Legalization of weed.

[Church]

Theres been a lot of talk about the legalization of weed, why people think it should, shouldnt. Also the medical parts of it, and I wanna know what you think.

Also why you think that.

Personally I think it should be legalized for all purposes because it cant kill you directly and can be used for medical reasons.

[Sage]

We legalized alcohol and cigarettes. Marijuana isn't any more harmful (in fact, it can be less so) than those two.

[darkwoon]

I'm for the legalization of such 'soft drugs'; this would allow the government to raise taxes on those and use the money for the common good (including healthcare); it would also let the police forces focus on fighting hard drugs consumption.

[Amnesiac]

We legalized alcohol and cigarettes. Marijuana isn't any more harmful (in fact, it can be less so) than those two.

Agreed, the only reason drinking and smoking are legal is because so many people do it, and they both have deep historical roots. If smoking wasn't so widespread, it'd probably be just as illegal as weed.

The war on drugs is a waste of taxpayer money and time. It's turned our southern border into a war zone. Just legalize it, I can tell you from personal experience that banning it isn't protecting any teenagers. There's a drug trade going on here between the high and middle schools in southwest Houston, and abolishing drugs hasn't done anything to stop it.

[Camazotz]

If more research can be done and restrictions made, then I support the legalization of marijuana.

[Sage]

Agreed, the only reason drinking and smoking are legal is because so many people do it, and they both have deep historical roots.

You think pot doesn't have deep historical roots? People have been getting stoned since before recorded history.

[Insanity Fair]

As long as you apply some common sense laws. No driving or operating dangerous machinery while intoxicated. No buying it unless you're over 18 or 21. It'd be great for the economy and the taxes would bring in truckloads of money.

[Bougainvillea]

As long as you apply some common sense laws. No driving or operating dangerous machinery while intoxicated. No buying it unless you're over 18 or 21. It'd be great for the economy and the taxes would bring in truckloads of money.

No one follows those rules for drugs that are already legal. :rolleyes:

[Sordid Saint]

Well I think it should just be decriminalized. This would mean that the consumers wouldn't be breaking the law, but the growers would be breaking the law.

"Decriminalization is a change in the law that lifts criminal penalties associated with a given activity. That activity is no longer viewed as criminal although it may still be subject to regulation of some form." - Wisegeek.com.

Also, both the DEA and people in the marijuana industry don't want it to be legalized. People in the marijuana industry don't want it to be legal because then, they're left without a job. Same with the DEA, since (I would think) a lot of their work comes from marijuana.

So, as comparison, we would be in the same spot as Amsterdam is. It wouldn't be illegal to smoke marijuana, but it would just be frowned upon.

I also think there should be another spot from "decriminalization", but I'm just going to go with yes since it's the closest thing :P

[Amnesiac]

You think pot doesn't have deep historical roots? People have been getting stoned since before recorded history.

Yes, but it doesn't have historical roots in the United States. You could say that about parts of Asia, but most western nations outlawed weed back in the early 1900s.

[Hatsune Miku]

Marijuana isn't as harmful because you don't smoke it as often as cigarettes. If you smoked Marijuana as much as you did cigarettes you would have the same problems and more. Smoking Marijuana is the most harmful method of consumption, as the inhalation of smoke from organic materials can cause various health problems. a study in New Zealand of 79 lung-cancer patients suggested daily Marijuana smokers have a 5.7 times higher risk of lung cancer than non-users.

But, another study of 2252 people in Los Angeles failed to find a correlation between the smoking of Marijuana and lung, head or neck cancers. Some studies have also found that moderate Marijuana use may protect against head and neck cancers, as well as lung cancer. Some studies have shown that cannabidiol ( A major constituent from Cannabis aka Marijuana ) may also be useful in treating breast cancer

Some studies show its bad, others show its okay.

So I say, legalize it, but only for prescribed medical use.

[Perseus]

Marijuana should be legal. Too many people are getting arrested for it when it isn't even that bad compared to cigarettes and alcohol. I did see on MSN.com that studies have shown it can be linked to schizophrenia, but I didn't click the link, so I dunno.

