should recreational use of marijuana be legal? [Archive]

Da Peach

07-05-2006, 01:25 PM

I wonder which is more ecologically friendly?

Booze requires crops, but I wonder if you were to produce the volumes of weed required to satisfy the market, if it were to become just another crop that puts pressure on the environment (irrigation, erosion, all that jazz...) hence, another problem to worry about and/or argument to not legalize...

Less harmful packaging than booze I bet...

I think it should be legal. You get bored with it eventually, to the point where you hardly ever touch it at all. If you don't, well, I guess that will help pay to fix our roads.

I pass this thread along...

MudGrrl

07-05-2006, 01:45 PM

it's not legal??????

uh oh

Westy

07-05-2006, 01:48 PM

Yes, but only in suppository form.

Old Man G Funk

07-05-2006, 02:06 PM

Recreational use of sex: YES

Recreation use of drugs: NO
So then you are against alcohol and tobacco use?

Edit: And caffeine?

binary visions

07-05-2006, 02:16 PM

if its a USDA controled substance then of course!
So... is that your only rationale? That someone arbitrarily added it to a controlled substance list?

If they put alcohol on the list, would you agree that alcohol should be a banned substance? If so, why? Because someone else decided it should be?

It's fine to follow the letter of the law as in, you won't smoke pot because it's illegal. It's another thing to agree with the letter of the law, though. Do you agree with it being on the controlled substance list?

Old Man G Funk

07-05-2006, 02:27 PM

I don't think there is anything arbitrariy about the list at all... pot has been well proven to be to a gateway drug.
So is alcohol. So is tobacco. So is caffeine.

Westy

07-05-2006, 02:30 PM

So is alcohol. So is tobacco. So is caffeine.

I will agree that the tweed is more of a gateway drug than the above, but only because it is illegal and it makes people who try it think that illegal drugs are not that dangerous. If it were legal it would be no more of a gate than the above

Echo

07-05-2006, 02:34 PM

What? You are all sad because your little high isn't legal? What, you are too good for caffine?

Boo-hoo!!!
There are plenty of people who choose not to smoke weed, who are intelligent enough to see that there is no reason weed shouldn't be legalized.

It really doesn't surprise me though that you're not capable of grasping the concept that a law might be flawed.

Westy

07-05-2006, 02:37 PM

There are plenty of people who choose not to smoke weed, who are intelligent enough to see that there is no reason weed shouldn't be legalized.

It really doesn't surprise me though that you're not capable of grasping the concept that a law might be flawed.

If it were legal I'm sure N8 would post pictures of his $900 queer assed designer bong and rave about the latest Zima flavoured strain.

binary visions

07-05-2006, 02:37 PM

N8, Your attempt to get a rise isn't accomplishing anything, I was just asking if you had a rationale behind agreeing with the controlled substance list, or if you were just agreeing with it because it was the law.

Westy, that's something I've always thought was wrong. Even if it wasn't a legality issue, pot is so demonized by the drug abuse prevention programs that the result is someone trying it, realizing it isn't so bad, and not giving proper respect to drugs that really are dangerous; there's no distinction there.

Westy

07-05-2006, 02:41 PM

Besides it ain't like there is a shortage of other legal ways to "get your buzz on..."

:p

Much more dangerous legal ways too.

Why do you think pot is "bad" or worse than say a handful of martinis?

I have spent a lot of time around a lot of dumbasses who have gotten in trouble. These folks drank and smoked. Everytime they got in trouble it was because they were drunk. Non of them got arrested, got in a fight, or killed someone in a car because they were high.

goofy

07-05-2006, 02:43 PM

Imo there is no reason why it is illegal

goofy

07-05-2006, 02:45 PM

Much more dangerous legal ways too.

Why do you think pot is "bad" or worse than say a handful of martinis?

I have spent a lot of time around a lot of dumbasses who have gotten in trouble. These folks drank and smoked. Everytime they got in trouble it was because they were drunk. Non of them got arrested, got in a fight, or killed someone in a car because they were high.

