Medical Marijuanna

[tkrexx]

I have to go with straight (no pun intended) legalization and regulation.

Plus, if they regulate it like they do with tobacco products, they can tax it and clear a good deal of state and national debt, put the money towards needy programs, etc.

.....food for the hungry, better health care, affordable housing, shelter and retraining for the homeless.... Yep. I guess you're right. It would be a total waste. This isn't a political issue...or shouldn't be.

Y'know, these sound alot like the reasons politicos used in the early 90's when trying to justify legalized gambling in the form of casino boats, etc. "Money for schools," was the spearhead slogan. Granted, the casinos are making some folks rich, but our schools are still decaying, if not disappearing. I cannot honestly believe any proceeds from taxable legalized marijuana will be used for anything other than more lining in the pockets of those who pull the strings.

Not playing Devil's Advocate, mind you, I am a recreational dope-head myself. (Pot ONLY. I don't put anything up my nose. Makes for an expensive sneeze.) Beyond my favorite usage, of course, the medical benefits obviously abound. An old country recipe is still used by the hicks in this neck of the woods, called "Pot-Butter." People rub it on their hands for relief from rhumatism. MY MOTHER uses it for Pete's sake!

Legalization would ultimately cause more problems than it solves. At this moment, you'll get fined if you're caught growing your own private stash. If it's legal, thus taxable, and you grow it without a license/permit/drug stamp/congressional approval, you're taking money out of the government's hands. Ya think a mere "Fine" will be your fate???

I smell a debate on the approach...

Rxx: Double the Drugs

 

[Iggy pop]

As a person of a lot of "youthful indiscretions", i believe in decriminalization and not legalization. Then again I believe in decriminalization of all drugs not just marijuana. I don't believe that people who use drugs should be treated like criminals.

Now Cocaine was mentioned a few times in this thread. I have used cocaine a few times, and have been around others that have used it many of times. There are a lot bad things about cocaine, and I don't think it is safe, but I thinker its safer most hard alcohols. I would feel much safer being in car with driver that has done a line than someone that has had a few shots. Not that eithier is a really good idea. I will say this, more people get more violent on alcohol than any other drug I've been around.

As for pot being a gateway drug, I believe it to some extent. We are taught when we are young that "all drugs are evil" When someone tries pot and finds out it is not as "evil" as everybody said then that person may say to himself what else were they lying to me about?

 

[lightninbug]

A brief History of the Killer Weed...

Marijuana was a cash crop at one point,(Yeah, I Know, IT STILL IS), and sinse it's criminalization many more uses that were found beneficial have been discovered...but why is it illegal & why was it made so? 😕

Way back when newspapers used to run our collective conscience & decieded our morals, a newspaper magnate named Willian Randolph Hearst,(Yup, Ole' Citizen Kane, Himself), paired up w/ a 'publicity-hungry' minor Congressman who's name escapes me at present.

Their mission : Spread the word of the EVILS of Cannibus. I can hear you, the dear reader asking:"But 'Bug, Why would they do such a thing?"
Here's why: Hearst newspapers were in just about every State, City & hamlet @ the Turn of the Century Carried at least ONE Hearst Newspaper,(OR they got their news from a Hearst Wire), & of what product are newspapers made? Of course the answer is PAPER.

Hearst's Empire OWNED not only the paper mills But the whole she-bang; starting with their own FORESTS. Now imagine some sap who stumbles upon a cheap way to harvest paper made from a small plant that could grow 30 times faster than trees...a renewable source of good sturdy paper & the same plant wound up with the potential to harvest the INK to print it. ..nevermind the medicine & clothing aspect. We have a goldmine that would put Hearst at a disadvantage because EVERYBODY Could GROW their OWN PAPER. ( Imagine some poor schmuck who stumbled onto an internal combustion engine that ran on WATER). I need not tell you that the Robber Barons of the Guilded Age didn''t go in for R&D; They merely CRUSHED not only the opposition but The Obsticles as well. :rant

That's Right Folks, for the man who nearly 'single-handedly' gave America the Spanish-American War, cooking up a partnership w/ a small time Congressmen who's hungry for an issue,(Insert JOESEPH McCARTHEY'S Face here), that'll generate publicity, AND Get His NAME In a HEARST Paper; THIS little outing was a 'day at the beach'.
This is the Same Newspaper Magnate who, when told by artist Fredrick Remmington, that there wasn't even enough material for pictures; there is no war...Hearst Replied:"You furnish the Pictures, I'LL FURNISH THE WAR!!

