Do You Think Pot Will Ever Be Legal?

[floyd2006]

Do You Think Pot Will Ever Be Legal?

Its legal In Colorado, you have to be 21 and only have an ounce or less and also read that nevada could legalize pot as well.

I think sooner or later It will be legal everywhere, whats your opinion on the subject?

[Lex Luthor]

Many years ago my Criminology teacher decided to ask the class who was for and who was against the legalization. I stood up for keeping it illegal, it was about a 50/50 split. The teacher planned this well (also a Political Science teacher) and made us all write a report on the opposite of our views.

That really opened my eyes and changed my opinion. In every category you put it up against alchohol it came up less dangerous.

No one dies from a pot overdose but many have died from alcohol poisoning.
Pot smokers rarely get violent where many violent crimes involve alcohol

The one arguement that I could not kick was one when I interviewed a doctor and discussed the facts. He stated just becasue it is not as bad as alcohol, who says that alcohol should have been legalized after all we know about it now.

Yes I have tried it and honestly i did nothing but make me sleepy. I will say that I work protection security (mainly concerts) on the side and I certainly would prefer the "stoners" to the "drunks". It's the drunks that end up getting thrown out for fighting and being idiots, I have never had to throw out or take down a "stoner"

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by floyd2006

Do You Think Pot Will Ever Be Legal?

I certainly hope not. Pot is stupid and intelligent people avoid it because it's unnecessary. Millions of people get along fine without it. Then there is also the risk of cancer to consider.

[Czas na Zywiec]

Originally Posted by floyd2006

Do You Think Pot Will Ever Be Legal?

Its legal In Colorado, you have to be 21 and only have an ounce or less and also read that nevada could legalize pot as well.

I think sooner or later It will be legal everywhere, whats your opinion on the subject?

No, it's decriminalized, but that's only in Denver city/county, not statewide. You can still get arrested and charged for selling it, smoking it, etc., but if you get merely caught with possession of it (such as if a cop pulls you over and sees pot on your passenger seat) and it's an ounce or less, he can't give you any charges for it. But again, that's only in Denver and Denver Police, so if you get pulled over by a State Trooper, you're pretty much ****ed.

They're trying to pass it state wide (there are a few counties that would vote for it, but El Paso county is a huge hurdle towards doing that). Me personally, I don't really give a ****. I don't smoke pot, never really had the want to, but I don't care if anyone else does. Not my business.

[Chelsea]

Originally Posted by Fleet

I certainly hope not. Pot is stupid and intelligent people avoid it because it's unnecessary. Millions of people get along fine without it. Then there is also the risk of cancer to consider.

Just like cigarettes/tobacco.

I say we legalize it, but tax the bejeezus out of it, just like with cigarettes. Increased source of revenue for the government, we control access while making it available to those who want it - controlled access being something that can never be achieved as long as it's on the black market. And those who want it, can, while those who don't, don't. We can also regulate it's usage, like alcohol - if you want to use it fine, but you'd damned well better not do anything such as drive, etc. while under the influence.

Personally, I'd never touch the stuff, but then again, I don't really go much for any of the indulgences.

[James"Thunder"Early]

I think it will be one day, probably for medical reasons. I wouldn't use it, but I honestly don't see a problem with making it legal for people who choose to use it.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by James"Thunder"Early

I think it will be one day, probably for medical reasons. I wouldn't use it, but I honestly don't see a problem with making it legal for people who choose to use it.

The problem with that is many people obtain it either with a legitimate doctor's note or a phony/forged one and then sell it to high school kids. There is no reason to legalize marijuana for "medical reasons" because there are already other drugs/herbs which work just as well, if not better. For instance, the herb ginger has been used for centuries to treat nausea and stomach upset. We don't need any illicit/mind altering drugs to treat disorders.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by Seth

Just like cigarettes/tobacco.

But that is not a mind-altering drug.

I say we legalize it, but tax the bejeezus out of it, just like with cigarettes. Increased source of revenue for the government, we control access while making it available to those who want it - controlled access being something that can never be achieved as long as it's on the black market.