I fully agree

Westy

07-05-2006, 02:51 PM

If anyone has a question on why it was outlawed check out the History channel series on illegal drugs. Like most drugs it was made illegal because of racism and immigration. When just white folks were getting high it was fine, now when someone with a darker complection starts getting stoned it becomes an issue.

Westy

07-05-2006, 02:53 PM

Personally I could care less if the stuff is legal or not. I do get pissed about the hypocrisy and involved in all of it and would be happy to see the burden removed from the legal and penal system that it being illegal causes.

Upgr8r

07-05-2006, 02:56 PM

I don't think there is anything arbitrariy about the list at all... pot has been well proven to be to a gateway drug.

I can't speak to the various studies but only to my personal experiance. As a kid I tried weed. Then I tried other drugs (coke, pills, shrooms, etc.) I no longer do any other drugs, but I do partake of the hemp at times. I didn't do those other drugs because I smoked some weed but because I was young and stupid. I probaly would have tried drugs even without the weed.

Westy

07-05-2006, 03:06 PM

Life isn't about fair, sorry...

:(

Nope and it seems laws are not about making sense.....

binary visions

07-05-2006, 03:13 PM

http://www.usdoj.gov/ndic/pubs3/3593/index.htm#illegal
Is this link supposed to supply some kind of compelling argument on the subject?

bjanga

07-05-2006, 04:02 PM

I am surprised that weed is illegal yet cigarettes are not.

Changleen

07-05-2006, 05:00 PM

golgiaparatus

07-05-2006, 05:02 PM

I totally support its med & rec use.

Westy

07-05-2006, 05:26 PM

The gateway drug argument only works whilst it is illegal and you have to go to your dealer to get it, who can also supply you with other illegal drugs. Once it is legal, no dealer = no gateway to other drugs.

Pot is not as dangerous as alcohol or tobacco. Period. Drug laws are hypocritical.

I would legalise weed, coke, opium, mushrooms, LSD but not crack or heroin.

Legalize, tax and regulate = Billions of $$$.

How do cocaine and crack differ, other than the people who use it? The big frenzy behind crack started because poor people used it not strung out businessmen. Both are quite dangerous, addictive and should be banned. Considering the two as different drugs is just as hypocritical as alcohol/pot laws.

Changleen

07-05-2006, 05:43 PM

How do cocaine and crack differ, other than the people who use it? The big frenzy behind crack started because poor people used it not strung out businessmen. Both are quite dangerous, addictive and should be banned. Considering the two as different drugs is just as hypocritical as alcohol/pot laws.Crack is the freebasing form of Cocaine. Considerably more addictive and quite a lot stonger. Hundreds of thousands of professional people use cocaine every day and lead normal productive lives. It is abused, like alcohol by the few. Crack is almost instantly physically addictive. It's a much nastier drug.

www.erowid.org

sanjuro

07-05-2006, 05:55 PM

Arguing about legalizing marijuana is a waste of time. On one side, fools like N8 argue about its "criminality" even though millions of users function normally without ever committing even a traffic violation.

On the other hand, anyone who speaks up for marijuana legalization is immediately labelled a "druggie", and there have been some ridiculous penalties, like when Tommy Chong did 9 months for selling a glass water pipe, i.e. a Bong, but received the maximum sentence because he was an "advocate of marijuana abuse".

rockwool

07-05-2006, 06:14 PM

It used to be legal in the -20ies. But then some powerful men/familes started lobbying against it. They had the help of a media mogul of that time who used racism to make it out as a "new" thing called marijuana was comming over the boarders with all them dirty folks... He made sure not to mention that marijuana was the same thing as hemp, because it was something ppl had a good relation to.

The other major palyers were:

The Du Pont family who were/are into plastic/nylon products that of course is made from PETROLEUM. The competition from clothes etc made from hemp and oil/fuel from hempoil had to be stopped..

The forrest owning families who thought that paper/cellulose from cut down trees that take 50-70 years to grow was a better source than hemp that only take 3 months (and has a higher cellulose %)..

The petroleum boys from Texas...

