Legalize It?

[AASpartan]

Originally Posted by spartan1998

First of all, not a puritan. Not judging anyone, just talking about legalization of a drug. They only things I am worried about are 1) my kid (who isn't even born yet) 2) society as whole, because I have to live in it and it effects me.

The thought of people getting high, or drunk doesn't bother me. The thought of legalizing yet another drug that will likely have a detrimental effect on society concerns me... bothers?? that is a little off.

I knew someone was going to bring up the G-13. Even if the gov. did give you G-13 for non medical use (which isn't going to happen). I would be even more against it because not only would they legalize it, they would make it stronger??

I don't even smoke pot, but there really aren't any great arguments for not making it legal while holding a beer. Right now we're wasting millions and millions of dollars trying to fight the "war on drugs" and incarcerate people for selling and holding bags of weed. That's stupid. Legalize it. Tax it. Spend that money on education and treatment instead. This drug war isn't something that is going to be won. Honestly, if everyone switched from alcohol to weed, society would probably be a lot better off.

[spartan1998]

Originally Posted by GoStateNate

There has never, ever been a proven ink between Marijuana and lung cancer. And believe all you want about it being a gateway drug, the real gateway drug is already legal, and if someone has a penchant for looking for a buzz, they're going to find it. The continuation of a failed policy of prohibition is downright silly if you actually look at the wasted tax dollars that go to enforcing this prohibition, and the amount of people who are in jails and prisons, also wasting tax dollars. It's ludicrous.

Also, why is it evil? Why would this be a "con" to society? No one has ever adequately explained why being able to smoke marijuana would be a detriment to our culture or to our society. It's a plant. Plants have neither the ability to evil or be good. It's a plant, no more, no less and what people choose to do with this plant is their own business.

I don't have time to find the articles to prove it to you, but you are wrong. I assume that most know this and agree. Though this board would be a tough sample to test this.

"What is so evil about a plant?"... Please!

So you are for the legalizion of cocain and just about every other freaking thing smoked, snorted or eaten?

Your point about money spent enforcing drug prohibition is valid. However, even with legalized gonja, they will still need the enforcement for other drugs. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the actually make money on the whole drug enforcement thing.

[Victory4MSU]

Originally Posted by spartan1998

I just made up that tax thing. No idea if it is credible. Certainly the prohibition of alcohol and subsequent legalization says otherwise. I think it is quite possible out come even with cheaper pot prices. Because it would be regulated I'm sure the gov. wouldn't have the blue hair crap (or whatever qualifies as "good pot") anyway. Nevertheless, it is good to know that the gov. wants to also make it affordable.

Who said I thought we were sending a good message to our adolescents about alcohol? It is a horrible message and because it has been legalized, for the most part it is too late, or at least a huge uphill struggle to change it. So why go down that road with pot too?

Will your kids, kids will be advocating for legalized crack?

I don't think the govt. has anything to do with the price if it was made legal. Private companies would be able to grow it and sell it, much like tobacco is right now. The huge influx of supply is what would drive the prices down.

And about the whole message thing, I think anything that doesn't pose a risk to people or at least others around them should be legal. This is America right? FREEDOM!!!

Yeah, no one is going to advocate legalizing crack...

[Three Putt Par]

The war on drugs is out of control. Why are we putting people in prison for victimless crimes?? If people want to smoke weed at their own risk, why not let them? Our government doesn't treat alcohol this way, why should they treat weed like this? History tells us prohibition doesn't work. The government can't protect the invididual from itself.

[GoStateNate]

Originally Posted by spartan1998

I don't have time to find the articles to prove it to you, but you are wrong. I assume that most know this and agree. Though this board would be a tough sample to test this.

"What is so evil about a plant?"... Please!

So you are for the legalizion of cocain and just about every other freaking thing smoked, snorted or eaten?

Your point about money spent enforcing drug prohibition is valid. However, even with legalized gonja, they will still need the enforcement for other drugs. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the actually make money on the whole drug enforcement thing.

Please, I'm wrong because I'm wrong? That's reasoning at its finest folks.

BTW, have you looked at the poll on this thread? Most would agree, but please disregard this sampling of the population please. And please, do enlighten me, what is so evil about a plant? You still have yet to actually answer the question with any form or reason or logic. "it is because I say it is" is all we're getting from you.

And yes, BTW, I am for the decriminalization of most, if not all drugs and using the money currently spent on enforcing the unenforceable more wisely in treatment programs for junkies. Here's a secret. Most junkies don't really want to be junkies, and want to get better. Hard drug use is usually a symptom of something greater, a psychological trauma of some sort that they are trying to escape. Let's not just lock these people up, let's get them the help they need.

[Three Putt Par]

You want to put the drug dealer out of business overnight, legalize it.

