Drug use

[A1Janitor]

The cash only aspect of the business is fascinating. Those that we know in the biz have some really, really interesting stories to tell. There are now workarounds for payroll to get your employees paid, but the banking side of it really needs to catch up. In addition, cannabis business owners cannot qualify for mortgages or for financial aid for their college aged children. Some day the states and the fed will agree, but sadly we are just not there yet.

I read somewhere that sales tax revenues are dropping because the price is the same they can get on the street. They better figure out how to end that loophole.

 

[Heatherg21]

I grew up in the Emerald Triangle in NorCal. There were always small growers. When big corporate interests came in and pushed for decades to legalize, they used the argument that it would lessen crime, raise tax revenue and decrease illegal growers.

But, the special interests groups secured the limited permits to grow for who?— the big “green pharma” and the little grower was out. What happened? The little growers multiplied and illegal (state laws not federal) growers got sneakier, grew and cloned themselves like gremlins in midnight water. The crime and trafficking has increased.

I have two friends who I grew up with who are county sheriffs. They are up against it and cannot see a way out while special interest groups make billions. Local crime increases. Addiction to a product that has way higher levels of THC than the cannabis of the 1970-2000’s is on the rise. The THC levels are astronomical.
Then you can add in the forest fires the growers have started in attempts to draw attention away from their acreage. My home county has been decimated.

Intentions are great. But I personally think we should be doing deeper dives on the money behind the legislation and campaign funds for these bills. Just my two cents. From my childhood in the Pot capital of the world and my almost 30 years in the thick of it in a rural border town.

It’s a complex issue.

Bottom line if you work for a corporate employer or military or Federal alphabet soup I would say just say no. It is not legal at the Federal level.

 

[parentalunit2]

I read somewhere that sales tax revenues are dropping because the price is the same they can get on the street. They better figure out how to end that loophole.

What exactly are people getting ‘on the street’? A simple bag of weed? There are many people who don’t have any concept of just how sophisticated the industry has gotten. It’s mostly about edibles, gummies, CBD-infused beauty products, etc. In endless forms and flavors. People aren’t buying that on the street. The ‘street’ market will always exist for underage customers because they can’t purchase legally, but those of age are more than willing to pay the attendant taxes to obtain high quality product. No one is selling lemongrass & rosemary THC bath bombs on the street.

 

[A1Janitor]

I know around me of people who grow. I have no clue about the operations etc.

Liberal hippies. Conservatives. Libertarians.

Organic! Sales taxless!

I can buy eggs and chicken and beef and dairy from local farms. Organic and fresh. I suspect people will realize the government’s only interest is money.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

During my time back in the day on AD we had one major substance abuse problem. Even early in VN where a number of the folks in the line outfit were tokers ( back in the rear not in the field) we had one major substance abuse issue

Booze

Booze has been a major killer directly and indirectly for decades.Booze has caused untold problems for the military. Not many are suggesting making booze illegal despite the billions of dollars lost and the many deaths that result.

The other killer substance that was all around us although the sickness was years off——was tobacco.

Billions of US tax dollars has gone to deal with the massive expensive deadly problem of tobacco.

What are some more worried about instead of deadly booze and tobacco—— a legal medical product in my state that I give to my dog after a suggestion from my vet.

Its not always so much about the deaths and the dollars it’s often about our world view and what we are comfortable with.

 

[Humey]

The cash only aspect of the business is fascinating. Those that we know in the biz have some really, really interesting stories to tell. There are now workarounds for payroll to get your employees paid, but the banking side of it really needs to catch up. In addition, cannabis business owners cannot qualify for mortgages or for financial aid for their college aged children. Some day the states and the fed will agree, but sadly we are just not there yet.

Honestly, the IRS must go crazy because its basically that last cash business left in the country and they have no way of figuring out what actually happens at a shop. Besides the bank issue, most expenses arent even deductible so you wind up with most of the revenues being taxable. I guess that compensates for the fact that not all of the cash sales are probably being reported (by the way if the IRS is looking at this, I don't do taxes or accounting for Marijuana businesses ).