Westy

07-05-2006, 07:33 PM

Crack is the freebasing form of Cocaine. Considerably more addictive and quite a lot stonger. Hundreds of thousands of professional people use cocaine every day and lead normal productive lives. It is abused, like alcohol by the few. Crack is almost instantly physically addictive. It's a much nastier drug.

www.erowid.org

It is the same drug with a different delivery system. Kind of like beer vs liquor. Anyone using it on a daily basis for an extended period of time and thinking they have a normal productive life is fooling themselves, or they get really ****ty coke. Crack is for poor people and because of that there has been a lot of fear mongering generated by the media while cocaine is more mainstream and has a strong voice for justification, but it is the same crap.

Ciaran

07-05-2006, 07:36 PM

Weed is evil. I'm with N8 on this one. If God wanted it legal, he would have told GWBush to legalize it.

Buncha hippies. N8, pour me another martini.

sanjuro

07-05-2006, 07:36 PM

Crack is the freebasing form of Cocaine. Considerably more addictive and quite a lot stonger. Hundreds of thousands of professional people use cocaine every day and lead normal productive lives. It is abused, like alcohol by the few. Crack is almost instantly physically addictive. It's a much nastier drug.

www.erowid.org
I have heard that, but there is also the debate how crack is a lower-class drug, whereas coke is upper; which results in a different penalty scheme. Comments about racial discrimination has started people looking at both forms of cocaine with equal regard.

Changleen

07-05-2006, 07:58 PM

It is the same drug with a different delivery system. Kind of like beer vs liquor.Kind of, except you don't drink 330ml of liquor in one go, if you see what I mean.
Anyone using it on a daily basis for an extended period of time and thinking they have a normal productive life is fooling themselves, or they get really ****ty coke. I dunno about that. In London a lot of people do a lot of coke a lot of the time. I'm sure it'd be just the same in NY, DC, LA, etc...
Crack is for poor people and because of that there has been a lot of fear mongering generated by the media while cocaine is more mainstream and has a strong voice for justification, but it is the same crap.It's the same base drug but freebasing it changes what it does to you, and how, considerably.

LordOpie

07-05-2006, 08:09 PM

I don't think there is anything arbitrariy about the list at all... pot has been well proven to be to a gateway drug.
answer...
"Pot isn't a gateway drug. Pot doesn't 'lead" to other drugs. Pot leads to carpentry. Like, 'Hey, I can make a bong outta this!'"

blue

07-05-2006, 08:23 PM

Yes. Duh. End.

LordOpie

07-05-2006, 08:50 PM

ADVICE: Don't answer the phone when you're stoned.

stevew

07-05-2006, 10:19 PM

The gateway drug argument only works whilst it is illegal and you have to go to your dealer to get it, who can also supply you with other illegal drugs. Once it is legal, no dealer = no gateway to other drugs.

Pot is not as dangerous as alcohol or tobacco. Period. Drug laws are hypocritical.

I would legalise weed, coke, opium, mushrooms, LSD but not crack or heroin.

Legalise, tax and regulate = Billions of $$$.
Billions of dollars that would not go towards funding rehab......

You know it wouldn't make it there, no matter what party is in power.

N I C K

07-05-2006, 10:24 PM

Recreational weed should most deffinatly be legalized. The fact that it is illegal is just stupid. If you look at alcohol... thats legal. Alcohol alters judgement same as pot, and when some people get **** faced they get angry. Honestly how many angry stoners have you ever seen? I know pot does do things to your body, but its not nearly as bad a ciggaretts, smoking weed wont give you cancer, and it is nearly impossible to overdose. So if pot is illegal they should outlaw alcohol, ciggarettes, chewing tabaco, cigars, pain killers. They all affect your state of mind and how you thing about things.

Changleen

07-05-2006, 10:43 PM

ADVICE: Don't answer the phone when you're stoned.:stupid:

Changleen

07-05-2006, 10:45 PM

Billions of dollars that would not go towards funding rehab......

You know it wouldn't make it there, no matter what party is in power.Probably true, but I'd rather my Government had more money than less in general, and I'd rather they got it in other ways than taxing me, and I'd also rather drug dealers and organised crime didn't get it.

stevew

07-05-2006, 10:55 PM

Probably true, but I'd rather my Government had more money than less in general, .........
You are a more trusting soul than I could ever hope to be.:)

Silver

07-05-2006, 11:07 PM

Billions of dollars that would not go towards funding rehab......

