Poll: Weed - Legal or Illegal?

[n03s]

"Cannabis use has been found to have occurred as long ago as the 3rd millennium BC.
In modern times, the drug has been used for recreational, religious or spiritual, and medicinal purposes. The UN estimated that in 2004 about 4% of the world's adult population (162 million people) use cannabis annually, and about 0.6% (22.5 million) use it on a daily basis.[9] The possession, use, or sale of cannabis preparations containing psychoactive cannabinoids became illegal in most parts of the world in the early 20th century" [source wiki]

The funny thing is that most countries that have banned pot , are the so called modern countries.. When basicly only those that have a strong pharmaceutical market actually banned it.. Thing about it, pot is not profitable as pills.. and pretty much it can help the same conditions.

So definately pot should be legalized , BUT same rules as alcohol should apply: 18+, cant drive, cant work stoned..

 

[LiftYourSkinnyFists]

the chances of lung problems and cancer are much higher with marijuana then tobacco. Smoking weed is also much more dangerous.

Sadly this quote makes you completely off! The chances of lung problems are just as high with any inhalation of smoke! Weed helps with some mental illnesses and can cause them just like any prescription medication! It's also an unproven rumour that it helps the body versus other illnesses such as cancer!

More damage comes from a night of smoking straights and boozing rather than a quiet night in with three or four friends sparking up and watching some films or listening to a bit of music.


Sick stuff.

 

[TheAbominableDan]

I'm all for legalization. I don't smoke it but sure, whatever. Do your thing. However, to the people who said all drugs should be legal. Have you people never heard of meth or heroin? Those should not be legal. Unlike weed, which only destroys the lives of the already stupid. Those will destroy lives.

 

[Astoria]

The thing is if you legalise weed then come 10 or so years people will try to get another drug legalised. It's better to leave it as it is and I don't think it's all that hard to get anyway.

 

[RazzleDazzle102]

Illegal. I am not a fan of tobacco or alcohol either.

Are you a fan of living? And happiness? and Sunshine and lollipops and rainbows and Christmas? Cause I don't think you are.

 

[the-squid]

The thing is if you legalise weed then come 10 or so years people will try to get another drug legalised. It's better to leave it as it is and I don't think it's all that hard to get anyway.

Lets take a real life example. I live in Holland my whole life, since I was born weed has been legally available at every corner of the street. Weed in Holland has been made legal in the 1970?s from that moment on we had a huge drop in hard drug users.

Lets get real, if marijuana is a gateway drug to hard drugs why are the number of hard drug users going down and not up?

Its like this, if I tell you not to do something you would still do it and enjoy it 10 times more because its illegal! Making it legal takes away the secrecy thus taking away the fun!

Even studies in the U.S. have shown that over 75 percent of all Americans who use marijuana never used hard drugs.

What even more interesting is, studies have show that most people who are hooked on hard drugs started with alcohol. But since there is no money to be made in marijuana for the government (because everyone can grow it) they made it illegal.

Do you see the bigger picture now? Its all about the money! If they would legalize marijuana then a lot of people will trade in there liquor bottle for a bag of weed and liquor sales will go down and that will hurt Uncle Sam?s pocket a lot, since they make a lot of money on liquor sale taxes.

 

[Tjebbe]

Make it legal. Less addicts that way.

 

[RazzleDazzle102]

Speaking from experience ( a lot) I haven't gotten addicted to it and see no real problem with it being legalized. Its the criminalization of Pot that is truly wrong and although I have seen people utterly destroy their lives with Weed, I have seen far more people do the same with Alcohol.
Plus my friends birthday is on 4/20 and I don't want to be arrested when I spark up and touch the sky!

 

[similar.squirrel]

Legalize it, along with MDMA and a few of the less intense hallucinogens. Regulate and tax the heck out of them, use the proceeds to clamp down brutally on opiates and amphetamines. It would annihilate the illegal drugs market, but lead to a slight increase in public expenditure where rehabilitation and psychiatric care are concerned.

