Marijuana

[independentthinker]

[SIZE=+4]T[/SIZE]HEN GOD SAID, [SIZE=+2]I[/SIZE] GIVE YOU EVERY SEED-BEARING
PLANT ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE
[SIZE=+2]E[/SIZE]ARTH, AND EVERY TREE THAT
HAS FRUIT IN IT."
[SIZE=-1]GENESIS 1:29-30[/SIZE]

I do not think God would approve of the prohibition of a plant he created. Not only that but the cure is worse than sickness. Small time gangs can rise up from the funding from marijuana's prohibition make enough money to invest in harder drugs and can rise up to organized crime. We learned this from alcohol prohibition that eliminating a widlely used item from a regulated market sends it to a criminal market. It can apply to marijuana, alcohol, or guns.

Although I do not condone the use of marijuana, I think it should be eliminated from the criminal black market the quickest and most cost effective way, through semi-legalization, and regulation. Sold to adults 21 and up in a regulated taxed market. It will decrease the use by minors for anyone with enough money can buy it in a criminal market regardless of age. The regulations should be the following, do not drive or operate machinery after or during use, selling to minors will be federal crime, carrying or stockpiling will be regulated etc.

The taxed product could be put in drug awarness programs for kids, or be used in other places that need funding. Marijuana is not as dangerous as Alcohol and cigarettes for the following reasons.

1.) Marijuana is not physically addictive like tobacco yet it can be phycologically addictive.

2.)Marijuana does not kill brain cells.

3.)Marijuana is only a gateway drug when it is sold on the black market along side with hard drugs.

4.)There has not been a overdose from marijuana. Its ratio of amount needed for effects and overdose is 1:40,000 alcohol is 1:10.

Although it would be good for a society to be sober, this is not the world that we live in. We need to take the steps to remove this drug from being accessable to minors and this is the most sure and cost effective way.

 

[StawberryCough]

Sold to adults 21 and up in a regulated taxed market. It will decrease the use by minors for anyone with enough money can buy it in a criminal market regardless of age. The regulations should be the following, do not drive or operate machinery after or during use, selling to minors will be federal crime, carrying or stockpiling will be regulated etc.

I'ld say put it at 18, or you'll still have a major black market, and I'm nor imposing any stiff pentalities on selling to minors. Honestly, Ild rather they get high than drunk. Lets face it, teens are going to party, have fun, and a part of that is intoxication.

Harsh laws don't stop parties and drug use, they just trample over the ones unlucky enough to get caught.

 

[independentthinker]

Age could be up to the states but it should not be any younger than 18.

 

[.Sabre.]

Well, if it was legal, I agree there would be less of an issue.

 

[.Sabre.]

StrawberryCough:

Yes, I'd say 18 is reasonable. In the UK, the legal drinking age is 18.

 

[mpok1519]

I agree.

but I think certain prescriptions and pharmaceuticals should be criminalized, because they cause way higher amounts of addiction, death and problems than marijuana has.

Also, any drugs is a gateway drug. Tobacco and alcohol are tried first by teenagers moreso than marijuana or cocaine. Its beer and cigarettes that are the true gateway drugs, yet those are legal.

 

[.Sabre.]

I agree.

but I think certain prescriptions and pharmaceuticals should be criminalized, because they cause way higher amounts of addiction, death and problems than marijuana has.

Also, any drugs is a gateway drug. Tobacco and alcohol are tried first by teenagers moreso than marijuana or cocaine. Its beer and cigarettes that are the true gateway drugs, yet those are legal.

Well, yes, morphine and codeine addictions are apparently a problem.

And you're right about cigarettes and alcohol being the true gateway drugs.

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

I am sick of grass roots activists claiming marijuana is a harmless drug - it's not.

It's at least as dangerous as tobacco, except it intoxicates in a way tobacco doesn't - another substance for people to illegally drive under the influence of, and then there is the growing evidence of a link with mental illness, especially when used by adolescents. Considering this, I don't think it would be responsible to legalise it at the present time, as we still don't understand its effects on the brain fully - coupled with my government's growing crackdown on tobacco, it would be downright hypocritical to legalise it.

 

[Voegelin]

Note how the only proposals to the status quo is to legalize, regulate and tax it. Once upon a time, government was not involved at all. But that was when we had a society without so many busy bodies who look to the state to put its nose in every aspect of our lives. We once had a country where internal moral laws prevailed and suggesting others restrain themsleves and judging harshly those who did not was not viewed as a sin.

The reason we have the laws we do, the reason we have vicious "Zero Tolerance" policies, is because we have a society which confuses liberty with license and which, in the name of "civil liberties", tries to marginalize those who preach self-control.

