Legalize Marijuana?

[Moose]

Ok, there have been a lot of these going around. You know, threads about taboo subjects here, so I'm gonna post this. Now I actually know what I'm talking about.

What are your views on legalizing marijuana, or making laws more strict? Here are my views.

Although marijuana is a legal drug, and can cause bodily damage if used too much, I think it should be legalized. Expecially since alcohol and cigarettes are legal. Why can't marijuana be? Every year in the United States, alcohol-related deaths total 100,000 and tobacco-related fatalities total 450,000. But only 10,000 deaths are related to other drugs, not even just marijuana, I'm talking all the other drugs that you can die from on the first try. This information was taken directly from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

Some people say that mixing marijuana with another drug such as PCP results in many of the marijuana related deaths. That's a problem that is easily fixed if they make marijuana legal. Than companies can make it and you know who you are buying it from and what it is made out of, just like tobacco and alcohol.

The overdose, or the amount that one has to take to die from taking too much of a drug, for marijuana is 1 to 40,000, which means you have to smoke 40,000 times more than you did to get high. Alcohol varies from 1 to 4 and 1 to 10, which is why many more people overdose on alcohol than marijuana, actually no one has ever overdosed on marijuana.

As for it causing damage to unborn babies, every drug does that, so it makes the arguement kind of pointless.

Same thing with driving. Alcohol has an even worse affect on driving, yet it still is legal.

Ok, here's a big one: Gateway drug. Everyone says that marijuana is a gateway drug to bigger drugs like PCP or cocaine. In Denmark, marijuana is legal, but since it has been legalized, the use of illegal drugs (cocaine, PCP) has declined. This means that the theory of marijuana being a gateway drug is a myth from a logical perspective.

Opinion time: So why do I think marijuana is illegal right now? Because anyone can make it. It's extremely easy to grow and make, unlike most drugs. It's like growing any other plant. The government would not make any money if the marijuana was legalized. The government can't tax things that are sold from person to person, instead of store to person. The government get's boned basically. And a lot of conservatives would cry knowing that people got to do what they wanted for once in their lives without worrying about going to jail.

Ok, that's my take. I don't want to know if you smoke really, because that may get people in trouble, but I do want to know what your opinion is.

There, is that well thought out enough?

Note: Everything except the opinion is based on fact, I'm not just blowing it out my ass. If anyone wants links, I'll gladly give them.

[chinaboy]

very good points..
I kinda want to point out that the people that most want to legalize pot are the ones that smoke it 4 times a day already. It's pretty much all they think about already. Legalizing it probably wouldn't make too much of a difference, unless the potential user is THAT afraid of the law.. and would try it if it weren't illegal. but I really haven't heard of much of those cases. Maybe I hang out with the wrong crowd..... :???:

Bottom line for me: if you want it now, when it's illegal, there's basically nothing stopping you. So I believe that legalizing it won't change too much. Hell, it might improve the physical health of the cigarette smokers out there if they'd drop the cig for a joint.

[Tom]

To my knowledge, marijuana has been used recreationally, for centuries, without, ever, becoming the cause of an actual, threatening, social disaster; has prevented seizures in epileptics and seizure prone diabetics; has been used by cancer patients to ease pain and stimulate appetite; causes temporary serenity, calm, and passiveness to otherwise potential situations and causes of violence and rage (two things that alcohol, a legal, recreational substance, has been known, for as long as it has existed--even in basic forms--to cause, or, stimulate, in otherwise non-violent people); there has never been, in any of recorded history, a single case of overdose of marijuana, leading to death (a human would have to smoke a good amount in pounds of the herb to overdose; too much of an amount for a person to smoke in a single sitting--nor would they want to, or be able to, considering they would pass out, well before they even smoked a fraction of the amount to overdose), which isn't to say much for alcohol, which a person CAN, relatively easily, overdose on and die as a result (not to mention, again, that it is legal and the number of alcohol RELATED deaths tower far above the number of marijuana related deaths); as for the risks of lung cancer and heart disease from inhaling carcinogens in the smoke: Cigarettes, which are legal, ALSO cause the same health problems and there are more people smoking tobacco products than there are people smoking marijuana.

