E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSMsnbc.com's Alex Witt reports.
Updated at 7 p.m. ET: President Barack Obama may have inadvertently won a skirmish in the war on drugs Thursday when a small plane that encroached on his airspace was intercepted and found to be hauling more than 20 pounds of marijuana, sources told NBC News.
About 2 p.m. ET, the single-engine Cessna 182 entered airspace that had been restricted as Obama was returning to Los Angeles International Airport aboard Marine One, the presidential helicopter, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said in a statement.
KNBC-TV
President Barack Obama was returning to the Los Angeles airport, where he arrived Wednesday aboard Air Force One.
The pilot never responded to repeated attempts to make contact by air traffic controllers, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Two F-16 fighter jets from March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County intercepted the plane and followed it as it made its way to a safe landing, where the pilot was met by local authorities, NORAD said.
NORAD would give no further details, citing operational security, but sources told NBC News Justice Department correspondent Pete Williams that the plane was escorted to Long Beach Airport. Authorities searched the plane and found about 22 pounds of marijuana on board, the sources said.
Jay Blackman, Scott Foster and Pete Williams of NBC News contributed to this report by M. Alex Johnson of msnbc.com. Follow M. Alex Johnson on Twitter and Facebook.
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
- Nigerian underwear bomber gets life sentence
- Interracial marriage: Your stories of the good, the bad and the ugly
- NYPD 'courtesy cards' for family, friends sold online
- It's not fracking's fault, study says
- Man wins $3.3 million in mistaken identity bank robbery case
- Schools in bankrupt city work to prove poverty is no barrier to success
Leave a Comment:
That's too bad. I like pot.
Hey, leave Willie Nelson's weed alone!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like the pilot was told to deliver the pot to the white house ASAP and got a bit too overzealous. Now no one gets it. :P
OMG !! Can you imagine. 20 whole pounds of pot.
So where was the party?
.
Naw, someone wil get it... the cops will take thier cut, and it'll be about 14 lbs by the time it gets to the evidence locker.
And the evidence locker will contain nothing but lawn clippings.
.
Did they incinerate it on Air Force One .... ??
Pilot couldn't speak english and didn't understand the commands from the tower. He was just taking a gift to Obama for keeping the border open. After all it was Los Angeles. :0)
This is the best string of conversation I have seen on these boards. Its the first one without anyone complaining or being overtly hateful/stupid, just fun jokes. While I can't condone the whole pot activity, I appreciate these comments! :-D
The only exception would be @chester12, do you have a credible link to prove the "3 times as many vehicle accidents"?
pfffft! driving sober is just as dangerous as driving stoned. yep...marijuana is nothing like other drugs or alcohol or even prescription drugs and does not cause more accidents on our freeways:
"[In] cases in which THC was the only drug present were analyzed, the culpability ratio was found to be not significantly different from the no-drug group."
REFERENCE: G. Chesher and M. Longo. 2002. Cannabis and alcohol in motor vehicle accidents. In: F. Grotenhermen and E. Russo (Eds.) Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Potential. New York: Haworth Press. Pp. 313-323.
"Cannabis leads to a more cautious style of driving, [but] it has a negative impact on decision time and trajectory. [However,] this in itself does not mean that drivers under the influence of cannabis represent a traffic safety risk. ⦠Cannabis alone, particularly in low doses, has little effect on the skills involved in automobile driving."
REFERENCE: Canadian Senate Special Committee on Illegal Drugs. 2002. Cannabis: Summary Report: Our Position for a Canadian Public Policy. Ottawa. Chapter 8: Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis.
"This report has summarized available research on cannabis and driving.
⦠Evidence of impairment from the consumption of cannabis has been reported by studies using laboratory tests, driving simulators and on-road observation. ... Both simulation and road trials generally find that driving behavior shortly after consumption of larger doses of cannabis results in (i) a more cautious driving style; (ii) increased variability in lane position (and headway); and (iii) longer decision times. Whereas these results indicate a 'change' from normal conditions, they do not necessarily reflect 'impairment' in terms of performance effectiveness since few studies report increased accident risk."
REFERENCE: UK Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (Road Safety Division). 2000. Cannabis and Driving: A Review of the Literature and Commentary. Crowthorne, Berks: TRL Limited.
"Overall, we conclude that the weight of the evidence indicates that:
1) There is no evidence that consumption of cannabis alone increases the risk of culpability for traffic crash fatalities or injuries for which hospitalization occurs, and may reduce those risks.
2) The evidence concerning the combined effect of cannabis and alcohol on the risk of traffic fatalities and injuries, relative to the risk of alcohol alone, is unclear.
3) It is not possible to exclude the possibility that the use of cannabis (with or without alcohol) leads to an increased risk of road traffic crashes causing less serious injuries and vehicle damage."
REFERENCE: M. Bates and T. Blakely. 1999. "Role of cannabis in motor vehicle crashes." Epidemiologic Reviews 21: 222-232.
"In conclusion, marijuana impairs driving behavior. However, this impairment is mitigated in that subjects under marijuana treatment appear to perceive that they are indeed impaired. Where they can compensate, they do, for example by not overtaking, by slowing down and by focusing their attention when they know a response will be required. ⦠Effects on driving behavior are present up to an hour after smoking but do not continue for extended periods.
With respect to comparisons between alcohol and marijuana effects, these substances tend to differ in their effects. In contrast to the compensatory behavior exhibited by subjects under marijuana treatment, subjects who have received alcohol tend to drive in a more risky manner. Both substances impair performance; however, the more cautious behavior of subjects who have received marijuana decreases the impact of the drug on performance, whereas the opposite holds true for alcohol."
REFERENCE: A. Smiley. 1999. Marijuana: On-Road and Driving-Simulator Studies. In: H. Kalant et al. (Eds) The Health Effects of Cannabis. Toronto: Center for Addiction and Mental Health. Pp. 173-191.
CRASH CULPABILITY STUDIES
“For each of 2,500 injured drivers presenting to a hospital, a blood sample was collected for later analysis.
There was a clear relationship between alcohol and culpability. … In contrast, there was no significant increase in culpability for cannabinoids alone. While a relatively large number of injured drivers tested positive for cannabinoids, culpability rates were no higher than those for the drug free group. This is consistent with other findings.”
REFERENCE: Logan, M.C., Hunter, C.E., Lokan, R.J., White, J.M., & White, M.A. (2000). The Prevalence of Alcohol, Cannabinoids, Benzodiazepines and Stimulants Amongst Injured Drivers and Their Role in Driver Culpability: Part II: The Relationship Between Drug Prevalence and Drug Concentration, and Driver Culpability. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 32, 623-32.
“Blood samples from 894 patients presenting to two Emergency Departments for treatment of motor vehicle injur[ies] … were tested for alcohol and other drugs.
… Based on alcohol and drug testing of the full range of patients … alcohol is clearly the major drug associated with serious crashes and greater injury. Patients testing positive for illicit drugs (marijuana, opiates, and cocaine), in the absence of alcohol, were in crashes very similar to those of patients with neither alcohol nor drugs. When other relevant variables were considered, these drugs were not associated with more severe crashes or greater injury.”
