legalize pot?

[darkrider21]

this is something that i think would be good but we all have different opinions.

[Rylingo]

If supply is sorted out and a good roadside test is found for drivers, sure. Otherwise no.

[Dr. Evil]

If supply is sorted out and a good roadside test is found for drivers, sure. Otherwise no.

This. However, I assume you mean for recreational purposes. I agree with that. Restrict it like tobacco or alcohol. There's already a test for finding THC levels instantly. It's a cotton swab type thing. Anywho, if it WERE legalized, I'd smoke more than I already do.

[Volta]

There is honestly no good reason for someone to go to prison for smoking marijuana. Potheads are practically harmless...

[darkrider21]

There is honestly no good reason for someone to go to prison for smoking marijuana. Potheads are practically harmless...

and that would make more space for the real badguys insted of potheads

[Gauntlgrym]

as long as alcohol is legal........then pot should be too.
alcohol causes MANY more problems, yet it's legal.

[darkrider21]

true that.pot has a lot of uses to.its not for just geting high.they can make hemp rope and paper from pot

[SuXrys]

as long as alcohol is legal........then pot should be too.
alcohol causes MANY more problems, yet it's legal.

I don't think that saying that "If this is legal - then this must be that aswell' is such a good 'reason'/argument for it.
If alcohol came today it wouldn't become legal... Not even coffee would be legal if it would come out today!

Alcohol have just been around us for too long, that's why it can't be illegal, while other things, that may be worse or not, still are.

[RyuTama]

Not even coffee would be legal if it would come out today!

Ffpffpfpshdkjs! Don't utter such terrible words! My heart is breaking!

---

On a more serious note, I agree with Matty that pot should be decriminalized; not legalized. People will use pot whether it's illegal or legal. If they use it while it's illegal, they could be fined and sent to jail, when there are more important criminals that need the attention. And I agree that stoners are practically harmless. All they wanna do is chill and eat cheetos for hours on end; I've honestly never heard of someone committing a legit crime while stoned (and I know quite a lot of people who smoke it).

But on the other hand, legalization would create taxes, mass-production, and could screw up the economy more than it already is. IMO, even an age restriction wouldn't help much against teenage smoking. This is where the whole "if you can't have it, you want it more" scenario comes in. Not only that, but people will be less likely to want to go to school or get a job if they were able to get stoned whenever they pleased.

[Gauntlgrym]

I don't think that saying that "If this is legal - then this must be that as well' is such a good 'reason'/argument for it.

well, that's just part of the reason. there are others.......such as, it would help the U.S. get out of debt. taxing pot would create MASSIVE cash flow.
anyways, the point is, it's just kinda silly to have alcohol legal, but not pot.
that's like saying "it's legal to KILL someone, but if you just HURT someone, you will go to jail"........ it just makes no sense to me.

If alcohol came today it wouldn't become legal...

that's a maybe *shrug*

Not even coffee would be legal if it would come out today!

i doubt that. energy drinks are 10x worse than coffee, and the have just started to come out relatively recently....they are legal.

Alcohol have just been around us for too long, that's why it can't be illegal, while other things, that may be worse or not, still are.

Marijuana has been used as an agent for achieving euphoria since ancient times; it was described in a Chinese medical compendium traditionally considered to date from 2737 B.C. Its use spread from China to India and then to N Africa and reached Europe at least as early as A.D. 500.

from wiki: "Contemporary uses of marijuana and cannabis are as recreational drug, as religious rite, as spiritual rite, and as medicine; the earliest recorded uses date from the 3rd millennium BC"

so.......it's been around for quite some time :P

[RyuTama]

such as, it would help the U.S. get out of debt. taxing pot would create MASSIVE cash flow.

What if all of the people that started smoking this legal marijuana stopped working? We'd end up being worse off, even WITH the tax on it. I'm not an Economics major or anything, so correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't employment more of an issue in the US than current taxes (or lack thereof)?

[Gauntlgrym]

What if all of the people that started smoking this legal marijuana stopped working? We'd end up being worse off, even WITH the tax on it. I'm not an Economics major or anything, so correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't employment more of an issue in the US than current taxes (or lack thereof)?

that's just a silly sterio-type though.
EVERYONE i know over the age of 18 that smokes pot has a job. hell, I used to smoke (not anymore) and i worked 50hrs per week when i did.
not everyone that smokes pot is a lazy stoner that does nothing!!!

[Saeriel]

Alcohol is actually worse for your body than pot, non? It is more damaging, if I recall correctly.

In any case I am under the impression that marijuana should be made legal past a certain age, the same at alcohol - as much as I'm sure my class mates would dislike this response, somehow imbibing mind altering substances while your brain is still developing does not seem the most intelligent action.

[Cantelope]

Criminals, all of you.

[Genghis Beatrix]

Yes, I believe that pot should be legal. It actually helps people who are in pain or even have ADHD. Not only that, but overall it would be better for the economy if it was regulated. Not only will the government be harvesting trillions from us because a lot more people smoke it than you think. Also, it would clear out the jails/prisons to where we would not have to be paying for the cost of living for the people in there.

[darkrider21]

Yes, I believe that pot should be legal. It actually helps people who are in pain or even have ADHD. Not only that, but overall it would be better for the economy if it was regulated. Not only will the government be harvesting trillions from us because a lot more people smoke it than you think. Also, it would clear out the jails/prisons to where we would not have to be paying for the cost of living for the people in there.

i wonder if that would have ben better then taking ritalin when i was younger b cuz the doctors sayed i have adhd

[Anoleis]

Regulate it like booze and I'm sold.

