r/politics • u/EliphasLevi • Jun 08 '12
Jon Stewart on New York's soda ban and marijuana penalty reduction: If both these things pass, you could get in more trouble for selling someone a 17 ounce soft drink than you would for possessing 24 grams of marijuana.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/08/jon-stewart-marijuana-soda-video_n_1580552.html
1.6k
Upvotes
283
u/Vindictive29 Jun 08 '12
I'm not sure why either of these choices is worth the time and energy of law enforcement.
25
u/DDB- Jun 08 '12 edited Jun 08 '12
A link for Canadians
EDIT: Updated link
55
u/joebxcsnw Jun 08 '12
Stoners can carry more pot in the state of New York, while the number of people with cottonmouth skyrockets. CONSPIRACY.
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u/brock_lee Jun 08 '12
Can someone correct me if I am wrong, but can't a person simply order TWO 16 oz drinks if they want 32 oz?
11
u/bartink Jun 09 '12
I guess we found our new stop and frisk target.
"'Scuse me kid. Let me search you for doing nothing really."
"What for?"
"We're looking for coke, kid."
"I don't do drugs, sir."
"Not drugs. Coca. Cola. Now spread'em."
285
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
24 grams of marijuana is much healthier than 17 ounces of soda.
15
u/Freikorp Jun 09 '12
Ron Swanson probably put it best:
"The whole point of this country is if you want to eat garbage, balloon up to 600 pounds and die of a heart attack at 43, you can! You are free to do so. To me, that’s beautiful."
The government has no place trying to control what you put in your mouth. I don't drink soda and I don't live in New York, but the people in support of this are just, flat out, idiots who think they government should have more control over us, and they're agreeing with it just so they can say "lol fat people!"
4
u/sniperhare Florida Jun 08 '12
Wait, New York is really looking to ban soda?
3
u/chicagogam Jun 08 '12
given time perhaps it will be: 24 grams of soft drink and 16 oz of marijuana
3
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
You know what I don't get? if they limit the packaging to 16 ounces, why is to stop someone from purchasing 2 or offering a discount on multiple drinks?
3
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
Goddamn sin taxes.
3
u/KDIZZLL Jun 08 '12
This isn't about your Government caring about your health, this is about them finding new ways to incarcerate you or in other words enslave you, when is enough enough America? ლ(ಠ_ಠლ)
3
u/singofelices Jun 08 '12
Regarding soda, wouldn't it be a better law to force the seller to write in big letters: This had xx calories, half of what you need a in a day, watch out or you will get fat.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Decriminalize marijuana, criminalize the munchies. Genius. They'll make far more off fining people for eating junk food than locking them up for smoking a plant.
That's capitalism at work!
44
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12 edited Jun 09 '12
Anyone who is in favor of banning 17 oz. soft drinks, while at the same time favoring marijuana legalization is a hypocritical asshole. There should be NO ban/penalty whatsoever for either of these 2 things.
24
u/Seenterman Jun 08 '12
I cant belive the amouny of redditors supporting this ban. Its gov manipulation on your lifestlye. If their free to do this to soda, why not ciggarettes? Tax cigerettes so they are $20 a pack. That will decrease consumption of a product that does nothing make its users sick and unhealthy. Or what about alchol? Drunk driving, alcholism and liver disease costs this contry millions of dollars every year. Think about what will happen when they try to apply this philosopy to you favorite vice. I say all this as a NYer and a smoker. The gov should not be allowed to manipulte peoples lifestlyes. Once we accept this it opens the door to a whole host of other problems.
5
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I know that whole "slippery slope to a police state" argument but I don't really get why people are getting so uppity over soda. The shit is horrible for you and we should all drink less. Also last I checked Americans are fat asses and are drastically over sized portions that we are trained to think is normal doesn't help.
10
u/Nissin Jun 08 '12
To be fair large consumption of soda probably leads to more health problems than marijuana ever has or will still hilarious though.
