Legalization of marijuana.

[NotYourSombrero]

Do you believe marijuana will ever be legalized in the United States, if so how soon? Why?
Also, Do you believe marijuana should be legalized in the United States? Why?

[Professional Russian]

Well Ive never done it before but i have heard that is actually better for you than alcohol and it cures cancer. Will it be legalized? no. Why? There will be too many people growing it them selves so the government wouldnt be able too tax it. Do i think it should be legalized? I dont see any problem with it. It is better for you than alcohol so it wouldnt effect me very much. Im saying im going to do it if it was legalized but i dont see any problem with it.

[jackson94]

I think, similarly to gay marriage, we will see it be legalized state by state - liberal states first, conservative states will be far behind - as that is the way the trend is heading.

[DerBear]

I don't.

Personally I could see maybe a few states and a few European countries Legalizing it (There is already a few European countries). However, as for seeing many countries or states doing it would be kinda a waste of time. It would be very hypocritical of them to say they dislike the use of heavy drugs then legalize one.

Also countries that allow it like Holland have now banned it from being consumed by the tourists that are from the countries that do not support it.

Overall I don't see it coming to us anytime soon.

[KewlKat]

My mom said if you use it the right way it can heal things, she keeps telling people, if it becomes legalized she's wants to get it... and no my mom aint a druggy, she likes gardening herbs and stuff :)

[BFG9001]

I think all drugs should be legalized. If ciggs and alcohol stay legal. Be fucking consistent.

[Kanindrum]

I personally would never do marijuana or any kind of drug. It's not something that I want to do. However, I think it should be legalized. I think it's kind of stupid to make a plant illegal because it grows naturally... it's not like we tamper with it and change it genetically or anything to make it illegal. Especially since alcohol and cigarettes are harmful products, and their legal, then it really doesn't make sense.

[Thunduhbuhlt]

Would you look at that, another marijuana thread. I have already stated my opinion many times and maybe you should go look at the millions of threads we have here about marijuana.

[norcaldude18]

i have never done it before and never will. i also dont support it but i bet it will legalized. idk when though. hopefully not soon.

[Princess Ariel]

Honestly, I'm surprised it's not legal. So many people use it and who knows maybe even police do it. The government knows it's out there and that a lot of people use it but they've yet to make it legal..
Doctors even prescribe marijuana to patients, but it's "medical marijuana"

[Jhcx]

I think the law of the Netherlands should be applied. Your allowed to smoke it in your house but if your caught on the street with it you can be arrested. Sounds straight forward. Works perfect for them. Cant see why the rest of the world cant follow.

[BFG9001]

i have never done it before and never will. i also dont support it but i bet it will legalized. idk when though. hopefully not soon.

Close minds are cool. I don't use it, but I want the right to my body.

[Mortal Coil]

Oh yay! A completely original thread! I've never seen anything like this before, ever!

Never tried weed, probably will, think it should be legalized (and then have the shit taxed out of it,) think it will be legalized eventually.

[Professional Russian]

Oh yay! A completely original thread! I've never seen anything like this before, ever!

Never tried weed, probably will, think it should be legalized (and then have the shit taxed out of it,) think it will be legalized eventually.

Thats why the government leaglize. Its so easy to produce it couldnt be taxed. Its the same way with moonshining. If the government cant tax it they dont want it

[YOUNGFLYGUY]

I hope it dont..but it might be in the next couple of Years

[jjsmitty]

The few legalised countries in the world are actually going back on it. The Netherlands is introducing laws to only sell the drugs to those with Dutch residency, thus getting rid of the drug tourism. Whilst ive never tried the stuff before, I hear it has some good benefits, however it is a mind altering drug. I have been addicted before(been there done that with painkillers) so i'm not too sure. The only way they could do it would be to legalise it, tax it, sell it in registered shops, allow a small amount of growing for personal use and massively increase the strictness of punishment for going outside these laws. Then in the US there would have to be reform of the medical insurance industry etc etc... more problems than it would solve.

[Texas warrior]

Yea in like ten years, why everybody does it.

[Professional Russian]

Yea in like ten years, why everybody does it.

Not everybody. Ive never done it before

[Truth]

Marijuana will definitely be legalized, there is no arguing the fact. At some point, the government will give up on fighting a failed drug war. Spending $30,000,000,000 every year to imprison non-violent drug users, raiding grows, court fees, etc...

It's lead to more death than necessary, and at some point all of the ignorant people will end up dead. Then there's only open minded individuals who instead would have a system similar to coffee shops in Amsterdam (no the Netherlands christian government that wanted to close these shops has been demolished) :yummy:

[mac42]

If we want a bunch a couch potatoes roaming the world, let's legalize it. There are much better ways to "chill". Hope the US never legalizes it, hope my country doesn't either. Just gives more incentive to be pathetic.

[Amnesiac]

If we want a bunch a couch potatoes roaming the world, let's legalize it. There are much better ways to "chill". Hope the US never legalizes it, hope my country doesn't either. Just gives more incentive to be pathetic.

How is that any of your business? If a person wants to be "lazy" – which is just a blatant stereotype of "stoners" that you're perpetrating without any actual statistics – who are you to tell them they can't be?

I seriously can't believe that people are advocating putting individuals in jails and prisons because they're afraid of them "being pathetic". That's not even an argument. The legalization of marijuana would have practically no adverse effects on society – it would end up giving responsible adults the rights they deserve, dramatically freeing up prisons, reducing government spending on ridiculous drug raids and liberating the hemp industry from the economic strangulation that it's suffered from for the past 100 years. This attitude of "we need to tell other people what's good for them!" needs to stop.

[mac42]

How is that any of your business? If a person wants to be "lazy" – which is just a blatant stereotype of "stoners" that you're perpetrating without any actual statistics – who are you to tell them they can't be?

I seriously can't believe that people are advocating putting individuals in jails and prisons because they're afraid of them "being pathetic". That's not even an argument. The legalization of marijuana would have practically no adverse effects on society – it would end up giving responsible adults the rights they deserve, dramatically freeing up prisons, reducing government spending on ridiculous drug raids and liberating the hemp industry from the economic strangulation that it's suffered from for the past 100 years. This attitude of "we need to tell other people what's good for them!" needs to stop.

How do you know the legalization of marijuana would have no adverse effects on society? So you can make up facts without statistics but I can't?

Look, my view is an opinion. I don't want to tell anyone "what's good for them" but I also don't want to make a drug easily accessible. The world is just fine without people getting high even easier than they can now. Just my view, no needs to attack.

[Korashk]

How do you know the legalization of marijuana would have no adverse effects on society? So you can make up facts without statistics but I can't?
The legalization side makes up less facts than the prohibition side, and rarely are those facts about something besides a drug's effects. Historical and current evidence shows that prohibition has few positives and devastating negatives. The legalization of marijuana would be an objective net positive in almost every aspect one would care to judge.

Look, my view is an opinion. I don't want to tell anyone "what's good for them" but I also don't want to make a drug easily accessible. The world is just fine without people getting high even easier than they can now. Just my view, no needs to attack.
No, the world is worse off now because people can't get high as easy as they should be able to. All drug money does now is fund murderous cartels and waste taxpayer money, as well as violating the constitutional rights of American citizens in the name of the "War on Drugs".

Your initial post basically advocates throwing non-violent people in prison because they're "couch potatoes" that want to "chill". An idea such as this is despicable and worthy of attack.

[mac42]

Your initial post basically advocates throwing non-violent people in prison because they're "couch potatoes" that want to "chill". An idea such as this is despicable and worthy of attack.

Nah, never said I wanted to throw them in prison. I simply don't think we should make this drug easily accessible for people to just buy from a store. Does not send a good message. But again, that is my opinion. Not sure why I disagree with a couple of you guys make it worthy of an attack. I find it better to discuss than to attack.

