Modern Prohibition

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Arizona Kyle

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EHKOS said:
Now I'm not a history buff by all means, but I recall the US government once outlawed alchohal.
Americans as a whole rejected this and thus opened speakeasies, smuggled liquor, and just pretty much ignored the new law. Soon afterward the law was repealed and the people could drink when and what they wanted again.

We all know this, so my question is why is our modern prohibition so much harder to break?
I don't smoke weed, but I don't care if people do. It doesn't seem to harm us more than beer or cigerettes so why can't we topple the law on this? So many people are in favor of it. But my main confusion stems from the fact that we have places to smoke it without being judged and people smuggle tons of it. It's alot like that old prohibition so what is the problem?

I hope we can all discuss this without flaming and or trolling, thank you. -EHKOS
Throughout the years, there has been research on the negative and positive effects of marijuana on the human body and the brain. Marijuana is frequently beneficial to the treatment of AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain. However, researchers such as Jacques-Joseph Moreau have been working to explain how marijuana has harmful affects on the functions of central nervous system and hinders the memory and movement of the user's brain.

When one's memory is affected by high dose of marijuana, short-term memory is the first to be triggered. Marijuana's damage to short-term memory occurs because THC alters the way in which information is processed by the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation. "One region of the brain that contains a lot of THC receptors is the hippocampus, which processes memory."

Hippocampus is the part of the brain that is important for memory, learning, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivation. It also converts information into short-term memory. "Because it is a steroid, THC acts on the hippocampus and inhibits memory retrieval."

Marijuana also impairs emotions. When smoking marijuana, the user may have uncontrollable laughter one minute and paranoia the next. This instant change in emotions has to do with the way that THC affects the brain's limbic system. The limbic system is another region of the brain that governs one's behavior and emotions. It also "coordinates activities between the visceral base-brain and the rest of the nervous system."

College students usually smoke marijuana because they are stressed over schoolwork and feel that marijuana can help them unwind. I have encountered marijuana smokers who are chilled and have no worries in the world but after the effect of the drug wears off, they're sometimes capable to tacking their problem or at the original state that they were in before the drug.The effects of happiness that marijuana usually cause to the user is not a lasting effect because even though a user smokes weed to get away from the troubles of his/her own life, they still have to face these problems after the effects of the drug wears-off. In a survey with college student, an organization called, parents: the Anti-Drug interviewed college students and found that "compared to the light users, heavy marijuana users made more errors and had more difficulty sustaining attention."

The chemicals in marijuana bring cognitive impairment and troubles with learning for the user. "Smoking [marijuana] causes some changes in the brain that are like those caused but cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Some researchers believe that has changes may put a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs such a cocaine and heroin."

BOOM!!! ha ha fun topic :)
 

Dr.Fantastic

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Aug 27, 2010
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I kinda dont understand why its still illegal. My brother smokes weed all the time and is an honor roll student so it doesnt dumb down everyone, it really depends on who you are(Your weight,tolerance,and height all factor into this). It really depends who you are.
 

-Samurai-

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Neverhoodian said:
Pills-here said:
Neverhoodian said:
Kpt._Rob said:
When they tried to make marijuana completely legal in California (for everyone, not just medicinal users) the thing that stood in the way was that only a relatively small portion of the younger community (the community that smokes the most MJ) actually bothered to show up and vote.
Well, there was also the factor that the wording of the proposed legislation was vague at best, with lots of loopholes that had the potential of being a legal nightmare to sort out.

I wouldn't have a problem with legalizing marijuana in the United States. If nothing else, it would provide huge tax revenue for the country during these hard economic times.
> Implying anyone actually was stupid enough to pay for it and didn't just grow it themselves.
Do you seriously think the U.S. government would allow Joe Everyman to grow his own personal pot plantation without a license? Like it or not, if marijuana does become legal it WILL be regulated along with other "sin tax" products like alcohol and tobacco. They might allow a plant or two to be grown for personal use, but no more than that.
Because thus far, the US government has been able to stop people from growing their own plantations anyway. Sure, they catch a big one every now and then, but it's a huge pond with tons of giant fish, and way too many small fish to count.

Then there's the people bringing it in from other countries. It'll likely be cheaper and better quality than anything government regulated, so people will illegally buy that anyway.

Sure, there would be people that bought it legally, but we all know the majority wouldn't because of quality and price. Legalizing it could bring in huge amounts of tax dollars, but it wouldn't.
 

kortin

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Arizona Kyle said:
*snip*

The chemicals in marijuana bring cognitive impairment and troubles with learning for the user. "Smoking [marijuana] causes some changes in the brain that are like those caused but cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Some researchers believe that has changes may put a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs such a cocaine and heroin."

BOOM!!! ha ha fun topic :)
And thus, the reason its called the gateway drug and one of the reasons why im opposed to legalization of marijuana. Another reason: Do you really want your kids to have easier access to marijuana? Once its legalized, it will be just as easy to get marijuana as it is to get cigarettes and beer.
 