REFERENCE: P. Waller et al. 1997. Crash characteristics and injuries of victims impaired by alcohol versus illicit drugs. Accident Analysis and Prevention 29: 817-827.
“Blood specimens were collected from a sample of 1,882 drivers from 7 states, during 14 months in the years 1990 and 1991. The sample comprised operators of passenger cars, trucks, and motorcycles who died within 4 hours of their crash.
… While cannabinoids were detected in 7 percent of the drivers, the psychoactive agent THC was found in only 4 percent. … The THC-only drivers had a responsibility rate below that of the drugfree drivers. … While the difference was not statistically significant, there was no indication that cannabis by itself was a cause of fatal crashes.”
REFERENCE: K. Terhune. 1992. The incidence and role of drugs in fatally injured drivers. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Report No. DOT HS 808 065.
ON-ROAD PERFORMANCE STUDIES
“Marijuana's effects on actual driving performance were assessed in a series of three studies wherein dose-effect relationships were measured in actual driving situations that progressively approached reality.
… THC's effects on road-tracking after doses up to 300 µg/kg never exceeded alcohol's at bacs of 0.08%; and, were in no way unusual compared to many medicinal drugs. Yet, THC's effects differ qualitatively from many other drugs, especially alcohol. Evidence from the present and previous studies strongly suggests that alcohol encourages risky driving whereas THC encourages greater caution, at least in experiments. Another way THC seems to differ qualitatively from many other drugs is that the formers users seem better able to compensate for its adverse effects while driving under the influence.”
REFERENCE: H. Robbe. 1995. Marijuana’s effects on actual driving performance. In: C. Kloeden and A. McLean (Eds) Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety T-95. Adelaide: Australia: HHMRC Road Research Unit, University of Adelaide. Pp. 11-20.
“This report concerns the effects of marijuana smoking on actual driving performance. … This program of research has shown that marijuana, when taken alone, produces a moderate degree of driving impairment which is related to consumed THC dose. The impairment manifests itself mainly in the ability to maintain a lateral position on the road, but its magnitude is not exceptional in comparison with changes produced by many medicinal drugs and alcohol. Drivers under the influence of marijuana retain insight in their performance and will compensate when they can, for example, by slowing down or increasing effort. As a consequence, THC’s adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small.”
REFERENCE: W. Hindrik and J. Robbe and J. O’Hanlon. 1993. Marijuana and actual driving performance. Washington, DC: US Department of Transportation National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Report No. DOT HS 808 078.
TABULATED SUMMARY OF ROAD TRIALS OF CANNABIS AND DRIVING
Table compiled by the UK Department of Transport (2000)
DRIVING SIMULATOR STUDIES
“Overall, it is possible to conclude that cannabis has a measurable effect on psychomotor performance, particularly tracking ability. Its effect on higher cognitive functions, for example divided attention tasks associated with driving, appear not to be as critical. Drivers under the influence of cannabis seem aware that they are impaired, and attempt to compensate for this impairment by reducing the difficulty of the driving task, for example by driving more slowly.
In terms of road safety, it cannot be concluded that driving under the influence of cannabis is not a hazard, as the effects of various aspects of driver performance are unpredictable. However, in comparison with alcohol, the severe effects of alcohol on the higher cognitive processes of driving are likely to make this more of a hazard, particularly at higher blood alcohol levels.”
REFERENCE: B. Sexton et al. 2000. The influence of cannabis on driving: A report prepared for the UK Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (Road Safety Division). Crowthorne, Berks: TRL Limited.
Hmmm,, me too.
I mean, from the first comment, Me too.
22 pounds! That is a single weekend for someone in California. So why the label "POT PLANE" ???
They say that fatigued drivers are more dangerous on the roads in America because there are far more fatigued drivers than drivers incapacitated by substances.
Wow Joe,
I actually do remember when I could present something like that post. It seemed to be easier after the killer christmas tree buds were in season, but I digress, it has been a long time since I went there, but kudos for fine research work no matter what the fuel or catalyst.
hahahaha..talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time...wonder how many times they got away with this since Obama rarely visits CA.
Probably all the idiot had to do was answer the air traffic controllers and move out of that certain air space and he would have been scot free. Paranoia will get you busted quicker than anything.
What's sad about this story, (other that the loss of weed), is the fact that the government's drug laws are without merit. This guy will do prison time with violent offenders where he'll be taught what violence is--and it's proof that the system is a joke. Reform now.
This is in response to joe42. Awhile back my friend was speeding down the road stoned to the bone, it was all he could do to keep his car on the road. He fought it courageously for sometime and still didn't wreck. He was holding on with both hands, as he glanced out his side window, a forklift went around him, and still was able to keep control!!
@chester Please provide link or data to the claim that 3 times more accidents happen to people on marijuana as to those not. I think your pulling this one out your butt, or heard it from a friend of a friend.
Barlow, you been watchin' too much reefer madness.
that's funny barlow...same thing happened to me...except it was your grandma on a walker walking by...imagine my embarrassment...
Maybe it was Obama's pot or one of his friends. He's a Democrat and most of them are pot smoking hippies.
Wait until this guy gets out of jail. Dude, where's my plane?
The guy is lucky he didn't get incinerated. Imagine the look on his face when the F-16s dropped in on him.
The Health Effects of Marijuana
Negative Health Effects Are Numerous
By Buddy T, About.com Guide
Updated March 05, 2011
About.com Health's Disease and Condition
content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
Although legalization activists and many
marijuana users believe smoking pot has no negative effects, scientific
research indicates that marijuana use can cause many different health problems.
Short-Term Effects
The short-term effects of marijuana include:
touch)
Sometimes marijuana use can also produce
anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic.
Effects on the Brain
When high doses of marijuana are used,
usually when eaten in food rather than smoked, users can experience the
following symptoms:
Hallucinations
Effects on the Heart
Within a few minutes after smoking marijuana,
the heart begins beating more rapidly and the blood pressure drops. Marijuana
can cause the heart beat to increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute, and can
increase even more if other drugs are used at the same time.
Because of the lower blood pressure and
higher heart rate, researchers found that users' risk for a heart attack is
four times higher within the first hour after smoking marijuana, compared to
their general risk of heart attack when not smoking.
Effects on the Lungs
Smoking marijuana, even infrequently, can
cause burning and stinging of the mouth and throat, and cause heavy coughing.
Scientists have found that regular marijuana smokers can experience the same
respiratory problems as tobacco smokers do, including
Marijuana contains more carcinogenic
hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke and because marijuana smokers typically inhale
deeper and hold the smoke in their lungs longer than tobacco smokers, their
lungs are exposed to those carcinogenic properties longer, when smoking.
What About Cancer?
Because marijuana smoke contains three times
the amount of tar found in tobacco smoke and 50 percent more carcinogens, it
would seem logical to deduce that there is an increased risk of lung cancer for
marijuana smokers.