[Korashk]

Nah, never said I wanted to throw them in prison. I simply don't think we should make this drug easily accessible for people to just buy from a store. Does not send a good message. But again, that is my opinion. Not sure why I disagree with a couple of you guys make it worthy of an attack. I find it better to discuss than to attack.
If you want to discuss things why did you ignore the parts of my post with substance and only focus on the quip at the end?

[mac42]

If you want to discuss things why did you ignore the parts of my post with substance and only focus on the quip at the end?

Because the "substance" was an opinion as well. No one knows what the effects of marijuana would have on society. We can sit here and pretend we do and go back forth, but at the end of the day, neither of us knows. We have both shared our side. What else to discuss?

I focus on the end because of the wording. Saying it was necessary to attack my view was the only part of your post I felt to respond.

[Korashk]

Because the "substance" was an opinion as well. No one knows what the effects of marijuana would have on society. We can sit here and pretend we do and go back forth, but at the end of the day, neither of us knows. We have both shared our side. What else to discuss?
Uh, yeah, it's kind of not just my opinion. Take Portugal for example. They decriminalized marijuana and other drugs (http://healthland.time.com/2010/11/23/portugals-drug-experience-new-study-confirms-decriminalization-was-a-success/). The results are that:

- Less people start using drugs
- Addicts are actually helped rather than treated like criminals
- AIDS and HIV infection rates drop
- and less taxpayer money is wasted prosecuting people that have done nothing wrong

Also historical evidence DOES show that prohibition is bad, see the 1920s and how it pretty much created the Mafia. As well as a spike in the murder rates (http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/homrate1.htm) during that time. That's only two aspects that can be attributed to it.

As for the rest of my post, it's common knowledge that because of current drug prohibition nearly all the revenue that illegal drugs generate goes to funding gangs and drug cartels. Since its illegal they're the only people that supply them outside of the local dealer, and they're hardly the heart of the drug culture.

These gangs and cartels murder people all the time. It's estimated that cartels in Mexico have killed over 50,000 people (http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/05/mexicos-drug-war-50-000-dead-in-6-years/100299/) in the last six years. If drugs were legal then real businesspeople would begin to manufacture and sell drugs, slowly pushing the illegal and violent elements out of the game. This is Economics 101.

As for the fact that the "War on Drugs" violates your rights, I'll just point to the Patriot Act. Did you know that the Patriot Act has been used more than 100 times more often in drug cases (http://nymag.com/news/9-11/10th-anniversary/patriot-act/) than terrorism ones?

I focus on the end because of the wording. Saying it was necessary to attack my view was the only part of your post I felt to respond.
Not that I've cured your ignorance, we can have a real discussion.

[mac42]

Portugal has 11 Million people... the USA has over 310 Million people. How can you honestly compare what works in Portugal to what "might" happen in USA? Not your best example.

I guess I might as well just say it... the reason I am so against legalizing maijuana is because I have seen the effects on close family friends. I would not be morally ok with allowing this drug to be even more accessible to people who don't need another addiction in their life. Marijunana is just the first step to a long road of issues. Many drug users will tell you they started with Marijuana and began moving on to harsher and harsher drugs.

Gangs and cartels will always be around. If we legalize Marijuana in the in world, they will just move on to the next drug that everyone wants. Violence will not just go away by legalizing marijuana. Easier said than done.

Based on your last sentence in your response I can see that this discussion will go nowhere, so this will be my last response. I hope in the future if we have debate we can do so without calling different views ignorant. Thank you.

[Truth]

If we want a bunch a couch potatoes roaming the world, let's legalize it. There are much better ways to "chill". Hope the US never legalizes it, hope my country doesn't either. Just gives more incentive to be pathetic.

Portugal has 11 Million people... the USA has over 310 Million people. How can you honestly compare what works in Portugal to what "might" happen in USA? Not your best example.

I guess I might as well just say it... the reason I am so against legalizing maijuana is because I have seen the effects on close family friends. I would not be morally ok with allowing this drug to be even more accessible to people who don't need another addiction in their life. Marijunana is just the first step to a long road of issues. Many drug users will tell you they started with Marijuana and began moving on to harsher and harsher drugs.

Gangs and cartels will always be around. If we legalize Marijuana in the in world, they will just move on to the next drug that everyone wants. Violence will not just go away by legalizing marijuana. Easier said than done.

Based on your last sentence in your response I can see that this discussion will go nowhere, so this will be my last response. I hope in the future if we have debate we can do so without calling different views ignorant. Thank you. So you're saying an even larger amount of people would stop smoking? Nice argument, mac.

Just because some of your family and friends became lazy losers does not mean marijuana caused it. They were likely born to be lazy losers and they just happened to smoke marijuana. Marijuana causes no structural damage to your brain, and in fact marijuana smokers between the age of 40-50 have 30 IQ more than their straight-edge counterparts on average. So really, where are you getting this information from? You know who smokes marijuana?

1.) Barack Obama. El Presidente de Los Estados Unidos!

2.) Bill Clinton “…but I didn’t inhale.” Fomer U.S. President!

3.) Bill Murray. Yep, everyone’s favorite actor was arrested for possession.

4.) Paris Hilton. Socialite. Night Vision Porn-Star.

