NationStates Jolt Archive

Should marijuana be legalised?

I believe, that yes, it should. Marijuana isn't a hard drug, like heroin or cocaine (which definetely shouldn't be sold on the streets). It's like alchohol, which is also considered a "gateway drug", but when the government tried to ban alchohol, that worked really well, didn't it?

You can't stop people from doing pot, so I think it's best to have it out in the open. Plus, just imagine the extra revenue you could get from taxes. I could smell the money right now.

Also, there is the libertarian side to it. If people want to fuck up their bodies, they should be free to do so, provided that the effect on society isn't too burdensome. I think marijuana fits this criteria, but that's just me.

Should marijuana be legalised?

I believe, that yes, it should. Marijuana isn't a hard drug, like heroin or cocaine (which definetely shouldn't be sold on the streets). It's like alchohol, which is also considered a "gateway drug", but when the government tried to ban alchohol, that worked really well, didn't it?

You can't stop people from doing pot, so I think it's best to have it out in the open. Plus, just imagine the extra revenue you could get from taxes. I could smell the money right now.

Also, there is the libertarian side to it. If people want to fuck up their bodies, they should be free to do so, provided that the effect on society isn't too burdensome. I think marijuana fits this criteria, but that's just me.

Ever read the amendment to the Constitution that re-legalized alcohol? Basically said that man had the right to go to hell in their own fasion.

From the libertatian view, I completely agree that it should be legalized.

From the stoner view, I think it should too...

But I don't think it will, and even if it does, the government will tax it until its about the same price on the black market.

Thats the way business works, and I'd rather grow it myself or bum it off my friends than give the government money for it.

I think it should be legalized. In addition, I think I should be allowed to have sex slaves. I wonder which will happen first?

I think it should be legalized. In addition, I think I should be allowed to have sex slaves. I wonder which will happen first?
Well, the Koreans are developing sexbots...

I really don't know on the one hand its reasonably healthy compared to other drugs that are legal but then again once we do legalize it there isn't any chance of banning it.

If I had to choose I would have to say we just keep it illegal to anyone without a prescription but with very light punishments if there caught smoking it (like a £100 fine or something)

I think it should be legalized. In addition, I think I should be allowed to have sex slaves. I wonder which will happen first?

Depends...which politician gets caught with which one?

Well, the Koreans are developing sexbots...

It's interesting. South Korea is developing the robots for fucking.
But North Korea is making the war robots... for fucking South Korea.

It's robo-tastic!

But really, I meant human slaves, not robots.

Hardly the Question of All Time. There was a time when pot was legal, and there will be such a time again. :)

It's interesting. South Korea is developing the robots for fucking.
But North Korea is making the war robots... for fucking South Korea.

It's robo-tastic!

But really, I meant human slaves, not robots.
Meh, with the flesh-like polymers they can make today, you can hardly tell that Jessica Albot isn't the real thing...

They should legalise it on the day tobacco is outlawed. A fair swap I say. :)

Ever read the amendment to the Constitution that re-legalized alcohol? Basically said that man had the right to go to hell in their own fasion.

From the libertatian view, I completely agree that it should be legalized.

From the stoner view, I think it should too...

But I don't think it will, and even if it does, the government will tax it until its about the same price on the black market.

Thats the way business works, and I'd rather grow it myself or bum it off my friends than give the government money for it.
Well, actually, you'll still be able to grow it. Just like you can brew your own beer.

Well, actually, you'll still be able to grow it. Just like you can brew your own beer.

I guess. Its not gonna happen for a long time though.

Actualy it's less harmfull than alchohol. When was the last time you heard of someone going on a stoned rampage (that didn't involve the pot being laced with other drugs)? And for those of you who are about to bring up driving stoned (it ALWAYS comes up in threads about legalizing pot) what makes you think that driving stoned would be legal anymore than driving drunk is legal because you can buy a beer. Also I think the day you are old enough to vote or die for country you're old enough to get drunk/stoned so either the drinking age needs to go down or the age for enlistment and voting needs to go up.

