Sen. Dianne Feinstein against legalizing marijuana

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday joined Gov. Jerry Brown in expressing skepticism about legalizing marijuana in California for recreational purposes.

The state's senior senator told The Associated Press in a telephone interview that one of her concerns is the potential for pot-impaired drivers to take to the road. Feinstein said she hopes California declines to join Colorado and Washington in approving the sale of marijuana for recreational use.

"The risk of people using marijuana and driving is very substantial," she said.

... Feinstein said in the interview that she believes California has gone as far as is responsible in allowing marijuana to be sold for medical purposes.

Read more: http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/state&id=9472871

[jtuck004]

1. Deliberately ignorant people holding public office. Is it a requirement?

Remember Sippy Cup from the afternoon show on MSNBC. She said that they are watching Colorado, because if the prices remain high people may put black market sources into place...

"May put"? Did she just fall off the turnip truck? Just like Feinstein suggesting that there aren't people driving impaired all around now, most of them on alchohol though, as a reason to keep up the failed war on people just buggers belief - she really thinks all the people that are smoking now aren't smoking? And that they will start when this happens? Seriously?

Demonstrating complete ignorance of reality, which I suspect is deliberate rather than just a lack of knowledge.

[billhicks76]

22. Feinstein=Flat-Earther

Why is she still even around. She's just holding that job to enrich her family and protect the NSA. Morally bankrupt and ethically challenged, she has joined the vermin who trounce on Americas values. I see her the same way I see Bush and Cheney. Gavin Newsome should primary her.

[Cha]

26. Yeah.. what about Gov Brown?

[Le Taz Hot]

36. The CDP won't allow ANYONE to primary her.

It's why she keeps getting elected because we sure as hell won't elect a Republican senator -- not that she's a whole lot better. If the CDP would just stay out of it and let Democracy take it's course, but they won't. She's too, shall we say, malleable.

[warrant46]

54. Mother/Father time will catch up with this Old Crone Someday

I often wonder how such a Dinosaur keeps walking and chewing Gum in the forest

Now I know

[MindMover]

2. Another dinosaur speaks and others LOL ...

[tarheelsunc]

3. "The risk of people using marijuana and driving is very substantial"

I hope alcohol is being banned sometime soon?

[Cha]

27. Has she ever driven while stoned? Something she'd have to try to speak with

any authority. And, Gov Brown?

[notadmblnd]

40. I imagine that if she drives, she drives under the influence all the time.

At her age, she's got to be on a huge regimen of prescription drugs and any number of those can impair her judgment or abilities while behind the wheel of a car.

[LiberalLovinLug]

44. This is the risk of making pot legal

Greater focus on "driving while stoned".

In fact a lot of people already obviously do that. There is evidence in places that legalize or decriminalize marijuana, that use does not substantially increase. That those who are pot smokers remain at a certain percentage of the population. So basically the same amount of pot infused drivers are already on the road.

I may get flamed, but sorry I don't think driving after taking a few tokes is dangerous. Now of course if you just roasted yourself with some kind of mega-blaster pipe with multiple hits and then immediately got behind the wheel there may be consequences. But, especially for long time users, being mildly under the influence, does not make one a bad driver. Yes I speak from experience. I've been driving while stoned for decades now, never once have I been responsible for any serious accident. In fact I would argue that it makes you slightly more aware because of pots side effects of mild paranoia and the tendency to focus on one thing (driving).

So before States even talked about legalization, it was kind of don't ask don't tell. Cops concentrated on alcohol abuse, and so they should. Now, there is going to be a right wing push for road side weed testing. And we know how long weed stays in your blood system, even if the high is mostly gone after 20 minutes.

[blackspade]

4. Of course she is.

She has to keep that prison money rolling!

[jsr]

8. +1

[Ash_F]

39. I have it on good authority that noone in Cali is in prison for marijuana

I heard it from a DUer, recently.

[former9thward]

41. If you are talking about possession, none are.

I'm sure you heard it from me. Simple possession is not not a prison offense in CA. Now I am sure you will come up with at least ONE name who is in prison for possession. Since you think this is occurring.

