Legalize marijuiana

[Deamon]

Or however the hell its spelt, from now on I'll just use weed, tell me if you think yes or no, and why.

[JBMoney]

In general, Yes, because free individuals should be allowed to ingest whatever the hell they want as long as, in doing so, they don't endanger other individuals.

Prostitution, gambling, and... base jumping should be legalized too.

[Deamon]

Yeah I mean I'm still a useful member of society

[Laurie]

Hell yeah, legalize it. Cigarettes and alcohol are legal, and as far as what I've read and *cough* experienced.....alcohol is much more impairing. And it's not considered physically addictive, either...(medically speaking, anyway.)

[Eddy's Geist]

Yes, without a doubt. It saved my grandmother while she was going through chemo. She couldn't eat and the medicine that was supposed to help with the nausea didn't work. Weed did though. It's a harmless drug anyhow (when kept in the same context as other drugs).

then again... I say legalize ALL drugs... take away the profit margins that the dealers enjoy and let the people who are going to OD... OD.

[Kimmy]

I agree with Deamon for once. Legalize it. I have seen so many families torn apart by alchohol.. seen people fight, wreck their cars.. die. I have 2 alchoholic parents (sober now) and to be honest, when I need to relax, I'd rather smoke than drink... plus, no hangover.

[Deamon]

If its not getting in the way of something important it should be fine, having people smokin' a joint as they drive is a bad idea, as is drinking, make that illegal. Weed isn't even addictive, unlike tobacco.

[Kimmy]

k.. now I have to disagree with you.. at least a little. I guess technically, it's not addictive.. but,I know when I was smoking a lot, I would get very antsy when I'd run out. Even if I didn't want to smoke, I'd feel better if there was a little bit tucked away... and the waiting for someone to come through was almost unbearable sometimes.

[Auff]

Legalize it. Along with its euphoric and medicinal value, it's a useful fiber. It would be a real boost to our economy, and lessen the need for law enforcement.

But the real question is, how does it get legalized? How can the deal really be implemented?

[Macbeth]

In the words of Peter Tosh: Legalize it!

[wrecker05]

Do not legalize it. Bad dopeheads.

[wrecker05]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Auff:
[B]Legalize it. ... and lessen the need for law enforcement.B]</font>

Do you honestly think that if marijuana is legalized law enforcement is no longer needed?

[shotglass]

I have no problem with it being legal, but I still would not use it (puts me to sleep and makes me want to go buy a 7-11). But it will never be legal until the Fed finds a way to tax it and keep Joe Average from growing it in his basement.

[Eddy's Geist]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by wrecker05:
Do you honestly think that if marijuana is legalized law enforcement is no longer needed?

</font>

I think the keyword here is "lessen"

This is one of the major reasons the pot won't be legalized... less money for the cops and less money for the prison system. The police and prison lobbyists would never stand for that.

Q. What's more addictive than Crack Cocaine?

A. Zero tolerance policies that lead to property confiscation.

[JBMoney]

Good point Eddy. One of the most powerful lobbies in California, following close on the heels of CTA (CA Teachers Assn) is the CCPOA (CA Correctional Peace Officers Assn) - Prison Gaurds. If legalizing leads to fewer prisoners, which then leads to fewer prison guards, forget about it.

Sadly, any progress in CA is dependent on satisfying the big unions (and the Indians).

[Auff]

Wrecker: "lessened" does not mean "no longer needed". How much effort is spent going after dopeheads and suppliers? Would crack or heroin still be used as much if pot was legal and cheap? Probably not, since the stronger, more transportable drugs are more available since they are harder to detect than the relatively massive shipments of pot. Therefore we would have less crack heads to go after, less heroin heads to clean up, and less suppliers to bust.

What about the tax revenue we are losing? The stuff would be as cheap as tobacco, which now generates a ton of revenue.

Pot could also be regulated as alcohol is, for proof, impurities, etc.

And Eddy, you have a good point with that Union sh... We have more people opposed to unions nationally than for them, so they can be beaten. What we need to clean up that crap completely is full disclosure requirements, and mandatory requirements that union members must request that their dues be used to support specific issues.

