I believe that marijuana should be legal (discussion)

[ElasticNinja]

Maybe its a cultural thing, but the Dutch have a great attitude to drink and light drugs, and have light regulations on them.
I personally think that the money saved would be better used for education.
As for increased drug use argument ... that would be my main worry - look at cigarettes. However cannabis isn't addictive in the way cigarettes or say, heroin is.
Then again, I know lots of people who only smoke weed as its illegal basically, so...

 

[lordofthereef]

Would legalization bring millions of users into the fold as it were? And if so, would this create more problems for society, like driving impaired?

Doubtful... the same people who are not using marijuana now simply because it is illegal are the same people who wouldn't drive impaired because it is illegal. I don't think legalizing marijuana use is going to innately increase driving under the influence by any respectable amount. Again, it is illegal NOW to drive under the influence of marijuana, and I don't propose changing that.

 

[lordofthereef]

Then again, I know lots of people who only smoke weed as its illegal basically, so...

THIS!

Kind of like kids that drink. How many of you know people that got drunk all the time before they hit 21. Once they hit 21, it lost it's novelty, didn't it? I knew a guy that was never sober all throughout college (undergrad). Six years later he has a beer every now and then. Certainly not the case 100% of the time, but I think it's the case more often than not.

 

[MarunaZ]

I think the reason it hasn't is due to the moral issues imposed on us by our government. They want us to think it's a bad drug. It will make us want to kill people. A former DEA agent said that there are more carcinogens in one marijuana cigarette than a tobacco one.

I think that

 

[MarunaZ]

Are those the same conservatives behind the war on drugs, DOMA, the PATRIOT Act and the mandated purchase of private health insurance?

I don't believe that they are conservatives, the RNC is just as bad as the DNC. A true conservative doesn't believe in either of the 2 hijacked parties... proof, McCain, I never thought there was such a person, a liberal republican.

 

[MarunaZ]

It's all a series of political ploys by both sides that are intended to kill the other party. None of them could give a rat's ass about the people of this country and many wouldn't hesitate to burn it down if that's what it takes to insure a steady supply of corporate funding and achieve their own political success.

/rant off

*wishes there was a "Like" button on the posts like facebook... lol

 

[MarunaZ]

If you look a couple posts down, you will see where Aggie12 said "arent we all?" (replying to my comment) and i replied:
in other words, you have your OWN personal agenda, so your comment affects yourself as well.

Yes we are both biased. The only difference is I actually have FACTS to back up my argument. The only argument you've had supporting your viewpoint so far has been that you "don't think we should add another substance to the list" - the only problem with that is that it's ALREADY on the list. It's easier to obtain than alcohol for underage people. Why not fix that problem, at the same time also creating heavier punishment for driving impaired. If it's legal, it's EASIER to control.

I DON'T smoke it, never have and probably never will despite if it becomes legal, I personally have no interest in it and I feel, if you read my posts, that is should be legalized so I am not biased... lol I have buddies that smoke it and after seeing them stoned compared to seeing them drunk, they have more control over their bodily functions when stoned. Soooo... why not?

 

[Dark Jedi]

*wishes there was a "Like" button on the posts like facebook... lol

There is kinda called the thanks button.

 

[Martimus]

The U.S. federal government spent over $15 billion dollars in 2010 on the War on Drugs, at a rate of about $500 per second. State and local governments spent at least another $25 billion dollars.

Arrests for drug law violations this year are expected to exceed the 1,663,582 arrests of 2009. Law enforcement made more arrests for drug abuse violations (an estimated 1.6 million arrests, or 13.0 percent of the total number of arrests) than for any other offense in 2009. Someone is arrested for violating a drug law every 19 seconds.

Police arrested an estimated 858,408 persons for cannabis violations in 2009. Of those charged with cannabis violations, approximately 89 percent were charged with possession only. An American is arrested for violating cannabis laws every 30 seconds.

Since December 31, 1995, the U.S. prison population has grown an average of 43,266 inmates per year. About 25 per cent are sentenced for drug law violations.

DrugSense

Now we hit on a somewhat bigger issue! Eliminating Marijuana has a larger impact on government. If we eliminate MJ then we also eliminate part of $40 billion dollars our government collectively spends each year on the war on drugs; we eliminate jobs in law enforcement; and we reduce the demand on our courts and correctional facilities. While it's likely that law enforcement jobs would likely not truly be eliminated, we'd still have an impact that no government or police union would be willing to allow without a fight.

Maybe its a cultural thing, but the Dutch have a great attitude to drink and light drugs, and have light regulations on them.

Not anymore...

Dutch to ban foreigners from pot shops - CNN

 

[ElasticNinja]

Not anymore...

Dutch to ban foreigners from pot shops - CNN

I believe a lot of governments in the EU free trade area were moaning about it.

