Nothing to see here, move along

[SirFrancis]

Well....

Living in The Netherlands....The only real problem I see is all of the people coming across the border to buy it, then getting busted when the cross the border to go home.... Some people are not too smart!!!

I always enjoyed traveling to Enschede.  Never got busted 

[allaire]

Poppy farmers in afghanistan should totally use this line!

I would almost agree with this, except that you have to refine the plants to get heroin.  Whereas pot you just have to dry it.  Unless you are talking about hashish.

[sntslilhlpr6601]

Actually Oogly, there a few discrepencies in your post.

First off, it isn't a "safe drug" and I'll point out why later.

Overdose is possible, just highly unlikely, just like water.
Alcohol and Tobacco are far better than marijuana as marijuana (although the filtering doesn't do much...) is still unfiltered and has MUCH more tar and carcinogens than tobacco. Yes, you can get a physiological addiction to marijuana, it's highly likely as it activates the "reward pathway" in your brain with such high levels of the chemical dopamine, up to 15 times more than sex.The addict portion isn't true, it IS possible to get a physiological addiction.Marijuana is also one of the leading causes of psychosis. Forms of psychosis include schizophrenia.
http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20070726/pot-now-psychotic-later
Saying that we should legalize it so we can tax it, how's that any different than asking to legalize child porn, if it's taxed of course. Or asking to legalize meth.

For these reasons and many more, I think it should remain illegal. This is what I get for living with a mental health nurse and a police officer.

Wow.

No offense, but there is so much wrong with this post that I'm not even going to attempt a rebuttal. My advice to you is to do your own research on the subject and stop believing anything anyone tells you.


TinmanX brings up a good point about the drug companies. Marijuana is an effective treatment for a whole host of ailments, and its accessibility and inexpensiveness if it were to be legalized would mean very bad news for the pharmaceutical industry. But no matter how much money they can throw at the problem, if the people want change they will get it. All we need is for people to educate themselves and spread the word. Its already making headway. There are several medical marijuana states and the feds are no longer busting these medical operations. Propaganda and lies that people believe without question is the only obstacle.

BTW: I don't even smoke anymore. You don't have to be a pothead to support legalization, you only have to know the truth.

[mechanic]

1)Addictive personalities will become addicted to something no matter if it is legal or illegal.

2)Cannabis smoke causes cancer

3)Alcohol is a far more damaging substance if abused, as is nicotine. Pure nicotine will kill you in even minute quantities.

4)Once a pot head, always a pot head in the mind. Stop smoking the pot, you keep the outlook on life it gives you. A better outlook for the most part.

5)I cant remember cos i smoked too much pot in the past

6)I don't really care cos of the above reason

7)Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins smoked it

8)Anyone got any munchies?


conclusion: Keep it illegal. It's more fun that way.
(See, my bullet points have no relation on my conclusion. Damn pot heads)

[Ghosth]

First off my grandmother often said that alcohol should only be for people over 45.
The younger folks really don't need it, they don't have the maturity to use it wisely.
Older folks can use its few positive side effects (blood thinning, etc) and are more likely to be able
to use it without abusing it.

You can say the same for pot.

Legalize it for anyone over 40 - 45 standardize it, tax it, let it pay for the government, instead of the Government paying to try to stop it. Put in a sliding fee for fines based on how many years it is till you can legally possess it. So 18yr olds caught with it would pay a much heftier fine than a 36yr old.

If by your mid 40's you can't control yourself, when will you?
As for all of you who believe in "gateway" drugs, what about all of those who have used Pot and never tried anything else, nor ever wanted to???

Pot is no more a gateway drug than Beer is.

I do agree with a few points made above.

A Someone who smokes a bowl is not going to go home and beat the wife and the kids.
But the guy who stops off at the corner for a beer is very likely to do just exactly that.

B Yes Cannabis may contain some of the same cancer causing agents as tobacco.
However they are used in minute amounts compared to cigarette smokers. But, as I said, once your 45, you should be old enough to know if thats a risk you want to take or not.

[Dragon]

I've always thought it should be legalized, especially back in the day when I was a daily user.

[SirFrancis]

[...] tax it, let it pay for the government, instead of the Government paying to try to stop it. Put in a sliding fee for fines based on how many years it is till you can legally possess it. [...]

Thats a good point. 

Besides that, when walking alone at night in a dark ally, I would rather run into stoned then drunken guys.

SF

[lowZX14]

I'm going to keep my opinion on the subject to myself, but I'll say that I agree with most of the ones who have posted in this thread.  What I want to know on a side note is where you live Oogly.  I was talking to a friend from work last night that was writing a paper for school on this very same subject.   

[Angus]

Allowing Maruana would "sprout" some business 

[John Curnutte]

 I would much rather work with a stoner than a f****** drunk any day . I hate drunks , they come in the morning and look like hell and smell like it too . At least stoners show up and are smiling and happy . It should be the other way around free the stoners and jail the drunks . Now I enjoy a beer and love Crown Royal but in moderation , I don't smoke the herb but my roomies do and they really enjoy themselves . A very dividing issue really .

                     Nutte

[warhed]

Marijuana like any other drug or substance that is mind altering, is highly addictive to someone who has the addiction genes.  Genes you say?  Yes genes, do the research if you still don't buy into addiction\alcoholism being a literal disease.  
After getting that out however, I don't believe marijuana being illegal will stop a marijuana addict from getting it.  While it certainly would be easier for an addict to get their hands on it if it were legalized, if they aren't currently in a program of recovery (AA\MA\NA) anyway, then they are still progressing in their disease.  
Same way that alcohol works, if alcohol was made illegal, the alcoholics would have no trouble getting a hold of it.  

Just about the only issue I have with legalization, is, outsourcing.  The amount of money made from the drug trade with Mexico and South America is ridiculous.  Legalize in this country, and it's going to explode.  So I would assume bringing weed into this country would still be illegal, however, if it's legal to use here, there's going to be an awful lot of people willing to do what it takes to get it here.  We have trouble securing our border as is.

[JB88]

i am all for freedom.

legalize it.

(and i will advertise it.  yeah.)

[Ripsnort]

Why do the mods allow some political posts?

[CAP1]

I would much rather work with a stoner than a f****** drunk any day . I hate drunks , they come in the morning and look like hell and smell like it too . At least stoners show up and are smiling and happy . It should be the other way around free the stoners and jail the drunks . Now I enjoy a beer and love Crown Royal but in moderation , I don't smoke the herb but my roomies do and they really enjoy themselves . A very dividing issue really .

                     Nutte

i worked with a drunk, who had been "clean" for a few years. he fell off the wagon. he was more of an ultra melon than anyone could possibly imagine.