Looking for opinion from police officer

Question

I know 3 police officers here in nyc that i am good friends with that i met at the bar. They tell me that when they arrest someone for marijuana or ticket them they are only doing it to enforce the law and they personally don't have a problem with it and see it as less dangerous than alcohol- The reason I asked is because I came to the bar last fri and one of them said i looked stoned and i just laughed and so did they.

I am wondering why it is still illegal? Its used in california for medical uses and helps a lot of people. what is your personal opinion on it?

Answer 1

weed is amazing

Answer 2

Yes, until the Government can find a way to control and tax mj it will not be made legal.

Answer 3

Write your congressman. I don't think there is any need for marijuana to be illegal anymore either.  People called it a gateway drug, but look at prescription medication abuse.  When those abusing prescription meds can't afford the pills anymore they turn to heroin.  How much more of a gateway drug is that?  Did you know that more people abused prescription medications in 2007 than abused ecstasy, heroin, cocaine, and marijuana together?  That is so ridiculous.  I think it is time to push the old timers out of politics and find a better use for our money.  We spend billions a year arresting, processing, and incarcerating those who have violated marijuana laws.  All that money could be used for education and other public services.

Answer 4

I'm not a cop, by the way.

But the idea that marijuana is illegal because it cannot be taxed is a load of horseshi+.

It's actually much easier to produce alcohol than it is to grow and process marijuana. You can make alcohol using simple ingredients from any supermarket (fruit + sugar + yeast) in your own basement perfectly legally, and yet commercial beer, wine and liquor distributors are taxed and the system is pretty effective. I see no reason why the same cannot be done for marijuana. The legal sanctions against the plant are purely due to old remaining cultural prejudices against latinos made into law back in the mid 20th century.

Answer 5

It's one thing for someone to possess a dime bag in a car.  However, if there is a pound in the trunk, someone is getting locked up.  I tend to agree with the folks that say that weed is less dangerous than alcohol, when it comes to driving.  I've seen this from experience.  However, it still impairs your judgment.  Then, there are people out there that don't have a certain "dealer" that they but from.  So, you end up buying weed from people who think it's funny to lace it with the kind of stuff that makes you climb the walls, see pink elephants, think your skin is made of cake, etc.  That's why marijuana is still illegal.  Most officers are going after the dealer, not the person with a joint.

Answer 6

Its still illegal because it impairs your judgment. I hear all the time "it doesnt effect me when im driving" or "i drive better drunk" and its simply not true. Hence DUI.DWI.

Im all for "medical" marijuana however i know that there are alternatives to smoking weed. In pill form. What im not for is kids smoking it, driving high, getting in accidents,and i know this is not for medicinal use.

Id prefer everyone to be safe if you know what i mean. Kids not being high is just one more way to enforce everyone being safer.

Answer 7

I usually don't sweat it if I find small amounts of it in a car or on somebody and we have a "Weed Zone" as we call it that allows us to get rid of it or hook them if it is over a certain amount. I don't care but still think people are losers who do it. At least they drive slower and stay in the lanes versus drunk drivers.

Answer 8

It's illegal because the government would have a hard time taxing it because anybody can grow it..