Legalization of Marijuanna and acceptance of it's users

[Midget Kong]

Disclaimer to mods and members
I have been given permission from Patrick to post this thread.
and I have no intentions of promoting drug use,especially for minors.





as the years have gone by I have been reacquainted with this drug,it has now become my drug of choice,
and it still doesn't make sense that it's illegal in this country.
I've been doing a lot of studying on the issue and have always thought this drug should be legalized if not at least decriminalized.
even when I was strait-edge I've always been an avid supporter of marijuana law reform.
now that I too have come back to enjoying it socially and privately I more than ever would like to see this drug's bad name removed from the public and government's eyes and ears.

today the two top legal drugs are killing people at a staggering rate,especially when compared to the total death's related to pot.

Alcohol kills over 75,000 people in America per year,either from Alcohol poisoning or driving under the influence,but this drug still remains legal.

Tobacco kills over 440,000 per year and yet this drug also remains legal.

Marijuana on the other hand has killed 0 people because of an overdose and the only death's it can be linked to are those with severe allergic reactions and people who drive under the influence of the drug.

I've also seen a study recently that shows the impossibility of overdose on marijuana,
the LD50 for Marijuana has not been found quite yet but it's been rounded off to a number of 20,000 to 40,000.
needless to say that if you smoke marijuana it's impossible to overdose unless the THC is synthesized to abnormal levels.
it's been calculated that in order to actually overdose on Marijuana you would have to smoke 1,500 pounds in under 15 minutes.
which means of course you would have to go through more than a thousand joints per minute which shows the impossibility of an actual marijuana overdose in a healthy person.

so I'll ask once again,why is this drug illegal?

here's another thing (and this is a real kicker)
we are currently making ethanol out of corn which is why milk and other dairy products are skyrocketing in price.
the funny thing is corn is not even the best source for making ethanol.
betcha can't guess what is.
yep,hemp is actually a more efficient and less cost worthy crop to make ethanol out of.
talk about going green!

it's also come to my attention that if you test positive for THC and need an organ transplant they will deny you an organ transplant,yeah,you smoke pot go home and die,we'll give this kidney to some business criminal on Wall street.

so here I am.
an admitted marijuana user as well as activist for marijuana law reform,and I'd like to see what the general attitude on this drug is.
yes,this is a serious discussion on marijuana.
I'm not trying to glorify it's use in any way,I simply wish that society as a whole can accept marijuana in the same way they accept alcohol,tobacco,and even prescription pills.

now I'll turn the issue over to you to discuss.

 

[barf79]

I totally agree with you buddy...
I was a big user over the last few years but i have almost stop everything since i am in another step in my life...
I am in favor of legalization...
Tabacco is way more dangerous...

 

[TRZA]

Of course they should legalize it..and then tax the hell out of it like prostitution in Vegas.

But the "moral" types won't let that ever happen.

 

[Glamador]

Personally I'm against drugs. My moral code, as a rule of thumb, is "you can do whatever the hell you want as long as it doesn't harm another being, directly or indirectly". Of course there are exceptions, it's a rule of thumb.

But in this situation that becomes complicated...I'm tempted to say weed really doesn't harm anybody but the user, at least not directly. But much the same way the family and friends of alcoholics suffer, those who know marijuana users see their loved one spiral until his brain is mush.

While pot isn't necessarily the most dangerous drug out there, it does alter the mind, and unless you're pretty pathetic and want to be someone else it makes no sense to alter the way your mind functions until you're unrecognizable. I don't get drunk, I don't take drugs, and I don't put myself in situations where I'm out of control. I like being me, for the most part, and I wouldn't want to compromise that just for a "high".

But that's besides the point. Hash doesn't just harm the individual who chooses to use it. It abuses their friends and family, but generally no worse than those who abuse alcohol. So the way I see it, if we can benefit by removing one of the more popular drugs from the dealers repertoire, make some extra money from it's taxation, and make it more acceptable for people with a problem to publicly reach out for help without fear of arrest or social stigma, then by all means make it legal.

 

[Midget Kong]

Personally I'm against drugs. My moral code, as a rule of thumb, is "you can do whatever the hell you want as long as it doesn't harm another being, directly or indirectly". Of course there are exceptions, it's a rule of thumb.

But in this situation that becomes complicated...I'm tempted to say weed really doesn't harm anybody but the user, at least not directly. But much the same way the family and friends of alcoholics suffer, those who know marijuana users see their loved one spiral until his brain is mush.

