'Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told CNN in an interview that Lutnick has “a lot to answer for, but really, he should make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign.”' Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! What is it about these Repubs that their logic is so screwy? This should have been "WE should make life easier on EVERYONE and frankly, IMPEACH AND REMOVE the President who had just as much to do with Epstein as any other major government figure."
Yes, it is frustrating. Massie is out in front of all GOP congresspeople on Epstein, obviously, so I guess we should be happy to get what we get. I don't think forcing Nutlick to resign will cause election problems for the GOP -- Trump will just throw him under the bus.
Haha yep. Why should Lutnick resign if his boss, the guy who was much much closer to Epstein, isn't going to resign? To be honest I'd rather Lutnick stick around to keep reminding everyone of how sleazy, corrupt and dishonest the entire Trump administration is.
Massie is right. He has a weird old-fashioned notion of honor. If there were any honor remaining anywhere in the US, Lutnick would indeed resign. Across Europe careers are ending, the British monarchy has taken a major hit, and Keir Starmer's government (though it may well survive) is teetering. Honor is a thing; so is shame. We don't seem to have either here any more, at least not in the corridors of power. Good to know the Brits haven't altogether given it up, although Nigel Farage is working on it.
As for impeachment, Donald gave himself the ultimate impeachment insurance (or rather Peter Thiel gifted it to him): JD Vance. Impeach and remove Donald, and we go full Thiel. It's quite the moral dilemma.
I’d feel a heck of a lot better about Massie if he had not sent out that Christmas card. The one that has his entire family grinning while holding military style weapons. That sort of wrecks the peace on earth vibe of the season.
It does indeed. My mother-in-law used to say, “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll show you who you are.” The hubris of this regime is breathtaking. I think they truly believe we are all blind as bats.
And most definitely not as brilliant as that stable genius, whose only connection with a stable is being the southbound end of a northbound inhabitant of one.
I dunno Katherine, I kinda like spelling it out like I did instead of finding a small pictogram that may not be as clear as the maker thought it would be.
It is more disgusting than his kangaroo cabinet and that is saying a lot. Cannot believe how easy it is for our European contemporaries to cut and run. We are pitiful!
Aaaahh! November may be such sweet sorrow after the republicans lose some of the finest cowards ever produced in America. Perhaps their inaction and gaslighting about moral corruption will be compensated by angry voters. It can’t possibly be overcompensated, even so. Fantasy now, or reality then, for most Americans? Cancer needs to be removed or shrunken to make America better.
Up to "or shrunken" you were earning a like, but that line is too mild for me. I am not an oncologist, but according to what I have read and heard, you need to remove a cancerous growth, not just reduce it for a good shot at a cure.
Just being pragmatic. Of course I work to remove the whole thing. I’ve moderated myself, but believe me, I’m holding back my loathing as I try to be pragmatic. We must aim high, but 20% fascist is still way better than 98%, no?
That’s why I said, “maybe.” Believe me, I’m disgusted by the Democrat’s just plain ineptitude and corruption, too. I often say that some donors and a lotta democrats, especially behind the curtain, hold back their party from just freaking doing the right thing, and stinking just strike when the iron is HOT, and not wait because of a relatively few, yet powerful, arrogant irresponsible idealists, AND the donors pushing in certain ways which I imagine are hiding and enabling corruption. The republicans are worse, but the Dem party polls very badly too.
If not now, WHEN? They didn’t have to lose 2024. Biden may have been the main problem in ways, but he had a lot of help from other leaders. To lose to TRUMP like that, I’d say is not just due to Republican propaganda being SMART, in its evil ways, but also to certain, often unknown to the public, leaders poisoning the message.
The donors have a veto over all Democratic policies.
But in answer to your question "if not now, when?" ... their answer would be "never".
The people who are doing the hard work TODAY aren't the Democratic leadership. It's not Schumer standing on the floor of the Senate reading the names of pedophiles. It's not Jeffries in the House.
It's freaking Ro Khanna. And a REPUBLICAN Thomas Massie. Both are outsiders to their respective parties.
There should be more investment in Marijuana research and treatment for abuse. However going back to prohibition is a terrible idea, for both alcohol and weed. More people are consuming weed then alcohol daily because fewer people, especially young adults, are drinking much less. Young minority men are not getting arrested for having a few joints or a dime bag of weed.
I am old enough to remember having to buy Marijuana furtively. It's a whole lot nicer experience to walk across the street to the licensed dispensary when the mood strikes.
