BajaNomad

Mexico passes bill to legalize recreational marijuana

pauldavidmena - 3-11-2021 at 07:59 AM

This article in today's NY Times reports that the Chamber of Deputies has passed the bill by a fairly wide margin. It still needs to go through the Senate before it arrives on AMLO's desk. He has already signaled his support for the measure.

The article goes on to explain that the bill is fairly divisive in Mexico, with nearly 2/3 of the population opposing it.

Bajabus - 3-11-2021 at 08:03 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pauldavidmena  
This article in today's NY Times reports that the Chamber of Deputies has passed the bill by a fairly wide margin. It still needs to go through the Senate before it arrives on AMLO's desk. He has already signaled his support for the measure.

The article goes on to explain that the bill is fairly divisive in Mexico, with nearly 2/3 of the population opposing it.


YAY! Fingers crossed it becomes the law of the land.

mtgoat666 - 3-11-2021 at 08:17 AM

Here in California, the legalization has resulted in many unlicensed stores in my area. They operate illegally (unlicensed) and likely are selling illegal (untaxed) weed.

Cops don’t seem to be too vigilant about closing down the illegal pot shops.

If the shops sell weed illegally, I suspect they same proprietors also are selling meth, heroin, or whatever els makes a buck.

I would not encourage Mexico to legalize, as experience in USA it does not seem to be beneficial.

[Edited on 3-11-2021 by mtgoat666]

Bajabus - 3-11-2021 at 08:22 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Here in California, the legalization has resulted in many unlicensed stores in my area. They operate illegally (unlicensed) and likely are selling illegal (untaxed) weed.

Cops don’t seem to be too vigilant about closing down the illegal pot shops.

If the shops sell weed illegally, I suspect they same proprietors also are selling meth, heroin, or whatever els makes a buck.

I would not encourage Mexico to legalize, as experience in USA it does not seem to be beneficial.

[Edited on 3-11-2021 by mtgoat666]


Were it not legal in CA would not all sales in CA then be illegal?

pacificobob - 3-11-2021 at 08:23 AM

with billions in revenue states will be reluctant to change. likely more profitable than privately owned prisons built to incarcerate unfortunate users.

John Harper - 3-11-2021 at 08:46 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  


I would not encourage Mexico to legalize, as experience in USA it does not seem to be beneficial.


Yes, we all know how well Prohibition worked to enrich Al Capone and organized crime. Let's just keep doing the same thing that has never worked. Like tax cuts for the wealthy creating a booming economy. Wishful thinking is rarely a proven road to success.

John

Ateo - 3-11-2021 at 08:48 AM

Oh my gosh...I expect this is the end of Mexico - just like what happened to California. The law changed, tax revenue increased, product was regulated, and people stopped being arrested and incarcerated over something that seems relatively safe. Life continued on....the sky didn’t fall. Now we can move on to changing the other 1000 stupid and ancient laws that go against human nature and well being.

Ateo - 3-11-2021 at 08:51 AM

And I wish I could really enjoy weed - but it tends to make me anxious these days rather than relaxed and creative as it did in my early 20’s.

mtgoat666 - 3-11-2021 at 08:54 AM

Here in cali most pot growing and retail sales occurs outside of the licensing system, so most grows and sales are black market. The tax revenue is not collected. Organized crime is still the name of the game. Cops mostly ignore the illegal black market. Failure in cali...

AKgringo - 3-11-2021 at 08:58 AM

The reported legal crop in California has been roughly 10% of what the state estimated it would be. So far, the revenues generated do not pay the overhead of the new department that regulates the industry.

The property owner next to me doesn't even mess with sales in California, because the prices are better in other states!

By the way, even if it is legal to use cannabis in Mexico, it may still be illegal to transport it!

[Edited on 3-11-2021 by AKgringo]

John Harper - 3-11-2021 at 09:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Here in cali most pot growing and retail sales occurs outside of the licensing system, so most grows and sales are black market. The tax revenue is not collected. Organized crime is still the name of the game. Cops mostly ignore the illegal black market. Failure in cali...


The only failure was in a confused implementation, different cities having different regulations, etc. The lack of access to credit markets keeps it a "cash only" business, which is ripe for exploitation and criminal activity.

Blame your legislators for doing a crappy job of "legalizing" pot.

John

[Edited on 3-11-2021 by John Harper]

pacificobob - 3-11-2021 at 10:19 AM

some states, Alaska for example are charging very high tax on retail weed products. this will only encourage the black market. if a bottle of ordinary liquor was to
cost $100, i might consider a purchase from a bootlegger.

mtgoat666 - 3-11-2021 at 10:39 AM

Last night there was Another shootout at an illegal pot shop in casa de oro neighborhood of San Diego.
County sheriff wont shut down the illegal pot shops in unincorporated county, they operate in open, anyone can see the illegal shops in spring valley. the inactivity by the sheriff is because the cops are either stupid or are on the payroll of the illegal pot shops. I don’t think they are stupid.