While pot isn't necessarily the most dangerous drug out there, it does alter the mind, and unless you're pretty pathetic and want to be someone else it makes no sense to alter the way your mind functions until you're unrecognizable. I don't get drunk, I don't take drugs, and I don't put myself in situations where I'm out of control. I like being me, for the most part, and I wouldn't want to compromise that just for a "high".

But that's besides the point. Hash doesn't just harm the individual who chooses to use it. It abuses their friends and family, but generally no worse than those who abuse alcohol. So the way I see it, if we can benefit by removing one of the more popular drugs from the dealers repertoire, make some extra money from it's taxation, and make it more acceptable for people with a problem to publicly reach out for help without fear of arrest or social stigma, then by all means make it legal.

I understand your point and your welcome to stay sober if that's the way you prefer to be,I was sober for 6 years and I didn't start drinking till I turned 22 but I like the way marijuana effects me,
it helps make me a little happier and content with what I do have in my life.

and I also agree that taxing the stuff could fix some problems and go to better causes,just hopefully not big government lobbyists and shit.
I'd like to see that money given to education and straitening out the economy.
so yes,if Marijuana was legal I would be buying it at Walgreens or a smoke shop or whatever.
the thing about pot over liquor is that liquor can effect people in a very violent way when they're drinking,especially if they drink to excess.when I do drink I limit myself to about 5 beers or 3 shots and just get a bit of a buzz.
not sure why people get so ****ed up on drinking and end up hugging the toilet while also pissing themselves and shouting every curse word in the book.
or just being dumb like pissing out in front of traffic (a few of my buds got drunk and did that and me all I had was 2 beers and a little less than a nick bag of my Mary Jane,and I thought the idea was stupid.)
but my point here if not to prove marijuana isn't quite all that bad but it's at least in the league of drugs like tobacco and alcohol.
thing is I can smoke all I want,still comprehend rational thought (for the most part) and best of all I don't spend my time hugging the toilet and blacking out.

I'm going to quote a guy from the marijuana-louges

"I used to be high on life,but I eventually built up a tolerance"

and don't hate on strait-edgers,I used to be one of them.
I wasn't against drugs though,I just thought "well,that's not really my thing so I'll pass"
so to those strait-edgers that aren't haters I give you my praise. :hail:

thank you for the posts and votes so far,I hope there will be more.

 

[DCR]

Whatever the law is pertaining to drugs, it just needs to be consistent. If the government wants drugs to be illegal, make them all illegal, including alcohol. Alcohol is without question the single most destructive substance in this country, so why make exception for it? If the government thinks alcohol being widely available is more important than anything else, then legalize all drugs. I'm sick of arbitrary laws that say "well, this is okay, but this isn't, even though it's pretty much the same thing".

My personal opinion on the matter is that drugs should be legalized and regulated. Considering the economic state at present time, we'd be in such better shape if our money wasn't going to imprison non-violent offenders like these, not to mention what we'd pull in if these substances were taxable. Of course, driving under the influence of any mind-altering substance should be strictly and severely penalized, no matter if you're abusing marijuana, alcohol or something like cough medicine. That is where the law should be applied, not to simple possession and recreational use.

That said, I don't abuse any drugs, including alcohol (the latter of which I've tried several times but never cared for). That's what works for me. I believe very strongly in my own moral statutes, but that has no place governing how other people live their lives. That's the problem with this country, people just can't separate the two. They think doing drugs is wrong, so others shouldn't be able to; they think gay people getting married is wrong, so that shouldn't be allowed either. Don't forget that this is the same country which at one point believed it was okay to enslave anyone of a certain race and disallow all women the right to vote.

 

[Midget Kong]

Whatever the law is pertaining to drugs, it just needs to be consistent. If the government wants drugs to be illegal, make them all illegal, including alcohol. Alcohol is without question the single most destructive substance in this country, so why make exception for it? If the government thinks alcohol being widely available is more important than anything else, then legalize all drugs. I'm sick of arbitrary laws that say "well, this is okay, but this isn't, even though it's pretty much the same thing".

My personal opinion on the matter is that drugs should be legalized and regulated. Considering the economic state at present time, we'd be in such better shape if our money wasn't going to imprison non-violent offenders like these, not to mention what we'd pull in if these substances were taxable. Of course, driving under the influence of any mind-altering substance should be strictly and severely penalized, no matter if you're abusing marijuana, alcohol or something like cough medicine. That is where the law should be applied, not to simple possession and recreational use.

