Thread: Should Marijuana be Legal?

I think so yes, based on alcohol being legal, and as far as research suggest they're not to dissimilar in terms of the risk profile.

However, if it were to be legalized, I would hope that it would only be so in your own home, or something like that, and this would go for all smoking. I cannot stand when I'm walking through town or somewhere and you walk through someone's second hand smoke, so I'd not have a problem, as long as smoking in general was dealt with better for those non-smokers.

Topic:
Do you think it will stimulate the economy?

Originally Posted by guitarboy

Topic:
Do you think it will stimulate the economy?

No.

I don't smoke it, I don't care about it, but more importantly I don't think it's any of the government's business if you use marijuana or not.

Because that's my feeling, I'm voting yes and unsubscribing. In my opinion there's nothing to discuss- it's no one's business but your own if you are smoking, unless you are entering into some sort of an agreement (for example, a job) where the person you are dealing with does not wish for you to use it. And in that case, you can just find yourself another job.

Originally Posted by Adam

I think so yes, based on alcohol being legal, and as far as research suggest they're not to dissimilar in terms of the risk profile.

However, if it were to be legalized, I would hope that it would only be so in your own home, or something like that, and this would go for all smoking. I cannot stand when I'm walking through town or somewhere and you walk through someone's second hand smoke, so I'd not have a problem, as long as smoking in general was dealt with better for those non-smokers.

QFT. Nothing else to add.

Originally Posted by guitarboy

Topic:
Do you think it will stimulate the economy?

Not a chance in hell. It's price is high because it's illegal, legalize it and the price drops like a rock. I don't remember what the number that the hard-cores throw around is (something like $10 billion a year) is based on the current price of marijuana. And 10 billion isn't as much as it sounds like, considering the country is 1,100 times that much in debt.

Personal freedom, less government. Let's hope that the blue congress remembers that they are liberals instead of the sudden conservative stances they've taken recently.

I havnt a care one way or the other

I myself find no need for it

It grows wild around here in abundance

I spray the hell out of it with roundup herbacide

Keeps the dopers from town from coming out and picking it

Like I said in the last MJ thread:

Originally Posted by Odd_Nonposter

"If the words "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" don't include the right to experiment with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn't worth the hemp it was written on."
- Terence McKenna

My reasons for legalization:

You cannot overdose. A 160lb man would have to consume around 3 lbs in 15 minutes to even approach the LD50.
It is less intoxicating than alcohol.
It is much less addictive than nicotine. Less addictive than coffee, even.
It does not cause cancer. In fact, it has anti-cancer properties.
It can help with opiate-resistant pain. MMJ patients can cut their opiate intake in half.
Vietnam veterans have noted that cannabis is the only thing that has helped their PTSD.
It's easier for many high school kids to get MJ than beer.
It would destroy drug cartels.
Police would stop hassling people for doing something that does not harm others when used responsibly.

The "gateway effect" could also be said about milk. People start on milk before they move on to bourbon, right? Drug users are more likely to start with MJ because its cheaper, more accessible, milder, and less harmful than crack or heroin. For those whose quote statistics that "some high percentage of cocaine users also use marijuana," think about this: fewer than 1% of marijuana users use cocaine. Less than that for heroin.

And what's more, there's a 100% synthetic THC drug on the market already: Marinol. It has been approved by the FDA for many years now. But, it's in pill form. Why synthetic? Because a drug company can't patent a plant. Monsanto doesn't patent plants: it patents genes. It's all about the money.

Prohibition of anything does not work. In fact, the US is producing just as much as Colombia: http://www.ww4report.com/node/7605


But what I'm more interested in is the legalization of industrial hemp:

It makes superior paper to wood pulp and needs fewer bleaching agents.
The fiber is the strongest natural fiber aside from spider silk.
Clothes made from it are extremely durable and can be made as soft as cotton.
The seeds have all of the essential amino acids in proportions that humans need them.
The oil can replace crude oil in most applications.
Unlike cotton, the plant is good for the soil and needs no herbicides, few pesticides and little to no fertilizer. The roots hold the soil in place and break up any fragipan that stands in their way.
Its huge biomass makes it an effective cellulosic ethanol source.

yes it should be legalized... i suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, lost both hips, bout to lose my knees.. Im in terrible pain all day, it never goes away. But smoking pot helps so much it's like night and day. Ive been on prescription painmeds. They make me so loopy i dont know what's goin on and i can barely walk, and they make me very sick to my stomach as well. Of all the pain meds ive been on, this one works the best, and i can finally have some relief.

