the legalization of marijuana

Originally posted by Cancer To Iniquity
Please understand that I am NOT pro-marijuana. I simply do not think that prohibition solves anything and strongly believe that it makes things worse.

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I agree completely. Making it illegal simply creates a black market for the drug. Drug dealers (i.e. organized crime) don't care how old or young a buyer is. They will just sell it.

If marijuana were legalized, it would be controlled just like nicotine and alcohol. The black market would disappear almost overnight, and retailers would not sell it to minors. Unlike drug dealers, they have something to lose if they break the law.

Sales to minors would disappear, organized crime would lose revenue, tax revenue would increase, and we'd free up some jail space for REAL criminals -- like violent offenders.

Man, it is so obvious.

We cannot curtail the supply so why not try and eliminate the demand?

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I don't see how making it legal eliminates the demand. Are you suggesting that having it readily available will discourage use?

Regarding freeing resource money if legalized, I would have to disagree. Most drug operations are rarely exclusively focused on a single drug, and if they are it is often focused on cocaine.

However, my point of view comes strictly from Coast Guard experience. When the Coast Guard is on a patrol to intercept drugs, the Coast Guard is not tasked to find a Marijuana smuggler or a cocaine smuggler but a drug smuggler in general.

I can't see any dramatic change in the use of revenue for other programs if marijuana is legalized. However, in theory, the money may go for more directly hitting the more dangerous drug smuggling operations.

But according t what I have heard so far, that would also be a violation of civil liberties.

However, I must say this, if it did come to a vote, and the majority came to the decision that marijuana is to be legalized to 21 and over, the point would be moot and I you wouldn't hear another peep from me about it.

What we never did was establish WHY I am against it. My major concerns are the health issues. The inherent dangers of using marijuana are laid out for you in my previous post. And second, if it is illegal, I am against it simply because it is law, and the law doesn't violate anything that the Bible talks about.

It is undeniable that Marijuana is a dangerous drug, however, whenever I hear someone calling for it's legalization, my mind immediately shifts to the criminal element in which we obtain the drug from.

Also, Cancer, the US doesn't make more than anyone else. It is third third largest cash crop in the US but it is the largest source of income for a few different South and Central American countries. And much of the income goes to the corrupt government officials who are supported by the drug cartels who do not deal exclusively in what Ray has called a "harmless" drug.

Do I believe marijuana is bad? Yes
Would I ever try marijuana even if it were legal? No
Do I think that it would eliminate a criminal element if it were legalized? Yes.

Maybe that will help you better see where I am coming from on this.

I accept of most everything you have stated here as an opinion and it appears we agree on more issues than originally communicated (partly because I didn't knwo where you were coming from, and you didn't knwo where I was coming from) except for this one point.

The fact that it's in line with what the founders of this nation intended doesn't hurt either.

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This is only if there is a popular vote to legalize it. I love democracy, if the people vote a big YES, then I will support that as a popular decision, no matter how much I dislike the idea since it isn't a clear cut sin like murder or stealing.

I say keep it illegal that way the government makes more money selling all that dope back.

Marijuana makes everyone money except the ones who use it. (That don't sell.)

That was sarcasm.

Now the real answer.

Marijuana is harmless. You cause more damage to your body playing football.

The only reason I'd say marijuana is wrong is because the government says so. God made it for something and I don't remember any verses in the bible that say "Don't smoke plants."

Marijuana is harmless. You cause more damage to your body playing football.

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Or fighting fires... I inhaled about three full breaths of burning insulation last night. That can't be good for me either

What good purpose would legalizing marijuana serve?

I can not think of any.

Marijuana is a money maker for the people who sell it.

This includes the government that sells it back to the people who grow it.

Now is this moral? You decide.

So is it that you think Marijuana should be legalised to the point of being home grown?

Is it then legal for everyone?

Or are you going to deny the teenagers the right to smoke it?

If so ... then how has legalization changed anything?

Happy birthday coastie.

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Thanks you dope smoker!

j/k

Legalizing would lower availability for minors???

How??? I am sure you know that it can be home-grown.

You can not be talking about taking off all restrictions?

Are you truly thinking about what would be better for society... or what you think ... would be better for you?

It would lower drug crime

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LOL

You are right about that!

Wow!!! If we make all drugs legal we could completely wipe out drug crime.

I think marijuana should be treated as cigarretes. Card em till they are 40.

Kids smoke it. Blame the parenting. (heheh)

There would be a lot less crime and it would obviously make money for people selling it legally and maybe marijuana won't be such a rebellious turn-on anymore.

Beer certainly is more dangerous then marijuana and I'm witness to the effects of both. I guarantee I'd rather be sitting in the passenger seat next to someone who's fried then someone who toasted.

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Romans 12:1,2

Do you think that you could still offer your body as a perfect, pure and holy sacrifice to God with drugs running through your system? This doesn't say that we are to do this for one hour once a week on Sundays - this is to be everyday all the time. I don't see how you could do it with drugs in you.

"And He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to Him, "Caesar's." Then He said to them, " Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's."

Matthew 22:20,21

There are rules and regulations that have been placed on you by the United States governmnet and you are to abide by them. You are to pay taxes, register for selective service and all those fun things. Are you to do them because the government said so - no, because God said so. And he tells you to do it so that no one who isn't a Christian may have anything to hold against you. You should act perfect according to the law (as long as it doesn't violate the will of God) so that those who don't know Christ can see Him in you through your example. Also:

"For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;"

Philippians 3:20

You are not a citizen of this world but of heaven. You should be thinking on heavenly things. Instead of thinking about what you can do to make drugs more readily available here on earth - think on if that would aid you in getting to heaven. I don't see how drugs could help you - so it should be of no concern of ours.

Hey Aggie you've made good points. But seriously, I'm not pro-marijuana in general but I believe as a whole marijuana has a better chance to put money back into the people's hands instead of the government.

I mean, cigarretes have been shown to cause more health problems then marijuana and beer drinking causes more deaths then any other activity.

Marijuana on the other hand just keeps people in jail and we end up paying for it anyways.

And the verse about Caesar, marijuana is a plant created by God, not man.

And the verse about Caesar, marijuana is a plant created by God, not man.

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Does this also apply to opium and heroin? For they are made from poppy flowers.

It seems your whole argument is based upon money.

You really think legalizing dope will not increase its usage?

I guess it would be like the way legalizing abortion has not resulted in more infant deaths.