5.) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Basketball star

6. George W Bush Politician and professional hypocrite.
7. John F Kennedy. Politician.
8. Steve Jobs, co-creator of the Apple computer.
9. Queen Victoria.
10. Bruce Lee.
11. Aaron Sorkin, creator of ”The West Wing”.
12. Art Garfunkel , singer, Simon and Garfunkel.
13. Abbie Hoffman, Activist.
14. Al and Tipper Gore Politicians
15. Aleister Crowley, Author and Famous Satanist.
16. Alexander Dumas, Author - “The Three Musketeers”
17. Ali Campbell, Singer with UB40
18. Alice B. Toklas. Famous Cook - Wrote recipe for Hash Fudge Filmed as. ‘I Love You Alice B. Toklas’
19. Allen Ginsberg, Poet. Andrea Corr, musician, “The Corrs”. Anjelica Huston, Actress. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Actor. “I did smoke a joint and I did inhale.”
20. Art Garfunkel. Singer of, “Simon and Garfunkel” fame.
21. Arthur Rimbaud.
22. Balzac.
23. Beatles.
24. Bill Gates. Not confirmed, just very strongly hinted at in his Playboy interview.
25. Bing Crosby. Famous crooner of “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas”. Now the Film “High Society” makes sense!
26. Bix Beiderbecke Jazz musician.
27. Black Crowes, musicians
28. Bob Denver, Star of “Gilligan’s Island”.
29. Bob Dylan, musician.
30. Bob Marley, musician
31. Burt Reynolds, actor. He left his first wife because of her drug use. But he has been seen in Cannabis Cafes.
32. Cab Calloway, Jazz musician. Claimed he only used it once.
33. Carl Sagan, Scientist - SiFi writer - film “Contact” More info here.
34. Carlos Santana musician.
35. Carrie Fischer, Actress
36. Charlie Sheen, actor.
37. Charlize Theron, Actress.
38. Charles Beaudelaire, Author.
39. Cheech Marin, Actor
40. Chris Conrad, Author and expert on Cannabis Hemp
41. Chris Farley. Comedian.
42. Chrissie Hynde, musician.
43. Chris Rock, Actor, Comedian, Producer, Screenwriter.
44. Chubby Checker, Musician. Sang; “Lets Twist Again”.
45. Cilla Black, Musician and presenter.
46. Claire Rayner, Agony Aunt.
47. Cody Kasch Actor. TV series Desperate Housewives
48. Conan O’Brian TV Host
49. Count Basie, Jazz Ban Leader
50. Dame Margot Fonteyn, Prima ballerina.
51. David Bailey, Photographer .
52. Dan Quayle . Politician.
53. David Hockney, Artist.
54. Diego Rivera Mexican Artist
55. Dion Fortune Welsh occultist.
56. Dionne Warwick, Famous singer of “Walk on by”.
57. Dioscorides Pedanius, 1 st cent. AD. Greek physician. Wrote ‘De Materia Medica’, used for 1,500 years.
58. Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz musician
59. Dr Francis Crick. Nobel Prize winner.
60. Dr Lester Grinspoon.
61. Dr R.D.Laing
62. Dr W.B. O’Shaugnessy Re-introduced cannabis to European medicine.
63. Drew Barrymore, actress.
64. Duke Ellington, Jazz Band Leader.
65. Elliott Gould. Actor.
66. Eminem, musician.
67. Emperor Liu Chi-nu, made medical recomendation for its use.
68. Emperor Shen-Nung, made first known medical recommendation for its use.
69. Errol Flynn, Actor
70. Evelyn Waugh. Author.
71. Francis Ford Coppella, Film Director.
72. Frances McDormand , Actress
73. Fats Waller, musician.
74. Fitz Hugh Ludlow - wrote ‘The Hasheesh Eater’.
75. Francois Rabelais. 16 th French author
76. Friedrich Nietzsche, Used it as a medicine.
77. Gary Johnson. Governor of New Mexico - Reformer.
78. Gene Krupa, Jazz musician.
79. George Gurdjieff , Russian Mystic.
80. George Melly, Jazz musician.
81. George Soros, Financier and reformer.
82. George Washington , grew it and there is evidence that he prepared it for smoking.
83. Gerard de Nerval French writer
84. Graham Greene, Author.
85. Grateful Dead musicians.
86. Harrison Ford, Actor.
87. Howard Marks. Ex-smuggler and Raconteur.
88. H R H Prince Harry, Third in line to the British throne.
89. H R H Princess Margaret, sister to Her Majesty the Queen.
90. Howard Stern
91. Hua T’o Medical use as anaesthetic .
92. Hunter S. Thompson, Author
93. Isabel Allende, Chilean author. Mentioned in her book “Paula”.
94. Jack Kerouac, Author
95. Jack Nicholson, actor.
96. Jackie Gleason, actor. Another whom the DEA kept on their pot files.
97. James Brown, musician
98. Janis Joplin, musician.
99. Jane Fonda, Actress.
100. Jennifer Aniston, actress.
101. Jennifer Capriati, Tennis champ.
102. Jesse Ventura, Governor of Minnesota.
103. Jim Morrison, musician.
104. Jimmy Dorsey, Jazz musician,
105. Jimmy Hendrix, musician
106. Joan of Arc, was accused of using witch herbs (another name cannabis).
107. John Belushi, actor.
108. John Denver, musician. He recorded a song about it.
109. John Kerry . Politician. US Senator
110. John Lennon. musician.
111. John Le Mesurier. Actor.
112. John Wayne, Actor, “I tried it once but it didn’t do anything to me.”
113. Jonathan Miller, Theatre Director.
114. Johnny Cash, musician.
115. Jon Snow, Channel 4 News presenter. (UK)
116. Julia Roberts, Actress,
117. Kary Mullis, Nobel Laurate, Biology.
118. Ken Kesey, Author
119. Kenneth Tynan, Playwright.
120. Kurt Cobain, musician.
121. Larry Hagman, actor, of “JR” fame.
122. Led Zeppelin, musicians.
123. Lenny Bruce, Comedian.
124. Lewis Carroll, Author
125. Lewis Wolpert, biologist.
126. Little Richard, musician.
127. Louis Armstrong, Jazz musician.
128. Luke Perry, actor.
129. Louis Hebert, French Botanist
130. Macaulay Culkin. Actor, Home Alone.
131. Mark Stepnoski. two-time Super Bowl champ, Dallas Cowboy.
132. Mick Jagger, musician
133. Mike Bloomberg. New York City Mayor.
134. Mike Tyson, Boxer.
135. Miles Davis, Jazz musician.
136. Milton Berle, Actor
137. Mo Mowlam, Minister
138. Modigliani. Sculptor.
139. Montel Williams Chat show host.
140. Montgomery Clift, actor
141. Neil Diamond, musician.
142. Neil Young, Musician.
143. Newt Gingrich Speaker of the US Senate.
144. Norman Mailer, Author.
145. Oasis, Noel Gallagher
146. Oliver Stone, Film Director.
147. Oscar Wilde, Author.
148. Pablo Picasso, Artist.
149. Pancho Villa, Revolutionary Leader.
150. Peregrine Worthstone, former editor of the Sunday Telegraph.
151. Peter Fonda, actor.
152. Peter Sellers, actor.
153. Peter Tosh, Poet.
154. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Former Prime Minister of Canada.
155. Pink. Musician. Mentioned in Playboy interview (11/02).
156. Pink Floyd, Musicians.
157. P. J. O’Rouke. Author.
158. Ram Dass, Philosopher.
159. Ray Charles, musician.
160. Richard Feynman, Nobel Prize Laureate physicist.
161. Richard Pryor, actor.
162. Robert Anton Wilson. Philosopher .
163. Robert Mitchum, Actor, was jailed in the 40s for possession of marijuana.
164. Rolling Stones, musicians.
165. Ross Rebagliati, first ever snowboarding Gold Medallist, 1998 Winter Olympics.
166. Rudolf Nureyev, Ballet dancer. Also see entry for Margot Fonteyn.
167. Rudyard Kipling . Author.
168. Ryan Farrell, Australian Sprint Car champion.
169. Salvador Dali, Artist.
170. Samuel Beckett, Author.
171. Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Author.
172. Sinead O’Connor, musician.
173. Sir Paul McCartney, Musician.
174. Sir Mick Jagger, Musician.
175. Snoop Dogg, musician.
176. Steve Martin , Actor.
177. Stephen King. Author.
178. Steven Soderbergh, Film director.
179. Stephen Sondheim. Broadway composer and lyricist.
180. Sting / Gordon Sumners, musician.
181. Ted Turner, of CNN fame.
182. Terence McKenna.
183. Terry Pratchett. Author of the “Diskworld” books.
184. The Who, musicians.
185. Thelonious Monk, Jazz musician.
186. Timothy Leary
187. Tomas Enge, Formula 3000 World Champion.
188. Tommy Chong. Actor
189. Tommy Lee, Musician.
190. Tony Booth, the father-in-law of Britain’s Prime Minister.
191. UB40, Band.
192. Victor Hugo. Author ‘Les Misérables’
193. Walter ‘Stumpy’ Brennan actor.
194. Walter Benjamin, Philosopher.
195. Wesley Snipes, actor. Has been seen in Cannabis Cafes.
196. Whitney Houston, musician. William Butler Yeats. Famous Irish Poet and Occultist.
197. William S. Burroughs, Author.
198. William Shakespeare. Dramatist. More here.
199. Willie Nelson, musician.
200. Woody Harrelson, Actor and reformer. That's who smokes marijuana, and they ain't lazy "losers".

You know what? That theory of the "gateway drug" has been proven incorrect thousands of times. Your first drug was Tylenol or Advil, hell it was probably that cough medicine with codeine in it, but it was definitely not marijuana. In fact, people who smoke marijuana are less likely to try harder drugs because they have researched the risks of those drugs; and only use marijuana for the medical benefits. More people who are not educated are willing to try hard drugs because they do not know, and as such: Your argument is moot, almost everyone who tries harder drugs start with alcohol.

