Legalize it!

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Dealers don't waste drugs on lacing weed.

This is true, but lots of time mold can grow on pot, and that can have ill effects on your health.

Also, I've known locals in D.C. to lace marijuana with PCP. It's relatively inexpensive to do... and happens. (My roommate freshman year experienced this phenomenon... hence the reason you don't buy from locals)

[MTK]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

This is true, but lots of time mold can grow on pot, and that can have ill effects on your health.

Also, I've known locals in D.C. to lace marijuana with PCP. It's relatively inexpensive to do... and happens. (My roommate freshman year experienced this phenomenon... hence the reason you don't buy from locals)

sure it happens, there will always be a-holes out there just looking to F with people, but a reliable 'source' isn't going to do that crap.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Something tells me you probably don't have much experience with drugs, not that it's a bad thing mind you.

But some of your thoughts here are ridiculous and sound like some sort of anti-drug propaganda. Dealers don't waste drugs on lacing weed. Weed is so potent nowadays it doesn't need anything added to it. Dealers don't push either, they have plenty of customers and business as it is. Drugs sell themselves.

And on a side note, you probably come in contact on a daily basis with plenty of people you would have no idea smoke weed and are highly functional and successful people.

The first statement is true. The majority of the time dealers aren't just gonna waste time and resources to lace weed all the time. It happens rarely though.
Matty's last point is excellent, although I am in the enclosed environment of college, you would be surprised who smokes and who doesn't. If anything the people who drink hardcore are the biggest LOSERS not the potheads.

[GhettoDogAllStars]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

I don't buy the slippery slope argument as one that can honestly be used to oppose legalizing marijuana. First, the biggest gateway drug, if they exist, is alcohol. So, if you don't want to get the ball rolling in the first place, ban alcohol. Weed is usually just the second step in the chain. Second, I smoked weed as a teen, but I never had any compulsion whatsoever to use any "harder" drug and most of my friends felt the same. People who start using crack weren't made dumb by using pot, they used crack because they were dumb to start with.

Excellent post. I couldn't agree more.

The slippery slope argument is really old. It's a form of fallacious reasoning, and nobody should get away with using it to support an argument.

[FRPLG]

I am torn bewteen two polar oppiste feelings. The hypocrisy of certain things being legal and others not is not lost on me but I think it is wrong to use the "well he did it too" type defense. One wrong thing being legal doesn't mean the other wrong thing should be legal too.

On the other hand I am abig proponent of the US gov staying out of our business so a big part of me wants to say everything should be legal.

Ultimately though I think having drugs legal is bad for our society so I am cool with them being illegal.

So I'd say yes it should be illegal but so should everything else that does similar things.

[RobH4413]

I think society sends an inconsistent message by profiting off of town drunks day in and day out, yet adamantly opposing marijuana legalization
(especially medicinally).

What exactly are we saying to the youth?

"It's wrong to smoke marijuana, even in moderation, but if you want to go down to the bar and have at it... knock yourself out."

That's damn confusing growing up, and probably why many lose faith in a lot of the reasoning the government uses.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

I think society sends an inconsistent message by profiting off of town drunks day in and day out, yet adamantly opposing marijuana legalization
(especially medicinally).

What exactly are we saying to the youth?

"It's wrong to smoke marijuana, even in moderation, but if you want to go down to the bar and have at it... knock yourself out."

That's damn confusing growing up, and probably why many lose faith in a lot of the reasoning the government uses.

Yes it is sending mixed messages, but legalizing marijuana and profiting off of it would reinforce a BAD message.

Just because one bad thing is legal doesn't mean they all should be.

Personally, I don't give a damn what message the government sends to our youth. If they legalize it, don't legalize it, what the hell ever. It's the PARENTS' job to send the ultimate message to our kids.

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yes it is sending mixed messages, but legalizing marijuana and profiting off of it would reinforce a BAD message.

Just because one bad thing is legal doesn't mean they all should be.

Personally, I don't give a damn what message the government sends to our youth. If they legalize it, don't legalize it, what the hell ever. It's the PARENTS' job to send the ultimate message to our kids.

I don't think legalizing something that improves the quality of living (when used in moderation of course) is a bad message.

Why not make it illegal to get consume excess alcohol? I know it wouldn't be very popular, but it makes perfect sense to put a cap as to what your BAC can be?

I'm just curious, why do we have the right to get wasted? Why is considering legislation here not retro-active?
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The reason is because we as Americans enjoy drinking. There is a reason the only amendment overturned EVER is prohibition. We as Americans enjoy civil liberties that let us make decisions. That's what being "free" is all about. The problem is where to draw the line, and where to take destructive decisions away from society.

Ultimately, I really find it hard to believe that legalizing something like marijuana is that destructive. There is no reason that it should be illegal (pending a substance/driving policy), and quite frankly I think it's going to happen. When we as a country find something we like, we're going to get it.

[itvnetop]

The reason is because we as Americans enjoy drinking. There is a reason the only amendment overturned EVER is prohibition. We as Americans enjoy civil liberties that let us make decisions. That's what being "free" is all about. The problem is where to draw the line, and where to take destructive decisions away from society.