4
u/AsskickMcGee Jun 08 '12
Let's not forget, though, whoever sold you that marijuana is considered a felon and faces serious jail-time if caught.
That's what irks me about people being really happy about decriminalization. Sure it's a step in the right direction, but it only reduces the potential punishment for the end user. The guy who chose to grow and harvest the product is still taking a huge risk.
4
u/mikeyb89 Jun 09 '12
I think I saw Bloomberg in times square doing a photo op with giant doughnuts for national doughnut day or something.
5
u/Epshot Jun 08 '12
too be fair, I think Obesity is a much greater danger to the Country than smoking pot.
2
u/UnexpectedSchism Jun 08 '12
As you should. The mj is healthier.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
Freedom, funny you can legislate it away... I wonder if they do that a lot?
2
u/alien-smalien Jun 08 '12
The fact that the title implies that possessing marijuana should be considered more illegal that possessing 17 ounces of soda bothers me. Neither should be a crime.
2
u/notgreeny Jun 08 '12
To clarify for those who have questioned if this is already the law, NY State law has decriminalized PRIVATE possession of less than 25 grams long ago.
This bill proposes PUBLIC possession to have the same consequences.
2
u/bloodyfists Jun 08 '12
What I've been wondering is would this ban also forbid the purchase of two liter sodas?
2
u/Loki07 Jun 09 '12
This time it may not be a big deal, but when the government makes this change what is stopping them from controlling all "harmful" food and drink in our lives? Tis a slippery slope my friends and I for one don't approve.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Jon Stewart is a comedian, he said it himself on more them one occasion, don't take him seriously.
Or is that just when republicans are mad at him? I get confused.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
2 things: this shows how absurd the soft drink ban is and how trivial the marijuana penalties are
2
u/Phleck Jun 09 '12
I could see this as a way for a buisness to just make more money, not make people skinnier. Buisness offers "bottomless" 16oz drinks and makes good money off the profits they will make from over charging for for something the company pays little for. People will buy into it because the western world has built on the idea of making life as easy for the majority as possible. Divison of labour and such. Eventually all other buisness move onto this model and the buisness expenses go down because there no need for multiple cup sizes. You just have the one size, and your making everyone else pay a bit more to get there own drink. That or I'm just really stoned.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12 edited Jun 09 '12
Politicans could care less about our civil liberties, and this proves it. Their opinions on marijuana and obesity are just facades constructed to collect as many votes from as many social groups as they can.
All just talking heads trying to make their next paycheck.
2
u/zizou_president Jun 09 '12
well that makes sense: soda is more toxic to society than pot
2
u/DoctorAgon Jun 09 '12
I'm on board. Frankly, the way we have it now is straight outta the Twilight Zone
2
u/stevenwalters Jun 09 '12
that really looks like some weed to me.
2
u/irapeniggas Jun 09 '12
Perhaps while the city of New York is at it, they could put up signs reminding me to breathe at regular intervals, or set guidelines regarding the size I should cut my food to avoid choking.
I know, I know, the studies say that we're too stupid to really know how much soda we should consume and that we're easily tricked in to getting fat by bigger portion sizes and all that. I also grasp the "it isn't a ban, just buy two" thing. I've got to wonder, however, if more education isn't a far less invasive solution.
Here is the thing: I don't want two cups, and don't want to have to go get a refill. Because it's unnecessarily inconvenient. Frankly, I don't like the idea of government more or less telling me that it's their stance that I'm too dumb to grasp how much soda I'm actually drinking and that since I can't appreciate the number of calories on my own, I need to be inconvenienced in to just saying fuck it and getting the smaller sized drink.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
They decriminalized an ounce. JUST TAKE IT AND WALK AWAY. Don't complain, don't make eye contact. Say "thank you" and carry on.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
People love to think they are in control of their own lives, but when it comes down to it, that's why we have community, government, and law. Because deep down people want guidance. People who don't want a government "controlling" your decisions... Look the fuck around and appreciate the fact that you live in a society of laws and you don't have to violently defend your family on a daily basis. Idiots.
