Marijuana and the legalization of it.

[johnttickle]

I don’t smoke marijuana any more, but I am pro pot. I don’t find it to be as harmful as our government makes it out to be. I don’t hear of that many problems stemming from pot as does alcohol or other drugs.
I think it should be legalized and taxed, just like alcohol. The government is spending too much money to search and seize it. Why couldn’t the government just make it legal, tax it, and then they could have the control of the substance that they like to have.
I don’t have all the answers, and I believe there are a lot of intelligent people here on this forum, which could enlighten me on this subject.
So please let’s hear what you all think.

So why isn’t marijuana legal yet?

Do you agree it should be taxed?

Could marijuana be sold in liquor stores with the same age limit that alcohol has?

Also comment on anything else on this subject that you deem important.



Mahalo and Aloha, John

 

[steph]

Aloha John~it IS legal in my state (California.) I don't smoke either but I'm proud to be part of the effort that made it happen. I did it for my patients and I don't regret it a bit.

A lot of people won't like this but I think grass and ALL other drugs should be made legal AND taxable. Takes the danger and the thugs out of it, solves the deficit. Nancy's "war on drugs" was a f'ing joke from the get-go and everyone living in the real world knew it.

<Could marijuana be sold in liquor stores with the same age limit that alcohol has?>
Absolutely to that last question and that's exactly how it's done here.
XOXO

 

[Fire_Sprite]

I don't smoke pot either, but aside from lethargy there are no real negative side affects to weed. Not to mention there's a cornucopia of medicinal advantages to it like relieving pain, nerve damage, anxiety, and nausea. Also there's all the money our government will make from taxes and from releasing thousands of people in jail for victimless crimes.

 

[johnttickle]

Wow I am here watching the Green Bay game, and a commercial just came up, that “60 minutes” is doing a story on this very subject tonight on TV.

Mahalo and Aloha, John

 

[Bugman]

I see no reason not to make it legal.That won't eliminate the black market completly but it sure would cut into it.

 

[milagros317]

I have no problem with making it legal and taxing it, the same as tobacco.

 

[Terra_Ascension]

I used to be a heavy pot smoker. I also experimented with other drugs. I have been clean off all drugs (including pot) for almost three years now.
I think legalizing pot is a brilliant idea. When people drink alcohol, they become very aggressive. When people smoke pot, they become very peaceful and relaxed. Irie 😉
Everything in moderation of course:
Smoking pot once a week - no problem.
Smoking pot everyday 3 times a day - problem.

Just my 2 cents

TA

 

[chicago]

Legalize it. Hellz yeah.

 

[Dave2112]

There are only two reasons that marijuana is still illegal. The first is the continuation of the original reason it was made illegal in the first place. The pharmaceutical companies that lobby and own much of Washington can't patent it, and therefore cannot profit from it. So, in typical corporate fashion, if they can't play with the toys, nobody can. Back in the '20s, marijuana was being used by doctors to relieve a variety of ailments and discomforts in their patients.

The second reason is the other thing that owns half of Washington. The religious right. Apparently, everyone is going to Hell if they have any fun on Earth, and they have to make sure everyone plays by their rules or no rules at all. I guess Jeebus said so or something.

It would be very simple to legalize and tax marijuana, but no one in Washington has the balls to commit political suicide by "offending" the sheep. I've been smoking for quite some time, and have no plans on ever giving it up. I don't smoke nearly what I used to, but it really does help with the symptoms of my MS and anxiety. Plus, it's just plain fun.

I think that's the thing that bothers me the most about the marijuana debate. Even the people who support it often feel the need to justify it by attaching some medical reason to it. That's part of it for me...but even if it wasn't, and it wasn't for most of my life up until a few years ago, I'll still tell you I'll smoke it 'cuz it's fun. And that's what the religious right would love to keep away from everyone. The ability to just have fun and not have to attribute it to a fictional character. Why can't we just say "I like the way it makes me feel!" and leave it at that? You know, maybe a lot of us would be better off if we were able to be honest about finding enjoyment in life without having to owe somebody for it.

It doesn't hurt anyone. ("But Dave! What about people who drive when they're high! Marijuana killed the poor babies! Think about the babies!!" Sorry, ain't gonna work. The marijuana didn't kill the babies, the idiot who smoked it and chose to drive did. And if it wasn't marijuana, anyone that stupid would find another way to kill people through thier jackassery.) It could be a cash cow for this country, not to mention getting half of US farms off of subsidies.

