Marijuana, why isn't it legalized?

[deloriagod]

Well if your saying Marijuana should be legal because Cigs are then why not this solution. Make Cigs Illegal and keep Marijuana Illegal.

 

There \

 

 

 

Congratulations. You just killed a major industry. Goodbye what's left of our economy.

 

 

 

Don't worry, there's still porn.

 

 

 

Only a fool still pays for that ;)

[Quoi_Tu]

Well if your saying Marijuana should be legal because Cigs are then why not this solution. Make Cigs Illegal and keep Marijuana Illegal.

 

There \

 

 

 

Congratulations. You just killed a major industry. Goodbye what's left of our economy.

 

 

 

As long as it's still legal to manufacture, we'll be fine. We export a lot of cigarettes and tobacco. Fun Tobacco Statistics

 

 

 

Edit:

 

Cigarette imports per capita by country

[Orpheus]

It isn't legalized because of the government instilling fear, based on cultural whims and religious fanatics, as opposed to scientific facts. I honestly would like to try weed though, if only once.

[Fist_of_ozzy]

 

1. You don't get "high" the first time you smoke marijuana

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Oh I BEG to differ on that. The first time I smoked bud it was from a fat joint that weighed ten grams. I was high as hell and I loved it.

[Ginger_Warrior]

It isn't legalized because of the government instilling fear, based on cultural whims and religious fanatics, as opposed to scientific facts. I honestly would like to try weed though, if only once.

 

I'd have to disagree. It isn't the result of a movement from above (the government and the Church), but rather what would be the result from below if a politician actually dared to say, "I support the decriminalisation of weed". They'd be called irresponsible gang-lovers by the social conservatives.

 

 

 

The fact of the matter is drugs have been a social taboo for several centuries, and the number of people in support of their decriminalisation hasn't changed much at all over the years. Tobacco doesn't have the same anxiety associated with it. Medically, you can argue it doesn't damage the body as much as tobacco; philosophically you can argue it's a fundamental human right for someone to put whatever they like into their body; logistically you can argue that making drugs legal would lead to safety because of policing payed for with excessive taxation, but until that taboo is broken, there's no chance of drugs being decriminalised any time soon.

[1_man_army]

It isn't legalized because of the government instilling fear, based on cultural whims and religious fanatics, as opposed to scientific facts. I honestly would like to try weed though, if only once.

 

I'd have to disagree. It isn't the result of a movement from above (the government and the Church), but rather what would be the result from below if a politician actually dared to say, "I support the decriminalisation of weed". They'd be called irresponsible gang-lovers by the social conservatives.

 

 

 

 

It's the same principle as raising taxes, even if politicians want/need to do it they won't as they'll become unelectable.

[venomai]

The fact of the matter is drugs have been a social taboo for several centuries

 

In the United States, drugs like opium, heroin, marijuana, cocaine, LSD and many others were all widely accepted and widely used at certain times before their 20th century crackdowns (the "War on Drugs"). Certain drugs (e.g. cocaine, opium) were often encouraged to be used in labour, medical, military, religious and even recreational contexts.

 

 

 

There is no such thing as a pervasive and extensive social taboo against drugs. It ultimately depended on the society, the drug(s), and the era.

 

 

 

and the number of people in support of their decriminalisation hasn't changed much at all over the years.

 

In recent years, there has been a significant growing support for law reform of marijuana, and even other "harder" drugs.

[Dalcyte]

Cigarettes should be illegal (as should pot imo), but they will never be. That's because the tobaco industry has so much invested in the US Economy, and bringing down big tobacco is like bringing down big oil or the alcohol industry (which is also a drug, and thus should be illegal, but it isn't because of its foothold in society). Cigarettes have so much money invested in lobbyists. These lobbyists help support campaigns of congressmen, and help them if not gaurantee to win elections. in exchange they make laws helping tobaco and shutting down legislation that bans it. That's why cigarettes are still legal, so making the argument that "if cigarettes are legal, pot should be too" is a bad one. It's legal for economic and corrupted political reasons. Not healthwise. It's god awful for you and everyone around you in fact.

 

 

 

Pot won't be legal for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, is the fact that it's illegal right now. That's a huge reason. Second, saying since pot isn't as addictive as tobaco, heroin or crack or something is not a good excuse to say it should be legal (lesser of the evils). Just a terrible reason. pot can lead to depression, lack of motivation, and lung diseases. Don't want to legalize something that is a detriment to your health. Also, although pot's pretty easy for people to get, legalizing it would obviously make it much easier to obtain. It is not healthy for teenagers with developing brains to smoke--it's harmful.