Totally agree about NOT going back to prohibition! I just hope we can discourage marijuana use by making it not so readily available. However, if that means people going back to alcohol.... sheesh.
A major problem with legalized marijuana is the same problem you have with tobacco - it’s commercially grown with the same carcinogenic pesticides and herbicides. Smoking that stuff can kill you. If you like a buzz, grow your own.
Paraphrasing James Comer, "We're too busy interviewing a couple who was in the White House 30 years ago to bother with a man who is currently in a senate-confirmed cabinet position."
I don’t think it’s that big a deal that Lutnik lied. This whole administration seems to believe that if they aren’t under oath, lying is acceptable. Trump, Leavitt, Bondi, Noem and others routinely make bald-faced lies and no one is screaming that they need to resign (for that reason alone). Either everyone needs to go for lying (I’m for that, just for the record) or Lutnik is just the new shiny object of the moment. When the Dems are in power again, perhaps we need a new law that says people speaking on behalf of an administration may not flat out lie in their official capacities whether they are under oath or not.
As for marijuana are its effects worse than alcohol? We already have laws against driving under the influence. Of course more people use it now than when it was illegal. DUH! I came of age in the 70’s. Fear of being arrested, not knowing where and how the weed was produced, etc. all led to many not being regular users. Also, there are more people now. No one ever claimed there were no downsides to pot mostly that it wasn’t necessary to classify it the same as heroin. I think that’s still true. Legalize it, regulate it, tax it and let there be penalties for misuse, same as alcohol.
Amen to everything you said on both issues. There are downsides to marijuana; there are many more downsides to alcohol. It's good that more people are using weed to relax rather than drinking. I'm old, I have a lot of aches and pains and stresses. I use THC/CBD gummies every day. Otherwise my doctor would be prescribing opioids, which are certainly worse than marijuana in every way.
Same. Have used various ways to ingest pot for 40 + years. Can do without easily. I never would have survived autoimmune disease and all its gut punches without it. Please don’t take my pot away. My kids are not drawn to pot. It’s not nearly as bad for every level of one’s health as ETOH.
True, but there are actual consequences for doing that and they know it. That’s why they bluster and rant but don’t actually answer the question. It’s a bright line they aren’t fully prepared to cross.
The worst mj downside I have read about is its ability to ramp up things for people who are subject to various mental health disorders. Scott Alexander talked in one of his pieces about trying to treat mental health issues for a kid who couldn't/wouldn't quit pot. It ended awfully.
Since people are using chemicals to treat mental health issues on their own instead of finding (above average) mental health care, it's only going to get worse. I live in DTLA. There are a lot more outdoor angels having chats with invisible people than there were seven years ago when I got here.
Because we are awful about locking up black men, we legalized quicker than the studies could be finished. The speed at which stronger mj was produced would make the studies have reduced value, too. For sure, there is little room for going backwards, so we need to move forward carefully. Clear labeling and educating about the general effects of dosage amounts would be a start. The education of the public has been woeful. Why have I been taught about administering Narcan for a potential opioid overdose, but I've never been seen any educational info about mj potency? We went from "Mj is bad" to "Come and get it!" without any transition time. Bad Jobs R Us.
But Lutnick didn’t need to lie the way that he did! It’s almost like he was doing his reality TV show at the NY Post, forgetting that anyone, not just Trumpists, had access to see the interview.
None of them need to lie in the ways that they do. It doesn’t matter what they say and if the brazenness of the lie bothers you, that’s just a bonus for their supporters.
LV Jan. I think you meant that the Republicans don’t think lying is a big deal. They learned that from Felon Trump’s 35,000 lies, clocked by Fact Finder and other organizations in his first administration. He got away with it, so it’s okay for Republicans. If there actually is a Republican who someone wants to vote for, make it clear and plain that they don’t lie. A polygraph test would be a good start for these people.
I didn’t mean just Republicans. I agree they do it more now and more brazenly, but politicians throughout history have lied to one degree or another. People in government at all levels should be held to a higher standard. They work for us on our dime.
I have always held that one elected person cannot manage the wants and needs of 100 constituents, let alone millions. I accept that some untruths, lies and misstatements will be made, because I can’t see being totally honest will work. That said, I do hold people in government to a higher are standard; or I do not vote for them. I have worked for the federal government and the state government. Most of my colleges were honest, and good working people trying to do their job as best as they could. We need to call out those who lie about others records.
