Should marijuana be legal?

[ahs]

So, lets make alcohol, coffee, nicotine, diphenhidramine, detromethorphan, etc… against the law.

Heck, sugar has been found to be as addictive as heroin. Lets outlaw that too. Lets outlaw EVERYTHING that people could abuse, because we know what’s best for them. I mean, freedom and free will are so last century.

This may seem a little over the top, but this really is an end that could be reasoned if one were to oppose the legalization of a drug simply because of its addictiveness. If the only reason to keep marijuana illegal is “because its addictive and can be abused”, then all of the above could also justifiably be illegalized. One must take an objective look at marijuana and see what actual harm it does. Well, the truth is, aside from someone ‘smoking while driving’, it does no actual harm…no more than tobacco anyway. And the potential for harm is no more than that of alcohol or gambling (money wasted where groceries should have been bought, time wasted that should have been spent with family, etc…heck, even video games have this same potential…)

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Really sir? You are comparing caffeine to herion?

Again, people have the right and freedom to choose to do whatever they’d like, but if it is aganst the law (or common sense) be prepared to face the consequences.

Right. Sugar has been proven to be as addictive as heroin. in fact, wheat gluten has been proved as addictive as heroin. Sugar can be abused, in fact, have you seen the statistics on Type 2 diabetes? Any substance that causes the rampant problems of obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, Alzeimer’s, and a host of other chronic medical problems, coupled with its intensive addictive properties has no place in civil society. People have been shown that they cannot control themselve, so we need to make this substance against the law so we can get these problems under control.

I will petition President Obama to declare the “War on Sugar” and we can invade countries like Brazil who supply most of our supply of sugar. Of course, the domestic crops will have to be destroyed. WE can replace them with…soybeans or something that is “healthy”. I mean, people cannot control themselves and will choose substances that end up harming them and dumping those costs on society, right? So we should only grow those things that have a positive health effect on society.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

This may seem a little over the top, but this really is an end that could be reasoned if one were to oppose the legalization of a drug simply because of its addictiveness. If the only reason to keep marijuana illegal is “because its addictive and can be abused”, then all of the above could also justifiably be illegalized. One must take an objective look at marijuana and see what actual harm it does. Well, the truth is, aside from someone ‘smoking while driving’, it does no actual harm…no more than tobacco anyway. And the potential for harm is no more than that of alcohol or gambling (money wasted where groceries should have been bought, time wasted that should have been spent with family, etc…heck, even video games have this same potential…)

How many cases have you heard of a guy getting high and then beating his wife and kids? The people who rail against marijuana apparently have no problem with alcohol, which is profoundly more addictive and its effects on society have been proven. Beside, alcohol is a toxin. But, the state can make money on it through taxes, plus it is socially acceptable so…

 

[runwaymodel]

Right. Sugar has been proven to be as addictive as heroin. in fact, wheat gluten has been proved as addictive as heroin. Sugar can be abused, in fact, have you seen the statistics on Type 2 diabetes? Any substance that causes the rampant problems of obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, Alzeimer’s, and a host of other chronic medical problems, coupled with its intensive addictive properties has no place in civil society. People have been shown that they cannot control themselve, so we need to make this substance against the law so we can get these problems under control.

I will petition President Obama to declare the “War on Sugar” and we can invade countries like Brazil who supply most of our supply of sugar. Of course, the domestic crops will have to be destroyed. WE can replace them with…soybeans or something that is “healthy”. I mean, people cannot control themselves and will choose substances that end up harming them and dumping those costs on society, right? So we should only grow those things that have a positive health effect on society.

Oh come now, lets not be silly or dramatic. Even people who smoke marijuana ‘recreationally’ could laugh at that comparison. I believe you are now just saying things to be facetious. Sugar and heroin…

 

[Charlemagne_II]

Scott

**When you care to respond with more than arrogance, innuendo, and snide remarks, let me know. Until then, have a nice day. **
.
So now you are a hit-and-run artist.