 

 

 

Here's some more food for thought. If pot was legalized and sold in your gas station just as cigarettes are, it'd be produced and distributed by a company or companies. It's a widely known fact that cigarette companies contaminate their product with almost lethal additives. Don't you think that this would probably happen with pot too? That and the obvious argument of the whole "gateway drug" thing.

[user1991]

Pot won't be legal for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, is the fact that it's illegal right now. That's a huge reason. Second, saying since pot isn't as addictive as tobaco, heroin or crack or something is not a good excuse to say it should be legal (lesser of the evils). Just a terrible reason. pot can lead to depression, lack of motivation, and lung diseases. Don't want to legalize something that is a detriment to your health. Also, although pot's pretty easy for people to get, legalizing it would obviously make it much easier to obtain. It is not healthy for teenagers with developing brains to smoke--it's harmful.

 

 

 

So what you're saying is that people shouldn't have the choice to change their own mindsets/put certain drugs into their body?

 

 

 

I mean, this argument I can sort of understand for harder drugs (sorta), but for weed? No way.

 

 

 

In moderation it is fine and I see no reasons other than stigma to keep it illegal.

[Zierro]

Second, saying since pot isn't as addictive as tobaco, heroin or crack or something is not a good excuse to say it should be legal (lesser of the evils). Just a terrible reason. pot can lead to depression, lack of motivation, and lung diseases. Don't want to legalize something that is a detriment to your health. Also, although pot's pretty easy for people to get, legalizing it would obviously make it much easier to obtain. It is not healthy for teenagers with developing brains to smoke--it's harmful.

 

 

 

I think it's a pretty good reason. After all, that's one of the main reasons that it is said to be illegal in the first place. Plus, there are lots (and I mean lots) of things that have negative side effects but I don't think that's justification to disallow them when it merely boils down to personal choice.

 

 

 

Here's some more food for thought. If pot was legalized and sold in your gas station just as cigarettes are, it'd be produced and distributed by a company or companies. It's a widely known fact that cigarette companies contaminate their product with almost lethal additives. Don't you think that this would probably happen with pot too? That and the obvious argument of the whole "gateway drug" thing.

 

 

 

I don't think marijuana smokers would be too thrilled about having their herb contaminated by chemicals. By the way, I think the whole gateway drug argument is ridiculous. Anything can be considered a "gateway" for anything.

[Deiophobus]

Speaking of the gateway drug theory: My friend got a MIP a few months ago (my town gives out the most MIP's per capita in the country), and he has to attend class about drugs and alcohol now. They discussed the gateway drug thing, and the instructor said that the theory is that being around weed will introduce you to people who are into harder drugs, and possibly get you into it. The instructor even acknowledged it was a really weak point.

 

 

 

I forget if anyone has posted a link to here yet, but if they haven't, it's a nice resource if you want to find out about legalization.

 

http://norml.org/

[venomai]

Cigarettes should be illegal (as should pot imo), but they will never be. That's because the tobaco industry has so much invested in the US Economy, and bringing down big tobacco is like bringing down big oil or the alcohol industry (which is also a drug, and thus should be illegal, but it isn't because of its foothold in society).

 

For what reasons do you feel that prohibition is a more effective means of lowering the use and abuse of the drug?

 

 

 

Pot won't be legal for a couple of reasons.

 

Strange... in some jurisdictions, it is already.

 

 

 

pot can lead to depression

 

A causal effect has not yet been shown, even in large samples.

 

http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7059

 

 

 

Correlation does not imply causation

 

 

 

lack of motivation, and lung diseases.

 

Sources please? Mine suggest otherwise.

 

 

 

http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana/factsmyths/

 

 

 

Don't want to legalize something that is a detriment to your health.

 

Say goodbye to fast food! :lol:

 

 

 

Also, although pot's pretty easy for people to get, legalizing it would obviously make it much easier to obtain.

 

What makes you think this? Right now many teens find it as easy (if not easier) to acquire weed than it is to acquire alcohol or cigarettes (two very legal drugs).

 

 

 

Proper decriminalization would, however, remove the criminal element of purchasing weed. i.e. Users would no longer need to purchase it from criminals in the cover of a dark alley. :lol:

 

 

 

It is not healthy for teenagers with developing brains to smoke--it's harmful.

 

Sources please? Harmful in what particular ways?

 

 

 

If pot was legalized and sold in your gas station just as cigarettes are

 

Ugh... I certainly hope that never happens. The majority of people fighting for the reform of marijuana laws want to see decriminalization, not full blown legalization akin to the commercialized tobacco and alcohol industries.

[Quoi_Tu]

pot can lead to depression

 

A causal effect has not yet been shown, even in large samples.