Studies linking marijuana smoking to lung
cancer have also been limited by selection bias and small sample size. For
example, the participants in those studies may have been too young to have
developed lung cancer yet. Even though researchers have yet to "prove"
a link between smoking pot and lung cancer, regular smokers may want to
consider the risk.
Other Health Effects
Research indicates that THC impairs the
body's immune system from fighting disease, which can cause a wide variety of
health problems. One study found that marijuana actually inhibited the
disease-preventing actions of key immune cells. Another study found that THC
increased the risk of developing bacterial infections and tumors.
Effects of Exposure During Pregnancy
Several studies have found that children born
to mothers who used marijuana during pregnancy exhibit some problems with
neurological development. According to those studies, prenatal marijuana
exposure can cause:
DOLLAR (literally) THAT THESE ARE THE SAME LEECHES THAT ARE GOING TO EXPECT
FREE HEALTH CARE TO BOOT!
C'mon reefmadheads keep denying (denial=first stage of psychosis) the benefits of this beneficial commodity. I would list the facts, not that FACTS could stand in the way of your poo throwing escapades, but it's already been well stated and referred to by those who know of it's true properties and not the fallacies that have been perpetrated by BIGS in the name of control/greed all done to keep us all so very safe. Boo! Your lies and propaganda have destroyed people and in turn families and they continue to do so to this very nano. Keep holding on to your lies cause that's all you have left. One day it will be and you will be exposed for what you truly are. I've tried to be respectful, honest, insightful and understanding to the opposition but the truth is, is even if you beat them at their own game they still don't care and sadly never will cause they just don't "THINK" it should be so. They "KNOW" what's best. Boo! Even more disheartening is a very large portion of the population doesn't care either cause it has minimal to no effect on them at that personal level. All I see are a bunch of self-serving scarecrows, tin-men, and cowardly lions singing if I only had a brain, heart and the nerve. Put them together and what to you have? Reefer madness clingers. Lives are continually destroyed by this and its so funny and amusing to some of you?......Sociopaths(psychosis, denial/delusions). Everyone is so quick to make a joke about it then all of a sudden it gets so serious. Why so serious? The govt. has a patent on the compounds of this plant. Don't believe me? Check it yourself. How far does the rabbit hole go? How far are you willing to go to unearth the truth? That is if you care to which most of you will respond in that usual self-serving manner of if it doesn't effect me then I won't try to effect it to aid in finding its true purpose. So very typical.
JustOneGuy, while I support the legalization of marijuana, the choice should be mine and not Big Brother's, the scientific studies speak for themselve.
R U high Calcula?
To JUSTONEGUY,your post lists all the symptoms of the TEA/PUBLICANS.1.loss of memory, The Bush administration had the worst record for job creation in the last 50 yrs.2 Distorted thinking and problem solving ,their solution for economic recovery is the same as what caused the economic downturn{no over site of the financial markets, massive tax cuts and unfunded wars} again this is the proposed approach by the Tea/Pubs for economic recovery.3Delusional, Obama caused or made worse the economic depression,again the job losses per month from 8/08 -4/09 averaged 700,000-750,000 jobs.4. Paranoia,everything OBAMA does is EVIL and is an attack on FREEDOM !.Slow reactions G.W.B. had daily briefs of planned attacks on the American home land possibly using AIRCRAFT.5 Denial of any blame ,it is CLINTON'S fault for 911 and its OBAMA fault for the recession.I see this as an indication of possible abuse of MARIJUANA by all of the current and former leadership of the TEA/PUBS,as indicated by your post.
Good post Joe420, nothing like facts to shut someone up whos talking out their ass.
Justoneguy, you have a link to the study supporting that BS?
Mmmm?
I thought not.
Its time for honesty, not Bull-twinkies from liars. Either provide an actual scientific study conducted by a legit and reputable source, or STFU. Im sick of the 300 billion dollars a year of taxpayer money thats wasted on this war because of lying jerkoffs who cant be honest and talk out their ass about stuff they know nothing about. You're here all the time bitching about taxpayer money being wasted, WELL HERES A PERFECT FREAKING EXAMPLE OF IT.
Algebra makes way more sense stoned than it does when you are straight - personal experience - some users may not see these actual results. If you eat donuts for more than four hours straight - consult a doctor (and keep the number of that dealer - he has the good stuff).
Weed makes sex and music soooooo much better - reason right there to legalize it.
justoneguy; when you hit my age - it isn't weed causing those affects. As my mother-in-law says; getting old isn't for wimps...lol.
As a laborer for 25 years; I fell asleep at the wheel almost every day on the trip home from work...that was far scarier than driving high...I go at least 8 mph slower when stoned or lost...it's the hot heads behind me you gotta worry about.
I can't smoke weed because I have to take oxycodone for chronic pain (I only needed 11 operations to get legal drugs), you get tested for drugs when you are on oxy - 1st to make sure you are taking them and not selling them - and because they don't want hard core drug users getting them. As soon as Arizona gets those dispensaries up and running, I'm getting my card - if my body doesn't qualify, nobodies will.
justoneguy, now do the same and tell me about the harmful effects of two other substances, completely legal: alcohol and tobacco.
Both are MANY times more harmful than the weed.
just one guy...can i ask you if you understood what you posted?
Short-Term Effects
The short-term effects of marijuana include:
touch)
it says SHORT TERM effects...these effects do not last, einstein...
cool! my first comment collapse! got my cherry popped @ #1.10! awesome...also, wanted to point out the fact that most drugged driving accidents are at the hands of our doctors nationwide and of course, the common citizens of america:
Prescription Drug Abuse Exceeds Illicit Street Drug Use Worldwide
In the United States alone, the abuse of painkillers, stimulants, tranquilizers and other prescription medications has gone beyond "practically all illicit drugs...," with users increasingly turning to them first, the Vienna-based group said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,255758,00.html
HA HA ...I LOVE IT when I'm collapsed because there are no arguments against my facts. See ya in the food lines stoners (not).
really? facts?
About.com Health's Disease and Condition
content is reviewed by the Medical Review Board
mmm'k...sure...next time try a real source, not some place where a bunch of people parrot other info...
wow...i'm so surprised...the writer of your "facts", buddy t., is a recovering alcoholic, and his sources which he cites are all from the government...yeah, that's not biased against marijuana in any way...sure...yeah, he's the guy to go to for your "facts"...
Buddy T. is in recovery from the experience of living with an alcoholic. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on the web site.
Experience:
Buddy has been in recovery since July, 1989 and has been the Alcoholism Guide since February, 1997. Despite years of research and experience, he's still asking questions and discovering surprising answers concerning this cunning, baffling, and powerful disease called alcoholism.
Education:
Buddy has a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology.
From Buddy T:
After years of recovery, I'm still trying to find all the information I can. Although my own recovery experiences have been through a 12-step program, I know there are many other approaches that work.
The Health Effects of Marijuana
Negative Health Effects Are Numerous
By Buddy T, About.com Guide
Updated March 05, 2011
Sources:
SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information. "Tips for Teens: The Truth About Marijuana," Revised May 2004.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know." Revised August 2007.
