Legalize it!

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Redskins_P

Well you can say cocaine, it starts as a plant then processed into the powder. So, in reality it isn't the actual plant your consuming. Its the plant that gets processed with chemicals and then its made into a powder form.


I think Opium is grows naturally,but I could be wrong.

Right, I'm talking about things that are unprocessed. Things like coke, booze, etc., come from natural ingredients of course but need to be processed into their final forms.

I'm not sure about opium, but they do use the poppy seeds for food. I'm not 100% sure of the process of turning the plant into it's drug form though.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Do you feel the same way about booze?

Yes, when consumed in mass quantities.

Studies show that alcohol when consumed in moderation has vast health benefits: red wines for antioxidants, reduction in blood pressure, positive effects on heart disease.

When consumed in mass quantity, it's damaging to the liver, impairs judgment, causes irrational behavior, and is addicting.

Nobody starts acting like a moron when they've had 1 or 2 drinks. Nobody's health deteriorates.

As soon as you spark one up, you're a moron already.

[724Skinsfan]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

You bring up a good point. I think a basic field sobriety test would suffice. As long as you are able to maintain your balance and coherence, then I think you are safe to operate a vehicle.

That's my one big contention. There's already plenty of reckless people out there that drive severly intoxicated; I use to be one of them. There has to be a way for law enforcement to determine if an individual is a threat to others around him. Obviously it won't be fool proof just like there are people who make it home drunk without getting caught, but any amount of enforcement is better than none.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Wouldn't the amount of THC in your body be a good way to determine? I'm not sure, but you'd think they could find a way.

The only ways to test for THC currently are lab tests involving urine, blood, or hair, and they all take at least a few hours. They'd have to figure out some way to speed up the test, AND a way to make it legal to force someone to submit blood, urine, or hair on the spot.

A field sobriety test would work if they start enforcing a minimum IQ for cops, but that'd be tough in rural areas. I was stopped for suspicion of driving intoxicated, and the prick cop pulled me out of the car and made me do every field test in the book(stand on one leg and count, walk the line, follow the pen, etc.). After he paraded me around for 10 minutes, he apparently still wasn't sure, so he gives me the breathalizer anyway, only to find I'm under the legal limit. The achillies heal of the field sobriety test is stupid police officers.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Honestly, I'm going to be a very cool parent in that regard. I might have to do some hard thinking about weed, but I guarantee that my kids will be drinking with me and will have the leeway that IF they get drunk, I'd much rather them call me to pick them up than have them drive home drunk.

You'd be irresponsible and a disappointment as a parent if you condoned anything illegal.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Honestly, I'm going to be a very cool parent in that regard. I might have to do some hard thinking about weed, but I guarantee that my kids will be drinking with me and will have the leeway that IF they get drunk, I'd much rather them call me to pick them up than have them drive home drunk.

I think regarding kids they need to be educated and not hid or sheltered from drugs.

Whether we like it or not, kids are going to be curious and want to experiment no matter how great their home life is.

I'd personally feel alot better if I were open and honest with my kids rather than trying to pull the wool over their eyes with propoganda and that 'just say no' crap I was fed in the 80's.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yes, when consumed in mass quantities.

Studies show that alcohol when consumed in moderation has vast health benefits: red wines for antioxidants, reduction in blood pressure, positive effects on heart disease.

When consumed in mass quantity, it's damaging to the liver, impairs judgment, causes irrational behavior, and is addicting.

Nobody starts acting like a moron when they've had 1 or 2 drinks. Nobody's health deteriorates.

As soon as you spark one up, you're a moron already.

Marijuana also has many documented health benefits.

So I guess you're in favor of moderation? That can be done just the same with pot vs. booze.

I'm not hearing much of an objective argument from you on this.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

You'd be irresponsible and a disappointment as a parent if you condoned anything illegal.

Just curious Schneed, but are you a bible thumper? No disrespect, but the people that only see the black and white of the marijuana issue are usually very religious or military.

[RobH4413]

Well, my stance on civil liberties is that you can do whatever you want in your own home as long as you don't infringe on the rights of other.

This goes with dangerous substances as well, If you OD on heroin, you affect the paramedics that have to come and resuscitate you. Something that destructive shouldn't be legal.

There is no way to OD on marijuana. There are zero reported fatalities. It can probably even be argued that some of the effects of marijuana are beneficial to society (not to many stoners beat there wives compared to alcoholics). It also has been suggested to marijuana smoke may have some protective effect against lung cancer. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...01729_pf.html).