You know it wouldn't make it there, no matter what party is in power.

Does it matter? Most people who use alcohol aren't addicts. There's no reason to assume that alcohol is the only drug that can be used in moderation.

LordOpie

07-05-2006, 11:14 PM

Billions of dollars that would not go towards funding rehab......
I was gonna go to rehab but then i got high

ALEXIS_DH

07-05-2006, 11:20 PM

dang, there are a lot of stoners on the monkey... :p

Ciaran

07-05-2006, 11:27 PM

LordOpie

07-05-2006, 11:28 PM

dang, there are a lot of stoners on the monkey... :p
more money for your family ;)

ALEXIS_DH

07-05-2006, 11:41 PM

more money for your family ;)

weed profits are down man, am telling you.....

we should start sponsoring pokemon videogames or hooked on phonics or something...

Changleen

07-05-2006, 11:50 PM

If it's legalized then all the drug dealers would be out of business because everyone would be growing their own. Hmmm... :think: maybe it's the Humboldt cartels that are keeping it illegal. Hmmmmm....And, certain governments would no longer have an excuse to spend a bunch of cash with certain contractors on procurements for enforcement, building prisons, keeping lawyers busy etc etc etc.... Hmmmm....

fluff

07-06-2006, 04:16 AM

ADVICE: Don't answer the phone when you're stoned.
Heh, no kidding.

Back in the days when I used to use the evil weed I was sitting at home happily stoned with a good friend when I heard the doorbell. Now at the time I was selling my house and I'd agreed a price for a quick sale, but the sale had dragged on so I had told the buyers to up their offer or it was going back on the market (as they'd been the cause of months of delay). Lo and behold there they were, wanting to talk to me about it. So I invited them in and proceeded to have a very difficult conversation... Only the most naive of people would not have realised the state I was in. They upped the offer though (probably knew I needed to feed my habit).

valve bouncer

07-06-2006, 07:19 AM

It's always interesting that when the subject of the legalisation/decriminalisation of pot is raised here the sum total of the arguements from the "anti" side is that "it's illegal because it's bad and it's bad because it's illegal":rolleyes:

Old Man G Funk

07-06-2006, 07:33 AM

What? You are all sad because your little high isn't legal? What, you are too good for caffine?

Boo-hoo!!!
No N8, I'm not a pot smoker. In fact, I've never tried it, and I don't plan on it, even if it is legalized.

Pot does have medicinal uses. Ask anyone who suffers from glaucoma.

And, if you look at the designation for schedule I drugs, alcohol fits the definition. And, it seems that cocaine is listed as a schedule II drug. IIRC, schedule I drugs are worse than schedule II, so pot is a gateway to a drug that isn't as bad? Get a grip.

biggins

07-06-2006, 07:34 AM

Imo there is no reason why it is illegal

sure there is a reason. the christian right, the beer companies supporting the war on drugs and therevenue generated by townships every time some kid gets busted with a quarter bag.

Da Peach

07-06-2006, 08:29 AM

:rofl: If it were legal I'm sure N8 would post pictures of his $900 queer assed designer bong and rave about the latest Zima flavoured strain.
:rofl:

N I C K

07-06-2006, 08:31 AM

If it's legalized then all the drug dealers would be out of business because everyone would be growing their own. Hmmm... :think: maybe it's the Humboldt cartels that are keeping it illegal. Hmmmmm....

Not if they still kept it illegal to grow... They could sell packs of joints or 1/8ths at the store. Then the government could still regulate it, and tax it, and they would make money. With which they could fund war with, or whatever they want. I mean the drug dealers would still have to get a real job like everyone else.

Old Man G Funk

07-06-2006, 09:41 AM

Would that be so wrong???

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
No, just SOP for you.

Old Man G Funk

07-06-2006, 10:15 AM

Well, it would be legal so there would be no debate about it... but it ain't.
What? Because we don't have debates about legal things? Abortion? Smoking in public? Alcohol abuse and the legal drinking age?