[Venice Spartan]

Originally Posted by sparty569

I am pretty sure it is only medicinal in CA, but didn't a state in the New Englang area decriminalize it in the last election.

Yeah medicinal marijuana, like I say, for whatever ails ya.

The LA Weekly, which is the alternative free paper is full of ads for MD's who write prescriptions and there is now a storefront on the Venice Boardwalk with a barker outside yelling get your prescriptions here.

Obviously not like this all over CA but their are a ton of Farmacy's that also ad in the same paper.
The feds bust one once in awhile just to show who's boss

It's been decriminalized for years in many states in the West, with Alaska being the first I believe

[MikeJohnson]

Originally Posted by gw73

There are a lot of dangerous things out there. Regulate it.

Conservative and criminal attorney for 30+ years but decriminalize it

I'm not a conservative but good call regulate it and you can generate revenue. Hey this might be the thing to get us out of the slump we are in with the economy.

I smoked weed back in HS and it's really no big deal to me. Just be smart about it don't take 5 bong hits in a row and drive home shortly after. Although, I know some people who drive better high than sober. Anyways to me if anything cigarettes should be illegal mroe people died from lung cancer than all of the wars combined, and yet cigarette smoking is legal and wee is not? What in the hell us up with that jacked up legal system? Without making this a wells speech at least we have the right administration in to change the law.

[spartan1998]

I'm not here to educate you all on the detriments that marijuana can have on an individual or society as a whole. I am fairly confident that I could convince you all, even the chronics. However, unless I'm being paid to do so, I don't have the time.

I just wanted to share my opinion. Mission accomplished.

[Three Putt Par]

Originally Posted by spartan1998

I'm not here to educate you all on the detriments that marijuana can have on an individual or society as a whole. I am fairly confident that I could convince you all, even the chronics. However, unless I'm being paid to do so, I don't have the time.

I just wanted to share my opinion. Mission accomplished.

It's OK to have a different opinion

[GoStateNate]

Originally Posted by spartan1998

I'm not here to educate you all on the detriments that marijuana can have on an individual or society as a whole. I am fairly confident that I could convince you all, even the chronics. However, unless I'm being paid to do so, I don't have the time.

I just wanted to share my opinion. Mission accomplished.

Translation. I have no facts to back up any of my claims, so I'm taking my ball and going home. Good night.

[CCSPARTY32]

Originally Posted by spartan1998

I'm not here to educate you all on the detriments that marijuana can have on an individual or society as a whole. I am fairly confident that I could convince you all, even the chronics. However, I don't have the facts to back my argument, and don't feel like trying to make them up.

I just wanted to share my opinion. Mission accomplished.

Fixed

[spartan1998]

Originally Posted by GoStateNate

Please, I'm wrong because I'm wrong? That's reasoning at its finest folks.

BTW, have you looked at the poll on this thread? Most would agree, but please disregard this sampling of the population please. And please, do enlighten me, what is so evil about a plant? You still have yet to actually answer the question with any form or reason or logic. "it is because I say it is" is all we're getting from you.

And yes, BTW, I am for the decriminalization of most, if not all drugs and using the money currently spent on enforcing the unenforceable more wisely in treatment programs for junkies. Here's a secret. Most junkies don't really want to be junkies, and want to get better. Hard drug use is usually a symptom of something greater, a psychological trauma of some sort that they are trying to escape. Let's not just lock these people up, let's get them the help they need.

I did not say you are wrong because you are wrong. I said you are wrong and I don't have the time to show you why.

If you are so invested. Why do YOU look it up and refute the thousands of studies and great minds that say this would be a problem and that, YES, marijuana can be harmful to individuals and to society. Then you can refute these articles to your hearts content. I promise I will check back and read your thoughts on why these understandings are wrong and you are right.

[Three Putt Par]

Originally Posted by GoStateNate

Please, I'm wrong because I'm wrong? That's reasoning at its finest folks.

BTW, have you looked at the poll on this thread? Most would agree, but please disregard this sampling of the population please. And please, do enlighten me, what is so evil about a plant? You still have yet to actually answer the question with any form or reason or logic. "it is because I say it is" is all we're getting from you.

And yes, BTW, I am for the decriminalization of most, if not all drugs and using the money currently spent on enforcing the unenforceable more wisely in treatment programs for junkies. Here's a secret. Most junkies don't really want to be junkies, and want to get better. Hard drug use is usually a symptom of something greater, a psychological trauma of some sort that they are trying to escape. Let's not just lock these people up, let's get them the help they need.

This is something I definitely agree with. Overdosing on drugs is not a crime, it's an illness. We should be helping people with their problems, not locking them up (that should be used for rape, murder, theft, ext..) Our gov should legalize and tax weed and other drugs and use that money for rehabilitation centers.