John Harper - 3-11-2021 at 10:43 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Last night there was Another shootout at an illegal pot shop in casa de oro neighborhood of San Diego.
County sheriff wont shut down the illegal pot shops in unincorporated county, they operate in open, anyone can see the illegal shops in spring valley. the inactivity by the sheriff is because the cops are either stupid or are on the payroll of the illegal pot shops. I don’t think they are stupid.


Wow, from legalizing marijuana in Mexico to San Diego cops on the payroll of the cartels/pot shops? What a slippery slope!

And I thought nutty conspiracy theories were the domain of delusional Trumpists.

John

John Harper - 3-11-2021 at 10:49 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
some states, Alaska for example are charging very high tax on retail weed products. this will only encourage the black market. if a bottle of ordinary liquor was to
cost $100, i might consider a purchase from a bootlegger.


Yes, not pricing marijuana to market is an invitation to black market suppliers. Obviously, marijuana has a very elastic demand curve. Price increases result in alternative supply sources. Economics 101.

They should drive out black market supply by lowering the price, not taxing it out of a competitive range.

John

[Edited on 3-11-2021 by John Harper]

mtgoat666 - 3-11-2021 at 10:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Last night there was Another shootout at an illegal pot shop in casa de oro neighborhood of San Diego.
County sheriff wont shut down the illegal pot shops in unincorporated county, they operate in open, anyone can see the illegal shops in spring valley. the inactivity by the sheriff is because the cops are either stupid or are on the payroll of the illegal pot shops. I don’t think they are stupid.


Wow, from legalizing marijuana in Mexico to San Diego cops on the payroll of the cartels/pot shops? What a slippery slope!

And I thought nutty conspiracy theories were the domain of delusional Trumpists.

John


Just last year one of the crooked San Diego sherriffs got caught. On of the senior cops in Rancho San Diego was doing many hundreds of illegal gun sales with local politically-connected jeweler Leo hamel. The cop got a minor slap on the wrist, the jeweler got no significant punishment. Crooked cops know that they can get away with stuff in San Diego!

John Harper - 3-11-2021 at 12:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Just last year one of the crooked San Diego sherriffs got caught. On of the senior cops in Rancho San Diego was doing many hundreds of illegal gun sales with local politically-connected jeweler Leo hamel. The cop got a minor slap on the wrist, the jeweler got no significant punishment. Crooked cops know that they can get away with stuff in San Diego!


One deputy out of 4,000 in San Diego? Hardly what I would call a tidal wave of corrupt officers.

One police officer out of 1,700 in the SDPD? Another example of the underwhelming level of corruption.

Come on, goat, you can do better than that.

John

Bajabus - 3-11-2021 at 12:25 PM

I would rather see it legal and taxed appropriately. John has a good point, the patchwork laws resulting from poor politics coupled with high taxes encourage a black market. Making a reasonable tax rate and creating one unified series of STATE laws would help tremendously.
Making it illegal is stupid and will not work.

motoged - 3-11-2021 at 01:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ateo  
And I wish I could really enjoy weed - but it tends to make me anxious these days rather than relaxed and creative as it did in my early 20’s.


Geez....who isn't a bit anxious these days? :o

Maybe the increased anxiety when having a puff is environmental/situational .... or the strain isn't the best for you.

Or it just comes with age and a different perspective ?

Managing anxiety is it's own art under any circumstance....

Bajabus - 3-11-2021 at 01:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ateo  
And I wish I could really enjoy weed - but it tends to make me anxious these days rather than relaxed and creative as it did in my early 20’s.


You want to look for a high CBD to THC ratio strain.

https://www.healthline.com/health/high-cbd-cannabis-strains-...

Don't go for the opposite. Talk up the dispensary staff. Most of them know what they are talking about. Use a legal dispensary so you know for sure what you are getting.

mtgoat666 - 3-11-2021 at 01:48 PM

Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Just last year one of the crooked San Diego sherriffs got caught. On of the senior cops in Rancho San Diego was doing many hundreds of illegal gun sales with local politically-connected jeweler Leo hamel. The cop got a minor slap on the wrist, the jeweler got no significant punishment. Crooked cops know that they can get away with stuff in San Diego!


One deputy out of 4,000 in San Diego? Hardly what I would call a tidal wave of corrupt officers.

One police officer out of 1,700 in the SDPD? Another example of the underwhelming level of corruption.

Come on, goat, you can do better than that.