Arizona Kyle

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kortin said:
Arizona Kyle said:
*snip*

The chemicals in marijuana bring cognitive impairment and troubles with learning for the user. "Smoking [marijuana] causes some changes in the brain that are like those caused but cocaine, heroin, and alcohol. Some researchers believe that has changes may put a person more at risk of becoming addicted to other drugs such a cocaine and heroin."

BOOM!!! ha ha fun topic :)
And thus, the reason its called the gateway drug and one of the reasons why im opposed to legalization of marijuana. Another reason: Do you really want your kids to have easier access to marijuana? Once its legalized, it will be just as easy to get marijuana as it is to get cigarettes and beer.
Indeed
 

MrHero17

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kortin said:
And thus, the reason its called the gateway drug. One of the reasons why im opposed to legalization of marijuana. Another reason: Do you really want your kids to have easier access to marijuana? Once its legalized, it will be just as easy to get marijuana as it is to get cigarettes and beer.
Funny, no one ever calls caffeine a gateway drug.
 

kortin

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MrHero17 said:
kortin said:
And thus, the reason its called the gateway drug. One of the reasons why im opposed to legalization of marijuana. Another reason: Do you really want your kids to have easier access to marijuana? Once its legalized, it will be just as easy to get marijuana as it is to get cigarettes and beer.
Funny, no one ever calls caffeine a gateway drug.
Because it isn't...?
 

starkiller212

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Dec 23, 2010
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Is the OP implying that alcohol is harmless to society?
The only reason THAT's not banned is because it's too hard to enforce (and quite easy to tax instead).


Anyway, I don't have a very strong opinion about marijuana, as far as I can tell from what I've read it doesn't have many bad side effects (other than what comes of inhaling burning materials for prolonged periods of time), but it's also not exactly necessary for anyone's health or happiness. I do have a problem with people who break the law by growing or possessing it, though; disagreeing with a rule doesn't give you permission to break it.
Also, too many people who are pro-marijuana legalization (that I've encountered at least, not scientific) seem to promote the legalization of ALL drugs, which is a disgustingly ignorant and cruel notion. Drugs can be extremely harmful, and the only reason the worst of them are constistently used is because of their addictive nature (they are literally disrupting your brain). The bastards who design or promote them are as despicable as serial killers IMO.


[I didn't mean to offend anybody by this, by the way. Obviously I don't have experience with illegal drugs, but having been prescribed way too many medications with horrific side effects, and knowing several relatives with significant substance abuse problems, I at least partially understand how awful mind-altering chemicals can be. It just doesn't seem worth the risk without a legitimate medical need. I am also opposed to alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine though so I realize that my views are unusual]
 

balanovich

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Jan 25, 2010
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EHKOS said:
Now I'm not a history buff by all means, but I recall the US government once outlawed alchohal.
Americans as a whole rejected this and thus opened speakeasies, smuggled liquor, and just pretty much ignored the new law. Soon afterward the law was repealed and the people could drink when and what they wanted again.

We all know this, so my question is why is our modern prohibition so much harder to break?
I don't smoke weed, but I don't care if people do. It doesn't seem to harm us more than beer or cigerettes so why can't we topple the law on this? So many people are in favor of it. But my main confusion stems from the fact that we have places to smoke it without being judged and people smuggle tons of it. It's alot like that old prohibition so what is the problem?

I hope we can all discuss this without flaming and or trolling, thank you. -EHKOS
Alcohol was more cultural accepted. It's been in almost every culture for a long time.
And the people who smoke pot aren't in a position of power like the people who drank alcohol during the prohibition.

Their's also a lot of misinformation about pot. It's been demonized buy the cotton industry to eliminate the competition. And Bible freaks out west and down south think it's a horrible thing.
 

lacktheknack

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Jan 19, 2009
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If they're going to legalize it, there's better be some absolutely terrifying punishments for driving while high.

I'm having enough difficulties driving with the psychotic murderers the road is filled with as is.
 

lacktheknack

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balanovich said:
And Bible freaks out west and down south think it's a horrible thing.
The irony of this is that the Bible says nothing about smoking or drugs, but says "don't get drunk". Guess which area of America is famous for the ninety-proof moonshine?
 

Forum_Name

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Mar 23, 2011
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EHKOS said:
Now I'm not a history buff by all means, but I recall the US government once outlawed alchohal.
Americans as a whole rejected this and thus opened speakeasies, smuggled liquor, and just pretty much ignored the new law. Soon afterward the law was repealed and the people could drink when and what they wanted again.

We all know this, so my question is why is our modern prohibition so much harder to break?
I don't smoke weed, but I don't care if people do. It doesn't seem to harm us more than beer or cigerettes so why can't we topple the law on this? So many people are in favor of it. But my main confusion stems from the fact that we have places to smoke it without being judged and people smuggle tons of it. It's alot like that old prohibition so what is the problem?

I hope we can all discuss this without flaming and or trolling, thank you. -EHKOS
"The longer it goes on the harder it is to change."

It doesn't really matter what was prohibited, alcohol, cannabis, turnips... what we have now is an industry supported by prohibition.