They can't allow this. The flight attendents can't be expected to distribute that many munchies !
Dude did not study his flight manuals. The first thing they teach you is to check your TFR's (temporaty flight restrictions) prior to take-off.
Hell of a way to get caught.
Apparently in this case the PIC thought TFR meant to fly reefer!!!!.Perhaps he was TFR-totally flying ripped.
This is definately in the top 5 dumbest awards.
Does anyone really care, and this is news!
Definitely newsworthy in my opinion. Any time a presidential TFR is breached it is news worthy.
Hey Dobie, did you mean Doobie?
blackhorse-1536974
I think Dobie needs a doobie, lol
Well I kinda care, I think if I could erase the second line in the cover photo,and then send it to conan o brian,It would be pretty damb interesting!!!.
Great...now the price of pot will go up. LOL
Well, now it is official. Obama is more effective by accident than his predecessor could be on purpose.
@Henry
You, sir, are the reason why certain people shouldn't procreate.
Then, by all means, please don't, SoItGoes78 .
LOL, Henry III . Now all that needs to happen is for the President to remain airborne 24/7 with unannounced no fly zones along the border. He'll attract them like flies. The Air Force One Oval Office is well equipped for him to handle his daily duties. It probably even has a RoboPen.
Some how Fox News will make this an issue against the president. Mark my words.
@U R Sofa King Wee Todd ID:
I am surprised they didn't just out right say that the plane was making the delivery of pot to the President! LMAO!
Why would they waste their air time on this? We all know Obama does nothing but fly around the nation and campaign anyway. He's spent the first three years doing it, so what's new about it other than some stupid Mexican drug runner (and that corridor has been a drug smuggling point from Mexico since the 1970s, so there's no news in this drug bust either).
If all he does is fly around and campaign, how in the world does he find time to execute the communist, Muslim, radical, New World Order, Global Warming conspiracy you all accuse him of perpetrating. Is he using his magical and all powerful "teleprompter" in his sleep?
The war on drugs is the biggest boondoggle our government has ever undertaken.
If this is actually a war, I think we should probably surrender. It seems to serve no measurable purpose other than to employ law enforcement officers.
20 whole lbs!? So, I think that means we've officially won the War on Drugs, since that was the last of all the drugs. And all you people said it was a worthless endeavor!
Re: the "War" on drugs - look at it from another angle - it's coming here, folks are using it, maybe on the job, certainly recreationaly and those that would put forward, that if we leaglize, or at the very least decrriminalize it, our country would implode - I put forward, that we wouldn't - because it's here, folks are using it, and still managing to get to work, do the job, make their mortgage payments - yes, there are those with major addiciton issues (we lost another one just recently) and we should reach our hands out to them to assist them to a more healthy life, but there are, my guess, many more that use the "demon weed" recrationally and do just fine. Only their hair dressers know for sure - cant we find a fix instead of expending major dollars on a ficticious war? Those needed dollars should be put towards -- oh, I don't know, better border patrols, fixing roads and schools in rural areas? I'm just saying
The marijuana industry in the US alone is nearly a $20-25 billion/year market. Tobacco is in the range of $14 billion/year and its legal. When you count in unnecessary law enforcement, court proceedings, jail time (for minor dealers and private possession/growers), paraphernalia charges, lobbying to keep it illegal we are talking nearly $60+ Billion dollars every year that is wasted or lost trying to fight a drug that relaxes people and doesn't make them violent or dangerous like the use of alcohol is widely known to do. $60+ Billion.
War on drugs. Pathetic. If there is a war on drugs, it failed when the war started, and there is no such thing as controlling drugs. Look at pharmaciticals. There sold on the streets just like weed and everything else. Pathetic you have to take control of everything. One day, we will have to ask the government if we can wipe our own ass.
Wow, that's huge!!!!
If I had a dollar every time I heard that I'd be a rich man.
Baddog40, They were talking about your forehead. Your not going bald, your just getting more head.
Oh man!! No brownies this weekend!!
Mike, HAHAHAHHA,,,
this vine is the funniest I've seen in a coons age!!! Best laugh I've had in a long time with all the bad news on MSNBC Thanks everyone!
Legalize all drugs. Control them and tax them. BOOM! The drug cartels are out of business and the bangers have to find another way to live.
Some drugs are very dangerous to one's health and mental health, however, I say legalize those which aren't. Regulate and tax them like alcohol and very few people will have a reason to try to really bad ones. If you could smoke pot scott free you'd probably choose it over acid and the risk of going to jail (or dying.)
If you don't legalize everything, you keep the cartels and gangs alive. If acid and heroin were legalized tomorrow, I still wouldn't use it, but those that do will do so no matter what they have to go through to get their fix. Let the users have at it. The cartels, gangs, DEA, and drug wars are over. This is such a no brainer.
If you don't legalize everything, you keep the cartels and gangs alive. If acid and heroin were legalized tomorrow, I still wouldn't use it, but those that do will do so no matter what they have to go through to get their fix. Let the users have at it. The cartels, gangs, DEA, and drug wars are over. This is such a no brainer.
Sorry about the double post. I don't know why that happened.
Big Pharma owns too many congress people for it to be legalized. A cheap, non-addictive, home growable, minimal side effect pain killer? That would decimate the pain management industry.
LSD is non lethal.
I have to agree.
You want to legalize meth? Now that is just plain stupid. Marijuana is one thing but meth no friggin way! You said all drugs didn't you?
Most pot smokers are not for legalizing anything else. Hell, I don't even think tobacco and alcohol should be legal. Just pot.
curerate: it's just to logical plain and smiple! Brings to reason the only reason we don't legalize them is because # 1 How many LAW ENFORCEMENT personal are getting paid billions of dollars to walk around the forest in California and pretend they are really doing something # 2 How many GOVERMENT OFFICALS are lining there pockets with Mexican drug cartel $$$$$.....it's the only answer
Tracy, I'm not sure what your saying. Are you saying all drugs should be legal including meth? I'm for making marijuana legal. But others like cocaine and meth I would be against.
Agreed, legalize everything and let the Darwin awards begin..........
In the long term we are all winners, in the short term....oh well.
i think marijuana alone should be legalized, and all other drugs decriminalized with the punishment of treatment, not prison for the millions of the hapless addicts out there nationwide...i'm pretty much against legalization of all drugs...even though we do have them legally in effect...i mean, ritalin's only three molecules different from cocaine...and fighter jet pilots are given meth in order to have hair-trigger reflexes as they fly...etc...
truth be known the plane wasn't intercepted it was escorted for obammie, Holder and the boys in dc
Yeah, like good ole boy Bush never smoked a bowl, my a$$. You ever hear his dumb a$$ talk, he was freakin' stoned out of his mind, after all, he was the Decider.
Oops. All he had to do was check with the FAA about temporary flight restrictions. What a bummer.
