Why is marijuana illegal?

[nklshaz]

But why would people pay so much for a drug that causes a hallucination that they probably won't even be able to remember?

This seriously discredits your position in the argument as you obviously don't even realize that Marijuana isn't a hallucinogen, but a narcotic. It doesn't make you go "WOAAAAAH DUDE I CAN SEE RAINBOWS AND UNICORNS" at all, and by simply stating that it does is evidence enough that you simply do not belong in this argument.

Marijuana alters your attitude more than anything, but it also affects other senses (hearing and taste mostly, with a VERY positive affect). More often than not it will make you more receptive to humor, not because you simply find ANYTHING funny, but sometimes when I'm stoned and watch something that I may have seen before I'll catch something that I have never noticed before, it could be something someone said in the background, or a joke that your mind was perhaps a bit too "up-tight" or preoccupied to really understand the humor behind it when watching it sober. It does all this at the same time, and ultimately, more than anything, it makes you relax.

That's why the unemployed or depressed will sometimes turn to marijuana, because it simply helps them chill the fuck out and put their problems aside for a short while. Many people I know suffer from depression as I live in a relatively poor area, but when they're smoking, you'd never notice it, say what you want, but from observing these people over the last few years it is clear to me hat they definitely have lightened up and are now either reintegrated into society or on their way. That is why people want it so bad, if you were to completely remove it from these areas, you're making everyone constantly acknowledge that they are in fact poor and depressed.


EDIT: inb4 "depression isn't a real condition"

Please read my other posts in this thread

 

[spartan231490]

snip

*ahem*

snip


Basically, the point I'm trying to make is that I can drive fine when I am high. No worse then someone after drinking or while talking on their cell phone. I may have over-exaggerated when I said I drive better, but I do not drive noticeably worse.

Also, you may notice that 300 kg/g of THC in the blood is much more then what is in the blood after smoking 1 joint. As I said, I only drive after smoking as much as a joint (or whatever the pipe/bong equivalent is). Therefore, once I again, I am right. This statement here pretty much sums that up:

"* Marijuana smoking impairs fundamental road tracking ability with the degree if impairment increasing as a function of the consumed THC dose."


Oh, and:

the amount of weave was comparable to a BAC of .03-.07, which is generally criminal

A criminal level BAC is .08. So no, having a BAC of .03-.07 is not generally criminal. In fact it is not only general legal, it's actual unanimously legal (unless counting for prior DUI charges or similar charges).

http://alcoholcontrols.com/lebaclibyst.html

The fact that you don't know the legal limit of alcohol shows your ignorance of drug consumption, and also shows me that you've probably never been drunk. You may have drank before, but been drunk? I doubt it.

as I said, the city-driving test was the least reliable because of an extremely low number of subjects, and no tests with higher doses of THC.

And you're wrong about BAC, at least in my home state. Here, .08 is the legal limit for DUI, but there are lesser charges for lesser amounts. You can get a DAI(driving while ability impaired) for levels as low as either .04 or .02, I think .02, but it's been a while since I heard it so I can't remember.

I've been drunk, I've been throw-up, black-out drunk on more than one occasion. My drink of choice is vodka. Straight. I really don't care if you don't believe me. You seem to ignore a lot that doesn't agree with your point.

 

[woodwalker]

And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

Dude... if you hallucinate when you smoke weed, its laced. And to me, it doesnt matter if it is dangerous or not. It is my right to chose what goes into my body, not the government. I drink, I smoke, and I dip. How is it that I am 21, the government thinks I am responsible enough to carry a concealed pistol (I live in Georgia, USA), but it is wrong to do some milky bong hits?

 

[Chronologger]

No, not because he smokes pot, if I did that I would have beaten down most of my school. I'm just venting because I hear the phrase "You're a 'X'" I don't give a shit he smokes pot. Hell smoke you'r damn brains out (If this is a reference to "hurr smoking weed kills brain cells" then stop talking shit.) I don't care. Like him saying that has just made me 12 times more stressed. And you bitching about it has just added to that so thank you for ruining what was a good day.

Christ almighty aren't you easily stressed, it looks like you need a spliff more than any of us.

 

[IkeGreil29]

And your point is...?
My biggest problem with it is that there's already not enough education in America which lead it to become the world's largest consumer of... well... everything! Making it readily available at a legal location will make nothing but more consumers of drugs. Some people argue the taxes on marijuana and the other drugs would help the economy, but how many more people are you going to have sitting around doing nothing but drugging themselves not being productive?

I agree some may see the Netherlands as the "solution", but you can't compare a country where people have different views, values, and much better education. Not only that, but the main consumers are tourists, not citizens of the Netherlands. It should be left to each countries discretion whether to legalize drugs or not, especially since it never has really been legal (if you know your laws, you will know that even in the Netherlands they have not legalized it per se, its a very... weird set of laws that permit its use under very specific circumstances)

Maybe you see it as a way of weeding out the idiots. This one, I would agree with, if we were in a despotist/anarchic government where it was every man for himself, but as it turns out, we depend more on each other than we actually realize it.

 

[6_Qubed]

I love this thread so much.

