Poll: Should they legalize pot?

[SpaceCop]

The use of psychoactive drugs causes scizophrenia in people who are liable to get it. It effectively raises the likelihood of it happening. It doesn't give it to people who will never get it, but it can speed up the process and increasen the severity for those who have a chance of getting it.

I've heard that. But again, to my knowledge drug use hasn't been conclusively pinned down as a full-on cause for symptoms to manifest--any more than other environmental influences at least. If someone starts smoking pot and is later diagnosed with schizophrenia, do we know that the schizophrenia was made manifest by the drug, or is it also possible that the person began experiencing symptoms of it and started smoking pot to help deal with them? My brother has schizophrenia, and his doctor has told us a bunch of times that untangling the causes and effects of it is a tricky business.

And yes, the government should step in and take that away. I believe it is their responsibility to protect the people.

I totally understand the notion that a government should protect its people. But I also think that as long as you aren't putting anyone else in jeopardy your decisions shouldn't be superseded by authority. I mean, when we leave it to governments to full on prevent us from doing things, where does the line get drawn? Fast food is contributing to heart disease and other health problems. Should we make it illegal? What about recreational activities that carry a chance of injury, or worse?

You will always have the freedom to break the law if you are so inclined. The risk is that you will be arrested. Risk is involved in everything, the government cannot and will not ever have the ability to control people. It can only guide as best it can.

As far as pot specifically goes, people are already breaking the law to smoke it. And the vast majority of them aren't hurting anyone. Yeah, risk is totally involved in everything, even without legality involved. I think it should be up to people to understand those risks and decide for themselves whether something's worth it. But the freedom to break the law isn't really freedom, is it? A government does more than guide when it starts fining or imprisoning people for things. But we already have systems in place to guide people away from potential risks--risks they can take if they feel the reward is worthwhile. If pot was legal it would have a warning label on it like everything else.

 

[YouCallMeNighthawk]

People will smoke it whether it's legal or not so you might as well legalize it so that you can tax it and so that it can be regulated by the FDA and the government. Meaning you could control the quality and put an age limit on it etc etc.

Do you really think that because you legalise it people won't sell it on an idependent basis? Putting an age limit will just force the younger ones to go to dealers so nothing will have changed.

 

[Tdc2182]

Quite frankly, it has gotten to the point where Marijuana being illegal is causing more problems then if it was legal. There is still all that jazz about driving while stoned, and that will cause driving deaths, but then again there will be a severe drop in casualties in Mexico.

We should make it legal, and then tax it heavily. That way, the stoners will be helping us out of dept, and many people will chill off the government. Eventually, it will lose its appeal and gradually die down. But, there is always the concern that the idiots who only do it cause its illegal will find new illegal shit to play with.

This is coming from the son of a DEA agent, and I respect the shit out of my dad.

 

[Ghostkai]

No thanks, had a few friends end up kinda fucked from the stuff, I wouldn't want that on a larger scale than it already is.

 

[Ekonk]

people want to smoke pot because to them it's cool and edgy. Take away the cool and edgy part and reduce it to Tobacco and I think we'll start getting somewhere as a society.

Yeah, because tobacco is such an impopular product. Double-u tee eff, mate.

 

[DangerFish]

it should be legalized just so that criminals stop getting HUGE amounts of money, especially to stop those pot farms in remote areas that would be lovely to hike otherwise.

 

[Oh That Dude]

If alcohol and tobacco stay legal, so should pot.

I'm for banning all of them though. They have very little value, and should only be used under specific circumstances.

Yeah, because banning alcohol worked so well before... In an ideal world, it might work, but even if would work, why not let people make that choice for themselves?

 

[thenumberthirteen]

No. It may be just as bad as Alcohol or tobacco, but that just shows that they should be restricted more. As for the tax issue then why not just raise income or sales tax. I've yet to see an argument that shows the public can benefit from it's legalisation.

 

[RYjet911]

Weed is useful in so many applications, from paper to building material, cheap fuel, casual intoxicant etc. And has really no need to be illegal.

It's short term side effects are beneficiary alone, and its long term side effects only affect people with EXISTING mental disorders. The idea that it causes brain damage stems from an experiment done a long time ago when they pumped monkeys wearing masks with several hundred joints worth over the space of five minutes. It wasn't the weed that caused the brain damage, it was the lack of oxygen.

In fact, some studies have shown that in small amounts, weed actually BOOSTS brain activity, something I can relate to myself, as it has gotten me through some tough essays in the past.

It does not cause crime. Like any drugs, the only crime revolving around the drug is the fact that it's illegal, and therefore must be sold in a black market. With weed especially, it's one of the few that doesn't turn a person violent. Anyone who's seen anyone 'doped up' will understand what I mean.

Compared to alcohol and cigarettes, it is much more healthy. Not a single weed-only related death. Thousands related to the legal drugs, even the ones normally beneficial like paracetemol, aspirin, ibuprofen etc.

It is not a gateway drug. The high obtained from weed is nothing like the harder drugs available. The gateway is usually the dealer of weed, not the weed itself, who may offer someone who regularly picks up weed from them something harder. Haven't had this myself, but I have a friend who has been offered cocain on a semi-regular basis.

