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Should Marijuana Be Legalized?
- Thread starter Sunstone
- Start date
Radio Frequency X
World Leader Pretend
Sunstone said:
Drug abuse is a health issue, not a legal issue. People who use pot should not be put in jail.
Booko
Deviled Hen
Seyorni said:This presupposes that all use = abuse.
There might be people who use marijuana as an alcohol user might use wine at dinner or a beer after work, or maybe for medicinal purposes?
Good point about the medical purposes especially. I really don't get why it isn't legalized for that purpose. It seems nonsensical. Legal use of narcotics is there for those with medical need. What's the big deal?
As for our "War on Drugs" I'd take a line out of Dr. Phil: Howz that workin' for you?
It doesn't appear to be working very well. It works about as well as Prohibition did.
ChrisP
Veteran Member
That's the comparison I would make too (and have made very recently... witness the panda teeth marks on my arse)Booko said:
Alcohol is legal because it is socially accepted... Drug use is at least AS widespread if not more so than alcohol, but alcohol still kills more people every year than every major illicit drug combined.
All prohibition is doing is creating social pariahs and putting people in jail for choices that rarely effect anyone except for themselves and their family... something that is completely true of alcohol also.
Moderation in ALL things.
Radio Frequency X
World Leader Pretend
Seyorni said:This presupposes that all use = abuse.
There might be people who use marijuana as an alcohol user might use wine at dinner or a beer after work, or maybe for medicinal purposes?
of course I agree. It is just that the law tends toward the "worst case". The "worst case" is abuse, which should not be something that lands an individual in jail.
NoahideHiker
Religious Headbanger
It should be legalized right along with the rest of the drugs. IMHO of course.
NoahideHiker
Religious Headbanger
YmirGF said:
Oh I don't think they even have to have medicinal uses to be made legal. Just legalize it.
Kamala
Member
Absolutely. Jails are overcrowded thanks to how many people in them were only caught with pot. Marijuana use does not hurt anyone but the user, and it doesn't particularly make you likely to commit dangerous acts like alcohol does. Let the potheads out to make room for those who cause actual, serious harm, instead of letting the dangerous ones out to make room for more potheads like we do now.
NoahideHiker
Religious Headbanger
What would happen if drugs were legal?
- Very few overdoses. Drugs would be regulated for strength so drug users would know what they are using.
- The price of drugs would go way down.
- Crime would go way down. because of lower prices residual crime would go way down because drugs would be cheaper and more available.
- The spread of AIDS would go down. CLean available needles would mean the transmission of AIDS would go down.
- Fewer prisoners. Most of the drug related prisoners crowding our prisons are recreational users. Not the Tony Montanas.
- More effective police forces. The amount of time our police forces spend on fighting the war on drugs is staggering. If drugs were legal the amount of time spent fighting other crimes would go way up.
Here's a cool video of Penn & Teller's Bullsh!$ : The War on Drugs (rated R for language)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3653114296815352489&q=penn+and+teller+war+on+drugs
- Very few overdoses. Drugs would be regulated for strength so drug users would know what they are using.
- The price of drugs would go way down.
- Crime would go way down. because of lower prices residual crime would go way down because drugs would be cheaper and more available.
- The spread of AIDS would go down. CLean available needles would mean the transmission of AIDS would go down.
- Fewer prisoners. Most of the drug related prisoners crowding our prisons are recreational users. Not the Tony Montanas.
- More effective police forces. The amount of time our police forces spend on fighting the war on drugs is staggering. If drugs were legal the amount of time spent fighting other crimes would go way up.
Here's a cool video of Penn & Teller's Bullsh!$ : The War on Drugs (rated R for language)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3653114296815352489&q=penn+and+teller+war+on+drugs
jacquie4000
Well-Known Member
Nice Post NoahideHiker.......good info. I guess I should also state my answer is yes I think they should be legal. The price we pay all around for them being illegal is much higher than if it was to be legalized.
Shadow Wolf
Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
I strongly feel it should be legalized, and taxed enough to remain at the same black market price. This way, people can smoke weed, and the government now has a tremendous amount of tax money comming in. Also, making it mandatory to purchase either a one year or life time liscense to grow and/or sell it. The government would make millions more in tax dollars easy. Too bad the government probably wouldn't use the extra to better society.
gnomon
Well-Known Member
Yes, the production, distribution and use of marijuana should be decriminalized. Just from a reasoned point of view.
One thing, the federal government will not make a windfall of tax revenue off of the drug. The number of people who use marijuana is too small. The tax rate would have to be so high that there would be no point in decriminalizing the drug. Besides, their really is no need for such revenue.
One thing, the federal government will not make a windfall of tax revenue off of the drug. The number of people who use marijuana is too small. The tax rate would have to be so high that there would be no point in decriminalizing the drug. Besides, their really is no need for such revenue.
Arabis
see me run
I don't think that it should be legalized. Kids have a hard enough time staying away from cigarettes and alcohol. If you legalize it then you have even more kids trying it and then trying more drugs. I know that since it is illegal it has kept quite a few more people from using it than if it had been legal.
Mathematician
Reason, and reason again
If drugs are legalized, there needs to be at the bare minimum a few laws and rules installed:
- Nobody should be allowed to drive, pilot, or captain a vehicle while under the influence of any drug that alters subconscious reactions, including alcohol.
- Unless we insist on keeping the age limit, parents/guardians have total rights over whether or not their children can use a certain substance, as well as whether or not they should seek medical attention (unless it is believed by the courts that the parents are neglecting their children's drug use).
- No child can attend public school while under the influence.
- The private sector has the right to refuse someone service if they are taking and/or dealing drugs, and/or if they are under the influence while on their property.
Among other things.
Personally I favor a drug free lifestyle when possible.
- Nobody should be allowed to drive, pilot, or captain a vehicle while under the influence of any drug that alters subconscious reactions, including alcohol.
- Unless we insist on keeping the age limit, parents/guardians have total rights over whether or not their children can use a certain substance, as well as whether or not they should seek medical attention (unless it is believed by the courts that the parents are neglecting their children's drug use).
- No child can attend public school while under the influence.
- The private sector has the right to refuse someone service if they are taking and/or dealing drugs, and/or if they are under the influence while on their property.
Among other things.
Personally I favor a drug free lifestyle when possible.