 

[Astoria]

The thing is if you legalise weed then come 10 or so years people will try to get another drug legalised. It's better to leave it as it is and I don't think it's all that hard to get anyway.

Lets take a real life example. I live in Holland my whole life, since I was born weed has been legally available at every corner of the street. Weed in Holland has been made legal in the 1970?s from that moment on we had a huge drop in hard drug users.

Lets get real, if marijuana is a gateway drug to hard drugs why are the number of hard drug users going down and not up?

Its like this, if I tell you not to do something you would still do it and enjoy it 10 times more because its illegal! Making it legal takes away the secrecy thus taking away the fun!

Even studies in the U.S. have shown that over 75 percent of all Americans who use marijuana never used hard drugs.

What even more interesting is, studies have show that most people who are hooked on hard drugs started with alcohol. But since there is no money to be made in marijuana for the government (because everyone can grow it) they made it illegal.

Do you see the bigger picture now? Its all about the money! If they would legalize marijuana then a lot of people will trade in there liquor bottle for a bag of weed and liquor sales will go down and that will hurt Uncle Sam?s pocket a lot, since they make a lot of money on liquor sale taxes.

I...don't really see why you quoted me but I do see what you're saying. Sounds like government thinking to me.

 

[Womplord]

I don't understand why everyone is so certain that weed is on par with alcohol. Seems like a pretty baseless assumption to me.

 

[the-squid]

(off topic : @ Astoria Sorry i did not think it was a bad thing to quote some one, i did not mean anything negative whit it.)

I just wanted to explain that what you said was not really a likely scenario.

 

[n03s]

I don't understand why everyone is so certain that weed is on par with alcohol. Seems like a pretty baseless assumption to me.

Because both of them contain similar chemical compounds and pretty much are on the same addictive level.

 

[Gigano]

As it doesn't harm anyone but the user - certainly not any more than alcohol, tobacco, or other legal stimulants might do - it should be legalized. It's not like the Netherlands are on the verge of collapse either.

Taxes to be made and criminal markets to be undermined by it too.

 

[n03s]

Because both of them contain similar chemical compounds and pretty much are on the same addictive level.

I don't suppose you have any proof of that whatsoever?

Im not a chemist to explain you with precision the chemistry revolved around them, but both of their substances that makes the chemical reaction with our brain and leading to the known effects are extremely similar.
Dont get me wrong , the best choice is to not use anything that can lead to addiction, but since in our time, pharmasuitical companies making legal drugs a lot more powerfull than weed, I cant understand why I cant as an adult legaly purchase cannabis.

 

[NezumiiroKitsune]

Every drug should be legal, in my opinion.

Seconded, Portugal have done it they just didn't go the one step further and make controlled channels for them, they're still relying on dealers which is a bit silly.

 

[Lucifron]

Fair enough, but I actually know someone like this, and it's pretty fucking horrible.
ANYWAY, you would be for it, I take it? Why?

I don't doubt for a second that it's very fucking horrible, and a crying shame for everyone involved.

To answer your question, I can spew an endless stream of arguments about this, but in the end it boils down to this: I believe that a person's rights end where another's begins, ergo, that every individual's right to his or her own body is absolute.

Damn, he brought forth a philosophical argument >_>
I completely agree with you on that, but I believe that once you start taking drugs, it begins to affect the people around you as well. That, for me, is the crux of the matter.

Well, you did ask.
I understand that sentiment, and it does have its merits. Even so, you have to make the distinction between use and abuse; users and addicts. I know for a fact that use of marijuana doesn't need to affect anyone but the user, and I am saying this as both a partaker and an observer. I also know that some people can't keep themselves from smoking until their brains turn into sponges. The latter belong to a minute minority, and I, again, do not believe that we must ban everyone from using something because a few can't handle it.

Also, your avatar + this discussion makes me think of this:

Spoiler: Trolol.