Not a pothead, couldn't say how it feels, Subrosa.

I support legalizing it, sure. But mainly because I live in a town full of potheads.

-Liam

Yes, but just because I think it would do more good than harm; I don't smoke it myself.

I believe that Marijuana should be legalized with very high restrictions. But let's get to a really fun fact about Marijuana. IT IS LESS ADDICTIVE THAN CIGARETTES OR CIGARS!!!

Yep! So obviously, the addiction side of things have been resolved. How about health? Well Marijuana is not exactly good for your health but here are a couple things. It's been ranked the least harmful drug. The substance is non addictive so long term use will not be an issue to most folks. What's even better is that it yields significant medical benefits. It's used for pain treatment and a very good substance for people who are suffering from muscle cramps and heart problems. It relaxes muscles and increases heart rate.

So what about moral problems? Well I don't believe in any morals other than whats blatantly obvious such as not murdering and such. So anything that won't wind me up in court, I'm fine doing. So if marijuana is legalized, I'm fine with it. Personally I will never smoke anything and the worst thing I'm doing is drinking wine so it won't affect me. But it sure will affect my friends.

In any case, how about the downsides? Well other than problems associated with smoking, there's no real long term affect. How about moral downsides? Well if you abuse the substance, you'll get your family bankrupt so there's a moral downside for ya!

Restrictions? Well but of course! Here's my ideas for restrictions

1. You MUST be 18-21(take your pick)to buy the substance. You also have to show ID such as a drivers license. Also, they must show that they have no major criminal record if they plan to buy the stuff in bulk.

2. The marijuana must only be sold in stores that the government approves. Such as smoke shops or small adult places where children will never be near. So no big stores unless it's adult only.

3. Everybody under 18-21(see regulation one)must leave the area if somebody plans on smoking marijuana. Such as if you're in a car, all under-aged people must leave the car. So pretty much one room.

4. No smoking in public places unless it's a designated smoking area. So no lighting a pouch in a restaurant. But of course, the owner of the building could designate smoke zones that are either outside or a very well ventilated area away from the main area.

5. None of these rules(except the no smoking in public area and don't smoke near minors)apply if administered by a doctor for medical purposes(just to make it fair).

6. All companies planning to sell marijuana has to be completely legit and have no criminal affiliations.

This seems fair. I guess I'm glad that they're not doing speed or anything. Not that weed's good, but, as you said, it's the least toxic. Or whatever.

The problem is, once those rules have been estableshed (lets say the rules DarkZerker made were voted on and won) people won't really enforce it. It happens every time.

I'm on the rare fringe of folks who believes all drugs should be legalized with almost zero restrictions put in place. I don't partake in these substances either, but far be it from the government to tell someone not to kill themselves.

If they want to kill themselves, can't they just slit their throats or something? Whatever. I've vowed never to touch drugs, weed, cigarettes, or get drunk, so I suppose it doesn't really matter to me all that much.

Now there's a recipe for disaster

Interesting concept, it would be very hard to proove if someone was high (for driving say). Alcohol is easy but THC couldn't be detected on the breath so urine would be nessesary (though I've no idea how quantitive that test is) and it certinaly can't be done by the roadside (well... some people might object).

I've always held the opinion that regulation is better than prohibition in almost everything.

It was made illegal because they couldn't tax it, and because it was giving American dollars to other countries we were possibly in the middle of issues with. Between 1937 and 1956 it was just taxed if you were caught with it. In 1956 it became a crime to have it in your possession. From there they continued increasing the mandatory time of incarceration till it moved simple possession from the jails to the state pen - in with hardened criminals.

This is where I have issues with the law, even though I don't touch the stuff - that our taxpayer dollars are being used to feed and house those in jail for possession, and that (people doing time for possession) are being incarcerated with hardened criminals, rapists and murderers.

There is the argument that our country faired very well prior to the law changes, and that since then the jails are overcrowded and the legal system dragged down to a crawl because of the sheer number of cases being shoved through are strangling the court systems.

I am not for smoking pot or against it (Although I won't allow it in my home, and for my children's sake don't encourage a close friendship with anyone who smokes it) - but I am against peaceful citizens being housed with murderers, and I am against MY taxpayer dollars being used to pay for their incarceration when there are murderers and rapists roaming the streets.

I am for it. For one second, let's get past smoking it. Hemp can be used to make paper, clothing, milk, tea, flour, oil (which can reduce symptoms of eczema), fuel, and more.

Then there's the fact that I don't feel that anyone should be telling me what I can or can't do with my body, so long as it harms no one else.