I think it should be legalized. It's practically a victimless crime--AND THE ONLY REASON IT _ISN'T_, is because making it illegal forces underground production and selling, which leads to violence and havoc, wreaked by drug lords and their gangs who PROFIT from the illegal activity--so, if you, fucking, just, make it LEGAL and control it or give it to a fucking corporation and let the republicans gain from it, or, just do a, fucking, single, goddamn thing in the right direction, then there wouldn't be such a goddamn dingle berry bitch of a fucking problem.

I am for legalization!

[Moose]

I kinda want to point out that the people that most want to legalize pot are the ones that smoke it 4 times a day already. It's pretty much all they think about already.

I don't think anyone smokes that much. The estimate for "High" use is daily or more than 4 times a week. Weed isn't that addictive. Most people I know that do it do it once-three times a week. The truth is, almost everyone who does it is afraid. People who smoke pot aren't just that person that sits on the corner all day, or that guy who dropped out of college. Almost everyones experimented. I'm guessing your mom or dad has probably tried it, as I know my mom has tried it, but not gotten into it. Everyone knows if you get caught, it can mess with your future. It may lead to not being able to get into a good college, or getting a good job. That leads to unemployment issues, which could be easily fixed if marijuana was legalized.


Hell, it might improve the physical health of the cigarette smokers out there if they'd drop the cig for a joint.

Honestely, it won't. Both marijuana and cigarrettes have about the same amount of carcinogens, but cigarrettes are 90% more addicting than cigarrettes. So people tend to smoke cigarrettes more.

[chinaboy]

eh. but then there's the whole tar thing about teh cigarrettes... and what not. course, I don't really know what weird things dealers put in pot......

[Moose]

I don't really know what weird things dealers put in pot......

No one does. That's why corporations need to take over. That way we know what's in it. Or you can get it from a reliable friend.

[Klaymen1]

Just go to Mexico. Live there. Make's life easier.

[chinaboy]

No one does. That's why corporations need to take over. That way we know what's in it. Or you can get it from a reliable friend.

haha maybe some people don't wanna know what they're smoking. half the fun right?

[Moose]

Just go to Mexico. Live there. Make's life easier.

Yea, I would but
a) I don't speak Spanish fluently
b) I don't feel like sitting on the toilet for 4 hours after accidentely drinking water.

[Batgirl]

very good points..
I kinda want to point out that the people that most want to legalize pot are the ones that smoke it 4 times a day already. It's pretty much all they think about already. .

I believe that Marijuana should be legalized and I have never once smoked it.

The way I see it, Marijuana is illegal right now in the same sense that Alcohol was illegal during prohibition. You're not allowed to do it, but nigh on everyone has anyway, and many do it often.

The CONS of Legalizing Marijuana:

...

wow I can't think of one. >> (not to say there aren't any, I just can't think of one. X_X)

OH, it could legalize something that is dangerous to your health (but hey, Ciggarettes are legal)

And it legalizes an addictive substance (but again, hey, ciggarettes are legal)


The PROS of Legalizing Marijuana:

- Marijuana would be subject to the FDA, and would thusly be safer (you wouldn't have to worry about your marijuana being laced with Rat Poison or whatever.

- The Crime rate would lower 1) Because those smoking is no longer a crime, 2) Because crimes committed over Marijuana by drug lords would be lowered (but it'd still be around for things like crack, heroine, etc)

- The Goverment could make money off of taxing Marijuana, as opposed to making no money off it right now.

- It would save (some) time for police in drug busts (but not completely, because there are other drugs. dur)

- More space in Jail.

I just, from a logical view think that The American Government should pull the stick out its ass and legalize Marijuana. Again, I have never done any drugs, but it just seems like the sorta "uh-duh" thing to do to me.

[Moose]

Yay, bat girl agrees with the same thing as me for once! :-D



- The Goverment could make money off of taxing Marijuana, as opposed to making no money off it right now.


Well, actually, it's extremely easy to grow, just like a houseplant only with beneifits. They government can't tax something that is traded by person and not by market. If marijuana was legal, than anyone could grow it in their home, and thus the government would make absolutely no money unless it was sold in stores, which it should be. People who buy the stuff could easily make it, but they just don't want to risk going to jail for 3 years.