[This message has been edited by Auff (edited 01-06-2002).]

[Ty]

Bunch of potheads. lol

I've known many people who have sold just about everything they owned to get a freakin dime bag of pot. Not only that, but they had to toke up at least once a day or they couldn't get through the day. Their drive to succeed went down the shitter and were content with delivering pizzas or newspapers for a living as long as it got them their stuff. If thats not an addiction then I don't know what is.

Law enforcement would also need to be increased in my opinion. Think about the fact that even though it is illegal to drive while intoxicated, thousands do it every day. Why, because people in gerneral are prone to break the law. Especially when drugged up. If marijuana were to be legalized, that would change that small percentage of people that drive, operate machinery, or make important decisions for many, to a much larger percentage and would affect many things. If we could trust people to not toke up at the wrong time then all would be well but humans have proven unworthy of trust.

Anyway I really do not want to hear of families getting killed by drivers under the influence of marijuana on a regular basis. Its bad enough with the alcohol.

[Macbeth]

Silly Ty!

I suspect those "many people" you know would have ended up the same way minus the pot. Ambition is either there or not.

I don't think the reason people drive drunk is because "people in general are prone to break the law." What laws are you talking about? In my city if I chew gum while walking on the sidewalk, I'm breaking the law. In Carmel, CA if I were high-heels I'm breaking the law. If your talking about felonies, then I know very few people that have committed felonies. I think people "in general" are law abiding citizens.

As for you comment "If we could trust people to not toke up at the wrong time then all would be well but humans have proven unworthy of trust" this one disturbs me. I didn't know we were supposed to pass laws based on "trust." I thought we passed laws to expand our freedom. I don't think it is your place to worry about trusting other people. Do you think men gave women the right to vote because they trusted they'd vote for the right people? Do you trust people to make the correct decision with their own children, and if you don't what makes you think your right? I thought the whole reason we came here was because we trusted ourselves to govern each other rather than some king.

Let me put it to you this way . . . When a new law comes my way and it's time for me to vote one way or the other there is one simple litmus test:

Will this law expand my freedom? If the answer is yes then it's got my vote. You see I have no desire to smoke pot, but I don't want you telling me I can't.


[This message has been edited by Macbeth (edited 01-07-2002).]

[Kimmy]

Does the fact that it's illegal really stop anyone from smoking? Does it even slow them down? Not from my experience.

[Ty]

A few of those many people I know that actually kicked the pot habit got their lives in order shortly there after. Most decided to finish what they started in college or in their career. Yes maybe some did it just as a decision to straighten up, but my brother and a friend who were forced to stop, and yes they did, have talked many times about how much more drive they have and how less depressed they feel. My brother has told me he no longer needs weed to calm his nerves and feel better and more relaxed. These two kids were lifers in highschool; my brother finally finishing up his senior year after 3 attempts and now is actually looking foward to college. It really upsets me to think where he might be today if he hadn't gotten on the stuff. And as far as it not affecting ambition, that is pure BS. Marijuana is a type of mind altering drug and screws with your perception. All that matters to most people who are heavy users is smoking and eating when they got the munchies.

I'm all for passing laws to increase my freedoms but not to the point where I can do anything I want without any form of punishment. Otherwise we would have anarchy. I would be all for letting people suck up their roaches if I felt that it would not affect me or anyone else. Problem is it would affect everyone. Some positively but the majority negatively. Just as alcohol as affected everyone in one way or another. Social drinkers are fine but there are always those who abuse their rights and even many social drinkers cross that line once or twice.

I just feel that legalizing marijuana would cause more harm than good. Sure the economy would most likely benifit from it but at what cost to the average person.

And I'm not telling you what you can and can't do. You can go buy pot if you want; anyone can. That will never change. Feel free to. Hell you can even order it online. But my opinion stands. You all posted your opinions and I felt inclined to do the same.

One more thing, if people could be trusted, then why are there any laws at all. I'm sure you've probably walked on the sidewalk while chewing gum before.