I guess. Its not gonna happen for a long time though.
Someday we'll hear the music, someday...;)

Actualy it's less harmfull than alchohol. When was the last time you heard of someone going on a stoned rampage (that didn't involve the pot being laced with other drugs)? And for those of you who are about to bring up driving stoned (it ALWAYS comes up in threads about legalizing pot) what makes you think that driving stoned would be legal anymore than driving drunk is legal because you can buy a beer. Also I think the day you are old enough to vote or die for country you're old enough to get drunk/stoned so either the drinking age needs to go down or the age for enlistment and voting needs to go up.
In that case you'd have to lower the legalisation age to 17, since that's the age you can legally join the military.

Someday we'll hear the music, someday...;)
I'm gonna go out and smoke some ganja. I don't need no stinkin' music.

In that case you'd have to lower the legalisation age to 17, since that's the age you can legally join the military.

Huh, thought that was 18. Is 17 perhaps with parental permision? And just to be clear, you are in the US right?

I'm gonna go out and smoke some ganja. I don't need no stinkin' music.
To each his own.

Huh, thought that was 18. Is 17 perhaps with parental permision? And just to be clear, you are in the US right?
At 17, you need to have parental permission. Yes, I'm in the US.

To each his own.
Bottles up to that. I'll be back in a few minutes. Now lies the real question...Bowl, Hookah or a classic joint?

At 17, you need to have parental permission. Yes, I'm in the US.

Ok then lower drinking and smoking weed to 18 (17 with parental permision).

Ok, come on . . . lets here a reason fro our (so far) sole NO vote . . .

I agree that it should be legalized, but there is such an economic disincentive to do so. First of all, the alcohol sector would definitely be against it because it would cut into their share of the recreational drug market. Secondly, pharmaceutical companies are definitely against it. As much as they can patent all the pills and ointments they want, they can't patent a plant and no delivery system, even intravenous, is going to be faster or safer than plain ol' smoking a joint.

As long as these two industries can afford to lobby against it, marijuana will remain illegal.

I agree that it should be legalized, but there is such an economic disincentive to do so. First of all, the alcohol sector would definitely be against it because it would cut into their share of the recreational drug market. Secondly, pharmaceutical companies are definitely against it. As much as they can patent all the pills and ointments they want, they can't patent a plant and no delivery system, even intravenous, is going to be faster or safer than plain ol' smoking a joint.

As long as these two industries can afford to lobby against it, marijuana will remain illegal.

Eh, once you smoke it, you tend not to care whether its legal or not.

I agree that it should be legalized, but there is such an economic disincentive to do so. First of all, the alcohol sector would definitely be against it because it would cut into their share of the recreational drug market. Secondly, pharmaceutical companies are definitely against it. As much as they can patent all the pills and ointments they want, they can't patent a plant and no delivery system, even intravenous, is going to be faster or safer than plain ol' smoking a joint.

As long as these two industries can afford to lobby against it, marijuana will remain illegal.
Hey, the more competition the better. I'd love to see Big Tobacco and Big Alcohol choke on their fat.

Bottles up to that. I'll be back in a few minutes. Now lies the real question...Bowl, Hookah or a classic joint?
I've actually never done pot, and probably never will.

Of course it should be legalized. I simply can't believe that the fast food and snack food industries aren't behind some kind of legalization effort. Everybody wins -- it gets taxed, folks get stoned, folks get the munchies, Domino's, McD's, 7-11, AM-PM, and all other convenience food vendors and makers profit. C'mon, big business, get behind the chronic! You can even placate the greenies too by using the hemp fibers and oil from the seeds in beneficial ways. The plant will grow damn near anywhere (hence "weed").

I don't understand why it's illegal at all, given that beer has been used to keep Americans fat, drunk, stupid, and comsuming for decades.

I voted 'no', but not because I'm against it - I just don't want to see Big Business do to it what they did to tabacco.

Organic tabacco is only about as addictive as weed, and only about as bad for you. Leagalising it allows companies to pump it full of crap to get people addicted to it.

I'd rather weed just be decriminalised. Or have some law meaning it can be grown and sold commercially, but only without additives.

Society is badly off enough with ONE highly addictive plant to smoke, without giving the companies the go-ahead to create another.

I voted 'no', but not because I'm against it - I just don't want to see Big Business do to it what they did to tabacco.

Organic tabacco is only about as addictive as weed, and only about as bad for you. Leagalising it allows companies to pump it full of crap to get people addicted to it.

I'd rather weed just be decriminalised. Or have some law meaning it can be grown and sold commercially, but only without additives.

Society is badly off enough with ONE highly addictive plant to smoke, without giving the companies the go-ahead to create another.