What a ridiculous waste of time, money and people's lives. Here's an idea. If you really want to balance the budget, stop spending billions of dollars ont he DEA, monitoring equipment, airplanes, etc. and start making billions of dollars taxing drug sales, producers and dispensaries. You'd also save billions not housing, feeding and educating the 50% of the prison population currently in on non-violent drug crimes that are currently overcrowding our jails.
Literally the dumbest thing ever to keep being prohibitionist when half the conutry thinks it should be legal and uses like it is. Literally billions and billions of dollars of net positive to be had with one simple move.
We don't do it, of course, because of the strength of the legal drug dealer's/producer's lobby here in the US. If you don't know who those drug dealer's/producers are, just look in your drug cabinet (i.e., "medicine" cabinet).
Look at the people who use illegal drugs.Do they have a happy ending?NO!Most people who use illegal drugs are teenagers because they want to appear "cool".They always die at a young age because they get in a car wreck,harm someone,or get shot at by someone else who wants their drugs.If they don't die at a young age,they'll probably live up to 40 years old.At that age,the drugs will finally take over their body and destroy it.As for what the American population thinks,it's divided by 50/50.It's not a surprise that most people who think drugs are okay are from the urban areas.
Random pennsylvanian - cite your sources please. I suspect if you look into the data you will find that much of your assertions are incorrect.
Steve-I'm a DEA agent.I see this stuff happen all the time.I've seen adults and teenagers die in car crashes because they wanted to show off to their friends.I've seen a 43 year old who's been smoking pot ever since she was 16.You can bet she was pretty.She was in the hospital for 3 months before she finally died at 44.I've seen a teenager who got shot in the forehead.Later we found out he got shot by another teenager that wanted the crack.Most people think we have it easy,but they have never been a DEA agent.
Random, I really appreciate your unsubstantiated claims about marijuana, but I think you're a bit naive. In fact, all people who even think that marijuana should be legalized (and may not have even used it) are Satanists who drink babies' blood as part of their unholy rituals. They ALL want to destroy truth, justice, and the American way. They want to turn America into the next Communist nation and send all good people, like you Random, to death camps to eliminate all sense of honor from American discourse. I heard they want to turn the public school system into drug dens and conscript children into a series of roaving death squads hell-bent on destroying democracy by summarily executing good people from Pennsylvania.
Random pennsylvanian, yes its much better to booze it up and take the legal stuff the doctors give you. Just ask Elvis, Janis Joplin, Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and the other 100,000 people that die every year from prescription drugs.
don't forget heath ledger...
If you take too much prescription drugs,yes,it can kill you.Illegal drugs are much worse and it only takes one shot to make you feel "Invincible".Illegal drugs are a lot like alcohol,but illegal drugs are much more addicting.
Really? Show me just one case in the history of humans where someone has died from marijuana. Just one Mr self proclaimed DEA agent.
That's the problem, Marijuana can and is very beneficial to many in medicinal need-- and it is not meth, heroin, crack or coke in fact it id still a plant.
And when speaking of drugs, marijuana is not nor has has ever been considered a hard drug- so combining the 2 in discussion is an offering of false information!
Also, over all this plane flew in illegal at the time territory and failed to check-- His?her negligence!
Random. I see that plenty of folks have already rebutted your unsupported, unreasoned statements; so, I won't do that. But, I couldn't help responding to this gem:
Does anyone have a happy ending, Random? What does that statement even mean in a world where death is inevitable from the moment birth. Do you have some sort of happy ending in mind you think everyone should be striving for? Riding off over the rainbow into the sunset on a white unicorn?
What do you think is going to happen, Random? We're both going to get old; we're both going to start forgetting our children, crapping our pants, looking for love with strangers in an old folks home...then one day, if we're very lucky, we just won't wake up. If we aren't lucky, a major organ will fail or we'll have a stroke and we'll end up in excruciating pain, partially paralyzed or both.
And, Random, make no mistake...this is the best case scenario. So, again...What happy ending are you talking about?
My two cents: Mind your business. I'll mind mine. And we can both die on our own damn terms.
The problem with you prohibitionist types is that you're not satisfied just looking after yourselves and living as you see fit. You want more. You want to interject your opinions about how things should be into other people's lives. It's not your place, friend.
you trying to tell me you believe that smokin pot caused that woman to die at 44? And your DEA? Thats scarry!
baddog-all you have to do is type "Who died from Marijuana"in the google search bar.You'll find plenty of people who died from marijuana accidents.
blindluc-She died at 44,but she looked like 85.The last thing she wanted was to see her dog again.
One-eye-If you want to kill yourself with drugs,that's fine.The reason why we don't allow you to do that is because you may harm other people when you take the drug.It's like drinking to much alcohol.You may not intend to hurt someone,but it happens.A lot of people die on highways because of this.
RP, I am 48, have smoked pot most of my life and I could easily pass for someone in my thirties (some say twenties). When my daughter was in high school, I would go into the office and be treated like crap because they thought I was a student! (They were quite embarrassed to discover I wasn't one).
You are full of it! There is no way someone dies at 44 looking like 85 from smoking pot. If you are an example of a DEA agent, no wonder so many died at Waco. You just like to spread lies to justify your existance.
I think I will go smoke myself a nice bowl and have a look at my youthful face in the mirror.
By the way, my daughter has two bachelors degrees and a masters. My son is currently in college. How are your kids, Mr. Random Pennsylvanian DEA agent? I bet they are smoking rock and looking old.
OK Random, the jig's up, you're not a DEA agent. Here's why:
1) A Federal agent would NEVER deface the image of the POTUS, even if they don't agree with his politics.
2) Why would a DEA agent be investigating a common street-level murder? Then, find out that it's drug-related? (Post 14.3) The 'D' in DEA means 'drug.' So, does the DEA just investigate "random" murders just in case they might be drug-related? No, because the DEA focuses on busts that generate the largest cash seizures. (Not to mention that it's not initially drug-related.)
Finally, I've had to say this before, but Google is not a source. It's a search engine. Enough of the unsubstantiated claims. Anybody who knows anything about marijuana knows that it doesn't make a 40-something look like an 80-something. You can trot out all of the personal experience you have on the issue, but I can match you step-by-step. The difference is that my empirical evidence is actually based in truth.
Time to get lost, troll.
