Should the sale and use of marijuana be legalized?

[MadJack]

I don't do the chit anymore and haven't for quite a few years but I sure had my share in the early 70's......some in the 80's too, I guess

Spending all this money for trials and lawyers and locking these people up in jail is a waste.

AND, suppose I DID decide to start smoking the chit again and I got CAUGHT!?! They're gonna send my ass to jail because I did a little pot? Or take my house and cars because I grew a few plants around the yard?!? I didn't hurt anybody, except 'maybe' myself.

Anyway, I think they should just make the chit legal and be done with it already.

I'll probably add some thoughts later on, if this turns into a discussion.

 

[Subagoto]

I agree 100%. I have not touched it since my college days. While marijuana is far from "harmless", alcohol is much more harmful and addicting than marijuana...

 

[kneifl]

Yes,

I think it should be

....

I don't really use the stuff anymore either, when a big group of friends get together different story

.....

I use to use it a lot when I started out in college, and so did everyone else. It was fun to smoke a joint and party with friends.....

Wake 'n bake, it use to help my hangovers is what I liked about it

.....


kneifl

[This message has been edited by kneifl (edited 07-05-2001).]

 

[dawgball]

MJ

I think you will probably strike a chord with a few people here with this subject.

IMO, I think the only reason that it is illegal is that the government can not guarantee that they will make a profit off of the plant after it is legal. What they fail to realize is that if they let big business into the game, the policing of growth would be done by those businesses that stand to lose money if it is not stopped.

The penalties that they have placed on marijuana is ridiculous. They treat a person the same whether they are growing pot or cooking meth. That is outrageous. The problem, though, is that noone with any clout is going to stand up against this because of fear of reputation.

I don't think that these rules will stand for too much longer because it is overcrowding our prisons (which is a whole different topic). Non-violent offenders are filling up every nook and cranny of every run-down prison in the country.

http://www.rand.org/publications/RB/RB6003/

This is a pretty good article on the validity of this subject.

Expect this thread to be on fire within a matter of two hours.

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Sic 'em
dawgball

 

[SixFive]

No. I think the use of Marijuana is the precursor to the use of harder drugs such as crack, coke, heroine, etc. Drug abuse is not a victimless crime even if it is "just marijuana".

HOWEVER,,, Mary J. is a great medicinal drug. One of the best things in the world as an anti-emetic, and also successfully used to treat some types of glaucoma.

I just can't see legalizing it as a recreational drug. Already too many drunks walking around with legal alcohol. I'd hate to think of adding millions of stoners to that mix.

As far as the cost goes to prosecute those who grow it and use it, law enforcement could take all the money they get from fines of idiots who have unrestrained children in their cars (my biggest pet peeve) and use it there.

The whole legal process is too costly and not just for marijuana prosecution. And if it were legal, what would the #1 cash crop in Kentucky be then??? Tobacco?? Lol, good luck. I'm sure this topic will get hot soon.

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It's far better to be LUCKY than good.

 

[HONUS]

Yes. Two main reasons:

1. Better control over the quality and
2. Increased tax revenue for government (and then lower my personal taxes in the appropriate manner)!

 

[1837]

Definitely Jack!

Some say it is more harmless than alcool and they are right. It is even less dangerous than cigarettes! I know what i talk about: i have a certificate in toxicology from the medecine faculty of the university from here. I saw and studied for 2 years, partial time, weekend courses, all kind of shit with the addiction about any substance and believe me, mari is so harmless compare to alcool and cigarettes we smoke!!! Pharmacology studied has been made and research on this and it isn't true that it brings to stronger drugs. I am sorry but that is bullsh... Cocaine and Crack are hard drugs that you can use without trying mari first. (anyhow, the effect isn't the same so...) The theory of steps (if you start with mari soon you'll get addicted to hard one) is totally absurd and unproven. It has been invented to scare public. If you knew what we drink and smoke "legally talking" you all be agree to see that a joint is nothing!

I have to go and that is too bad 'cause i would love to add more on this. I will post more comments later!

BTW, honus, you are right!

 

[1837]

just before going... a national poll has been made about the legalization of the mari and 52% of the canadians said... YES!

 

[beantownjim]

jack weird subject im forty years old now but i can remember smoking grass in high school do you remember the bongs,and you were really cool if you had a big wooden pipe.we had a group of guys that hung around a local park and then we got friendly with this guy rapheal from mexico he used to give us hash eesh that stuff was so smooth boy did we have fun.i forgot to mention rapheal owned a mexican restaurant so we got good munchies also what a fun guy he was.i started feeling paranoid so i stopped smoking i would say all total i got high 20 times.i wish i still knew him because i think he was a swinger always other couples over his house.brings back memories jack of the simple days not a care in the world.

