Legalizing marijuana. I don't get it.

[infinix]

I have tried pot before, but I wasn't overly impressed with its effects on me. So I don't really get why there is such a fervor to legalize it.

I raise this question because I've noticed several folks in here who are usually pretty vocal on this issue. Could you guys enlighten me on this issue?

Is it more for personal pleasure or is it more for the "hemp is a superior material for clothing and paper"?

 

[Kestra]

Probably more because they don't feel it should be illegal, rather than how awesome it is.

 

[Merky]

I understand its usage for medical purposes. Recreational, I don't see how it's beneficial.

 

[scottydog]

I don't smoke the stuff myself, but being somewhat of a libertarian, I'd be in favor of legalizing pretty much all drugs. Doing so would eliminate a lot of organized crime, and it would eliminate the hypocrisy of having some drugs legal (e.g., alcohol) but not others.

 

[Amaris]

I understand its usage for medical purposes. Recreational, I don't see how it's beneficial.

Recreationally speaking, alcohol isn't beneficial either, neither is smoking, but they are both legal, and both create effects that are just as bad, if not worse, than marijuana. It being illegal is very hypocritical of the government's "War on Drugs" when in fact, we are a drug culture. I say this as someone who does not smoke pot.

 

[infinix]

Probably more because they don't feel it should be illegal, rather than how awesome it is.

Okay, so why should it not be illegal?

 

[SG-17]

Well for one it is great for dealing with pain and has no ill side effects like other pain-killers. Secondly it was only made illegal because the timber industry was afraid of loosing profit in paper to hemp producers. Thirdly there have been no reported cases of death caused my marijuana use (compared to thousands with tobacco and alcohol) and there is even an indication that it inhibits cancer cell growth.

 

[Gov Kodos]

And prohibition has been as effective in aiding organized crime as alcohol prohibition was, and the government has been as ineffective at stopping marijuana sale and distribution nationally and internationally as with alcohol prohibition.

 

[LitmusDragon]

Some reasons I am personally in favor of legalization

1. Because it's not much (if any) more harmful than alcohol which is legal
2. We waste millions (billions?) of dollars a year in the war on drugs, the vast majority directed towards cannabis which is the most commonly used illegal drug by far.
3. Cannabis possession is not a serious enough offense to warrant jail time
4. People have died needlessly during drug raids and/or from drug related gang violence
5. It could be taxed as a source of revenue
6. It is offensive for the government to legislate so innocuous an offense as pot
7. Public opinion is largely in favor of it (or at least indifferent)

Reasons it won't be legalized

1. DEA is big business
2. Conservatism
3. Entrenched politics

I'll have to admit I was surprised that the ballot in California didn't pass. If it won't pass there it won't pass anywhere else. Maybe in 10 years.

 

[infinix]

Well for one it is great for dealing with pain and has no ill side effects like other pain-killers. Secondly it was only made illegal because the timber industry was afraid of loosing profit in paper to hemp producers. Thirdly there have been no reported cases of death caused my marijuana use (compared to thousands with tobacco and alcohol) and there is even an indication that it inhibits cancer call growth.

I hear this argument all the time. But didn't the lobbying take place in the early 20th century? like before WWI? Its hard to imagine the timber industry still having so much influence now.

 

[SG-17]

Well for one it is great for dealing with pain and has no ill side effects like other pain-killers. Secondly it was only made illegal because the timber industry was afraid of loosing profit in paper to hemp producers. Thirdly there have been no reported cases of death caused my marijuana use (compared to thousands with tobacco and alcohol) and there is even an indication that it inhibits cancer call growth.

I hear this argument all the time. But didn't the lobbying take place in the early 20th century? like before WWI? Its hard to imagine the timber industry still having so much influence now.

They don't, it is just that the DEA has unjust influence in keeping things illegal which, when legal, they lose a substantiation amount of money on.

 

[Merky]

I don't smoke the stuff myself, but being somewhat of a libertarian, I'd be in favor of legalizing pretty much all drugs. Doing so would eliminate a lot of organized crime, and it would eliminate the hypocrisy of having some drugs legal (e.g., alcohol) but not others.

It will also increase abuse and the rate of addicts. It would also be harder for those who medically need the drugs for their medical needs. We have too many problems with drugs and abuse to go ahead and give everyone a free pass to get fucked up and hurt someone else.

Medication is here to help those that are terminally ill. Not for those to buy them, crack them, snort it up and ride on a high. It's selfish, disgusting, and I am totally against any attempt in legalizing consumption for recreational usage. Want to get high? Jump off of a building.

I understand its usage for medical purposes. Recreational, I don't see how it's beneficial.

