Arkanin said:
I am actually curious as to how many people agree about marijuana legalization, and if so many people agree (right now, 90% of the poll types), why isn't it legal?
The biggest reason is money. Were marijuana legal, the price would drop, possibly to the $10/oz. that was common in the 60s and 70s. There would be less of a market for other drugs, and some politically very important people would lose money.
thirstforknowledge said:
I'm not sure there's anyone in jail for possession. I'm sure... somewhere... but, an ounce or under won't get you sent to jail, or even booked, in most places.
The first time you may get fine and rehab. Repeat offenders usually get jail time or prison time. If you buy more than an ounce it is presumed that you have an intent to sell, even if you bought it for your own use. That means hard time.
thirstforknowledge said:
Some places (like California, I believe) actually have marijuana decriminalized. norml.org is a great place to start looking up each individual law.
California did vote to decriminalize for medicinal use. The federal government said we couldnt do that. Doctors prescribing marijuana risk federal prosecution and loss of license.
Br. Max said:
All we need is another addictive mind altering drug available for mass consumption.
What's sooo VERY funny - is that the people pushing for smoking weed to be legal are also pushing for somking tobacco to be illegal!
As has been pointed out, marijuana is not addictive. And I dont care what anyone does in their own home as long as it doesnt involve harm to innocents.
Br. Max said:
there is a great big difference between professionals giving medications and SELF medicating.
Yes there is. Let me give you an example. I used to take the prescription drug Prilosec (omeprazole). I dont know the actual cost but my co-pay was $25 for a months supply. Then the patent on Prilosec(tm) ran out. It became a non-prescription drug. It costs $20 for a months supply. The drug company must be making a profit on it. They were making a profit on just my co-pay when it was a prescription drug. Everything they collected from the insurance company was pure profit. The insurance company wrote it off as a business expense. Every body makes money except the patient. The drug companies and insurance companies pay off congress, and everyone is happy. Even the stupid purblind patient who doesnt know he is getting shafted is happy.
The professional prescribes what the insurance company says they can prescribe. The professional gets perqs for being an authorized distributor. And here is the beauty part. Since 90% of the real property in the US is owned by 10% of the people, the insurance companies and the drug companies are two pockets in the same pair of pants.
Br.Max said:
http://www.rand.org/news/press.05/06.23.html
Where we find this article: RAND FINDS IMPRISONED LOW-LEVEL DRUG OFFENDERS IN ARIZONA AND CALIFORNIA TYPICALLY COULD HAVE FACED MORE SERIOUS CHARGES
What Br. Max seems to be arguing is that if we didnt have criminalized pot, prosecutors would have to press the more serious charges, or let those charged go when there wasnt enough evidence to convict. How horrible!
Br. Max said:
Yes indeed, this is a deplorable situation. We dont have pickpockets in the US. Here we do it the American way, just walk up, wave a gun, and demand the loot. It is much simpler and is good for the firearms industry too.
leoji said:
I have read a few of the posts... Speaking from experiance and having a past with pot let me say first that the 10 + years smoking week was the least productive and the farthest away from God I have ever been. Personally I dont see how I can actively and productivly serve Christ being stoned!
When I was stoned I was more open the worldly and carnal temptation, this is also true with drinking. We are to have the Mind of Christ and now for the life of me I cant see how pot can be a part of it.
When we call our selves Christian and try to live for Christ, how will we pe percieved when others see us stoned or drinking? Personally I think we lose credibility.
Christ calls us to be "In the World but not of the world".
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Everything we do we need to show who we serve. Actually everything we do does show who we serve. Show the world you serve Christ
Well then dont smoke it. (What does productive mean? Why is it good to be productive?)
leoji said:
What I mean is, and please search this out but sin is anything that seperates us from God.
If God is ubiquitous, then we cant be separated from him. You may try to hide, but you cant. The perceived separation is in your own mind, a fiction. When I smoked pot, I always felt closer to God. I saw and heard God everywhere.
leoji said:
IS eating a sin? No its a nessasity but over eating to excess is a sin as it harms us physically and it has become something more important than Gods will which is to treat our bodies with respec as it is the temple of the Hols Spirit.
If you think it is wrong, dont do it. If I do it, God will judge.
leoji said:
Anything can be a sin if it seperates us from God. Pot seperates us from many things we dont ever realize.
Our options are always limited. Somethings lost and somethings gained in living every day. You pays your nickel and you makes your choice.
leoji said:
I am a martial artist. Im my pot / drinking years I had no "want" to work out or to continue training. After a long day at work I just wanted a smoke and a beer.
I suffer from chronic depression. Pot used to get me up on my feet, multi-tasking, out and around. But then, different people have different reactions. Since I started taking prescription anti-depressants I have lost interest in music, poetry, and sex. I can do without the sex, but I sure miss my guitar.
leoji said:
Pot is really a "life" killer in that it makes you too complacent.
It may make
you too complacent. Dont use it.
leoji said:
IT really killed my urge to better myself and I have many friends I see this in their lives.
and youre better now? WOW!
leoji said:
I have a friend that has his masters in Business and he is a cashier, nothing wrong with being a cashier except when you have 120,000 in student loans and a degree being wasted. It for him pot is such a big part of his life it has become a ruling element
Loud music, fast cars, sex, drugs, religion, money
everyone one has a ruling element. The nice thing is that we dont all have the same ruling element. What is your ruling element: Holding yourself up as the moral standard for the world?
Neverstop said:
]I know people who run very successful businesses that smoke pot...so much for the broad brush approach.
leoji said:
I didnt say anything about running a business I was talking about our relationship with Christ.
You have a relationship with your imaginary friend. That is very nice. If pot interferes with that,
I would say it is a good thing. But I am not about to deny you your harmless delusions if you are so attached to them.
Br. Max said:
Go out to Cali where there are towns who are making it illegal to smoke even in your own home. Funny that these same areas that are banning smoking EVERYWHERE are the same who are pushing for pot.
Cali? You mean California? I havent heard about that. Can you give citations? I will alert the ACLU.
