NationStates Jolt Archive

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Yes .. just because legalization dosn't mean propagation.. cigiretes are legal yet activly surpressed.

The war on drugs failed..

Kids can get what they want when they want.. if they want.

The government can make a bundel as well leaglizing it.. only to help the education against it.

It also helps reduce underground blackmarkets and crime in general.

the benifits far outweigh the faults

Let me put it this way: we would see a huge increase in the usage at first. However, the main reason teenagers get into drugs, alcohol, and the like is the fact that they are illegal for them; it's a psychological reaction. After a few years, usage would taper off.

Decriminalize, but don't legalize. Treat pot use as an addiction more than a crime--until we start getting repeat offenses. But don't legalize it! It kills billions of brain cells, impairs your judgment, kills your lungs, and drains your wallet. Other than that, it's perfectly healthy :rolleyes:.

I say legalize all drugs. Let the individual decide what's good or bad for them and keep government out of personal business like voluntary drug use.

Beu, but I'm going to bed, too late for poor me :(

I think the government needs to set up places where people can do drugs, and buying and doing drugs at home should be illegal. (I'm the daughter of an alcoholic, so I have my reasons for thinking this.)

These safe places would prevent DUI, date rapes and a lot of other problems commonly associated with drug use.

And I can't help but see economic gains from this. It'd take money to initiate this, but I think in the end you'd end up saving quite a bit.

I say legalize all drugs. Let the individual decide what's good or bad for them and keep government out of personal business like voluntary drug use.

Beu, but I'm going to bed, too late for poor me :(

... must be all the animal tranquilizers you took...

Decriminalize, but don't legalize. Treat pot use as an addiction more than a crime--until we start getting repeat offenses.

But, it is not an addiction. Treating it as such is, thusly, inappropriate.

But don't legalize it! It kills billions of brain cells,

...like countless currently-legal things. That is a personal choice - they are your brain cells, you can do with them as you wish.

impairs your judgment, kills your lungs, and drains your wallet. Other than that, it's perfectly healthy :rolleyes:.

I was going to hit these one by one, but they are all covered by what I said to the first, above. Those are all effects on your own body and belongings, and as such you are well within your rights to do them. If marihuana use causes you to hurt another, then the legal system has a place in the matter.

Healthy? I guess we should keep it illegal, in light of recent bans on smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, eating at McDonalds, and driving in cars.

Wait...hmm...

Decriminalize, but don't legalize. Treat pot use as an addiction more than a crime--until we start getting repeat offenses. But don't legalize it! It kills billions of brain cells, impairs your judgment, kills your lungs, and drains your wallet. Other than that, it's perfectly healthy :rolleyes:.

Actually no it doesn't. When I was a serious pothead in my sophmore year I got better grades then before I started and after I stopped. Smoking of any king does bad things for your lungs, but you don't have to *smoke* pot. Yeah it drains your wallet, but who cares?

I say legalize all drugs. Let the individual decide what's good or bad for them and keep government out of personal business like voluntary drug use.

I say, I second that!!!!! :)

Actually no it doesn't. When I was a serious pothead in my sophmore year I got better grades then before I started and after I stopped. Smoking of any king does bad things for your lungs, but you don't have to *smoke* pot. Yeah it drains your wallet, but who cares?

All smoke hurts braincells, and the reason why you did better while on pot, and not as good off pot is because the pot reduces stress, which allows for better handeling of school, after you were off pot you body wasn't used to doing things off pot, kinda like when you build things and then try to work underwater, you're not as good. There have been a lot of studies done on these issues, though one thing they did point out is that retention scores were less with the pot smokers then with others.

As for other ways of doing pot most are just as damageing, or they aren't effective. Eating it does some good, but it effects sperm counts and produces hormones that produce "man boobies". IntroVenusly (prob spelled wrong but yeah..) causes bone damage as well as can cause collapsed veins, worked with someone that did it this way and said he regrets it to this day.

I think that it will get legalized purely as a form of control on it, much like most drugs have been. I do think its got its uses for cancer paitents, and its not as harmful as other drugs. Though I don't think it will die down like everyone seems to think. Most of the 'potheads' I know don't do it because its unlawful, they do it for the same reason people smoke or people drink. It will become another drink or smoke. Just as many problems and just as much money to be made.

http://www.reefer-madness-movie.com/

That's SUCH a hilarious movie xD

Decriminalize, but don't legalize. Treat pot use as an addiction more than a crime--until we start getting repeat offenses. But don't legalize it! It kills billions of brain cells, impairs your judgment, kills your lungs, and drains your wallet. Other than that, it's perfectly healthy :rolleyes:.


I haven't seen any scientific evidence that pot kills braincells. It most certainly does impair your judgment, however; I won't disagree with that. Of course, even the air we breathe is bad for our lungs nowadays. And pot doesn't drain your wallet -- buying things does. ;P

Anyway, if we legalized it (say, like alcohol) and set proper restrictions, it would at least be more available to those who need it for medical reasons (glaucoma patients, etc.).

It kills billions of brain cells, impairs your judgment, kills your lungs, and drains your wallet.