So what your saying is we should only sell weed through whole-foods chains?

I voted 'no', but not because I'm against it - I just don't want to see Big Business do to it what they did to tabacco.

Organic tabacco is only about as addictive as weed, and only about as bad for you. Leagalising it allows companies to pump it full of crap to get people addicted to it.
Haha. You're silly. I smoke American Spirits, one of the additive-free type of cigarettes. Nicotine is highly addictive. It doesn't matter if the cigarette has no additives. I didn't become a pack a day smoker because it's NOT addictive.

Bottles up to that. I'll be back in a few minutes. Now lies the real question...Bowl, Hookah or a classic joint?
Bong. A thousand times over bong. Fun to say, fun to use, it's a win-win.

Bong. A thousand times over bong. Fun to say, fun to use, it's a win-win.

Mine broke.

It should be illegal because it is a mind inhibiting substance. People should not be free to use such a substance because it puts the rest of us at risk when you use it and drive, puts us at risk when you raise your kids an a narcotic filled environment, and use mind controlling substances for recreation.

It should be illegal because it is a mind inhibiting substance. People should not be free to use such a substance because it puts the rest of us at risk when you use it and drive, puts us at risk when you raise your kids an a narcotic filled environment, and use mind controlling substances for recreation.
So we should also ban alchohol right?

So we should also ban alchohol right?
yes, among other things.

It should be illegal because it is a mind inhibiting substance. People should not be free
That's where your argument ends, to be honest. All the stuff about it endangering your children and it being dangerous to drive is all B.S. The action of being high doesn't harm anyone. It's honestly none of your business.

That's where your argument ends, to be honest. All the stuff about it endangering your children and it being dangerous to drive is all B.S. The action of being high doesn't harm anyone. It's honestly none of your business.

the action of being high does not harm anyone.
Driving while high does.
Raising kids while high does.
Doing your job while high does.
Paying your insurance while others are high does
paying for even more cancer treatments does
the fact that it is a gateway drug does
the co-occurance and increased risk of mental illness does


oh it is my business, it would be my money cleaning up your mess.

That's where your argument ends, to be honest. All the stuff about it endangering your children and it being dangerous to drive is all B.S. The action of being high doesn't harm anyone. It's honestly none of your business.

It is though, and just like alchol has limits, and cigerattes should, both of which are not as bad as weed. They are not healthy, and we don't need some large conglomerate running yet another dangerous mind-altering drug.

the action of being high does not harm anyone.
Driving while high does.
Raising kids while high does.
Doing your job while high does.
Paying your insurance while others are high does
paying for even more cancer treatments does
the fact that it is a gateway drug does
the co-occurance and increased risk of mental illness does


oh it is my business, it would be my money cleaning up your mess.
So? What's money for if not to spend it, Daddy Warbucks? Eek, don't stare at Daddy's preservation-of-capital fetish, kids.

It should be illegal because it is a mind inhibiting substance. People should not be free to use such a substance because it puts the rest of us at risk when you use it and drive, puts us at risk when you raise your kids an a narcotic filled environment, and use mind controlling substances for recreation.
Lots of things can alter one's state of mind, including music, reading, even blood-sugar level. Do you intend to legislate control over all such?

the action of being high does not harm anyone.
Driving while high does.
Raising kids while high does.
Doing your job while high does.
Paying your insurance while others are high does
paying for even more cancer treatments does
the fact that it is a gateway drug does
the co-occurance and increased risk of mental illness does


oh it is my business, it would be my money cleaning up your mess.
I always have to snicker when people start talking about marijuana as a "gateway drug". As a friend of mine pointed out, 100% of marijuana users tried orange juice before they tried marijuana. Why are we not burning down the orange groves?

So? What's money for if not to spend it, Daddy Warbucks? Eek, don't stare at Daddy's preservation-of-capital fetish, kids.

Sorry but hundreds of millions of dollars per year in revenue loss and thousands dead from cigarettes and alcohol is enough. No more. My wallet is crying.:(

Absolutely. The state has no right to regulate victimless behaviors.

Lots of things can alter one's state of mind

not state of mind...mental capacity. Big difference.

I always have to snicker when people start talking about marijuana as a "gateway drug". As a friend of mine pointed out, 100% of marijuana users tried orange juice before they tried marijuana. Why are we not burning down the orange groves?

Because there is no link between the two.

