Legalizing Marijuana

[ebl]

"I don't know about you rebels, but I'd prefer not to pay for the repercussions this anarchistic point of view would inevitably bring to society.

 

If people were able to 'do whatever they wanted to their bodies,' I'd eventually be paying for their stupidity out of my own wallet. One day, you two might figure this out, and change your mind.

 

Some laws actually do exist for a reason." (BeemerBoy)

 

I had to quote this entire post because I agree 100% with it. And it is true: if anyone did "whatever they want" to their bodies, who's going to pay for the inevitable costs for emergency services, healthcare, cleanup, etc.? Everyone else? Why should I pay for your stupidity?

 

Eric

[BeemerBoy]

Just because you are for marijuana being legal, doesn't mean you are for ALL drugs being legal.

The statement regarding "all drugs" (i.e. hard stuff like cocaine, heroin, etc.) being made legal was made in reference to a quote from an earlier page.

 

Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, tylonel (acetaminophen), a.d.d. medication (speed) are ALL drugs. And most people agree they should be legal because most people don't think of any of those as "drugs".

Also I've never been scared of flying on a plane, (Well I was a little scared my first time when I was a kid) riding on a train, I've always trusted my local law enforcement, and I've never been operated on, but seeing that speed is legally prescribed to people, does that make you scared? Or did you even know that ampthemines are legal? Or how about DXM (cough syrup) which can produce effects similar to pcp. And don't even get me started on opiates in the same class as heroin, or even what about Nitrous Oxide given by dentists to patients??

 

Dude, with all due respect, I think you're really stretching it a bit just for the sake of argument. What cal1br3tto is referring to concerns basic social responsibilities, especially in regards to the workforce. Hell, we can't even get people to put down their iPhones when driving a car or a train, so how can I feel more comfortable with all hardcore drugs being legalized?

 

Read her post again. It's about checks and balances by employers, and how it may effect all of us. I'm sure the majority of Americans feel fairly safe with present day restrictions. I mean, if my doctor or pilot wants to OD on Nyquil or Starbucks, then so be it. I'll take those odds. But if he has legal access to harder stuff because the government sees no damaging ramifications, then I've got a problem.

 

But hey, it's your opinion, and I respect that. To each his own, and more power to ya.

[phazan]

Just because you are for marijuana being legal, doesn't mean you are for ALL drugs being legal.

The statement regarding "all drugs" (i.e. hard stuff like cocaine, heroin, etc.) being made legal was made in reference to a quote from an earlier page.

 

Caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, tylonel (acetaminophen), a.d.d. medication (speed) are ALL drugs. And most people agree they should be legal because most people don't think of any of those as "drugs".

Also I've never been scared of flying on a plane, (Well I was a little scared my first time when I was a kid) riding on a train, I've always trusted my local law enforcement, and I've never been operated on, but seeing that speed is legally prescribed to people, does that make you scared? Or did you even know that ampthemines are legal? Or how about DXM (cough syrup) which can produce effects similar to pcp. And don't even get me started on opiates in the same class as heroin, or even what about Nitrous Oxide given by dentists to patients??

 

Dude, with all due respect, I think you're really stretching it a bit just for the sake of argument. But, it's your opinion, and I respect that. To each his own, and more power to ya.

 

Well thank you for being cool about it...but it's true though. You can get prescribed opiates, ampthemines, Nitrous Oxide (Whipped cream propellant). Opiates are addictive, as well as ampthemines. My point is that there is worse stuff out there that's legal. Of course though "worse" is an opinion, but a lot of people agree that speed is "worse" than marijuana

[Philrad71]

While I don't live there to know about every day life, I did not see having the smoke (coffee) shops in Amsterdam as being a problem, but more of an accepted culture. The ingestion of marijuana was in a controlled, casual environment. I had to think to myself...why couldn't they have something similar in America? Would it really be that hard to control it in this type of environment? If it really was that big of a problem and was difficult to control, do you think it would still be legal there???