I am a 77 year old woman..using cannabis is MY business...we voted for the right to use recreational marijuana in my state of OH...and now they are trying to mess w the will of the people...govt STAY OUT OF MY BUSINESS...
Probably when you began using marijuana, it was almost like 321 beer was to regular beer. Very weak. The product has been improved and if that wasn’t enough, other chemicals were added to enhance the experience. It’s changed and needs more regulation or more people will find themselves in the hospital or dead.
that is their choice…quit trying to protect people from themselves…how many times should we give someone NARCAN?? we need to deal w the root cause of addiction instead of regulation
Who said anything about protection? I am talking about how potent a product is. Underage people were allowed to drink 321 beer because it had far less alcohol than regular beer. Now you can buy “lite” beer or beer with an alcohol content over 7%. Your choice. But I want you to know the difference so you can make a good choice. That is not regulation, that is caring.
3.2 beer that was legal for those over 18 in some states was limted to 3.2% alcohol, compared to the 4 to 5% typical of regular beers then. So the kids drank 3 to get the effect of 2. It really didn't make it safer, except for the kids who didn't have the price of the third beer in their pocket.
First off, legal cannabis does not have other chemicals added. Black market stuff sometimes does, though. So a reason to keep it legal.
As for relative strength, current strains are equal to the best of what was available 50 years ago. It's always been healthier to smoke the best, as it takes less to achieve the same effect.
Check out American Addition Center. It listed more than ten substances found in marijuana. Unless you pulled the leaves off the plant yourself, how do you know? In 1983, a Beech Nut Baby food plant, in New York, had three executives arrested, charged and convicted for substituting water instead of apple juice. Legal does not prevent fraud.
Also, this is from the National Institute of Health: in the 1990’s, the percent of THC was 4. It quadrupled by 2022.
Here in Vermont every batch grown is tested by third-party labs. The test results are publicly posted. All the growers are small, not Beach Nut-type corporations. The NIH was not acquiring the same cannabis I was from the 70s forward, which was of the same strength -- sometimes stronger -- than what's common in the shops today. Yes, you could also find cheap hemp then, plants cultivated for rope rather than smoking, with low THC.
Then let’s get government out of alcohol and gambling! I’m all for it, but that’s not the world we live in. The best regulation would be one that doesn’t impact you but provides guardrails for others.
I don't know about that..weren't Republicans always the party of small govt...one of my MAGA friends is big on she wants the govt out of her business and yet she seems fine w any bullshit they pull..she is ONLY still my friend because it has been a 70 yr friendship...Those of us who are old use gummies or smoke or vape for a variety of reasons..I was able to replace dangerous drugs like ambien and clonezepam w gummies...and I am very careful in my use...I also have a lot of pain and it helps w that...my nephew died at 28 of alcoholism...no drugs...he drank himself to death and no one could help him..he did not want help..I am a retired high school teacher and also have a master's in counseling..I have learned that you cannot protect people from themselves...if someone wants drugs they will get them..until we find the cure for addiction it is impossible to actually regulate substances like cannabis...
The cannabis industry cannot be properly regulated until prohibition has truly ended. The Times board are judging a system that has widely different regulations from county to county state to state. We are a large country and there should be a well regulated market with interstate commerce. Until then any judgments are truly more on the failure of the regulatory process and not cannabis product
The marijuana legalization was always about the money, about making it a big business without much regulation and downplaying all the bad side effects in order to increase the customer base as much as possible. It was easy to see from the start that this was happening and all the right sympathy buttons were pushed to make any opposition quiet down for fear of seeming like a prude.
I have to agree with you on the business side of things. It seems to me that when Big Money enters the room, some people's brains turn off and they lose any semblance of good or moral judgment. Or good character.
I am a big fan of cannabis legalization. Nonetheless, I've said from the beginning that it was being oversold and that would come back to bite us. "Not physically addicting"? Go to any 12 step meeting in the country and ask whether physical or psychological addiction is easier to overcome.
At the same time, I firmly believe that cannabis alone is less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco alone. In my experience, a stoners is less likely to get in a bar fight or beat their spouses when high than a drunk is. A stoner is less likely to drive aggressively than a drunk. Etc. And nobody dies from directly from cannabis overdose, although we are seeing people who get very sick. Tens of thousands of people die annually from alcohol and tobacco.
Of course their are people who mix their drugs. Drunk stoners are a problem, but I don't think we can determine which doorstep to lay that on.