[McCorvic Sucks]

Throwing in my 'yes'.

I don't smoke the stuff myself, but I have friends who do and they are doing alright. Very few are typical stoners who smoke all day and fry their brains. Plus, you can do that to yourself with anything - booze, TV, hot dogs.

[Kuro]

Yay, bat girl agrees with the same thing as me for once! :-D



Well, actually, it's extremely easy to grow, just like a houseplant only with beneifits. They government can't tax something that is traded by person and not by market. If marijuana was legal, than anyone could grow it in their home, and thus the government would make absolutely no money unless it was sold in stores, which it should be. People who buy the stuff could easily make it, but they just don't want to risk going to jail for 3 years.

Well by following that logic line though then the trade and sale of tabacco should not be all that is today. As a plant it's rather easy to grow it'self, hearty and survives well. ^^''

[soundcage]

As far as I know, Colorado passed a state law legalizing it in controlled areas. I believe this was in 2004, I'll have to check. There are no cons to legalization. It would reduce crime, it could be a wealth of money for the government. Can you imagine the taxes they could put on it? Hell, Cigarettes here in CT are almost $5 a pack. It would free up a hell of alot of space in jails and prisons, those poor SOBs doing five years for possession while the guy in the next cell is in for three years for running his pregnant wife over with a truck... I'd have to ask my wife (she's a political analyst) about the outlaw of MJ back in the early 20th century, because prior to that it was completely legal to use. Hemp is also an extremely versitile material. On field of Cannibus can generate enough hemp to use in lieu of wood based products, and unlike trees, the cannibus will grow back the next year, so it is very eco-friendly as well.

[McCorvic Sucks]

As far as I know, Colorado passed a state law legalizing it in controlled areas. I believe this was in 2004, I'll have to check.

Last year the city of Denver passed a law saying someone could have small amounts of weed. But, as it is still illegal under state and federal law marijuana is very much a crime in Denver and anywhere else in the U.S.

[Tom]

Unfortunately, decriminalization is hardly the same thing as legalization. :(

[Tomoe]

I say kill everyone who touches the stuff; but that's because my roommate last year at MSU smoked the stuff at 9am, noon, 4 pm, 9pm, and then again at 1am in the bathroom nearly every fucking day. Going to take a shower gave me a contact high.

Haha, no. I say legalize it, but you should be 21 to buy it. And they should tax the hell out of it.

[Moose]

Yea, that's a huge problem with this. If anyone can make and sell, than minors will be able to buy easily.

[Tomoe]

I should have added; I'm not too into how the stuff is made, but I think it should be liscensed to certain companies and they are the only companies able to produce the stuff and then go against illegal manufacturers. That would be good.

[GravitasLost]

I personally have never taken it, never wanted to and never will... But I'm completely for legalization. It would save sooo much money considering how much empty room there would be in jails, and how much smaller the DEA could be.

The only arguement I can see for making marijuana illegal is that it give criminals a
relatively harmless way to make money illegally. Otherwise they might turn to stealing
cars, burglary or dealing in harder drugs to make money. (I know the arguement sounds strange at first, but think about it.. )

I still think it should be legal.

[Matt Alan]

I for one, am against legalizing marajuana in any shape or form.

The last thing the world needs is a bunch of idiots driving high on the road. Yeah, whether the shit is legal or not, someone's still gonna take it if they want it bad enough, but there's no reason to make it easy for them.

[Tom]

I for one, am against legalizing marajuana in any shape or form.

The last thing the world needs is a bunch of idiots driving high on the road. Yeah, whether the shit is legal or not, someone's still gonna take it if they want it bad enough, but there's no reason to make it easy for them.

The incidents of marijuana related vehicular accidents is far lower than that of alcohol related incidents. Besides that, alcohol, any allergy medicine, diet pills, sleeping pills, etc, which are all legal, are far more dangerous to drive under the influence of. Yet, we don't make those things illegal.