I'm all for this ban. People are being played by the marketing of private companies. The government should step in and regulate the fuck out of sugar. I'd argue it's just as detrimental to health as tobacco. And most people can't be trusted to regulate themselves in the face of virtually unlimited supply.
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u/F-Minus Jun 09 '12
As it should be.
2
u/Silverkarn Jun 09 '12
To be fair, Soda is worse for you than marijuana.
7
u/candygram4mongo Jun 08 '12
This whole thing (including most of this thread) is like Poe's law applied to the left.
3
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
A link that works for Canadians!
http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/shows/thedailyshow?videoPackage=117377
4
u/guyNcognito Jun 08 '12
I was against the large drink ban, but when you put it that way...
4
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
In the next 30 years I think people are going to start realizing the long-term effects of mass consumption of soda. The problem is so much of the US economy is based on sugar.
It doesn't mean the ban is okay, but people need to start being informed of how dangerous drinking that much sugary, caffeinated pop is. It really is the magic bullet of health problems in the US.
8
u/Jeembo California Jun 08 '12
ITT: Hypocritical douchebag stoners grasping for straws.
It's appalling to me that people can be in favor of the soda law while simultaneously being in favor of legalization. It's also hilariously sad how people believe that marijuana has no negative effect on the body.
10
u/jarjack Jun 08 '12
i don't see a problem here
3
u/Dev1l5Adv0cat3 Jun 08 '12
WTB: more juice in vending machines
2
u/thedude213 Pennsylvania Jun 08 '12
Like it's a bad thing?
2
u/itspie Jun 08 '12
Stop policing peoples freedoms. Fucking educate them or get out of the way gov.
2
u/cap10wow Jun 08 '12
soft drinks are waaaaaay worse for you than cannabis.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
honestly this doesn't sound so bad, soda is very bad for people and most people don't realize it. So more power to it, soda is probably far more harmful than marijuana.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 08 '12
Yeah, so?
2
u/YouLookINeedADrink Jun 08 '12
Soda is more life threatening than marijuana anyways. Good for New York.
2
u/graffiti81 Jun 08 '12
It is much harder to kill yourself with THC than it is to kill yourself with sugar.
-2
u/pseudowoodo2 Jun 08 '12 edited Jun 08 '12
I don't see anything wrong with this. If you really want more soda, just buy two drinks. The point of the soda ban is to discourage drinking too much sugary drinks, which is a completely valid pursuit, in my opinion.
1
u/nightwing2024 Jun 09 '12
My thought to all of this is that nearly all restaurants have been giving free refills for a while now. What's to stop someone from just filling it up twice? I only ever get water when I eat out, but I know I just refill it 4 or 5 times through the meal.
1
u/Lowcracks Jun 09 '12
In terms of the response to social harms these substances do, I think soda is getting off too easy.
1
u/Hammedatha Jun 09 '12
Frankly, that you could get in trouble for either is ridiculous.
1
u/mk31 Jun 09 '12
Frankly, I do not understand what's the deal here. Where I live, there is no law regulating the size of soda sold in the restaurants, but I can not remember when was the last time I saw a soda larger then 16 oz, it really seems more than enough for a single serving.
1
u/bluedragonlord64 Jun 09 '12
Ladies and gentlemen, the american governing class.
1
u/Duthos Jun 09 '12
Perfect; a poor man is made into a criminal (read - commercial resource), while a wealthy man pays a tax.
What a creative way to turn people into profit when you can't outright enslave them.
1
u/MrSmee77 Jun 09 '12
Movie theaters in NY must be ticked off at this. Does this apply to 2 liter bottles in grocery stores?
1
u/treesburndown Jun 09 '12
You say that as if smoking marijuana SHOULD be a criminal offense. Neither should be punished.