The war on drugs has caused vastly more injury, death, and destruction than the drugs themselves. There are countries in Latin America where the government struggles to keep its head above water due to corruption from the vast sums of money flowing from the North to pay for drugs.
Bottom line, I think a harm reduction strategy is vastly preferable to a "war" on drugs.
Re: "...there may be ten emails connecting me with [Epstein]."
Okay, Howard, so how many emails would it take to show that you had more dealings with Epstein than you said you did?
And are you saying that what the FBI released is the complete record? No other communications? No phone calls? No texts? No in-person conversations? No trips to Kid Rock not mentioned in these ten emails?
Is that what you expect us to believe? Really, Howard?
I don’t use either marijuana or alcohol. Just not my thing. But I do work in healthcare. There are a few faulty logic streams I see here. First of all, since legalization, look at the state of the nation (on steroids since the pandemic). The premise (unstated) is that legalization led to increased use. I don’t see any provable data around that. What I do see is chronically ill people (mentally and physically — we call those co-morbidities whether there are both/and or either/or with multi issues) and people with UNTREATED mental health issues have been on the rise since the pandemic but were already at astronomical levels before that. So I reject this premise outright.
We have a sick, stressed out, fractured nation — politically, socially, mentally and physically — and you can see all those ramification in society — whether as a cause or a result seems like a chicken and egg question I’ll leave for experts. But certainly they influence each other. An overworked, ill, ill informed/ill educated, stressed out nation with extreme income gaps that leave very few as “haves” and many as “have nots” does not a great nation make. Most people will revert to self medicating (don’t forget, no one can afford healthcare!) whether by default or to sooth themselves out of symptoms and issues that have not been diagnosed.
I find this type of thinking (by the NYT, but it’s everywhere) annoying, simplistic and irritating, TBH. And a symptom of the larger issues in this country. American Idiot indeed — reflected in our institutions and those who should know better. We are very surface thinkers and it doesn’t serve us well. I’m not some MENSA candidate or ivy league person (plenty of the latter in congress who seem to be morons, too, so let’s not continue to give too much credit where it isn’t due re: ivy league) but you can use a simple way of evaluating things by digging deeper. Asking why about your assumptions multiple times. If you can’t go past one or two times, you’re on shaky ground (a mini root cause analysis). An ignorant populace does not a great nation make. The fact that AI and other things are turning off peoples’ collective brains, and that everyone believes AI is smarter than “everyone” which is easily disproved, is not going to help that issue. I’m not moneyed, I come from no pedigree, but I grew up in a reading household and we had challenging conversations. I’m not perfect, I fall prey to some of these very same things. But my hyper vigilance right now is that this society (and I’m guilty of it too) goes into these arguments or discussions ACCEPTING FAULTY PREMISES. I refuse. I wish we could go back to factual basis for discussion. I also wish people weren’t so quick to accept the b.s premise and then roll on with it and fight/discuss from quicksand as though it’s solid ground. NO!
Lutnick (I do love Nut-lick) in his Epstein pickle----just not indecent enough for the Guardians of Pedophiles to do anything about. If only Biden or Obama had pursued it. If only. Mr. Nut-Lick is just one of so many ---and James Comer has only time enough for five. I do believe I'm going to be sick. Where's the marijuana?
'Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told CNN in an interview that Lutnick has “a lot to answer for, but really, he should make life easier on the president, frankly, and just resign.”' Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh! What is it about these Repubs that their logic is so screwy? This should have been "WE should make life easier on EVERYONE and frankly, IMPEACH AND REMOVE the President who had just as much to do with Epstein as any other major government figure."
Yes, it is frustrating. Massie is out in front of all GOP congresspeople on Epstein, obviously, so I guess we should be happy to get what we get. I don't think forcing Nutlick to resign will cause election problems for the GOP -- Trump will just throw him under the bus.
Agreed! Trump is up to his neck in this! Why should anyone make life easier for him? Things have been far too easy for him for far too long.
Haha yep. Why should Lutnick resign if his boss, the guy who was much much closer to Epstein, isn't going to resign? To be honest I'd rather Lutnick stick around to keep reminding everyone of how sleazy, corrupt and dishonest the entire Trump administration is.
Massie is right. He has a weird old-fashioned notion of honor. If there were any honor remaining anywhere in the US, Lutnick would indeed resign. Across Europe careers are ending, the British monarchy has taken a major hit, and Keir Starmer's government (though it may well survive) is teetering. Honor is a thing; so is shame. We don't seem to have either here any more, at least not in the corridors of power. Good to know the Brits haven't altogether given it up, although Nigel Farage is working on it.
