Quote (Goomshill @ Jan 4 2018 10:11am)

I'd like to see some pushback on it, maybe some GOP infighting from libertarian reps and senators to stymie sessions, but combine that with legal challenges that could finally bring this to scotus, albeit at the glacial pace that could hurt the industries in the meantime due to uncertainty even if they get some favorable TRO. I don't think anyone is surprised by Jeff Sessions ending the look-the-other-way policy and I think everyone appreciates that changing the law or reclassifying is somehow still politically infeasible even after all these years- but this is a sore point that has been long coming and should set off a lot of fighting from legalization states and jockeying for liberal non-legalization states to join in. And ironically Jeff Session's position got all the more secure with the election of Doug Jones, because it makes it even more politically toxic for Trump to ever remove him because it would be copping to an even bigger mistake.

Quote (EndlessSky @ Jan 4 2018 11:43am)

If we didnt have a welfare state, I would advocate for drug legalization.

Quote (EndlessSky @ Jan 4 2018 10:43am)

If we didnt have a welfare state, I would advocate for drug legalization.

Quote (thesnipa @ 4 Jan 2018 16:41)

if he didnt push the borderline racist bullshit from the start of his campaign in an attempt to pull in the alt right types he could have, imo, made the same move with a more centered base. granted at the time no one thought he could pull enough from the fringes, let alone from the center, to win. so i understand that he chose what was likely the best path. the truth is many people have been waiting for someone who's brash and doesnt bandy words, he's just a step too far in many cases and is easily caught up in bullshit.

fix the optics surrounding the white house and pull a bit to center, you can even run a trickle down econ tax policy. but tough on crime policies wont win him any friends, and legal pot stocks are a big market he's fucking with in relation to rising stocks

Quote (cambovenzi @ Jan 4 2018 12:39pm)

the drug war is incredibly costly without a clear negative correlation/causation with welfare expenditures.

the illegal status of drugs doesnt prevent drug users from getting on welfare right now anyways.
legalization could arguably reduce welfare spending and reliance. (whether its people not getting their lives fucked up in the jail system, or being more able to seek help, turning more people into productive members of society, etc)

Quote (Skinned @ Jan 4 2018 12:59pm)

Drugs and welfare are unrelated.

Quote

President Trump is reportedly attempting to stop the publication of "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," Michael Wolff's explosive new book about his campaign and presidency.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that Trump's attorneys have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the book's publisher, demanding that Henry Holt & Company not publish the book and apologize to the president.

The letter, according to the Post, demands that Henry Holt & Co. "immediately cease and desist from any further publication, release or dissemination of the book," including excerpts and summaries of the book's contents, and requests a copy of the book in its entirety as they pursue possible legal action.

Trump also reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter to former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon late Wednesday, saying that he violated a nondisclosure agreement by speaking with Wolff and accusing him of making "disparaging" and "outright defamatory" statements. A statement from Trump attorney Charles Harder said that the president plans to take legal action against Bannon.

The book, scheduled to be published next week, has sparked a major feud between Trump and Bannon. Several excerpts published Wednesday revealed interviews with Bannon in which he made incendiary comments about Trump and his family.

In one excerpt, Bannon described the 2016 meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a group of Russians as "treasonous" and "unpatriotic." He also said there was "zero" chance that the president was not aware of the meeting.

"They're going to crack Don Junior like an egg on national TV," Bannon said. The president has repeatedly denied knowledge of the meeting.

Other controversial excerpts from the book include anecdotes about election night, including one in which first lady Melania Trump was in tears, according to Wolff, and that Rupert Murdoch allegedly called the president a "f---ing idiot."

Wolff reportedly recorded many of the 200-some interviews that are included in the book, including his conversation with Bannon.

After excerpts from the book were published, Trump issued a blistering statement denouncing Bannon, saying that the former chief strategist has "lost his mind" and accusing him of "leaking false information to the media to make himself seem far more important than he was."

"Steve Bannon has nothing to do with me or my presidency," Trump said. "When he was fired, he not only lost his job, he lost his mind."

Quote (thesnipa @ Jan 4 2018 01:42pm)

it must be really hard to triangulate in your brain.

1. welfare state
2. illegal immigration (read:cartels)
3. Drug use

legalize pot and cripple the cartels, cripple the cartels drastically reduce illegal immigration and the need for a wall, boom welfare demand reduced.