[Jamie]

Personally I think it should be legalized for all purposes because it cant kill you directly and can be used for medical reasons.
Wow, marijuana actually goes against your religious beliefs. Hypocrite.

But I really don't care one way or another whether it's legalized or not, I doubt it'll effect me too much.

[Church]

I dont remember the bible saying dont light up a joint

[Amnesiac]

I think if weed was legalized the number of teenagers using it would go down, since law enforcement wouldn't be pre-occupied with adults using it anymore and could crack down on school-to-school drug trade.

[Jess]

legalize it for only medical purposes (agreeing with Poison said.)

[Jamie]

I dont remember the bible saying dont light up a joint
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, so as not to worship demons, and the idols of gold and of silver and of brass and of stone and of wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; and they did not repent of their murders nor of their sorceries nor of their immorality nor of their thefts,
...and the light of a lamp will not shine in you any longer; and the voice of the bridegroom and bride will not be heard in you any longer; for your merchants were the great men of the earth, because all the nations were deceived by your sorcery,

Context of the word sorcery being used here? This context. (http://bryanwithay.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/the-greek-word-for-sorcery/)

[Church]

Hmm, weird talked to my preacher and he said weed was not a sin unless you let it consume your life. I even had roman catholic people tell me that

Guess someone on the internet is right and hes wrong though.

[Jamie]

Hmm, weird talked to my preacher and he said weed was not a sin unless you let it consume your life. I even had roman catholic people tell me that

Guess someone on the internet is right and hes wrong though.
Yeah, because preachers and a certain Roman Catholic priest told you that... they're undeniably right. Also, why would a protestant necessarily be talking to a priest?

Edit: you said Roman Catholic people, therefore I assumed you meant someone with authority. Simply believing someone due to their beliefs being in tune with the topic you're asking about, isn't really enough to prove such is all right. I'll even find you some more verses condemning such.

[Sordid Saint]

Yes, but it doesn't have historical roots in the United States. You could say that about parts of Asia, but most western nations outlawed weed back in the early 1900s.

It actually DOES have historical roots in the United States. At one point it was illegal for farmers to NOT be growing hemp. Also, don't you think that Spaniards would bring Marijuana with them in boats when they came here? And don't you think there would be ways to import it? I bet it's been here for a very long time anyways.

[Rutherford The Brave]

Well I think it should just be decriminalized. This would mean that the consumers wouldn't be breaking the law, but the growers would be breaking the law.

"Decriminalization is a change in the law that lifts criminal penalties associated with a given activity. That activity is no longer viewed as criminal although it may still be subject to regulation of some form." - Wisegeek.com.

Also, both the DEA and people in the marijuana industry don't want it to be legalized. People in the marijuana industry don't want it to be legal because then, they're left without a job. Same with the DEA, since (I would think) a lot of their work comes from marijuana.

So, as comparison, we would be in the same spot as Amsterdam is. It wouldn't be illegal to smoke marijuana, but it would just be frowned upon.

I also think there should be another spot from "decriminalization", but I'm just going to go with yes since it's the closest thing :P

It already is in Mass. You get fined but it wont go on your record and you wont go to jail unless you intend on distributing.

[Sordid Saint]

It already is in Mass. You get fined but it wont go on your record and you wont go to jail unless you intend on distributing.

Wait, WHAT?! Since when?

[Rutherford The Brave]

Wait, WHAT?! Since when?

Since like last summer, not sure it was on the ballet with the dog racing thing that got shut down.

[Amnesiac]

It actually DOES have historical roots in the United States. At one point it was illegal for farmers to NOT be growing hemp. Also, don't you think that Spaniards would bring Marijuana with them in boats when they came here? And don't you think there would be ways to import it? I bet it's been here for a very long time anyways.

We have to remember that the United States is a young country. It only had 100 years of existence before drugs were outlawed in the early 1900s. That's nothing compared to the thousands of years in parts of Asia.