What is your stance on Marijuana?

[Simslover92]

[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, the legalization of marijuana is a bad idea. That said, given the Americans public's aforementioned proclivity for self-indulgence, it will likely continue to happen.

[exitseven]

I bet you saw lots of kids that never made it out of the 70s

[nightdrot]

@exitseven True enough - although my later high school and college years overlapped the 80s and things began, at least a little, to calm down in that time. In my memory, the 60s and early to mid-70s were the really bad years - and in fact a friend of mine was hospitalized with an overdose at that time.

[jahaims]

Safer than alcohol and most people are ignorant af when it comes to Marijuana

[FreyaRed]

Should remain illegal with exception cancer patients and people with terminal illnesses. Young adults and teens who smoke a lot and regularly weed don't develop mature personality and remain eternal teens. Long time cannabis users have always some kind of psychosis, most symptoms is incoherent speech and social withdrawal. As addition cannabis consumer hesitate less to try hard drugs with very high addiction potential.

[Morgan_L]

Pro edibles. Against smoking. My grandpa died from lung cancer very nasty

[Simslover92]

Same I'm pro edibles. Against smoking it.

[Simslover92]

And I'm sorry about your grandpa!

[Morgan_L]

Thanks I was 17 so I’m ok now

[Lliam]

It should be legal.

Hemp used to be the most widely grown crop in the country. It was used for everything from rope to fabric to paper to plastic-like materials and building materials. It was excellent for sail cloth and rope because it didn't rot like cotton or jute.

It also grows fast, rehabilitates soil, and sequesters far more CO2 and emits more oxygen than the same number of trees per acre.

It's even a sustainable source of fuel.

Then the technology was created to make paper from tree pulp and William Randolph Hurst demonized hemp by name it "marijuana" (a Mexican word for narcotics) and associated it with Mexicans and African Americans. The ploy appealed to racist attitudes in the U. S.
He colluded with the paper and plastics (oil) industries to get it banned and monopolize their markets.
A terror campaign was introduced to "protect your children" from being corrupted by "jazz" music and becoming promiscuous.
Big money and influential people successfully pushed congress to ban hemp.

The idea was to replace hemp with paper made from tree pulp and with petroleum-based products like nylon.

Abraham Lincoln once said that his favorite thing was to sit in his rocking chair on his porch playing his harmonica and smoking "sweet hemp".

Cannabis isn't dangerous although it shouldn't be used excessively or when doing anything that requires having your wits about you like driving an automobile.
You can't OD from it. It makes those who smoke it mellow, not crazy like alcohol.

It actually has many medicinal qualities, but those are suppressed by the pharmaceutical and medical industries and the government makes it very difficult to do research.

And it's a plant. Plants like foxglove and oleander aren't illegal even though they are deadly to ingest. So ask yourself why a useful plant like cannabis is illegal?

I'm not in favor of banning tobacco or alcohol, either.

[NamerOfStars]

That it's illegal is stupid; that it's as illegal as it is is beyond stupid; that several places have decided "we're not going to enforce the laws against it" is insane.

Here in the US, state and local governments can't violate federal law, and the only means they have of changing it is voting in elections, like everyone else. But the precedent it's setting... it's not so much asking for trouble as begging for it. It's also kind of useless, since you're required to report illegal income on your taxes (that's how they nailed Al Capone), and that includes your federal taxes; one anti-pot administrator can send every dispensary employee in the country to jail (well, not quite, but almost).

However, full, unrestricted legalization would also be a terrible mistake; I say make it legal, but with limits, like tobacco or booze.

[exitseven]

Now that is is legal people are using it in record numbers. It is more powerful than ever and there have been instances of psychosis in heavy users.

Everyone that uses it says the same thing right out of the druggie handbook. It is completely harmless and it is just a plant. It is not just a plant. A roesbush does not make you sit for hours staring at a TV that is not turned on.

Nobody really knows what the long term fallout will be but my theory is that in 20 or 30 years we will be seeing record numbers of dementia cases.

I have two dispensaries across the street from where I work. I see people that look like they just came from a homeless shelter go in there to get their dope. The state is taking in billions from sales of pot so I guess it will never be illegal again.

I never used it and my wife never did.

[Simslover92]

The key is to use it responsibly if you are going to use it which many do not know how to do. They get hooked on it. But I don't think everyone should be punished for some people's lack of self control when it comes to the drug.

[exitseven]

@Simslover92 I never saw it do anyone any good. imagine that it must be fun but it is not medicine. People say they have anxiety or it is good for menstrual cramps. I heard somebody say that it cures gout. I think if you are undergoing chemotherapy or if you have glaucoma there is some medicinal value in it. People go to a "doctor" that usually has the office next door to the dispensary and tell the doctor they have anxiety or PTSD or some other condition and they get a card that lets you go next door to buy dope.
The thing that used to really creep me out was that people would change and not for the better. They would lose their ambition and not be interested in anything besides getting stoned. They would change and not even be aware of it.