Originally Posted by ninja9578

Not a chance in hell. It's price is high because it's illegal, legalize it and the price drops like a rock. I don't remember what the number that the hard-cores throw around is (something like $10 billion a year) is based on the current price of marijuana. And 10 billion isn't as much as it sounds like, considering the country is 1,100 times that much in debt.

Whether you see the impact as significant or not, it would still have a positive economic impact on the legal side of the economy and a negative impact on the black market. Also, at the same time the 'dirt weed' market is crashing, legalization would likely increase the penetration of higher-grade strains which will retain much of their value. Anyone can grow cannabis, but it takes a highly developed skill set and aptitude to produce the good stuff (read T.C. Boyle's Budding Prospects).

Anyone who comes in regular contact with people that use weed will notice it does affect allot of health issues and affects memory loss....but nobody cares about that...cuz your health doesnt affect the life of other people.

The reason why other people don't want you to use drugs is that it's a real ambition killer= anybody that uses allot of drugs will not see the use of living in the real world anymore (kindof like when you are a very powerfull warrior in a RPG game and everyone respects you and when you turn the PC of, you're mom is yelling at you again....it makes you want to go back to the PC again lol) for this exact reason, addicts tend to go back allot to their own cool universe and have the time of their life there...(this is more for hardcore drugs though, but marijuana also makes you feel good for no reason so you'll return to that allot as well).

While you are tripping on LSD, having sex with Cleopatra and traveling to Mars whilst being engaged in a seven year war with the God of thunder the sober people around you just see you lying on a couch drooling Very Happy and see how useless you are..
People like this will drop anything in their real life to return to those moments of ultimate pleasure; work, homework, family and every other ambition they could have fulfilled (becoming a doctor for example) since nothing gives them the same pleasure as the drug.

If everyone in the community would be using drugs 24/7 it would be hell for the sober people....you try to buy gas; the guy at the pompstation is drooling, you want to fly to europe; the pilot is at home being stoned and doesn't feel the urge to be at work anymore, you want your A-student son to become a lawyer; he prefers fucking cleopatra....

For the people who use, it's fantastic, but for those who are actually sober it really sucks to have a bunch of fucking useless people around you who don't pursue their real life dreams, don't fulfill their obligations etc.

With this idea in mind and the prevention of having a useless society , the opium law was introduced somewhere in the 19th century (opium is a very strong drug, and people who use that can stay in the opium houses for days just lying on rental beds) and marijuana etc also fall under this law currently.

However, there are two ways to display rules;
- The reason that directly affects YOU; YOU will get health problems etc, YOU will die bla bla
- The reason that affects the community in the long run....which I explained above. This reason is usually so far fetched that it just doesn't seem to apply in your own personal life....so it doesn't scare people off, plus it takes allot of time to explain people why it's bad for the community etc. You're better of just saying how it will fuck up someone's PERSONAL life then to mention how on a big scale, it is bad for the whole community.

Fascist systems are especially good in this; they convince people to do allot of small scale things (offering their life for their country etc) which from a personal view doesn't seem very satisfying but if you can pull this off with five million people you have a devastating force.

And no, I don't think it should be legal...and even then, very little will change. It's pretty much legal in Holland but from what I've seen it's nearly the same...the prices, the usage... Very little change. Marijuana is not hard to get your hands on so it's not really a big deal lol.

I do notice however that in the US marijuana and alcohol is still treated with more secrecy by young people while in Europe and most other countries people don't even bother to look what you have...it's very normal really.

hmm the only time people saw me mindlessly drooling was when i was on Morphine.... I hated that stuff so much. It would make me incoherent, made it impossible to do anything but sit there, drool fer a while, then fall asleep. The way pot affects me? Makes me easily amused, takes my pain away, and makes me sleepy and hungry. My memory is fine thank you. Im not a stupid stoner. I passed my classes with great marks, not that i ever went to school stoned, that's just stupid.. But most of all, when im high, im almost pain free.. Do you know what it's like to be in so much pain you dont want to live?

