Should Cannabis Be Made Legal?

Revoltingest said:

More info...
War on Drugs Costs American Lives and Liberties | Cato Institute

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There is a lot to question about the methods of drug enforcement, including its ethical validity and results. The tale reported in that article is shocking and should never have happened, for certain.

I don't see why that would justify doing away with drug enforcement entirely, however. That is like saying that adultery is a reason to do way with marriage.

Thank to the persistence of the Colorado voter, it is legal to possess and grow cannabis in this kind state.

psychoslice said:

Alcohol, Cannabis, what's next ?.

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Ah yes,

LuisDantas said:

There is a lot to question about the methods of drug enforcement, including its ethical validity and results. The tale reported in that article is shocking and should never have happened, for certain.

I don't see why that would justify doing away with drug enforcement entirely, however. That is like saying that adultery is a reason to do way with marriage.

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Your analogy sucks, since imprisonment & marriage are different.....well, some guys might say they're similar.
But I don't advocate doing away with all drug restrictions.

DistinctReason said:

I
Anyone that smoked pot aslong as I have, even less, is aware of the negative side effects. I dont think its fair to legalize it and take away all of the negative attenion it gets.

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Right, because as soon as something becomes legal, we can't say anything bad about it. Oh wait, tobacco is legal, despite it having very negative side-effects, and getting negative attention? Same goes for alcohol and junk food? It would seem, upon closer inspection, that this argument is non-sequitur.

When I tell my child drugs are bad, I want it to be a fact, not an opinion!

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Except, what is "bad" or "wrong" is a subjective-value judgment. No amount of legislation can make your opinion about what is good or bad a fact. Similarly, legalization of marijuana would not invalidate the fact that it has some negative or deleterious side-effects.

Also, I've smoked for long enough to know how relaxed the law is; I can still buy weed everyday, if and when I want it. Legalization wont make a difference to me, and I'm a smoker, so why?

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Really? So, you're one of the few that is not subject to urine tests for pre-employment screening or random on-the-job testing? You've never been pulled over by the police with weed in the car and had to worry about whether you'd be arrested as if you'd actually been doing something wrong or harmful? You don't mind the fact that marijuana is over-priced (due largely to its illegal status), and unregulated as far as quality? You're very lucky then, and ignoring the rest of us just... seems sort of selfish .

But seriously, the problem with marijuana criminalization is that its a double-standard; there is no argument for keeping marijuana illegal that would not, by extension, apply to other things which are legal. And the whole issue boils down to personal choice and freedom- its not the government's place to tell us that adults cannot choose to do something which has negative consequences. Marijuana poses no significant danger to the public, its negative effects apply to the individuals who use it (unlike alcohol, or even tobacco, for instance), so there really is no good reason for it to be prohibited. This is supposed to be a free country, but our standards for what we are free to do are extremely inconsistent (and that's not a good thing).

Cannabis should be totally legal. Alcohol and tobacco kill far more people and ruin far far more lives than cannabis ever could. At worst it could be a gateway drug. But most people I know who smoke it just like to eat , play video games and watch Seinfeld when they're high.

It's stupid that it's actually illegal, just like gay marriage. Let's just legalize the two and deal with more pressing issues like climate change, the deficit, health care, Syria, terrorism....yeesh.

shahz said:

Cannabis should be totally legal. Alcohol and tobacco kill far more people and ruin far far more lives than cannabis ever could. At worst it could be a gateway drug. But most people I know who smoke it just like to eat , play video games and watch Seinfeld when they're high.

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Seinfeld is a gateway TV show.
Once they partake in it, they move on to hardcore stuff like Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Think of the children!

LuisDantas said:

Because drug traffic is lucrative and destructive. It has become a quick way towards better earnings for quite a lot of people, at least here in Brazil.

And it does channel the money of some of the richer people somewhat towards the poorer people.

Quite frankly, it does help in getting rid of some of the less deserving people as well... although the benefits are questionable at best.




Well, you see, I do not support drug use. Ever. So I fail to see the point. I literally don't understand what you are arguing.




It would be very destructive, in perhaps innovative ways. Rio de Janeiro, at least, would be a very different place. Police itself might well resist legalization out of the loss of influence, I dunno.

People are much too used to drug used here, as well, albeit with important differences.




Eh. If only.



Difficult to predict. Perhaps the only significant effect would be further encouraging the use of other drugs.

