that this measure could hurt by leading to a DECREASE in crime, vehicle accidents and LOWER PROFITS for local law enforcement agencies AND THE PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX.”
fixed that for ya, ms. boxer!

Senator Boxer needs to get high, and then contemplate her err in judgment, and/or her foolish and cliche Marijuana user bashing. Look, over there! Another high person committing a crime! It is Reefer Madness all over again! The last thing someone high on pot wishes to do, is screw with someone, or go drive around town. Alcohol is by far the most influential drug when it comes to a catalyst for crime, and auto accidents, and I don't see Senator Boxer calling for making Alcohol illegal again. It's been 20 years since I divorced Mary Jane, but to keep it illegal does more harm to society than good. The current system in California is insane –although of course I support the Medical Marijuana statute– in that a person who hasn't made it yet to get “diagnosed” with stress yet, can be given jail time for possession, and the person who has the 100 bucks to get “diagnosed” with a back ache gets access to pot, not unlike walking into a cafe in Amsterdam. That seems a bit unjust in my estimation, and I'm not even high, nor have I smoked the stuff for 20 years.

Pot should be illegal. It is a gateway to the harder drugs like Angel dust and Black Tar. If you do a puff of pot you will be schizo for a few weeks. It stays in your body and hair for decades. People think it is okay to tax pot but all it says about us is that we don't care about the lords temple that is our body. Lets not forget that Reagan told us to just say no and it worked for this country in the 80's. Pot also leads to obesity and diabetes…..time to break the myth that pot is harmless. People are fat in this country.

See! I did:

Dear Friend:

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns with me via email. I hope you will understand that, because of the volume of emails I receive from residents of California, I cannot at this time respond to messages received from residents of other states.

If you are a service member from California but are stationed out of state, please return to my webform at http://www.boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policyco… and enter your California Home of Record in the Address section. I will then receive your message and can send you a response.

If you are a civilian, I encourage you to contact your U.S. Senators if you have an issue or concern that needs immediate attention. You can access your Senators electronically by visiting http://www.senate.gov/contacting/index_by_state… for a listing of their contact information.

If you are still interested in learning more about the work I am doing on behalf of California, I hope that you will continue to visit my website at http://boxer.senate.gov.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator

Boxer is ass-deep in money from the prison industry. She loves the 3-Strike rule. If she wants the money she needs for re-election, she has to say no on pot. Nuff said.

If it is legalized, you'll be buying your stash from republican corporatists instead of murdering thugs,…oh yeah, same guys. Something tells me growing your own will be treated the same as making moonshine,…jail time. The law is fine just the way it is. If you want it legally, see your doctor. Probably better to not smoke it at all

Oh Barbara, please just shut up on this one.

Tell her that:
https://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomme…

Because you addressed it 'Barbara,”

Tell her that:

https://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomme…

Good points but you are missing something here, as she said and I agree, ALL politicians are snakes. Doesn’t matter which party they are in. Career politicians equals career criminals. Time to put the “HONOR” back into public service.

You obviously don’t do much history research. Prohibition of alcohol caused more crime than anything else. More people died daily up until they repealed the prohibition, once that was done, no more bootleggers, mafia lost control of alcohol. How can you say there will be MORE crime when it will be legal to grow it yourself? Sounds like you are stuck on Reader’s Digest mode.

Couldn't DISAGREE MORE !!!!…STFU…..Go find they politicians that's LIE, STEAL, ABUSE THEIR AUTHORITY, SPEND TAX PAYER'S MONEY ON LAVISH GIFT AND VACATIONS…Go after them bitches…..Dumb ASS *!*!*!*!*!

Don’t you even think that the republiNOTS are not guilty of this. It’s not a question of “R” or “D” anymore, it’s right and wrong now and plutocracy is wrong.

You don’t get it do you? If we the people don’t relieve stress, well, I don’t want to even go there. Do some research prior to posting, There is NO proof that cannibus causes anything harmful in our lives. I know that if I don’t de-stress then my family as well as my mind suffers. You must be getting paid well to post here. Have a nice day.