You can misuse ANY drug, illegal or not. There's a big problem with people abusing Percs and Oxys. I hate that shit, makes me sick. smoking pot doesnt make you a mindless idiot that stands there and drools.... If it does, yer smoking yerself stupid.

@Jorge: No offense, dude, but you've been watching WAY too many of those "above the influence" PSAs. Not only are they complete faggotry in the first place, but they distort the facts about marijuana to such a ridiculous degree that it's really not even worth my time to search for something ludicrous enough to compare them to.

The legalization of marijuana - among other illegal things that people will do anyway, such as prostitution - would be nothing but beneficial.

I think I actually used this as an example in some other thread a while ago, but hey. Why not reiterate? Italy has an extremely low rate of alcoholism, while Ireland has one of the world's highest. (There's truth in all stereotypes, it seems...) The reason for such a dramatic difference? Well, look at the facts.

In Italy, what we consider to be minors are allowed to drink. In Ireland, however, they have a high drinking age much like the one we have in the U.S. Because Italian kids are allowed to drink, their parents show them how to do so in moderation...i.e., safely. But because Irish kids are forbidden to drink, their parents can't show them how to do it safely - therefore, when they inevitably do go drinking behind their parents' backs, they will most definitely do it the irresponsible way. The same rings true with many other illicit activities that people do behind the law's back.

Bottom line - if it's legalized, people can be educated on how to do it safely. The rates of stoned fucknuts rear-ending people left and right on the highway would drop drastically.

Not to mention the fact that the whole thing would be economically beneficial. The fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger (briefly) considered legalizing MJ in CA for extra revenue is proof of that.

The only people I know who have suffered from chronic cannabis abuse have suffered more and harder from alcohol, meth and coke. The most dedicated pothead I know is also one of the most successful people I know, financially, and at my age most of my smoker friends are successful professionals.

In my experience, serious devotion to pot only (not alcohol or harder drugs) is a harbinger of success and good taste, exactly opposite alcoholism.

Originally Posted by Odd_Nonposter

The "gateway effect" could also be said about milk. People start on milk before they move on to bourbon, right? Drug users are more likely to start with MJ because its cheaper, more accessible, milder, and less harmful than crack or heroin. For those whose quote statistics that "some high percentage of cocaine users also use marijuana," think about this: fewer than 1% of marijuana users use cocaine. Less than that for heroin.

I don't believe it's a gateway drug. If you do marijuana and are a logical person, you will see that it is a safer and cheaper way to get high then narcotics, cocaine, heroin, speed, and though it may not be cheaper, it's better then alcohol and cigarettes. It also helps curb addictions to heroin (opiates), though I think you might have said that. agreement with stated.

Originally Posted by Jorge

While you are tripping on LSD, having sex with Cleopatra and traveling to Mars whilst being engaged in a seven year war with the God of thunder the sober people around you just see you lying on a couch drooling Very Happy and see how useless you are..

Wow, you are so fucking ignorant if you think that's what LSDs effects encompass. Actually, you're ignorant regardless - your entire post was a pseudo-factual slop of 1970s propaganda.



I can prove you wrong on just about every point you made; hell, I'm sure everyone here with a brain can. Ah, but you probably think I'm drooling at my keyboard right now.

Also, to all you saying it's not a gateway drug... it really is, but not in the way the government says it. Think about it: someone who's been hearing all this shit about how marijuana turns you into, essentially, an apathetic zombie lord (who'll end up fucking Cleopatra while traveling to Mars ) from anti-drug commercials and campaigns and whatnot ends up smoking a joint. None of this happens, nothing remotely CLOSE to happening. His ambition isn't killed. He enjoyed himself. Now he's curious on what else the government is lying about.

That's more logical in my perspective. To say weed directly leads to heavier things like cocaine and heroin is just straight up ridiculous.

If anything, alcohol is the gateway drug.

Marijuana should definitely be legal. Freedom is a virtue, and prohibition is a horrific disaster.

Very well said Cold Blooded, totally agree.

Originally Posted by Jorge

While you are tripping on LSD, having sex with Cleopatra and traveling to Mars whilst being engaged in a seven year war with the God of thunder the sober people around you just see you lying on a couch drooling Very Happy and see how useless you are..
People like this will drop anything in their real life to return to those moments of ultimate pleasure; work, homework, family and every other ambition they could have fulfilled (becoming a doctor for example) since nothing gives them the same pleasure as the drug.