John


Don’t be naive. Many crooked cops in city and county of San Diego.
They never get prosecuted, because good cops cover up crimes committed by bad cops, and the union protects crooked cops.
The whole system is rotten. Impossible to stop or get rid of bad cops.

mjs - 3-11-2021 at 08:45 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Just last year one of the crooked San Diego sherriffs got caught. On of the senior cops in Rancho San Diego was doing many hundreds of illegal gun sales with local politically-connected jeweler Leo hamel. The cop got a minor slap on the wrist, the jeweler got no significant punishment. Crooked cops know that they can get away with stuff in San Diego!


One deputy out of 4,000 in San Diego? Hardly what I would call a tidal wave of corrupt officers.

One police officer out of 1,700 in the SDPD? Another example of the underwhelming level of corruption.

Come on, goat, you can do better than that.

John


Don’t be naive. Many crooked cops in city and county of San Diego.
They never get prosecuted, because good cops cover up crimes committed by bad cops, and the union protects crooked cops.
The whole system is rotten. Impossible to stop or get rid of bad cops.



Better get rid of the unions then.

California f'd up the legalization. Overbearing bureaucracy, high tax rates and inconsistent local regulations. What do you expect when you make it profitable for the unlicensed businesses and impossible for businesses to legally operate.

Good for Mexico to legalize pot. But laws are one thing, implementation is another.

John Harper - 3-12-2021 at 11:36 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mjs  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Just last year one of the crooked San Diego sherriffs got caught. On of the senior cops in Rancho San Diego was doing many hundreds of illegal gun sales with local politically-connected jeweler Leo hamel. The cop got a minor slap on the wrist, the jeweler got no significant punishment. Crooked cops know that they can get away with stuff in San Diego!


One deputy out of 4,000 in San Diego? Hardly what I would call a tidal wave of corrupt officers.

One police officer out of 1,700 in the SDPD? Another example of the underwhelming level of corruption.

Come on, goat, you can do better than that.

John


Don’t be naive. Many crooked cops in city and county of San Diego.
They never get prosecuted, because good cops cover up crimes committed by bad cops, and the union protects crooked cops.
The whole system is rotten. Impossible to stop or get rid of bad cops.



Better get rid of the unions then.

California f'd up the legalization. Overbearing bureaucracy, high tax rates and inconsistent local regulations. What do you expect when you make it profitable for the unlicensed businesses and impossible for businesses to legally operate.

Good for Mexico to legalize pot. But laws are one thing, implementation is another.


We have a winner.

John

mtgoat666 - 3-12-2021 at 11:55 AM

Quote: Originally posted by mjs  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  
Quote: Originally posted by John Harper  
Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Just last year one of the crooked San Diego sherriffs got caught. On of the senior cops in Rancho San Diego was doing many hundreds of illegal gun sales with local politically-connected jeweler Leo hamel. The cop got a minor slap on the wrist, the jeweler got no significant punishment. Crooked cops know that they can get away with stuff in San Diego!


One deputy out of 4,000 in San Diego? Hardly what I would call a tidal wave of corrupt officers.

One police officer out of 1,700 in the SDPD? Another example of the underwhelming level of corruption.

Come on, goat, you can do better than that.

John


Don’t be naive. Many crooked cops in city and county of San Diego.
They never get prosecuted, because good cops cover up crimes committed by bad cops, and the union protects crooked cops.
The whole system is rotten. Impossible to stop or get rid of bad cops.



Better get rid of the unions then.

California f'd up the legalization. Overbearing bureaucracy, high tax rates and inconsistent local regulations. What do you expect when you make it profitable for the unlicensed businesses and impossible for businesses to legally operate.

Good for Mexico to legalize pot. But laws are one thing, implementation is another.


Calif did not flock up the legalization. The pre-legalization drug dealers never got stamped out, they just opened up illegal storefronts. Cops have to quit taking bribes and close down the black market drug dealers, so legal/licensed drug dealers can operate as intended by law.

...cops need to spend less time eating donuts, more time weeding out the black market operations...

John Harper - 3-12-2021 at 12:43 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666  

Calif did not flock up the legalization. The pre-legalization drug dealers never got stamped out, they just opened up illegal storefronts. Cops have to quit taking bribes and close down the black market drug dealers, so legal/licensed drug dealers can operate as intended by law.

...cops need to spend less time eating donuts, more time weeding out the black market operations...



Maybe the federal government should start a "War on Drugs" and spend hundreds of billions on law enforcement agencies like the DEA. We can get all the dealers and suppliers locked up for sure.

Oh, we've tried that for 50 years now and it's a complete failure.

If you're going to criticize, why not try some constructive criticism? Maybe you have a "brilliant" suggestion on how to handle this issue? You pontificate on most everything and everyone. What's your "informed" idea for this issue?

Kvetching about cops doesn't solve anything.

John

WestyWanderer - 3-14-2021 at 10:37 AM

In Orange County cops are shutting down illegal shops everyday. I know first hand because they call me to open the safes from the shops shut down.

I actually agree with John Harper on this one, stop crying and do something about it goat.