Cartels will be around until all drugs are legalized. Of course people should not take these drugs, but you want to know something? It will never stop, but if you look in Portugal: The usage of cocaine, heroin, etc... has gone down by over 60% ever since it was legalized. You know why people turn to hard drugs? Because marijuana will get them a longer jail sentence than these hard drugs. Why buy marijuana to get put into jail for 10+ years, when you can buy some coke and no one will ever know? Legalization would abolish this issue, and more people would stick with marijuana and no one would try harder drugs; in other words cartels would be destroyed and their 100 billion dollar industry to fund evil gone.



Based on your ignorance and lack of intelligence in your debating skills, I do hope you don't bother replying because you base your "facts" on opinions, rather than facts.

[Korashk]

Portugal has 11 Million people... the USA has over 310 Million people. How can you honestly compare what works in Portugal to what "might" happen in USA? Not your best example.
Except that's how you compare things with statistics. You take a small sample size and apply the results to a population. National surveys conducted by Gallup and Rasmussen only survey a few thousand people and apply it to the entire United States, because that's all you need.

Portugal and the USA are both first world countries with similar societies. There is no reason to think that all of the positives that come from decriminalization there wouldn't happen in America. You're not even addressing the negatives of prohibition or the economic aspect of drug legalization.

I guess I might as well just say it... the reason I am so against legalizing maijuana is because I have seen the effects on close family friends. I would not be morally ok with allowing this drug to be even more accessible to people who don't need another addiction in their life. Marijunana is just the first step to a long road of issues. Many drug users will tell you they started with Marijuana and began moving on to harsher and harsher drugs.
Except the evidence shows that laxer drug laws don't increase the rate at which people use drugs, and lessens the rate that young people use drugs. Hell, even evidence from America (http://blog.norml.org/2009/08/28/study-says-its-easier-for-teens-to-buy-marijuana-than-beer/) says that it's harder for teens to accuire alcohol and cigarettes (LEGAL drugs) than it is for them to buy pot. Off the cuff, this implies that drug legalization will make it harder for young people to get drugs.

After they're teens and can hypothetically acquire legal drugs, that should be their choice to make regardless of how you feel. It's not your job to force people to be responsible.

Gangs and cartels will always be around. If we legalize Marijuana in the in world, they will just move on to the next drug that everyone wants. Violence will not just go away by legalizing marijuana. Easier said than done.
Let me get this straight, you're essentially saying: "We can't stop it all, so let's not stop any of it." I shouldn't even have to tell you how bad an argument that is. These groups use their money to murder and enslave people and all the "War on Drugs" does is make them richer.

Based on your last sentence in your response I can see that this discussion will go nowhere, so this will be my last response. I hope in the future if we have debate we can do so without calling different views ignorant. Thank you.
I wasn't calling your view ignorant, I was pointing out that you seemed to be unaware of the evidence showing that decriminalization of drugs has almost no negative consequences. You WERE ignorant of that by your own admission. Being ignorant is nothing to be ashamed of or insulted by.

Just because some of your family and friends became lazy losers does not mean marijuana caused it. They were likely born to be lazy losers and they just happened to smoke marijuana.
Why are you such an asshole all the time to everyone with an opinion that differs from your own? I oppose his view on drug legalization and have maintained a semi-hostile tone, but I did it without telling him that his family is a piece of shit.

Things like that are just uncalled for.

posts merged. don't double post, use the edit button to add in anything. -embers

[Cicero]

I believe it should be legalized because marijuana can be used for medical uses, and it could help the economy. You could put up the argument saying it impairs vision and stuff like that, but alcohol does that. Alcohol has killed more people then every illicit drug combined. I think we should do as much as possible to help the economy, and marijuana could help the economy big time. Even with marijuana illegal it's seen everywhere, you can get it anytime you want. Most teenagers have smoked marijuana. So the government isnt doing a good job controlling it. I do believe there should be an age restriction of 21.

[SLABBS]

Here in Colorado in November their voting the bill to legalize marajuana. if it passes we will be the first state to have Completley legal marajuana. Weve had medical lisences for it for a while now. Wish us luck :D

[Ryhanna]

It'll probably happen eventually. It's far less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol. If they're legal, why not pot?

[Fruity Drink]

Marijuana will definitely be legalized, there is no arguing the fact. At some point, the government will give up on fighting a failed drug war. Spending $30,000,000,000 every year to imprison non-violent drug users, raiding grows, court fees, etc...

It's lead to more death than necessary, and at some point all of the ignorant people will end up dead. Then there's only open minded individuals who instead would have a system similar to coffee shops in Amsterdam (no the Netherlands christian government that wanted to close these shops has been demolished) :yummy:


Open minded? You're joking, right? I'm not closed minded at all! I love to try new things, but when it comes to drugs.. i think NOT.


IMPORTANT= RED not AS important= BLACK
Let's take a look at some negative side effects of marijuana:
-Using marijuana at a young age can result in structural and functional deficits of the brain.
-"gateway drug"
- Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke
-Marijuana limits your brain's effectiveness, slows your thinking and impairs your coordination.
- studies have also shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
-Infection, Smoking weed regularly will continuously irritate and erode throat an lung tissues.
-9 percent of people who use marijuana become dependent on it.
- Toxic chemicals can EASILY be mixed with marijuana.
-you stink?


MYTHS:
-Marijuana is harmless. (LMFAOOOO, what a joke, try google for this one...)
-marijuana is NOT addictive. (9 precent of teens become dependent, which raises to 17% if you started as a teenager, and smoke for years).
-marijuana isn't as bad as cigs. (uhhh... Hardly, 5+ cigs=1 blunt). marijuana contains 50-70% MORE cancer causing agents than cigs...
-marijuana is used to treat disease (WRONG! marijauna is a schedule I controlled substance, meaning it has NO proven benefits! although it may help control nausea in cancer patients, and increase appetite, it does not "Cure" or "prevent" anything!

[Korashk]

Open minded? You're joking, right? I'm not closed minded at all! I love to try new things, but when it comes to drugs.. i think NOT.
AHHAHAHA! I will destroy you.

-Using marijuana at a young age can result in structural and functional deficits of the brain.
The study (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602160845.htm) involves two test groups. 15 heavy smokers and 16 non-smokers (http://www.livescience.com/5298-marijuana-disrupt-brain-development.html) as a control. It's flawed because the sample size is too small and it only studies the effects of heavy marijuana use. The smokers in the study claim to have smoked at least 6 joints A DAY. That is WAY more than the recreational pot smoker. The study has no practical relevance.

I'd also like to know the conclusion of the researchers when it comes to these structural and functional differences, because that's what all of the research I've looked up said. It didn't call them deficits and the only negatives mentioned were speculative, not evidential (http://www.livescience.com/5298-marijuana-disrupt-brain-development.html).

-"gateway drug"
The concept of the gateway drug is bullshit and any rational person realizes this. It's simply a case of confusing correlation with causation. However, even if we assume that a "gateway drug" exists it isn't marijuana. It's alcohol, cigarettes and prescription drugs (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1446541/?tool=pmcentrez).

- Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke
Studies show that there is no correlation between marijuana smoking and cancer (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html). They also show that the THC in marijuana inhibits the growth of cancerous tumors (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm).

I didn't even look up your little statistic, because it honestly doesn't mean anything. Maybe marijuana does have more carcinogens than tobacco, but who cares about that if it doesn't cause cancer? Hell, even if it did cause cancer, so what?

-Marijuana limits your brain's effectiveness, slows your thinking and impairs your coordination.
Nobody denies this, but according to the data these effects are only temporary. It's called getting high and that's pretty much why people smoke pot.

- studies have also shown an association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia.
The actual data says that smoking marijuana can sometimes give you anxiety, but there is no connection between marijuana use and anxiety disorders. That there was a correlation between people who smoked marijuana and developed depression, but that the depression manifested seven years later and the evidence is iffy at best, and that the study involving schizophrenia showed a selection bias. Nearly all of the subjects who developed schizophrenia after smoking marijuana are those who already had a genetic predisposition for the disease.

