Pot - debate

[Gina]

Read this story  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44316064/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

One of the comments was that "blood isn't on the hands of the shooter, it's on the hands of everyone that doesn't think pot should be legalized".

So the debate is:


Do you feel pot should be just as legal as cigarettes and why?

[SherryBaby]

Yes with the exception that buyers should be 21 years of age vs. 18 for cigarettes. 

My reason?  See encyclopedia entry: "Prohibition."  See also bumper sticker: "If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns."  See also, effects of alcoholism vs effects of marijuana use. 

I'm pretty sure that had marijuana been legalized long ago as it should have been, that city councilman would not be dead today.

[seahorse513]

I wish it was....It would be nice to be able to take a hit, if I was stressed out and not have to deal with the legality of getting caught. However, I am not in the best financial situation to buy it, so it is a moot point for me....

[Texacon]

I have no problem with it being legalized with the caveat that they have a test for it before legalization.

I mean a test where they can tell when you actually smoked.  If someone smoked today after they got off work then got pulled over tomorrow afternoon on their way home from work it would still show up even though they are probably not high at the time.

When they can test for it like alcohol I say let those who want to toke, toke.

It's not for me.  I don't smoke now and wouldn't even if it were legal.

KC

[Chris_]

I wish it was....It would be nice to be able to take a hit, if I was stressed out and not have to deal with the legality of getting caught. However, I am not in the best financial situation to buy it, so it is a moot point for me....

If it's legal doesn't mean employers will stop testing for it.  I don't exepct that to change.

[SherryBaby]

"blood isn't on the hands of the shooter, it's on the hands of everyone that doesn't think pot should be legalized".

Side note, regardless of my opinion on the legalization subject, I believe the blood is on the hands of the shooter.  Period!

[Big Don]

To those who say there would be less crime if pot were legal, I ask, wouldn't there be less crime if theft was legal?

[Eupher]

If it's legal doesn't mean employers will stop testing for it.  I don't exepct that to change.

Bingo. You can't expect employers who are paying people to be....uh.....wow, man........The lights?.....You know?

What were we talkin' about? Pass me those Doritos, man. Kinda hungry.....

[Wineslob]

Legal = shitty pot.   

[seahorse513]

To those who say there would be less crime if pot were legal, I ask, wouldn't there be less crime if theft was legal?

Well, you are comparing apples to oranges on that one....
Stealing is wrong, because you are taking something that doesn't belong to you. Smoking mj, is like having an alcoholic beverage when you get home, to relax after a stressful day. However, if you drive under the influence, or it affects your job in a negative way, then the consequences should be the same if alcohol was involved.

[mamacags]

No way I would back legalization.  I have way too many friends who are permanent burn outs due to their constant pot smoking.  I know how the prohibitionists felt about alcohol too.  It sucks to lose a friend or family member to the bottle.  I know it is nanny statism to want things banned but I would rather have that than have smoking weed become the norm.

[Rugnuts]

To those who say there would be less crime if pot were legal, I ask, wouldn't there be less crime if theft was legal?

little difference, toking up doesn't violate anyone else's rights.

No way I would back legalization.  I have way too many friends who are permanent burn outs due to their constant pot smoking.  I know how the prohibitionists felt about alcohol too.  It sucks to lose a friend or family member to the bottle.  I know it is nanny statism to want things banned but I would rather have that than have smoking weed become the norm.

i prefer anything to be the norm, except nanny statism. your friends that are burnouts, if they instead chose to play russian roulette for the adrenaline rush... would you outlaw guns to save them?



can we take this thread's question to the next level and mention so called "stronger drugs" and whether they should be legalized? or just keep this thread on the marijane level?

[Gina]

No way I would back legalization.  I have way too many friends who are permanent burn outs due to their constant pot smoking.  I know how the prohibitionists felt about alcohol too.  It sucks to lose a friend or family member to the bottle.  I know it is nanny statism to want things banned but I would rather have that than have smoking weed become the norm.

word

[DumbAss Tanker]

I have no problem with it being legalized with the caveat that they have a test for it before legalization.

I mean a test where they can tell when you actually smoked.  If someone smoked today after they got off work then got pulled over tomorrow afternoon on their way home from work it would still show up even though they are probably not high at the time.

When they can test for it like alcohol I say let those who want to toke, toke.

It's not for me.  I don't smoke now and wouldn't even if it were legal.

KC

Yeah, I'm with you on that.  Texters and the cell-phone-addicted are shitty enough drivers already, we need a bunch of potheads on the road like we need more moonbats voting.

It seems to be an even faster ticket to Loserville than video game addiction, but everyone can go to Hell in their own way.  The idea that legalizing it is going to do anything to cripple organized crime is totally retarded wishful thinking, of course.  I suppose taxing it might generate some revenue, but as easy as it would be to grow it untaxed and as hard and expensive as it would be to police whether the end product was tax-paid or not, I think that particular plus has been overestimated by at least two orders of magnitude.

[RightCoast]

Legal no, but I would be OK with a fine instead of court time for smaller amounts. Caught with "x" amount = mandatory fine of "x" dollars. Multiple offenses bring escalating fines.

[Janice]

I say regulate, legalize and tax the crap. I dont 'indulge' (I did when I was a teen, but not anymore) but it seems to make sense to me.

One nice side benefit would be not having a gazzillion pot smokers helping to over crowd the jails and not having them thrown into the clinker with much, much worse 'types'. Not to mention the incredible amount of man hours and tax dollars poured down the drain enforcing this nonsense.

