Marijuana Legalization; where do you stand?

[Kai]

I am not going to get very involved in this thread, but I figured I would just say a couple things.

1.) Xen is an idiot.

2.) Legalizing marijuana, and setting the legal age at something along the lines of 21, would likely make it much more difficult for teens to get ahold of. Without criminal dealers willing to sell to teens, and stores enforcing the age limit, it would go the way of alcohol.

I am not saying that teens can't get ahold of booze, but it can be pretty tough at times. The way things are now, I could go out and buy a dime bag MUCH easier than I could get a six pack.

[bluepiz]

Let me also say that, anyone that needs an outside drug that is solely used as an INTOXICANT to function or to "let loose" or "feel good" IS OF A WEAK MIND AND BODY and needs to get a life.

thats your opinion.

Marijuana has been shown, in clinical studies, to contain over 400 chemicals, 60 of which are TOXIC to the body and DIRECTLY relate to Cancer development.

like i said, although there are checmicals in MJ that are known to be carcinogenic, you're not gonna get cancer from smokin it. not to mention, it can be ingested orally or vaporized, effectively taking care of any cancerous chemicals caused by combustion.
please, find me a case where someone has gotten cancer directly due to smoking marijuana. not someone who smokes marijuana and tobacco. anything you produce will almost certainly not mention whether or not the person smokes tobacco.

THC stays in the body fat for months, even years. A person who smokes two to three joints a week is constantly under the influence of the drug

Actually, not months, or years. Weeks. A little over the month at most. have you ever smoked MJ? If you had, you'd be able to speak from experience and make a valid argument, instead of making yourself look like a fool. Someone who smokes 2-3 joints a week isn't constantly under the influence of the drug. Just because its somewhere in your body doesn't mean you're "under the influence", especially if its stored in your body fat.

I feel great after I smoke. I dont' feel burned out, and I dont feel unmotivated. In fact, yesterday, after i smoked a bowl I cleaned out my entire closet and re-arranged my room, which may not sound like a lot of work, but it is.

The same is true with drugs, only you may still want drugs even years after you stop taking them. That why some people become habitual pot smokers. And that is also why some people go on to even harder drugs, because they need something stronger to give them a high and handle their cravings."

alright, so the same is true with drugs , which includes cocaine, heroin, and many other harder drugs. Marijuana, however, is in a completely different category. Yes, someone may get an urge to smoke some Marijuana, just like everything else good in this world is worth endlessly repeating. This is like saying "after you eat a cheeseburger, you may become addicted, and have a sudden urge to eat more cheeseburgers". i continue to smoke pot because i like it , not because im addicted to it.
And for the part about the gateway drug, a huge part of this is due to prohibition. If MJ is on the black market with cocaine and ecstacy, then a drug dealer may have not only marijuana, but cocaine and ecstacy as well. If someone comes over to pick up a sack, but the dealer is out, he may offer him some cocaine, acid, ecstacy, or some other harder drug. If MJ was off the streets and regulated and sold in stores, then there would be no reason for someone to even be near an environment where Cocaine exists, since they could simply pick up a bag of MJ at the store.
Also a product of prohibition, someone may try MJ solely out of curiosity, and after they realize "Hey, this isn't that bad. I've been told my entire life that MJ would make me go crazy and unmotivated, but it didn't. Maybe the governments been lying to me about acid too. I think i'll try that" If the government stopped all this bull**** and told the public the truth for once, maybe this wouldn't happen. And yes, I know a couple people that only try harder drugs because of this exact way of thinking.
Hardly ever is it the case where someone needs a bigger fix. If someone's train of thought is like that, they need help. Not this government appointed "drug rehab" bull****. I mean serious help.

Also, for all you guys out there that smoke up, THC will eventually kill your sex drive by almost stopping the production of Testosterone. And it makes you impotent. Clinically proven.

Clinically proven? Mind giving us some "clinical proof" instead of just saying "Clinically proven."? It's true that marijuana will slightly lower your sperm count, but that is it. Slightly lower your sperm count, nothing drastic either. It will definitely not make you impotent Someone can live a normal sex life and still smoke MJ, as do millions of people. Not to mention, if you give smoking a break for a 2-4 weeks, your sperm count will be as normal and healthy as ever. Also, according to these new Freevibe commercials, which are nothing but lies and distortion, smoking MJ will get you pregnant, but it also makes you impotent and kills all the testosterone? No drug can do that. The only thing this last statement you said accomplished was making you look like an idiot.