Marrijuana MUST Be STOPPED...IT's Worse than Whiskey...It's wreck the MORAL Fiber of our Country...Blah, Blah, Blah....You get the Idea. And in the innocence of the age, what the government says MUST BE SO, "... or they wouldn't print it in tne Newspaper". A Win -Win situation for the Goons once again.

So, sometimes, a little research comes in handy.
I say LEGALIZE IT ... The revenue would help, , we can used it for medical AND recreational Purposes, ( & WHAT'S SO DAMN BAD ABOUT THAT???)...And hey, Maybe we could start OUR OWN NEWSPAPER!

So it was writen;
thelightninbug

 

[Ronley]

I've never gotten into any kind of drugs myself, but I think legalization would do a lot more good then harm. It would eliminate dealers charging their customers an arm and a leg, and in turn would reduce crime because they could now afford it. It would also allow those addicted to seek help without some of the public stigma that is now attached. And with marijuana legalized, the government could regulate it, making sure it had a certain quality and that it wasn't spiked with anything dangerous.

I personally hate cigarette smoke, and I don't really want another drug that's smoked everywhere I have to walk, that's really my only objection. Then again, this could be solved by designating smoking areas for those who want to smoke, and that way the air could be clean for the rest of us.

I think the only reason marijuana is illegal right now is not because it's dangerous, but because of the public percpetion that is is bad because it's already illegal.

 

[BigJim]

I'm just suprised Yaqi didn't post here yet. This is one of his pet subjects.

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

At this moment, you'll get fined if you're caught growing your own private stash.

It's a lot more severe a penalty than that in many areas. Here in CT, you have a mandatory minimum 2 year sentence and sliding scale fine just for possession. Growing it, they assume you're dealing and bump both up considerably. A gal I used to work with has a son who's been in jail for 9 years (6 years left) because he got nabbed buying 3 oz. to split between two relatives who were having a hard time with chemo. The fine he'll have to find a way to pay when he gets out is $250K...as if there's any way he'll be able to make that kind of money after what they did to him? My biggest beef is that I don't appreciate being made to feel like a criminal just so we can relieve the pain and other things enough to function. That really sucks!

Ann

 

[TklDuo-Ann]

Some excellent observations, Ronley. I'd have to agree with them all.

Welcome to the TMF!

Ann

I've never gotten into any kind of drugs myself, but I think legalization would do a lot more good then harm. It would eliminate dealers charging their customers an arm and a leg, and in turn would reduce crime because they could now afford it. It would also allow those addicted to seek help without some of the public stigma that is now attached. And with marijuana legalized, the government could regulate it, making sure it had a certain quality and that it wasn't spiked with anything dangerous.

I personally hate cigarette smoke, and I don't really want another drug that's smoked everywhere I have to walk, that's really my only objection. Then again, this could be solved by designating smoking areas for those who want to smoke, and that way the air could be clean for the rest of us.

I think the only reason marijuana is illegal right now is not because it's dangerous, but because of the public percpetion that is is bad because it's already illegal.

 

[BigJim]

Jay-sus Ann, that is draconian with a capital Dee!

 

[ticklkitten]

Back to what Iggy said to me about the use of cocaine as opposed to the use of alcohol... between us, I've done a LOT of coke in the past. That drug nearly ruined my life a few years ago because it is so instantly addictive. Someone is a safer driver on coke but that is simply because it is an upper vs alcohol which is a downer. Neither marijuana OR alcohol have the addictive properties of cocaine. (although alcohol is one of the two withdrawals you can die from) I'm not a dumb girl and I like to think that I have a good head on my shoulders, I truly do NOT believe that the majority of the public could handle something like cocaine being legalized. Now marijuana gives us a lot more control...