Also zupercram, how much of an idiot would you have to be, to come on a site like this and tell the world, "Hey, Look at ME! I'm a G*ddamned DEA Agent B!tches!" Or is it, Hey, I'm Rick James B!tch? LOL.... Seriously, you can not watch TV for 30 minutes with out at the very least, 1 commercial about suing a Drug for causing all sorts of ailments including Death.
randompennsylvanian,TURN off FOX NEWS aka the LIARS network.I did and the world isn't as scary as SEAN HIDEOUS and Fu-ked-up and FIENDS would have you believe !
over 20 million NON-VIOLENT users have been arrested in 40 plus years, breaking up millions of families, making criminals out of otherwise law-abiding free citizens of america. with legalization there will be less use of alcohol and cigarettes nationwide, which means less emergency room visits, and marijuana has also been shown to help junkies quit hard drugs, and alcoholics as well, not to mention prescription drug addicts, and it's also not addictive, so they can quit smoking it up after getting all that outta their system...so that means with legalization of marijuana, there'll be less junkies, less home thefts, etc. (yep, junkies steal to support their habits), less fatal alcoholic accidents, less murders (yep, drunks will kill someone in a fight), less sexual crimes (yep, drunks will rape someone), and our national GDP will rise as well, because marijuana is one of the most profitable products out there...it's america's top grossing cash crop, earning more than corn and wheat combined....not to mention, with legalization, it would put drug cartels out of business, and kids would have to be carded if they wanted to buy some bud, (currently it's easier for kids to buy bud than get cigs or beer)...and much more...
and all that doesn't even touch on hemp...which can replace all coal use in our power plants nationwide, which can be made into biofuel, (which we need to do pronto because we're wasting our food crop corn to the biofuel industry and because of that, food prices are rising nationwide), can be made into paper (goodbye, logging industry, and good riddance), clothes, (and you can recycle those clothes into paper!) (bye-bye, cotton, which harms our environment due to the necessary uses of fertilizers and herbicides), as well as biodegradable plastic products (shopping bags, etc.) and other products such as pvc pipes for homes, particle boards for construction, fabric for carpets, drapes, even subflooring materials, also paint, etc. (so you can totally build a house from scratch with hemp and power that home with hemp through power plants (burns cleaner too), and drive to work and back with hemp, hell, you can even build a body for cars from hemp, (ford did that when he first created his ford t model), and much much more....but basically, hemp will end our dependance on foreign fuel, coal use (and end coal mining), end deforestation, and build many of our homes.
oh yeah, all that means more jobs too. plus it's good for our farmers, who are suffering at getting only around 50 bucks per acre for corn and wheat...currently, recreational marijuana is a 35.8 billion dollar industry yearly, and hemp companies in america is a 300-400 million dollar industry...(it's legal to sell hemp products in america, but not legal to grow hemp...therefore, millions are wasted to import hemp from foreign countries, who are making money hand over fist LEGALLY through prohibition at our cost.) AND IT"S ALL ILLEGAL!! come on now!
legalization is necessary to our country. without legalization, we're in that handbasket goin you know where.
WOW, can't tell you're a doper with that brilliantly failed logic of yours, the stupidity of the human race knows no bounds.
And your argument is.......Oh that's right you don't have one do you?
how's that? look, here are a few sources i use for my reasoning:
Marijuana Called Top U.S. Cash Crop
Contrasting government figures for traditional crops -- like corn and wheat -- against the study's projections for marijuana production, the report cites marijuana as the top cash crop in 12 states and among the top three cash crops in 30.
The study estimates that marijuana production, at a value of $35.8 billion, exceeds the combined value of corn ($23.3 billion) and wheat ($7.5 billion).
"The fact that marijuana is America's No. 1 cash crop after more than three decades of governmental eradication efforts is the clearest illustration that our present marijuana laws are a complete failure," says Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington D.C., a group that focuses on removing criminal penalties for marijuana use.
Kampia, whose comments were included in the study's press release, adds, "Our nation's laws guarantee that 100 percent of the proceeds from marijuana sales go to unregulated criminals rather than to legitimate businesses that pay taxes to support schools, police and roads."
(ABC news)
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=2735017&page=1#.Tz1wC4FrKSo
Philadelphia: City Saves Millions By Ceasing Criminal Marijuana Prosecutions
The city of Philadelphia saved an estimated $2 million last year by ceasing criminal prosecutions for minor marijuana offenses, according to comments made last week by District Attorney Seth Williams to the Philadelphia Daily News.
"We were spending thousands of dollars for when someone possessed $10 or $15 worth of weed," District Attorney Seth Williams tells the Philadelphia Daily News. "It just didn't make any sense."
Before this change, offenders faced up to $500 in fines and possible, though unlikely jail time. If the suspect fought the charges, this meant expenses for the city — prosecutors, judges, lab tests, public defenders, etc. By all but decriminalizing pot, Williams estimates that the city has saved $2 million in the last 12 months.
Additionally, police tell the News that there has been no noticeable impact on the quality of life in Philadelphia since the program went into effect.
Looking at the bigger picture, DA Williams says the current way most U.S. authorities treat drug possession is shortsighted.
"I can put someone in jail for 90 days because they possess crack. But if we don't get them the help they need for their addiction, when they get out of jail, they're just going to be a 90-day-older crack addict," he explains. "We have to treat drug addiction as a public-health problem, not just a criminal-justice problem."
http://articles.philly.com/2011-07-08/news/29750680_1_marijuana-offenders-new-pot-policy-drug-abuse
Oregon Joins Many States Celebrating Hemp History Week
"Hemp was an important crop for George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and thousands of American farmers until it was outlawed completely in 1970 by the Controlled Substances Act.I know many farmers in my district could benefit greatly from the renewed freedom to rotate industrial hemp into their growing seasons. Hemp History Week will help other elected officials learn about America's rich hemp heritage along with the tremendous benefits of growing hemp in America once again," explains Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.
"Lost opportunities for farmers and businesses have real consequences," says David Bronner, President of Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps, which uses imported hemp oil in almost all of their products.
"With over $396 million in estimated U.S. retail sales, American companies making hemp products have no choice but to import their raw materials because our farmers continue to fear they will be prosecuted for growing hemp, due to an out of date federal 'Reefer Madness' policy which confuses non-drug industrial hemp with drug varieties of Cannabis," adds Bronner.
Sustainable hemp seed, fiber and oil are already used in nutritious food, textiles, body care and even auto-parts. Companies like Ford Motors, Patagonia, and The Body Shop, in addition to Hemp Industries Association members are using imported hemp in their products today.
"Despite the ban, consumers still want nutritious hemp foods — and we do not want to deny the goodness of hemp to anyone," explains Hans Fastre, CEO of Living Harvest Foods, the global leader in hemp food products, including Tempt™ hemp milk, frozen dessert and protein powder.
"By allowing U.S. farmers to sell hemp seed, we'll be better able to manage costs, including the cost of product at retail. Moreover, we'll be able to better promote sustainable agriculture in the U.S., support local farming and fuel the economy."
Grown commercially in Canada since 1998, hemp has become one of the most profitable crops per acre for farmers north of the U.S. border. "While American farmers often net less than $50 per acre for soy and corn, Canadian hemp farmers just across the border net an average of $200-300 per acre," explains Mike Fata co-founder of Manitoba Harvest, one of the first Canadian businesses to benefit from hemp farming in Canada, where it was re-legalized 10 years ago.
"The hemp industry has had a huge impact on the Canadian economy, as the ability to grow hemp in Canada benefits the whole value chain, from farmer, to producer, to the end consumer."