 

[nlsme]

Now we hit on a somewhat bigger issue! Eliminating Marijuana has a larger impact on government. If we eliminate MJ then we also eliminate part of $40 billion dollars our government collectively spends each year on the war on drugs; we eliminate jobs in law enforcement; and we reduce the demand on our courts and correctional facilities. While it's likely that law enforcement jobs would likely not truly be eliminated, we'd still have an impact that no government or police union would be willing to allow without a fight.



Not anymore...

Dutch to ban foreigners from pot shops - CNN

You mean the law enforcement agenicies that are always complaining about being underfunded/understaffed? A lot of the cops I know dont have a problem with pot. They usually tell people to leave it at home.

 

[Knewz]

What would be the legal age of consumption? 18? 21? 25? 74 w/ glaucoma?

 

[gallandof]

odds are it would be 21 with a medical card,

 

[Bob Maxey]

You mean the law enforcement agenicies that are always complaining about being underfunded/understaffed? A lot of the cops I know dont have a problem with pot. They usually tell people to leave it at home.

And your police friends would be wrong. I understand that there are perhaps bigger issues on their plates, but still, the police should not dismiss it.

Bob

 

[Adauth]

It's coming, it's only a matter of time.

Alcohol is a far more deadly and dangerous drug yet it's legal.
No use fighting, it will be legal soon enough.
In the mean time i'll continue to use it in the privacy of my home and not hurt a fly in the process.

Jails and prisons are already overflowing, why are we arresting people on petty drug charges, that hurt no one, and leave no room in the prisons for violent offenders.

I could go on and on but, some people have it so drilled in their head that weed is some horiffic and deadly drug they will never come around. It's ok the same type of people existed during prohibation and eventually they became the tiny minority and were dismissed.
If we learn anything from history it's that history is always repeating itself, so soon enough people will come around, stop having unjustified fear of pot, and it will be decriminalized/legalized.
Like it or not, it's going to happen.

 

[jamor]

And your police friends would be wrong. I understand that there are perhaps bigger issues on their plates, but still, the police should not dismiss it.

Bob

Nope actually they are right. Marijuana has been decriminalized in many states and cops have been ordered to put marijuana as "lowest of law enforcement priorities".

You're fallin behind bro! Keep up!

 

[FreakyLocz14]

The personal usage of marijuana doesn't harm anyone, and if it did, it wouldn't harm anyone other than the person who willingly chose to use it.

I fully support the legalization of marijuana for personal use in private.

 

[ElasticNinja]

It harms those breathing in second hand smoke.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

It harms those breathing in second hand smoke.

Who does it harm when there's nobody else around except people participating in the usage of marijuana?

 

[ElasticNinja]

Only that person.
I already said I supported legalization BTW.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Only that person.
I already said I supported legalization BTW.

I never said you didn't. I was merely responding to your claim about second hand smoke.

 

[Bob Maxey]

The personal usage of marijuana doesn't harm anyone, and if it did, it wouldn't harm anyone other than the person who willingly chose to use it.

I fully support the legalization of marijuana for personal use in private.

Because organized crime is involved as is illegal importation, border violations, drug mules . . . you cannot say it does no harm.

 

[FreakyLocz14]

Because organized crime is involved as is illegal importation, border violations, drug mules . . . you cannot say it does no harm.

Prohibition is what fuels organized drug crime.

 

[cutlassracer]

I know a number of people that have made the statement, "if pot was legal, I wouldn't drink". I believe that will be another hurdle. The drug industry known as alcohol companies and thier dealers are not going to stand for even the slightest hit in thier bottom line.........So they will continue to buy politicians, which, if no one has noticed, are mostly all alcoholics. And they will continue to tell the country it's ok to go out, get hammered, and kill a family 6 cause you are to stupid to get a cab. My step father was killed by a drunk driver 2 weeks before Christmas in 07. Have an old Air Force friend of mine waiting on his court date in FL due to his decision to have a few then miss a stop light rear ending a woman and killing her 5 year old son. No, alcohol is the greatest thing ever. If we can't get pot, can we at least admit alcohol is as bad as it is. Bob, glad your such happy drunk.

 

[Dark Jedi]

I know a number of people that have made the statement, "if pot was legal, I wouldn't drink". I believe that will be another hurdle. The drug industry known as alcohol companies and thier dealers are not going to stand for even the slightest hit in thier bottom line.........So they will continue to buy politicians, which, if no one has noticed, are mostly all alcoholics. And they will continue to tell the country it's ok to go out, get hammered, and kill a family 6 cause you are to stupid to get a cab. My step father was killed by a drunk driver 2 weeks before Christmas in 07. Have an old Air Force friend of mine waiting on his court date in FL due to his decision to have a few then miss a stop light rear ending a woman and killing her 5 year old son. No, alcohol is the greatest thing ever. If we can't get pot, can we at least admit alcohol is as bad as it is. Bob, glad your such happy drunk.

sure drinking and driving don't mix but at the same time pot and driving don't mix. When you smoke pot your reaction times slow way down and you will have just as much accidents as with a person who drinks two much. Dont make pot out as the lesser of two evils.