Do you think it's a good idea to legalize weed?

[Gosselinfan]

Do you think it's a good idea for states to make weed legal, I don't think it is at all because people will abuse it

Yes

No

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

People who say, people are going to smoke weed regardless of the law, are seriously under-educated. There is a direct correlation between the penalty of a crime and deterrence. Meaning, people are less likely to steal if it costs them they're hand opposed to a $100 fine.

We all make risk/reward assessments subconsciously before we do anything. There are plenty of people who don't smoke because it is illegal, and plenty of people who would smoke more if it was legal.

I mean, don't millions of people have their first cigarette at 18? Their first beer at 21?

Lots of people obey the law. To legalize weed is only going to make it more widely used. There is no historical evidence supporting otherwise.

To those that say, people do it to be rebellious and if you legalize it, it makes it boring-- look at Europe . Europe has no age limits for alcohol consumption and yet drink 12 liters per capita compared to America with an age limit of 21 that drinks 8 liters per capita. That's a 50% increase in consumption just by removing an age limit.. let alone how significant it would change if it were illegal altogether.

Laws and the enforcement of laws, have always deterred crimes. Why would we have police and laws if people were going to do what they want regardless of the consequences?

[UberTroll]

Even if more people would start doing it after it's legalized. That's really not such a bad thing. Maybe it would even draw some people away from alcohol which would be a good thing.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

@UberTroll Well then we should make crack legal.. because it would likely draw some people away from alcohol, heroine and cocaine... which would be a good thing---- Except they'd be hooked on crack!

That's not a good rational reasoning.

[UberTroll]

You're stretching my argument. I'm saying marijuana is better than alcohol. Crack certainly isn't.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

It's not a stretch. It's giving you perspective. Adding something bad to society for the hopes it MIGHT make a small reduction in something worse in society, is a pretty poor strategy at creating a better society. I had to swap out marijuana with a different drug, because you're so in love with it, you create this delusion that the argument is valid even though when you swap out names with the same scenario -- e. g. giving out crack to reduce heroine use-- it instantly sounds super dumb.

[UberTroll]

It sounds super dumb because crack is horribly addictive and known for its terrible impact. Marijuana has many positive effects and only people stuck on the stigma the war on drugs has given it still see it as a bad thing. by the way, in reference to your comment on caffeine in another answer on here, I guess you haven't heard of the person who recently died from caffeine overdose? You may want to update your research on marijuana and caffeine. chronicle.northcoastnow.com/.../

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Marijuana is addictive and is known for its terrible impact. You're crazy. You think because there are recent studies of marijuana uses that aren't bad, that it somehow mitigates decades of proven side effects. Marijuana doesn't have any positive uses. It's like saying stabbing yourself, is a good blood thinner. Or amphetamines are a good energy booster. There are FAR better sleep and hunger aids that aren't addictive. Marijuana has no medical uses, because there are non-addictive alternatives. Not to mention we aren't talking about medical use, we're talking about recreational use. Where marijuana is simply a drug with only harmful side effects.

And sorry to tell you, but just because he died, doesn't mean it was from the caffeine. If you smoked pot and died of a heart attack, would it be rational to conclude it was because you smoked pot?

No.. Only if the pattern is observed regularly would you come to that conclusion.. in which case this is far from regular.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

I know deduction is hard for you, because of the drug use, but please... you're not giving me any rational, well thought out, arguments. At some point you have to realize all the holes in your defense of this harmful drug are from bias use and not intelligent observation.

[marksmith108]

People abuse everything. We abuse food, television, electricity, water, you name it. Legalizing marijuana will not make people abuse it any more or less.

People will buy and use marijuana whether it's legal or not. All prohibition does is give that money to criminals instead of businesses. Regulated marijuana will be far safer because there will be no risk that it's laced and no dumb kids will end up smoking oregano.

[Gosselinfan]

But is weed safer though

[marksmith108]

Statistically and from personal experience, yes. There is not a single person anyone can name who has died directly from marijuana use. I used marijuana excessively through my adolescence and I came out fine.

[Gosselinfan]

What are the bad things about weed though

[marksmith108]

It tends to make you lazy, you eat anything, the social scene is usually not the best influence, and inhaling smoke of any kind is not good for your lungs. Obviously, it's not nearly as bad as cigarettes but our lungs aren't meant to have smoke in them.

[Gosselinfan]

But what happens when people run out of money to buy it will they get on welfare or steal

[marksmith108]

It's not addictive like other substances like alcohol, meth, etc. You can develop a psychological addiction like with video games, social media, stuff like that but you won't find anyone who literally can't function properly without it.