 

[Gatorbait]

you guys know my feelings....that for should. Damm Jack, chit is much stronger now than the 70's and 80's

.....indoors is taking over!!!!!!!!!!!legal or not.

 

[Crazy Fingers]

Most definitely it should be legalized. The argument on tax revenue alone should have the government wanting to legalize it. Hell, an oz. of good homegrown will go for $400 and above, isn't that worth its weight in gold? It is the largest cash crop in the US and the government should capitalize on it. The argument for a gateway drug, I don't buy. If you do those other harder drugs, it is not because you were poking a little smot, it's because you were curious and wanted to find out what the big deal was about them.

I do agree that the fines do not fit the crimes. Punishment being handed out is flat out ridiculous. It's just a bunch of bureaucrats who were too scared to try something and they were scared so now they have power and will punish those who want to try it.

 

[katts]

What they don't get is... anybody who wants to smoke pot will do it, whether it's legal or not. I really don't get this thing. They spend so much money in trying to figure out if it'd be better to legalize it.. In this situation it's not about the society, it's about the individual. It's the individual,s decision and it's only a matter of self-control. I know a lot of people smoking pot on a regular basis, I personally do smoke a joint now and then, and I also know a couple of alcoholics. I can tell you for a fact that the biggest pot smoker I know is a whole lot brighter than the biggest beer drinker I know. I say: don't legalize it, it would open too many doors; just "uncriminalize" it.

 

[buddy]

Do you think it's okay to drive a vehicle while you're high?

Pilot a aircraft with passengers?

Engineer a train or drive a bus?

Perform brain surgery?

I don't.

 

[katts]

buddy - allthough "smoke and drive" is a lot less dangerous then "drink and drive", I don't think that anybody suggested it..

That's a whole different story. It's not legal to drink and drive, and it shouldn't be legal to "smoke and drive". You'll get fired if you get caught drinking at work, the same punishment should occur with pot.

 

[Gatorbait]

buddy.....nutten' more than the current laws with liquor would work for me

....that would be "no" to answer your' questions.

 

[djv]

Jack you would think I would be way to old to remember. But some of the memory is still with me. I go along with the majority. I also believe you don't drive and smoke.

 

[Its Gravy]

Sadly the Govt wont legalize weed, b/c they cant figure out a way to tax it. It can be grown anywhere, and sold on the street, or wherever. I wonder if you sold weed and reported the income to the irs in your taxes , what would happen?
Also all of my friends smoke...(I am the only one who doesn't) It will inhibit my athletic dominance

Yes, the penalties imposed by the feds on weed are ridiculous. Personally I would legalize it, to make things easier. People are still gonna smoke it regardless.(Just not me)

 

[kilrbzz]

I have mixed feelings on the subject. Should it be legalized...yes. Should the government control the supply...no. Mary J is certainly not worse than alcohol and has many more benefits both medicinally and from a product standpoint. Cannabis has a million different uses from clothes to paper. As for being a gateway drug, get real! I know plenty of people who toke that have never touched anything considered a hard or addictive drug. As for the money spent prosecuting users and growers it makes me sick to think we are wasting millions that should be spent on much, much worthier causes. I do not think users should drive while high and should receive the same penalty as driving drunk. If legalization does occur I believe you will actually see a decline in use over the long haul. Ever been to Amsterdam? I know quite a few people from there and most rarely ever smoke.
IMHO the pros definitely outway the cons.

 

[The Mover]

This is a real sore subject with me ,I have someone very close to me who thought he could make a fast & easy buck with the sales of drugs well the undercover cop kept on throwing money fast an loose continuing to increasing the amounts until they had enough on him. I'm not talking about some drug kingpin this was a 17yr. old boy.The kicker is they offered him a deal work for them to set other people up & they would go light on him, he told them to kiss off & they in turn layed him down for 5-20yrs.This kid was not an angel but he didn't have any priors. Don't get me wrong he deserved some punishment but the justice they handed out has made me very bitter towards drug enforcement which I feel is biggest & most corrupt SCAM in this country. Sorry about going on & on but the public has there head up their ass of whats going on.

 

[Big Daddy]

Just one question:

If you smoke a joint and get the urge to eat p*ssy, is that considered the munchies?