 

 

I would really love to hear from some folks from the Netherlands post on this topic to gain a more realistic approach...everything else is simply speculation muddled with the typical "fear of change" that most Americans seem to have embedded in their minds.

[dandaman]

While I don't live there to know about every day life, I did not see having the smoke (coffee) shops in Amsterdam as being a problem, but more of an accepted culture. The ingestion of marijuana was in a controlled, casual environment. I had to think to myself...why couldn't they have something similar in America?

 

I'd have to assume largely for the same reasons all those "only-in-Europe" park attractions are only in Europe...

[XII]

I definitely feel that Marijuana as well as other drugs as I'm also believe you should be able to put whatever you want in your body. While I don't advocate anybody doing any drugs, I don't feel they need to get punished by the government. And while I don't feel wild about paying for their stupidity, I feel that we're paying for many people's stupidity already, why keep it limited. Plus we'd probably just pay for their hospital when they do the drugs anyway.

 

But that's just my opinion.

[phazan]

...everything else is simply speculation muddled with the typical "fear of change" that most Americans seem to have embedded in their minds.

 

What?? Have you paid attention to anything that's gone on in America the past few years?

 

I definitely feel that Marijuana as well as other drugs as I'm also believe you should be able to put whatever you want in your body. While I don't advocate anybody doing any drugs, I don't feel they need to get punished by the government. And while I don't feel wild about paying for their stupidity, I feel that we're paying for many people's stupidity already, why keep it limited. Plus we'd probably just pay for their hospital when they do the drugs anyway.

 

But that's just my opinion.

 

That didn't come close to making sense..

[the ghost]

it is not addictive in any way

 

I would argue that this isn't true. While it might not by physically addictive, I know a lot of people who simply can't get to sleep without it. Might not by physically addictive, but it sure seems to be mentally addictive.

 

there are zero reports of people dying from it. There are also no reports of it making people more violent(like alcohal) making people depressed(like alcohal) or damaging any vital organs(like alcohal) so in the end pot always comes out on top.

 

Zero reports of people dying from it? How about in car accidents caused from driving while high? Is that not direct enough? Just because everybody seems so confused by this concept, DWI (DUI depending where you are in the country) is not only an alcohol offense, there are many ways you can be under the influence. Also I can say from personal experience that the single time in my life I tried it I ended up being very uptight, not the extent of violent but still I was at minimum irritable. Lastly in terms of damage to internal organs. I don't really know much here, but long term exposure does at least make people seem a lot slower. But maybe it's just their sunny disposition on life from all the pot their smoking makes that makes them take life at a slower pace.

 

I know this guy who used to be a dare officer and at my elementary school reunion(no joke) he asked how many people had smaoked(the teachers were not there as they were getting food for graduation). About 50 percent of the kids raised there hands, he said "Good, yoor being kids and rebelling just like your supposed to. I'm not saying I support it and if you get caught that sucks for you, but its not gonna kill you." Dare is a stupid thing to even teach kids, because did anyone ever really think I gave a flying **** when the Dare officer was like "This is daren the lion, he does not give in to peer pressure." Daren is clearly the kid that does not get invited to parties and is hated by everyone.

 

Yeah that officer shouldn't really be doing the dare program. Their job is discourage the use of drugs. As for if it has an effect, I've always doubted it to some degree, but schools don't know how else to deal with the problem. Lastly on the argument that if you don't smoke pot (at least I think that is where you were trying to go with your Daren analogy) you're going to be hated by everybody, I never smoked (except for once in 8th grade) and I was popular and was invited to several parties.