[Eris]

Regulate it like booze and I'm sold.

This. Criminalizing things with a demand just creates a black market that funds organized crime, terrorism, and all sorts of nasty stuff.

[marvel_phoenix]

This. Criminalizing things with a demand just creates a black market that funds organized crime, terrorism, and all sorts of nasty stuff.

Just like Prohibition did! The mob made oodles of money just by finding people to distill the stuff for them, and they did the rest.

---------- Post added at 03:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:04 PM ----------

Lol. I never said everyone will start smoking it just because it's legal. However there ARE people who will. There are people that DO have an interest in it, but don't have access to it. If it were to become legal and readily available, then yes, more people would smoke it because guess what? It's legal and easier to come by. Of course, those that don't have an interest in it now will most likely never develop an interest whether it's legal or not.

Don't mean to start beating a dead horse here, but:

People tend to do what they want, when they want, how often they want, whether it's legal or not. That is just part of human nature. But I think part of the big thrill some people have for smoking marijuana is because society tells them that it's bad to do so. If the message changed over to "Yes, you can do this, but as long as you do play by the rules of the game, we can't do anything about it." then there will be people who will stop, simply because the thrill of it is gone.

Again, lol. I never said only stupid people use drugs. However, I'm quite sure that more people that smoke marijuana and other drugs are less likely to have PhDs. Or am I mistaken? Also, those that have more time on their hands as opposed to those who are already preoccupied with a busy job or a family are more likely to. Again, tell me if I'm wrong.

Quite a few people with Ph.D.'s and high-powered jobs smoke weed. If it weren't for mandatory drug tests in lots of places, more would do it just to help themselves relax. My hubby would be one of those. Right now, he goes through like 2 cans of Snus a week! (Not the US manufactured stuff.. The Swedish or wherever it comes from. ) It helps to reduce some the stress and anxiety that he feels through dealing with "stupid people" day in and day out, as well as the strict regulations and rules that come with his job.

Yes of course there would be an age limit if it were legalized. That goes without saying. But there are ways around the restrictions. Don't tell me you've never met a minor that was capable of getting booze. It's the same way with weed, and it will be even if it's legalized.

Kids will do things they are not supposed to, regardless. It goes back to the forbidden fruit argument. They may not even like drinking/smoking, but will do it anyway because they have been told they can't. Then you have the peer pressure B.S. that goes along with being a teenager. That may in fact be the bigger problem with under-age consumption, but it is not for this argument.

As for the argument that more will sit on their butts and smoke weed rather than get out there and work, they will have two options: find someone to support their butts while they sit and do nothing productive all day, or become a licensed grower of the stuff. That will be their primary options.

[marvel_phoenix]

By all means, legalize it. Just regulate it like we do with Ciggs and Booze. It would do some serious good for the tax rolls, plus gardening is very therapeutic in many cases, and it would give some folks something constructive and financially viable to do. That and make a whole heap of room inside our prisons for those who definitely should not be mixing with the rest of society...

[darkrider21]

eather they sould legalize it with a tax or make it where you can onley buy a certian amount a mounth.but yeagh pot will defantley help out with the econamey.stupid goverment doesnot understand what a gain legalizing pot would do to us all. but by all means it sould be like alchohal and have an age limit of at least 20 in my minde

[marvel_phoenix]

eather they sould legalize it with a tax or make it where you can onley buy a certian amount a mounth.but yeagh pot will defantley help out with the econamey.stupid goverment doesnot understand what a gain legalizing pot would do to us all. but by all means it sould be like alchohal and have an age limit of at least 20 in my minde

According to Brian from Family Guy, pot is illegal because the paper/logging industry doesn't want the competition from Hemp.

[Token Black Guy]

According to Brian from Family Guy, pot is illegal because the paper/logging industry doesn't want the competition from Hemp.

Not only that, but i hear it makes a better bio-fuel source than corn. But i agree with a lot of people here that it should be legalized/decriminalized. There's some good uses for this plant besides the medicinal benefits.

[Matty]

I think they should decriminalize it; not legalize. Government rakes in taxes for EVERYTHING already; I would not want to pay taxes on my weed as well. Plus the quality would most likely be a lower grade that they issue, purposely, to keep you buying more frequently.

I deffinately think that if alcohol is legal, they should at least decriminalize pot. I've heard of a lot more issues with drunk people (Murders, Assualts, Theft, etc.) than with someone who's stoned..... I'm sure there's stories out there involving criminal activity with an individual who's stoned; but honestly, I've never heard of one. Just saying.

Plus I live in the Weed capitol of the world! Everyone thinks it's Amsterdamn, but take a look at who's won the chronic cup the most years in a row.... BC.
9 out of 10 people who live here either use, or have used in their lifetime. So with the vast majority on the other side, would only make sense to decriminalize.

However; I do think the age limit would be appropriate. 18 sounds more reasonable than 19 tho, since ur technically considered an adult at the age of 18 anyway.

[Rylingo]

Comparing marijuana to alcohol is not the way to go about legalising it. Comparing your country with it illegal to a country with it legal, is.

And comparing the damage done by two doesn't work well since you have to start discussing average doesage, priority of importance when it comes to the bodies organs etc. If you really want to compare it to another drug, nicotine would probably be the best choice since they both effect the same bodily systems.

I think they should decriminalize it; not legalize. Government rakes in taxes for EVERYTHING already; I would not want to pay taxes on my weed as well.

If public services are used to fulfill demand then it needs to be taxed. Roads used to transport it? It needs to be taxed. If you have universal government healthcare, it needs to be taxed (and no its not good for you).

And if you're in the US, your taxes are fairly small.