Why are cigarettes legal, but marijuana illegal?

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by That Guy

i don't really see how it's funny or weird. opium is illegal and natural. uranium is natural, but it's illegal to possess it under most situations, etc...

opium and uranium are both processed -- marijuana is not. that is the key difference. you could own 1000 acres of land and have some natural marijuana plants growing, without being aware, and you'd be committing a crime. you didn't plant it, you don't sustain it -- but it's illegal because uncle sam says so. bullshit -- that's nature.

now, if you were growing poppy plants, and making opium from it, that doesn't compare. but the point is: opium doesn't make itself.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

opium and uranium are both processed -- marijuana is not. that is the key difference. you could own 1000 acres of land and have some natural marijuana plants growing, without being aware, and you'd be committing a crime. you didn't plant it, you don't sustain it -- but it's illegal because uncle sam says so. bullshit -- that's nature.

now, if you were growing poppy plants, and making opium from it, that doesn't compare. but the point is: opium doesn't make itself.

100% correct! Great post!
My friend tried to compare cocaine to weed saying the ingrediants for weed have been put on this earth from God and cocaine is bad. But I had the same argument...weed is untouched...unmolested. All those other drugs are not.

[onlydarksets]

Originally Posted by jsarno

100% correct! Great post!
My friend tried to compare cocaine to weed saying the ingrediants for weed have been put on this earth from God and cocaine is bad. But I had the same argument...weed is untouched...unmolested. All those other drugs are not.

What about shrooms? Or peyote? Or any other "natural" psychedelic? I'm pretty sure we don't want people driving their VW buses around town licking toads and have the cops powerless to do anything about it.

[jsarno]

Originally Posted by onlydarksets

I'm pretty sure we don't want people driving their VW buses around town licking toads and have the cops powerless to do anything about it.

For as much as I've heard "weed makes me a better driver", I am just not sure that is true. In fact, I KNOW it makes me a worse driver. Sure it slows me down, but it makes me less aware of my surroundings.
That being said, I don't think anyone said "hey I'm going to smoke a bowl and drive 50 miles". Just like drinking, we don't want anyone under the influence driving.

[Beemnseven]

Beemnseven, the libertine says that everything should be legal ... cocaine, heroin, you name it - have at it.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Beemnseven, the libertine says that everything should be legal ... cocaine, heroin, you name it - have at it.

ya know, there are definitely good arguments to be made to support that position. Basically, I just try to keep an open mind and remember that people will do what people will do (mostly regardless of anyone else telling them not to).

onlydarksets: you're right shrooms can be dangerous, and they are totally natural. The only difference I can see between pot and shrooms is that one can kill you immediately, and the other takes much longer (if at all). But really, that difference is not very significant.

Really, the only legitimate justification for illegal drugs is safety. Then, the whole argument about whether this drug or that drug should be illegal, comes down to this question: does the government have a right to protect you from yourself?

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

Really, the only legitimate justification for illegal drugs is safety. Then, the whole argument about whether this drug or that drug should be illegal, comes down to this question: does the government have a right to protect you from yourself?

it's not just protecting you from yourself. BAC tests and drunk driving laws are there to protect people from another person's stupidity, etc.

[hooskins]

Actually the tiredness, or "burnt-out" feeling that occurs with weed can also be attributed to mid-grade or low grade weed, typical in the states. The low quality of the weed can make the tired feeling increase. Very high quality weed, like the weed found in Amsterdam tends to burn you out a whole lot less. So you will feel high, but not just wanna sit around.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by hooskins

Actually the tiredness, or "burnt-out" feeling that occurs with weed can also be attributed to mid-grain or low grain weed, typical in the states. The low quality of the weed can make the tired feeling increase. Very high quality weed, like the weed found in Amsterdam tends to burn you out a whole lot less. So you will feel high, but not just wanna sit around.

hey bro, the high grade stuff isn't just in amsterdam (catch my drift?)

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

hey bro, the high grade stuff isn't just in amsterdam (catch my drift?)

Yeah but the good stuff here, is the basic stuff there.