Source (http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2010/April/medical-marijuana-and-the-mind)

-Infection, Smoking weed regularly will continuously irritate and erode throat an lung tissues.
I can't find anything that supports this. It seems like you just made it up or copy/pasted this whole list from an anti-drug site.

- Toxic chemicals can EASILY be mixed with marijuana.
Toxic chemicals can EASILY be mixed with your family's homemade dinner.

See what I did there?

-Marijuana is harmless. (LMFAOOOO, what a joke, try google for this one...)
The people that claim this are just like people like you that overstate the harms of marijuana. They're wrong.

-marijuana is NOT addictive. (9 precent of teens become dependent, which raises to 17% if you started as a teenager, and smoke for years).
Except that it's a fact that marijuana contains no addictive chemicals. You see, there are two types of addiction, physical and psychological. Physical addiction is caused by chemicals in a substance interacting with the brain and creating a dependency. Psychological addiction is becoming dependent on the feeling that doing a certain activity. Anything can be psychologically addicting, but many fewer things are physically addicting. Marijuana is simply psychologically addicting, which is hardly a criticism.

-marijuana isn't as bad as cigs. (uhhh... Hardly, 5+ cigs=1 blunt). marijuana contains 50-70% MORE cancer causing agents than cigs...
Except that there have been no deaths causally linked to marijuana ever and over 400,000 deaths are linked to tobacco every year...

Sounds like marijuana is less bad than cigarettes.

-marijuana is used to treat disease (WRONG! marijauna is a schedule I controlled substance, meaning it has NO proven benefits! although it may help control nausea in cancer patients, and increase appetite, it does not "Cure" or "prevent" anything!
http://forum.nationstates.net/images/smilies/sm_facepalm.gif
Curing nausea and increasing appetite in cancer patients is treatment of diseases. You see, treatments don't cure diseases or prevent diseases, which is why it's not called cure or prevention. Treatments alleviate the symptoms of diseases and can sometimes lead to curing a disease. However, it's not a requirement.

I also like how you say it has no proven benefits. Not only is this false (I linked to evidence proving that THC reduces the size of tumors), but you then proceed to list two of them. Jesus Christ.

[Genghis Khan]

Except that it's a fact that marijuana contains no addictive chemicals. You see, there are two types of addiction, physical and psychological. Physical addiction is caused by chemicals in a substance interacting with the brain and creating a dependency. Psychological addiction is becoming dependent on the feeling that doing a certain activity. Anything can be psychologically addicting, but many fewer things are physically addicting. Marijuana is simply psychologically addicting, which is hardly a criticism.

If smoking marijuana inhibits the release of dopamine in your brain just as cigarettes do when the nicotine enters your blood stream, how is not physiologically addictive?

[Korashk]

If smoking marijuana inhibits the release of dopamine in your brain just as cigarettes do when the nicotine enters your blood stream, how is not physiologically addictive?
Because the effect is not caused directly by a chemical in the pot. Whereas nicotine is the cause when you smoke cigarettes. It goes:

Smoke pot -> Feel good -> Dopamine
Smoke cigs -> Nicotine reacts with brain -> Dopamine

You can replace the pot with pretty much anything that makes you feel good, whereas with cigarettes it's the specific chemical acting in the brain.

[SLABBS]

Korashk, why arn't you the president of the United States yet? lol

[Lights]

I think all drugs should be legalized. If ciggs and alcohol stay legal. Be fucking consistent.

Those drugs aren't legal because governments want them to be - they're legal because they've become so embedded in society that there would be a massive outcry if they were to suddenly become illegal. Sadly, making them illegal would result in a much increased rate of suicide (due to withdrawal symptoms from addiction) which is something the governments simply cannot be responsible for. While suicide is more on the extreme side of things, there would also be many suffering psychological breakdowns from tobacco being prohibited. Many would argue that for this reason it is unethical to ban tobacco because it causes unnecessary trauma, stress and ultimately: mental pain.

Not so much with alcohol because it doesn't carry nearly as much risk as tobacco, but trust me, if tobacco hadn't been made so embedded in our society long ago, it would be an illegal drug nowadays because of the massive health risks that it creates. The sad thing about tobacco is, not only does it create health risks for the person who smokes it, but it creates risk for those around them through passive smoking. People who don't even smoke can feel the damage of smoking just because someone in their life smokes around them.

I believe one day tobacco will be made illegal, but it's going to be a very slow process of gradually phasing it out of society. Younger generations are becoming more conscientious of the damage tobacco does, and eventually there may come a stage when there is a small enough proportion of tobacco smokers that it can finally made illegal. A factor that slows this process up even further, however, is that governments make a killing off the tax of cigarettes, so I can't imagine they would be too excited to lose that kind of income. Perhaps I'm being a little optimistic saying that tobacco may one day be put to rest, but I think it is a possibility somewhere down the line if generations continue to learn and appreciate the dangers of smoking.

I've digressed rather a lot. On the subject of this thread, I don't really have much of an opinion on marijuana - I don't feel qualified to make much comment on it.

[Fruity Drink]

LET'S PLAY :D

AHHAHAHA! I will destroy you.


The study (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080602160845.htm) involves two test groups. 15 heavy smokers and 16 non-smokers (http://www.livescience.com/5298-marijuana-disrupt-brain-development.html) as a control. It's flawed because the sample size is too small and it only studies the effects of heavy marijuana use. The smokers in the study claim to have smoked at least 6 joints A DAY. That is WAY more than the recreational pot smoker. The study has no practical relevance.

[COLOR="Red"]First off, just because you found ONE study, with a relatively small test group, does NOT mean this is the test I used... Please don't come at me unprepared, with this as you're rebut.

I'd also like to know the conclusion of the researchers when it comes to these structural and functional differences, because that's what all of the research I've looked up said. It didn't call them deficits and the only negatives mentioned were speculative, not evidential (http://www.livescience.com/5298-marijuana-disrupt-brain-development.html).

www.drugabuse.gov
Along with euphoria, relaxation is another frequently reported effect in human studies. Other effects, which vary dramatically among different users, include heightened sensory perception (e.g., brighter colors), laughter, altered perception of time, and increased appetite. After a while, the euphoria subsides, and the user may feel sleepy or depressed. Occasionally, marijuana use may produce anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic.

The concept of the gateway drug is bullshit and any rational person realizes this. It's simply a case of confusing correlation with causation. However, even if we assume that a "gateway drug" exists it isn't marijuana. It's alcohol, cigarettes and prescription drugs (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1446541/?tool=pmcentrez).

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/fashion/19pot.html?pagewanted=all
This is all I need to say for that... Trust me, this applies to MANY people...

Studies show that there is no correlation between marijuana smoking and cancer (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729.html). They also show that the THC in marijuana inhibits the growth of cancerous tumors (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm).

I didn't even look up your little statistic, because it honestly doesn't mean anything. Maybe marijuana does have more carcinogens than tobacco, but who cares about that if it doesn't cause cancer? Hell, even if it did cause cancer, so what?


Carcinogens... did you bother to look this up? CANCER CAUSING ANGENTS... PARTICALS THAT ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER!!!

International reports have found specific links between smoking both tobacco and marijuana, such as:
•Many people who try marijuana have previously smoked tobacco.
•Many current marijuana smokers are also current cigarette smokers.
•Early onset of tobacco use may act as a "gateway" to future marijuana use.
•Nicotine dependence can develop if tobacco is used in combination with marijuana.
•Smoking both marijuana and tobacco increases health risks rather than smoking each alone
Found here...
http://adai.washington.edu/marijuana/factsheets/tobacco.htm

Nobody denies this, but according to the data these effects are only temporary. It's called getting high and that's pretty much why people smoke pot.