As for impeachment, Donald gave himself the ultimate impeachment insurance (or rather Peter Thiel gifted it to him): JD Vance. Impeach and remove Donald, and we go full Thiel. It's quite the moral dilemma.
I’d feel a heck of a lot better about Massie if he had not sent out that Christmas card. The one that has his entire family grinning while holding military style weapons. That sort of wrecks the peace on earth vibe of the season.
The GOP sure is chill about their boys having close friendships with convicted pedophiles. Almost seems a little....weird.
It does indeed. My mother-in-law used to say, “Show me who your friends are, and I’ll show you who you are.” The hubris of this regime is breathtaking. I think they truly believe we are all blind as bats.
And most definitely not as brilliant as that stable genius, whose only connection with a stable is being the southbound end of a northbound inhabitant of one.
👍 Was looking for a horse’s rear end emoji. Alas there is none. But their should be!
I dunno Katherine, I kinda like spelling it out like I did instead of finding a small pictogram that may not be as clear as the maker thought it would be.
Yes, my father would often remark, “you judge a person’s character by the company they keep”.
And then blame…. Obama!
It is more disgusting than his kangaroo cabinet and that is saying a lot. Cannot believe how easy it is for our European contemporaries to cut and run. We are pitiful!
Nothing will happen to Nut-Lick, they will let the whole thing die. That is until November, then we'll see.
Aaaahh! November may be such sweet sorrow after the republicans lose some of the finest cowards ever produced in America. Perhaps their inaction and gaslighting about moral corruption will be compensated by angry voters. It can’t possibly be overcompensated, even so. Fantasy now, or reality then, for most Americans? Cancer needs to be removed or shrunken to make America better.
Up to "or shrunken" you were earning a like, but that line is too mild for me. I am not an oncologist, but according to what I have read and heard, you need to remove a cancerous growth, not just reduce it for a good shot at a cure.
Just being pragmatic. Of course I work to remove the whole thing. I’ve moderated myself, but believe me, I’m holding back my loathing as I try to be pragmatic. We must aim high, but 20% fascist is still way better than 98%, no?
0.000% is even better, although one may need more than one incision to reach that level.
November?
Do you mean when Democrats overwhelming win? And take control of Congress? And then lay down the law?
Just a reminder, starting in 2008, Democrats have held either the House, the Senate or the Presidency almost continuously. About 14 years I think.
In that time they have NEVER held anyone associated with the Epstein files legally accountable, including Epstein while he was still alive.
Why do you think they'd do anything in November?
That’s why I said, “maybe.” Believe me, I’m disgusted by the Democrat’s just plain ineptitude and corruption, too. I often say that some donors and a lotta democrats, especially behind the curtain, hold back their party from just freaking doing the right thing, and stinking just strike when the iron is HOT, and not wait because of a relatively few, yet powerful, arrogant irresponsible idealists, AND the donors pushing in certain ways which I imagine are hiding and enabling corruption. The republicans are worse, but the Dem party polls very badly too.
If not now, WHEN? They didn’t have to lose 2024. Biden may have been the main problem in ways, but he had a lot of help from other leaders. To lose to TRUMP like that, I’d say is not just due to Republican propaganda being SMART, in its evil ways, but also to certain, often unknown to the public, leaders poisoning the message.
Rick - you are absolutely right.
It's the donors.
The donors have a veto over all Democratic policies.
But in answer to your question "if not now, when?" ... their answer would be "never".
The people who are doing the hard work TODAY aren't the Democratic leadership. It's not Schumer standing on the floor of the Senate reading the names of pedophiles. It's not Jeffries in the House.
It's freaking Ro Khanna. And a REPUBLICAN Thomas Massie. Both are outsiders to their respective parties.
Ro Khanna is NOT an outsider, but is currently doing the right thing. He has a long way to do to earn respect back; at least in my eyes.
But here's the fun part; we may know all the donors before the midterms.
There should be more investment in Marijuana research and treatment for abuse. However going back to prohibition is a terrible idea, for both alcohol and weed. More people are consuming weed then alcohol daily because fewer people, especially young adults, are drinking much less. Young minority men are not getting arrested for having a few joints or a dime bag of weed.
I am old enough to remember having to buy Marijuana furtively. It's a whole lot nicer experience to walk across the street to the licensed dispensary when the mood strikes.