So does watching American Football .... yer point?

Let me put it this way: we would see a huge increase in the usage at first. However, the main reason teenagers get into drugs, alcohol, and the like is the fact that they are illegal for them; it's a psychological reaction. After a few years, usage would taper off.

i used to have some reserch on that, but i lost it some where...*starts lookinig for said paper (to no eval i might add)*

How quickly people forget what a wonderful success Prohibition was.

But, it is not an addiction. Treating it as such is, thusly, inappropriate.



...like countless currently-legal things. That is a personal choice - they are your brain cells, you can do with them as you wish.

i

I was going to hit these one by one, but they are all covered by what I said to the first, above. Those are all effects on your own body and belongings, and as such you are well within your rights to do them. If marihuana use causes you to hurt another, then the legal system has a place in the matter.

Healthy? I guess we should keep it illegal, in light of recent bans on smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, eating at McDonalds, and driving in cars.

Wait...hmm...
Not only is it unhealthy for yourself, but it directly gets other people harmed, too. Secondhand smoke, your impaired judgment, overcrowding hospitals.

How quickly people forget what a wonderful success Prohibition was.
It is impossible to tell what Prohibition would be like today. New laws on the books, old laws thrown away since then, and new police tactics would just make it a whole new ballgame.

ok to those who say that it is bad for your health that is a terrible argument. There are so many things that are worse for your health then that, that are legal. I belive that if you choose to do harm to yourself you should be allowed to. Smokeing in general wether it be cigaretts or pot is your own decision. There should be things that go with it though. First off. If you smoke pot you are not allowed to sue the pot company for health problems related to it. You are not allowed to get medical coverage threw insurance do to pot. Taxes on them would help the economy. more people would not start smokeing. a good example is the prohibition of alcohol. drinking was at an all time HIGH when it was illegal. for the thrill.

Pot smoking has benefits and pitfalls.

It is great for reliving tension, stress, certain types of pain, glacoma symptoms, some types of anxiety, menstual cramps, and increases appetite for those who don't have one. It does not adversely affect your liver or heart, like NSAIDs, Valium, Aspirin, Lipitor, (insert long list of pharmaceuticals here).

It is bad for your lungs, your police record and the thousands who are killed or maimed in the smuggling process.

One of the problems with legalizing it, it would put millions out of work around the world.

The other - how would all of those Republicans save face?

All drugs should be fully legalized. No, I'm not insane - just tired of the crap regarding drug law.

For starters, alcohol prohibition did not work, which is more than evident. All it did was make criminals more powerful.

Drug prohibition has given us the same thing - violent gangs, crime, and corruption (not to mention an atrocious corporate-driven prison system, but I digress).

Legislation does not solve social problems effectively.

It is impossible to tell what Prohibition would be like today. New laws on the books, old laws thrown away since then, and new police tactics would just make it a whole new ballgame.

Probably look a bit like this... (http://upload.illuminise.org/files/2b596377645f69a1a503d3458963c67e.JPG)

I'm just going to say yes, because otherwise it'd interupt my smoking after a long ass train ride...

How quickly people forget what a wonderful success Prohibition was.

It is impossible to tell what Prohibition would be like today. New laws on the books, old laws thrown away since then, and new police tactics would just make it a whole new ballgame.

We still under a form of prohibition. The war on drugs is no diffewrent thanthge war on alcohol was. And it is no more successful. And as far as crime rates go, note that the murder rates at the peak prohibition are similar to those of the last 20 years, and that a large part of the current murder rate is related to drug trafficing.

source 1 (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/homrate1.htm)
Source 2 (http://www.drugwarfacts.org/crime.htm)

Further, the drug laws are demonstrably racist in nature.

A little history of US drug prohibition:

The San Francisco Opium Den Ordinance (making it a misdemeanor to keep or frequent opium dens) was passed in 1875, in the middle of a wave of anti-immigrant, and especially anti-Chinese, feelings. It specifically targeted smoked opium (the common method used by the Chinese) while ignoring opium products like laudanum (preferred by whites).
Source (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/studies/cu/cu6.htm)

See also:
Chinatown Declared a Nuisance! (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/1870/wpccontents.htm)
The Demon of the Orient (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/history/demon1883.htm)


The early 1900's saw a similar rise of anti-cocaine laws, also based on racism.

See:
Negro Cocaine Fiends - New Southern Menace (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/negro_cocaine_fiends.htm)
Great Legislative Plan to Stamp Out Cocaine (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/history/greatleg.htm)

The Relation of Drug Addiction to Industry (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/e1910/drugaddictionindustry.htm)
The American negro is, seerpingly, a willing addict. This is especially the case in the South and in the slum districts of northern cities, as well as among domestic servants and hotel employees; but many of the industrial workers of this race become addicts, drift from place to place, and often have police records. Some of the negro labor camps in the South simply breed addicts. They are deplorable places, as I can testify from observation. The men work about four days in the week and "celebrate" the rest of the time, usually by taking a trip to another camp, where high carnival is held-carnival which involves the use of considerable cocaine or other narcotics when they can be obtained. The supply is usually irregular, and hence there is more of drug debauchery than of regular addiction; but the participants become regular addicts if they leave the camp and take up city residence.