So all of this information was compiled from things a police academy told you? Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the police force funded by the government? (funded by the citizens taxes, which is collected by the governemnt, so pretty much gov't funded) Why on earth would the government, the organization that has been blatantly lying for the past 70 years to keep marijuana illegal and brainwash people, let the police academy use any sort of evidence that shows marijuana in a good light? of course what the police academy tells you is gonna be anti-MJ.

[InfinatyBPS]

Thanks bluepiz, you took the words right out of my mouth...

[TransMan]

Originally posted by oldsoldier
Ok, one last quick blurb. This isnt about "alcohol is legal, so why cant pot be?". That is not a valid response. And, you wont be able to cultivate your own. Can you make your own whiskey? Legally? No. the government will take control of the crops. You cant feasibly grow your own tobacco...and, it wasn't made illegal due to some Governmental fear, or conspiracy. It was ORIGINALLY made illegal to PROTECT the cotton crops. THEN, someone found out the mild hallucintatory by products of THC. And, the THC is not a direct product of it, at least not in the quantity that we find it today. I believe (dont quote me on this, I am remembering this from a class by DEA a few years back), that it is now like 700 times more potenet than it was originally. So, why should they make it legal? Cuz everyone does it? That doesnt make something right. Maybe because these people dont harm anyone? Really? Look at the drug/crime stats; I'll bet you most violent offenders use MArijuana. Maybe not exclusively, but they do. They also drink. It impairs your judgement as well; is it legal to drink and drive? No. You can no more be a "little high" than you can be a "little drunk". And, how do they test THC saturation? Blood test. So, you get pulled over, they do a breath AND blood test on you. Why? Because you are a danger to the public. And, its better to be safe than sorry
One last thing; you can REFUSE ANY TEST; but you WILL lose your liscense. You get behind a wheel impaired, you endanger everyone on those streets. Personally, I'd rather you lose your liscense, than a mother bury her child because you "didnt think I was that drunk/high".

It is prefactly legal and feasable to grow ur own tobacco or whiskey. The Limit on the amount of whiskey is way higher than any one person could drink. If it was legal i wouldnt buy it from any where i would be growin it in my livin room.

Also by 700 times more potent the orriginally is that going back to the begining of evolution cus its not 700 times more potent then it was 100 years ago. Also there is many dif levels of potency that you can obtain the highest BY FAR is the strain that the Gov. developed and uses in their "Clinical Studies"

Marijuana does not cause violent crimes AT ALL no one commites violent crime because they are stoned. MJ doesnt have that affect at all. It makes you mellow and calm not ready to kill someone when you get taped on the shoulder.

[MrMag]

you know what, i dont really care if marijuana is legalized for the normal everyday person, because i can get it easily if i want in cali with no drug lords.

what i want is marijuana legalized for medical purposes. marijuana allowed my father to live probably a year longer. my father contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion before AIDS was known to be tested for. marijuana also helps people with glaucoma, serious painful injuries, and types of cancer.

if someone can come up with a reason why this is wrong, i would like to see it. there is no reason not to allow marijuan to be legalized for medical purposes

[Lethargic]

Alright, having ready though this entire thread, and seen the views of all parties involved, I have a few things to say.
First of all, I personally know many people who smoke on a regular basis, and have know some of them for years. These people always interest me, because in them I always see the cruel irony of the fight to legalize MJ.

Now, MJ contains chemicals which cause cancer. This is a fact, not a "goverment lie." These chemicals can and will cause cancer if the human body is exposed to them often enough. A major obstacle to MJ legalization is the presence of these cancer-causing substances in the plant. After all, we pay billions to help cigarette smokers who develop cancer, so why should we legalize another provenway to get cancer? Despite what many pro-MJ websites will tell you, people have developed cancer from MJ. The reason that a lot of cases go unrecorded is that many of these people most likely told their doctors they smoked cigarettes, because MJ is ILLEGAL. An increase of cancer cases in one reason people are hesitent to legalize MJ.

Another fact about MJ is that it contains THC. Like it or not, THC will remain in the body for the remainder of one's life, stored mainly in the fat cells, and in the medulla portion of one's brain. The myth is that THC will leave the body after only weeks or a month. This is untrue. The levels of THC will decrease dramatically over this time period, and it is likely that the remaining amount will not be detected in a routine physical. However, THC is fatal in large enough quantities, and the more you smoke MJ, the more THC accumulates in your brain and fat cells. THC will slowly poison you as you smoke MJ more often.