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may172010/hemp_week.php
Study: Marijuana Can Help Curb Alcohol, Prescription Drug Abuse:
Cannabis as a substitute for alcohol and other drugs
According to lead researcher Amanda Reiman:
"Substituting cannabis for alcohol has been described as a radical alcohol treatment protocol. This approach could be used to address heavy alcohol use […] People might substitute cannabis, a potentially safer drug than alcohol with less negative side-effects, if it were socially acceptable and available."
h t t p ://www.harmreductionjournal.com/content/6/1/35
Toking Their Way Sober: Alcoholics and Marijuana as Folk Medicine
h t t p ://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a781260758~frm=titlelink?words=study,marijuana
Stimulation Of Marijuana Receptor Reduces Cocaine Consumption, Study Says
Baltimore, MD: The stimulation of a specific endocannabinoid receptor by a synthetic cannabinoid agonist significantly reduces the desire for cocaine, according to preclinical data published online in the scientific journal Nature Neuroscience.
http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nn.2874.html
http://healthland.time.com/2011/07/26/marijuana-derivative-may-offer-hope-in-cocaine-addiction/
Trouble. I'd be interested to know what part of his logic is "brilliantly failed" considering you'd provided no logic of your own. Rather, you've merely just made an unsupported conclusory statement--which I'm sure you think settles the issue.
I'll make it easy for you..."Reasoned Debate for Dummies" and all that...here we go:
(1) Do you disagree with the proposition that we spend billions of dollars on DEA agents, airplanes, and monitoring equipment every year?
(2) Do you disagree with the proposition that millions of people are incarcerated for non-violent drug crimes?
(3) Do you disagree with the proposition that incarcerating millions of people (i.e., jailing, housing, feeding and educating) costs billions of dollars?
(4) Do you disagree with the proposition that about half of America doesn't think pot smoking/selling/growing should even be a crime?
(5) Do you disagree with the proposition that, if we're going to call something a "crime" and lock people in cages for it, we should be in pretty much unanimous agreement that the action in question is something worthy of criminal punishment?
(6) Do you disagree with the proposition that alcohol and tobacco (both legal) are at least as bad for you as pot? Do you disagree with the fact of their legality?
(7) Do you disagree with the proposition that drugs we currently permit to be proscribed are, in many instances, much, much worse for the folks that use them than pot is for pot users (see: amphetamines for toddlers, Valium for housewives, opiates for people with "chronic pain", steroids for "Low T", etc.)?
(8) Do you disagree with the proposition that, if we're going to call something "criminal" and lock people up for it, we shouldn't be allowing identical things to be freely used (i.e,. alcohol and tobacco) and freely proscribed (i.e., amphetamine, methamphetamine, psytropic drugs, morphine, opiates, etc.).
Etc. etc. etc.
...........................
I mean, what exactly, logically, do you disagree with in Joe's statement? Anyone can stand in a room full of adults debating an issue and scream like a toddler "you're wrong"...
Haha...after I posted I saw the updated thread where everyone pointed out "Trouble's" fallacious statement in unison. Poor Trouble came to a gun fight with foam nunchucks. Hilarious.
Hey trouble, break down Joe420ers statement and prove it all wrong. What part of it is incorrect and why? I don't think you can, prove me wrong, if you can.
Joe....
50 bucks an acre for corn and wheat sucks all credibility out of your thesis
oldfatguy:
Grown commercially in Canada since 1998, hemp has become one of the most profitable crops per acre for farmers north of the U.S. border. "While American farmers often net less than $50 per acre for soy and corn, Canadian hemp farmers just across the border net an average of $200-300 per acre," explains Mike Fata co-founder of Manitoba Harvest, one of the first Canadian businesses to benefit from hemp farming in Canada, where it was re-legalized 10 years ago.
"The hemp industry has had a huge impact on the Canadian economy, as the ability to grow hemp in Canada benefits the whole value chain, from farmer, to producer, to the end consumer."
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may172010/hemp_week.php
Your source is flawed, very flawed. Have you seen the price of corn lately especially since the government demands it be mixed with gasoline?
I have no idea of the money in hemp, I have never been a doper or drunk, I only read your post to learn and when I see obvious exaggerations of the truth it destroys the credibility of your argument.
well, first of all, hemp is not a drug. it's not used by stoners...at least, it's not smoked anyway. it's impossible to smoke or ingest for any high...we'll wear hemp, but we don't smoke it. personally i don't buy hemp because i refuse to support foreign countries on our dime...and yes, the point about corn is a part of my point. we use corn in everyday products from soda pop to ketchup, etc, thousands of products we all use daily, and yet we're wasting our source of food on biofuel. hell, they even get subsidies...when hemp itself produces 4 times the biofuel corn does. and please cite your sources if you want to prove anything i throw out there as flawed...and you do realize that you have used hemp products at some time in your life once or twice? it's used in thousands of applications, even auto companies such as Ford uses hemp...
you do know george washington told us to grow hemp and thomas jefferson even risked his life to steal hemp seed from foreign countries, right? and abraham lincoln was against prohibition laws too...
Subsidies for corn gas were eliminated last year.
As for sources check almost any commodities listing for corn price per bushel and multiply that by 200 bushels per acre.
I said I read this to learn about things I do not know. I am not sure what hemp is or how Ford or anyone else uses it or why it is illegal to grow. I am familiar with corn price and yield. My initial point is you were making sense to the unfamiliar until you got to the blatant falsehood of $50 corn and you use a hemp week celebration from a liberal newspaper for your information.
and yet when someone says the word hemp, you say "i'm not a doper or a drunk!!" sounds like you do think you know a lil' something something about it...and why don't you just point me in the right direction regarding sources? if you don't want to look up hemp on your own, then why should i look up your points on my own?
Wow old fat guy!!! So you've never been a doper. Guess that makes you an expert on the subject, and what the hell does being a drunk have to to with hemp???
alright, so i looked around...here's what i'm seeing so far...
2009 Crop Year is One for the Record Books, USDA Reports
Corn yields reached an all-time high in 2009 at 165.2 bushels per acre, eclipsing the previous record of 160.3 bushels per acre set in 2004.
http://www.nass.usda.gov/Newsroom/2010/01_12_2010.asp
200 bushels, huh?
Corn & Soybeans Drop on Improving Weather in South America
January 31st, 2012
Corn and soybeans fell on forecast that rains may alleviate drought in South America.
Corn traded near $6.3200 per bushel today as of 00:43 GMT on CBoT, following the slump from $6.3925 to $6.3200 yesterday.
http://www.commodityblog.com/category/commodity-prices-corn
so using last month's prices, that works out to $1042.80 per acre...however, that profit is offset by neccessary spending on herbicides, pesticides, fertilizer, equipment, employees, water prices, etc...so i'm guessing to be fair, it might work out to be an actual profit of around 200 or so dollars an acre...hold on, let me see if i can find any math on those things too...well i found something here but not sure if it still holds today, it's from '99:
How Much Does It Cost To Produce An Acre Of Corn Or Soybeans?
Joe Lauer and Ed Oplinger, Corn and Soybean Agronomists
Cost per acre is the total of seed, fertilizer, chemical, other, custom, drying, interest, equipment, and land costs. Cost per bushel is the cost per acre divided by yield. Return per acre is the quantity of yield times price with cost per acre then subtracted. Return per acre is the amount of money left over to pay for other items not easily accounted for by the contest such as overhead, utilities, improvements, management, building costs, taxes, etc.