Me thinks booze and cigarettes cause far more damage. But I wouldnt outlaw them either. At least not on a federal level. Let the states decide. I say regulate and tax.

[LC EFA]

Legalised outright no.

De-Criminalised for amounts within reasonable grounds of personal use yes.

On the spot fine and confiscation for possession. Loss of driving privileges for 12 months if found intoxicated behind the wheel.

Far too many law enforcement resources go to waste dealing with people who often aren't a problem to society. I'd rather those resources went to dealing with violent, sexual and property related crimes.

I understand the argument that there are people susceptible to allowing the drug to rule their life - but those are often people who will find a way to **** things up regardless of the availability of weed, and as is demonstrated weed being illegal hasn't stopped them in the first place.

[Attero Dominatus]

I have no problem with it being legalized with the caveat that they have a test for it before legalization.

I mean a test where they can tell when you actually smoked.  If someone smoked today after they got off work then got pulled over tomorrow afternoon on their way home from work it would still show up even though they are probably not high at the time.

When they can test for it like alcohol I say let those who want to toke, toke.

It's not for me.  I don't smoke now and wouldn't even if it were legal.

KC

I agree.

[IassaFTots]

Yeah, I'm with you on that.  Texters and the cell-phone-addicted are shitty enough drivers already, we need a bunch of potheads on the road like we need more moonbats voting.

It seems to be an even faster ticket to Loserville than video game addiction, but everyone can go to Hell in their own way.  The idea that legalizing it is going to do anything to cripple organized crime is totally retarded wishful thinking, of course.  I suppose taxing it might generate some revenue, but as easy as it would be to grow it untaxed and as hard and expensive as it would be to police whether the end product was tax-paid or not, I think that particular plus has been overestimated by at least two orders of magnitude.

Indeed.  The amount of manpower needed to "regulate and tax" would far outweigh any financial benefit from the tax itself.

[vesta111]

Indeed.  The amount of manpower needed to "regulate and tax" would far outweigh any financial benefit from the tax itself.

NUTS, people find a way to get high all over the world.  Ever see a bunch of kids playing and the spin about until they fall down ?     Ever have a child that became hyper active from eating sugar, check out a cat on catnip, they Love the stuff.

The world has millions of growing plants that humans and animals seek out.   Fact of life, some things make us feel good, relaxed or excite us. 

Man and animals seek out these things for a reason.   

[FreeBorn]

I honestly don't think the proponents of legalization have thought this through completely. Their idea of what the reality of legalization would be is likely very different from what it would actually be like.

I don't believe they realize just how good they have it now and just how radically different things will become with government regulation.

They bitch about the prices now, wait until they see what taxation will take that to.

They enjoy the convenient availability of scoring a bag of weed off their friendly neighborhood pot dealer, their friend next door, down the street, etc. That will no longer be the case. Joe Dealer will be out of the market without a license and face heavy penalties for bootlegging if caught.

They envision the whole pot culture as it is staying as it is, without the bust factor of course. It won't be like growing tomatoes in the back yard with anyone and everyone being able to do as they please. The government will take a dim view of that sort of thing, the same way as an illicit moonshine still will put you in the big house for hard time.

No, it would not be a free for all Utokia. You will be able to purchase it but that will be from Philip Morris with a big fat tax stamp on it. Doubt this? Go look up big tobacco/marijuana and you will find this has all been laid in place for years in anticipation of legalization.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

[Rugnuts]

freeborn, the things you are warning about do not affect me. i have no desire to smoke pot. yet i want it legalized.

[IassaFTots]

I honestly don't think the proponents of legalization have thought this through completely. Their idea of what the reality of legalization would be is likely very different from what it would actually be like.

I don't believe they realize just how good they have it now and just how radically different things will become with government regulation.

They bitch about the prices now, wait until they see what taxation will take that to.

They enjoy the convenient availability of scoring a bag of weed off their friendly neighborhood pot dealer, their friend next door, down the street, etc. That will no longer be the case. Joe Dealer will be out of the market without a license and face heavy penalties for bootlegging if caught.

They envision the whole pot culture as it is staying as it is, without the bust factor of course. It won't be like growing tomatoes in the back yard with anyone and everyone being able to do as they please. The government will take a dim view of that sort of thing, the same way as an illicit moonshine still will put you in the big house for hard time.

No, it would not be a free for all Utokia. You will be able to purchase it but that will be from Philip Morris with a big fat tax stamp on it. Doubt this? Go look up big tobacco/marijuana and you will find this has all been laid in place for years in anticipation of legalization.

Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.

That is exactly what I was trying to say.  Cept better.   

[longview]

I'm not in favor of pot being legalized. 

I think it does cause significant brain damage and damages other systems, too.  I think drinking alcohol is stupid, also, though.

I grew up in Michigan and remember when up to 1 oz (or some other small amount) was legal for personal use in some places.  My gosh, I'd be out in public, just taking care of my own business and have to deal with idiot stoners.  Just like a drunken boor, they are so flippin' self centered.  Ugh.

Have also worked in schools and had children on caseload who's only real problem was that mom and/or dad were stoners and/or drunks and never paid the child any, any attention.  The district SpEd director would just shrug and mumble, "Job security for us." 

[Mr Mannn]

Just got back from trolling DU. Every time I go there I see what pot can do to a person.

NO. No to legalization.
Prison for potheads. life terms for dealers/growers. DU is proof that this is not a victimless crime.