Legalizing marijuana. I don't get it.

[Trekker4747]

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?

Because alcohol and cigarettes are legal so it makes just as much sense for marijuana to be illegal. Marijuana, by the way, hasn't been directly attributed to any deaths whatsoever. Alcohol and tobacco kill thousands of people ever year both directly and indirectly. Alcohol also ruins lives, tears apart families and ends careers. Yet it's perfectly legal.

Imagine there's a planet out there and there's a substance on it we'll call Spice, or Ketracel White or whatever, possession, sale and use of this drug is illegal on the planet but some in the planet's non-ruling population enjoy using the substance and found a means to produce, distribute and use the substance while avoiding the law. In fact people regularly seek out these scofflaws, shady businesses and criminal organizations have been built around this product and it gets the criminals tons of quataloos (the local currency) of nontaxable and untraceable income.

Oh, wait, we don't have to imagine such a crazy scenario because it happened here, in America, in the 1920s under prohibition of alcohol. Look what we got as a result (a shit load of great movies and a great TV series, I guess.)

So why is MJ any different? Alcohol also stands as the "biggest" "gateway" drug, not MJ.

I am not a user of MJ, have never smoked it and never will smoke it even if it should be legalized but I'm clear-headed enough to see that it being illegal makes no damn sense in the same universe were alcohol is perfectly legal when being even completely fair both substances are just as "bad' for the person, their loved ones, and society.

I can understand the laws and restrictions on "harder" drugs like heroin, opiates, etc. But marijuana? Come on! Just legalize it, tax the shit out of it, and then solve some problems!

 

[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.

It will also increase abuse and the rate of addicts.

I wonder if this would be true. One way to find out would be to look to other countries that have decriminalized narcotic drugs. Did these countries see a rise in the addiction rate?

 

[Miss Chicken]

We can't legalise marijuana use in Tasmania though we have been able to decriminalise its use (for small amounts).

This is because of the United Nations. Tasmania produces half of the world's legal opium and we need continuing permission from the UN to grow it. The UN expects us to have certain drug laws in place. As the poppy industry is so important to our economy we cannot afford to lose the UN's permission.

Most of the pressure on the UN not to allow us (or for that matter the rest of Australia) to legalise marijuana is coming from the USA.

 

[Trekker4747]

It's my understanding that MJ isn't greatly addictive and even if it is it's hardly a terrible addiction. People get a little goofy and maybe spacey. Oh no.

Alcohol can turn people into raging spouse-abusing assholes, marijuana makes a 40-year-old man sit down and laugh through a Sponge-Bob marathon. And I doubt that "it's illegal" is stopping a great number of people from trying it or using it and if it is, again, I say so-what. Marijuana isn't a "bad" drug in the grand scheme of things there's hardly an epidemic in this country, or countries where it's legal or "less illegal" of great social problems. Marijuana simply isn't that bad.

I know at least a dozen of people who use it and they lead perfectly normal, perfectly productive lives, all have full-time jobs with benefits and have no problems coming in to work on-time and doing their jobs; people with serious alcohol problems cannot say the same thing, I can count just as many people (12) who've had serious life-fucking up problems due to alcohol abuse. Probably the most "extreme" cases would be teenagers or young people who use it a tad too much and have a "constantly stoned" manner to them but I'm assuming that weaning off of it/lessening the use and that'd go away.

So, yeah, if it was legalized I doubt that we'd see greatly increased usage or greater number of crimes, domestic abuse cases or will even need "clinics" for people to "detox" off of it (again, like alcohol.) One person I know stopped taking MJ overnight and at the same time struggled for three years to stop smoking cigarettes.

So, yeah, just legalize it.

 

[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.

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.

I'm responding specifically to what the poster originally stated with legalizing all drugs.

Of course there's a difference between crack and marijuana and there's a difference between Oxycontin and Heroine.

And harmless? My brother is an extreme pot head - The kid smokes everyday and he can't remember if he's coming or going half the time. Harmless? It does way more damage than smoking a cigarette. I have to look at this kid every day and hold back the urge to slap his dutch out of his hand. He'd rather spend money on a dime bag then put gas in his car. Sometimes he gets so high he forgets that he has to go to work the next morning or forgets his schedule entirely.

Yeah, harmless indeed. It makes you irresponsible. Sorry, I rather deal with alert people than someone snowed on marijuana.

The only people that should be using marijuana are those who medically need it. Cancer patients, people with nerve disorders, terminally ill patients. Medicine wasn't put on this earth to be abused by people don't need it.