 

http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7059

 

 

 

Correlation does not imply causation

 

I would more likely think depressed people (clinically and self diagnosed) would turn to marijuana as a method of self-medication.

 

 

 

Also, although pot's pretty easy for people to get, legalizing it would obviously make it much easier to obtain.

 

What makes you think this? Right now many teens find it as easier (if not easier) to get ahold weed than alcohol or cigarettes (two very legal drugs).

 

 

 

It would, however, remove the criminal element of purchasing weed. i.e. Users would no longer need to purchase it from criminals in the cover of a dark alley. :lol:

 

 

 

Order of obtainability of drugs at my high school:

 

1. Marijuana

 

2. Amphetamines (including Ritalin, Adderall, etc.)

 

3. Alcohol

 

4. All others excluding (to my knowledge) heroin and meth.

 

 

 

It kind of scares me sometimes how easy any of those were to get.

[Deathmath]

Cause then nothing would get done. :lol:

 

 

 

:P I think that although it might be theoretically good to make it illegal, with it being more common young people might smoke it ans screw them up. Hell, all hte screwed up people I knew in fresno smoked pot.

[fastortoise]

Cause then nothing would get done. :lol:

 

 

 

:P I think that although it might be theoretically good to make it illegal, with it being more common young people might smoke it ans screw them up. Hell, all hte screwed up people I knew in fresno smoked pot.

 

 

 

Strange, maybe only half the screwed up people I know smoke pot. On the other hand, more than half the people I know smoke pot. You guys really have to open your minds, drugs aren't this scary substance that will destroy your brain and turn you into an addicted zombie. I know you know that's not how you think, but it's what's holding you back from trying some. Personally, I didn't smoke again after my first joint for a month from fear of being addicted, but I soon realized how naive that thought was and my inhibitions went away.

[deloriagod]

 

Also, although pot's pretty easy for people to get, legalizing it would obviously make it much easier to obtain.

 

What makes you think this? Right now many teens find it as easy (if not easier) to acquire weed than it is to acquire alcohol or cigarettes (two very legal drugs).

 

 

 

 

What's sad is how true that is. If it wasn't for my ex being a cashier at a local grocery store, I would have had a hard time getting cigarettes before I turned 18 (I seem to look young). If it wasn't for my friend being good at shop lifting, I would have rarely drank over this past summer. But getting some bud is as easy as calling up my dealer, seeing if he's selling today, and making a stop by his house/agreed apon location (I've made deals in some bad places..). For most teenagers, they don't have friends who will risk their job to get them cigarettes or legal penalties to steal alcohol. But weed is so much easier to get.

[Rahila]

25% of my first period class is high everyday, weed is smoked all the time by almost everyone i know, and i see very little difference between weed and alcohol in terms of social affects.

 

 

 

so for me, being underage, i see it as being just as illegal as drinking alcohol

[deloriagod]

 

so for me, being underage, i see it as being just as illegal as drinking alcohol

 

 

 

In the sense of using it possibly. But if you wander out into public while you're drunk, the police are going to have every right to take you to jail. If you wander out into public while you're high (leave your weed and paraphinailia at home) the police can't do anything about you being high unless you tell them you're high (then you're legally intoxicated in public). They both have their downsides in terms of laws.

[Ren0gade]

Well what is interesting is that it is not completely harmless, but compared to two other legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, it is relatively harmless. There are certain myths out there like decreased potency for males, but i know people who smoked a-lot and had a kid. It can do some lung damage and ive read it can lead to gum problems as well. It is also an interesting question about legalization especially when you look at cigarettes and all the heat they are getting in the news now. If people ban cigarettes then having marijuana legalized would definitely never happen. I'd say if you truly somehow want to make legalization happen, team up with big tobacco and explain how it could open up new labor opportunities and what not because they already are somewhat established in political influence.

[deloriagod]

Well what is interesting is that it is not completely harmless, but compared to two other legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco, it is relatively harmless. There are certain myths out there like decreased potency for males, but i know people who smoked a-lot and had a kid. It can do some lung damage and ive read it can lead to gum problems as well. It is also an interesting question about legalization especially when you look at cigarettes and all the heat they are getting in the news now. If people ban cigarettes then having marijuana legalized would definitely never happen. I'd say if you truly somehow want to make legalization happen, team up with big tobacco and explain how it could open up new labor opportunities and what not because they already are somewhat established in political influence.

 

 

 

Cigarette companies come under fire all the time, though they force nobody to use their products. And cigarettes will never be banned. The industry is just too big to do away with it all together. It would have a devastating effect on any economy who's country was dumb enough to ban them.

