So I hate big farms, HATE them. Pretty much hate any big business. I belong to a CSA and I only shop at the co-op and the farmer's market. And at both there are still items/vendors that I won't give my money to. I'm pretty hardcore in some ways. But I know that if we want enough voters to bite on a "legalization" initiative or prop, then we have to deal with commercial growing by any/all corporations. I hate that so much! But I know it's part of the path. We can't rationally keep them out, no matter how many hours we have spent in the past trying to on these forums.
Ernst: honest question about the future of public consumption of cannabis. What is your vision? Bars? Anywhere folks can smoke cigs? Backyards? Patios? ect...
Well the day I can smoke a joint in a coffee shop in Turlock is the day all-right.
I think the prop 19 folks had that correct in a way. They made exceptions for local areas to do their own thing since there about 600 jurisdictions in the state of California I am sure ordnances will vary so it is hugely important that we have equality under the law so folks dealing with our not so informed citizenry have some legal defence when being harassed with loss of their job or other discrimination over their cannabis.
I believe that after the Prop-19 that most everyone is ready for the speeding ticket approach we have now and now there is a bill to make getting caught growing just local jail time and not the state prison.
Also introduced is a bill to protect workers although it is basically toothless since "safety sensitive" means whatever the business wants it to including selective firings.
So we will be struggling with cultural changes over cannabis for the rest of my life however if we stand with legal rights that makes living a life with cannabis easier to defend.
Oh and a Hemp farming bill was introduced.
Look think about Organic foods.. Sure some will buy cheep commercial cannabis especially where growing is impossible but if we all have rights to grow all the cannabis we can then we as a people can keep the variety and standards high especially if we are growing for commercial sales and a brand name is involved.
What I am worried about is in 50 years will there be diverse genetics or will it be USDA controlled.. Put it in the hands of the people! Make sure I can pass the genetics I have tended all my life to the next generation.
That loss of genetics is so obvious.. I mean where is some strain from two years ago? Gone because it doesn't make money. Private collection offer us Seed savers and heirloom variety growers.
You and I know that the most profitable tomato is a thick skinned green thing because it stands up to transit and the pressure of weight while not rotting fast.
It isn't the best eating tomato just the most profitable.
Our cannabis may go the way of the green tomato.
I have the Five things Idea on california2012.. It's simple.. Requires a separate vote to set the age for cannabis but is a guide for legalizing.
So if we can possibly delink profits from cannabis we can see that it is just a plant that is very useful. cannabis is made political and profitable by it's being illegal.
It was made illegal through a propaganda campaign we can call refer madness but the non-drug version Hemp was included because it competed with cotton and petroleum.
It was a bad move and it is a green industry.
http://www.google.com/search?q=referman+++youtube&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a
So Clubs here in Stanislaus county? I'll believe it when I see it..
But already stepping out for a smoke isn't a big deal in many places.. In fact people who smoke as they drink are less likely to get mean when they get drunk.
So is it possible that the best move is to put the rights to grow all we want in the legal hands of the people or stick with decrim where business calls the shots?
I'm open to suggestions.. We are actually re-legalizing.
Is it better that cannabis be regulated external to the people or is cannabis better regulated in the hands of the people?