Everyone must take action and vote people like this OUT of office.

Everyone must take action and vote people like this OUT of office.

It’s the truth though, about the medications. Cannibus can and does help with depression, any number of eating disorders, some milder cases of chrone’s and IBS as well as a host of other “so-called” issues our lovely surgeon general and their cabal have come up with. Just remember whom the surgeon general works for. I have been on anti-depressants for years, have severve stomach problems, (over active acid pumps) and do not take any prescription or over the counter meds for any of them anymore. I have cannibus instead, and it works without the 400 side effects of the “prescribed” medicine.

Sorry you obviously have no idea what you're talking about. “If you do a puff of pot you will be schizo for a few weeks”…nope the only way this could reasonably happen is if said puff came from a source that was dipped in formaldehyde or PCP, something that doesn't happen unless you “do a puff of pot” with a dodgy character whom you wouldn't turn your back on. Your mention of Ronnie Raygun shows your cluelessness about the “drug war” actually being effective “for this country in the 80's” Let's see-the wingnut take on pot is that it leads to heroin (like being gay leads to pedophilia), and the “lords temple that is our body” is better served by ingesting products with long lists of side effects peddled by the pharma industry, or by eating food that has contaminants in it because “regulation is bad” of the meat and produce industry. Pot=bad, eating lead contaminated crap from China is OK because somewhere a Republican is making lots of MONEY when you do.

Dems…. they have to be dragged screaming and crying into the brave new world. Better get a clue Barb. There are a lot of good people in Cali who will not vote for your ass if you don't wise up. BTW. Just getting into you car in cali has always been and will always be a risk straight or sober in cali. SIG ALERT!

“It's been 20 years since I divorced Mary Jane, but to keep it illegal does more harm to society than good.”

We're just temporarily separated. We needed to find a better way to interact because our love was taboo at the time; being together was too dangerous. If California can start a social shift in perception, my love and I will be reunited, finally, after long last.

what's sad is, even knowing you're probably jesting, there are morons out there who believe what you've said. Every point you pose has been debunked with science and studies. But, who wants to live in a world where policy is rooted in fact and science, right? .. oh, right.. ME.

Marijuana is California's only real hope to generate some revenue, and I hope they fuck it up. I hope they rot and fall into the ocean. More quakes for California!

Whilst I can understand the Senator’s concerns regarding ‘smoke-driving’ offences it should be noted that there is a breath test available that detects both achohol and dope. It’s in use in Australia where we still haven’t come up with a replacement name for the ‘booze buses’.

Hopefully this is the final nail in Boxer's political coffin. Eliminate Carly Fiorina – her business failures and the Demon Sheep ads – from the race and Boxer is in serious trouble. Why she doesn't have a serious challenge within the party is a question that remains unasked.

sure rather people smoke & drive than drink & drive!!! they ARE safer… and strangely to some people…. are actually BETTER drivers than some people who have had nothing… hhmmm.. they don’t want THAT little piece of research out do they…

can I like this twice..lmao…

Oh I did. Thanks for the reminder, though.. Sometimes we forget the obvious. =)

Thank you for serving in the Navy. I have a feeling she's going to lose A LOT of support because of this. Who is her primary challenger and what is his/her stand on the issue?

What? What? You are sad. I am serious. Pot is a gateway….it leads to other drugs. It has been said over and over again by the worlds leading people in the area of drugs. Nancy Reagan, Sean Hannity, Janet Reno, The U.S. Drug Czar, the DEA president….all of them agree that drugs will lead to nose candy and methadone. Pot is proven to cause the munchies which then leads to over eating which leads to obesity and eventually diabetes. It is proven. We must freedom ourselves from the chains of this herb and stop the medicating. I have a feeling that FREEDOM will prevail but only if we push back on people who want to do pot legally.

I’ve driven high well over 1000 times high without even a close call. At what point does it become dangerous and how does legalizing the drug create more traffic accidents? Many studies show that the legality of a drug (including alcohol) does not positively or negatively affect the number of users.