Thirdly, MJ does cause addiction. Like anything else in life, the human body becomes used to a regular influx of MJ. After months or years of use, the body becomes so used to having MJ in it, that it "craves" more MJ. The reason many users do not fell these symptoms is that they use MJ infrequently. Why do they use it infrequently? Because it costs too much money to dupport a regular MJ habit. But if it were legal, the cost would fall, and supply would increase dramatically. Now imagine that a user coul get 10 times as much MJ as he could before. Would he? You bet your balls he would. But what happens then? The human body also has the ability to lessen the impact of poisonous substances entering it. Therefore, the user feels less of a high from the same amount of MJ. He then must buy more of it to get the same feeling. At the same time, his body craves the MJ more and more, until he reaches the same point he would with any other illicit substance. This is the biggest and most obvious reason why MJ should NEVER be legalized for anything other that limited medical usage.

I feel truly sorry for people who delude themselves that MJ needs to be legalized. They use false facts, skewed data, and sraight out lies to suppor their ideas. Anyone who uses MJ cannot possibly argue for the benefits of the drug, because they themselves are already under its infuence. For InfinatyBPS and others who feel that MJ should be legal, consider this. The one who smokes the MJ is no the only one affected by his actions. The man killed while smuggling MJ, the baby killed in a police shootout with a drug dealer, and the family ruined after a child gets high and crashes his car; They are ALL affected by the actions of that one pothead. The things I have described have all happened, and will happen much more if MJ is every legalized. People like you are the cause of infinite misery in the world, and this will only increase if MJ is legalized in the US.

Remember, we have freedom of choice here in america, not freedom to ruin the lives of others just so you can have a fun time hanging out with your friends. I hope I never meet anyone like you in real life InfinatyBPS, because I would bee hard pressed not to beat some sense into his empty skull.

[TransMan]

Dude anyone can support a MJ habit i do on a high schooler with out a job wages....

[cphilip]

Originally posted by MrMag
cphillip .....will be here shortly to tell us we're wrong cause we are and that is that (that's what happened last time). no body on the other side could come up with a good argument except for the fact that marijuana is illegal.

LEGALIZE IT!!!!

BS!!!! I never told you any such thing in that last thread. Get your story straight and do not try and put words in my mouth! You have no idea what I know or what the future may hold for you.

I told you not to smoke it. Its a waste of money and it is indeed addictive just like cigarettes are. It robs you of motivation. It cost you money. It may get you hanging with people who will get you in trouble. If you have a problem it will act as a crutch and not help you deal with that problem.

I never in that thread responded to the legalization issue.

I personaly was involved with a cronic "smoker" who eventualy took her own life. I am not saying it was the cause. I am pointing out it was a symptom and caused all sorts of problems with whether or not her medication for clinical depression would work correctly. She refused to tell her doctor about her smoking pot. He had no idea. It contributed to her death. Thats what I am saying. Did it contribute to her developing her condition? I have no idea. It didn't help it in the end though did it?

How would anyone know if there was a Cancer related death. No one will tell thier Doctor they smoked pot.

Spend you money elsewhere is my advice. Take it of leave it.

I do believe it should be decriminalized though. At least to some extent. Its sensless to make it ruin someones life legaly. I know that sounds odd but I have seen people that needed another chance and in some parts of the country the level of criminal prosecution is a bit extreme. In some it is not.

And for your information yes I have smoked it.

[Restola]

Sorry I didn't have time to read everyone's replies (I'll come back later and edit my post as nessiasary to avoid repetition). But if you want some reasons why it should be legal, read a couple articles from the Presidential candidate of the largest 3rd party in US history (Harry Browne):

THIS FIRST ARTICLE IS REASON ENOUGH FOR LEGALIZATION(imho)
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=26915
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=13244
http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=23146


For people who are looking for answers besides "everyone does it" and "its available anyways", I ask that you please spend 5 minutes of your time and read the 3 articles.

They provide legitimate answers to people who say "There are no benifits from legalization" and "Do we want more drug users?"

PLEASE anti-legalization people familiarize yourself with the other half of the discussion. There are honest hard-working non-drug users out here who believe legalization will have HUGE benifits for everyone

[Restola]

Originally posted by langrage
I am sorry as long as people are breaking into people's houses or mugging them to get there "pot money" It should be illegal. You still need to get money to buy it at a store.