And before you get through calling everybody else the morality police, don’t forget to add the American Bishops to your list.

thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/us-catholic-bishops-declare-war-on-gay-marriage-despite-us-catholic-views/marriage/2011/11/14/30166

You have a nice day too.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Oh come now, lets not be silly or dramatic now. Even people who smoke marijuana ‘recreationally’ could laugh at that comparison. I believe you are now just saying things to be facetious. Sugar and heroin…

Argue with Princeton University, they are the ones that figured it out.

articles.nydailynews.com/2008-12-12/entertainment/17912875_1_sugar-dopamine-sweet-addiction

dietsinreview.com/diet_column/12/sugar-as-addictive-as-cocaine-heroin/

medheadlines.com/2008/12/sugar-cocaine-heroin-equally-strong-addictions-study-suggests-2/

ezinearticles.com/?Sugar-Addiction—Bad-As-Heroin-and-Cocaine?&id=5010554

 

[ahs]

How many cases have you heard of a guy getting high and then beating his wife and kids? The people who rail against marijuana apparently have no problem with alcohol, which is profoundly more addictive and its effects on society have been proven. Beside, alcohol is a toxin. But, the state can make money on it through taxes, plus it is socially acceptable so…

This is true. The major issues with marijuana seem to be those associated with purchasing the drug illegally. It it were legal, those issues go away by default. What you are left with is the “potential” harm they could cause…which would be associated with an individual’s decision to abuse the drug…no different than any other addictive substance that we have legal access to today.

Again, I’m not advocating for legal marijuana, but I really don’t see a solid case not to legalize it.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

ahs

The major issues with marijuana seem to be those associated with purchasing the drug illegally. It it were legal, those issues go away by default.

No they wouldn’t. Marijuana is a gateway drug. Don’t let those libertarian fools fool you.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

ahs

The major issues with marijuana seem to be those associated with purchasing the drug illegally. It it were legal, those issues go away by default.

No they wouldn’t. Marijuana is a gateway drug. Don’t let those libertarian fools fool you.

No they wouldn’t. Marijuana is a gateway drug. Don’t let those libertarian fools fool you.

Alcohol is a gateway drug. Don’t let the morality police fool you.

 

[ahs]

thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/us-catholic-bishops-declare-war-on-gay-marriage-despite-us-catholic-views/marriage/2011/11/14/30166

Hi, that link was geared toward homosexual activity. Was it supposed to be about ilicit use of drugs?

And I apologize if this has been posted already, but has the Church spoken up on this issue at all (anything related to marijuana/drug use/legalization)? I have not seen anything about it.

 

[mitex]

Right. Sugar has been proven to be as addictive as heroin. in fact, wheat gluten has been proved as addictive as heroin. Sugar can be abused, in fact, have you seen the statistics on Type 2 diabetes? Any substance that causes the rampant problems of obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, heart disease, Alzeimer’s, and a host of other chronic medical problems, coupled with its intensive addictive properties has no place in civil society. People have been shown that they cannot control themselve, so we need to make this substance against the law so we can get these problems under control.

I will petition President Obama to declare the “War on Sugar” and we can invade countries like Brazil who supply most of our supply of sugar. Of course, the domestic crops will have to be destroyed. WE can replace them with…soybeans or something that is “healthy”. I mean, people cannot control themselves and will choose substances that end up harming them and dumping those costs on society, right? So we should only grow those things that have a positive health effect on society.

A war on sugar has my vote as does the invasion of Brazil!

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

A war on sugar has my vote as does the invasion of Brazil!

I found the perfect man to lead our troops to victory!

http://images.wikia.com/wiggles/images/0/00/3923278326_99629c5a1b_Captain_Feathersword.jpg

 

[Charlemagne_II]

ahs

Hi, that link was geared toward homosexual activity. Was it supposed to be about ilicit use of drugs?

No, Scott was pontificating about the morality police. I was just pointing out that he must think the Bishops are morality police too when they oppose same-sex marriage, another cause defended by the Libertarian Party.

And I have no doubt that if Congress was about to make all drugs legal, which is what the libertarians really want, the bishops would oppose that too.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

ahs

Hi, that link was geared toward homosexual activity. Was it supposed to be about ilicit use of drugs?

No, Scott was pontificating about the morality police. I was just pointing out that he must think the Bishops are morality police too when they oppose same-sex marriage, another cause defended by the Libertarian Party.

And I have no doubt that if Congress was about to make all drugs legal, which is what the libertarians really want, the bishops would oppose that too.

Actually, libertarians champion removing the state from the marriage equation. Most people have no clue that the state sanctioning of marriage came from the French Revolution. Why the Church would advocate a process that was initiated by a secular humanist movement is beyond me.

And the bishops were for Obamacare, and they are receiving their just fruits now. If you dance with the devil, eventually someone has to pay the band.