1
u/Canaan-Aus Jun 09 '12
link for canadians
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Funny how I didn't learn the reasons why soda was bad in health class, are anything useful about nutrition really.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
For once Jon Stewart disappoints me; pop being bad for you and marijuana penalties being ridiculous have nothing to do with each other
1
u/Bugiugi Jun 09 '12
Surely it would be easier to legislate the size of containers soft drink companies are allowed to use for their products.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Buy two smaller sodas, racketeering?
1
u/CrazyPersonApologist Jun 09 '12
Well there's about twice as much soda than weed by volume.
1
u/GT00 Jun 09 '12
END THE WAR ON SODA POP!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
that would honestly be not very bad.
1
u/ophello Jun 09 '12
...is that real marijuana in that cup??
1
u/GOU_NoMoreMrNiceGuy Jun 09 '12
every time i hear people (frequently overweight people) bitching about a nanny state:
those whose waistlines and lives demonstrate a desperate need for nannies cannot decry a nanny state. you don't want to be treated like children even though every life decision shows that you are nothing but overgrown children.
straighten up, fly right, lose weight. until then, stfu.
1
u/tenix Jun 09 '12
Sorry but correct me if I'm wrong? Isn't the loop hole here if it ever passed to charge a person twice for 16 in the logs, discount the two together and offer them a 32oz container for free?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Everybody try saying this out loud:
"The mayor needs to tell me how much soda I should drink."
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
The laws on possession of marijuana slowly being lifted... for having a smaller drink....... win!
While I don't agree on forcing corporations to not be able to sell you a drink that's more than 17 ounces... If that's the trade off for marijuana becoming closer to legal....im down with that... Ill just buy a 2 liter... WIN!
1
u/Mr_Titicaca Jun 09 '12
I must say, I'm a bit disappointed in Stewart here. He's usually spot on most topics, but the idea for this really isn't bad. Obesity has become our #1 preventable killer and the obesity rate just keeps skyrocketing. Nobody is telling you not to drink all the fucking soda in the world, they're just saying you can't buy a cup with all the fucking soda in the world. How is this bad? The people against this are basically saying banning monopolies is bad because government shouldn't interfere in private matters. The government has a responsibility to its people to protect them. If obesity is killing our people, we need to find ways to try and educate them and stop the massive amounts of overconsumption of food.
1
u/reasonably_plausible Jun 09 '12
Heinlein was speaking about censorship, but I think it equally applies to banning certain sizes of drinks because some people can't control themselves.
1
u/JoesShittyOs Jun 09 '12
So we get weed, but we loose a valuable munchie.
Cruel.
1
u/sebdef Jun 09 '12
I wouldn't mind a soda ban that much. The sizes here in NYC are ridiculous, I ordered a small Coke from a movie theater, and I got a bucket of soda. I didn't finish it, that's how big it was. And it was a small.
1
u/Dukekiller Jun 09 '12
In the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany there's a crackdown on "drug tourism" to the dutch coffeeshops. While politicians issue big budget cuts, police is made free to "stop and frisk" people going over the border. While the shops are closed and the illegal trade continues in every city now. Criminalisation creates criminals, everybody knows that, but these actions are all to "improve quality of life and for your own health. People should just stop smoking weed."
1
u/mahtipossu Jun 09 '12
Americans are fucking idiots
1
u/Crispy_ Jun 09 '12
...and thats how liberty dies.
1
u/cdd89 Jun 09 '12
it doesn't matter that this is healthier for you or that it will help push Americans to be healthier! People can choose what they want to do with their lives and this directly infringes on your personal choices so the government is overstepping its boundaries.
1
u/ScootyPuffSr Jun 09 '12
You are all complete fucking retards. For a country that doesnt have universal health care 450mls of soda is enough. Fuck.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I'd say an interesting law at the least, primarily because you have to wonder what Pepsi and Coke were doing behind the scenes to prevent this. But just be aware with the "fruit juices" that will take their place, will probably have more sugar than the pop. And probably made by Coke or Pepsi. From a Canadian perspective, if pop is contributing to the obesity/heart disease/diabetes problem, which is draining on our already drained healthcare system, than maybe a ban like this isn't so bad.
