5 Lies You’ve Been Told About the US Legalizing Marijuana

[Twilight Hue]

What does the fact that people want to get high have to do with subject of the OP? And people admit outright that they want to get high all of the time.

People come out of the woodwork from all directions defending the drug, citing how safe and healthy it is compared to other drugs and alcohol etc. I just find it peculiar that the real reason for legalisation is avoided for the greater part that they want it for no other reason than just to get high.

I really don't care personally if it's legal or not. There's medical value, so I'm not against it with vengeance. Recreationally people have a right to do with their own bodies as they wish. I already mentioned that earlier.

I applaud people who are straightforward enough to admit that getting high is pretty much what it's all about.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

Meth is, more-or-less, ADD/ADHD medication. Of course it's not exactly the same as street meth, but a wine cooler and whiskey are both alcohol. Coke too can be useful. Medicinally a good number of "hard" drugs have legit pharmaceutical uses. And, for the most part, occasional recreational use doesn't pose a serious health risk as long as you don't over do it. Many drugs have benefits when used in moderation (such as alcohol), and all but very few have dire consequences for abuse and overdose.

I was merely highlighting hypocrisy. I don't discount the benefits of alcohol, meth, coke among others. And I haven't done so in this thread. Straw man.

We do. They often include "ask you doctor about..."

I was obviously referring to recreational use.

 

[psychoslice]

At least they're less likely to drive and the driving is significantly less aggressive and, thus, potentially dangerous than drunk driving IMO.

I suppose that's true, i remember when I use to drive stoned, its felt like I was driving a hovercraft, and I use to feel so paranoid thinking ever car was a cop care lol.

 

[QuestioningMind]

Seriously.

Sometimes I wonder about the lifestyles of people who post here; some seem to reek of an obvious deficiency in regular social interaction.

Really? And on what do you base your bizarre assertion that people who smoke pot 'reek of an obvious deficiency in regular social interaction'? Do you have reason to believe that I don't have regular social interaction? How the heck did you jump to such a wild conclusion based upon my post?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

You still won't win that competition.

I already have.

Take another hit.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

You've never known anyone who drank alcohol without becoming drunk?

Me. I've been drunk exactly twice. I hated it both times, even though they were both a kind of social experiment on my part.

But I would socially drink quite a bit, back in the day-- never more than one glass of wine (wasn't a fan of beer, especially) or a single cooler. Not a fan of mixed drinks, but often ordered "virgin" mixers instead. (cheaper too-- and I'm cheap).

I eventually quit even the social drinking, as I found it pointless.

But I was hardly alone in drinking a single drink, and calling it quits for the night.

I have known many who like a single glass of wine with dinner, and nothing beyond.

So, yeah, it's a thing.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

I'll ask you the same:

How much are you willing to pay for the system that arrests, prosecutes and sentences people for possessing marijuana? The war on drugs costs billions of dollars, and has ruined the lives of countless productive citizens. As the Cheat Sheet article notes, with legalization law enforcement costs fall, law enforcement resources are freed up to focus on serious crimes that truly harm people, and there might even be (already) an association with lower rates of homicide and assault. At least one study has shown a reduction deaths due to opioid overdoses in states that have decriminalized or otherwise legalized marijuana. (Ask me for it.) And, of course, as the article notes, Colorado, Washington and Oregon are rolling in cash from taxes. Massachusetts and California will soon follow. So is continuing the war on tokers worth giving all that up?

I agree totally-- I would quickly legalize all narcotics, including the very addictive ones. I would place giant, mulit-million dollar fines on false labeling. Even accidental false labeling.

Then? I'd let adults do as they please-- but driving while impaired would be a strict penalty-- and I'd scale the penalty commiserate with how much they can afford to pay (as has been done elsewhere to very effective effect -- Danish? I think.. ).

Finally? I'd take a tiny fraction of the billions we'd save on elimating "war on drugs" BS, and create free-to-all, de-tox clinics-- anonymous, open 24/7, dedicated to helping people get off of whatever it was they wanted off of.

Then sit back and let Evolution sort it all out. In a few generations? The number of permanently high, non-functional folk would diminish to the point of irrelevance. Easily absorbed in the "noise" of our economy, and not even deserving a footnote in the budgetary process.

That assumes that adults get to own their own actions, and are free to choose what they wish to do with their own bodies, so long as they don't take anyone unwilling with them in the process.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

I suppose its right if its policed like drink driving, where I am they take a swab and test it for drugs, we certainly don't need stoned drivers.