 

[Humey]

During my time back in the day on AD we had one major substance abuse problem. Even early in VN where a number of the folks in the line outfit were tokers ( back in the rear not in the field) we had one major substance abuse issue

Booze

Booze has been a major killer directly and indirectly for decades.Booze has caused untold problems for the military. Not many are suggesting making booze illegal despite the billions of dollars lost and the many deaths that result.

The other killer substance that was all around us although the sickness was years off——was tobacco.

Billions of US tax dollars has gone to deal with the massive expensive deadly problem of tobacco.

What are some more worried about instead of deadly booze and tobacco—— a legal medical product in my state that I give to my dog after a suggestion from my vet.

Its not always so much about the deaths and the dollars it’s often about our world view and what we are comfortable with.

The thing about tobacco is that it has no direct effect on military preparedness and if it kills you, it is usually years after you retired from the military.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

The thing about tobacco is that it has no direct effect on military preparedness and if it kills you, it is usually years after you retired from the military.

The US Army considered smoking a readiness Issue. Or so they said.

because back in the day they pulled together an ad hoc group of alleged experts to advise the Army on how to reduce prevalence of tobacco use because as they told us——we see it as a readiness issue.

My suggestion was to forbid smoking in basic——then I made a terrible mistake in judgement by adding——like the Marines do

Tobacco addicts can make it tough in the field or did so in VN. One NVA or VC in the Ken Burns series said——we could follow them in the jungle by the smell of their tobacco.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Faults Cited After A 2008 Nuclear Carrier Fire Exacerbated The Bonhomme Richard Conflagration

In 2008, a sailor on the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) tossed a cigarette butt in a vent shaft, sparking a fire that took 12 hours to extinguish and over 70 million dollars to repair. Why were safety lessons learned after that fire forgotten on the Bonhomme Richard?

www.forbes.com

A lot of house fires are caused by burning cigarettes.

That got me to wondering how many Navy ships fires or explosions have been started because of a cigarette.

I don’t know if that nuke carrier fire in the link was a one off but I sure doubt it.


OK this 2nd link did not take

A massive explosion caused when an Ukraine troop improperly disposed a cig butt.

 

[Humey]

The US Army considered smoking a readiness Issue. Or so they said.

because back in the day they pulled together an ad hoc group of alleged experts to advise the Army on how to reduce prevalence of tobacco use because as they told us——we see it as a readiness issue.

My suggestion was to forbid smoking in basic——then I made a terrible mistake in judgement by adding——like the Marines do

Tobacco addicts can make it tough in the field or did so in VN. One NVA or VC in the Ken Burns series said——we could follow them in the jungle by the smell of their tobacco.

sure i can see where smoking can cause a problem or rather the need to smoke. You can say the same thing for a chocoholic or anything else you might be addicted to, although I know smoking is different. On the other hand, during WWII, the US military was handing out cigarettes like they were candy and last time I checked we won the war. Dont get me wrong, not saying smoking is good or should be allowed while working, but in the short term, it doesn't have the same effect as drugs and alcohol. Not too concerned if the finance guy needs to buff every hour or so. I guess i go back to the days when they used to teach at school (maybe they still do) that all drugs are bad including caffeine. Like everything else in life there is a hierarchy. If you are going to say drinking coffee is as dangerous as heroin, then no one is going to believe you. They shouldn't do the same with cigarettes although i realize its addiction is as strong as drugs.

 

[A1Janitor]

sure i can see where smoking can cause a problem or rather the need to smoke. You can say the same thing for a chocoholic or anything else you might be addicted to, although I know smoking is different. On the other hand, during WWII, the US military was handing out cigarettes like they were candy and last time I checked we won the war. Dont get me wrong, not saying smoking is good or should be allowed while working, but in the short term, it doesn't have the same effect as drugs and alcohol. Not too concerned if the finance guy needs to buff every hour or so. I guess i go back to the days when they used to teach at school (maybe they still do) that all drugs are bad including caffeine. Like everything else in life there is a hierarchy. If you are going to say drinking coffee is as dangerous as heroin, then no one is going to believe you. They shouldn't do the same with cigarettes although i realize its addiction is as strong as drugs.

