Best way to invest in marijuana stocks?

[Fishindude77]

I always like to ask this for those who are not on board...have you ever tried it?

Anybody that would freely admit use of an illegal drug on an internet forum to an audience of strangers has definitely been smoking too much pot.

[rennigade]

I'm not sure what trying it has to do with the issue. If I tell you I've tried heroin or cocaine would that negate any dangers associated with them?

I think theres a big fear as to what it will do to you mentally or physically. Will it make you go crazy, will I become addicted, will I ruin my life, etc etc. I believe that if people could experience it they would laugh at the ridiculous propaganda that has been shoved down our throats in the form of silly commercials all these years. That is not a big deal.

If you're of the opinion that marijuana is safe and has no negative health effects, then we'll have to agree to disagree.

No we're on the same page. Anytime you indulge too much in anything you face risk. Smoke entering your lungs isnt great for you or anyone else around you. Im not sure of the impact on the brain long term. Not sure if there has been long term studies done on this. If there hasnt been there probably is as we speak.

If your argument is that other dangerous substances are legal so this one should be too, I would say that I'm not in favor of those either. I would love to see them ban tobacco sales tomorrow. Just because they've been stupid in the past isn't justification for further stupidity.

The difference is you have a choice...you can consume other substances that may harm you...or you can choose not to. I just think as adults we should be able to make that decision for ourselves. The issue with weed is it was legal for a long time...then it became illegal...now its become legal again in some states. Not to mention states that have legalized both med and rec have shown that people in general are pretty responsible and rational. Looking at the big picture there's only a tiny tiny percentage of people who do really dumb things...and to deny all 300+ million of us of something 99.99% of people can handle does not seem right.

[rennigade]

Anybody that would freely admit use of an illegal drug on an internet forum to an audience of strangers has definitely been smoking too much pot.

Way to dodge the question. You make a very compelling argument as to why marijuana should not be legalized: "I'm not on board with this legalization thing either. I think our country will eventually regret it."

Im sold on your idea...you went into great detail and explained yourself really well.

Whats more interesting is your thought process...the same way a lot of people still feel about weed. That if someone does it now and then they're labeled a pot head yet someone can drink a few beers during a sporting event and have a cocktail after work and its fine...no one would consider them to be an alcoholic. This way of thinking has to come from the big push during the regan admin for a drug free america. Its fascinating how an entire generation can be changed with clever advertising.

[disneysteve]

The difference is you have a choice...you can consume other substances that may harm you...or you can choose not to. I just think as adults we should be able to make that decision for ourselves.

Here's where we'll have to agree to disagree.

I don't think every illegal drug should be legalized just so people can choose whether or not to use it.

Other than the tax income, I can't think of any upside to legalizing marijuana. If you do some research, there's even a great deal of debate about the supposed health benefits.

All of that said, I would be okay with the government lifting the ban on medical studies so we can find out once and for all if there actually is a worthwhile benefit for certain individuals.

[bjl584]

Drugs aren't my cup of tea. I've never even been high.

I have a drink here and there, but that's my only vice.

[gambler2075]

I've never smoked pot, only smoked a cigarette (once) when I was drunk, but I am kind of a live-and-let-live person when it comes to THC. Maybe it's because I've traveled in various countries where people more commonly smoke pot. Or because I am a snowboarder and they all seem to do it. I dunno. Anyway, interesting article here on drug legalization:

http://www.vice.com/read/three-concepts-you-need-to-grasp-if-you-want-to-know-whether-to-legalize-drugs-yes-even-heroin

g

[Spiffster]

I live in Colorado so perhaps I may chime in. I have a few friends that partake, a few that dont. All of them are relatively successful, and have no apparent mental or social issues. I have tried it, dont like it, at all. If its legalized across the country, I doubt it will have much impact on society. There will always be folks with too much time on thier hands trying to make a big deal out of anything and everything, then the media will blow things up as they usually do. Life will go on. Thats just my point of view.

[disneysteve]

If its legalized across the country, I doubt it will have much impact on society.

Here are some of my concerns:

1. People who already use pot are going to keep doing it but the threat of getting arrested goes away for the most part (unless driving under the influence or otherwise doing something still illegal).

2. People who want to use pot but stay away due to the legal issue will be able to start using it without that concern, and yes, I know plenty of people like this. They know if they get caught they would lose their jobs but they'd smoke in an instant if it became legal.

3. The legal pot will be too expensive and people will keep buying through the current channels which are cheaper. This is already happening here in NJ where medical marijuana is legal. Patients go through the process to get the legal certification and then keep buying it on the street. If they get caught with pot, they just wave their medical marijuana card to get off.

4. Drug testing becomes a lot more complicated. Can an employer still discipline or dismiss an employee who tests positive for pot like he can today? Or will we be forced to accept employees working under the influence because it's legal?

[jbjr12]

Just to touch on the original topic... (though it's been so long it probably doesn't matter to the OP)

Philip Morris and Altria would be my bets for stocks that would see real growth from legalizing cannabis. They already have all the manufacturing facilities, marketing, supply chain distribution, brand recognition, etc, etc. All they'll need to do is switch the material they fill their wrappers with. I think they would benefit from legalization the same way Pepsi and Coke benefited from the popularity in bottled water.

[jbjr12]

Here are some of my concerns:

1. People who already use pot are going to keep doing it but the threat of getting arrested goes away for the most part (unless driving under the influence or otherwise doing something still illegal).