Me, I think prohibition of drugs is stupid. All it has caused is a prison population problem and a MASSIVE problem with violent, well armed drug lords south of the border. THere is no evidence whatsoever that making drugs illegal and punishable has done anything to solve the drug problem. Portugal recently made all drugs legal, and the rate of drug abuse went DOWN.

time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html
open.salon.com/blog/richard_rider/2012/02/20/portugal_legalizes_drugs_–_drug_abuse_drops_50
scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=portugal-drug-decriminalization

SO, what is the end game? Treat abusers and get them to stop using drugs, or treat them as criminals, send them to prison, and turn them into WORSE criminals.

 

[Charlemagne_II]

Scott

Me, I think prohibition of drugs is stupid.

That’s all I needed to hear. You are beyond reasoning with.

Good day!

 

[cornbread_r2]

[snip]

Marijuana can only be legalized when there is a cheap, reliable test and that is because those working in dangerous or demanding situations cannot afford to risk their lives and livelihoods on impaired workers; and those chosing to drive under the influence must be able to be inexpensively detected in the event of traffic stops as this now requires a blood test.

So for real people in the real world, legalized marijuana is a ticket to on-the-job injuries from fork lift or crane operators dropping stuff on their head and the like. I have personally worked on job sites with stoners who were not getting stoned before or at work but after work. Their mental processes are, nonetheless, so wretched that it is hard to get work done without guiding their every action. Not a pretty prospect from a safety or efficiency perspective, not to mention possibly potentiating mental illness.

Performance-based, fitness-for-duty tests have been available for decades. Unlike standard drug testing, which only reveal what drugs may be in a person’s system – without regard as to whether or not the person is actually impaired – these tests reveal impairment at the time the test is administered, including impairment due to stress, fatigue and illness – factors which are never tested for in standard drug tests. From the cited article:

Another advantage is that it catches employees who are impaired because of problems that a drug test can’t spot: fatigue, stress, and alcohol use. “Typical workplace testing really only covers a small fraction of the reasons why people are impaired,” says Larry Rouvelas, executive vice president of PMI, a Rockville, Maryland-based firm (www.pmifit.com) that sells impairment tests. He cites an informal study in which employees undergoing his firm’s impairment test took a follow-up drug test and also answered questions posed by a staff nurse. For those who failed the impairment test, these were the causes: 1 percent illegal drugs, 8 percent alcohol/hangover, 23 percent illness/medications, 30 percent fatigue, 38 percent multiple factors.

 

[Scott_Lafrance]

Scott

Me, I think prohibition of drugs is stupid.

That’s all I needed to hear. You are beyond reasoning with.

Good day!

Ya, don’t bother reading the evidence based articles I posted about the facts of an entire nation that decriminalized drugs or anything. Just stick to your own opinions and you’ll go far.

 

[Deus_lo_vult]

I can’t ignore this thread any longer because very few people are talking about Mexico.

I have to agree with Bill O’Reilly on this one. 53,000 people have been murdered in the drug wars in Mexico. Everytime you buy a marijuana cigarette, chances are the money goes to the animals who run Mexican drug cartels and who have killed tens of thousands of people.

75% of all child abuse is done by substance abusers. LEGAL DRUGS and SUBSTANCES like alcohol and prescription drugs are a HUGE component of that number. So, unsurprisingly, I’m not altogether convinced that people wouldn’t be hurt if marijuana was legalized.

 

[cornbread_r2]

It certainly does. It is illegal for a reason.

[snip]

Based upon my research into the history of marijuana laws in this country, it’s woefully apparent that the reason marijuana is illegal has far more to do with who uses it rather than the actual effects of the drug.

 

[cornbread_r2]

I can’t ignore this thread any longer because very few people are talking about Mexico.

I have to agree with Bill O’Reilly on this one. 53,000 people have been murdered in the drug wars in Mexico. Everytime you buy a marijuana cigarette, chances are the money goes to the animals who run Mexican drug cartels and who have killed tens of thousands of people.

Not all marijuana comes from Mexico.

Organized crime, Mexican and otherwise, is involved with marijuana for one reason only – they make a lot of money from it. How do they make so much money by selling an easily cultivated weed? I’m guessing its illegality has a lot to do with that. For example, what do you think would happen to the price of corn chips if they were made illegal?

75% of all child abuse is done by substance abusers. LEGAL DRUGS and SUBSTANCES like alcohol and prescription drugs are a HUGE component of that number. So, unsurprisingly, I’m not altogether convinced that people wouldn’t be hurt if marijuana was legalized.

Call me naive, but I think people who want to abuse children will do so regardless of whether their drug of choice is legal or not.