Should Marijuana be decriminalized?

[smahala1991]

I do think the states or federal government should legalize it as long as proper laws are in place regarding its use.

Yes

No

[nightdrot]

The British political philosopher and statesman Edmund Burke said, "The effect of liberty to individuals is that they may do what they please. We ought see what it will please them to do before we risk congratulations."

The core argument is that legalization is an expansion of liberty, that we already have alcohol and tobacco as intoxicants, and that marijuana is essentially harmless compared to other drugs.

The first point is likely to prove ephemeral. Even legalized, marijuana will be a controlled substance sales of which will, at a minimum, be limited to those 18 (or perhaps 21) years of age or older. To enforce this will requite an enormous regulatory, monitoring and law enforcement apparatus. Throw in that it will undoubtedly be taxed by state and local - and Federal jurisdictions - eager to cash in on the windfall, and the expansion of government bureaucracy and the court system will likely dwarf anything that the current prohibition requires.

Say what you will, the IRS, the FDA, OSHA and other such agencies do not, at the moment play a role in the law with marijuana. It is largely a matter for the courts and law enforcement. Legalize it, and whole panoply of government entities will become involved.

As to comparing it to tobacco and alcohol, do we really want another tobacco or alcohol. How much do those intoxicants cost the country in blood and treasure each year. Insert the known and unknown side effects of marijuana into the mix, it would be an ocean of misery.

One example, since Colorado legalized marijuana, emergency room admissions of children who have stumbled on mom and dad's stash have skyrocketed. Also, intoxicated driving convictions have similarly soared and employers have reported an increase in workplace accidents.

As to marijuana being harmless. This is relative. It is known that frequent users of marijuana are prone to schizophrenia - though it is disputed if marijuana is cause or effect. Minors who use marijuana show decreased IQ levels and behavior problems.

These are known problems.

Throw in what we do not know and may learn later. (How long did it take before the linkage between tobacco and lung cancer was established?) Further, once these problems are discovered you can be assured that the demand for government assistance programs to aid the victims will be intense. The middle class loves it indulgences, but hates paying for them.

Add it all up, legalization/decriminalization is a bad idea. That said, given the Americans public's aforementioned proclivity for self-indulgence, it will likely continue to happen.

[WindAtMyBack]

Yes. It's been decriminalized in my state since the mid-70s. Since then I have not known of anyone who was arrested for pot. People in the late 70s people used to openly sell it in public with the cops watching, but the cops didn't care and didn't do anything about it.

At the federal level it should never have been made illegal in the first place. The feds don't have the authority to do that.

In all but 12 states, it's either legal, has medical marijuana, or it's decriminalized.

[Aerissa_Jade]

I say yes but at the same time, driving while under the influence should be a felony with a minimum jail sentence required. I've seen enough high drivers who think they drive just fine that have super slow reflexes.

Minimum of six months for driving while under it for first offense, with the option to serve it on weekends for years until it is done and be on probation for the duration.

Ten fold the minimum penalty which each additional conviction, in a separate event.

If they hurt, injure or accidently kill someone while driving under it, should be a 2nd degree murder charge as driving while under the influence of anything is no different than waving a gun around firing it in public.

Not intending to hurt anyone but pretty stupid, your risking lives all around you.

Yes though it should be legalized but only AFTER the penalties for using while driving or other things that can harm someone are in place. Not before they are in place.

[Surely]

@Aerissa_Jade. Totally agree! But the jails would be overflowing.
Oh wait? We don’t incarcerate murderers any more!

[CourtneyJane2]

Most definitely. It's no worse than alcohol, makes you feel euphoric and content and doesn't really do any damage to your body unlike pretty much all other drugs.

They should legalize mushrooms as well.

[GrapeApe98]

You do know alcohol destroys your liver and stuff, right?

[CourtneyJane2]

@GrapeApe98 I know. That's why I drink only in moderation, and I don't drink hard liquor.

[NamerOfStars]

No. Should it be LEGALIZED? Yes. But States can't do that. "Decriminalizing", however, something is just saying "we know you say this is illegal, but we're just not going to enforce that law", which is setting a really, REALLY bad precedent.

[Chazmatazz269]

Whaddya mean by “proper laws”?
As long as you’re not hurting anyone or taking something away from them, we should be permitted to do anything and everything our hearts desire. No exceptions, no “proper laws”. “A ‘permit’ is what you get when your government takes your rights away just to sell them back to you.”

[AviatorTom]

I think marijuana will take the same route as cigarette smoking did. It will be decriminalized, large companies will make a lot of money selling marijuana to the masses, then 50 years from now, it will be discovered that marijuana is dangerous, and it will be effectively banned.

[Moose304]

I am by this of the same opinion I am with regard to abortion. LEAVE it up to the states. Marijuana needs to be removed from 21 U. S. Code § 812 (the feds are not enforcing it anyway) and left up to the states to decide. I don't smoke. I tried it years ago and honestly, it did nothing for me.

[es20490446e]

Drugs are classified into 5 categories. Being 1 the category with the greatest chance of being abused with no medical benefit, and 5 the least.

Marijuana is a type 1 drug. Same as ecstasy, heroin and LSD. To get things into perspective, cocaine and methamphetamine are type 2.

https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling

[Ill_made_Knight]

It should be legal, I don't partake personally but see no issue with this especially with the current state of law regarding alcohol and firearms.

[smahala1991]

and marijuana does way less damage than either of the two

[Ill_made_Knight]

exactly... agreed

[whistlingwh0res]

My country (Canada) legalized a couple of years. There are now too many stores and they don’t make much money. And it’s super expensive. There is only one bulb for $20. It’s ridiculous

[NathanDavis]

legalization and decriminalization are two completely different things...

should not be confused with one another, lol

[Havthrills]

It's legal in most places. I was just at a place with a friend. He was checking out edibles and I was looking at the different strains. Where I work they don't test for pot cause it's legal all around here. Almost is here.

[RangerBlue22]

It should be decriminalized but it’s NOT harmless. It’s arguably less damaging then alcohol but it’s not completely “safe” either.

[exitseven]

I don't think people should be put in jail for it. However i wonder if 30 years from now there will be an epidemic of dementia patients who believed that it is harmless and just a plant.

[BJP21]

It should have never been put on the Schedule A list to begin with. All through out history since prohibition nobody educated themselves and still continues to this day.

Just like alcohol there is use and overuse.

[leighbee]

It would help me with my anxiety and low moods plus stress levels. And not to mention that crime would go down

[ManOnFire]

Yes. It shouldn't be a crime for anyone use it, but using it to have a good time or as a means of coping should be discouraged.

[In_Trance]

Legalization means the government charges tax on it. Illegalization means they can charge you and earn revenue through fines.

The opposite of control is not chaos
More laws don't make fewer criminals

[Chelsdope0]

Yes, people shouldn’t go to prison/ jail etc for it. Once it’s legalized all charges should be dropped

[RolandCuthbert]

The federal government already decriminalized it.

The states are the problem.

[TallAnon]

I think we have to set a line somewhere, weed is so much less harmful than alcohol, if you want to start somewhere, start there. Weed shouldn't even be up for discussion until then.

[TonightYouu]

“I want to get hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii so high “

[Jamie05rhs]

I WOULD be in favor of this... EXCEPT... If you decriminalize possession, it will be harder to prosecute and lock up the dealers.