Absolutely. The state has no right to regulate victimless behaviors.

when you drive high and wreck my car
when you are my dad and raise me in a crappy way because of the drug you love
when you raise my insurance costs
when you go crazy
when you start using heavier drugs
when you cant think straight and you are my employee.

I am the victim.

Sorry but hundreds of millions of dollars per year in revenue loss and thousands dead from cigarettes and alcohol is enough. No more. My wallet is crying.:(
Deleterious and toxic, true, but smokes and booze are taxed like crazy. Technically, we're the ones paying your bills. So back off, Mr. Bring-down Holier-than-thou -water.

Deleterious and toxic, true, but smokes and booze are taxed like crazy. Technically, we're the ones paying your bills. So back off, Mr. Bring-down Holier-than-thou -water.


Not really, they are taxed a fraction of their worth and thousands die every year. You put the cost benefit ratio on the coffins for me. I can't.

Because there is no link between the two.

And there's a link between marijuana and other drugs? What about all those people that have never used any other illegal drug besides marijuana?

Not really, they are taxed a fraction of their worth and thousands die every year. You put the cost benefit ratio on the coffins for me. I can't.
Well you go right ahead and worry yourself an ulcer over all the precious dollars we're all costing you with our naughtiness.

And there's a link between marijuana and other drugs? What about all those people that have never used any other illegal drug besides marijuana?

They are just potheads and everything glorious that comes along with it. Lost jobs, lost motivation, car crashes, poorly raised children, and a higher risk of physchotic illness....oh and some "fun" when they are stoned enough to leak a tiny bit of fun out of their miserable lives.

Well you go right ahead and worry yourself an ulcer over all the precious dollars we're all costing you with our naughtiness.

It is not me that should worry but you. Why do you need to do drugs to have fun? Why do you need me to pay for it? It is all very dumb.

when you drive high and wreck my car

Drunk driving is illegal.

when you are my dad and raise me in a crappy way because of the drug you love

If I am really "raising you in a crappy way," that should be evaluated independently of marijuana use.

when you raise my insurance costs

Do you apply this logic to all decisions? Any action that has health risks should be banned because it raises insurance costs?

when you go crazy

What about it?

when you start using heavier drugs

Those should be legal, too.

when you cant think straight and you are my employee.

Fire me.

They are just potheads and everything glorious that comes along with it. Lost jobs, lost motivation, car crashes, poorly raised children, and a higher risk of physchotic illness....oh and some "fun" when they are stoned enough to leak a tiny bit of fun out of their miserable lives.

Has it ever occured to you that many more car crashes are caused by completely sober people than potheads? And if legalizing marijuana is all that bad, why hasn't Holland gone to hell in a handbasket by now?

Drunk driving is illegal.



If I am really "raising you in a crappy way," that should be evaluated independently of marijuana use.



Do you apply this logic to all decisions? Any action that has health risks should be banned because it raises insurance costs?



What about it?



Those should be legal, too.



Fire me.

ah, but drunk driving still happens because you can buy alcohol and use it all over the place, and this is responsible for hundreds of deaths every year. Now you want pot legal too? wow. Heap the bodies on your lawn, not mine. Drug use by parents leads to criminal kids once they become adults. Hey, lets make another drug legal! Build the prison in your town not mine. I resnt any action that raises my insurance even more....thanks. Heavy drugs should be legal too? Hmmm, that would kill even more economic and social losers than abortion, talk about Eugenics. Call eichmann! You are fired.

Has it ever occured to you that many more car crashes are caused by completely sober people than potheads? And if legalizing marijuana is all that bad, why hasn't Holland gone to hell in a handbasket by now?

ah but the sober ones could not be helped...they were not impaired by definition. well, lets look at Hollands per capital GDP...is 61% of ours....and their unemployment rate is 50% higher than ours. wow.