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I still don't see why Marijuana legalization is the wrong choice, because the alternative is very harsh. People have been put into prison over using marijuana! That is ridiculous. Sometimes charging people with a crime tends to affect them more negatively than a marijuana habit. Also 'Drug' legalization is a wider subject than just Marijuana. I'm not suggesting all drugs be legalized. An addiction to heroin or amphetamine is much worse than a marijuana habit, and I'm not comparing the two.

On the other hand I don't see how legalizing it increases 'Wealth redistribution'? If it becomes legal the wealthy can grow it, so you lose wealth distribution. Also when it is legal the profits per hectare fall dramatically, so to turn a profit requires more land. I don't think it will help anyone.

DistinctReason said:

I'm not sure if this is in the correct place, but I'm sure it will be moved if thats the case.

This is an issue that has gone on for a very long time, theres alot of opinions and I'm interested to know some. Let me start by stating where I stand on it all.

I am a regular smoker. It doesn't run my life style, I'm not one of those hippies who live and die weed; although I've integrated it into my life style, I just dont worship it. Yet I am still definitely against legalization.

I know alot of groups have been using the whole 'equal rights', 'the right to your own body' and 'the right to choose' etc. But to me thats all abit selfish.

Anyone that smoked pot aslong as I have, even less, is aware of the negative side effects. I dont think its fair to legalize it and take away all of the negative attenion it gets. When I tell my child drugs are bad, I want it to be a fact, not an opinion!

Also, I've smoked for long enough to know how relaxed the law is; I can still buy weed everyday, if and when I want it. Legalization wont make a difference to me, and I'm a smoker, so why?

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I favor decriminalization of the possession, use, and even limited distribution of pot to all consenting adults.

I favor circumspect regulation of pot along similar lines akin to use of tobacco and booze.

Personally, I do not care for pot...just as others may not enjoy/prefer cognac or whiskey as "habit", "escape". or "relaxing agent of inhibitions"...

...I simply favor taxing, regulating, and constraining use of pot like any other readily available controllable substance...


"Light em if you got 'em"

Brickjectivity said:

People have been put into prison over using marijuana! That is ridiculous.

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Maybe it is. I just don't understand why people even attempt to use it, so I probably can't make an informed statement about it.

But why do people make such a point of using it anyway?

My gut feeling is that we probably should be way harsher about both hemp and alcohol (and many other things) instead of going in the opposite direction.

Sometimes charging people with a crime tends to affect them more negatively than a marijuana habit. Also 'Drug' legalization is a wider subject than just Marijuana. I'm not suggesting all drugs be legalized. An addiction to heroin or amphetamine is much worse than a marijuana habit, and I'm not comparing the two.

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I am. And also tobacco, alcohol, and many otherwise legal prescription drugs. I worry a lot about the current mentality about drugs of all kinds.

On the other hand I don't see how legalizing it increases 'Wealth redistribution'?

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It was to some degree a joke, although I do maintain what I said. Further support of drug use (which is what I consider all this talk about legalizing as being) will encourage even more reckless behavior. Some people will lose a lot of money as a result, and that money will flow towards pushers and intermediaries.

If it becomes legal the wealthy can grow it, so you lose wealth distribution. Also when it is legal the profits per hectare fall dramatically, so to turn a profit requires more land. I don't think it will help anyone.

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Very little about hemp will help anyone...

LuisDantas said:

Maybe it is. I just don't understand why people even attempt to use it, so I probably can't make an informed statement about it.

But why do people make such a point of using it anyway?

My gut feeling is that we probably should be way harsher about both hemp and alcohol (and many other things) instead of going in the opposite direction.

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Why? What about junk food? Inactivity? Gambling? Dangerous recreational sports like mountain-climbing or base-jumping? At what point do you give adults credit for being adults and let them make up their own mind about actions that only stand to harm themselves?

I mean, is there a single plausible reason to criminalize any of this- tobacco, alcohol, marijuana- particularly in a purportedly free country? (if "free" doesn't mean "free to make mistakes", or "free to do things others disagree with", then what the hell does it mean?)

enaidealukal said:

Why? What about junk food? Inactivity? Gambling? Dangerous recreational sports like mountain-climbing or base-jumping? At what point do you give adults credit for being adults and let them make up their own mind about actions that only stand to harm themselves?

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That is just a weird comparison to me. Drug use is such a distinct activity, deserving of differentiated treatment. I struggle to understand why so many people think otherwise.