There are more than 2 million people incarcerated in the US, and a significant portion of that is due to prohibition. Consider what legalization or decriminalization would mean to the employment of all those corrections officers, let alone the profit margins to privatized prisons? What about all the lawyers? There are special "Drug courts" now just to accommodate the volume of cases, an end to prohibition could cause less business in the courtroom. What about the police? Would their departments still receive the same funding if the war on drugs came to an end? These are all hard working Americans who's employment and livelyhood would be threatened by such a change.

For that matter, what about the hard working Americans who import, grow, or sell cannabis? Have you considered what it would do to their business? There is little room in between legal home growers, and large capital companies with the existing infrastructure for mass production and distribution. As risk dries up so will the profits to our existing distributors.

Consider what sort of bind it would cause for politicians. People have lost years of their lives, if not more, due to drug convictions. How are they going to be treated if prohibition is overturned? Would they be freed for committing a crime which is no longer a crime? Will they be compensated for their time? Will confiscated property be returned? Will employment destroying criminal records be expunged? Or will this just be another giant headache to deal with when people bemoan their treatment.

Last but not least, not everyone agrees that weed should be legal. There are significant voting blocks who would be deeply offended by the repeal of such laws. Why stir the hornet's nest when it's easier to do nothing.

tldr;
An end to prohibition is just not politically expedient.
 

Forum_Name

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Mar 23, 2011
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Pills-here said:
Neverhoodian said:
Kpt._Rob said:
When they tried to make marijuana completely legal in California (for everyone, not just medicinal users) the thing that stood in the way was that only a relatively small portion of the younger community (the community that smokes the most MJ) actually bothered to show up and vote.
Well, there was also the factor that the wording of the proposed legislation was vague at best, with lots of loopholes that had the potential of being a legal nightmare to sort out.

I wouldn't have a problem with legalizing marijuana in the United States. If nothing else, it would provide huge tax revenue for the country during these hard economic times.
> Implying anyone actually was stupid enough to pay for it and didn't just grow it themselves.
Most states permit home brewing. How many people still buy beer?
 

MrHero17

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Jul 11, 2008
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kortin said:
Funny, no one ever calls caffeine a gateway drug.
Because it isn't...?[/quote]

And MJ somehow is? Like getting high on the weekend suddenly makes heroin seem like a good idea.

Ice cream and burglary's correlate too. You ever think that most of the people who do harder substances also like weed? I think most of the people who drink alcohol have soda too.
 

Saelune

Trump put kids in cages!
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Mar 8, 2011
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Um...Alchohal was legal, then not legal, then legal again. Pot was not legal before, and still is not legal. More people probably drink than smoke pot too.
 

octafish

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Apr 23, 2010
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I don't know why Heroin isn't legalised and sold by the governments of the world. Seriously, with a supply of guaranteed quality and clean needles it isn't very harmful at all and it is very cheap to produce. Junkies are harmless when they are high, as long as they aren't a medical practicioner or operating heavy machinery. Junkies are only a problem when they can't score. So much crime is tied into heroin use, even without taxing it, and selling it at cost, and increased harm minimisation funding, from savings in law enforcement spending alone there would be a massive budget windfall. Terrorists would lose a major souce of income. Drug cartels would struggle. Murders would decrease. Burglaries would drop off. It could be wonderful, however the idea scares the shit out of people because, I don't know, "drugs are bad".
 

tthor

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John Marcone said:
Because they can not tax it. It grows everywhere. If it were extremely hard to grow then yes, they would legalise it and tax the ever loving shit out of it.

Anyway I do not support weed due to the long time side effects.
But I also will not stop others from doing it.
As long as it is not smoked in public and people are not allowed to work stoned then fuck, what it does to your body is your concern.

Besides, it makes it a little more difficult to legalise when your suppliers do not even want it legal. That would absolutely destroy their profit margin.

tthor said:
seriously, try asking a guy stoned off his ass what 12 x 16 equals.
Now now. Non stoners will more than likely have trouble with that too. That has nothing to do with drugs and everything to do with laziness.
yes, even I had to take a moment to think about that. but i think most non-stoners, given a minute, would probably be able to figured it out. but i honestly doubt almost anyone high would be able to figure it out, and thats why the amount of time people are stoned, as well as the situations they are stoned in, need to be greatly limited. people stoned can't be reliable for making complex or educated decisions or answers, such as that math problem. and without the ability to function intelligently, it greatly limits their ability to be a productive member of society, even in such simple ways as participating in their government and politics
 

gammazuma

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Feb 17, 2009
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I'm a massive stoner and I'm insulted at the comments here. My stoner friends back in high school were the dumbest losers I've ever met. My stoner friends now are incredibly intelligent and are all moving on to graduate school. I'm a straight A student and I'm planning to become a linguistics professor. Smoking weed doesn't make you dumb. Being dumb makes you dumb. And weed is definitely not a gateway drug. For me it's been a restriction drug (i guess you could call it), because now I've restricted my drugs I am willing to take to weed and acid. If you're looking for a dangerous drug, look right at alcohol. I'm able to do some of my best linguistics work while stoned off my ass. All that my friends who drink can do is play stupid drinking games, sleep with random people, and feel shitty. Yes I understand there's problems with weed, but I personally find the risks easily worth the benefits.