Does Josh Howard deserve the criticism he is now getting?

[kaorder1999]

The criticism I'm talking about it for what he said about his marijuana use as well as the way he played down the stretch! Vote and explain how and why you voted that way!

[Old Tiger]

No, it's just weed. It's not like he's Amy Winehouse or anything.

[kaorder1999]

Originally posted by Go Blue
No, it's just weed. It's not like he's Amy Winehouse or anything.

I havent yet formed my opinion yet....but just want to get everyone elses.....

So you do not think its a problem for someone to use a platform like he did in order to let everyone know of his illegal actions?

[Old Tiger]

Originally posted by kaorder1999
I havent yet formed my opinion yet....but just want to get everyone elses.....

So you do not think its a problem for someone to use a platform like he did in order to let everyone know of his illegal actions? The way he went about it was probably not the brightest but you can't hate the guy for smoking weed. Plus who are we to judge someone like that.

[crzyjournalist03]

Originally posted by Go Blue
Plus who are we to judge someone like that.

We SHOULD be law-abiding citizens who believe in our country and support our federal government regardless of whether or not our particular party happens to be in power at that time. We should criticize those who choose to openly and blatantly challenge our federal laws.

[kepdawg]

Originally posted by Go Blue
The way he went about it was probably not the brightest but you can't hate the guy for smoking weed. Plus who are we to judge someone like that.

Yeah, why criticize someone for being dumb enough to admit to illegal activity on the radio? :rolleyes:

[Old Tiger]

Originally posted by crzyjournalist03
We SHOULD be law-abiding citizens who believe in our country and support our federal government regardless of whether or not our particular party happens to be in power at that time. We should criticize those who choose to openly and blatantly challenge our federal laws. and that is what makes this country so hypocritical.

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by crzyjournalist03
We SHOULD be law-abiding citizens who believe in our country and support our federal government regardless of whether or not our particular party happens to be in power at that time. We should criticize those who choose to openly and blatantly challenge our federal laws. lmao yeah cause the War on Drugs has been brilliant!

[kaorder1999]

Originally posted by DDBooger
lmao yeah cause the War on Drugs has been brilliant!
please explain further

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by kepdawg
Yeah, why criticize someone for being dumb enough to admit to illegal activity on the radio? :rolleyes:
If you're stupid enough to do that, then you deserve all the criticism thrown at you! IMO, of course...

[Old Tiger]

Jon Gettman is a long time contributor to HIGH TIMES. A former National Director of NORML, Jon has a Ph.D. in public policy and regional economic development and consults with attorneys, advocates, and non-profits on cannabis related research and public policy issues. On October 8, 2002, along with a coalition of organizations, he filed a new petition to have cannabis rescheduled under federal law. This column will track that petition's progress. Marijuana Laws Cost Government $42 Billion Annually

Americans consume about 31 million pounds of marijuana every year at an estimated retail cost of $3,570 per pound. That adds up to an expenditure of $113 billion annually, all of it going into an illicit economy untaxed by the federal government.

As explained by a new report in the Bulletin of Cannabis Reform the illegality of marijuana costs local, state, and the federal government billions in tax revenue. According to the federal Office of Management and Budget 28.7% of the gross domestic product – the total economic output of the country in a year – ends up in government’s hands as tax revenue. So, the diversion of money into the marijuana market costs the government $31.1 billion annually.

Marijuana arrests account for 5.54% of all arrests in the United States, which spends $193 billion annually on its criminal justice system. As such, marijuana arrests account for $10.7 billion annually in criminal justice expenses.

Add it all up, and marijuana prohibition costs the US $42 billion every year. This is information that congressional representatives, presidential candidates, and policy makers need to know.

The report, “Lost Taxes and Other Costs of Marijuana Laws,” provides a comprehensive look at the impact of marijuana laws, examining recent statistics of the marijuana supply, marijuana prices, usage, and availability.

“The social and economic costs of drug abuse are often used to justify contemporary policies which treat marijuana use, cultivation, and sale as criminal offenses in most of the United States. These costs are frequently an excuse to refuse to consider whether alternative policies might be more effective. For example, it is argued that marijuana's legalization cannot be considered because legalization would result in a substantial increase in its use and would produce unacceptable increases in the social and economic costs of drug abuse. This report challenges the premise of such an argument by looking at both the costs and results of current policies.”

It’s not a question of how much tax revenue could be gained if marijuana were taxed in a legal market, the important point of this report is how much tax revenue is lost every year because of current policies and laws. If the $113 billion spend on marijuana were spend on other (legal) consumer goods, it would produce revenue in the form of income taxes, taxes on corporate profits, and social security taxes.

Leaving aside the costs of law enforcement, state and local governments are losing $11.6 billion a year from the diversion of spending to the illicit marijuana market. The federal government is losing $9 billion annually in income tax, $3 billion in corporate taxes, and $7.2 billion in social security revenue.