[UberTroll]

People can abuse it whether it's legal or not. At least when it's legal people can't get in trouble for it. It makes no sense to have it illegal while alcohol, which is way worse, is legal.

[linkywinky]

People are already abusing it where it's illegal. Making it legal won't make them abuse it any less or any more than they already do.

[NerdInDenial]

Legalizing cannabis will free up the prisons for these petty crimes. If you legalize this drug, the government can collect taxes on it, and it will get rid of the dangers around drugs, i. e. drug dealers. Why would people continue to go to drug dealers when they can go to the store and buy it. If prohibition has taught has anything, it's that people will use or do drugs if they want to do it. Why don't we make it safer and gain some profit at the same time?

[FlyingTurtle]

People would go to drug dealers to avoid paying tax for it.

[NerdInDenial]

Do people go to smugglers for alcohol? No, because it's easier and safer to go to the store. People will do the same for weed. At 7-10% sales tax, people would not risk going to drug dealers.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

You don't know much about prohibition huh?

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1470475/ (Historian publishing)
www.nytimes.com/.../...hibition-was-a-success.html (Easy read article - for those who don't read much)

The prohibition may not have stuck, because of popularity.. but it most definitely deterred people from drinking. It significantly reduced alcohol related deaths and even though the era was dramatized as a time of blatant disregard of the law.. violent crimes didn't increase..

The point being, prohibition has taught us the exact opposite. If you make a drug illegal, even one as popular as alcohol, the majority of people will respect the law and society will become a safer place.

As for the only argument left standing... making a profit: laws should be guided by morality, not made in the sole interest of expanding government.

With that said, many people buy moonshine. Did you not know what that word meant? Same thing with cigarettes. Lots of people turn to illegal dealers for the sake of cheaper prices. But again, profits are not the purpose of gov't.

[NerdInDenial]

Interesting read. You're right I never studied in the intimate details about Prohibition. However, don't insult my intelligence. Here are some things I found that were interesting. But hey what do I know? I don't read.

https://www.druglibrary.org/prohibitionresults.htm
www.artofdrink.com/blog/why-prohibition-didnt-work
object.cato.org/.../pa157.pdf

[miz36]

people are more attracted towards thing they are asked to stay away.. make it available easily and they will get bored

[Gosselinfan]

Never thought of it that way

[miz36]

i know but one side can be like this... actually i am not in favour of idea too

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Because that ideology worked well with alcohol in every continent ever. I mean look at Europe .. they drink 50% more per person than America and there age limit for consumption is... oh wait... there is none. Weird.. why aren't they bored of it?

[WhiteSteve]

I'm in favor of it, and I'm also a "patient" that gets it prescribed. It's largely harmless if you don't let yourself get carried away, and is WAY less addictive than other substances. Put it this way, if weed is illegal, then alcohol and tobacco should be too.

[ILikeToilet]

If they legalize it, they should have it monitored.

legalization of weed= less weed being sold illegally= less criminal activity on our streets.

However, I agree. It would still be abused, so I don't think they should.

[Anonymous]

People are already "abusing" it, legalizing it would just help regulate it better. What's easier for an underage teen to get? Alcohol which they have to pay someone at a convenience store to get (if they're lucky) or pot, which they can go to any illicit drug dealer to obtain?

[Anonymous]

I think it should be legal however it's because people get arrested for having a dimebag of weed on them go to jail for 5 years and then have a criminal record get their lives ruined. That is really bad and it's all because one person was trying to have a good time on the weekend.

[MrThrusty]

the medicinal properties are countless; and the stigma is fraudulent...
i have had a heart transplant and it helps me; however, i have to decarboxylate the bud to inhale it..

[Klaatu51]

since alcohol is legl, it would be ONLY FAIR, to legalize weed!

[Gosselinfan]

But why it's a drug and some people will abuse it

[atomique]

@Gosselinfan Alcohol and caffeine are drugs too.

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Alcohol should be illegal, the only reason it isn't, is because it's too popular to ban. And caffeine doesn't have serious harmful side effects so it's not even a reasonable comparison.

[Slowliquid]

@NotJustAnotherGuy, we already tried banning alcohol, prohibition era, didn't work out too well...

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

@slowliquid.. yeah, I said that. It's too popular to ban.. thanks for reinforcing my comment, though, I guess.