[Igor]

It's an 'ounce' that's defined as too much w/ that law, i think. Dude.. an ounce is like a f'in brick of weed. The law just seems unnessecary from my standpoint. It's not that difficult to get weed now, i doubt the law will have a giant effect :?

[lwilson100]

first off people saying that it is impossible for cigarettes to become illegal need to understand that there are already a lot of laws are going in the same direction. first off i live in Arizona and there have been several laws banning smoking in all public buildings, most privately owned businesses like restaurants and bars, a lot of outdoor public places parks and etc. just because tobacco companies have a big part in u.s. economics mean nothing, when prohibition started hundreds of alcohol companies went bankrupt and thousands lost their jobs.

 

 

 

the argument that marijuana is a gateway drug and is addictive is ridiculous. i have been smoking for over 2 years and i have yet to become addictive(i have taken several short breaks because i thought i might have been mentally addictive but i wasn't) and i have yet to do cocaine, heroine, meth and 99% of the pills available to me. yes some people DO become addicted to marijuana but hell anything substance or activity can be addicting so i don't understand that argument.

 

 

 

Living in america we do have many freedoms but that does not stop personal feelings of politicians and lobbyists from being used in government, remember this country was still founded by the puritans and a majority of their ideas are still used.

 

 

 

i believe that one day marijuana will be legalized as many states are already decriminalizing it, but i doubt it will be any time soon.

 

 

 

here are the states that have decriminalized it Alaska, California, Colorado, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Maine, Minnesota, Ohio, Mississippi, Oregon and Massachusetts.

 

 

 

edit: almost forgot about this but in Michigan medical marijuana is legal as of Nov 4, 2008

 

Mass. is the 12th state

 

 

 

linkhttp://www.slate.com/id/1007088/

 

 

 

http://www.mlive.com/elections/index.ssf/2008/11/michigan_voters_approve_medica.html

 

 

 

http://us-elections.suite101.com/article.cfm/small_amounts_of_marijuana_decriminalized_in_ma

 

 

 

on a side note to people who argue the government will make money of taxing the sale of marijuana, they already do.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuana_Tax_Act

 

 

 

a little picture for all the stoners on tip.it

 

 

 

 

 

It's an 'ounce' that's defined as too much w/ that law, i think. Dude.. an ounce is like a f'in brick of weed. The law just seems unnessecary from my standpoint. It's not that difficult to get weed now, i doubt the law will have a giant effect :?

 

 

 

lol an ounce isn't that much weed

[dragoonson]

Your list of states included Alaska.The other states will revert now.

[lwilson100]

Your list of states included Alaska.The other states will revert now.

 

 

 

what do you mean?

[Rien]

the argument that marijuana is a gateway drug and is addictive is ridiculous. i have been smoking for over 2 years and i have yet to become addictive(i have taken several short breaks because i thought i might have been mentally addictive but i wasn't) and i have yet to do cocaine, heroine, meth and 99% of the pills available to me. yes some people DO become addicted to marijuana but hell anything substance or activity can be addicting so i don't understand that argument.

 

It's not as ridiculous as you think--let me explain:

 

 

 

* Marijuana is among the foremost of "gateway drugs" (second only to alcohol). Statistically, while the majority of marijuana-users will never make the leap to "harder" drugs, it has been shown that most "hard" addicts originally drank/used marijuana before moving on. This is where the "marijuana is a gateway drug" claim comes from.

 

 

 

* Marijuana, as any user would know, stimulates the appetite--and this, inevitably, leads to at least a small amount of weight-gain in most users. THC, the addictive substance in marijuana, is stored in fat cells if in excess (only so much THC can enter the brain and bind to the appropriate receptors). These two facts, in conjuction, practically guarantees that every long-time user will have a sizeable amount of THC stored away. Once, and if, these particular people decide to quit, their appetites will return to normal in due course--causing them to lose weight and steadily burn off the THC-rich fat cells. This, in addition to the fact that marijuana withdrawal symptoms are naturally light to begin with (it's a "soft" drug, after all), often leads people to erroneously believe that marijuana is non-addictive. The truth is that it is both psychologically addictive (most substances--e.g. food--have the potencial to be) and physically addictive (although, even caffeine is more so than marijuana).

 

 

 

I support legalizing marijuana (or, at the very least, decriminalizing it), but I just wanted to point this out.

 

------

 

 

 

Side-note:

 

While several states have decriminalized marijuana, the federal government still considers the possession/distribution of marijuana to be a felony--superceding every existing state law. What's truly ridiculous is that this allows the local DA's in states such as California to "legally" raid perfectly legitimate, state-licensed marijuana shops. -.-