The truth is, if someone is going to do something stupid--they're going to do something stupid--whether or not it's illegal or not. Sudafed helps thousands of people every day, but that doesn't stop people from taking it to have fun. Make something potentially helpful illegal because some people might do something dumb on it that they would do ANYWAY, whether or not it was illegal, or with some other substance that IS legal? That is beyond sense. That's just ignorant.

That's like making pencils illegal because people might use them to clean their ears while driving and cause an accident! The substance is not the problem, in your argument, it's the PEOPLE.

People drive to bars and clubs to get drunk off their asses, every night. People do not get high to party and drive all over town. People get high, play video games with their friends and eat food.

[chinaboy]

People drive to bars and clubs to get drunk off their asses, every night. People do not get high to party and drive all over town. People get high, play video games with their friends and eat food.

hmm.. maybe if weed was available at bars, they would be out on the road? although, I've heard you can actually see kinda straight when you're high.

[Clintykins]

I don't think anyone smokes that much. The estimate for "High" use is daily or more than 4 times a week. Weed isn't that addictive. Most people I know that do it do it once-three times a week. The truth is, almost everyone who does it is afraid. People who smoke pot aren't just that person that sits on the corner all day, or that guy who dropped out of college. Almost everyones experimented. I'm guessing your mom or dad has probably tried it, as I know my mom has tried it, but not gotten into it. Everyone knows if you get caught, it can mess with your future. It may lead to not being able to get into a good college, or getting a good job. That leads to unemployment issues, which could be easily fixed if marijuana was legalized.

I have a couple friends who smoke like four times a day. Yeah, it's sad that all their little brain cells are blipping around up there, but whatever. Do what you gotta do.

I, obviously, would be for legalization, but I'm not all that upset that it's not because it's understandable.

[Jooostin]

Like Matt Alan, I'm against legalization as well. However, I don't feel like debating so... Prove me wrong or do a point-counterpoint to this reply, but don't expect a reply back from me (I'm just casting in my penny's worth).

If you give way to marijuana, then what about prescription medication in general? By legalizing marijuana, it would eventually HAVE TO lead to the legalization of the entire pharmaceutical market (once you give a little freedom, people want the whole deal in the end). After all, we shouldn't discriminate one controlled substance from another. :P Let's just go ahead and make pharmacies and prescriptions obsolete, replacing it with this drive-thru where you can just pick whatever goodies you want (thus making doctors less important. I can pick my OWN pills, thank you very much). It'll be like a gigantic candy shop (but with pills and needles)! Yay!

Then again, if you strongly believe in natural selection... Well, let's just say nature would take its course if the above scenario became true.

Besides that, you'd piss off the dealers and gang-bangers that make a living off selling the stuff if you legalized it (this COULD mean you'd have to pay more into unemployment and welfare programs, but the marijuana taxation idea might cover that part). The price would bottom out once companies are able to legally compete in sales with the underground dealers. This would make the stuff dirt cheap.

Like it or not, there will ALWAYS be an underground dealing some new controlled substance. Legalizing marijuana would just mean that tobacco would go to the backburner for many, meaning a new drug would have to take its place in the underground (For example, even though tobacco is legal, people soak tobacco leaves in different substances to give it a marijuana-type effect. Lesson learned: Legalizing will not really satisfy anyone in the long run).

Regardless, I'm not touching the stuff. I've heard enough from my biochemist cousin to not even want to be around the second hand smoke.


Later,
-Justin

[Mat Growcott]

I'm both against it and for it in a way.

On one hand i'm not bothered who takes it as long as they're keeping the crap the hell away from me. On the other hand i wouldn't like the idea of my friends or relatives taking it and me not being able to slap them round the head and give a good reason other then 'I'm totally against it!'

Many people bring up alchohol and tobacco in this thread. Just out of interest, would it make a difference to this discussion if alchohol and tobacco was banned? They're both horrible habits anyhew, with horrible consequences...but each to there own i guess...

[Tom]

would it make a difference to this discussion if alchohol and tobacco was banned? They're both horrible habits anyhew, with horrible consequences...but each to there own i guess...

In a way, yes. If alcohol and tobacco were banned, it only makes the legalization issue for marijuana more crucial.

[Gabi Star]

I drive fine when I'm high. My reaction time is the same, my directional sense is the same, I just feel like its second nature. Pot much less impares driving than things like alcohol and tranqs, but those are still legal.