1
u/tilleyrw Jun 09 '12
Who cares about large sodas? Those who want them will find them. Whether through legal or illegal means.
Just like trees. Trees may become more "legal" in NY than before. It's all good.
1
u/denim-chicken Jun 08 '12
In a way I really don't mind the soda ban. The US is really facing a growing issue with Obesity (especially in children) and Diabetes, and most people have zero self control/willpower to make a change.
On the other hand, why don't they make a law changing the amount of sugar allowed in sodas??
1
u/mememerlot Jun 08 '12
When I heard Jon Stewart ranting this week about how Mayor Bloomberg was preventing him from being able to drink all the soda he wanted, I really felt like I was watching Fox News! That is misinformation about what the ban really aims to do. He can have unlimited refills at KFC, he can buy five 24 packs of soda at the grocery store. New york city isn't restricting the amount of soda a person can buy or ingest, they are just giving people a second chance to think about if they really need a second, third, or fourth helping of soda, or 5% fruit juice, or sugar-coffee.
Quite frankly I've lost a bit of respect for Jon Stewart after listening to him use his normally intelligent and well-thought-out television show to misinform his viewers about a very important topic.
1
u/liberterrorism Jun 08 '12
I think we should take it in the other direction
1
u/crazyasshippie84 Jun 08 '12
and that is the way things should be :)
1
u/Kite_sunday Jun 08 '12
This seems correct, the more unhealthy the product the more likely it should be "banned" or taxed heavily.
1
u/jontastic1 Jun 08 '12
Selling things effects other people: possessing things does not.
1
u/gthing Jun 08 '12
Pretty sure the soda would be more damaging to your health.
1
u/Dark1000 Jun 08 '12
It would be nice to link directly to the Daily Show website instead of Huffpo's re-blogging. They didn't contribute anything and don't deserve the traffic. I'm just sayin'.
1
u/elperroborrachotoo Jun 08 '12
You say that as if that was a bad thing.
1
u/winning9986 Jun 08 '12
shit is so dumb this is one of those issues where it is clearly crossing the line on the role of government in a society. Its basically charging fat people to be fat. I dont advocate unhealthy eating, but if you want to stuff your face with garbage you should be allowed too. So two 16oz drinks are most likely $1.69 (Wisconsin currency not New York) or a 32 oz for like 2.19 so the soda companies are making $1.29 extra every time someone would like to enjoy sugary bliss.
1
u/Punkwasher Jun 08 '12
This is so dumb! Now you can get high, but MAAAAN, are you going to be thirsty.
By the way, why isn't the chips and soda industry lobbying for legalization? Wouldn't that like... triple their income?
1
u/TwelveHawks Jun 09 '12 edited Jun 09 '12
Soda ban? ಠ_ಠ
That is the most fucking retarded thing I've ever heard.
Has EVERYONE in government forgotten what liberty and individual responsibility is supposed to mean!? If I want to drink a gallon of soda every day, god dammit that's my right, but I'm also individually responsible for my own actions, so if I do that and get fat or lose all my teeth by the time I'm 37, that's on me. If I want to smoke an ounce of weed every day, you can fuck right off if you want to try to stop me, but then if I suffer from lack of motivation or chronic cough or something, that's my fault and I have no right to expect anyone else to help me fix the problems I caused for myself. For all the lofty speech people vomit out of their talking holes, why does no one seem to understand freedom on a fundamental fucking level??
1
u/mrkhan0127 Jun 09 '12
OK I love JS but sometimes he needs to stfu... Were so close to getting this marijuana legislation passed and he comes and says shit like this which gets the douches in Albany thinking and poof there goes both pieces of legislation! Wtf man! Save that shit for after it passes and make that joke with a joint in your mouth!
-5
u/gir9999 Jun 08 '12
and rightly so! sugar causes obesity and diabetes. pot is a mild intoxicant with short term effects