Do you think that marijuana should be decriminalized/legalized? Marijuana WAS legal up until the 1920's, and the legislation to make possession/use illegal was brought about by a profiteering politician named Harry Anslinger. Anslinger used propaganda and faulty statistics to convince the uninformed public that marijuana was "evil", and should thus be made illegal(hmm, sound familiar at all?). Anslinger's only purpose in this was to build a career in fearmongering. Currently, marijuana laws are unjustly harsh(10 year mandatory penalty for felony possession, longer than most violent offenders serve), and serve only to waste taxes and squander the time of our LEO's and courts. Doesn't legalization/decriminalization seem like common sense?

Yeah thats a great idea.  Then we could legalized cocain and acid.  Then we would be living in a society full of brain dead people.  This is the greatest idea I've heard all night.

You're crazy if you think I'm going to put a needle in my arm!

Prohibition never worked and never will.

The black market for drugs is a monopoly subsidized by your tax dollars. Jail cells, courts, probation personel. What a waste of resources.

Pot should be a cash crop for farmers.
Packaging, transporting, warehousing, retail sales = JOBS for USA.

Taxes levied, instead of wasted.

Costs and opportunity costs. What a waste.

No, I don't use drugs.

This is a classic debate.

Is the fact that marijuana is illegal stopping millions of people from using it?

If it was legal would millions more use it?

The answer to both of these questions is no.

The only change would be a change in profiteering. It would go from criminals making all the money, to corporate America making all of the money.

If you say many more people would use it, therefore we have to protect people from themselves, then why don't we make guns illegal to keep people from getting shot?

FREEDOM IS FREEDOM WHETHER OR NOT YOU LIKE WHAT THAT INTITLES YOU NEIGHBOR TO DO OR NOT!!!!

Uhhh, what was the question?

Ain't gonna work on Dizzy's farm no more.

Eric The(Huh?)Hun[>]:)]

Another stupid question.

We as a group are against so many things that keep us from practicing our own version of freedom and personal responsibility.  If some idiot wants to smoke weed, then it doesn't hurt my feelings, nor does it interfere in my life in any way that I can think of.

If it's your way, then practice your way.  I will practice mine.  And my way is to let others do as they will, up to that point where it interferes with my life.

Do as is right.  Your right.  Not someone elses.

I used to be fanatically in favor of executing drug dealers, jailing potheads, and all that crap.

Then I gradually learned that almost everyone I worked with occasionally smoked pot, some had dropped acid, quite a few had eaten shrooms, and generally speaking about 95% of the people I knew had tried drugs and suffered no long-term problems.

So I grew up.  Drugs aren't a problem.  A few people screw up their lives with them, but the vast majority of people don't -- especially potheads.  The worst that seems to happen to them is that they underachieve and they waste money on pot.  Big deal, lots of people have distractions that cause the same problem -- sports, kids, depression, hobbies, illnesses.

So yeah, legalize it.  Big deal.  It's not like the current "War on Drugs" does anything other than driving up the price.

Legalize it all. If you are big enough to put it in your body then have at it. Of course there should be harsh penalties; and there already are, for driving while under the influence.

"If you're gonna be stupid then you'd better be tough".

So you are against freedom? You don't think that people should be free to do whatever they want as long as it does no harm to anyone else? I guess you are completely against tobacco and alcohol as well then, right? What difference does it make if somebody else wants to sit at home and drop acid or snort coke until they are brain dead as long as they aren't bothering you? If that is what makes them happy then I am all for it. Where in the Constitution of the United States of America does it give the federal government the power to make certain drugs illegal to protect the people from themselves?

About the hardest drug I do is Jose Cuervo, but if others want to do whatever, I've got no problem with it. If they want to destroy their brain, that's fine with me. Besides, I work in a highly technical field and the more people with destroyed brains that can't do my job then the more money for me. The good ole American way right?

[b]Not on my Watch

Not on my ship

Not in my Navy

[/b]

But you can do what ever your heart desires when you're a civvie and have no responsibility to serving your country.

No. I think it should remain illegal.  That way companies like the one I am employed with can continue fair and equitable policies regard Workmen's Compensation and discipline.

For example:  Smoke a joint two weeks ago on a Friday night.  Have some idiot alcoholic come into work hung over, and run your ass over with a forklift.  He tests negative, you test positive.  He returns to work, you get 10 days off without pay (1st offense) [b]AND[/b], YOU and you alone are responsible for [b]all[/b] of your medical bills.  (Workmen's comp doesn't have to pay anything 'cause [b]YOU[/b] tested positive - even though you haven't been high in two weeks.)

They're doing it in the name of "Safety", ya know....

