should marijuana be legal?

[audi111688]

i just would like to get a convo goin on this topic... please dont get too offensive or defensive and start a hissy fit... casual debate is fine...

 

[IGBT]

..it's the desire to intoxicate thats the problem. if you weren't looking to get dizzy you wouldn't be thinking of such things.

 

[audi111688]

agreed...but its also been proven medicinally useful...and people do look to intoxicate.. so people are thinking of such things..

this country could benefit from the legalization of mj.. look how much money goes towards anti-weed campaigning.. not to mention the millions, perhaps billions of taxes spent towards the incarceration of petty mj offenders.. it just doesn't make much sense to me..

 

[Craig234]

Here's a summary of my view:

Pros:
- Increases freedom of people to choose
- Creates jobs
- Humane and economic issue, takes people out of prisons for this industry, leaving them as productive citizens (in many cases)
- Reduces the 'criminal infrastructure' by taking money out of the criminal organizations who run the businesses - and also others. By analogy, think of taking 'passenger cars' out of Ford's industry, so they could only sell trucks, SUV's, etc. There would be fewer dealerships, less advertising, etc. Fewer dollars = fewer dealers = fewer dealers of other drugs, too.
- Reduces law enforcement costs
- Reduces the violent crime and corruption of law enforcement and politics associated with the illegality
- Helps Mexico by taking large sums out of their criminal industries
- Lowers the cost, increases the quality/safety
- Creates new sourcee of taxes, for general economic benefit as well as funding anti-use education/treatment, even while lowering costs, as black market inefficiences are removed

Cons:

- Potential increase in use, causing whatever harms are associated with that use

Basically, I've stopped short of saying 'legalize it now', and suggested the harm from doing so be analyzed, to reach a decision. I lean towards legalizing it.

 

[TheNewbie]

For medical prescribed usage - yes no problem.
For personal usage - yes but with certain limitations:
1. first of all age
2. certified dealers (pharmacies etc. even for non-medical use)
3. restrictions on the amount you're allowed to use per day
4. restrictions on the places you can use the i.e. you can use only at certain places like coffee shops, using at home might cause problems with kids and harder to supervise so it should be forbidden.

Works great in Holland, I see no reason why it shouldn't work elsewhere.

 

[MikeO]

Yes.

 

[reeserock]

Yes. Sell with the same restrictions as alcohol.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Fine time to make it legal, lol. The wave of anti-smoking laws all over the country probably means they'd have to sell it in baked goods.

 

[Ryan]

I see no rational argument for it's illegality, especially considering the government sanctions alcohol, a far worse drug.

 

[Ozoned]

What politician would take on this cause? To be so brave to appear to be soft on crime?

 

[EagleKeeper]

And after MJ, what next?

 

[Capitalizt]

Everyone voting no hasn't smoked it.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
And after MJ, what next?

Typical.

 

[KB]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
And after MJ, what next?

Crystal Meth of course!!!


MJ is about the only drug that doesn't create a chemical dependence anymore so than alcohol.
Thats why only MJ should be legalized. Its like smoking and alcohol combined. If those two are legal with restrictions, why can't MJ? No I do not smoke. I just want the tax revenue from the sale of MJ so they stop raising other taxes.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: TheNewbie
For medical prescribed usage - yes no problem.
For personal usage - yes but with certain limitations:
1. first of all age
2. certified dealers (pharmacies etc. even for non-medical use)
3. restrictions on the amount you're allowed to use per day
4. restrictions on the places you can use the i.e. you can use only at certain places like coffee shops, using at home might cause problems with kids and harder to supervise so it should be forbidden.

Works great in Holland, I see no reason why it shouldn't work elsewhere.

I would say that these are reasonable guidelines and would make it pretty easy to implement.

 

[piasabird]

MJ is a drug that builds up in your system. I doubt there have been studies about the long term use of MJ that were subjective and not designed to show the harmful effects. With a little genetic engineering it might be possible to make a better quality product available to the public. The Government is missing a big-time chance to earn some serious tax dollars off of this stuff.

I dont see the difference between MJ and Viagra. They are both Happy Drugs. Viagra may be more harmful than MJ.

 

[Darwin333]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong

Originally posted by: TheNewbie
For medical prescribed usage - yes no problem.
For personal usage - yes but with certain limitations:
1. first of all age
2. certified dealers (pharmacies etc. even for non-medical use)
3. restrictions on the amount you're allowed to use per day
4. restrictions on the places you can use the i.e. you can use only at certain places like coffee shops, using at home might cause problems with kids and harder to supervise so it should be forbidden.

Works great in Holland, I see no reason why it shouldn't work elsewhere.

I would say that these are reasonable guidelines and would make it pretty easy to implement.

I would agree except for making it forbidden to use at home. The government has no business telling you what you can and can not do in the privacy of your own home as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. I also don't think its the governments place to assume that you are going to be irresponsible and therefor pass legislation to "protect you from yourself". The same reasons given could be used to say that you can't have a bottle of wine with your dinner in your own home or drink a few beers while you watch the game.

 

[lozina]

Let the individual states decide

 

[piasabird]

And Tobacco seeds should be sold a garden centers so people can grow their own tobacco.

 

[nageov3t]

yes, with the same restrictions as alcohol.

 

[rpanic]

Originally posted by: piasabird
And Tobacco seeds should be sold a garden centers so people can grow their own tobacco.

I never knew they couldn't sell tabaco seeds that seems wierd, I have seen it growing wild.

 

[BoberFett]

Originally posted by: loki8481
yes, with the same restrictions as alcohol.

Really? You think blue laws a good thing? Why shouldn't I be able to buy beer on a Sunday to take home, but can go to a bar to drink? Are we trying to encourage drunk driving?

 

[jonks]

Yes, if only because the tv ads would be awesome.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: BoberFett

Originally posted by: loki8481
yes, with the same restrictions as alcohol.

Really? You think blue laws a good thing? Why shouldn't I be able to buy beer on a Sunday to take home, but can go to a bar to drink? Are we trying to encourage drunk driving?

I don't think he meant blue laws. Not every place has those. Hell, in CA you can buy liquor on Sunday morning in a grocery store with your credit card.

He probably just meant adults only, no DUI, etc. I totally agree.

Originally posted by: IGBT
..it's the desire to intoxicate thats the problem. if you weren't looking to get dizzy you wouldn't be thinking of such things.

How is it a problem except you're one of those types that would outlaw sex if you could?

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy
And after MJ, what next?

Nothing. All the harder stuff is already legal with a prescription.

 

[Moonbeam]

You would think that a country in which the citizens are allowed to own guns that there would be no pot laws or no living police so there's something wrong with the promise of the second amendment or something wrong with the people's notion of freedom. I think there will be pot laws as long as people either don't believe or hypocritically, don't practice what they preach.