As you can see by my info, I live in the capital of the bud, and I don't think these laws passing will have an effect here in Vancouver. This stuff flows like water, instead of people asking to bum a smoke at the bus stop downtown, it's a toke they ask for. I'm a student working at a local gas station, and some minors, attempting to buy small cigars, rollies, etc, use the excuse that they are not going to smoke the tobacco as a reason for me to sell them these products without ID. With rising cigarette prices bring about bouts of comments that smoking is too expensive and pot is the cheap alternative. I don't smoke (anything) because that is my choice; however, hoping to raise my own children one day, I want them to be able to choose one day. I Don't Want dealers pressuringmy kids at their elementary schools, or high schools. I Don't Want their only choices to be Michael for 10cents a gram, or Johnny for 19cents for 2 grams. Do I want M-J leagalized, not really - do I notice anyone fearing lawful consequences for small amount possesion (this is where the laws are possibly being eased) - no, like I said this stuff is like water - easer for minors to get than tobacco or liquor.
Basically I like the proposition that penalties for dealing, and growing will be higher.
There doesn't seem to be any penalty for possesion (here) as is stands now so it can't really change for the worse.
In some cases I have seen people drop out of school, have suck jobs, etc all before the age at which they might even have the remote possibility of understanding anythign about the world - due primarily to the good ol reefer. In other cases people do it for a couple years smarten up and start doing better in life.
I made my choice long ago, but I don't think many people's choices are based soley on the law, and if there exsits such a person - I feel sorry for that person (the end of the world may be coming if there is more than one person
) everyone should be able to make their own choices - legally irrelevant. It would be nice to think that people don't kill/rape/abduct because it's against that law, however, I believe the legal system is fairly reactive as opposed to proactive. The laws exist to punish, not prevent. And that is the underlying problem with any debate regarding the legallity of M-J or ... anything really.