Marijuanna is used for many other purposes that just getting people high......excuse me....cough, cough, hack, hack.  For the legalization of marijuanna to happen these other pursuits of its use must be exploited as well:

1.  Paper products (save our trees)
2.  Clothing
3.  Oils for fuel (from the seed)
4.  Don't forget the drug company and their     medical research
5.  Food (the seed has just as much protien and nutrients as soy)
6.  Marijuanna is a very hardy plant with thick foilage which produces more oxygen than 99% of all other vegetation.

Speaking of vegetation, I need to pack my gun and load my bong, or is that roll my gun and clean my joint.........what was that?  I think I'm being watched.  Gotta go!

I'd rather deal with someone stoned solely on "marleyboro" than alcohol any day:

They are way more mellow. [smoke]

Jay
[img]http://www.commspeed.net/jmurray/images/iroc-cop.gif[/img]

Legalize it.
Tax the shit out of it.
Make a breathalizer for it.(think of the D.U.I. money it would generate.)
Have the state control it.(like they do the liquer stores here in PA)
Sell it fairly cheap.(puts pot dealers out of buiness)
Farmers who sit on their asses and get paid by the gov. for not growing anything,will now have a crop that is virtually maintenance free.
We can stop chopping down trees for paper.
It's safer for you that cigarettes.
I fail to see any drawbacks to legalizing it.

Legalize it.  Making certain drugs illegal has accomplished nothing but a steady erosion of our freedom.

The concept that it is a gateway drug comes from the fact that we demonize it so badly as a society. Then when kids try pot for the first time and realize that it's not that big of a deal, they wonder what ELSE they've been lied to about. Then off they go to try some X or acid. That's how it becomes a gateway drug.

If we only taught our kids how to make balanced choices in ALL areas of life, then pot, alcohol, sex, etc.. would be less of a problem.

I say... what was the question? Pot?

Yeah, pot. Pot's goooooood. Dooooooooood.

What were we talking about? Potato chips? yeah man, I'm hungry too. Let's get a pizza.

Legalize it.  Maybe some of our constitutionally protected rights will come back to us.   ie, no more 'illegal' driving checkpoints etc.

To All,

Marijuana was not made illegal untill 1937...!!

for those who are for keeping Marijuana illegal, may i suggest you look into the matter a bit more, maybe you have, but for the most part, Marijuana was made illegal mostly by the early "Bootleggers"..., a la "The Kennedy family" & some of their drunken sot buddies, it was also made illegal because it was the "high" choice for the black folks who grew it & was a "no cost", joy maker !!

i'd also lyke to recomend a good book to read to be better informed, "The Emperror Wears No Clothes" by Jack Herrer......, also some folks need to learn the difference between a "DRUG" & an "HERB".....!! Cocaine is derived from an "HERB"..., the cocca plant !! "HERBS" are natures medicine..., "DRUGS" are manufactured !!

if any one doubts this just take a look back into our American Indians use of "HERBS" & how they were used to cure many ills, now so many "health nuts" are adopting the "HERBAL" remedies & daily body maintenance that the Native Americans have used for centuries !!

Each and every time I say the same thing.

No country - not Nazi Germany, not the former Soviet Union and sure as hell not the U.S. has ever stopped a black market in anything.

All correct - all will never see use because of the ignorant.

HELL NO - DO NOT LEGALIZE !!

Keep busting people for having a $1.35 worth of crack or pot or ......and sending them to jail !!

IN JAIL - THAT'S WHERE TO DOPPERS BELONG !!!!

Of course we must release a child molester, murderer, violent criminal to vacate a cell.

But what the heck - PUT doppers in jail - free violent criminals !!

(Well, it is for the children ....isn't it ?)

Prohibition didn't work in the 20's and drug prohibition doesn't work now.  Legalize it, regulate it, tax it.  

I think this subject is a prime example of a double edged sword.

I could care either way. Although you would open the flood gates if MaryJane was legalized. Is that good or bad?

I've been a cop for 11 years and worked a number of fatality accidents involving alcohol. But I've never even heard of a driver smoking weed and killing the family of 4. I'm not pro weed, but our priorities are bassakwards. Around here if you ask a person "do you use dope", they don't consider weed to be dope anymore. The kids consider dope meth.

And each and every time the logical(and unanswered) comeback is the same:

Since no blackmarket/prohibition has ever "worked" lets abolish the laws against:

* running a meth-lab in my garage (I'm not hurting anyone!)
* running the neighborhood crack-house (don't like it? Don't come 'round!)
* selling LSD, Xtasy, meth, heroin and crack to teenagers (free country ya'know!)
* kiddie porn on the blackmarket (1st Amendment freedom!!)
* Drunk driving (people do it anyway, legal or not!!)
* selling kidnapped babies on the blackmarket ("prohibition never worked - never will.")