Cigarette and caffeine addiction > marijuana addiction (if that even exists)

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

sure i can see where smoking can cause a problem or rather the need to smoke. You can say the same thing for a chocoholic or anything else you might be addicted to, although I know smoking is different. On the other hand, during WWII, the US military was handing out cigarettes like they were candy and last time I checked we won the war. Dont get me wrong, not saying smoking is good or should be allowed while working, but in the short term, it doesn't have the same effect as drugs and alcohol. Not too concerned if the finance guy needs to buff every hour or so. I guess i go back to the days when they used to teach at school (maybe they still do) that all drugs are bad including caffeine. Like everything else in life there is a hierarchy. If you are going to say drinking coffee is as dangerous as heroin, then no one is going to believe you. They shouldn't do the same with cigarettes although i realize its addiction is as strong as drugs.

Daily tobacco smokers are addicts.

It took the USPHS decades to call tobacco an addiction, with the release of one of their SG reports, because it took data and actual science to support that conclusion.

No one has so far done that for the Hershey bar.

The single largest killer of Americans each year is still smoking tobacco. One of the largest causes of house fires is because of smoking tobacco.

You can consider pot a bigger threat if you want

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Study Shows Smoking Is A Leading Cause Of Fire Disaster And Death Worldwide, Costing Over $27 Billion Yearly

Based on a worldwide study of smoking-related fire and disaster data, UC Davis epidemiologists show smoking is a leading cause of fires and death from fires globally, resulting in an estimated cost of nearly $7 billion in the United States and $27.2 billion worldwide in 1998. The study is...

www.sciencedaily.com

7 billion dollars in loss from cig related fires each year in the US and 27 billion dollars world wide. Year after year. Explosions and massive Forrest fires included..

Although some will try and down play how serious the problem is.

 

[Heatherg21]

Not to split hairs, but technically heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. Not all of those who die of heart disease are smokers, not by a long shot. The build-up of plaque, genetic predisposition, heart defects, obesity all contributes to heart disease. My dad never smoked and he had his 5-way bypass at 50.


I won't be surprised if Fentanyl overdoses don't overtake the leading causes currently on the books.

 

[A1Janitor]

Cigarettes and beer are the gateway drugs!

 

[Humey]

Daily tobacco smokers are addicts.

It took the USPHS decades to call tobacco an addiction, with the release of one of their SG reports, because it took data and actual science to support that conclusion.

No one has so far done that for the Hershey bar.

The single largest killer of Americans each year is still smoking tobacco. One of the largest causes of house fires is because of smoking tobacco.

You can consider pot a bigger threat if you want

agree with all but it has no real effect to the military

 

[Old Enlisted Marine]

Fentanyl is the devil with heroin being a close second. We have multiple daily overdoses at work and these are always the culprit. We have some individuals who are frequent fliers and have been saved by narcan multiple times in a day.

 

[Old Enlisted Marine]

Agreed nothing to do with military I hope. Just complaining …..

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Not to split hairs, but technically heart disease is the leading cause of death in the US. Not all of those who die of heart disease are smokers, not by a long shot. The build-up of plaque, genetic predisposition, heart defects, obesity all contributes to heart disease. My dad never smoked and he had his 5-way bypass at 50.


I won't be surprised if Fentanyl overdoses don't overtake the leading causes currently on the books.

How Smoking Affects Heart Health

Smoking cigarettes can permanently damage your heart and blood vessels. This can lead to the top cause of death in the U.S., cardiovascular disease.

www.fda.gov

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the US despite the significant drop in smoking rates over the past 60 years.. Smoking causes a “large variety” of illness and death from a large variety of cancers, lung issues, fires, hearth disease, etc etc. .

20% of fatal heart disease is because of cig smokers.

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the US with over 400,000 deaths every year. ( it’s been years since I checked that 400,000 figure but i will)

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Tobacco-Related Mortality

See the data and statistical information on tobacco-related mortality rates regarding smoking and tobacco use

www.cdc.gov

480,000 deaths on the average each and every year in the US from tobacco smoking.

As the epi folks for years have stated——-our largest cause of preventable premature deaths.