Just like others say, many people drive better high than not, as they are more relaxed, are less agressive and leave more room between cars. Sure, you can’t drive destroyed, but then again, you can’t get off the couch in that case, let alone have the will to drive.

Time to send her packing.

How is this possible? you're only driving 10 miles an hour…

boxer better hurry and outlaw booze

I may have to vote for her but not one dime of support nor any assistance for her campaign. She is just being a fool on this.Unless she wants to reinstate prohibition. We'd be much safer if all the drinkers switched to pot.

Shame on you, Boxer. It is time we had a senator who lives in the 21st century.

Edeva, great comment!!! I am all about quality control on the big two.Can you imagine if people voted for the person not the party.

Amazing. A “law and order” candidate. It's been a while…

If you just de-criminalize it, then the too-big-to fail banks can still launder the money and the CIA goons can fund their secret wars.

Yes they do. Look it up.

But if its legalized, everyone can make money, then I think we have our next boon. Jobs, jobs, jobs.

Hey, Barbara…and maybe it won't change a thing. Please join the 21st Century.

Prohibition of alcohol didn't stop anyone from drinking.

That makes no sense… it's already responsible for a lot of crime because it is criminalized. Traffic accidents will continue unabated regardless.

C'mon Sen. Boxer!! You can do better than that.

Marijuana use is a harmless thing: until it begins to take its toll, which happens sooner than many believe and no habitual user is immune from.

In my time I’ve known many pot smokers, dozens equaling somewhere in the low hundreds; and every one of them displayed the same trait to varying degrees as a result of their use; some within weeks of starting, smoking it every day; others later on: a shortened outlook-horizon causing dysfunction. Teens, Twenties, even some Thirties can put on a good show of high functioning because they are running on youthful mind and energy, but the effect is happening. At some point into the habit it becomes false that the ‘straight’ pot smoker who hasn’t indulged in a day or a week is equal to the non-user in unencumbered brain function.

Once it began to take a toll to any degree, then the ‘recreation’ part of the equation began to diminish as the ‘dysfunction’ part grew, pervading their life. Then it was no longer an innocent thing. I’ve seen the range from a growing persistent befuddlement and or short attention span and or frustration and or forgetfulness over the months and years, to full-blown paranoid psychosis and off to the psyche hospital for six months. Whatever mental ailment the user was prone to, be it Depression, Paranoia, OCD, ADD, etc: it exacerbated the condition on a gradient scale from mild to extreme, creating a ‘roller coaster effect’ of affliction to less affliction and back; of feel good, feel bad, up, down, up, down. The ones who quit it showed immediate improvement and long-term relief.

Take the above and picture it across society, millions of users caught up in some stage; millions more thinking (but not really thinking it through to its right true end, seeking any and all justification to do it), ‘it’s legalized, that means it’s harmless. I’ll give it a try.’

We participate in our Democracy by being Informed Citizens and, at the very least, voting.

Half our country put a Neocon dimwit in the president’s office, TWICE: millions because he claimed faith in Jesus, while his home state showed many of the worst governing indicators in the nation and the man could not complete proper sentences; the second time after he convinced them – him in incomplete sentences, them in ignorance of the country we previously went to war with – that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction. People were unable to discern whose word was truth: some authoritive sounding types on TV or the word of professional UN operatives in the country. Many if not most don’t even know what a Neocon is now. Many still believe Saddam attacked us years after it was outright disproved. We’re eight years into a war in the Graveyard of Empires, costing us billions, killing decent innocent people. The ‘best and the brightest’ Wall Streeters tripped the world’s economy down the stairs. You all can complete the litany of dire ills past and present.

So of all the ideas entering the American dialog now, consuming any of our time; of all the proposals our representatives might spend their time on; of all the legislation that might be acted upon and effect our country: we’re going to give further license to an already pervasive individual and social detriment and encourage more people take up pot smoking?