Totally agree about NOT going back to prohibition! I just hope we can discourage marijuana use by making it not so readily available. However, if that means people going back to alcohol.... sheesh.
The top two comments at the NYT editorial suggested banning using it in public.
I am not a user or even an American and have no opinion. It’s been legal here in Canada for a decade.
A major problem with legalized marijuana is the same problem you have with tobacco - it’s commercially grown with the same carcinogenic pesticides and herbicides. Smoking that stuff can kill you. If you like a buzz, grow your own.
Legally grown cannabis is organic, without pesticides and herbicides, and inspections enforced under state law. The illegal grow operations are not.
Paraphrasing James Comer, "We're too busy interviewing a couple who was in the White House 30 years ago to bother with a man who is currently in a senate-confirmed cabinet position."
Or the current president who was Best Friends with Epstein, according to Epstein. We’ve seen Trump’s creepy old man routine for quite a long time now.
Justin Lee. You fixed it for him perfectly!
I don’t think it’s that big a deal that Lutnik lied. This whole administration seems to believe that if they aren’t under oath, lying is acceptable. Trump, Leavitt, Bondi, Noem and others routinely make bald-faced lies and no one is screaming that they need to resign (for that reason alone). Either everyone needs to go for lying (I’m for that, just for the record) or Lutnik is just the new shiny object of the moment. When the Dems are in power again, perhaps we need a new law that says people speaking on behalf of an administration may not flat out lie in their official capacities whether they are under oath or not.
As for marijuana are its effects worse than alcohol? We already have laws against driving under the influence. Of course more people use it now than when it was illegal. DUH! I came of age in the 70’s. Fear of being arrested, not knowing where and how the weed was produced, etc. all led to many not being regular users. Also, there are more people now. No one ever claimed there were no downsides to pot mostly that it wasn’t necessary to classify it the same as heroin. I think that’s still true. Legalize it, regulate it, tax it and let there be penalties for misuse, same as alcohol.
Amen to everything you said on both issues. There are downsides to marijuana; there are many more downsides to alcohol. It's good that more people are using weed to relax rather than drinking. I'm old, I have a lot of aches and pains and stresses. I use THC/CBD gummies every day. Otherwise my doctor would be prescribing opioids, which are certainly worse than marijuana in every way.
Same. Have used various ways to ingest pot for 40 + years. Can do without easily. I never would have survived autoimmune disease and all its gut punches without it. Please don’t take my pot away. My kids are not drawn to pot. It’s not nearly as bad for every level of one’s health as ETOH.
IMHO.
same
Eh, I suspect they believe lying is acceptable even if they ARE under oath.
True, but there are actual consequences for doing that and they know it. That’s why they bluster and rant but don’t actually answer the question. It’s a bright line they aren’t fully prepared to cross.
The worst mj downside I have read about is its ability to ramp up things for people who are subject to various mental health disorders. Scott Alexander talked in one of his pieces about trying to treat mental health issues for a kid who couldn't/wouldn't quit pot. It ended awfully.
Since people are using chemicals to treat mental health issues on their own instead of finding (above average) mental health care, it's only going to get worse. I live in DTLA. There are a lot more outdoor angels having chats with invisible people than there were seven years ago when I got here.
Because we are awful about locking up black men, we legalized quicker than the studies could be finished. The speed at which stronger mj was produced would make the studies have reduced value, too. For sure, there is little room for going backwards, so we need to move forward carefully. Clear labeling and educating about the general effects of dosage amounts would be a start. The education of the public has been woeful. Why have I been taught about administering Narcan for a potential opioid overdose, but I've never been seen any educational info about mj potency? We went from "Mj is bad" to "Come and get it!" without any transition time. Bad Jobs R Us.
But Lutnick didn’t need to lie the way that he did! It’s almost like he was doing his reality TV show at the NY Post, forgetting that anyone, not just Trumpists, had access to see the interview.
that's Nut-lick to you
None of them need to lie in the ways that they do. It doesn’t matter what they say and if the brazenness of the lie bothers you, that’s just a bonus for their supporters.
LV Jan. I think you meant that the Republicans don’t think lying is a big deal. They learned that from Felon Trump’s 35,000 lies, clocked by Fact Finder and other organizations in his first administration. He got away with it, so it’s okay for Republicans. If there actually is a Republican who someone wants to vote for, make it clear and plain that they don’t lie. A polygraph test would be a good start for these people.