Ya'll a bunch of dumbasses to use the "logic" of insisting that "prohibition never works" so let's legalize hash.  

Why not legalize meth and heroin... for kids too? Teens get it anyways so you sh!t-for-brains  think it should be legalized?

What a bunch of dumbasses!  Stop smoking that sh!t, pull your f*ckin' head out of your ass, grow the f*ck up, and just TRY to think logically - dumbasses!

Some call it tampee
Some call it the weed
Some call it Marijuana
Some of them call it Ganja


Singers smoke it
And players of instruments too
Legalize it, yeah, yeah
That's the best thing you can do
Doctors smoke it
Nurses smoke it
Judges smoke it
Even the laywers too



It's good for the flu
It's good for asthma
Good for tuberculosis
Even umara composis



Birds eat it
And they love it
Fowls eat it
Goats love to play with it




But not'a me'a, I don't like it,

my wife'a she'a kill me if she finds it...


So I quit it, I should have stayed a single...

Now I eat shit on a shingle...

I agree that it is absurd when one considers the small things that our government pours tons of resources into with virtually no noticeable return as compared to other much more serious issues which cause infinitely more harm but, because of politics and money, are seemingly almost totally ignored.

Many things damage more, kill more and cost more than pot but those things put money into certain hands and give power to certain forces.

In order to even begin answering this question our society must first solve the problems within the hearts of men.

And, since that will never be accomplished and since there will always be certain groups on the make, with the resources and the power to create cushy little situations for themselves this issue will never be resolved.

But man I remember this one time when that ghost thing came screaming up the front of the car..........remember that?  And Jimi, man, he said all that stuff about doghouses and flying saucers having some sort of connection and all that...........remember?  That was cool when that chick said that thing about coosas.

What?  

It's too bad they didn't have an herbal cure for smallpox. [xx(]

I say legalize ALL drugs.   Before some of you flip over that statement, read:

The so-called 'war on drugs' can't be won, because the enemy is us.  Every family is affected by drug use at one time or another, to one level or another.  How can we afford, or even want to try, to declare war on our own friends and family?

Not just that, but drug use is a social and personal issue, and should remain that way.  No law has been able to keep someone from using drugs if they decided to do so, just as no law deters those with criminal intent.

The only beneficiaries of this war on drugs are those who gain emloyment from it, and those who supply goods, services, and materials to the effort.    Police, primarily, and their suppliers.

As we all know, there's a HUGE black market in drugs, and it's sufficiently lucrative to lead to a lot of turf wars and killings over it.  All to no real point save money.

I say the government should legalize it, regulate it, and tax it, under similar authority as prescription drugs, tobacco products, and alcohol.   Let it become a source of legitimate revenue to the government, instead of a drain of its funds.

By doing so, the black market will disappear and there will also be a dramatic decrease in crime, a large percentage of which is drug-related.   Why hold up a store for money for your next fix when that product can be BOUGHT at that store for less than the current street price, and no law is broken by doing so?    

This would simply put the drug dealers out of business through open competition.   They'll have to get JOBS.  There isn't any money to be made hanging out on a street corner trying to sell cigarettes or drugs that are just as readily available at the 7-11.

The reduction in crime would be so dramatic that many cities would find that they don't need so many police anymore, and you may be surprised at how much safer the neighborhood may become even with less police involvement.

An addtional benefit is that some of the money that goes to drug enforcement could be diverted to funded drug abuse treatment and education programs.  Those are GOOD uses of that money.

No, I don't condone drug use, not at all.  But it's a social issue and it's a personal issue and the war on drugs is a waste of our money.  Never fight a war you can't win.  Vietnam taught us that.

Incidentally, this is essentially the Libertarian viewpoint on the subject.  And yes, I am a Libertarian though my voter registration card says Republican.

But I'm 100 percent pro-gun.

CJ

I would bet there are a lot of traditional farmers(probably not in Utah) who have found a crop with which they can actually make money.
Legalize it, free up some time and resources for law enforcement to concentrate on serious crime.
Alcohol is taxed and regulated, tobacco is taxed and regulated.
"Don't bogart that joint, my friend."

Since many think the problem is too much time/effort/money is spent on enforcing laws against weed that should be spent on more "important" crimes.

That may be so.  But why abolish the laws against it.  Just reallocate resources towards more pressing needs (like is happening now with "war on terrorism").  

Ya'll just get loony when asked about legalizing pot.  

Keep it illegal and enforce it like jaywalking - when it becomes a problem, then go after it.