Now I don't agree that it should be legalised to the point of cigarettes, which can for the most part be smoked anywhere outside. Instead, it should have similar restrictions to alcohol, such as only being allowed to take it within personal property or designated smoking areas. Even then, it's hardly like a pot head will go around in a drunken stupor starting fights with anyone who even coughs in their direction. I was nearly a victim of a fight between to guys twice my age at the time (I was 16, they were clearly over 30) at 11am, and they were drunk out of their minds.

However, there are problems. Because the drug has been illegal for so long, the black market for it has grown huge. Legalising it puts a hell of a lot of people out of their 'jobs', from growers to dealers. So legalising it would be a rather delicate process to make sure these past dealers aren't forced into doing other, potentially more dangerous crime at the cost of taking away their weed business.

Video on Youtube, can't be bothered to search for a link, but it's called "The Business Behind Getting High". Very good video explaining most of what I have said here, and that's just the first half of it. Still have to watch the second half myself.

 

[Alex The Rat]

Do you know what makes people much dumber? Not being able to attend university because they can no longer receive financial aid from the government due to a possession charge. The vast majority of marijuana smokers I know are quite active and functional.

 

[V8 Ninja]

I would say no, but what's the point? We've already legalized stuff that can cause all kinds of cancer and a majority of people are aware of that.

 

[JoshGod]

it does far more damage as it is.
firstly it is funding criminals which is not good. we need to cut of as many of there revenues as possible. secondly what is sold by dealers usually contains nasty shit like glass in it. finally people will always smoke but legalising it might reduce the aspect of being rebellios. also tax. we'll be out of debt in no time.

 

[Fire Daemon]

This thread comes up a lot and every time I've seen it I've said no and every time the reason why I say no has changed a little bit, so today I'm just going to give the basic run down. The reason I say no to legalizing it is because it's already as easy as hell to get to. I will put money on nearly anyone able to get their hands on pot in 12 hours if they have a couple of friends and some cash. It's easy to do and anyone who wants to smoke the stuff can. The only problem is having to look out for police but unless you're visibly stoned off your face or do something stupid and get found with it, and even then the cops might not give a shit. Legalizing than, is a thing of convenience. The way I view it people who push for legalization only really want to do so because it's easier to go to the nearest 7-11 than to your dealers house.

And this would be fine except we don't really know how the legalization of weed will affect society. How will organized crime react, how will it affect people who smoke it (will we see 20 joints a day like we do with cigarettes), will it encourage the use of harder drugs (you can expect organized crime to step up to these once selling weed isn't working out), can the government be trusted over the control of addictive drugs (same goes for Tobacco and Alcohol), will it get out of control and end up a blight on civilization? I don't know, and I don't think your or anyone else knows the answers to all those questions. Should we take a gamble because some junkies are inconvenienced? I honestly think we shouldn't, and that's why I'm against pot legalization.

I also got to laugh at people who are in favour of it being taxed to shit and putting government control over it. They act the part of the free thinker who wants to break from their government induced chains but are essentially giving them another method to control your lives.

 

[ziggy161]

I don't rly care but I say no because it's been illegal for this long I wonder if it will ever be legal.

 

[Drauden]

So you're disturbed by people who want to legalize pot, but you're making a poll on it?

Marijuana has no significant health effects, at least none as significant as the effects of alcohol and tobacco. Since those are legal, and legalizing pot could provide the government with a significant tax income and prevent gang violence, it's beneficial to legalize it.

Not to sound unoriginal, but I fully agree with this.

 

[Undeadpope]

No matter how harmless it is(and I do beilief it could have it uses if it were legalize it)

Though generally,most people should be kept away from safety scissors,yet alone soft drugs...

So thats a no from me.

 

[Deleted]

The problem is that there are too many stereotypical 'pot-heads' that maintain the image of pot ruining lives.

Everyone smart knows its not addictive. Its only addictive in the sense that you want to do something you like again. Are you addicted to reading, or eating your favorite food? Plus this may just be spouting nonsense but keeping Pot illegal gives cops something to do. Without it a lot of money will be lost.

Have you ever seen on the news, someone being busted for pot, and the neighbors are questioned about what they think? They will all say negative things about pot, like the guy was evil or something. However in many cases the busted guy had a kid so it IS a safety issue. But more people are concerned with the "evil plant" being so close to their home.

I say legalize if IF they know how to regulate it. Illegal dealers should still go to jail, and only licensed professionals and the government should be able to sell it.

 

[GLo Jones]

Another thing I realized about the not being chemically addictive argument,it is psychologically addictive just like chocolate but chocolate doesn't leave you incoherent for a good half hour...it's also addictive in the sense that a large number of people use it to medicate their feelings.People who are psychologically addicted to marijuana tend to let it define all of their activities. Instead of going to see a movie, they need to get high and go to the movie. Instead of going dancing at a club, they need to get high and then go dancing. And so on.

Ever heard of an alcoholic? Weed has been made into a taboo, while alcohol and tobacco seem much better merely because they're more accepted by society.