And finally, I'd like to lay to rest, for once and for all...the lame arguement about the gateway drug thing. It's crap. It's manipulated "evidence". Period. Period. Ampersand.

No test or poll has ever been done that asked how many people who've smoked marijuana moved on to harder drugs. The polls and tests that have been done have been the other way around. They find people who are already doing harder drugs, then find out how many of those people smoked marijuana before at any time. It's data manipulation to keep shoving this morality thing down the throats of those who are just flat-out not interested. Knock it off, Falwell, will ya?

So, I say legalize and let us all move on to things that actually matter.

 

[Capnmad]

Legalize, tax and breed different strains to produce different effects, and remove negative effects (lethargy, paranoia, agitation and anxiety in some).

Encourage use of the Volcano or other vaporizers to remove potential harmful effects of the smoke.

It's silly that we're not already doing this, considering the use of cigarettes and alcohol already in this country.

 

[locker669]

I don't do drugs, though. Just weed

There are a lot of reasons why it's not legal. Unfortunately the people who have all the answers will only tell you about it when you're stoned and don't care about it.

 

[Bugman]

Yeah, I'm not a fan of pot. I've smoked it here and there (it's been a LONG time now) but it didn't jive with my personality. So much of who I am is upbeat and energetic and pot took that away.

I still think it should be legalized. I don't feel that way about all illegal drugs because some are FAR more harmful than others but people can't "OD" on pot. It should also fall under the same laws and drinking and driving. You shouldn't smoke and drink.

I dunno, just my two cents on the subject.

So much of who I am is upbeat and energetic and pot took that away.


Thats intresting to me.I quit smoking pot almost 25 years ago for the same reason.Before that,in the 70's it seemed to be different.One sample might make you giddy,another relaxed or in a mood to take on the world.It seems like the THC content became so much higher in the late 70's-early 80's that it just left me feeling numb and even paranoid.It was no longer something i enjoyed so i quit.I don't think it was just me,a lot of people i knew who had smoked for years quit also for the same reasons i have sited.

 

[JimmyBoy]

Cannabis should be legalized. With the modern medicinal advances we have i see no reason why a REAL government sponsored experiment cannot be done to see the effects of it on people. Back in the past when it was first banned, it was banned because of the racial tensions between the african and mexican americans. The jazz scene boomed with cannabis and it was because of racial prejudices that it was made illegal. People also wrote sensationalized news reports on people killing each other on cannabis and the sale of it to kids.

Another factor that is not popular among the reasons why it was made illegal is because the newspapers did not want to see the eventual use of hemp paper as a competition. Propaganda and racists are to blame for cannabis being illegal; nothing more.

 

[General Zod]

I don’t smoke marijuana any more, but I am pro pot. I don’t find it to be as harmful as our government makes it out to be. I don’t hear of that many problems stemming from pot as does alcohol or other drugs.
I think it should be legalized and taxed, just like alcohol. The government is spending too much money to search and seize it. Why couldn’t the government just make it legal, tax it, and then they could have the control of the substance that they like to have.
I don’t have all the answers, and I believe there are a lot of intelligent people here on this forum, which could enlighten me on this subject.
So please let’s hear what you all think.

So why isn’t marijuana legal yet?

Do you agree it should be taxed?

Could marijuana be sold in liquor stores with the same age limit that alcohol has?

Also comment on anything else on this subject that you deem important.



Mahalo and Aloha, John

Some questions

#1 At what age should it be made to be of age to use,and why?

#2 Say someone who uses it too much,like someone who drinks alcohol too much,and it hurts their family life,job performance,driving dangerously etc Who should pay for their rehab And should they be forced into rehab?

#3 Should they be allowed to smoke it around minors?

 

[Dave2112]

Some questions

#1 At what age should it be made to be of age to use,and why?

#2 Say someone who uses it too much,like someone who drinks alcohol too much,and it hurts their family life,job performance,driving dangerously etc Who should pay for their rehab And should they be forced into rehab?

#3 Should they be allowed to smoke it around minors?

You raise good points, and I won't argue any of them. Even as someone who supports legalization (or at least de-criminalization, as in Canada), I have concerns about access by minors, the effects on the family...all of that.

But ask yourself these same questions about alcohol. Now, there's a drug that needs to be banned. It's ruined families, cost jobs, killed people drinking it, and those they've smashed into. It can create rage instead of lethargy...all of that. I'm not trying to start a debate about the two. All I'm asking is that you pose those questions to alcohol. What are we now doing about these same concerns? Do people drink around minors? Who's paying for alcohol rehab? At what age is alcohol legal? Apply this to marijuana, and you should have your answers.