[Longblackveil]

whats the serious harmful effects of marijuana? @NotJustAnotherGuy

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

@longblackveil Dependence, being the biggest one. When you have to have a drug all the time, when you have to be high, or you throw tantrums and act like an asshole to everyone around you.. that's a pretty serious harmful effect that effects both your life and the ones around you. It's also an indisputable side effect of marijuana use.

Beyond that big one: Bipolar disorder. COPD. Chronic bronchitis. Temporary reduction in motor skills that can endanger yourself and others. Temporarily reduces rational judgement-- just like with alcohol, people under the influence of marijuana are more likely to do things they'll regret e. g. try cocaine with their friend.

Those are pretty serious harmful effects and pretty well established ones at that.

People think just because recent studies show that it has some, dumb uses in the medical field that are already covered (we already have sleeping and eating aids and painkillers), that it somehow washes clean all the well established harmful effects.

[Longblackveil]

I feel like everything you know about mj must be coming only from anti drug websites or something. Let me address all your points

Mj is not an addictive drug, I smoked from the time I was 15 until I was 20 when I had to get a job. i smoked a lot during that time but I quit like that, no withdrawals, no relapse, and haven't smoked since. There's no proof that mj is addictive at all, zero, some will claim it can be "physically addictive" but anything can be physically addictive. From eating Chapstick to biting your nails. So i would say, no that's not indisputable. Where's your source?

Bipolar disorder? This is a weird one, I've never heard mj being a cause of bipolar disorder. In fact it's used as a treatment for bipolar disorder, look it up.

Cops? About I link to the biggest study ever done on this issue, published by webmd (hardly a pro marijuana source) www.m.webmd.com/.../marijuana-smoking-not-linked_to-chronic-breathing-problems

As you can see that's not well established either.

[Longblackveil]

Chronic bronchitis, yes studies have shown that there is a link there, just like there is a link between eating unhealthy and heart problems. Should we ban unhealthy foods as well? Chronic bronchitis is a very mild lung disease

And yes you lose a little bit of motor skills and maybe you'll make some bad decisions. Unlike alcohol though, those bad decisions are much less likely to be life threatening. Try driving while drunk, and driving while high, tell me, which is easier?

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Putting a dagger through your eye is easier than putting a sword... Doesn't make the first option sensible!

Please, marijuana was responsible for 12% of fatal car accidents in 2010. Sure alcohol was responsible for 40%, but unhealthy foods were responsible for 0%.

"Unhealthy" foods don't get people killed, heck they don't even make people unhealthy. Eating excessively causes heart problems.. not big macs -- look at Don Gorske and/or the McDonald's diet. Government can't control the quantity you eat and you need to eat or you'll die. Society doesn't need weed like they need food. So please, unless you have a rational argument otherwise, weed is bad for society. Even if your decisions are less life threatening-- they're still life threatening! Few kill you, but many make you poor or develop even more severe habits.

The cons are so outstanding, that fun of recreational use is just not even contestable. There's no rational reasoning for legalizing recreational marijuana.

[ButterSauce]

People already abuse it, the law makes it quite difficult to acquire it now. Not many selling it on the street because they won't make much money.

[nert73]

I definitely wouldn't say GOOD, but there really isn't a huge amount wrong with it... but I agree--people will abuse it. They already are, actually!

[maiez]

Its safer than alcohol and cigarettes, so yeah i think its a good idea. Also gets all those people out of jail

[Noboddy]

All i know is when it is legalized everywhere is going to smell like shit. I've read a lot about Colorado and many left the state because apartments and neighborhoods just constantly reek.

[WitchKing]

Yes. can't wait for it to be legalized in New Jersey. Then i dont have to be so secretive about it anymore.

[LeonardChurch]

Hey, how's it going up there in Angmar?

[Anonymous]

Sure, then put huge taxes on it. Anyone who wants to do it will bring in big bucks for the government. And it will save money in policing time and effort, and court costs.

[blondfrog]

Yes and it already has in Colorado and in Alaska from what @jackkerouc told me

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

Federal laws apply to all states. Anyone in any state can be arrested for possession of marijuana.

[blondfrog]

Its a state law in Colorado don't know what you're talking about.

[blondfrog]

Look it up

[NotJustAnotherGuy]

You don't comprehend how government works. We have federal laws, we have state laws, and we even have county/city laws. But federal laws always trump state laws, and state laws always trump county laws. It is still illegal to smoke weed anywhere in the U. S.

[blondfrog]

Dude quit wasting my time look it up

[JackKerouac77]

It should have been legalized back in 1934.