 

[Trekker4747]

Alcohol abuse does the same thing.

 

[Merky]

Alcohol abuse does the same thing.

So is gambling addiction, so is addiction to video games, so is addiction to sex, so is addiction to anything that garners an obessive behavior that results in it afflicting your life and those around you in a negative way.

When it becomes addiction it is bad. Alcohol is not terrible until it becomes an addiction.

Someone can have an addiction to the internet. Never leave their house and become a recluse, aka the hikkikomori.

Marijuana impairs you, regardless. A glass of wine doesn't.

 

[Pingfah]

The only people that should be using marijuana are those who medically need it. Cancer patients, people with nerve disorders, terminally ill patients. Medicine wasn't put on this earth to be abused by people don't need it.

Marijuana wasn't put on the earth at all, and you have no more right to tell others what to do with it than anyone else.

Why not just mind your own business and let others mind theirs.

 

[Amaris]

Alcohol abuse does the same thing.

So is gambling addiction, so is addiction to video games, so is addiction to sex, so is addiction to anything that garners an obessive behavior that results in it afflicting your life and those around you in a negative way.

When it becomes addiction it is bad. Alcohol is not terrible until it becomes an addiction.

Someone can have an addiction to the internet. Never leave their house and become a recluse, aka the hikkikomori.

Marijuana impairs you, regardless. A glass of wine doesn't.

That's a quantitative imbalance. A glass of wine does not equal the use of a joint. That said, a glass of wine absolutely can impair you, depending upon your body mass.

 

[Mistral]

As a former "heavy user" who's come clean and stayed that way for years my perspective is What's the fuss about?
Sure, abusing any drug will make you (enter symptoms here) but having pot illegal doesn't cut that behavior back-it just means people have to be criminals to get that stupid. Make it legal and relax. It won't be the end of the world. It won't make people turn on to heroin. It won't lead to a wave of pot-related deaths or destroy Western society as we know it. It will just separate the idiots from the people with common sense. And make the government a fortune in taxes.

 

[Mistral]

Alcohol abuse does the same thing.

So is gambling addiction, so is addiction to video games, so is addiction to sex, so is addiction to anything that garners an obessive behavior that results in it afflicting your life and those around you in a negative way.

When it becomes addiction it is bad. Alcohol is not terrible until it becomes an addiction.

Someone can have an addiction to the internet. Never leave their house and become a recluse, aka the hikkikomori.

Marijuana impairs you, regardless. A glass of wine doesn't.

That's a quantitative imbalance. A glass of wine does not equal the use of a joint. That said, a glass of wine absolutely can impair you, depending upon one's body mass.

Sorry to double post-but, yup, me and one glass of wine is not someone you want in polite society. Not if you want to keep it polite.

 

[iguana_tonante]

And harmless? My brother is an extreme pot head - The kid smokes everyday and he can't remember if he's coming or going half the time. Harmless? It does way more damage than smoking a cigarette. I have to look at this kid every day and hold back the urge to slap his dutch out of his hand. He'd rather spend money on a dime bag then put gas in his car. Sometimes he gets so high he forgets that he has to go to work the next morning or forgets his schedule entirely.

So you are the guy whose brother is an alcoholism, and now wants to bring back prohibition. Because it worked so well last time.

I'm sorry about your troubles, but your position is too coloured but your own problems to be rational about this issue.

Medicine wasn't put on this earth to be abused by people don't need it.

Well, alcohol is a medical substance too. Would you support making it illegal?

 

[Merky]

Alcohol abuse does the same thing.

So is gambling addiction, so is addiction to video games, so is addiction to sex, so is addiction to anything that garners an obessive behavior that results in it afflicting your life and those around you in a negative way.

When it becomes addiction it is bad. Alcohol is not terrible until it becomes an addiction.

Someone can have an addiction to the internet. Never leave their house and become a recluse, aka the hikkikomori.

Marijuana impairs you, regardless. A glass of wine doesn't.

That's a quantitative imbalance. A glass of wine does not equal the use of a joint. That said, a glass of wine absolutely can impair you, depending upon your body mass.

It is a quantitative imbalance, as much as the argument of someone comparing a full blown alcoholic to a pot user and then justifying that pot should be legal because we have some asshole outside getting drunk out of their mind and being a menace to society.

So because some guy who could not control himself gets drunk that should be the excuse as to why marijuana should be legal for recreational use. That... makes... no... sense.