I disagree. I would rather the government not get revenue from a mind-altering substance.

We can also regulate it's usage, like alcohol - if you want to use it fine, but you'd damned well better not do anything such as drive, etc. while under the influence.

How can it be regulated? And could the goverment prevent someone driving after using it? It's bad enough there are drunk drivers, we don't need another problem.

[I am Roboto]

It really doesn't matter which city or states legalize it through ballots as the Supreme Court ruled last year in Gonzales v. Raich that state drug laws are superceded by Federal law and thus cannot protect anyone from prosecution.

[AKA]

My personal take is that I think it should be legalized, but regulated to the extent that alcohol is. For example, I think that it should be illegal to drive under the influence of marijuana. And I agree with Seth that it should also be taxed.

As I've stated on this board, I used to smoke pot. A lot of it. It's been over three and a half years now since I took my last puff, but I can't lie: I don't regret the times I smoked it.

And I make no apologies: I had some good times on weed, with my friends, in the privacy of my house. Nobody was harmed. We just giggled a lot, ate Hamburger Helper, and listed to "Revolution 9" and The Dark Side Of The Moon. It's not for me anymore, though (I guess I grew out of it), but I hold no ill will toward anyone who chooses to partake in marijuana on their on personal time.

I will say that pot is certainly a "better" drug than alcohol, even with the medicinal benefits of the former aside.

Anyone wanting a good history on why marijuana is illegal in the United States should check out Ron Mann's 1999 film Grass. It's an informative and amusing documentary narrated by Woody Harrelson, which gives analysis on the history of the drug in the United States from its introduction in the early 20th century to the pandemonium that followed, through the end of the nineties.

Originally Posted by Fleet

But that is not a mind-altering drug.

Tobacco? Of course it is.

Originally Posted by Fleet

I disagree. I would rather the government not get revenue from a mind-altering substance.

The government already gets revenue from cigarettes and alcohol.

Originally Posted by Fleet

Then there is also the risk of cancer to consider.

Alcohol and tobacco run a much higer risk of cancer than marijuana. Alcohol also leads to the potention of a great many other disorders, many fatal. I never met my paternal grandmother because she drank herself to death in 1974.

As CartoonDVDs stated, nobody has ever died of a pot overdose.

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally Posted by Fleet

I disagree. I would rather the government not get revenue from a mind-altering substance.

...like alcohol?

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by Kay Scarpetta

...like alcohol?

Come on... no comparison.
A person can get high with one marijuana cigarette, but not with one beer.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by AKA

Tobacco? Of course it is.

No, it isn't. You don't get high from smoking tobacco. You can get addicted, yes, but that's not getting high. And no one has ever been pulled over for driving under the influence of tobacco!

The government already gets revenue from cigarettes and alcohol.

Again, tobacco, as far as getting high from, is not a mind-altering drug. And neither is alcohol in moderation.

[Kay Scarpetta]

Originally Posted by Fleet

Come on... no comparison.

Hey, I'm only playing devil's advocate here. You said "a mind-altering substance", which would include alcohol. Hell, if you walk into a packie store and pick up a bottle of whiskey, half of the price is tax.

I, personally, don't give a rat's ass if pot is legal or not. I don't smoke it anymore, therefore I don't care. I think if they were to legalize pot, kids would **** around with it way too much. There's not many car accidents today involving marijuana, but if you legalize it, you increase the chances of that number rising significantly. This is all my opinion of course, I know I'm going to get jumped on by somebody, so start taking shots now.

[Fleet]

Originally Posted by _Jen_

I don't think it should be made legal. I have Glaucoma, but I would never even consider using it. I'd rather deal with the Glaucoma pressure than use that. That drug I've never used and never will.

That is very wise of you.
There are other ways to treat Glaucoma, with nutrients (choline and inositol, glutathione, rutin, vitamin A, vitamin B-complex, vitamin C and Vitamin E and herbs (bilberry, chickweed and coleus forskohli (an Ayurvedic herb which has been shown to reduce eye pressure).