Well, no-- but. Driving while drunk, the drunk person has the perception he is going slow, so he speeds up....

And (or so I'm told-- I'm deathly allergic to all smoke, so I've never tried it myself) driving while high on MJ, you think that 10mph is speeding-- so you slow down. And slow down some more... then you spot that convenience store, and get an attack of the munchies...

I have been around tokers quite a bit, and I do note that when high, they slow down.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

And where do you end, do you also make other drugs legal ?.

Yes. Make them all legal. Put very clear labels on the bottle-- and then? The responsibility falls on the user.

Are we Adults or Children?

The only penalty I'd have is for false labeling-- and the fines would run into the millions per each-- even unknowing false labeling. Corporations must be held to higher standards than people, after all.

 

[columbus]

You said you don't approve of using it-- so if you were in charge, it'd always be legal.

What?
I don't approve of using it. But legal efforts to stop it are failing miserably and more destructive than casual use by adults.
I can't tell if you are strawmanning or lack reading comprehension.
Tom

 

[Nakosis]

I was just trying to make a Zen koan.

(One never knows how that's going to work out.)

It actually blew my mind, so seems it worked out alright.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

What?
I don't approve of using it. But legal efforts to stop it are failing miserably and more destructive than casual use by adults.
I can't tell if you are strawmanning or lack reading comprehension.
Tom

Then, Sir, I apologize! I will strive to do better in the future. Mea culpa.

 

[psychoslice]

Well, no-- but. Driving while drunk, the drunk person has the perception he is going slow, so he speeds up....

And (or so I'm told-- I'm deathly allergic to all smoke, so I've never tried it myself) driving while high on MJ, you think that 10mph is speeding-- so you slow down. And slow down some more... then you spot that convenience store, and get an attack of the munchies...

I have been around tokers quite a bit, and I do note that when high, they slow down.

So you think that doped people should drive without being tested ?.

 

[psychoslice]

Yes. Make them all legal. Put very clear labels on the bottle-- and then? The responsibility falls on the user.

Are we Adults or Children?

The only penalty I'd have is for false labeling-- and the fines would run into the millions per each-- even unknowing false labeling. Corporations must be held to higher standards than people, after all.

Sorry but that is ridiculous.

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

So you think that doped people should drive without being tested ?.

Where did I say **that**? Seriously? Did you not read my earlier post-- that **any** driving while impaired should be a ticket-able offense?

I would include (but not limited to): drunk, high, kids-not-in-carseats, texting, talking-on-the-phone, changing music on a device, taking prescription meds that impair judgement or wakefulness, eating, etc, etc, etc.

Driving is a privilege. If you cause an accident, and you were impaired by something not related to actual driving? DUI ticket, fine, loss of license, etc.

I cannot wait for auto-drive cars to become mandatory; eliminating the too stupid human component from the equation.

Especially those with kids who are leaping about inside a moving vehicle...

 

[Bob the Unbeliever]

Sorry but that is ridiculous.

Why? Because YOU say so? Who died and made YOU god-in-charge-of-all-adults?

Hmmmm?

You did not even offer a basic argument other than, "Nuh-UUUH!"

 

[Alison Wonderland]

Imagine if 70% of the population was using Meth, and its clear just how ridiculous it is to compare the dangers of Alcohol to the much worse dangers of Meth.

You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Please, inform us of the "much worse dangers of meth" you allude to and we'll see how closely it aligns with the overblown garbage produced in public service announcements and the like.

 

[Alison Wonderland]

Really? And on what do you base your bizarre assertion that people who smoke pot 'reek of an obvious deficiency in regular social interaction'?

I didn't say that.

"Questioning Mind" LOL

 

[Lyndon]

You obviously don't know what you're talking about.

Please, inform us of the "much worse dangers of meth" you allude to and we'll see how closely it aligns with the overblown garbage produced in public service announcements and the like.

O yeah, right, like I have no experience with Meth users, generally only Meth users defend using Meth.

 

[SomeRandom]

You've never known anyone who drank alcohol without becoming drunk?

Lol I have an uncle who can drink from sunup to sundown (and sometimes does) without getting drunk at all. Liver of steel that bloke.
Also those ******** who can drink themselves sober. There's always one in every group. Wish I could drink myself sober. Lousy freeloading lazy liver.