 

[isabeau]

my aunt was dying in 1980...and the cobalt treatments had made her sick..her son would smuggle her some pot..and it made the nausea disappear..she did indeed die in october 1980 at the age of fifty two..of a weird form of cancer...but marijuana made her last days more comfortable..even though her son ran the risk of getting caught..

yes i believe it should be legalized...

it also helps with symptoms of MS..

 

[jaba]

Some questions

#1 At what age should it be made to be of age to use,and why?


#3 Should they be allowed to smoke it around minors?

That's my big concern about its legalization, General.....I could really care less what adults do or choose to do, but what are the implications for our youth? At least lets think through and give those considerations their due. And I shouldn't have to worry about being labeled a radical religious puritan if I hold those concerns about the implications on our youth of decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana.

I kinda wish marijuana was legal just to eliminate the embarassing hypocracy displayed by some parents, who hit the chronic in front of the kids, knowing full well that it is illegal to do so, while preaching some lame ass "do as I say and not as I do" speech to them.

Way to be a "role model", mom and dad.....

 

[General Zod]

You raise good points, and I won't argue any of them. Even as someone who supports legalization (or at least de-criminalization, as in Canada), I have concerns about access by minors, the effects on the family...all of that.

But ask yourself these same questions about alcohol. Now, there's a drug that needs to be banned. It's ruined families, cost jobs, killed people drinking it, and those they've smashed into. It can create rage instead of lethargy...all of that. I'm not trying to start a debate about the two. All I'm asking is that you pose those questions to alcohol. What are we now doing about these same concerns? Do people drink around minors? Who's paying for alcohol rehab? At what age is alcohol legal? Apply this to marijuana, and you should have your answers.

Valid points from a good man

For me,alcohol makes me mellow When I first started drinking (legally) I was able to drink a pitcher or two But then after awhile,maybe a year or so,I stopped drinking that much Throwing up and hangovers are no fun It has been awhile since I have had any alcohol I guess that drug never really got a good hold on me

One thing about alcohol vs pot.........Alcohol does not have "second hand smoke" Yes I believe in second hand smoke Should alcohol be banned? Look what happened last time that was tried IMO,if that was tried again,it would be even a bigger blood bath

I am for medicinal pot I have no problem with that at all Dealing with pain is no fun

I am still not totally convinced pot should be legal like people want,other than medicinal As far as age limits go...............

If pot goes legal,it should be no higher than 18 I would also bring the alcohol age down to 18 My theory................If you are old enough to vote and join the military,you can drink alcohol and smoke pot If pot becomes legal


As far as the crime aspect

If pot becomes legal,do you really think there will be a sharp decrease in drug related crimes? How many other illegal drugs are out there? Also,say pot becomes legal,get ready for the hard core druggies when they want there drugs to become legal It will happen

I have not said above statements to start a flame war These are the thoughts and opinions of a truck driver here in the states

Have a Superman free day

 

[Dave2112]

These are legitimate concerns, General. Anybody supporting legalization from a realistic standpoint should consider these.

In the end, the parental thing comes down to the parents. Jaba, I'm not arguing your points, as I agree with them. But isn't that the parents failing, not the marijuana itself being the focal influence? How many adults drink their beers around the kids during Sunday barbecues or even church functions? (Seen that first hand.) I know folks who watch questionable TV shows around kids way too young to be watching them. Or swear like a demon around them and then smack 'em when they use bad language. Isn't that just bad parenting, though? Keep marijuana illegal, and these things are still gonna happen. It just won't be about pot, that's all.

I just can't go along with the "then everyone will want their drug legalized" arguement. This is the type of thinking that fears the future, if only a possible one. It's not just the marijuana debate, but debates over just about everything. The whole "But, what if..." thing. Deal with the issue in front of you. Then deal with the others as they come along. One does not need to set precedent for the next. This is simply the way that people who do not want something keep it from happening. "We can't do this, because that might happen." Of course, most people don't even say "might", but "will", as if they have a crystal ball or God-bestowed foresight.

Yeah, things might happen. Things might not. To reign oneself in over future possibilities is very limiting, though.

 

[jaba]

Yeah, I see your points, Dave....

Perhaps the legalization of marijuana should not have to wait on the inability of some idiot parents to get their act together with respect to their kids....