Ultimately, I really find it hard to believe that legalizing something like marijuana is that destructive. There is no reason that it should be illegal (pending a substance/driving policy), and quite frankly I think it's going to happen. When we as a country find something we like, we're going to get it.

This is a good point... I also think the more taboo something is in the US, the more kids are going to try it (and maybe even abuse it). In Canada, it's pretty much legal in Ontario to possess a certain amount. In Europe, the drinking age is a bit lower and the older people know how to party responsibly. Yet in the States, we're all gung-ho about "DARE" and stupid anti-drug campaigns that don't aim at truth... fact- Marijuana does not get a girl pregnant. fact- alcohol does not make you shoot your friend in the face.

How about we start changing the dynamic in which we teach our kids the truth about such. You teach them at an early age the effects that weed and alcohol and tobacco have on your mental, physical and chemical state. You also teach them the concept of moderation before reaching an acceptable age of consumption. At the very least, you let them know if they ever decide to try something they're not mentally and physically ready for (in other words, give in to natural teenage curiosity), they're not afraid of calling you if they need help in dangerous situations.

Enough with the Rachel Leigh Cook "watch me destroy my kitchen" anti-drug commercials. What the hell does it teach our kids if we pull the wools over their eyes with such nonsensical allegory? There is a mature way to handle the topic of recreational substances and I think the current political stance only reinforces fallible education. Look at our teen dropout, pregnancy and incarceration statistics... are we looking at better times with the continued mentality of "Just Say No?"

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yes it is sending mixed messages, but legalizing marijuana and profiting off of it would reinforce a BAD message.

Just because one bad thing is legal doesn't mean they all should be.

Personally, I don't give a damn what message the government sends to our youth. If they legalize it, don't legalize it, what the hell ever. It's the PARENTS' job to send the ultimate message to our kids.

All the sudden you dont give a damn about what the government says, yet earlier you said it is a "parents responsibility to make sure your children ahead to the laws of this land". So you dont give a crap about the law and its messages yet you expect parents to teach it blindly otherwise that is wrong??

That seems to be a huge contradiction in your argument.

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by hooskins

All the sudden you dont give a damn about what the government says, yet earlier you said it is a "parents responsibility to make sure your children ahead to the laws of this land". So you dont give a crap about the law and its messages yet you expect parents to teach it blindly otherwise that is wrong??

That seems to be a huge contradiction in your argument.

Not really, I believe he's saying that the government's message and the parent's message may or may not be the same. Ultimately the parent's are responsible for how a child grows up and how his/her regard for their society's laws are a direct reflection of his parent's guidance. The government can use fear tactics like "this is your brain on drugs" or whatever as their message for not doing drugs because they conclude that drug-use in general is directly related to more criminal behavior. Parent's can try different methods to show their child that putting unknown/unregulated chemicals in their body for the sake of personal/social gratification is typically not a good thing. Teaching your child to use good judgement is the parent's job as well as teaching them to respect society's laws.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by hooskins

All the sudden you dont give a damn about what the government says, yet earlier you said it is a "parents responsibility to make sure your children ahead to the laws of this land". So you dont give a crap about the law and its messages yet you expect parents to teach it blindly otherwise that is wrong??

That seems to be a huge contradiction in your argument.

To clarify, whatever the government's rules are, the parents should uphold them. We can get into the debate of what the rules should be, but once the laws are made, they must be upheld.

In other words, whatever message the government is trying to send through the creation of it's laws, I couldn't care less. I care about what the law is, and making sure my children understand that you have to heed the law, no matter how fervently you disagree with it.

[itvnetop]

I truly believe pot will be legalized in this country within the next 25 years. The baby boomers are soon leaving power and the younger generation, across party lines, have a much more libertarian view on marijuana.

If tobacco is legal, there's no reason pot should be prohibited. Weed won't give you lung cancer. And contrary to tv commercials, the majority of pot smokers won't run over little girls on tricycles leaving a drive thru.

If pot is taxed like cigarettes, there is much money to be made for both government and R&D.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by itvnetop

I truly believe pot will be legalized in this country within the next 25 years. The baby boomers are soon leaving power and the younger generation, across party lines, have a much more libertarian view on marijuana.

If tobacco is legal, there's no reason pot should be prohibited. Weed won't give you lung cancer. And contrary to tv commercials, the majority of pot smokers won't run over little girls on tricycles leaving a drive thru.

If pot is taxed like cigarettes, there is much money to be made for both government and R&D.

The only thing is as we get older we tend to become more conservative. The same people who were wasted all through college are going to have a much different view of things when they are parents.

I think there's room for it to become much more decriminalized and maybe legal for medicinal use, but I doubt it will ever be legal for recreational use.

[Sammy Baugh Fan]

Legalize it
Tax the crap, make money and better weed.
If a guy wants a beer or a doobie I don't care but to say weed is worse than beer is stupid.

peace
mike
Yes, I did time in Marines and am a Christian but these are my opinions