BurlyShirley

07-06-2006, 10:16 AM

Im glad its illegal. More fun that way.

MudGrrl

07-06-2006, 10:20 AM

just like sex with 17 year olds.

BurlyShirley

07-06-2006, 10:21 AM

just like sex with 17 year olds.

:drool:

kindtrails

07-06-2006, 10:31 AM

Legalize It, Don't critisize it!

Ciaran

07-06-2006, 02:46 PM

And, certain governments would no longer have an excuse to spend a bunch of cash with certain contractors on procurements for enforcement, building prisons, keeping lawyers busy etc etc etc.... Hmmmm....

Shhhh... Keep your "thinkin" to yourself. Me and N8 don't wanna hear it!

Not if they still kept it illegal to grow... They could sell packs of joints or 1/8ths at the store. Then the government could still regulate it, and tax it, and they would make money. With which they could fund war with, or whatever they want. I mean the drug dealers would still have to get a real job like everyone else.
How stoned are you, hippy? You make less sense than N8! The whole point of being a cannabis cartel is to NOT have to get a regular job!

Legalize It, Don't critisize it!
:thumb:

I found your number... I gotta call you today man. It's getting weird around here...

N I C K

07-07-2006, 07:10 PM

Shhhh... Keep your "thinkin" to yourself. Me and N8 don't wanna hear it!

How stoned are you, hippy? You make less sense than N8! The whole point of being a cannabis cartel is to NOT have to get a regular job!

:thumb:

I found your number... I gotta call you today man. It's getting weird around here...

What so because im for legalization or marijuana, and i have bob marley as my avatar, that automatically makes me a hippy? what a ****in stereotype. There would be no drug cartel if drugs were made legal, no way around that.

Ciaran

07-07-2006, 07:33 PM

What so because im for legalization or marijuana, and i have bob marley as my avatar, that automatically makes me a hippy? what a ****in stereotype. There would be no drug cartel if drugs were made legal, no way around that.
Well, at the young republican meeting N8 gave a presentation on the dangers of drugs. He said that pot makes you a hippy. Don't get so riled up man. Smoke a bowl and relax.

This trolling thing is fun. Heh heh... cause I've NEVER smoked pot! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :clue:

schnarfyschnarf

07-09-2006, 06:58 PM

i just dont understand how we can go to the gas station and buy beer(think about that, gas and beer at the same place) but we cant buy pot. seems just plain stupid and youd think the whole fake bad info about it would stop and the gov would make money on iot like cigs and alckeehol

MikeD

07-12-2006, 12:42 AM

There would be no drug cartel if drugs were made legal, no way around that.

I beg to differ. I used to think drug legalization (all drugs, not just MJ) would eliminate problems, too...but in thinking about it, I realized that-

If drugs were regulated and taxed, that would add expense. Drug addicts (real addicts, not the occasional user), unless they're rich, will spring for the cheapest stuff they can get...which will be the illegal stuff which is smuggled in along the same routes it's smuggled now, and from which the drug growers will reap more profit than by going through regulated channels.

Basically, it won't change anything except for allowing rich drug users and addicts to use legally, while the poor will still suffer the same social and financial effects they suffer from the use of drugs now.

And any addict who has lost the ability to function in society (crack'll do that) and work to buy his drugs will still turn to crime to feed his habit.

There's a good reason hard drugs are illegal...the societal cost outweighs the rather minimal personal intrusion on your freedom resulting from drug laws.

I think pot should be legal, taxed, and regulated, because it doesn't have the same widespread societal costs. And since it's not addictive in the same way that harder drugs are, it won't suffer the scenario I outlined above (to an extreme, anyhow)...people want pot, they don't generally need. I think, by and large, that most people who use pot use it regardless of its legality, and the vast majority who use it don't become burnt-out potheads. Some do, and it's fun to laugh at them, of course, but it's certainly not any worse than alcohol.

I'm sure people would grow their own, untaxed pot even if it was illegal, so long as its use was legal...and some people would sell it illegally for sure. I think we could live with that.

Personally, I don't touch the stuff, but hey, there are worse things than pot. Like Phish. Ugggghhhhhh.

MD