That said, I don't abuse any drugs, including alcohol (the latter of which I've tried several times but never cared for). That's what works for me. I believe very strongly in my own moral statutes, but that has no place governing how other people live their lives. That's the problem with this country, people just can't separate the two. They think doing drugs is wrong, so others shouldn't be able to; they think gay people getting married is wrong, so that shouldn't be allowed either. Don't forget that this is the same country which at one point believed it was okay to enslave anyone of a certain race and disallow all women the right to vote.

I agree with you 100% on making all drugs legal and taxable and having statutes of law applying to the use of said drugs to make them much safer for those who use the drugs and those who around certain drug users.I think if you wanna do PCP you should be locked up in a padded room basically so you don't hurt someone.
I for one can't understand why anyone would do PCP after seeing both the effects and long term effects of using that drug.
it makes people dangerous to themselves and others.
one of my older brothers used to do PCP (not my oldest but coolest bro I just smoke pot with who's 43)
and he was virtually a zombie,couldn't be rational,was violent and I've also seen many videos of people out of control on PCP.
probably one of the worst drugs ever and I stay far far away from that shit.

in the early 1900's there were opium houses designed for people to go there and smoke opium.
they would smoke and lye on their hips for hours until they came down off their high,then went about their normal business.
the term Hip was actually born from this.if someone asked you if you were Hip in the 20's they were asking if you smoked Opium.
interesting little factoid huh?

 

[Glamador]

Interesting factoid indeed. But I stand by my previous assessment. I don't want consistency, there are very real historical reasons why alcohol is legal and it's NOT a moral double standard. We TRIED to outlaw booze, and much like how drugs are trafficked through the WORST of situations today, alcohol was being distributed by extremely unsavory characters.

As I say, if it doesn't harm others, do it. And that's not pushing my moral code on others, that's partly self and societal preservation. To increase the happiness of the most people (mostly me), harming others must barred from the available actions people take.

As such, MOST drugs such as cocaine, heroine, crystal meth, etc. etc. etc. are EXTREMELY dangerous, they alter people's minds in ways that make them unreasonable, unpredictable, often violent or suicidal or both, and they are a danger to everyone around them. Why would I want those legalized? It's not a double standard if the analogy between the two isn't clear. Marijuana is NOT cocaine. Nor is it alcohol. If I'm going to be discussing whether marijuana specifically should be legalized I'm going to look at it on the merits of that alone, not other substances.

 

[Midget Kong]

just for the record cocaine isn't as dangerous as people think it is.
one line of coke (unless you have bad reactions to stimulants) most likely won't hurt ya.
unless it's like really really pure stuff..which I can't even find.
unless you do a lot of cocaine you won't get the jitters,paranoia,and you won't become a geeked out blabbermouth talking about nothing.
it would probably take about 4 good lines in a row to end up like that (depending on quality and if it's a line or a rail.
it's like snorting a redbull up your nose with a shorter time span for the effects (unless it's really really good).
also you get this kinda bitter taste your throat but some people like myself kinda like that feeling and smoking a cigarette afterward cause it makes the tobacco seem a hell of alot less harsh.
it's kinda like powdered energy.
once you do a line your ready to do something else,while still snorting the drips from your nose which gives you more energy.
I dunno,cocaine has a certain stigma about it though.
but I can tell ya one thing,if you ever do it,don't do it often.
if you do it every few months your cool and your not addicted.
but if you start binging and do it like every week things become problematic.
but lets get back to the topic of Marijuana.

 

[Snow]

High as ****

Sorry guys, I HAD to do it as soon as I saw the title...

 

[The Grid]

Natrual herb juices should be next to the Engergy drinks in the coolers.

 

[DCR]

And that's not pushing my moral code on others

I didn't say you were doing that. You're obviously rational enough to distinguish between objectivity and subjectivity, but so many people in this country are not. I just went off on a vaguely related tangent as that in that in particular is something that's been pissing me off as of late.

We TRIED to outlaw booze, and much like how drugs are trafficked through the WORST of situations today, alcohol was being distributed by extremely unsavory characters.

Which brings up a good point that MK made...

having statutes of law applying to the use of said drugs to make them much safer for those who use the drugs and those who around certain drug users.