[DeSwiss]

5. And I'm against Dianne.

So we're even. And I understand why this hag doesn't want legalized cannabis. Because she's a tool for the Capitalist pigs in the pharmaceutical industry as well as the arms industry.

- Well, you can straight to hell. People are not listening. And babies are being saved no matter how hard you try to kill them.

It's time for you to [font size=7]GO[/font].

[Politicalboi]

6. Time for DiFi to go

Take Jerry with you.

[shanti]

18. Amen!

Feinstein lost her appeal many years ago. She offends me now, with her views, it's time for her to retire!

JB put California on the right track financially, but if he runs again on an Anti Cannabis platform, he will lose.

[Le Taz Hot]

37. He won't lose in the primaries because, again, the CDP won't allow any challengers.

I was hoping he would choose not to run again but I guess the need for the spotlight is just too overwhelming.

[KamaAina]

65. There are no more primaries

we have Abel Maldonado's spiffy new Louisiana-style "jungle primary" with everyone from every party on the June ballot, including repuke ex-con and registered sex offender Glenn Champ!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017182647

The top two finishers in June move on the November ballot. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if they were Brown and Champ.

[OnionPatch]

38. I've voted for her before.

Only because the other choice was worse. Never again.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. Maybe it's time for the old Blue Dog to retire.

[cheapdate]

9. I don't share Feinstein's opinion. I don't condemn her for it either.

My dear old mom, a fierce liberal and a lifelong social worker, is not a fan of marijuana. Maybe because as a case worker in child abuse and neglect, she's seen too much bullshit from people getting high.

Anyway, I'd love to see pot legalized. I wish I could get high every day.

[geomon666]

10. She keeps making it easier for me to be against her.

I don't live in California though so, not like I can do anything about it.

[20score]

11. I thought my 'Hate Feinstein Meter' was pegged from her stances on war, spying and corporate greed.

I was wrong. It now goes to eleven.

[ripcord]

12. Right

Because no one in California drives under the influence of pot now, I drive a truck and see people puffing all the time.

[4now]

13. Sick Democratic Senator, Sick Democratic Governor

Democratic Senators, Congressmen and Governors have been screwing over Cannibis supporters my whole life. They are worse then Republicans because you expect them to care about freedom but they don't.
Feinstiens excuse is pathetic. Did anyone ask her for proof of her statement about driving.... Of course not.
I hope I will find someone to vote for in 14 but its not looking good.

[Throd]

14. Apparently she hasn't been to California for 20 years.

It is pretty much legal here as it is.

[4dsc]

33. +1

Too many of these Senators really don't understand what's going on in their own state.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

15. She'll be for it when she can profit off it.

Just like her and her husband profit from war. She is as corrupt as they get.

[Supersedeas]

70. Bingo

[Doctor_J]

16. She must be on Big Pharma's payroll

She's getting to be quite a nuisance.

[rsmith6621]

17. LET THE VOTERS DECIDE

...NOT THE POLITICIANS.

[RainDog]

23. exactly. no different than alcohol prohibition n/t

[mwrguy]

19. As great as she is on some other issues

she's wrong on this one.

[Zorra]

20. Geezo petes, it's California. Surely we can replace her with a Progeressive Dem! nt

[xxqqqzme]

25. Unfortunately, the California

Democratic Party is in love w/ her. She is actually older than Brown (difi - 81, JB - 76). We have some very good progressives in the legislature and elected government positions.I would love to see SoS Debra Bowen or Congressperson Jackie Speier take difi's place. I'd love to see John Chiang run for governor.

[Cha]

28. 81.. wow.. she's got to retire one of these years..

[tofuandbeer]

21. Lame. I live in southern California, and for what so many consider a liberal state,

we sure do have a hell of a time getting new ideas put into law—in the past decade, other states seem to be ahead of us now.
It's time for the old-school likes of Brown and Feinstein to step aside and let those who know what's good for us take the lead.

[cadaverdog]

24. "The risk of people using marijuana and driving is very substantial," she said. Oh? Really?