The actual data says that smoking marijuana can sometimes give you anxiety, but there is no connection between marijuana use and anxiety disorders. That there was a correlation between people who smoked marijuana and developed depression, but that the depression manifested seven years later and the evidence is iffy at best, and that the study involving schizophrenia showed a selection bias. Nearly all of the subjects who developed schizophrenia after smoking marijuana are those who already had a genetic predisposition for the disease.

Source (http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/Harvard_Mental_Health_Letter/2010/April/medical-marijuana-and-the-mind)


I can't find anything that supports this. It seems like you just made it up or copy/pasted this whole list from an anti-drug site.

Hehe, cute. :D you WISH! :D

Toxic chemicals can EASILY be mixed with your family's homemade dinner.

See what I did there?

Last I checked, a Mexican drug cartell doesn't make my windex!
See what I did there?

The people that claim this are just like people like you that overstate the harms of marijuana. They're wrong.


Overstate the harms? Ok.. Marijuana is illegal for a reason, it's DANGEROUS! There is absolutely NO regulation on drug production. Who's to say someone doesn't mix rat poision? Cocaine? Meth? or any other TERRIBLE drug into your special little "herb". You DON'T know, and you CAN'T be certain.

Except that it's a fact that marijuana contains no addictive chemicals. You see, there are two types of addiction, physical and psychological. Physical addiction is caused by chemicals in a substance interacting with the brain and creating a dependency. Psychological addiction is becoming dependent on the feeling that doing a certain activity. Anything can be psychologically addicting, but many fewer things are physically addicting. Marijuana is simply psychologically addicting, which is hardly a criticism.


Except that there have been no deaths causally linked to marijuana ever and over 400,000 deaths are linked to tobacco every year...

Most people who smoke marijuana smoke cigarettes aswell... I'm not sure what you're trying to say? Cigarettes are dangerous? FAWK YES!!! they're DISGUSTING! I AGREE! marijuana? hell yes... cancer causing agents, tar? Yea, that sounds HEALTHY!

Sounds like marijuana is less bad than cigarettes.

Sounds that the majority of marijuana smokers, also smoke cigarettes on a daily basis... try google.image (http://forum.nationstates.net/images/smilies/sm_facepalm.gif)
Curing nausea and increasing appetite in cancer patients is treatment of diseases. You see, treatments don't cure diseases or prevent diseases, which is why it's not called cure or prevention. Treatments alleviate the symptoms of diseases and can sometimes lead to curing a disease. However, it's not a requirement.

Definition of disease: a disordered or incorrectly functioning organ, part, structure, or system of the body resulting from the effect of genetic or developmental errors, infection, poisons, nutritional deficiency or imbalance, toxicity, or unfavorable environmental factors; illness; sickness; ailment.

Appetite is NOT a disease, nor is Nausea. They are symptoms. Please... try harder bro, you don't know what you're talking about.

I also like how you say it has no proven benefits. Not only is this false (I linked to evidence proving that THC reduces the size of tumors), but you then proceed to list two of them. Jesus Christ.

Nice, I wouldn't consider filling your lungs with tar, just because you need to eat a benefit. Or feeling ill, take some tylenol.

Thanks, I look forward to your rebut :D should be FUN! :D
(actually enjoying this "debate" persay, let's continue, shall we?

[Korashk]

First off, just because you found ONE study, with a relatively small test group, does NOT mean this is the test I used... Please don't come at me unprepared, with this as you're rebut.
If that's not the study you used then provide us with the actual one. I can't discredit something I'm unaware of.

www.drugabuse.gov
Along with euphoria, relaxation is another frequently reported effect in human studies. Other effects, which vary dramatically among different users, include heightened sensory perception (e.g., brighter colors), laughter, altered perception of time, and increased appetite. After a while, the euphoria subsides, and the user may feel sleepy or depressed. Occasionally, marijuana use may produce anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic.
I don't see why you posted this. I never denied that marijuana had these effects.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/fashion/19pot.html?pagewanted=all
This is all I need to say for that... Trust me, this applies to MANY people...
Let's pick some quotes out of that article, shall we:
- "...addiction experts agree, marijuana does not pose as serious a public health problem as cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine."
- "The drug [marijuana] cannot lead to fatal overdose and its hazards pale in comparison with those of alcohol."
- "the percentage of those seeking treatment for marijuana addiction...has increased significantly... The percentages of those seeking treatment for cocaine...and alcohol addiction...declined slightly."
- "Advocates and even some addiction specialists say cannabis is an effective treatment for medical and emotional problems, and can even help some battling addictions to harder drugs."
- "The risk of addiction [to marijuana], they say, is less problematic than for alcohol and other drugs."
- " 'The word addiction is so fungible in our society, and cannabis just doesn’t fit that tidy definition, though it can be abused,' "
- " 'Science really has proven, if anything, that cannabis is likely one of the safest substances we can interact with.' "

After these quotes it then goes on to talk about the negatives of marijuana and addiction, but it outside of the title nothing is mentioned about marijuana being a gateway drug, and the content of the article itself basically disproves the notion. You need to read your sources to make sure that they actually support your position.

Carcinogens... did you bother to look this up? CANCER CAUSING ANGENTS... PARTICALS THAT ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE CANCER!!!
I'm aware of what a carcinogen is, but the EVIDENCE says that there is no correlation between cancer and smoking marijuana. See, what you're saying is a piece of data. A statement of fact that doesn't mean anything outside of itself.

International reports have found specific links between smoking both tobacco and marijuana, such as:
•Many people who try marijuana have previously smoked tobacco.
•Many current marijuana smokers are also current cigarette smokers.
•Early onset of tobacco use may act as a "gateway" to future marijuana use.
•Nicotine dependence can develop if tobacco is used in combination with marijuana.
•Smoking both marijuana and tobacco increases health risks rather than smoking each alone
Found here...
http://adai.washington.edu/marijuana/factsheets/tobacco.htm
I don't know why you posted this. It just supports my side and restates facts that I've already conceded. According to that data tobacco is the "gateway" to marijuana, and that marijuana isn't completely harmless which is something I've said.

Hehe, cute. :D you WISH! :D
Well, if you have a source saying that smoking pot causes throat infections let's see it. All I got after a quick Google search was a bunch of forum posts about whether or not it's a good idea to smoke if you have strep throat.

Overstate the harms? Ok.. Marijuana is illegal for a reason, it's DANGEROUS!
Actually, its illegal because of paper industry lobbyists, racism, and a variety of other reasons. I recommend that you read and criticize (it's not exactly an unbiased source) this article (http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/), as it paints a fairly comprehensive picture of the events that led to the demonization of marijuana.

There is absolutely NO regulation on drug production. Who's to say someone doesn't mix rat poision? Cocaine? Meth? or any other TERRIBLE drug into your special little "herb". You DON'T know, and you CAN'T be certain.
Two points:
1.) This is not a criticism of marijuana, it's a criticism of those that produce marijuana. You're basically saying that marijuana is bad because people can put poison in it. It's equivalent to saying that apples are bad because people can put razor blades in them.
2.) It's actually an argument in favor of marijuana's legalization. There are no regulations on the production of illegal drugs because, well, they're illegal. If they were legal the government could and would regulate their production just like it does pretty much every other consumer product.

Appetite is NOT a disease, nor is Nausea. They are symptoms. Please... try harder bro, you don't know what you're talking about.
http://forum.nationstates.net/images/smilies/sm_facepalm.gif
That's what treatments do. They take care of symptoms. Loss of appetite and nausea are both symptoms of chemotherapy that are TREATED by marijuana.

Nice, I wouldn't consider filling your lungs with tar, just because you need to eat a benefit. Or feeling ill, take some tylenol.
Nobody says that you have to smoke marijuana to get the effects. It's perfectly acceptable to drink it in tea, eat it in baked goods and other foods, or inhale it in water vapor.