 

[StawberryCough]

It's at least as dangerous as tobacco, except it intoxicates in a way tobacco doesn't - another substance for people to illegally drive under the influence of, and then there is the growing evidence of a link with mental illness, especially when used by adolescents. Considering this, I don't think it would be responsible to legalise it at the present time, as we still don't understand its effects on the brain fully - coupled with my government's growing crackdown on tobacco, it would be downright hypocritical to legalise it.

To hell with the government and their slavery. I will do what I what, when I want, because on my land, this is still a free nation, and I've got something for anyone who want to come to my door and tell me otherwise.

Also, do you have any links to the charges of mental illness and DUI deaths from pot, because I can and will defend driving while high igiven your the type of person that can handle it.

And it is in no way as dangerous as tobacco. Cigs kill a half million people a year, and I think that just in America. How many people get lung cancer and die from pot? Or how many get pot poisoning because they smoked too much and died in their own vomit?

 

[StawberryCough]

Note how the only proposals to the status quo is to legalize, regulate and tax it. Once upon a time, government was not involved at all. But that was when we had a society without so many busy bodies who look to the state to put its nose in every aspect of our lives. We once had a country where internal moral laws prevailed and suggesting others restrain themsleves and judging harshly those who did not was not viewed as a sin.

The reason we have the laws we do, the reason we have vicious "Zero Tolerance" policies, is because we have a society which confuses liberty with license and which, in the name of "civil liberties", tries to marginalize those who preach self-control.

Great.

Now what the hell did you just say?

 

[kit]

Marijuana isn't harmless. Of course water isn't harmless. Air isn't harmless when it is in tornado form or it's temperature is 60 below 0.

Marijuana has good aspects and bad aspects. The fact is that it is a waste of time, money, and effort to have it illegal.

 

[independentthinker]

I am sick of grass roots activists claiming marijuana is a harmless drug - it's not.

It's at least as dangerous as tobacco, except it intoxicates in a way tobacco doesn't - another substance for people to illegally drive under the influence of, and then there is the growing evidence of a link with mental illness, especially when used by adolescents. Considering this, I don't think it would be responsible to legalise it at the present time, as we still don't understand its effects on the brain fully

There is no such thing as a harmless side effect free drug, if there was it would be a miracle drug. You must have not read my post because all that you said was answered in my post. Marijuana is harmfull to the developing brain which is why they should legalize for adults. It does contain many impurities just like tobacco but a tobacco smoker chains smokes comsuming much more. Also smoking is not the only option to feel the effects of marijuana, it can be eaten, drinken in tea, or vaporized which all prevent against lung damage, and the symptoms that result from lung damage.

As for your statement for driving under the influence, if you would have read my post you would see that I am for the increasing of penalties of driving under the influence of any drug.

As for the link between mental illness and marijuana use, it is a very causal link, limited to people with an already dormant mental illness. In fact I just read an article that said that people who suffer from psychosis from marijuana use can expect the incidences in the future for their mental illness will suface again. Marijuana in no way causes mental illness, yet it can surface a dormant mental illness. So in conclusion if some mental illness runs in your family then do not use drugs.

Scientists are unable to do reasearch on marijuana because it is illegal so making it legal will increase the reasearch done on it so we can find out more about its effects and if they do find that it really makes you crazy then we can go back prohibtition, but I doubt that such a find will happen. So basically you are saying it should stay illegal because we don't know if it is bad, it should stay legal until we find something wrong with it.

 

[Da_Funkey_Gibbon]

Well, I'm all for getting kids off drugs, but I'm not sure legalising it is going to be the right answer to deal with the problem.

I think the link between drugs and mental illness is rather more complicated that what you portray, but I agree it shouldn't be overplayed - most dope users aren't affected in the long term.

I might have some sympathy with decriminalising possession - save police some time - in fact they've already done that in the UK, but I'm certainly not comfortable with legalising its distribution.

I would also be in favor of letting it be used for medicinal purposes, as I think it already is in many countries.

 

[independentthinker]

Marijuana has been used for thousands of years by humans. In fact it is even referenced in the bible under the name Kaneh Bosm. It has only been this century that it has been rumored to cause people to become "crazy" I think there would have to have been at least a couple of references to mental illness from marijuana use in ancient history.

Also the Netherlands have semi-legalized marijuana just like I have propsed in the 1970s. If there was a cause effect link between marijuana and mental illness then there would be cases of mental illness of epidemic proportions. But through out the nearly 40 year policy there have not been any reports of outstanding amounts of mental illness. I know that our news media that is based around sensationalism would exploit such reports. Would the Netherlands keep a 40 year policy if it was unsuccessful?