[GoStateNate]

Originally Posted by spartan1998

I did not say you are wrong because you are wrong. I said you are wrong and I don't have the time to show you why.

If you are so invested. Why do YOU look it up and refute the thousands of studies and great minds that say this would be a problem and that, YES, marijuana can be harmful to individuals and to society. Then you can refute these articles to your hearts content. I promise I will check back and read your thoughts on why these understandings are wrong and you are right.

You have the time to keep posting man, so just do us all favor and enlighten us, since we're all wrong.

[joerco]

Originally Posted by 277Gunson

Also, what if you are the driver and not smoking, but get pulled over with some friends that are smoking? If you are a smoker odds are it will be in your system. The cop smells the weed, yet you aren't high, but he takes you in, gets your blood test and it comes back +. Now you are F'ed.

Just because it would be legal doesn't mean that no restrictions would apply. You can't have open containers of alcohol in a car, so I'm sure that law would apply to a passenger having a lit joint in the car.

In fact, think of all of the restricting laws towards alcohol and apply them to weed: no open containers in public, no public intoxication, etc. My guess is that if legalization gets tested in some state, it would start out or end up being limited to home use.

[Jaheab]

Originally Posted by spartan1998

I knew someone was going to bring up the G-13. Even if the gov. did give you G-13 for non medical use (which isn't going to happen). I would be even more against it because not only would they legalize it, they would make it stronger??

Not trying to be a pot but...there are plenty of strains better than G13 (IMHO). The worse thing that could happen to smokers is the government uber-regulating by trying to grow and distribute ganja.

Think I'm lying? Look into what happened in Canada when they tried to grow medical marijuana in abandoned coal mines.

[No excuses, but...]

Originally Posted by GoStateNate

You have the time to keep posting man, so just do us all favor and enlighten us, since we're all wrong.

Yes. Please do. You claim there are thousands of studies backing you. It shouldn't be too tough to bring up just ONE.

[Venice Spartan]

Originally Posted by GoStateNate

You still have yet to answer why this would have a detrimental effect on society, something I asked in my first post. If that is your main reason why? Isn't it far more detrimental to our culture or society to keep it illegal? To keep arresting people for smoking a plant? To keep incarcerating people and wasting our tax dollars trying to enforce the unenforceable? The government learned its lesson with alcohol, that it was impossible to keep people from drinking. They have yet to apply this lesson to marijuana, but what is going on, the discussion of legalization is very very healthy.

It seems to me that making everyone who gets caught with a plant get a criminal record is far more detrimental. Far more detrimental to keep telling lies to our children about the "evils" of marijuana, when most of those kids are going to grow up and see that is exactly what happened to them, they were lied to.

In the early 70's, 2 movies played every weekend on campus Harold and Maude and Reefer Madness. A big part of the drug and anarchy movement in colleges then was based on they lied about weed and the war and what else?

The illegaliztion of weed was instituted over some BS Gov't storeis about Mexicans going on weed rape and pillaging campaigns in Arizona and the same with Cocaine by blacks in the South.

Hence no more Coke in Coke.

[Jaheab]

Originally Posted by Venice Spartan

In the early 70's, 2 movies played every weekend on campus Harold and Maude and Reefer Madness. A big part of the drug and anarchy movement in colleges then was based on they lied about weed and the war and what else?

The illegaliztion of weed was instituted over some BS Gov't storeis about Mexicans going on weed rape and pillaging campaigns in Arizona and the same with Cocaine by blacks in the South.

Hence no more Coke in Coke.

Don't forget, pot makes a white man's soul vulnerable to awful things...like sex and JAZZ

[GoStateNate]

Originally Posted by Jaheab

Don't forget, pot makes a white man's soul vulnerable to awful things...like sex and JAZZ

Yeah, this "evil" plant turns all who may come into contact with it into pagans, heathens or godless communists.

[No excuses, but...]

spartan1998 and anyone else who voted "NO" should watch this video. Its long (1hr, 45 min) but if you have the time to watch it, I guarantee you will not be disappointed for doing so.

And for those of you who voted yes, light up and watch it!

[Venice Spartan]

It could be grown pretty cheaply and if taxed to todays' market price the Gov't take would be huge.

Marijuana is the most price stable commodity there is, the basic price hasn't changed in 20+ years

[Venice Spartan]

Originally Posted by Jaheab

Don't forget, pot makes a white man's soul vulnerable to awful things...like sex and JAZZ

[No excuses, but...]

Originally Posted by GoStateNate

Yeah, this "evil" plant turns all who may come into contact with it into pagans, heathens or godless communists.

And worst of all, causes crazed negroes to cast their gazes upon white women!