I mean, is there a single plausible reason to criminalize any of this- tobacco, alcohol, marijuana- particularly in a purportedly free country? (if "free" doesn't mean "free to make mistakes", or "free to do things others disagree with", then what the hell does it mean?)

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Being drugs is plenty reason enough IMO.

LuisDantas said:

...encourage even more reckless behavior.

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This concerns me greatly. If we want a more libertarian society (people being able to interact with minimal coercion by gov or fellow citizens), this depends upon citizens acting with rational self interest. Rampant recreational drug use is at odds with this goal. The best balance to minimize the police state might be to legalize particular drugs (dope, morphine), ban the more dangerous ones (bath salts) with redundant pleasurable effects, & fund recovery programs for society's problem kids. This could lower the overall tax burden, & put fewer people in prison.

LuisDantas said:

Maybe it is. I just don't understand why people even attempt to use it, so I probably can't make an informed statement about it.

But why do people make such a point of using it anyway?

My gut feeling is that we probably should be way harsher about both hemp and alcohol (and many other things) instead of going in the opposite direction.




I am. And also tobacco, alcohol, and many otherwise legal prescription drugs. I worry a lot about the current mentality about drugs of all kinds.




It was to some degree a joke, although I do maintain what I said. Further support of drug use (which is what I consider all this talk about legalizing as being) will encourage even more reckless behavior. Some people will lose a lot of money as a result, and that money will flow towards pushers and intermediaries.




Very little about hemp will help anyone...

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i beg to differ Benefits Of Hemp

Hemp Benefits | The Many Uses of Hemp Oil and Seeds : Hemp Benefits

also legalization of marijuana will hurt cartel and crime lords around the world profit.
Study: U.S. marijuana legalization would hurt Mexican cartels - CBS News

RAND estimates the cartels make somewhere around $1.5 to $2 billion annually “from moving marijuana across the border into the United States and selling it

and also the medical benefits which i understand is a different story all together but ill share anyway.
Marijuana stops child's severe seizures - CNN.com

[youtube]BH5yzEu3JGQ[/youtube]
Charlotte's Web and Zaki's Journey - YouTube

[youtube]tShnVEmdS2o[/youtube]
Dr. Sanjay Gupta - 'WEED' Documentary - FULL HD - YouTube

and last but not least the profits america definitely needs. Cannabis Top Crop in America | Marijuana Skyrocketed to Number One Crop
Marijuana Named America's Biggest Cash Crop...

It also sounds like some people judge the smoking of cannabis and label it under the evil name drugs which carries a very heavy preconceived notion but it seems a lot of these people have never smoked I could be wrong.

and also this Study: Cannabis Compounds Can Kill Cancer Cells - US News and World Report what it is so bad and evil but it helps fight cancer and help suffering people in pain and has never killed a single person in recorded history. We as a people should ban many things before we ever ban weed.

"The First Hemp Laws In America The first hemp laws in America were passed in 1619 and they were 'must grow' laws."

American Hemp History

The term 'drugs' is almost like the term 'food'. Illegal, legal, dangerous, safe, recreational, medical, pain, antidepressant, inhalants, benzos, natural, .... and more

And yet all these thousands of substances are talked about as if they were all the same.

Revoltingest said:

This concerns me greatly. If we want a more libertarian society (people being able to interact with minimal coercion by gov or fellow citizens), this depends upon citizens acting with rational self interest. Rampant recreational drug use is at odds with this goal. The best balance to minimize the police state might be to legalize particular drugs (dope, morphine), ban the more dangerous ones (bath salts) with redundant pleasurable effects, & fund recovery programs for society's problem kids. This could lower the overall tax burden, & put fewer people in prison.

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I have seen first hand the effect's opioids have on people they are in no way safe seeing friends and people you know OD and go through very extreme withdrawal will change your mind on this. Heroin is single handedly destroying the town i grew up and live in it is in no way a safe "drug" and one of the most damaging on the body.

RisingKnowledge said:

I have seen first hand the effect's opioids have on people they are in no way safe seeing friends and people you know OD and go through very extreme withdrawal will change your mind on this. Heroin is single handedly destroying the town i grew up and live in it is in no way a safe "drug" and one of the most damaging on the body.

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Those are very real problems.
Also real:
- A vast expensive & oppressive 'justice' system to imprison drug offenders at the highest incarceration rate in the entire world.
- As reported to me by cops I know, diversion of resources from other areas of law enforcement to the victimless crime of drug use.
- No tax revenue from the huge illegal drug market.
- Organized crime thriving to provide what people will buy whether it's legal or not.