According to 4autoinsurance.com, the Top 10 reasons marijuana users are safer drivers are as follows:

1. Drivers who had been using marijuana were found to drive slower, according to a 1983 NHTSA study.

2. Marijuana users were able to drive straight and didn't have trouble staying in their own lanes, according to a 1993 NHTSA study done in the Netherlands. The same study concluded that marijuana had very little effect on overall driving ability.

3. Drivers who had smoked marijuana were less likely to try to pass other cars and were more likely to drive at a steady speed, according to a University of Adelaide study done in Australia. The study showed no danger from marijuana and driving unless the drivers had also been using alcohol.

I'd post more, but I'm baked. Check the link.

http://tinyurl.com/c9vbbhv

[Cha]

29. Prove it, Di.

[SunSeeker]

30. No one is talking about repealing DUI laws. WTF is Feinstein talking about?

I trust she realizes you can still be arrested for DUI even if the substance you are under the influence of is a perfectly legal substance...like alcohol.

[reddread]

31. Legalization would be very harmful

to cartels.
love the BULLSHIT when they proclaim 215 is still in effect-

http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/03/18/3829647/fresno-city-council-takes-up-all.html

and they need to protect income streams like this-

http://www.fresnobee.com/2014/03/19/3831361/lawyer-fresno-officer-embarrassed.html

Lets be real about what their concerns are.
dont waste too much time reacting to what they say.
deal with what they do.

[FrodosPet]

49. Instead of making money with dope...

If cannabis is legalized, the cartels can still make money.

. Heroin, cocaine, and meth
. Protection and extortion
. Robbing cannabis retailers
. Prostitution and human trafficking
. Selling untaxed bootleg herb

Don't forget gun running, murder for hire, and truck hijacking.

[reddread]

53. always look on the bright side of life?

The ONLY way the "cartels" can continue their marijuana business is by keeping a lid on MJ legalization.
Once open cultivation is permitted, NOBODY is going to get rich on it.
I think the path of Heroin production is tied closely to US actions in Afghanistan.
I guess I rest my case.
Kind of assumed people would notice the local cop who was soliciting bribes from dealers.
Simply a drop in the bucket, an accidental prosecution by the Feds.
Happens ALL THE TIME.

[kickysnana]

32. Diane, you cannot take away our freedoms, privacy and rights and deny us the ability to surivive it.

Just my two cents here.

[Garion_55]

34. because nobody drives stoned now

because that wouldnt be legal. keeping it illegal is the only thing stopping people from driving stoned this very second.


someone should ask that old bag 'when was the last time you drove stoned and how did it effect you?'

[Le Taz Hot]

35. Color me surprised.

Not! Fucking dinosaur. At some point we'll get it on the ballot (2016) and she won't have a damn thing to say about it.

[bigwillq]

42. I am against Sen. Dianne Feinstein (nt)

[SwankyXomb]

43. Enough of you, Senator Fine-stain

Step down or be thrown down.

[maxsolomon]

45. CA Pols will never advocate or legislate legalization

No one in WA or CA did either. Both states legalized through the initiative process.

The same will happen in CA.

If it fails, they can point at their opposition in the next election to defend themselves against law-and-order GOP attacks. If it passes, these "liberal" pols can say "I have no choice but to bow to the will of the people".

Leading from behind.

[yurbud]

46. Did she bother to ask what her constituents want?

[U4ikLefty]

47. Fuck Feinstein!!!

that is all

[pablo_marmol]

48. Legalizing weed would go a long way in reducing violence,

as it's the cash cow for the cartels.

Not to mention criminalizing pot in this day and age is moronic on it's own "merits".

Not surprised Feinstein opposes legalization, consequently not disappointed. Brown is another story. I've held him in higher esteem.

[FrodosPet]

50. The cartels will just get creative

The reality is, legalizing pot will make a modest impact, but the cartels will survive. Like I mentioned in an earlier post, there are ways of making illegal money with legal cannabis.

And, if we make more weapons illegal while making pot legal, we will expand a major revenue source for them.

All in all, it is a good thing, but to believe that the cartels will dry up and blow away upon legalization is mere wishful thinking.

[pablo_marmol]

59. Never claimed that the cartels aren't creative or that legalizing

weed would make them "dry up and blow away", did I?