I didn’t mean just Republicans. I agree they do it more now and more brazenly, but politicians throughout history have lied to one degree or another. People in government at all levels should be held to a higher standard. They work for us on our dime.
I have always held that one elected person cannot manage the wants and needs of 100 constituents, let alone millions. I accept that some untruths, lies and misstatements will be made, because I can’t see being totally honest will work. That said, I do hold people in government to a higher are standard; or I do not vote for them. I have worked for the federal government and the state government. Most of my colleges were honest, and good working people trying to do their job as best as they could. We need to call out those who lie about others records.
Cannabis = gambling.
Both destructive, neither should be illegal, both should be heavily regulated.
I am a 77 year old woman..using cannabis is MY business...we voted for the right to use recreational marijuana in my state of OH...and now they are trying to mess w the will of the people...govt STAY OUT OF MY BUSINESS...
Probably when you began using marijuana, it was almost like 321 beer was to regular beer. Very weak. The product has been improved and if that wasn’t enough, other chemicals were added to enhance the experience. It’s changed and needs more regulation or more people will find themselves in the hospital or dead.
that is their choice…quit trying to protect people from themselves…how many times should we give someone NARCAN?? we need to deal w the root cause of addiction instead of regulation
Who said anything about protection? I am talking about how potent a product is. Underage people were allowed to drink 321 beer because it had far less alcohol than regular beer. Now you can buy “lite” beer or beer with an alcohol content over 7%. Your choice. But I want you to know the difference so you can make a good choice. That is not regulation, that is caring.
3.2 beer that was legal for those over 18 in some states was limted to 3.2% alcohol, compared to the 4 to 5% typical of regular beers then. So the kids drank 3 to get the effect of 2. It really didn't make it safer, except for the kids who didn't have the price of the third beer in their pocket.
and btw..I did not use marijuana as a kid as I was a teacher and I would have lost my job…using NOW at 77 and it is MY BUSINESS…
First off, legal cannabis does not have other chemicals added. Black market stuff sometimes does, though. So a reason to keep it legal.
As for relative strength, current strains are equal to the best of what was available 50 years ago. It's always been healthier to smoke the best, as it takes less to achieve the same effect.
Check out American Addition Center. It listed more than ten substances found in marijuana. Unless you pulled the leaves off the plant yourself, how do you know? In 1983, a Beech Nut Baby food plant, in New York, had three executives arrested, charged and convicted for substituting water instead of apple juice. Legal does not prevent fraud.
Also, this is from the National Institute of Health: in the 1990’s, the percent of THC was 4. It quadrupled by 2022.
Here in Vermont every batch grown is tested by third-party labs. The test results are publicly posted. All the growers are small, not Beach Nut-type corporations. The NIH was not acquiring the same cannabis I was from the 70s forward, which was of the same strength -- sometimes stronger -- than what's common in the shops today. Yes, you could also find cheap hemp then, plants cultivated for rope rather than smoking, with low THC.
Then let’s get government out of alcohol and gambling! I’m all for it, but that’s not the world we live in. The best regulation would be one that doesn’t impact you but provides guardrails for others.
I don't know about that..weren't Republicans always the party of small govt...one of my MAGA friends is big on she wants the govt out of her business and yet she seems fine w any bullshit they pull..she is ONLY still my friend because it has been a 70 yr friendship...Those of us who are old use gummies or smoke or vape for a variety of reasons..I was able to replace dangerous drugs like ambien and clonezepam w gummies...and I am very careful in my use...I also have a lot of pain and it helps w that...my nephew died at 28 of alcoholism...no drugs...he drank himself to death and no one could help him..he did not want help..I am a retired high school teacher and also have a master's in counseling..I have learned that you cannot protect people from themselves...if someone wants drugs they will get them..until we find the cure for addiction it is impossible to actually regulate substances like cannabis...
The cannabis industry cannot be properly regulated until prohibition has truly ended. The Times board are judging a system that has widely different regulations from county to county state to state. We are a large country and there should be a well regulated market with interstate commerce. Until then any judgments are truly more on the failure of the regulatory process and not cannabis product
Continuing to knock the headlines out of the park. Wow.
“That’s my story" is certainly an odd turn of phrase, if you want people to think you are telling the truth.
You're supposed to add, "...and I'm stickin' to it."