[Aves]

Just throwing in my two cents, I think it should be legalized. There are no major side effects directly from the smoking of marijuana. Plain and simple, it's a drug that makes the user feel better. Why police that?

[Mordecai]

Because the effect is not caused directly by a chemical in the pot. Whereas nicotine is the cause when you smoke cigarettes. It goes:

Smoke pot -> Feel good -> Dopamine
Smoke cigs -> Nicotine reacts with brain -> Dopamine

You can replace the pot with pretty much anything that makes you feel good, whereas with cigarettes it's the specific chemical acting in the brain.

Why is it that I don't get the same kind of high after eating say... chocolate? If the excess dopamine release isn't due to a chemical in the hash, then surely anything that makes me feel good can bring me to the same level of high that marijuana gives me?

I'm sorry if this isn't clear, I could further elaborate it if you didn't fully comprehend it.

[double r]

Hell no Maybe in Europe but in the US people are such extremist that they love to over use everything, also people will die because high idiots are going to get in to accidents and take innocent people with them to their grave.

In Portugal it is working but we should never legalize it here.

[Mordecai]

Hell no Maybe in Europe but in the US people are such extremist that they love to over use everything, also people will die because high idiots are going to get in to accidents and take innocent people with them to their grave.

In Portugal it is working but we should never legalize it here.

Even if by sheer chance the entire American population was as stupid as you've described, marijuana actually slows you down. Your physiological desire to move and be active is assuaged by the foreign marijuana chemicals. You're probably more likely to do something harmful under the influence of alcohol than you are baked.

So, your argument is invalid.

[Korashk]

Why is it that I don't get the same kind of high after eating say... chocolate? If the excess dopamine release isn't due to a chemical in the hash, then surely anything that makes me feel good can bring me to the same level of high that marijuana gives me?

I'm sorry if this isn't clear, I could further elaborate it if you didn't fully comprehend it.
Maybe YOU don't get the same kind of high, but people certainly can and do get high off of things that wouldn't do anything for you or I. Brain chemicals are funky things and they're pretty much why you like things. The more you like it the better it makes you feel, and you can get addicted to that feeling.

[Mordecai]

Maybe YOU don't get the same kind of high, but people certainly can and do get high off of things that wouldn't do anything for you or I. Brain chemicals are funky things and they're pretty much why you like things. The more you like it the better it makes you feel, and you can get addicted to that feeling.

I have never heard of someone getting the same kind of high from chocolate as they would from cannabis. I'm skeptical of the claim that it's only psychologically addictive. Certainly, it can be psychologically addictive as can a multitude of things, but to reject the physiological aspects of marijuana addiction sounds pretty reductionist.

[Thunduhbuhlt]

I am not claiming that this is correct, but here's what a scientist said about the addictiveness of marijuana: Marijuana is technically a physically addictive drug. This is because when the drug is smoked or ingested, it becomes fat soluble and slowly releases THC into your blood stream, up to 30 days after it is taken. That is also how drug tests work, and because THC is released slowly, you do not get that withdrawal that you may get from harder drugs such as methamphetamine or heroin.

[Korashk]

I have never heard of someone getting the same kind of high from chocolate as they would from cannabis.
They wouldn't, but just because its not the same type of high, doesn't mean its not a high. Even if the chemicals in marijuana aren't physically addicting, they still affect you brain in direct ways.

I'm skeptical of the claim that it's only psychologically addictive.
You shouldn't be, its not an argument or talking point. It's a fact. Marijuana contains no native elements that interact with your brain the way nicotine, caffeine, or other addictive chemicals would.

Certainly, it can be psychologically addictive as can a multitude of things, but to reject the physiological aspects of marijuana addiction sounds pretty reductionist.
I don't know what you're getting at here, even if marijuana isn't physically addictive, people can and do get addicted to it, and with addiction comes all of the physiological aspects of addiction. But these aspects aren't caused by the marijuana, they're caused by the addiction.

[Mordecai]

They wouldn't, but just because its not the same type of high, doesn't mean its not a high. Even if the chemicals in marijuana aren't physically addicting, they still affect you brain in direct ways.


You shouldn't be, its not an argument or talking point. It's a fact. Marijuana contains no native elements that interact with your brain the way nicotine, caffeine, or other addictive chemicals would.


I don't know what you're getting at here, even if marijuana isn't physically addictive, people can and do get addicted to it, and with addiction comes all of the physiological aspects of addiction. But these aspects aren't caused by the marijuana, they're caused by the addiction.

Ah, I think I understand your point now. I was confusing physiological effects with physiological addiction.

[LyaJen]

HELL TO THE YES.
I think it should be legalized. tobacco and alcohol are way more harmful than marijuana. it's hardly harmful at all.
alot of people are going to do it anyway.

[Mordecai]

HELL TO THE YES.
I think it should be legalized. tobacco and alcohol are way more harmful than marijuana. it's hardly harmful at all.
alot of people are going to do it anyway.


I think people should use this argument less often when it comes to legalisation because it can be interpreted as 'if smoking and alcohol are worse, then we should consider more restrictions on them'. There are plenty of other good arguments to pinpoint here.

[Rage of the Menace]

I think, similarly to gay marriage, we will see it be legalized state by state - liberal states first, conservative states will be far behind - as that is the way the trend is heading.

Wrong. Socially, yes, but a state doesn't revolve on its social well being, it revolves around economic, military and political stability. While Social stability is important, there are many other things that come first. Might I add, Libertarian parties still adopt conservative economics?

I am not right or left, I'm just stating that.


Marijuana holds only one problem with me. It's like a gateway effect into more serious and definitely more dangerous drugs. Other then that? Nope.

[dmb1996]

probably not

[Mordecai]

Marijuana holds only one problem with me. It's like a gateway effect into more serious and definitely more dangerous drugs. Other then that? Nope.

Wrong (http://healthland.time.com/2010/10/29/marijuna-as-a-gateway-drug-the-myth-that-will-not-die/). We've been through this one.

[Professional Russian]

I think all drugs should be legalized. If ciggs and alcohol stay legal. Be fucking consistent.

Alas i see major problems with this.Alcohol is legal because after the government tried to ban it(Prohibition) people fught back. Thats when mob and people like al capone got involved. They smuggled alcohol to the people that wanted. So after the government found out about this they quickly repealed it. Drugs arent legalized:
1(Because they hurt you
2(they're addictive
3(The Government wouldnt be able to get their tax money because most people would be making it them selves
4(They have some horrible side effects

[Korashk]

1(Because they hurt you
2(they're addictive
3(The Government wouldnt be able to get their tax money because most people would be making it them selves
4(They have some horrible side effects
To all of these reasons, I say: So what? Harm to yourself is not a criteria that the government used to outlaw things. The legal drugs kill and harm 100 times more people than the illegal ones do. Even if it was, it's still not the government's job to protect you from yourself. The addictiveness of a substance or a substance's side effects are also not reasons to ban a substance and ruin the lives of thousands of people who've done nothing wrong.

As for your tax theory, that's just ridiculous. I'm not even going to formulate a rebuttal because you're so obviously wrong.

[Green Arrow]

I don't think it ever will. People always say that smoking tabaco is worse, but the argument against that is that if both weed and tabaco was found at the same time round about now. Then both would not be legal.

[Gordo]

Make it legal in non-presidential election years. So 3/4 years people can do what they want :)

It's already quasi legal in California and the reality is, if you grow a plant or two in your home and smoke it there, you could smoke all ya want. Not saying that's legal, but no one would ever catch ya. So while it's illegal it's not like the gov't is going door to door.