And there's the part mALX brings up. Why should someone who just wanted to smoke a bit be housed with dangerous men who committed horrible acts? It costs lots of money to keep them in prison. Not to mention how much it winds up harming them in the future, since it gives them a record.

I say legalize it and then tax the hell out of it. Take the power away from drug lords.

I haven't read the previous comments - I'm sorry if I repeat something. I'd like to tell my story about this although it isn't as half as interesting as you think it will be.

In my country - the Netherlands - it is legal. People often use it and become addicted to it, especially if you live in such a big city as I use to live in. I don't know what moron made it legal in the first place. It is addicting, it is bad, and bad things can happen.


When I was younger, me and my friends went out and they all got high on that stuff. Except I didn't. The first time, I'll admit, it was hell funny to watch them all laughing and doing stuff you usually embarrass yourself for.
But the second and third time they became a bit more - excessive and started damaging things and breaking stuff. They also thought I was a ''mad, scared boring girl'' for not taking it.

Well it went out of hand. Later I didn't even bother coming along with them. Couple of weeks later I've noticed they didn't used it for going out only, and a month later some of them went in deep trouble. They often bought it from dealers (which is not legal) and became addicts.

Hell I'm happy I was smart at that time.

At one point, hell be glad it is legal. There are dealers everywhere. And when people buy it from dealers it isn't half as save as when it is bought somewhere official. Dealers can mug with it and hamster everything up so it becomes more dangerous.

This post has been edited by Lunaia: Jan 13 2011, 10:50 AM

Except it's not addicting, it's only potentially habit-forming. And bad things are less likely to happen while high than drunk. Even a lot of the supposed horrible things that happen around alcohol aren't true (such as the likelyhood of rape).

The problem with prohibition is that it simply doesn't work. People will always find a way to get a hold of the substances and making it illegal just throws more people into prison for inconsequential actions. Nanny-states in general only hurt the people, depriving them of their right to choose for themselves. And the government that has the kind of power to make SOME of your decisions for you has the power to make ALL of your decisions for you.

QFT

My best friend is a junkie. It depresses me to no end to hear him talking about how he loves to get high. I don't think tobacco, alcohol, or marijuana should be legal. But as we learned from the prohibition, that'd do no good.

Do I approve of it? Hell no. Do I think it should be legal? See answer one. Can I force him to quit? Nope. Marijuana is simply a 'gateway drug' as they're called.

When it is legal, I think the following restrictions should be in place for purchasing it.

"No selling to anyone under 21"
"No selling to anyone with a criminal record"
"No selling to anyone who is clearly intoxicated"

About no minors being around...That'd be too hard to enforce. Besides, you can't get high from being around people smoking pot.

They have quick-testers. The problem is that you can kiss your license goodbye if you've taken marijuana in any form in the last 2-3 months. It's the law around here.

AFAIK they don't actually say if you're high, just whether you've taken it in the past few days (whether you should drive having taken it in the past couple of days is another issue but as it's metabolite hangs around in fat it takers a while to disappear). Also the current quick-test is pretty shoddy, there are many things which cause it to give false positives so the results wouldn't stand in court without sending it away to a lab (quite expensive and slow).

How would they know if you'd taken it in 2-3 months?

This post has been edited by Olen: Jan 17 2011, 10:26 PM

Without having read all eight pages of this thread, I will toss in my two cents worth...

I am absolutely in favor of legalization. For several reasons.

1. Marijuana is the #1 cash source for the drug cartels that are ravaging our southern border. In the past 5 years, over 34,000 people have been killed in "The Drug War".

2. Legalization creates a tax base for for cash-strapped, impoverished southern states, of which I am currently a resident.

3. If a drug like alcohol can be legal, then a drug like marijuana can be legal with the same restrictions and penalties. (DUI for example)

Addiction does not enter the equation. Addiction is a disease that is not caused by the substance, but rather it is a disorder within the person that is an addict.

With all of that said, legalization has to take place on the Federal level, not state by state. Besides all of the state laws against marijuana, a Federal law prohibits the sale and use of marijuana.

I don´t know, but lots of other stuff that´s really bad for you is allowed. Like sugar. And coffee. And cigarettes. And alcohol. And gene-manipulated food. And pharmaceutical drugs with tons of side-effects. And vaccination shots to kids way too young. Not to mention the stuff they spray out of planes which we later breathe in.

What´s so bad with marijuana?

People are gonna smoke it however illegal you make it and however harsh you make the penalties. Might as well make it legal, taxable and get some money off it.