[Simslover92]

I believe you use and do everything in moderation. The same could be said for regular medicine. People abuse painkillers all the time and turn into different people because they lack self control. It's all about having self control when it comes to any drug. I wouldn't do the harder drugs but there are some people that could do it and not get addicted because they have self control. Like I said before, I don't think people should be punished and it not be legal because of some people's lack of self control. Moderation is key. People need to learn how to use it responsibly is all.

[exitseven]

@Simslover92 would you want your kids to use it?

[Simslover92]

Once they are adults and if that's what they choose to do then I would be fine with it as long as they use it responsibly and not let it become an addiction.

[exitseven]

@Simslover92 what about in high school?

[Simslover92]

No of course not in high school. They are still children.

[exitseven]

@Simslover92 This is what you have. How hard do you think it is for a high school kid to get weed? Go to the local county jail and talk to the sheriff. He will tell you that the majority of people there are in for drug related crimes. The vast majority of them started using drugs with pot.
I cannot help but notice that everyone that says it is harmless and just a plant or it is not as bad as alcohol are all people that are big users.

[Simslover92]

I'm sure it would not be hard for high school kids to get weed but my kids would not be anywhere near it. And I've seen what alcohol does to people. It is so much worse than weed. I would rather my kids when they are adults do that occasionally than use alcohol which is much more dangerous and harmful. Duis happen all the time with teens dying in serious car accidents. You can't say the same about weed users. Though I am not condoning teens using weed. I just feel that adults should be allowed to do whatever they want and using weed is much less harmless than doing other drugs or alcohol. My step-dad was a big time alcoholic. I've seen first hand what alcohol does to people and I would always vouch for people to use weed over alcohol because of what I've seen it do. And I'm not a big time user of weed. I barely even use it. I'll admit I can see how people can become hooked and that can be dangerous but I think occasional use is harmless.

[exitseven]

I used to be a lot more against it because of the Era I grew up in. Almost everyone I knew smoked it. Many people used other drugs as well. LSD was everywhere. They used to call Portland "Acid City" I knew kids that fell off the track because of drugs. They never got busted and never killed anyone but they never made much of their lives either Sometimes I look back on it all and just feel heartsick.

[exitseven]

I had a girlfriend who all of a sudden decides she wants to smoke dope. After a while she went from just once in a while at parties to smoking every day. After a while the light that was inside her went out and her eyes were sort of sad. She ne er graduated and just went to live with a bunch of druggies.

[Simslover92]

I'm sorry that happened to your girlfriend but that's not the reality for every person that uses weed. Some people can use it once or twice and never touch it again or every now and then. I know a guy whose successful who uses cocaine every now and then and functions fine. I would never do it but there are people that have a lot of self control when it comes to drugs especially weed.

[exitseven]

What you say is true but it is like playing a Russian roulette.
If you stand back and look at the big picture. The pot they have now is ten times as strong as what they had when I was in school. They have concentrates that are even stronger and new technologies to make new strains. It is common for users to build up a tolerance to it so they need to consume more. When you build up a tolerance you are causing changes to your brain. Nobody really knows the long term effect of this process. You only get one brain

[Simslover92]

I mean that's true which is why I am not so keen on smoking it and more for just doing edibles every now and then. I think it's not so bad if you are doing edibles occasionally vs smoking pot. Either way though, I don't think it's as bad for people as you think it is. I know a lot of people who smoke it or do edibles and have promising careers and live happy lives. I can see your side of it though and understand that it can be like playing Russian roulette for some but I have yet to meet a typical pothead you see in the movies. Everyone I know who does it, does not let it take over their lives. They use it responsibly.

[MrOracle]

I don't use any kind of drug unless I'm so sick I have nearly no choice - I don't drink, I don't smoke, and I don't even use painkillers except in extreme circumstances. A 20-count bottle of Tylenol or Advil will usually expire before I use them all.

I strongly believe that people would be FAR more healthy - physically and mentally - if they avoided drugs except in extreme circumstances. And that includes caffeine, alcohol, weed, and various painkillers, much less "hard drugs." Prescription drugs in many cases are no better than illegal drugs either. Big Pharma was happy to get 10s of millions of people addicted to opiates, and these have killed several million people over the last decade. Lots of people dying from fentanyl today are former Oxy addicts.

[Makeushiver]

Never understood why drugs are illegal except for the. most toxic drug i. e. alcohol. Most recreational drugs but esp. pot is relatively harmless. Opioid are even pretty harmless in and of themselves. They do little harm to body. Alcohol is the biggest contributor to drug related deaths. Unlike drugs which usually only. harm user, alcohol often kills innocent bystanders in drunken, drivers in autos, in homes where alcohol use cause domestic disputes

[Filthy_Immigrant]

it became legal here in my state 2 years ago for once!

I just wish it was 100% legal everywhere, till the point they no longer consider it a "drug" cause I hate the fact that some companies will still refuse to give you a job here if you been tested positive after using it

[Dargil]

It should be decriminalized but all free government rehab and medical centers for treating recreational drug addiction should be closed. Give them hospice so they can be escorted out with morphine.