It was the activists of the Sixties that caused the changes. They did the unfun hard work of both thinking and translating it into words and action: understanding law and parliamentary procedure, petitioning representatives, researching facts, understanding the minutiae of issues, engaging in detailed debate with very sharp opponents, maneuvering against those well-coordinated opponents doing their level best to win, taking the public stage and speaking to effect; managing political movements: writing articles, corresponding, running offices, managing travel, managing personnel, keeping accounts, coordinating events – day in and day out, week upon month upon year.

No. We need as many clear heads as possible, as many citizens as possible with the capacity to deal with their everyday lives, jobs or school and family, AND participate according the each of his or her gifts towards putting our house in order. And the ones who cannot ‘show up’ at least must be engaged enough to make a sound choice in the voting booth.

“It has been said over and over again by the worlds leading people in the area of drugs.”

Actually, the “people” who know about drugs are SCIENTISTS and DOCTORS, and THEY have found that there is no link, no “gateway” between cannabis by itself and harder drug use. And the millions of people that smoke pot and never touch anything harder are more proof that you're full of shit.

“Pot is proven to cause the munchies which then leads to over eating which leads to obesity and eventually diabetes. It is proven.”

far from “proven” in the context you're asserting. The two years I smoked pot, I was much thinner than I am now (and I never moved on to harder drugs, either). Munchies doesn't mean “more fatty food”, you could eat very healthy things while having the munchies, and you could also be exercising and burning calories (my favorite exercise was sex.. mmmmmm.. stoned sex.. YUM!).

“We must freedom ourselves from the chains of this herb and stop the medicating. “

Yes, freedom is being in pain and full of misery.. wait,wut? You sir, a a complete moron. You can't have freedom by removing someone's freedom. That you're so completely moronic as to not understand that puts you squarely in the “ignore this moron troll” camp.

This is the smartest Senator in Washington? These “concerns” of hers are no where found in the scientific or medical or criminological research.
What a sell out! Too bad she is the best California can do. Good thing she is on the right side of most issues.

I apologize for hijacking this thread; I am not registered elsewhere. We need to understand that CBS/NCAA has taken away a great national tradition for money. Every announcer, pundit and sportswriter, well those with consciences, told us that Duke had the easiest route to the Final Four and so they did. Now they have worked it so that a lot more people will watch by securing a spot for Butler, a huge underdog, in the final. Disgusting work by an institution, the NCAA, which is supposed to be all about the “student athlete.” Again, I apologize

Yeah, but good luck with that. You know who owns the newspapers, and the radio stations, and the TV stations, and all the big internet sites.

Her district should primary her against a more progressive candidate. Her argument makes no sense and is likely just Republican-style fear mongering.

Senator Boxer better get up to speed about California voters. Especially Democrats. She seems determined to alienate millions of California voters that smoke marijuana recreationally. A large majority of marijuana consumers vote for Democrats and she is going to need all the support she can get for her re-election, which makes this a bad time to alienate a new voter bloc.

Here's a clue. Are there more cops voting or more pot smokers?

She is just a stupid as Stephen Harper. She must be a mushroom, doesn't know much about reality!!

Barbara Boxer needs to smoke more pot.

well I don't know WHAT you are on or WHAT kind of brainwashing you've been forced but you have NO IDEA what you are talking about.. go read a book first (assuming you CAN read) and then make comments (even the against people probably are groaning with your post!)

his name is buttsniffer… I think that's where he's going to stay..lol great point you made tho!!

what a dyke

Just another mindless, ignorant politician who obviously doesn't have an opinion of her own.

GODAM these people are frekain idiots. Increased CRIME? How much more increased can it get than decapitation?????????

this is a joke, right?