the action of being high does not harm anyone.There is hope for you yet, chachi.
Driving while high does.Oh, but it doesn't. I've known many people who have driven home fine high, drunk, on a cell phone, eating, et cetera. And I've known people who've gotten into accidents when they were doing nothing at all wrong. Anecdotal evidence aside, the general problem with your argument is that you're equating the potential for harm with harm itself. By that logic, we should outlaw knoves to prevent stabbings. "How will I cut my steak?" Exactly. Wouldn't it be more prudent to prevent accidents by outlawing cars?
Raising kids while high does.Evidence? No? 'Kay. But even if there is, there a lot of parents who are unfit without the aid of drugs.
Doing your job while high does.What job? I think that a stockboy at a supermarket could do the job just as well high as sober. Airline pilot? There may be a problem there.
Paying your insurance while others are high doesI simply don't understand this. What's the correlation here?
paying for even more cancer treatments doesInteresting, because marijuana is approved for prescription to cancer patients in Alaska, California, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Washington. As well as all of Canada
the fact that it is a gateway drug doesWhy should you care? If people do drugs, what is the direct harm to you?
the co-occurance and increased risk of mental illness doesUh-huh. Source this. I have never heard of this before.
oh it is my business, it would be my money cleaning up your mess.So? Your money and mine go to a lot of things. I don't want to be paying money to Social Security or as much to the military, but whatever.

You know, if you despise freedom so much, you could always move to Iran. They're with you on the whole "potential crime is equal to true crime", "security is more important than freedom", and "people shouldn't have control over their own bodies" stuff.

Meh I don't care what you do in your spare time, however don't do it around me, and if you work for me, you better not come to work high because if you do then I will fire you. Also, don't get high and drive, I would like to live for as long as possible. Other than that, go nuts.

ah but the sober ones could not be helped...they were not impaired by definition. well, lets look at Hollands per capital GDP...is 61% of ours....and their unemployment rate is 50% higher than ours. wow.
So? They have less people to. 1 million compared to 300 million with a 6-9% unemployment rate is vastly different.

Just using random figs... not real.

ah but the sober ones could not be helped...they were not impaired by definition. well, lets look at Hollands per capital GDP...is 61% of ours....and their unemployment rate is 50% higher than ours. wow.
Then that means Holland is doing 61% of the work we do on half the workforce compared to us, meaning they've got more efficient labor.

Meh I don't care what you do in your spare time, however don't do it around me, and if you work for me, you better not come to work high because if you do then I will fire you. Also, don't get high and drive, I would like to live for as long as possible. Other than that, go nuts.

Amen.

Just remember.
Moderation in all things...including moderation.

ah but the sober ones could not be helped...they were not impaired by definition. well, lets look at Hollands per capital GDP...is 61% of ours....and their unemployment rate is 50% higher than ours. wow.

That kind of goes across the idea of accident. If it was meant to happen, then it would be called fate.

To be honest, I don't put much stock in unemployment figures since they are based on people collecting unemployment, not those that are not working. Plenty of people on welfare.

It's been fun batting this back and forth, but I do have to get some sleep.

Be well.

I think it should be legalized. In addition, I think I should be allowed to have sex slaves. I wonder which will happen first?
To hell with the pot, bring on the legalized sex slaves....I think I could get high on that!! :D

So we should also ban alchohol right?

And religion, no more mind controlling substance than religion.

when you drive high and wreck my car
when you are my dad and raise me in a crappy way because of the drug you love
when you raise my insurance costs
when you go crazy
when you start using heavier drugs
when you cant think straight and you are my employee.

I am the victim.
I've never heard of a stoned dude cause a car accident...

Having been raised by pot-smoking parents and turning out fine, I'm going to have to disagree.

Insurance? How does some dude smoking a joint on the other side of the country cause your flood insurance to go up?

Once again, never seen or heard of this happening, and aside, correlation isn't causation.

Proof?

Having smoked pot myself, and knowing others who have, I/we can all agree with think straighter than we do normally. But you wouldn't know.

ABSOLUTELY.

Despite the fact that it does indeed have a mild intoxicating effect, the "drug" is so comparatively harmless than say, Alchohol, that the risk is nearly zero.

More importantly, is the rediculous sum of money that is being wasted imprisoning people for possessing small amounts of the stuff.

At one point, there was almost 750,000 people in American prisons for marijuana possession.
At an average cost of say, 30,000 a year to house an inmate, thats about..
..$22,500,000,000.

Lets see that in print.

Twenty-two billion, five hundred-million dollars.

Thats what the federal government spent to keep these people in prison.
For something that most people at least try once in thier lives, if not smoke everyday.

Something that is far, far less harmful than cigarettes, alchohol, or several other legal drugs.

Do you think maybe there might be a better use of all this money?
Maybe?

Consider the effects of legalising it somewhere like the UK: the burden on the NHS would be immense!