Most people understand what the word 'reduce' means.

[FrodosPet]

60. Obviously you have a realistic viewpoint

I am a supporter of legalization. Based on my own experience (as well as 45 years of being around tokers), the majority are good people, albeit a bit on the slow moving side.

Maybe I am reading it though, but some people seem to convey that they believe that this would be a singular end to organized crime

Cannabis is the safest recreational intoxicant there is. But sometimes there are not so nice things in black market bags. Pesticides, mold, fungus. Sometimes cannabis is grown in toxic soil, and uptakes cadmium and arsenic.

We need not only to legalize it, but to put safe weed systems in place. Just like food and medicine, people making money from growing should be accountable for selling a safe product.

Someone wants to spray their plants with pesticides and fungicides to the point of being cancerous? THEY should be the people in prison, not the granny on chemo!

[pablo_marmol]

61. Sounds like we're in complete agreement.

".....but some people seem to convey that they believe that this would be a singular end to organized crime."

I've gotten this impression sometimes as well. From your previous post:

And, if we make more weapons illegal while making pot legal, we will expand a major revenue source for them.

This is what I find a lot of folks miss. Shouldn't the lessons of Prohibition and the "war on drugs" have taught us by now that demand creates it's own supply? Though in the case of firearms, the cartels would be competing with very competent underground domestic weapons producers.

[Feral Child]

51. FUCK!

Didn't she use to be a Democrat?

[fredamae]

52. Well, I dunno DiFi

You were Wrong about your beloved NSA---and you ignored us when we aired our concerns to you and your constituents directed you toward a different understanding/asking for protection.

Why should we find you credible on the matter of cannabis when well over 50% of Americans disagree and Science backs us up?

Your position regarding cannabis demonstrates you are like "flat-earthers" who are still in the dark and choose to remain there.
Your choice, certainly--but remember--voters have a choice too and personally--I do not/will not support Any politician who Chooses societal harm over science and common sense.

We are forced to support a failed and ineffective Drug Policy-a Multi Billion Dollar Publicly Funded Corporate Annual Investment to enforce laws the People do Not want enforced

Your position is Harmful to society-we are getting Zero return from this Corporate Interest you support and have supported for decades.
Your selective ignorance is too expensive for we the people.

The only benefactors in the WoD's are the corporations. So, thanks for letting us know who you are choosing to legislatively support over the will of the people--you are representative of the Wall Street/Corp Dems that must be replaced in order for our country to move forward.

[hollowdweller]

55. FEINSTEIN VOTED FOR THE IRAQ WAR

To my understanding her family personally profits from the Defense industry.

So she's opposing marijuana legalization because she's afraid there might be car accidents???

Seems like straining out the gnat and swallowing the camel.

[Swede Atlanta]

56. Follow the money...........

It wouldn't surprise me if Feinstein or her family don't have money interests in some part of the state correctional system. If you legalize marijuana, there go about 2/3 of the prisoners. That can't be good for business.

[hughee99]

57. Once her family firgures out how they can make money from it, I'm sure she'll be on board. n/t

[truthisfreedom]

58. Oh the horror! Imagine drivers braking two blocks before a stop sign!

Or tearing around at two miles per hour! Or forgetting to get in their car!

[TeamPooka]

62. Prohibition is a failed public policy. nt

[Splinter Cell]

63. She's right.

Why should marijuana be legal for recreational use? Because idiot pot heads want it to be?

[JohnRogan]

67. what a ignorant reply,....nm

[Orsino]

64. So where is her bill outlawing the recreational use of alcohol?

Unless her concern isn't actually driver impairment?

[KamaAina]

66. She used up her moment of relevance for this year with the NSA thing

last year, it was the gun issue (or was that the year before?)

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

68. Yeah, well that's just

[SHRED]

69. I got my medical card yesterday here in Cali

The doctor said I could grow 6 mature plants.
I could transport up to 6 ounces.

Freedom at last!

[wordpix]

71. gawd forbid we should end the war on drugs & the contracts with it

Lots of people making lots of $$$ on that war and I'm sure some politicians are on the take, too