If the government is allowed to regulate these substances, that will make them safer. Just as moonshine and other bootleg liquor is incredibly dangerous compared to what you can buy in stores, so would these drugs be compared to their regulated counterparts.

Really, I just think our taxdollars are better spent on something other than locking up Tommy Chong. I'd rather there was more of a focus on programs for abusers (or families of abusers) to get the help they need. What good does incarceration do for a problem with addiction?

 

[Silent Hill Harry]

I see no big problem with the legalization of marijuana .... a friend of mine from California suffers from depression and bipolar disorder and marijuana has done more to calm him down than those lousy meds ever did.

 

[im_a_loner_dottie_a_rebel]

hell yes, if you legalize marijuana itll help reduce drug and gang related crime, profits from marijuana sales wont fuel other hard drug sales, pro growers wont have to deal with the mafia or whatever shadey gang crap, and people will be more chill; in general.

 

[Glamador]

It would be wrong to assume "pro growers" won't still be hassled by the mafia. Hell, a relative of mine wanted to open a damned vending machine business and they chucked acid at his front door with a note that said "next time it will be in your wife's eyes".

Now you tell me, are vending machines illegal? Nope. Just thought I'd point that out.

 

[Angel]

Being stopped by a dog at a train station on the way home for "having drugs" on me when I didn't = Angel Pissed off at dog. Angel cannot reclaim those ten wasted minutes because of police mutt made her miss her train and therefore was an hour late getting home. Angel doesn't care about drugs. Angel's life is screwed up enough without adding to the problems... Plus Angel is skint and on top of it has a friend who does all this and Angel has vowed not to end up like her no matter what.

And Angel has no idea why she reverted to talking in third person but at least she knows she can blame it on tiredness (its like, 00:49 in the morning), mellow-mindness or insanity and not anything else.

Edit:

I too tried medication for depression Silent Hill Harry, but unlike your friend I didn't try something else when the legal stuff failed me. There are other cures for depression, your friend has just given up trying the safe and legal route and is trying the illegal way. I'm not saying he is an idiot; just that he is weak.

Drugs don't cure the problem they merely overwrite the feelings, escapism you call it, but the cause of the problem is still THERE. If I want escapism, I've got a collection of games to take my mind off them and its nice, safe and legal. I can at least stimulate my mind and keep me busy from thinking about my problems. At the end of the day, even weed has side effects on users because it is a drug just the same as smoking and drinking is.

Thats not to say I didn't have the chance to take them, I was offered them on several occusions. I've got problems without adding to them and legal or illegal I just don't want the extra sorrows and to ADD to my depressions.

 

[Kona]

Im doing my term paper on the legalization of marijauna. I am for it for both normal use (recreational) and medicinal use. It's safer than most prescription drugs, it doesnt kill people, and it doesn't harm anyone else if you use it. I say it should be legalized in all 50 states.

 

[Angel]

Note: Just because breathing doesn't kill doesn't mean it won't kill?

I just want to say that.

No I won't expand on it.

 

[Glamador]

Marijuana is a depressant. And unless a situation a la Scary Movie in which you attempt to dance with a deadly weapon in one hand in a crowded room I don't see the forseeable dangers outside the usual driving while impaired and being too stoned to know better and fall off a cliff. It's not any more inherently dangerous than alcohol. Which can cause the same effects if not worse, since not everybody responds to alcohol the same way.

 

[TRZA]

I too tried medication for depression Silent Hill Harry, but unlike your friend I didn't try something else when the legal stuff failed me. There are other cures for depression, your friend has just given up trying the safe and legal route and is trying the illegal way. I'm not saying he is an idiot; just that he is weak.

Drugs don't cure the problem they merely overwrite the feelings, escapism you call it, but the cause of the problem is still THERE. If I want escapism, I've got a collection of games to take my mind off them and its nice, safe and legal. I can at least stimulate my mind and keep me busy from thinking about my problems. At the end of the day, even weed has side effects on users because it is a drug just the same as smoking and drinking is.

Thats not to say I didn't have the chance to take them, I was offered them on several occusions. I've got problems without adding to them and legal or illegal I just don't want the extra sorrows and to ADD to my depressions.

Sounds like you're passing judgment on him anyway.

I'd rather buy dope from a guy I know locally and be cognizant of who grew the stuff and where it was grown than support the pharmaceutical industry.