Should Weed Be Legalized?

[Gow616]

Originally Posted by Nurta

gah, I hate libertarianism, take the bad of the left wing and the bad of the right wing and combine it and you get libertarianism.

I admit some of the party is way out there and they are prominent because we can't hide them like larger parties but how is being Fiscally Conservative and Socially Liberal a bad thing?

With the two major parties you can be neither or neither as both at the moment don't know how to be fiscally responsible or truly socially liberal.

Of course, I also stem from the Ayn Rand strain of libertarian objectivism that values individual over the communal mindset that has taken hold over our culture.

Originally Posted by Nurta

I think it should be illegal but not real strongly enforced. People who do it in public or are found to be intoxicated in public should be arrested. If a large group of people are found doing marijuana, arrest 'em and treat it as a misdemeanor.

That sounds like a decent idea but the problem at the moment is they don't treat it as a misdemeanour. Of course, most of these drugs problems do come from late 19th Century/ early 20th Century politics and propaganda.

Ever want to watch a funny film about drugs...see the film Reefer Madness. Gah, I just think of that film and it cracks me up.

[Shann]

I could really care less if it was legalized or not, I do think it would have to come w/ an age limit like alcohol and cigarettes. Back in November they posted about a study that was done, unfortunately the link to the story is no longer available but here it is: (it's quite interesting)

CHICAGO (Reuters) - A study of more than 5,000 youngsters in Switzerland has found those who smoked marijuana do as well or better in some areas as those who don't, researchers said Monday.

But the same was not true for those who used both tobacco and marijuana, who tended to be heavier users of the drug, said the report from Dr. J.C. Suris and colleagues at the University of Lausanne.

The study did not confirm the hypothesis that those who abstained from marijuana and tobacco functioned better overall, the authors said.

In fact, those who used only marijuana were "more socially driven ... significantly more likely to practice sports and they have a better relationship with their peers" than abstainers, it said.

"Moreover, even though they are more likely to skip class, they have the same level of good grades; and although they have a worse relationship with their parents, they are not more likely to be depressed" than abstainers, it added.

It did not explain the reasons behind the apparent effect.

The study, published in the November issue of the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, was based on a 2002 survey of 5,263 Swiss students age 16 to 20, of whom 455 smoked marijuana only, 1,703 who used both marijuana and tobacco and 3,105 who abstained from both.

The report said that while marijuana use has declined among U.S. adolescents, it has increased in recent years among the same age group in Switzerland and other European countries.

The study said that while one theory holds that using legal drugs like nicotine and alcohol opens the door to marijuana and other illegal drug use, recent research also has found marijuana may come first and it "may reinforce cigarette smoking or lead to nicotine addiction ..."

In the study, about half of the tobacco and marijuana group had used the latter drug 10 times or more in the previous month. That compared to 56 percent in the marijuana-only group who had used the drug only once or twice in the same time period.

[maka]

slap a age limit on it, and legalize it for us adults.

[meth0dical]

Originally Posted by nathanlawliet

Exactly. The only good thing is that maybe they'll focus on smoking so much they end up getting in a car wreck while smoking it something. Ya know? Like, they're basically having a party in their car because they think they're all cool, then they don't focus on the road and crash.

Only hope that happens to the bad people though. There's so many of them. Reminds me of drunk drivers killing people...

uh if they were to legalize it they would put restrictions on it similar to alcohol. you'd only be able to smoke in private places and licensed establishments, and you can already get DUI'd if you get caught smoking weed and driving. we even have a "marijuanalyzer" here in vancouver, works the same as the alcohol "breathalyzer".

[Nurta]

Originally Posted by Gow

I admit some of the party is way out there and they are prominent because we can't hide them like larger parties but how is being Fiscally Conservative and Socially Liberal a bad thing?

With the two major parties you can be neither or neither as both at the moment don't know how to be fiscally responsible or truly socially liberal.

Of course, I also stem from the Ayn Rand strain of libertarian objectivism that values individual over the communal mindset that has taken hold over our culture.

I can understand the ideas behind it, but I find it funny that libertarians can trust people out for money (corporations) to protect their liberties better than the people they elect (the government).