[Chris Nagy]

They become very much illegal when you are driving, hence the whole Driving Under the Influence charge being applicable to anything that puts you in an altered state.

Personal anecdotes only work so far, though. For example, I'm a more cautious driver on those few occasions that I've had to drive home tipsy. It's all about degrees; you can be a little high or a little drunk, you can be baked out of your mind or drunk to the point of incoherence-- the results will be different.


If you give way to marijuana, then what about prescription medication in general? By legalizing marijuana, it would eventually HAVE TO lead to the legalization of the entire pharmaceutical market (once you give a little freedom, people want the whole deal in the end). Welcome to the illegitimate argument that is the Slippery Slope. Do A, and catastrophic Q will happen. No, it won't. Steroids will not become legal just because marijuana becomes legal. Morphine will not become legal just because marijuana becomes legal. People can want, and want, and want, and they aren't guaranteed anything; which is why I doubt we'll see legalization in the United States.

[Kagami]

I think we should leagalize it. There are already alot of medicinal used for this weed and where I live, it's as if we already have it leagalized. People around here have done it, everyone. On this tiny island, the cops are lazy. Driving high on the road HERE has not gotten into any of the car accidents. All of the car crashes here have been linked to alcohol although.

Myself, I have tried it once. It was fun, and it just makes you seem more alive. You don't feel what's happening to yourself. Though I do not think you should take it alot of times at once or not at once. I think it should be one of those special occasion things, like wine on holidays or something.

And people everywhere already do it in hiding. It not being legal isn't stopping them from doing it, trust me. Although the cops may be on a sharp look out for reddish eyes, it's hard to find someone that's high. I was hanging out with a bunch of people that were high, and they didn't act much different accept they just seemed to be having more fun. Nothing too out of the blue like falling over or anything. Just excessive laughing. If we legalize it, we can do it more freely.


One thing I would not tolerate if it was leagalized would be people under the age of maybe 13 doing it. I think that just goes over the line. I know a seven year old who has taken 5 shots and it just kind of broke my heart. I don't think kids should be doing this because when you're younger, it will hurt your body more than if you were older.

[Kevin Gillis]

Weed is decriminalized in Canada... as far I believe. The main worry is what most people say, is the fact that it is a gateway drug... To be honest, I am too afraid to try anything that I have to snort/inject. I have a friend who used to be a hardcore coke/speed addict and know, as far as I know, has been clean for almost 2 years. He tells me his stories and it makes me scared... although it's more than like because when he tells his stories I am high at the time. I think it should be decriminalized and not fully legal, because if you aren't doing anything to hurt anyone, but it does make you under the influence and should have the same effect as drinking when in public.

Also, some people also can abuse it wayyyyy too much... had a friend(he turned into a recluse) and he was pretty much always high. Also, he brought his underaged girlfriend to a friend's house and let her smoke it for the first time... She puked all over the guy's bed. The guy wasn't too happy, but if it was legal, who'd be to blame for actually letting that guy walk around and buy the weed? I would like to see maybe some lesser laws about it, but it won't happen...

[Mat Growcott]

Obvioulsy if it were legalised you wouldn't be able to walk around the streets with it. I imagine you'd have to be in like...grass bars or something. I dunno. I can't see them letting you walk around with it if they don't allow you to do that with alchohol...


I was hanging out with a bunch of people that were high, and they didn't act much different accept they just seemed to be having more fun. Nothing too out of the blue like falling over or anything. Just excessive laughing. If we legalize it, we can do it more freely.

Excessive laughing pisses me off. Seriously, when i hear someone REALLY really laugh i want to go over and say 'There are children dieing in africa' or something just as morbid. Nothing is that funny unless you have no intellijence*

Anyhew, yeah...



*Yes, i know i spelt it wrong. I'm taking to spell intelligence wrong, it's fun...

[Kathryn]

I think it's just crazy that we haven't legalized it already-if it can be used for medical reasons, why not?

I don't smoke myself and totally disagree with abusing it but we should at least make it legal in hospitals where it can help people. As many people have pointed out before, there are way more dangerous things anyway...