The marijuana legalization was always about the money, about making it a big business without much regulation and downplaying all the bad side effects in order to increase the customer base as much as possible. It was easy to see from the start that this was happening and all the right sympathy buttons were pushed to make any opposition quiet down for fear of seeming like a prude.
I have to agree with you on the business side of things. It seems to me that when Big Money enters the room, some people's brains turn off and they lose any semblance of good or moral judgment. Or good character.
I am a big fan of cannabis legalization. Nonetheless, I've said from the beginning that it was being oversold and that would come back to bite us. "Not physically addicting"? Go to any 12 step meeting in the country and ask whether physical or psychological addiction is easier to overcome.
At the same time, I firmly believe that cannabis alone is less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco alone. In my experience, a stoners is less likely to get in a bar fight or beat their spouses when high than a drunk is. A stoner is less likely to drive aggressively than a drunk. Etc. And nobody dies from directly from cannabis overdose, although we are seeing people who get very sick. Tens of thousands of people die annually from alcohol and tobacco.
Of course their are people who mix their drugs. Drunk stoners are a problem, but I don't think we can determine which doorstep to lay that on.
The war on drugs has caused vastly more injury, death, and destruction than the drugs themselves. There are countries in Latin America where the government struggles to keep its head above water due to corruption from the vast sums of money flowing from the North to pay for drugs.
Bottom line, I think a harm reduction strategy is vastly preferable to a "war" on drugs.
Re: "...there may be ten emails connecting me with [Epstein]."
Okay, Howard, so how many emails would it take to show that you had more dealings with Epstein than you said you did?
And are you saying that what the FBI released is the complete record? No other communications? No phone calls? No texts? No in-person conversations? No trips to Kid Rock not mentioned in these ten emails?
Is that what you expect us to believe? Really, Howard?
I don’t use either marijuana or alcohol. Just not my thing. But I do work in healthcare. There are a few faulty logic streams I see here. First of all, since legalization, look at the state of the nation (on steroids since the pandemic). The premise (unstated) is that legalization led to increased use. I don’t see any provable data around that. What I do see is chronically ill people (mentally and physically — we call those co-morbidities whether there are both/and or either/or with multi issues) and people with UNTREATED mental health issues have been on the rise since the pandemic but were already at astronomical levels before that. So I reject this premise outright.
We have a sick, stressed out, fractured nation — politically, socially, mentally and physically — and you can see all those ramification in society — whether as a cause or a result seems like a chicken and egg question I’ll leave for experts. But certainly they influence each other. An overworked, ill, ill informed/ill educated, stressed out nation with extreme income gaps that leave very few as “haves” and many as “have nots” does not a great nation make. Most people will revert to self medicating (don’t forget, no one can afford healthcare!) whether by default or to sooth themselves out of symptoms and issues that have not been diagnosed.
I find this type of thinking (by the NYT, but it’s everywhere) annoying, simplistic and irritating, TBH. And a symptom of the larger issues in this country. American Idiot indeed — reflected in our institutions and those who should know better. We are very surface thinkers and it doesn’t serve us well. I’m not some MENSA candidate or ivy league person (plenty of the latter in congress who seem to be morons, too, so let’s not continue to give too much credit where it isn’t due re: ivy league) but you can use a simple way of evaluating things by digging deeper. Asking why about your assumptions multiple times. If you can’t go past one or two times, you’re on shaky ground (a mini root cause analysis). An ignorant populace does not a great nation make. The fact that AI and other things are turning off peoples’ collective brains, and that everyone believes AI is smarter than “everyone” which is easily disproved, is not going to help that issue. I’m not moneyed, I come from no pedigree, but I grew up in a reading household and we had challenging conversations. I’m not perfect, I fall prey to some of these very same things. But my hyper vigilance right now is that this society (and I’m guilty of it too) goes into these arguments or discussions ACCEPTING FAULTY PREMISES. I refuse. I wish we could go back to factual basis for discussion. I also wish people weren’t so quick to accept the b.s premise and then roll on with it and fight/discuss from quicksand as though it’s solid ground. NO!
Very well stated.
Lutnick (I do love Nut-lick) in his Epstein pickle----just not indecent enough for the Guardians of Pedophiles to do anything about. If only Biden or Obama had pursued it. If only. Mr. Nut-Lick is just one of so many ---and James Comer has only time enough for five. I do believe I'm going to be sick. Where's the marijuana?
"Howard Lutnick searches for a way out of his Epstein pickle."
Dirty Buttlick should resign. That's what a normal person with some sense of shame would do.