Wow….typical liberal elitist. Beck and Hannity said that liberals were elitist but I never believed it totally until now. Bernie Goldberg also said in his best seller, “A Slobbering Love Affair” that liberals would take away our Freedoms, and now they want to take away our freedom to be sober. This is just like a liberal to think this way….Dick Morris said that the Clintons murdered people, now Obama is a socialist….who will the Dems elect next? A pot smoking pedophile? Wouldn't surprise me. Bottom line is this…..pot will kill you if you take too many puffs. You can OD…it was proven in a movie about how pot causes madness in you. Watch a movie, read a book….put down the pipe and educate yourself on the dangers of puffing it up. Sean said that freedom will only ring if we ring it loud and clear. I am living proof that Freedom can ring.

her butt must really hurt after pulling this stinker out of there…i hope she reads this as she is drinking her glass of wine and taking her Valium before she drives home…

mass decapitation?…

EARTH TO BOXER!!!…56% of Californians want this…

What Boxer is saying is that she gets under-the table money from the DEA's drug operations and this bill would hurt her bank account! INVESTIGATE BOXER FOR MONEY LAUNDERING!

“increase in crime”???… nonsense!
Imagine how many people would be freed from the jails and have their lives and careers returned to them. Imagine how many people would no longer suffer economic hardship from the fines. Imagine how many drug money supported criminals would have to find other revenues. Imagine the millions in revenue for the cash strapped state and the millions saved in court and incarceration costs. Imagine cops being freed up to investigate real crimes.

The stupidity of her argument is only equal to the obvious dishonesty and blatantly spineless political posturing.

**That's what I was thinking! How many people smoke and drive? Got munchies, don't need to travel.

there could be more crime because the black market dealers (already willing to break laws) will lose their source of income and will be forced to resort to crime in order to support themselves.
More car accidents? From the research studies I've read, states legalizing marijuana can expect LESS car accidents. I recall the science shows that drivers under the influence of marijuana drive less aggressively and more safely.

Based on her “reasoning,” Boxer would have been against repealing Prohibition, because repealing the ban on alcohol would lead to an increase in crimes and more car accidents.

She obviously forgets that just as in the case of the banning of alcohol, making marijuana illegal has not stopped people from imbibing, which means that corresponding increases in crimes and car crashed must be evident in the intervening prohibition years.

And yet during Prohibition, any increase in crime usually involved people trying to skirt the alcohol ban, whether organized crime looking to make a buck, moonshiners, speakeasy operators or home-brewing bathtub-ginners. Finally, enough juries said enough is enough, since many jurors either imbibed or knew someone who did, so many juries started refusing to convict.

Maybe something similar will happen where marijuana is involved. And I really doubt that car accidents will increase if the marijuana prohibition is repealed, since people have been smoking dope and driving cars over the past fifty years with probably no more nor less accidents occurring than if they'd been non-stoned. Accidents happen, whether one's stoned or not, whether one's drunk or not…whatever.

Regarding crime levels, if marijuana were legalized, then the middle-men currently producing and distributing it would be cut out, which no doubt would DECREASE crime levels and also the number of people in prison…kind of like what happened following the repeal of the prohibition of alcohol. In fact, making marijuana a criminal offense actually helped organized crime, since marijuana now replaced alcohol as a way for the mob to make a buck.

So, repealing the ban on marijuana would have a net positive effect: less crime, very little if any increase in car accidents, while a whole lot of American citizens would be more mellow (and hungry for pizza).

I can't believe what I'm hearing coming out of Boxer's mouth. Boy has she misgauged public opinion in California. I guess she figures her opponents will be against legalization so she's pre-empting them on the subject, but I'll bet this will cost her votes, mine included. We not only need the tax revenue from legalization but it will give Californians a new way to “Work at Home” and give a boost to agriculture (legally).

Obviously Boxer must have an inordinate amount of punches to her commonsense gland! She is just another parrot who knows nothing about what she speaks! I am so very sorry to point out the real refer madness, which is the outdated frame of mind from the 50's!
Please try to know something about what you know nothing, In my opinion, this is the story in a nut shell!!
The “OWB”

its funny to me what politions will say when there necks are on the line/ are trying to get reelected… I would like to read her views of this before her term came to an end ( at the begining) also how tupid could she be thinking that going against it would secure her position when something like 62% of Californians want it leagal…really Boxer, really?

The first word we hear from this twat since her last election, and it's about this.

Hey Boxer! Where the fuck were you when we needed to get rid of Bush??