LSD is not addictive. Do the research. Also, I only wish it could be as good as you described it.

If people want to drool on their couches and be happy, that's their business. Do you value freedom?

Originally Posted by Jorge

While you are tripping on LSD, having sex with Cleopatra and traveling to Mars whilst being engaged in a seven year war with the God of thunder the sober people around you just see you lying on a couch drooling Very Happy and see how useless you are.

Unlike the other people that have responded to this quote, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you're not a complete moron. You're selling this stuff discretely right? You just wanted to put out there that you have it in a non-comittal way. I've probably eaten more than my fair share of acid and I have NEVER run across anything like that. Sounds fun. How much are you selling it for? AHEM!!!! how much is your "friend" selling it for?

So far, every argument I've seen against the use of pot could also be said about alcohol. There's nothing that makes it significantly worse except for tradition. I don't even smoke or do any drugs, but there really isn't a reason for it to be illegal. The "gateway drug" thing is a misconception. Smoking pot doesn't result in moving on to heavier drugs. I mean, sure, crack heads started out with pot, but that's because it's more available.

Think of yourself as a teenager. What would you be more likely to try: Pot or heroin? I don't know where to go for heroin, but I'm pretty sure I could find pot if I wanted it. So naturally, pot becomes the "gateway drug" simply because it's where everybody starts. Why would anybody want to spend more, risk more, and go through the hassle of finding heroin/cocaine/etc when they can settle their first high with cheap, easy-to-find pot?

Natural selection wins again lol

Originally Posted by Vampyre

So far, every argument I've seen against the use of pot could also be said about alcohol. There's nothing that makes it significantly worse except for tradition. I don't even smoke or do any drugs, but there really isn't a reason for it to be illegal. The "gateway drug" thing is a misconception. Smoking pot doesn't result in moving on to heavier drugs. I mean, sure, crack heads started out with pot, but that's because it's more available.

Think of yourself as a teenager. What would you be more likely to try: Pot or heroin? I don't know where to go for heroin, but I'm pretty sure I could find pot if I wanted it. So naturally, pot becomes the "gateway drug" simply because it's where everybody starts. Why would anybody want to spend more, risk more, and go through the hassle of finding heroin/cocaine/etc when they can settle their first high with cheap, easy-to-find pot?

Natural selection wins again lol

I think there is a valid arguement that could be made for pot as a gateway drug, though not very strong.

At the same time if pot were sold in stores like cigarettes and alchohol and instead from Drug Dealers who have an inherent interest in you taking harder stuff than it would cease to be a "gateway drug".

Most people who smoke pot wouldn't even try the harder stuff anyway. (Meth, Crack,Heroin etc)

Originally Posted by Jorge

While you are tripping on LSD, having sex with Cleopatra and traveling to Mars whilst being engaged in a seven year war with the God of thunder

Really sounds more like Lucid Dreaming to me then Acid =/

But, personally, I think ALL drugs should be legalized. Even the strong drugs like Heroin and Meth. It's none of the governments business.

When I read Jorge's post I thought 'oh dear...'
Very good to know that there are people with some sense

Originally Posted by stasik50

But, personally, I think ALL drugs should be legalized. Even the strong drugs like Heroin and Meth. It's none of the governments business.

While I do agree that it is none of the governments business, what I do to myself,
it is not as easy as that. I think legalizing all drugs might actually lead to a safer
use than prohibition does, so I am open to the idea.
Last weekend I had my first experience with some guy that has taken too much
GHB and I actually thought at some point that he would die in my arms right
on the spot. Not a fun experience, let me tell you.
My point being: Legalization should not mean a free pass to get as fucked up as you wished.
(I'm not implying that is what you were saying, but it did urge me to make that statement)

And also in reference to your post:
I think Timothy Leary said something along the lines:
"I don't want the government to legalize drugs, because it is none of their goddamn business.
I wouldn't want them to legalize masturbation, just so I could do it, either."


Personally I am only interested in those substances that enhence the mind,
not those that are rather there for a fun kick at a party, but that's just me!
(As for Jorge's LSD description.. lol)