 

The Daren thing is more about the people at my school that look down at everyone that does drugs in general. I do look down at burn outs, but a smoke or two wont really hurt you, I do agree with Tyler that all drugs will be legalized, but at the same time I see the negative effects of general safety, so I realize that could not happen. I enjoyed the feeling and as I am reading through this thread I realized I kind of made myself sound like a stoner. I am not a stoner, I have smoked three times in my life. I'm not going to say I will never smoke again, but I don't need to smoke again. I have never smoked prior to driving, and the only time I have ever smoked and driven on the same day was five hours after smoking. The main point I am trying to make is marijuana is something that if used safely and somewhat smartly is okay. It's the same with food, everyone loves a good meal, but many people become obese after too many good meals. If someone smokes once or twice a few times a month or even once a week thats fine, more than that and its a little bit dangerous. It is all about planning and moderation, but remember, its also not like everyone will be high. Does everyone who can drink drink? No. Why? It's a personal choice, if they hurt someone else it is their fault and they deserve to be punished. Everything has consequences and everything has solutions to the consequences, there is almost always a way to make things like marijuana work. We as a state need money, so a tax would help.

[astroworldfan1]

But is food illegal? No.

 

Is marijuana illegal? Yes.

[christianscoasters]

I have not and will not use drugs.

 

I am all for legalizing marijuana. If done right, marijuana really doesn't harm your body as much as alcohol does. I know I'd rather be around a high person than a drunk person. Everyone nowadays is trying to stop drug use with teens and what not. Why not stop all the freaking drinking instead?!?! This is America, a "free" country. Why do we constantly tell people what they can and cannot do, when it only involves them and nobody else?!?!

[AllenA07]

But is food illegal? No.

 

Is marijuana illegal? Yes.

 

Wait... What???

[coolhandluke]

Does everyone who can drink drink? No. Why? It's a personal choice, if they hurt someone else it is their fault and they deserve to be punished. Everything has consequences and everything has solutions to the consequences, there is almost always a way to make things like marijuana work.

Maybe I'm in the minority (or misreading your post), but I'd prefer a bit more of a preemptive approach to protecting me, essentially a non-user (of anything), from the "personal choices" of those who do use. I'd rather avoid getting hurt in the first place than I would receiving "pain and suffering" money after the fact (this applies to more than just pot). And yes, I realize I can get hurt by drunk drivers or phone-occupied drivers or passenger-occupied drivers or fast cars or trains or lightning strikes. Yes, all those are legal, but why does that necessarily make it ok to add to the list? It sounds like I'm in enough danger as is, IMO. I understand and agree it's not as bad as alcohol, but "not as bad as" doesn't necessarily equate to "acceptable for society" for me.

 

This may sound a bit contradictory to what I just said, but I do believe the right of a man to swing his fist ends where the other man's nose begins. In a perfect world, I'd have no problem with legalizing pot, since it doesn't have to affect me. But sadly, it's not a perfect world. I'm going to be affected somehow, because people simply aren't as smart as the advocates in this thread are. I have no problem with the ideas or substantiations used here, but I'm cynical enough to realize it's not as simple as people (including me) would like it to be. Even the addiction problem is more complex than "it isn't addictive". My fingernails contain no addictive substances, yet I'm in year #21 and am still unable to break my habit of biting them.

 

With that said, medicinal use is a different story for me.

[cprocks22]

I'm just gonna throw in my $0.02 before I go to bed. As a high school student, I'm exposed to pot...almost every day by someone at school. Saying this, I would MUCH rather have someone high on pot then drunk in my class, much less annoying overall. I am completely for pot being legalized, as I really don't see it as too harmful (IN MODERATION). I have plenty of friends that used to or do smoke pot and their lives really aren't screwed up. Almost all of them get good grades, try hard in school, and live normal lives.

 

On the argument about it being addicting heres what I think. While I believe that the substance itself is not addictive (less addicting than caffeine in my opinion), there is a mental part to it that is addictive (as others in this thread have said before). Just as you can get addicted to the feeling of getting drunk, you can get addicted to the feeling of being high. If you can drink responsibly then I believe you should be able to smoke pot responsibly as well. Legalizing pot (in the same way that tobacco and alcohol have been legalized) could be good for people that need it for medical reasons, economical reasons, and other things.