Marajuana was next, and was associated with Mexicans.

The Black Candle (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/blackcandle.html)
"They (the Mexicans) madden themselves with a drug called Marahuana. This has strange and terrible effects. It appears to make those who swallow it do whatever is uppermost in their thoughts. At El Paso, a peon came across the International Bridge firing a rifle at all and sundry. Much talk against the Americans and a dose of Marahuana had decided him to invade the United States by himself. The bridge-keeper quickly put a bullet into the poor wretch."


Nothing has changed.
Race, Prison and the Drug Laws (http://www.drugwarfacts.org/racepris.htm)

In a concious, organized society the legalization of illicit substance would mean the deflation of prices leading to a smaller market and an eventuall self destruction. In another society the market would spurt and the consumers would go berserk. It all depends on the country and culture you speak of for their is already places where marihuana is legal and not abused of.

"They (the Mexicans) madden themselves with a drug called Marahuana. This has strange and terrible effects. It appears to make those who swallow it do whatever is uppermost in their thoughts. At El Paso, a peon came across the International Bridge firing a rifle at all and sundry. Much talk against the Americans and a dose of Marahuana had decided him to invade the United States by himself. The bridge-keeper quickly put a bullet into the poor wretch."
This is still used in the USA and i would like to recall this:
De las drogas que sembramos, ustedes son consumidores

This is still used in the USA and i would like to recall this:

Exactly why I pointed out thet nothing has changed. :)

Decriminalize, but don't legalize. Treat pot use as an addiction more than a crime--until we start getting repeat offenses. But don't legalize it! It kills billions of brain cells, impairs your judgment, kills your lungs, and drains your wallet. Other than that, it's perfectly healthy :rolleyes:.

Funny thing is, smoking standard cigarettes and drinking has killed a lot more people than smoking pot.

I do agree with the wallet-draining, though. Then again, I know nothing about buying pot, so it might not actually be any more of a drain than the legal drugs. But then again, I would say a main reason prices could be high (*hee hee*) is the fact that it's illegal.

Also, it's not a -physical- addiction, it's a -mental- one. But so is anything you really like doing. So it's not really an addiction of the kind I believe you mean.

I guess this thread is just going to keep coming back. That's fine. Here's the results. A few people will defend the existing laws or suggest even more draconian ones and provide poor reasons or reasons that are totally wrong to support their positions. The majority of those who post will say that it, and sometimes other or all drugs, should be decriminalized or legalized in some way to in total. They will also provide reasons for their positions, but will usually make more sense then their opposition.

In the end, here's the answer. Marijuana will not be legalized any time soon if ever. Here's why. There is too much money to be made by keeping marijuana illegal, both legally and illegally. Pot is an easy target for politicians and law enforcement to go after so they can look "tough on crime". And those who favor the legalization of this one substance are apparently unable to do anything to make it happen for a variety of reasons. There are others - these are the top three.

Should it be legal to do what we want to our own bodies regardless of whether it good for us or not? Of course. Otherwise we need to criminalize/recriminalize alchohol, cigarettes, fast food, genetically modified food, chocolate and other substances that taste good but are unhealthy, cars and anything that creates pollution, abortion, sex for any purpose other than procreation, war, fighting of any kind, happiness, sadness, arguements, gambling, extreme sports, all other kinds of competative sports, and a wide array of other things.

How quickly people forget what a wonderful success Prohibition was.

I'm pretty sure the people higher up remember just how lucrative it was at times.

I'm pretty sure the people higher up remember just how lucrative it was at times.


prohabition failed horribly, and caused more deaths then when alchohol was legal.

It just really bothers me that the government wants to tell people what they can do with their own bodies. I can understand when it starts affecting other people, like driving under the influence, or when parents get addicted to drugs, or the violence that's often associated with drug dealing. But if the government legalized a lot of these drugs, made them safer and sold them itself... a lot of these problems could be prevented and it could even be lucrative.

prohabition failed horribly, and caused more deaths then when alchohol was legal.

Quite often, to those in power, money > human lives.

It just really bothers me that the government wants to tell people what they can do with their own bodies. I can understand when it starts affecting other people, like driving under the influence, or when parents get addicted to drugs, or the violence that's often associated with drug dealing. But if the government legalized a lot of these drugs, made them safer and sold them itself... a lot of these problems could be prevented and it could even be lucrative.

But then the children might get into it. I mean, you just watch. Go ahead, take it too far. They'll even start thinking for themselves.

There have been wars on drugs, alcohol, and terrorism...

...but never, ever, a war on ignorance.

There is a reason for this.

But then the children might get into it. I mean, you just watch. Go ahead, take it too far. They'll even start thinking for themselves.

There have been wars on drugs, alcohol, and terrorism...

...but never, ever, a war on ignorance.

There is a reason for this.

IGNORANCE RULES!!!

Plus it helps keep the power structure in place.