I am left wing enough I hate both parties but close enough to tell the difference and see the Republicans are worse and realistic enough to know being third party is useless.

Honestly, we are highly individualistic in comparison to the rest of the world. That's the main criticism of America. The huge amount of sueing and obesity and pain-in-the-assness all really comes from the idea of selfishness, which is merely the idea of valueing self over society.

That sounds like a decent idea but the problem at the moment is they don't treat it as a misdemeanour. Of course, most of these drugs problems do come from late 19th Century/ early 20th Century politics and propaganda.

Ever want to watch a funny film about drugs...see the film Reefer Madness. Gah, I just think of that film and it cracks me up.

Seen part of it, I watched the beginning and just got bored of it honestly. I can't tolerate black and white well, too boring to me

Of course now it isn't a misdemeanor, it also isn't legal now... I don't see what your point with saying that is...

[asuro]

Originally Posted by Cheapliquid

it's not a chemical addiction, so i'm right. not my fault your mind is weak.

a weak mind is one that is influenced to do drugs......im assuming urs is one of those minds ; )

Originally Posted by Cheapliquid

ignorant? there are many things that can get to an individual, not having a real family around can be one of them, but to take ur problems and run away from them with a drug or alcohol is weak, grow up and deal with life, it's not so bad.

i agree with this completely....a plant cannot replace or make up for a lack of family. but there are many people that just smoke for fun, and thats fine a couple of times but eventually if done regularly its just sad. people should be able to have fun without drugs.

[PoN]

Well i think if they do They can tax it alot and when that happens ppl will stop buying it well not really but our Country will get alot! alot! Richer.. and then it wont be such a big deal now for like drug dealers. i think the goverment will win in the end.

[Gregory]

Yes, it IS addictive. Where are you getting your science from.

Originally Posted by Cheapliquid

It's not an addictive drug, that's been proven scientifically, so don't say it is. So many people enjoy it and it is a huge problem for police and everything, and the Government would make so much money if they didn't spend time arresting people and putting them away for it, they could virtually pay for school funding, and drop property taxes if they did it, but then don't you think the drug dealers (big time) not the dude with 2 dimebags, would fight back? Because if the government or private company takes over the manufacturing of it, it would become like cigs, but it would be clean not laced with any dangerous drugs, and would be "better" as in safer for you, it goes both ways, we had a huge discussion in my college english class, for debate sakes..

It's a big problem to the government, and i don't care for weed, so it's not something i'm for or against, cause it doesn't affect me.

[got zune?]

I think weed should be legalized and alcohol either outlawed or taxed hard as **** to help foot the tab that goes along with it like paying the emergency crews who have to respond when drunk idiots wreck their car into another......the tax should be put into a fund to pay for the funerals of the innocent victims and the cost of the medical attention they get when their sorry azzes do happen to survive.

[joej]

Weed should not be legalized. It is terrible for your health, and it can strip you of your money. Weed ain't cool, and I am pretty sure that government will never legalize it. Though Bush I think is on it.(crack too)

[got zune?]

Originally Posted by joej

Weed should not be legalized. It is terrible for your health, and it can strip you of your money. Weed ain't cool, and I am pretty sure that government will never legalize it. Though Bush I think is on it.(crack too)

all the same can be said for alcohol and just about any junk food, should those be outlawed just the same?

[thresixty]

Legalize it and we can stop spending millions on stoppin petty drugs and start spending it on more important issues.

[Gow616]

Drew Carey defending Medical Marijuana through his Reason.tv/Drew Carey Project mini-documentary/commentary: http://reason.tv/video/show/57.html

[Trogdor]

Originally Posted by maka

slap a age limit on it, and legalize it for us adults.

I don't see why not, but some people still won't wait until 21 to drink

[shevy92]

lol tht would be interesting

dangerous possibly

[Corrupt]

NO! It should not be legalized because then good grade will become virtually extinct, or extremely expensive, and as much as I like to smoke regs every now and then or during a wake and bake, I do love a nice blunt of grade, frequently, and cheaply.

[churro69]

i think it should let people do what they want let them f up their own lives and also make so if it does become legal let them not smoke in public

[thresixty]

Can we legalize cocaine?