[b]By the way, I understand Netherlands allows pot sale/use in "licensed" cafes and it's very popular there.  They also have socialism there too.  I guess when you're stoned you just don't care WHO's taking care of you cradle-to-grave.[/b]

Since many think the problem is too much time/effort/money is spent on enforcing laws against weed that should be spent on more "important" crimes.

That may be so.  But why abolish the laws against it.  Just reallocate resources towards more pressing needs (like is happening now with "war on terrorism"). Ya'll just get loony when asked about legalizing pot.  

Keep it illegal and enforce it like jaywalking - when it becomes a problem, then go after it.



[b]By the way, I understand Netherlands allows pot sale/use in "licensed" cafes and it's very popular there.  They also have socialism there too.  I guess when you're stoned you just don't care WHO's taking care of you cradle-to-grave, as long as you have your pot.[/b] [whacko]

I feel that Marijuana will be legalized by the tobacco companies. From all the law suits it will be too expensive to make and sell cigarettes in the US. The tobacco companies will lobby to sell pot and quite selling cigarettes. They will market it as being safer to smoke then cigarettes. People will have to buy cigarettes from tier local drug dealer.

Shit, I was going to say something but i forgot...

No Paul.  I quit smoking that shit years ago when I quit drinking and racing around the countryside on motorcycles and snowmobiles.  Several trips to hospitals have a way a teaching a dense young man things he doesn't learn from listening to his pastor......

My point is, that marijuana can be found in a person's body long after it's effects have passed.  Where I work the scenario I mentioned [i]could happen[/i] - not that is has.  Company policy states this.  While I don't feel threatened by it - I still call bullshit, bullshit.

A3kid,

Whats the story with your Kid?  Any good news?

Talk about hijacking a thread!  LMAO....

We're through with all the scheduled tests & waiting on results.  She hasn't had any problems since.  (I [i]still[/i] ain't letting her drive & she's pissed about that...ain't being a parent tough at times..)  

Thanks for asking.

-kid

WHAT!!!

you mean its NOT legal?

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[img]http://members.aol.com/deadrnhel2/freak.gif[/img]

Zoning laws ARE a form of [u]prohibition[/u] - and remember: [b]"Prohibition never works - never has, never will."[/b]


Again, zoning laws ARE a form of [u]prohibition[/u] - and remember: [b]"Prohibition never works - never has, never will."[/b]


Age-restrictions ARE a form of [u]prohibition[/u] - and remember: [b]"Prohibition never works - never has, never will."[/b]


You've obviously missed my point so far, so here it is again: [b]"Prohibition never works - never has, never will."[/b] is an illogical, DUMBASS reason to support legalizing ANYTHING.  


Laws against DUI ARE a form of [u]prohibition[/u] - and remember: [b]"Prohibition never works - never has, never will."[/b]


See my response to you missing the point. Think about the idiocy of this: [b]"Prohibition never works - never has, never will."[/b]... therefore - legalize it (whatever "it" is).


No. But you're ignoring that fact that [u]your "regulations" of legalized pot will STILL be a form of prohibition[/u]. And remember: [b]"Prohibition never works - never has, never will."[/b]


Do you understand my point now?  The logic of using [b]"Prohibition never works - never has, never will"[/b] as a basis for legalizing ANYTHING is DUMBASS logic. I was just demonstrating its absurdity using other examples.

You apparently think highly enough of one alcoholic beverage that you have named yourself after it.  Suppose you tell  us why it is okay to use your drug but not another?
BTW, I didn't say prohibitions never work.  They can always be made to work if you are ruthless  enough in enforcing them.  I simply don't care to live in a system that ruthless.

Free the weed, specially with the bullshit superbowl commercial about pot smokers/drug users funding terrorism. If it was legal then we would not be funding terrorism, we must do it for national security. Of course the govt would not make much money either if it was legal, as people would just grow it rather than buy it, which is the way it should be. Seems to me that it is rediculous for weed to be illegal and alcohol not. I've seen way more accidents and deaths due to alcohol than anything else. I've lost 5 friends in the last 10 years due to drinking and driving. I've never lost a friend to pot. I'm sure you few fossils that think weed should be illegal sure enjoy your booze don't you? If you tried it, you would change your mind. Weed just makes you relax and lighten up, just like having a cold one. You shouldn't judge what you don't know. Maybe someday our country will have a freaking clue.

Have to agree with SEB127 on this one. As a ten year firefighter medic I have seen hundreds of people who have destroyed their own or others lives through alcohol use. Still have yet to come across any one who has overdosed on pot though.
Another thing to consider, if you take it away from street dealers and regulate sales the way alcohol is, less chance of my kids getting a hold of it.
Just a thought.