[exitseven]

I had an uncle that was a cop He said thay should just have tables set up in front t of city hall with bug tubs filled with all kinds of dope and just let them all kill themselves because that is what they want in the first place

[Dargil]

@exitseven yikes. But I understand his thinking.

[exitseven]

My uncle was one of the smartest guys i knew.

[IslaTheWitch]

I don't smoke, I'm aware of its effect on human brain and I don't want anything do it to my brain cells

but I also think everyone should decide for themselves

[NaultD]

Safer then alcohol for society. So age gate it to 21 sin tax it and let people live there lifes.

[northerngal]

Legalize it. Tax it and make money off it. Regulate as required. Thats what has happened in Canada and our society has not fallen apart.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Debateable. Its all the potheads in Canada voting for nutcases like Trudeau

[Apple1996]

I personally won't risk using weed because of the bad health issues that can come from it. It also lowers iq I'm too dumb already to be losing iq 😂 if others wanna risk it tho then that's their choice

[Filthy_Immigrant]

wow smart enough to admit how low you iq is, I like that! anyways if you think marijuana makes you dumb and unhealthy then your iq is below 0

[Apple1996]

@Filthy_Immigrant that was obviously a joke. It really is unhealthy and can cause sooo many health issues. My main concern would be going infertile from it

[Filthy_Immigrant]

dude, cigarettes and alcohol are millions of times more deadlier than marijuana, and who the fuck told you marijuana makes you infertile? anyways dont you women become infertile after you all hit 30s either way?

[Apple1996]

@Filthy_Immigrant I don't smoke or drink either. Weed is crazy bad for male fertility and somewhat bad for female fertility. And women are fertile until they hit menopause in their 50s-60s. I plan on being a surrogate and donating eggs. I doubt anyone would be okay with a pothead being their surrogate

[Filthy_Immigrant]

I bet is the other way around. people will prefer healthy cancer free eggs over eggs that been overly medicated by other pharmaceutical chemicals that just lead to more birth defects in the long run

[Apple1996]

@Filthy_Immigrant there is no need for me to use weed or other drugs

[Filthy_Immigrant]

I’m just saying that people prefer weed over pharmaceutical bullshit

[Jerre]

Legalize it, make it accessible to anyone 21 or older

[Jerre]

@Simslover92 Thank you for the Like

[Simslover92]

You're welcome!

[DryGermanGuy]

It's safer than alcohol. I can't actually recommend either, though.

[LiamS95]

I haven't used it since I was a teenager and some of my school buddies that kept using it eventually used other drugs and are basically just high bums only holding low wage temporary jobs. Eve. Just constant use of weed eventually affects your brain and thinking process.

[andreasderjuengere]

A perfect addition to my cooking herbs in the garden.

As a ''drug'' I find it boring, though.

[Astarlessnightsky]

Its less harmfull than alc and tobaco so legalize it.

[DrPepper12]

I'd rather have infinite pot than any alcohol. Alcohol is a DESTROYER of lives. Pot makes you hungry and chill.

[Morgan_L]

😂👍😂

[Sabretooth]

tell that to Richard Kirk and his kids.

[OtterMan68]

should be as legal as alcohol and tobacco. I don't do it, but I'm not one to tell other adults what they can and can't do

[Alex-Snow]

Legalize it and use the tax money for public health

[llorando]

Should be 100% legal, taxed and regulated, with the tax revenue used to fund drug treatment centers.

[Still-alive]

I personally don't care for it but it should be free and legal and regulated.

[DrPepper12]

And taxed!

[Neatfinity_YT]

I’m coming to accept the fact that people do it, but I wish people would avoid having to do drugs too feel better

[RedInnocent69]

Probably less harmful than alcohol, even tobacco from a health policy perspective.

[CubaPirate]

Been there tried it when I was young and impressionable but its really not my thing. As it can lead to addiction to harder drugs

[ICanSmellTheCosmos]

I don't care if someone else uses it. Don't have any interest in it myself.

[WhiteBoyChill]

Against it. The collective effect of legalization has been overwhelmingly negative

[handsomelad70]

Don't smoke it, but it's fine by me if you want to.

[Finchie40]

Legalize it and not make a big deal about it

[slatyb]

I don't but others may. Prohibition is terrible

[Agape93]

I don't care, smoke it if you want

[dolemite58]

I use a vaporizer so I do it all the time

[jjj101010]

Legalise it and tax it

[Iron_Man]

We don’t need it for recreation parties

[LaurenM1997]

I hate any type of drugs even cigarettes

[Ms_Facesitter]

Smells bad.

[HurremSultan]

Ban it unless used for medical purpose

[Simslover92]

Why ban it? 😕 It isn't harmful.

[Hispanic-Cool-Guy]

Love the smell but I'm against drugs use.

[eagle1951]

should stay against the law