Ultimately the problem arises when you ask yourself about infringing the right of others, and it's fairly evident that it lowers your reaction time, and hence driving while impaired becomes an issue. There is no way to give you a potalizer, and until one is developed, I don't see marijuana becoming legal.

It's really hard to get around this issue, and some serious thought has to be put into it. Who knows, maybe if we figure out by the rate that THC is broken down in the body, we'll be able to develop specific marijuana data applied to different people.

Maybe it's a stretch, but I think it's possible. If we can send people to the moon, we'll probably be able to figure out something plausible.

So I guess my answer is yes, it should be legal if there is a way to test is more accurately.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Yes, when consumed in mass quantities.

Studies show that alcohol when consumed in moderation has vast health benefits: red wines for antioxidants, reduction in blood pressure, positive effects on heart disease.

When consumed in mass quantity, it's damaging to the liver, impairs judgment, causes irrational behavior, and is addicting.

Nobody starts acting like a moron when they've had 1 or 2 drinks. Nobody's health deteriorates.

As soon as you spark one up, you're a moron already.

True, but I would venture to guess that at least 25% of all crimes are alcohol related (particularly rape, assault, vehicular manslaughter, etc.). Potheads might be lazy, but they're not violent. Moreover, the ill effects of extreme marijuana use pale in comparison to the ill effects of extreme alcohol abuse.

I don't smoke marijuana anymore, but when I did, I wasn't a jerk, an idiot etc. I'm far more embarassed about things I did when I was drunk than things I did when I was high (e.g., eat Cheetos, pizza, and play video games).

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

You'd be irresponsible and a disappointment as a parent if you condoned anything illegal.

Would you ever let your child drink any form of alcoholic beverage before they reach 21 (e.g., at a wedding, family function, X-mas, etc.)? Because if every parent who has ever condoned an illegal act is a bad parent, I'd say that 99.9% of all parents are bad ones.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I think regarding kids they need to be educated and not hid or sheltered from drugs.

Whether we like it or not, kids are going to be curious and want to experiment no matter how great their home life is.

I'd personally feel alot better if I were open and honest with my kids rather than trying to pull the wool over their eyes with propoganda and that 'just say no' crap I was fed in the 80's.

But as a parent you have to recognize your role, you can educate, but you have to draw the line at allowing anything illegal to take place. You have to teach them that there are rules and consequences, and that breaking the laws means there will be consequences. If you catch them drinking underage and you don't issue a punishment, you've essentially sent the message that the behavior is acceptable.

Whether you think underage drinking is acceptable or not is completely irrelevant. In the eyes of the law, it's unacceptable. As a parent, you have to make your kids accountable to the laws of the land, or you're failing them.

I do agree that it's important to educate them on the damaging effects of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. so they can make their own decisions. This builds their confidence as you show faith in their ability to make sound decisions on their own. But ultimately you have to hold your children accountable when they do break the law, or they will grow up with depreciated respect for authority, thinking the laws don't apply to them.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

This thread looks like it's headed towards hostility, I think we all need to smoke a joint and chill.

[Duffman003]

I used to smoke weed all the time, but i don't think that it shouuld be legalized. Just like anything else it will get abused if it is legalized and for some reason people feel that if something is legalized then it is okay to use it. Also i don't understand the concept that if alcohol is worse than weed then weed should be legalized. Yeah, alcohol causes more problems than weed but that doesn't mean it should be legalized. Weed was a fun time for me, but all it did was make me fatter and lazier

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

But as a parent you have to recognize your role, you can educate, but you have to draw the line at allowing anything illegal to take place. You have to teach them that there are rules and consequences, and that breaking the laws means there will be consequences. If you catch them drinking underage and you don't issue a punishment, you've essentially sent the message that the behavior is acceptable.

Whether you think underage drinking is acceptable or not is completely irrelevant. In the eyes of the law, it's unacceptable. As a parent, you have to make your kids accountable to the laws of the land, or you're failing them.

I do agree that it's important to educate them on the damaging effects of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. so they can make their own decisions. This builds their confidence as you show faith in their ability to make sound decisions on their own. But ultimately you have to hold your children accountable when they do break the law, or they will grow up with depreciated respect for authority, thinking the laws don't apply to them.

You sound like you're going to be or are a good parent. I don't necessary adhere to the same philosophy as I think there are exceptions, but good post.