In the corn divisions, depending upon year, the average maximum and minimum cost per acre is $215 to $260 in the cash grain division, and $187 to $234 in the dairy and livestock division (Table 1). Average costs per bushel have been $1.26 to $1.74 in the cash grain division, and $1.13 to $1.81 in the dairy and livestock division. Better efficiency (low cost per bushel) is seen in years with higher yields.
http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/AA/A025.aspx
that's the best i can find in 10 minutes or so...looks like you can get more from corn than soy and wheat. still, one can earn more from hemp than corn...and corn prices are dropping! although, that's not much more than 50 bucks...not even four times that much...
here's something more recent:
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
How Much More Will It Cost To Produce Corn Compared To 2010?
Cornbelt farmers will have a responsibility this spring when they plant corn. They will have to write some big checks to pay for the crop inputs. Big checks for fertilizer, seed, chemicals, fuel. Big checks. Bigger than last year even.
You may already be paying for your inputs, some of which have been delivered and applied like fertilizer, and others which you are financing the supplier until delivery. Nevertheless, higher costs will be the norm for non-land expenses for the 2011 crop. The latest newsletter of University of Illinois farm management specialist Gary Schnitkey indicates that good farmland will require a $500 per acre investment for corn. That includes fertilizer, seed, pesticides, drying storage, crop insurance, power, and overhead costs. Cash rent is not included. Cash rent is not included. Let me repeat, cash rent is not included. Add the cash rent on top of the nearly $500 cost for inputs and you have your revenue target for marketing. But don’t forget the return to labor and management, also known as profit that pays for family living.
Schnitkey’s analysis shows that in the last 8 years, non-land costs rose from $245 in 2002 to $533 in 2009. They eased off a bit in 2010 and the 2011 non land cost should be between the $439 in 2010 and the $533 in 2009. The reduction last year resulted from lower fertilizer costs and a lower drying cost because of the mature crop that came out of the field. But the higher cost of fertilizer will push total costs up for 2011.
http://www.farmgateblog.com/article/how-much-more-will-it-cost-to-produce-corn-compared-to-2010
so i guess i was closer to the truth than you thought, oldfatguy...i'm guessing that'll work out to be a hella lot more closer to 50 dollars than 200 dollars per acre...
Profits through Efficient Production
Systems
University of Wisconsin
Department of Agronomy
2011 PEPS Executive Summary
During 2011, 5 contestants entered 6 corn fields. The average yield in the cash corn and dairy/
livestock corn divisions was 204 and 214 bushels per acre with production costs of $530 and $511
per acre. The average cost per bushel was $2.59 and $2.38. Using PEPS production costs for an acre
and the WI USDA average of 160 bushels per acre, the average cost per bushel was $3.31.
These costs include actual figures provided by contestants. These costs do not include all costs of
production. For example, overhead or miscellaneous costs associated with operating a farm (i.e. field
tiling, outfitting a shop, plowing snow, maintaining fences, taxes, desktop work related to
management, etc.), are difficult to determine among farms, and is not accounted for in the PEPS
program. Typical overhead rates range from 18-46% of production costs.
http://corn.agronomy.wisc.edu/PEPS/2011.pdf
looks like i was mostly right...that works out to be a profit of roughly $74.59 per acre...
@joe, In all fairness, the same equipment, labor, and overhead would be required on Hemp Farms, unless you are hand harvesting for mass production. Other than that, your points are well understood.
well, one point in hemp's favor is that it doesn't require herbicides or pesticides or fertilizers. and uses much less water...so i imagine the profit would be more than you could get currently from corn...
To all of you who want to be free of foreign oil, hemp can be made into biofuels.
Tax revenues could COMPLETELY FUND UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE!!
How would you like to have your healthcare completely paid for? No? Okay. Just keep paying out your azzes for it.
Well said Joe420er. I am not going to site any stats, or provide any so called proof of my statements, but I will say, that basically any thing that can be made from oil, can be made by hemp, and all sorts of other products that cannot be made from oil. I have a nice long sleeve shirt made from hemp. Visit a Hemp store or go on-line and just amaze yourself at all of the products that can and should be made right here in the Good Old US of A out of Hemp. We could basically tell countries like China to go F*** themselves with all of their cheap plastic goods. There are several reasons why Hemp of all things is not legal in this country. The big Paper companies and the Big Oil companies stand to lose Billions, and with their Big Lobbyists, they are going to do every damn thing in their power to not let that happen.
JOE&One-Eye, stop making a sensible argument. The DEA agent and friends on this post will have a meltdown trying to come back with a LOGICAL argument.LEGALIZE, TAX and RATION the SALES!
Sad but funny, just think what the pilot thought when he saw those fighter jets pull up to him "Wow man they really are serious about this stuff"
"I knew dog could smell good, but this is ridiculous!". HA!.
maybe obama will give them amnesty
For once,president Obama did something good,even though it was by accident.The people who owned the drugs should be put in jail and heavily fined.
Well, the people who actually own the drugs will probably never be caught. Chances are the pilot was just a mexican trying to make a living, and he'll end up taking the rap for the whole thing.
Random just wants to ensure he has a federal job and pension with federal benefits in the future to retire on!!
Random is a troll and if he isn't, I hope he is representative of all DEA agents. Dumb as a box of rocks.
I heard someone say one time; "Where were they on the morning of 9/11/01?"
Norad was in "stand-down" mode while they were running 3 National Security DRILLS. This somehow got in the way of dealing with real world hijackings. Even though General Eberhart testified that the drills like "northern Vigilance" enhanced our ability to respond to the 4 hijackings, even though we failed to get a single fighter on the six of any of the airliners.
Even if they had time to scramble planes, what could they have done? Shoot down a jetliner over a densly populated metropolitan area?
You've had ten years to think about what the benefit of a fighter being on the six of a hijacked commercial airliner would be, and you still don't have a clue. You're like the firefighters in NYC who had 30 years to come up with an effective plan for how to fight a major fire in the WTC towers and the best that they came up with was put on 90lbs of gear in the lobby and climb up the stairs which are being used by the evacuees to get down and out. Brilliant!
There was a BIG mix-up obama's delivery got interrupted...
I wonder if ObamO is pissed about losing his supply plane? You'd have to be on dope to come up with his economic policies.
So what is your argument against marijuana and your proof? Perhaps your just believing the BS the government feeds you, lets here your side instead of just insults. I assume you don't use alcohol or tobacco.
yeah right...obama's against legalization and doesn't even support medical marijuana....
He wasn't offering proof, just a really really lame joke.
It was Medical Marijuana for the 99% so they could keep going
I heard someone say one time; "Where were they on the morning of 9/11/01?"
Maybe it was for Obammy.
If it was a kilo of blow I would say yea, but 20lbs of weed only a maybe.
If it was blow Marion Barry would have been the pilot and it would have been over D.C.
20 pounds of pot is not that much. He should have loaded it down. He must have been high.