IDK, I haven't tried it, but it seems like it has it's plus and minuses like anything else. One thing most debates lack tho is the mention that they could change a law for a time period that expires. Like grow your own and use your own until 2015 and then it reverts back to our current laws. It's not like any law is forever.

[usawp420]

Do you believe marijuana will ever be legalized in the United States, if so how soon? Why? yes I do believe it will, as of now we can see the aproval ratings for recreational marijuana use at a majority of about 53% +or-3%. however we wont see it legalized for another 5-15 years. as more and more people become educated about marijuana the see that the pros far outweigh the cons, which are only present due to prohibition.
Also, Do you believe marijuana should be legalized in the United States? Why? yes I do. (Amsterdam has decriminalized it)as the first country to legalize marijuana in the world, it would promote tourism and tear the black market to shreds. reducing exposure to other drugs and also creating jobs for our economy for those that would grow and sell marijuana in a practical business environment. but before we see marijuana legalized we may need hemp to be legalized first. but either way, one's legalization will surely lead to the other's.

[ThatGayKid]

Its a long and complicated cycle, some people think that legalizing it would de-moralize America and its citizens. Which is completely untrue, but im not going to get into all the details if you would like to learn more there are a few apps to download or check the internet.

[Neverender]

Do you believe marijuana will ever be legalized in the United States, if so how soon? Why?
Also, Do you believe marijuana should be legalized in the United States? Why?

I smoke all day every day, and because the United States is the reason why it remains illegal everywhere else, I don't forsee the legalization in the near future in that country.

However, in Canada we can get Government Grown weed for $5/g on the Federal Medical Marijuana program. And After Harper loses in the next election, the Liberals and NDP both support Decriminalization (and complete legalization for the Liberals), and since Canada isn't the bitch of the United States anymore, I see it getting legalized here by 2018.

[ets99]

I don't really think marijuana will ever be legalized, but it should. If you're stupid enough to ruin yourself like that do it.

[Cicero]

I don't really think marijuana will ever be legalized, but it should. If you're stupid enough to ruin yourself like that do it.

It will be legalized, in fact, I strongly believe it will be legalized within the next 20 years. Marijuana does harm teenagers more than ciggarretes do. But as you get older, and puberty stops. Ciggarretes are way more damaging. Marijuana will be great for multiple uses, I believe, like stress, certain illnesses or diseases, and it will be great for the economy. On the news, they said if it was legalized, it would get California out of debt altogether, or it would make them close out of debt. I think it should be legalized, alcohol isn't more damaging than marijuana. If you enjoy alcohol in moderation, alcohol can actually be very healthy. In fact, a study has shown that if you drink at least 2 servings of alcohol a day, people live a better quality of life.

[Neverender]

It will be legalized, in fact, I strongly believe it will be legalized within the next 20 years. Marijuana does harm teenagers more than ciggarretes do. But as you get older, and puberty stops. Ciggarretes are way more damaging. Marijuana will be great for multiple uses, I believe, like stress, certain illnesses or diseases, and it will be great for the economy. On the news, they said if it was legalized, it would get California out of debt altogether, or it would make them close out of debt. I think it should be legalized, alcohol isn't more damaging than marijuana. If you enjoy alcohol in moderation, alcohol can actually be very healthy. In fact, a study has shown that if you drink at least 2 servings of alcohol a day, people live a better quality of life.

Alrighty then, I have a number of bones to pick with this.

Marijuana does harm teenagers more than ciggarretes do.
How so? Don't give me a "it messes with brain chemistry" answer unless you can specifically note which Neurotransmitters it effects (Ananamide and Dopamine). Cigarettes work by giving your brain a shot of Nicotine and following up with a bucketload of MAOIs. It's the MAOIs your brain gets hooked on, and it will shit if it doesn't get them. Nicotine addiction without MAOIs (Like in e-cigs) lasts about 8 hours, the MAOIs drag the withdrawl out an extra two weeks.

But as you get older, and puberty stops. Ciggarretes are way more damaging.
There's little substance to this arguement. Cannabis smoke and Tobacco smoke are almost identical. Both are heavily carcinogenic. Only difference is that a Tobacco smoker is more likely to smoke 20 cigarettes a day than a toker would smoke 20 joints. If you understand addiction and can withstand the urge to smoke more cigs than you actually want to, the cancer risk from a single cigarette compared to a single joint is negligible.

I think it should be legalized, alcohol isn't more damaging than marijuana.
>Implying THC does damage in the first place.


In fact, a study has shown that if you drink at least 2 servings of alcohol a day, people live a better quality of life.
My own studies have shown that if I smoke all day every day, I enjoy a greater happiness in life.

[Martianus]

I absolutely agree with legalization

[HackerExecute]

Marijuana does harm teenagers more than ciggarretes do.

Facepalm.

[Cicero]

Alrighty then, I have a number of bones to pick with this.


How so? Don't give me a "it messes with brain chemistry" answer unless you can specifically note which Neurotransmitters it effects (Ananamide and Dopamine). Cigarettes work by giving your brain a shot of Nicotine and following up with a bucketload of MAOIs. It's the MAOIs your brain gets hooked on, and it will shit if it doesn't get them. Nicotine addiction without MAOIs (Like in e-cigs) lasts about 8 hours, the MAOIs drag the withdrawl out an extra two weeks.


There's little substance to this arguement. Cannabis smoke and Tobacco smoke are almost identical. Both are heavily carcinogenic. Only difference is that a Tobacco smoker is more likely to smoke 20 cigarettes a day than a toker would smoke 20 joints. If you understand addiction and can withstand the urge to smoke more cigs than you actually want to, the cancer risk from a single cigarette compared to a single joint is negligible.


>Implying THC does damage in the first place.



My own studies have shown that if I smoke all day every day, I enjoy a greater happiness in life.

Who cares about your own studies, science is the only important study. Here (http://www.abovetheinfluence.com/facts/drugsmarijuana) it says that it's damaging to developing bodies. My doctors (who specialize in the respiratory system) say that the stuff (Chemicals) in marijuana is very, very damaging to the lungs while their still developing. So that's a doctors word, against yours, many people would believe a doctor more than a 16 year old. Doctors went to school for 10+ years. Plus, your views are obliviously gonna support stuff about marijuana being healthy because you have your "own studies".

[johngotti]

itll never be fully legalized recreationalozed to the point where its sold like cigarettes at a gas station, but i believe all states well recognize its medicinal purpose aswell as decriminalize small amounts.

[derpderp]

It needs to be fully legalized, albeit I refuse to do drugs I support the idea that it's your body, if you go on a rampage due to drugs or you die due to OD, then it's your fault, you knew the possible outcomes...blame the person who can think for themselves, not the plant which is inanimate...

[PinkFloyd]

Like other people have been saying, too many people would grow it them selves for the government to tax it. so no.

Do I want it to be legalized? yes. Pretend going to the mall and have everyone tripping around. It would no doubt, be the best thing ever.

[Korashk]

Like other people have been saying, too many people would grow it them selves for the government to tax it. so no.
This is one of the most ridiculous notions in the entire marijuana debate. It's not true of any other plant product and there's no reason to think it's true for marijuana. If it were, why do people ever buy pot from dealers?

[heeysamantha]

I dont do drugs, but i think it should be legalized. As long as you're not driving while high or you aren't putting anyone else in danger it should be fine.

[fishing kid]

if weed is ever going to be legalized it will be within the next ten years. the problem with legalizing it is that the government makes money from it with it being illegal. its all about the money to the government. what they need to do is make it legal but tax the hell out of it so they still make their precious penny off of it.

[Korashk]

ithe problem with legalizing it is that the government makes money from it with it being illegal.
This is just completely false. The government doesn't make money because of marijuana. They lose money, and a whole lot of it.

[Lovely637]

I don't think so. I ain't using it. What can it be its benefits to the user?