I can't imagine why anyone calls Boxer a liberal. Or a Democrat for that matter. She's as bad as Feinstein. Both of them worthless pieces of shit.

She must be on the take from druglord gangBangers…

oh yeah: the Federal Government DOES pay her salary!!

By THAT logic …. Alcohol should be outlawed!

I’m sorry but I do not agree. The studies done by accreditted sources have proved you wrong again and again. I am 45, I have been smoking on and off since I was 12. Yes I know it’s a long time. I was also a cocaine addict that has 15 years clean. In fact, I went BACK to school at 32 as I broke vertebrae in my back and could not do my job anymore. Sure I did not smoke while in school as yes, it does affect short term memory. But with being a cocaine addict as well as a pot smoker, I took computer information systems and got A’s across the board. I am living proof that the brain does recover from addiction to move forward and remap synapses as well as regrow brain cells. My current employment is working as a software test engineer at Microsoft. As a matter of fact, the operating system you are using to make these posts, written by the brightest minds in the world are stoners.

You need to get corporate money out of politics completely. The democrats favor this; the Republicans don’t.

Believe that all you want. It’s more complicated than that, but thanks for playing.

Most of the people that I know, do.

Yeah but are YOU going to sit around and JUST LET IT HAPPEN? OR, are you going to stand up with your fellow americans and help put a stop to it? Are you a patriot or paid schill?

Boxer another lame, outdated democrat like the republicans. but they have a tea party. what do we have? nada.

It will increase law enforcement costs???????? It will reduce them greatly by keeping pot smokers out of our jails!! It will disarm a portion of the black market! It will take police budgets and direct them to needed areas! Madness!!!

Ms. Boxer, as much as I love you about a lot of other stuff, you're FOS about this.

I’ve grown poppy seeds from the grocery store baking section, and they weren’t sterile. They grew many beautiful blue poppies.

I’ve grown poppy seeds from the grocery store baking section, and they weren’t sterile. They grew many beautiful blue poppies.

WHo cares what Boxer thinks? The legislators are not in control of this initiative, the people are. They cannot control the outcome or lose the initiative in comittee somewhere. The only thing Boxer can really do on this issue is the same thing the rest of Californians can do, vote her opinion at the ballot. There is no political wrangling here, there is no ammendments that can be offered by legislators heck the legislators cannot even modify the bill if it passes, it would have to be submitted to the public for them to vote on any changes. Its the nature of the beast.

AS far as which way you should vote on this initiative, actually do the research and use some critical thinking skills and you will arrive at the correct decision with which to cast your vote. Any reasonable person, after doing thier proper due dilligence, will vote to tax, regulate and control marijuana.

Even the politicians that support this, support it because it will give them more money to spend. Not because it is the right thing to do.

This from a woman who carries a .38 snub-nose in her purse, but has made it virtually IMPOSSIBLE for other Californians to get conceal and carry handgun permits!!! What else can Californians expect from her but lies, and hippocracy? I mean really, it makes no sense to say that taking a multi-BILLION DOLLAR CASH CROP out of the hands of CRIMINALS is going to create more crime! If anything, changing the legal status of marijuana is more likely to reduce the number of “criminals” (due to the fact that people who use marijuana are currently considered to be criminals).

-Oz

Funny thing about laws – If you remove them, you don't have criminals. Case in point: WALL STREET!

[...] head breaking through the Capitol dome; or perhaps it was the senator’s reiteration that marijuana legalization advocates can go suck a bong. Whatever the cause, Boxer is facing her toughest reelection campaign since getting elected, and [...]

Thats were we can get the money for public health care. All the money we’ll save on drug enforcement, prison and court cost.

Shepard, Edward M. Blackley, Paul R. “The Impact of Marijuana Law Enforcement In An Economic Model of Crime” The Journal Of Drug Issues (2007): 403-424. Print.

This study indicates legalization or decriminalization would reduce crime. At the very least indicates a positive correlation between cannabis arrests and other crimes from burglaries to hard drug crimes

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