 

EDIT: I should say that I have never done any form of any drug, including alcohol.

[metrock]

I should say that I have never done any form of any drug, including alcohol.

Not even grape flavored chewable Tylenol?

[mcjaco]

But is food illegal? No.

 

Only if it's black market bread.

[paintballer]

I should say that I have never done any form of any drug, including alcohol.

Not even grape flavored chewable Tylenol?

 

You know the difference; Don't be a smartass

[metrock]

^ And don't be so serious?

 

On that note ...

 

 

[CoasterGuy06]

A common theme I keep seeing is that it's bad because it is illegal. Just because something is illegal does not make it a bad thing. Many things we would not consider bad today were illegal at one time. Granted I have never tried marijuana, in large part because it is illegal, but I see no reason to keep it illegal when cigarettes and alcohol are legal.

[ParkTrips]

Some laws actually do exist for a reason.

yeah thats why I'm not saying make all drugs legal

 

That's a small part of it. In my opinion, you can't open up a Pandora's Box like they suggested (legalizing all drugs) without eventual hikes in healthcare cost, insurance rates, local taxes to pay for increased law enforcement, etc., etc. etc.

How about decriminalizing marijuana? Like anything under a certain amount is ok (but higher than 1oz)? Would you be up for that? That's honestly fine by me too. Like I said, I don't smoke weed so whether or not its legal really doesn't matter to me. I just hate seeing all the time and money being spent on marijuana crimes

[phazan]

I should say that I have never done any form of any drug, including alcohol.

Not even grape flavored chewable Tylenol?

 

You know the difference; Don't be a smartass

 

Well he said any form of any drug...That covers every possible drug!

[cprocks22]

I should say that I have never done any form of any drug, including alcohol.

Not even grape flavored chewable Tylenol?

 

You know the difference; Don't be a smartass

 

What he said, and let me clarify. I have never done any "illegal" drugs as well as alcohol and tabacco

[phazan]

I should say that I have never done any form of any drug, including alcohol.

Not even grape flavored chewable Tylenol?

 

You know the difference; Don't be a smartass

 

What he said, and let me clarify. I have never done any "illegal" drugs as well as alcohol and tabacco

 

Alcohol and nicotine are both drugs. And what about prescription drugs? technically they are illegal, if someone else gets a hold of them...which makes you a liar and a drug user.

 

...of course I'm just messing with you though

[darklingscribe]

Despite the arguments against legalizing pot because of the accidents the high people might cause, I think it's legalization is still a good idea.

 

Making pot legal would really hurt the illegal drug trafficking trade which I think would prevent more deaths than would be created by those under the influence. Think of how many people would switch to marijuana from their current drug of choice because it offers a cheaper high.

 

Also, the taxes that could be levied on this new crop would be a great help to states hit hard by the recession.

[Emiroo]

As Chris Rock says, "The only reason coke & weed are illegal is because the best coke & weed aren't made in America!"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxpNpvCFgAI

[AllenA07]

I question what the effect of legalization would be on the illegal drug market. I have a very hard time believing that instead of dealing drugs Jimmy the Dealer would decide to clean up his act, go to college and become a CPA. What I worry about is that dealers are still going to need a source of income and therefore are going to begin attempting to sell other, more dangerous, drugs. Now to be clear I'm in no way advocating keep it illegal because we need to consider the needs of the drug dealers, but it's just an interesting aspect to consider.

 

The other point I want to hit is the entire concept of, well alcohol is legal and therefore we should make weed legal. I'm really not a fan of that kind of logic. Can alcohol be dangerous? Yes. Can alcohol be addictive? Yes. Can Alcohol cause accidents when people drive under its influence? Yes. Alright so lets make marijuana legal since it may or may not be as dangerous as alcohol. Should people drive drunk, of course not. However just because people drive drunk and alcohol is legal, doesn't mean we need to go out and make marijuana legal.