What have I got to contribute to the debate for either side? NOT A GODDAMNED THING. Weed isn't my scene, but I can dig it. I have had many friends and coworkers who were into it, and partook responsibly, and had no ill effects by it. Hell, I worked with a kid at Wendy's who worked more efficiently when he was high, because it allowed him to focus on his job without being distracted by all the inherent bullshit of working at a Wendy's. (Seriously though, fuck Wendy's.)

On the other hand, I also met me a lot of high idiots. And I'm probably never going to smoke weed because I play video games and Magic: The Gathering, and the last thing I need right now is another expensive habit.

However, there appear to be a lot of jerky knees on both sides, and apparently one side is "better" because they have Cheech and Chong.

EDIT: And damn the guy who posted the Cracked link, that's three hours I'll never see again.

 

[novixz]

No, not because he smokes pot, if I did that I would have beaten down most of my school. I'm just venting because I hear the phrase "You're a 'X'" I don't give a shit he smokes pot. Hell smoke you'r damn brains out (If this is a reference to "hurr smoking weed kills brain cells" then stop talking shit.) I don't care. Like him saying that has just made me 12 times more stressed. And you bitching about it has just added to that so thank you for ruining what was a good day.

Christ almighty aren't you easily stressed, it looks like you need a spliff more than any of us.

No I don't get stressed easily. I'm usually very fun to be around, but I swear to God I will beat people down with a crowbar if people say in front of me. No, I don't need weed, because I can take reality for what it is and embrace that life sucks at times.

 

[FC Groningen]

And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

I don't get that point. I live in the Netherlands (the use of Cannabis is allowed for quite some time now) and the number of fatal car crashes last year was 57, 8 less than the year before. Also, even if you tolerate Cannabis use, driving while under influence of any substance will get you quite some jail time.

 

[Navvan]

This seriously discredits your position in the argument as you obviously don't even realize that Marijuana isn't a hallucinogen, but a narcotic. It doesn't make you go "WOAAAAAH DUDE I CAN SEE RAINBOWS AND UNICORNS" at all, and by simply stating that it does is evidence enough that you simply do not belong in this argument.

Marijuana alters your attitude more than anything, but it also affects other senses (hearing and taste mostly, with a VERY positive affect).

It is a hallucinogen. It does not cause hallucinations. A hallucinogen is a substance that alters ones consciousness, perception, or emotional state. That you agree that it alters your attitude means you must agree with this. It is also classified as a hallucinogen and psychedelic by an objective standard.

 

[Chronologger]

It is a hallucinogen. It does not cause hallucinations. A hallucinogen is a substance that alters ones consciousness, perception, or emotional state. That you agree that it alters your attitude means you must agree with this. It is also classified as an hallucinogen and psychedelic by an objective standard.

By that logic alcohol is also a hallucinogen.
Maybe in a purely technical sense, but as you've already said, it does by no means give you the typical definition of a hallucination.

Also

"Narcotic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the drug classification. For the scuba diving reference, see Nitrogen narcosis. For the sedative agent, see Sedative. For pain control medications of both narcotic and non-narcotic varieties, see Analgesic.
Heroin, a powerful opioid and narcotic.

The term narcotic (pronounced /nɑrˈkɒtɨk/) originally referred medically to any psychoactive compound with any sleep-inducing properties. In the United States of America it has since become associated with opioids, commonly morphine and heroin and their derivatives, such as hydrocodone. The term is, today, imprecisely defined and typically has negative connotations.[1] When used in a legal context in the US, a narcotic drug is simply one that is totally prohibited, or one that is used in violation of strict governmental regulation, such as PCP or marijuana."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcotic

I think you got your drug jargon mixed up, marijuana is a psychoactive drug which does not mean that it is a hallucinogen in any way, even if you try to dig into the subject I can't find anywhere that says that it is officially a hallucinogen.

 

[RickRoll]

its illegal yet cigarettes and alcohol kill alot more than marijuana does.

No idea...lol. That's a really good question and I wish I had an answer for you, cuz I've had substantial amounts of all three items you've just mentioned (especially Marijuana lol) and I've had FAR better experiences with the only illegal one there in comparison to the other two.

 

[FC Groningen]

It is a hallucinogen. It does not cause hallucinations. A hallucinogen is a substance that alters ones consciousness, perception, or emotional state. That you agree that it alters your attitude means you must agree with this. It is also classified as an hallucinogen and psychedelic by an objective standard.

By that logic alcohol is also a hallucinogen.
Maybe in a purely technical sense, but as you've already said, it dos by no means give you the typical definition of a hallucination.

Also

"Narcotic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
This article is about the drug classification. For the scuba diving reference, see Nitrogen narcosis. For the sedative agent, see Sedative. For pain control medications of both narcotic and non-narcotic varieties, see Analgesic.
Heroin, a powerful opioid and narcotic.