How much revenue would marijuana generate if it were legal and taxed? That’s hard to estimate because of uncertainty over how many people would grow their own, how much the price would drop from competition, and just how much would be added to the price by way of special excise taxes such as those added to the price of alcohol and tobacco. But what is certain is that the diversion of money from the legal taxable economy into the illegal untaxed marijuana market is a costly proposition.

Politicians like to spend money. They need new sources of revenue to pay for roads, health insurance, and national defense – to name a few important spending priorities. However it’s not just that legalization will produce more revenue for the government that politicians need to be educated about, they also need to be reminded that current laws aren’t providing any control over marijuana use and its availability to minors.

According to the report: “Federally-funded surveys indicate that marijuana has remained widely available over the last 25 years. The Monitoring the Future Survey indicates that since 1992 surveys report that at least 2 out of 5 eighth grade students, 2 out of 3 10th grade students, and 4 out of 5 high school seniors find marijuana widely available. Despite marginal changes in annual data, marijuana use in the United States has remained fundamentally unchanged in the last decade and a half. Since the beginning of annual surveys on drug use (now called the National Survey on Drug Use and Health) in 1990 the average level of annual marijuana use has been 9.3% (� 1%) of the population age 12 and over. In 1990 10.2% of this population used marijuana in the last year, and in 2005 annual usage was at 10.5%.”

Bottom line – marijuana prohibition is a costly failure. Is there any better argument for legalization? Of course there is! Marijuana prohibition is unjust. It is fundamentally unjust to arrest people for marijuana use, especially those who use it for medical reasons. However many politicians, even those sympathetic to marijuana reform, don’t believe those reasons appeal to the many of their constituents. What does matter to the general public, though, is the increasing cost of government and the unacceptable burden of paying for it. For these citizens, the bottom-line is what counts. For them, the $42 billion annual cost of marijuana prohibition is something new to think about.

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by kaorder1999
please explain further If you think its working, no explanation on earth will ever convince ya, do your own research! This topic will just turn this place on its head.

[kaorder1999]

Originally posted by DDBooger
If you think its working, no explanation on earth will ever convince ya, do your own research! This topic will just turn this place on its head.

This topic is not about whether or not Marijuana use should be legalized. This thread is about Josh Howard specifically and his decision to talk about his illegal drug use on the radio and the criticism he has gotten for that and whether or not its deserved.

[DDBooger]

Originally posted by kaorder1999
This topic is not about whether or not Marijuana use should be legalized. This thread is about Josh Howard specifically and his decision to talk about his illegal drug use on the radio and the criticism he has gotten for that. nor is it about sheepishly obeying everything we're told, and that was what my response was too! so continue the discussion keeper of threads ;)

[pirate4state]

Yeah, I'm thinking this thread doesn't have a very long shelf life, but we'll see.....

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by pirate4state
Yeah, I'm thinking this thread doesn't have a very long shelf life, but we'll see.....
What was your first clue? :p

[Ranger Mom]

Originally posted by pirate4state
Yeah, I'm thinking this thread doesn't have a very long shelf life, but we'll see.....

You read my mind!!:D

[pirate4state]

Originally posted by LH Panther Mom
What was your first clue? :p KAO is a trouble maker! :D

[LH Panther Mom]

Originally posted by pirate4state
KAO is a trouble maker! :D
Well, duh! I meant beside the obvious! :1popcorn:

[kaorder1999]

Originally posted by pirate4state
KAO is a trouble maker! :D

always! All I asked was if the criticism was warranted and then all of a sudden we have posts on why marijuana should be legalized. Doesn't make sense to me...

[JasperDog94]

Originally posted by kaorder1999
always! All I asked was if the criticism was warranted and then all of a sudden we have posts on why marijuana should be legalized. Doesn't make sense to me... Did you really think that it wouldn't turn into legalization of marijuana?

[kaorder1999]

Originally posted by JasperDog94
Did you really think that it wouldn't turn into legalization of marijuana?
never once thought it.

[Txbroadcaster]

back on topic

Yes what he said is stupid..I think weed should be legal, but until it is then he was stupid

Add that to the fact he passed out party flyers IN THE LOCKEROOM before game 4 adds to this

THEN you realize how bad he played the whole series

If he even plays up to half of his ability in game 1, the Mavs most likely win...add how bad he was whole the series and yes I do think he deserves some of the crap he is taken

He is not just a role player, he is supposed to be the #2 man, he is an all star and since he did not play well he will take some crap

IMO it showed a lack of his leadership to be passing out flyers before the game..especially with him not playing well

[jason]

i wonder how many, if any, of the other mavs went to the party....

[Ranger Mom]

Until this thread....I didn't even know who Josh Howard was!

[Txbroadcaster]

Originally posted by jason
i wonder how many, if any, of the other mavs went to the party....

I dont know who and exact number but I think only like 1 or 2