[This message has been edited by Ty (edited 01-07-2002).]

[Eddy's Geist]

Macbeth, that was such a damn good reply that I'm humbled. All hail...

Ty, the problem with most laws is that they haven't been enacted for the good of the people but for the good of the state. Apples and oranges...

You mentioned that social drinking is ok.. is that because you consider yourself a social drinker? Your answer is beside point... the fact is there are many people that are social smokers who haven't just finished college but went on to receive doctorates and masters in their respective proffesions. While being 'social smokers".

I'm sorry to hear about the problems your brother experienced with his education but the problems weren't from the drug. They were with your brother. If your brother didn't have weed he would have probably drank.. or snorted... etc.

So, do I smoke? Not at all... makes me lazy, hungry and makes me want to play video games all day long.

[cuda]

I think if you took out marijuana and substituted alcohol for it, you'd pretty much have the same scenarios and outcome. It all depends on the type of person doing it. You could be the most talented and respected person on earth and still be an ...alcoholic, pothead, cokehead, hooked on painkillers... etc.

I smoked plenty of pot (3 to 4 times a day) when I was in college, yet the fact that I was able to keep myself from becoming a waste was a testament to my character. And I know a few other people who followed the same path. Some people can deal with it some people can't. Since marijuana isn't physically addictive, like alcohol, it's up to the individual to use or abuse.

I personally liked the fact that it never got me sick, gave me the spins and no nasty hangover the next day.

I wouldn't be surprised if the alcohol and tabacco companies are the ones trying to keep it from becoming legal.

btw, I never inhaled!! http://bushwhacked.net/ubb/wink.gif

[Deamon]

When I smoke pot I get better grades, When I don't I get lazy

[Ty]

Eddy

Silly Eddy, you can't compare pot to tobacco. Completely different classes. I have smoked both and there is a great difference between the two. I agree with cuda, some people can still acheive in life and do so while smoking pot. That goes with any drug. Those people don't worry me, its those that can't do that that worry me. No pot is not physically addictive but it is very mentally addictive. And it has been my experience that the majority of people out there are not mentally capable of fighting that addiction off. Not saying that they are stupid. Mental dependancy is a very strong addiction. And actually affects those of higher intellegence more than others.
I was using the casual drinkers thing as an example. Pot used responsibly "in my opinion" is fine, but there are always those who use it in excess and those who will slip from responsible toker to doped up idiot. And no I am not a casual drinker. I do not fit into any of those classes. I range from casual to drunken bastard all the time. And I only speak from experience.

Sorry Eddy I misread your post. Thought you were talking about cigs.

[This message has been edited by Ty (edited 01-08-2002).]

[Laurie]

If you read the literature, pot is NOT....and I repeat NOT PHYSICALLY addictive. The user might feel as though his body is craving, when in actually it's a psychological craving for pot. A human's body doesn't go through any physical or biological changes as it would with the classic addictive drugs (those including nicotine and alcohol.) I know people that smoke it daily and function easily within their job and social life. (I'm not saying they get stoned before work.)

The reason it's illegal is because too many people smoke it. You see, in America...drugs are a money-maker. The war on drugs in this country will never be won. In fact, it's the governmental officials who keep the "stuff" in circulation. It's just one viscous cycle. Yet people who get caught with a dime bag of it still get reprimanded, when in fact it was their own government who put it back out there for him/her to smoke.

Another reason why "they" won't legalize the drug is because they consider marijuana to be a "gateway" drug. Little Johnny one night smokes a joint, then the next day he wants lines stacked up on his mirror. I DON'T think so. Just another rationalization from the gov't to keep the war on drugs on the battlefield.

[Eddy's Geist]

Laurie, excellent point!

William Burroughs in '52 or '53 wrote in "The Junkie" that the government would use drugs as a reason to create a world-wide police force who's ultimate aim is to monitor and control the finances and (ultimately) freedom of the populations. He then went on to say that we would never be able to stop this as the people in control of these security forces would become addicted to their power and the money.

Pretty prophetic...

[Laurie]

He wasn't too far off. *puff puff*