2. People who want to use pot but stay away due to the legal issue will be able to start using it without that concern, and yes, I know plenty of people like this. They know if they get caught they would lose their jobs but they'd smoke in an instant if it became legal.

3. The legal pot will be too expensive and people will keep buying through the current channels which are cheaper. This is already happening here in NJ where medical marijuana is legal. Patients go through the process to get the legal certification and then keep buying it on the street. If they get caught with pot, they just wave their medical marijuana card to get off.

4. Drug testing becomes a lot more complicated. Can an employer still discipline or dismiss an employee who tests positive for pot like he can today? Or will we be forced to accept employees working under the influence because it's legal?

I'll bite on this because I'm always curious about a different point of view. Just to be clear, I'm for full legalization of marijuana and a significant overhaul (including decriminalization in many cases) of how we treat most other Schedule 1 drugs.


1. I don't see why this is a problem. If people are using it now and not hurting anyone (apart from DUIs or the like which would still be illegal after legalization of use) then what the difference.

2. You're probably right. Use will increase. Again, why is this a problem? Is is the health consequences that you are concerned with? Or is there something else specifically about marijuana use that is of concern?

3. This isn't true in Colorado where pot has been totally legalized. If you only allow a very small number of facilities to sell a product (as is the case in areas where medical pot is legal but very tightly controlled) then prices will always be artificially high. With full legalization free market forces come into effect and prices drop. Some people still buy moonshine today but most people don't. They buy their booze legally because it's cheaper, more readily available, legal, and quality controlled.

4. This is a good thing. Right now we have no way to measure marijuana intoxication (apart form a field sobriety test maybe). We can only detect use. I'd much rather be able to tell if a person is actually intoxicated that just whether or not they've used the substance sometime in the last week. My employer doesn't care if i have a drink at home as long as i'm not drunk on the job. The only reason they don't feel the same way about pot (aside from the fact that its a controlled substance) is because they can't test for my intoxication.

Prohibition doesn't work. It didn't for booze and it hasn't for drugs. Prohibition on pot is especially crazy in a country where you can buy all the booze you want and where we have a legal prescription drug epidemic that kills dozens of people every day.

Legalization would bring decreased spending, increased revenues, a reduction in the stresses on our overcrowded prison and criminal justice system, and more personal freedom. With lower rates of violent crime, a police force able to spend more time on serious offenses, a product that could be controlled for quality and regulated by the FDA. It would allow for manufacturing uses of hemp and the lifting of restrictions for serious scientific and medical study. It would take money out of the hands of one the most violent and dangerous criminal organizations the modern world has ever seen and put it into the hands of legitimate (although not all together wholesome) businesses. It would set us on the path to treating drug abuse as a health issue instead of a criminal one. I really have trouble seeing a downside.

[rennigade]

Here are some of my concerns:

1. People who already use pot are going to keep doing it but the threat of getting arrested goes away for the most part (unless driving under the influence or otherwise doing something still illegal).

This is one of the bigger benefits of full legalization/decriminalization. We can finally stop locking people in cages for possession of a plant. No so great for the private for profit prison systems in america.

4. Drug testing becomes a lot more complicated. Can an employer still discipline or dismiss an employee who tests positive for pot like he can today? Or will we be forced to accept employees working under the influence because it's legal?

This is another gross part of our society. The fact that your employer owns your body...and if you dont sign off on papers that state such...good luck finding a job in the states. Should you come to work in an altered state of mind...absolutely not. Should you have the right to get drunk/stoned over the weekend and be at baseline by monday morning...absolutely yes.

[Singuy]

Talking about reducing the amount of people we jail, we need to legalize prostitution as well.

You have girls at the bunny ranch making 250k/year living the life vs girls on the street getting pimp slapped and abused daily.

[Fishindude77]

I'm not for legalization, already stated that.

I do think we could decriminalize pot by a bunch and shouldn't be wasting jail cells, courts, law enforcement and all the related costs on pot smokers. Could be more of a speeding ticket type fine of $100 unless caught with huge quantities, selling to kids, etc.

My line of work can be hazardous and we do pre-hire, post accident and random testing. We can't have an impaired individual in a situation on a job-site where he could injure or kill himself or others. Random testing was one of the better things we did. There is a definite correlation between pain in the rear employees and frequent pot use. We got rid of some trouble makers when random testing was implemented. Further, many clients require a good testing program and proof of it, in order to work at their facility.

Having said all of that, I don't think they have the testing for marijuana use perfected. As I understand it you can test positive for pot a few weeks after smoking, yet the impairment wears off about as quickly as booze, maybe quicker.

I agree it's probably not any worse than drinking, but until there is a simple and relatively inexpensive, way to test real time impairment, much like testing for alcohol impairment, many businesses will have to continue with zero tolerance safety policies on pot and a random testing programs.

[rennigade]

Talking about reducing the amount of people we jail, we need to legalize prostitution as well.

Already is...its called marriage. Guarantee that cost a lot of people a lot of money.

[disneysteve]

Talking about reducing the amount of people we jail, we need to legalize prostitution as well.

I agree with this. Prostitution being illegal never made sense to me. It is totally 100% legal for a guy to pick up some random girl at a bar and take her back to his place and have sex with her. But if she charges him for the encounter, it suddenly becomes illegal. What sense does that make? It's legal to give it away but illegal to charge for it.