But I still believe that some opponents of legalization can debate the issue on the grounds of its potential negative impact on society....not all opponents are coming at this thing from a radical religious standpoint....

 

[locker669]

my aunt was dying in 1980...and the cobalt treatments had made her sick..her son would smuggle her some pot..and it made the nausea disappear..she did indeed die in october 1980 at the age of fifty two..of a weird form of cancer...but marijuana made her last days more comfortable..even though her son ran the risk of getting caught..

yes i believe it should be legalized...

it also helps with symptoms of MS..

Avonex is a prescription drug that is supposed to help with symptoms of MS. A years supply is anywhere from $15-$20,000 for a year, and your body can develop antibodies to the treatment! Even if you spent $200 a week on pot you'd save half.

 

[SmarterthanU]

There are only two reasons that marijuana is still illegal. The first is the continuation of the original reason it was made illegal in the first place. The pharmaceutical companies that lobby and own much of Washington can't patent it, and therefore cannot profit from it.

No one could patent tobacco, either, but that didn't stop tobacco companies from making huge profits. That's what branding is all about.

The second reason is the other thing that owns half of Washington. The religious right.

It isn't the religious right. It's the religious. Think Hillary would push pot legalization? That, and a continuous propaganda campaign that mercilessly pounds home the (bullshit) message that pot is a "gateway" drug. If pot IS a gateway drug, it is no more so than beer.

 

[Trainwreck_686]

well

I would definatly be in favor of legalization. In my state (california) if you get a medical card, which is as easy as going to hollywood and paying a doctor $150, you can purchase, carry, and grow marijuana. I have a friend who was just caught and his doctor even came to court to testify for him. it is no joke in california.


and its fun as hell.

jp

 

[Redmage]

Some questions

#1 At what age should it be made to be of age to use,and why?

The same age as the legal age for alcohol in each state, because marijuana is similar to alcohol in most respects that matter under the law.

#2 Say someone who uses it too much,like someone who drinks alcohol too much,and it hurts their family life,job performance,driving dangerously etc Who should pay for their rehab And should they be forced into rehab?

Marijuana should be treated just like alcohol in this regard. Generally speaking no one is forced into alcohol treatment unless their use of it leads to criminal behavior such as drunk driving.

#3 Should they be allowed to smoke it around minors?

What is the difference between using pot around minors and smoking cigarettes or drinking alcohol around minors? I'd say that marijuana use should be legal anywhere that cigarette smoking and/or use of alcohol is legal.

Currently tobacco causes 400,000 deaths per year in the US. Alcohol causes many thousands more. All illegal and prescription drugs combined cause about 20,000 deaths per year. There is simply no excuse for limiting them so much more strictly than drugs that we know are far more dangerous.

 

[CitY of MicA]

A lot of people won't like this but I think grass and ALL other drugs should be made legal AND taxable. Takes the danger and the thugs out of it, solves the deficit. Nancy's "war on drugs" was a f'ing joke from the get-go and everyone living in the real world knew it.

I happen to agree with you. If there was more of a dialogue about problems in the U.S. such as drugs, the idea of legalizing them wouldn't seem like as far-fetched a notion as it probably does to most people. I remain unconvinced that any drug should be kept illegal, or that the soceity benefits from doing so- and I personally am not a drug user. Are we preventing assess to them by keeping them illegal? We certainly guarantee that we're spending lots of money incarcerating drug users and keeping the price of drugs artificially high, if you will, to sustain criminal elements. If drugs are legal, they can be regulated to guard against tainted batches. Warnings can be applied to them so that those taking them will be properly cautioned about the potential dangers and side-effects.

As far as youth go, I think it's the parent's responsibility to talk to them about drugs so that they can make informed choices. Whether drugs are legal or illegal, kids will try them if they feel so inclined. That's not something you can prevent, but you can arm them with information so that they can make decisions about whether it's worth it or not. I believe a smarter way to approach this problem is try to get at the root causes why kids use drugs. I don't think it's wise to assume that, because many drugs are illegal in this country, kids can't get their hands on them or won't use them. There are simple household items that kids can use to get high. And if kids aren't given information about drugs, that's when they make potentially stupid decisions- like mixing pot with alcohol thereby greatly increasing chances of alcohol poisoning.

I hope I'm not taking this thread off topic . I think marijuana should be legal and regulated the same way alcohol and tobacco are: not sold to minors and forbidden in restaurants, bars, offices (I realize the second part only applies to certain jurisdictions).