Recreationally speaking, alcohol isn't beneficial either, neither is smoking, but they are both legal, and both create effects that are just as bad, if not worse, than marijuana. It being illegal is very hypocritical of the government's "War on Drugs" when in fact, we are a drug culture. I say this as someone who does not smoke pot.

True, this is very true.

 

[SmoothieX]

Don't want to see it legalized, but decriminalizing it wouldn't bother me too much.

 

[Jadzia]

I don't smoke the stuff myself, but being somewhat of a libertarian, I'd be in favor of legalizing pretty much all drugs. Doing so would eliminate a lot of organized crime, and it would eliminate the hypocrisy of having some drugs legal (e.g., alcohol) but not others.

I feel this way too. I've never wanted to try street drugs, and I have little taste for alcohol, but I believe that people should have some freedom to ingest these substances if they please. Be sure to let them know the risks by extending the scheme we use to classify harmful/toxic substances, so we could have a little square orange warning label for 'psychotropic' substances.

I'll also add that people are responsible for their own choices. So if they end up psychotic, doing criminal things, or dead, then that fate is of their own making, and we shouldn't displace blame onto the drug like some alcoholics do when they say "it's only the drink that's talking".

 

[Lindley]

The primary benefit of legalizing it would be to free up officers to deal with offenses that are actually dangerous.

shouldn't displace blame onto the drug like some alcoholics do when they say "it's only the drink that's talking".

You know, it's tempting to say it's just a blame dodge, but sometimes it really is the drink talking----I've seen people become a completely different personality after a few drinks, then be back to normal after sleeping it off. I can't explain it, but it does happen.

I encourage such people not to drink, as they can become very unpredictable when they cross that line.

 

[Gaith]

I have tried pot before, but I wasn't overly impressed with its effects on me. So I don't really get why there is such a fervor to legalize it.

I had a potato salad once, but I wasn't overly impressed with its effects on me. So I don't really get why there is such a fervor to legalize it. Why shouldn't we continue ruining the lives of those degenerate enough to eat it from time to time?

 

[Lindley]

I would be in favor of a Potato Salad Tax.

 

[SG-17]

I don't smoke the stuff myself, but being somewhat of a libertarian, I'd be in favor of legalizing pretty much all drugs. Doing so would eliminate a lot of organized crime, and it would eliminate the hypocrisy of having some drugs legal (e.g., alcohol) but not others.

It will also increase abuse and the rate of addicts. It would also be harder for those who medically need the drugs for their medical needs. We have too many problems with drugs and abuse to go ahead and give everyone a free pass to get fucked up and hurt someone else.

Medication is here to help those that are terminally ill. Not for those to buy them, crack them, snort it up and ride on a high. It's selfish, disgusting, and I am totally against any attempt in legalizing consumption for recreational usage. Want to get high? Jump off of a building.

Are you talking about crack or marijuana? They are two very different drugs. For one you can't physically become addicted to marijuana and you can't overdose on it either (you would need to smoke your body weight in a day).

Out of the entire cadre of drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, marijuana is the tamest. By tamest I mean practically harmless.

 

[Jadzia]

shouldn't displace blame onto the drug like some alcoholics do when they say "it's only the drink that's talking".

You know, it's tempting to say it's just a blame dodge, but sometimes it really is the drink talking----I've seen people become a completely different personality after a few drinks, then be back to normal after sleeping it off. I can't explain it, but it does happen.

But knowing that this happens, the person still chooses to drink and become that altered personality.

If an altered personality is an expected symptom of their drinking then they're responsible for it's creation and anything they will say and do in that state; that's not the drink's fault.

I encourage such people not to drink, as they can become very unpredictable when they cross that line.

I agree.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Marijuana being illegal:

- Fuels organized crime and gang activity.
- Causes overcrowding in jails and prisons sometimes resulting in the release of more dangerous criminals, and costs the taxpayers billions in lost revenue and expenses.
- Denies a valid form of medical treatment to people in need in many states.
- Prevents the government from taxing and regulating the sale of marijuana, costing billions of dollars and allowing more potent, untested variants to be sold on the street.
- Causes many college students or potential college students to be denied financial aid, thus hurting their future job prospects.
- Prevents an alternate source of clothing materials and other goods from being used.
- Prevents private farms from growing marijuana and paying taxes on their profits.
- Arbitrarily turns a drug that is no worse than alcohol or cigarettes into a criminal offense.
- Creates real or potential criminals out of people who in most cases can be perfectly productive members of society.
- Wastes law enforcement and the court's money, manpower, and resources that would be better spent pursuing and prosecuting more serious crimes.