Well marijuana gets you jacked up too! Then, why should it be legal for recreational usage? Why put another risk out there? Shouldn't the argument then be, because there are individuals with an addictive personality alcohol and marijuana should be illegal? I don't get it...

Marijuana should be legalized for medical usage only. I do not see the benefits in some kid getting stoned and being unproductive or a some person deciding to go on a drive while smoking a blunt. I just don't.

Why not just mind your own business and let others mind theirs.

It's called a discussion. Sorry, don't like it then come with a counter argument.

Well, alcohol is a medical substance too.

I hope you're not implying that drinking alcohol is the same as rubbing alcohol...

 

[Pingfah]

Why not just mind your own business and let others mind theirs.

It's called a discussion. Sorry, don't like it then come with a counter argument.

Obviously I am referring to your desire to see your whims legally imposed upon others, not your right to say so.

I guess you and intellectual honesty aren't too well acquainted either huh?

 

[Miss Chicken]

I think we need laws to stop marijuana abuse but in itself I see no good reason for marijuana to be illegal. The harm caused by it being illegal is greater than the harm that would be caused by it being legal and either way I don't think the amount of people using it would differ greatly.

 

[Merky]

Why not just mind your own business and let others mind theirs.

It's called a discussion. Sorry, don't like it then come with a counter argument.

Obviously I am referring to your desire to see your whims legally imposed upon others, not your right to say so.

I guess you and intellectual honesty aren't too well acquainted either huh?

"My whims". By stating that I do not see the benefits in legalizing recreational marijuana I am "imposing" my whims legally upon others.

Do I work for government? Sorry for the rhetorical question but I did not know that an opinion now has the weight to legally impose changes to the law of this country.

 

[Pingfah]

It's called a discussion. Sorry, don't like it then come with a counter argument.

Obviously I am referring to your desire to see your whims legally imposed upon others, not your right to say so.

I guess you and intellectual honesty aren't too well acquainted either huh?

"My whims". By stating that I do not see the benefits in legalizing recreational marijuana I am "imposing" my whims legally upon others.

Do I work for government? Sorry for the rhetorical question but I did not know that an opinion now has the weight to legally impose changes to the law of this country.

Again, I have not tried or expressed a desire to curtail your right to express an opinion, no matter how many times you try to claim I have. You are the only one in this exchange who wishes to place limits on other people's behaviour.

Again, my statement was directed at your stated opinion that given the choice you would see something remain illegal to satisfy your own will.

 

[iguana_tonante]

Well, alcohol is a medical substance too.

I hope you're not implying that drinking alcohol is the same as rubbing alcohol...

That's not an answer. Again: do you support making alcohol illegal? What about tobacco?

 

[HoneyBLilly]

Marijuana doesn't kill brain cells. Common misconception.

I don't use it myself but both of my older sisters and one of my younger brother use it. And guess what, they're brilliant.

My oldest is television/music/film critic for our newspaper. She also does the sports reporting on the 5 o'clock news.
The other sister is a mathematician who teaches trig/pre calc to high school and college students in Iowa.
And my little brother is a software designer who graduated from MIT.

Oh yes, they are so stupid.

I have no issue with people using it, I however get migraines from the smell so I avoid it. There's nothing wrong with it. Alcohol and cigarettes are much more harmful and deadly, and that's from my husband who's a doctor.

There's a substitute drug called "Spice" that's legal. It causes hallucinations and and seizures. Marijuana has however never been linked to such things and it's illegal in some states. Most fatal car accidents involve alcohol and it's legal. Lung cancer is one of the most common killers today and cigarette's are legal.

What does that tell you?

 

[Merky]

Well, alcohol is a medical substance too.

I hope you're not implying that drinking alcohol is the same as rubbing alcohol...

That's not an answer. Again: do you support making alcohol illegal? What about tobacco?

If you read my initial posts you'd get my stance on the issue. I am not a smoker, if it could be illegal it would be. I am not a drinker, if it could be illegal in my perfect little world it would be.

It's not. There's too much red tape and bureaucracy that keeps it from happening. So what's the alternative? Sue the companies, rise the tax, thus raising the costs of cigarettes like in the case of many tobacco companies.

So why the hell am I going to then state that because two harmful drugs are already out there, controlled loosely, but still out there it's an okay excuse to then allow legalized recreational marijuana? I'm obviously a minority on this issue and maybe it will become legal in some fashion, but I definitely do not agree with the idea of legalized recreational drugs.