The term narcotic (pronounced /nɑrˈkɒtɨk/) originally referred medically to any psychoactive compound with any sleep-inducing properties. In the United States of America it has since become associated with opioids, commonly morphine and heroin and their derivatives, such as hydrocodone. The term is, today, imprecisely defined and typically has negative connotations.[1] When used in a legal context in the US, a narcotic drug is simply one that is totally prohibited, or one that is used in violation of strict governmental regulation, such as PCP or marijuana."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcotic

True, but some people can hallucinate from Cannabis if they respond badly to it or in combination of other substances. Its also ill adviced to use it if you're depressed, very tired or stressed. Its basic education that comes with the use of it; If people would take the time to read it up, it would have caused a lot less accidents already. Over here its mostly the tourists that screw up and get themselves in trouble.

 

[RickRoll]

And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

I don't get that point. I live in the Netherlands (the use of Cannabis is allowed for quite some time now) and the number of fatal car crashes last year was 57, 8 less than the year before. Also, even if you tolerate Cannabis use, driving while under influence of any substance will get you quite some jail time.

57! Holy crap, that's really not that bad at all! Damn, you guys have good drivers up in the Netherlands. I think it's a waaaaaaay worse statistic down here in the States.

 

[FlyAwayAutumn]

its illegal yet cigarettes and alcohol kill alot more than marijuana does.

That's a good reason why cigarettes and alcohol should be illegal not why marijuana should be legal.

 

[RickRoll]

One more thing I forgot to mention: I'm sure we'd ban cigarettes and alcohol if we could afford to, but by the time we figured out how bad they could be, they had become an integral part of our economy, and we literally couldn't financially afford to ban them. Keeping marijuana illegal isn't so much about fairness, it's more like keeping more things like cigarettes and alcohol (i.e. harmful but necessary) from making their way into standard economy and practice. I'm personally in favor of keeping it illegal. I just don't see why people want it so bad.

Smoke it. Then you'll see why. Bwhahahahahah!

 

[FC Groningen]

And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

I don't get that point. I live in the Netherlands (the use of Cannabis is allowed for quite some time now) and the number of fatal car crashes last year was 57, 8 less than the year before. Also, even if you tolerate Cannabis use, driving while under influence of any substance will get you quite some jail time.

57! Holy crap, that's really not that bad at all! Damn, you guys have good drivers up in the Netherlands. I think it's a waaaaaaay worse statistic down here in the States.

Its due to a lot of rules. Very strict road safety policy and all roads are maintained very well. All cars are to be tested as well each 5 years. People manually have to extend their driver's license which isn't as easy earned as in the US and elderly people have to prove themselves behind the wheel each 5 years. Also, with a lot of traffic jam, people can't speed a lot.

Edit: Also Ambulances must be able to reach each place in the country within 12/15 minutes. Apart from that, the government has been eager in handing out free first aid workshops and certificates.

 

[blankedboy]

its illegal yet cigarettes and alcohol kill alot more than marijuana does.

Really? I wonder why? Does it have anything to do with alcohol and tobacco being LEGAL and RIDICULOUSLY ACCESSIBLE?

It blows my mind how difficult people find it to grasp this insanely simple concept. Even anti-drug-and-alcohol campaigns don't understand it.

 

[Chronologger]

True, but some people can hallucinate from Cannabis if they respond badly to it or in combination of other substances (A bit of a technicality really). Its also ill adviced to use it if you're depressed, very tired or stressed. Its basic education that comes with the use of it; If people would take the time to read it up, it would have caused a lot less accidents already. Over here its mostly the tourists that screw up and get themselves in trouble.

Now that IS interesting, I assume that your from the Netherlands and that there are obviously quite a few strict regulations on marijuana, just as there should be for any drug. But what I just found interesting is the first part I have highlighted, you see, a lot of people where I'm from would consider depression an actual reason to start, what reasons can you give me for that being a bad idea? I'm genuinely quite interested now, you have left me intrigued.

 

[charlest92]

3 Things
#1) Government can't tax it. Before you go all "YES THEY CAN" on my ass, follow this train of thought. Where can you grow weed. Answer: ANYFUCKINGWHERE. A friend of mine from 9th grade grew a plant both out in an abandoned lot and in the attic of his Phoenix, Arizona-usa home, and it didn't take much effort according to him so, If anyone can grow it gov'ment can't tax it.

#2) Whether it kills brain-cells or not is irrelevant as the one thing it can be confirmed to do is slow reaction times. And that is not so diffrent from alcohol EXcept that alcohol has a very quick and rather accurate field test I.E. (brethalizer?).

#3) And this is really obvious especially to me But, America is full of really stupid/lazy people, I will admit to that. I mean hell there was a law passed recently that requires all shops that have a specific common woodworking chemical (I can't remember which one if you do post it) to have a lable placed upon it that litrally says "This chemical is known to cause cancer in California", and its only in California that it causes cancer.


I am a resident of the united states and I am a firm believer that both the Federal and State Governments of the U.S. are (not completely)full(but really close) of really fucking dumb people. *coughcaliforniacough* *coughexpensivevideogamelawsuitcough*

 

[FC Groningen]

The reason is that the drug can heavily increase your current mood/emotions and can cause heavy depression and even suicidal urges.

The reason tourists screw up is because they go straight for the strongest stuff without knowing anything about it. Also, they do not do it in a safe environment or with someone experienced. If you try it the first time, its adviced to have someone with you that stays clean or is experienced with it.