Its estimated that a $200/day crack habit would be reduced to less than $10/day in a free-market.

I think you could say drug-related robberies would drop.

[Restola]

Originally posted by langrage
...the government spends millions of dollars a year to fight a battle against people that feel they are above the law...

Its billions. Many many many billions.

[Restola]

Originally posted by 1stdeadeye
Does smoking cause cancer?
Will people smoke as much pot as tobacco if legalized?
Will Medicare/Medicaid have to pay for all those moronic smoker's cancer treatment?
Will we have a giant Pot settlement for all 50 states 30years from now?
Yes! Thus I say nay!

Thats a massivly over-inflated court problem, NOT a drug or ciggarette problem.

Even if there was a giant settlement, do you think it would be more than the multi-billion dollar amounts we spend on "enforcement" to drive up the drug prices each year?

[Restola]

Originally posted by Lethargic
Alright, having ready though this entire thread, and seen the views of all parties involved, I have a few things to say.
First of all, I personally know many people who smoke on a regular basis, and have know some of them for years. These people always interest me, because in them I always see the cruel irony of the fight to legalize MJ.

[lots cut out to save space]

Remember, we have freedom of choice here in america, not freedom to ruin the lives of others just so you can have a fun time hanging out with your friends. I hope I never meet anyone like you in real life InfinatyBPS, because I would bee hard pressed not to beat some sense into his empty skull.

If you are worried about the cost of health care, it would be BILLIONS less than keeping drugs illegal costs each year.

If you are thinking something like "I had a friend who died of cancer", then you are looking at the problem emotionally, which is ineffective.

The US government has spent billions of your dollars to keep drugs illegal. Illegal means high prices, crime (for territory and money to buy), and violence. It empowers CRIMINALS and GANGS, instead of legitimate, regulated buisness.

The other side of the arguement says make drugs legal. Let people get help without fear of prosecution, or let people smoke/shoot up themselves to death. Since the cost of drugs will drop by THOUSANDS of percent, people can enjoy their lives however they choose, and you wont have to worry about them robbing YOU to pay for it.

If you are thinking "drugs destroy families", you're wrong, people destroy families. Spend the BILLIONS AND BILLIONS of dollars saved to organize a real child-welfare and drug treatment and education program across America.

I dont think people really understand how much money we are spending without producing ANY results except to "feel better" about "doing the right thing".

[InfinatyBPS]

Originally posted by Lethargic
Remember, we have freedom of choice here in america, not freedom to ruin the lives of others just so you can have a fun time hanging out with your friends. I hope I never meet anyone like you in real life InfinatyBPS, because I would bee hard pressed not to beat some sense into his empty skull.

Hmm, yes I ruin many people's lives You act like everyone's weed comes from mexico and other countries. The reality is most stuff from mexico is complete crap and nobody wants it. One of the main sources of good marijuana is Canada, and I dont hear of many canadian smuggling shootouts. And if it were legal well then hey, then there wouldn't be any of those shootouts or those drug dealers killing people. And if I were to see you in real life, I would gladly let you ATTEMPT to "beat some sense into my empty skull."

[RT pRo AuToMaG]

I'll give you a good reason not to legalize marijuana. It's just something else for people to get a habbit for. I don't care if it's addictive or not, do cheeseburgers have anything in them that makes them addictive, NO, but people do start habits of eating one every day and they are like 400lbs, so why kill all your brain cells and smoke pot? Does this country need anymore problems? I don't care if the government is lying to us about drugs, it appearently doesn't affect most people using drugs, I mean look at you InfinityBPS, it's illegal, but you still do it. And you are saying that the government spends our tax money on keeping drug users/dealers in jail, when if they weren't any drug users in the first place, there will be no dealers to kill people, and no people to arrest on drug charges. It's sad that you don't have enough self control to not smoke pot. My cousins were involved with drugs, heck, one of my cousins was a dealer. My cousin that was a dealer got busted, he was lucky and didn't end up in jail, all he had to do was get a GED or finish high school and then go to college. So now you can't say I don't know anyone on the stuff, I do, my cousins may have not been addicted, but they were always acting funny, and one of my cousins died at the age of 40 from cancer from all the stuff he took (i know it wasn't just from mj, but him smoking mj didn't help)

that's all i can think of but i'll add on later.

<B>*Warning: No Cussing*</B> -Miscue