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MARIJUANA

Pot Legalization Is on the Horizon

A spate of op-eds argue prohibition should end - and probably will

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by Mary Noble

Senior Editor t +

Image: Rolling Stone

Three op-eds this week offered up a laundry list of reasons to legalize marijuana. Do you agree with any of them?

1. It's inevitable, says Rolling Stone's Julian Brookes. Over half the country supports it, and three different states have 2012 ballot measures that could legalize the herb.
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Do you buy any of these reasons for legalizing pot?

234 Comments (view in Forum)

  • Souljah
    !
    Yeah.."Legalize It"..
    G.A.N.J.A what the people want the government knows its the Ganja.
    G.A.N.J.A. then give them what they want Legalize using the Ganja..
    quoted from -Tre Tru-
  • Stratton
    !
    It's a little ridiculous to claim that legalizing pot will get it out of the hands of teens, considering it's illegal for them now and they can get it easily.

    The only real problem I have with legalization is that currently police catch a large number of more serious criminals through routine pot busts.
  • Heavy-Fed
    !
    Right now... the teens are the ones selling it!!! Take the profits out of the hands of criminals and tax Marijuana, regulate it. The only way to control the drug supply... is to own it.

    HeavyFedDotCom
  • Stratton
    !
    Own it? Meaning the government will own and sell all the marijuana? That's a very different proposition from legalizing, regulating, and taxing it.
  • jlm
    !
    I think that pot would then be less valuable. If there is no value where would the criminals even come in?
    As for teenagers the parents should be in control just as they are now.
  • Bobolinsky
    !
    "The only real problem I have with legalization is that currently police catch a large number of more serious criminals through routine pot busts."

    I know you didn't mean to Stratton. But you just indirectly endorsed the "dragnet" method of law enforcement. That's the method used by the TSA at airports and now we are finding out... the NSA with our communications.

    I cringe citing Eliot Spitzer and Current TV, but this is a story about what I mean.

    NSA whistle-blowers warn that the US government can use surveillance to ‘see into your life’
    http://current.com/shows/viewpoint/videos/nsa...

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  • FollowTheMoney
    !
    Yes I do. I've said so for years. Personal responsibility is the real issue here. Nanny state mentalities are a thing of the past. All the old arguments have been disproved time and time again. The most used is " pot is a gateway drug " . Wrong, Crime is a gateway to crime.

    I've taught my children, moderation is the key. Fast driving, alcohol, marijuana, sex, drugs and the list goes on....
  • dances-weebles
    !
    you have just hit on two of the major reasons why pot shouldn't be legalised... taxes and gov't control.

    if pot is legalised, then state and federal gov'ts will tax it until it's priced out of the reach of common people. not only that, but, like tobacco and alcohol (which btw, are harmful and addictive where pot is not) the quality will be regulated until it's just about like smoking oregano. if that happens, then the drug lords will still be raking in a fortune on good quality pot, while it lays on the shelves in stores until it's sold as a cooking herb, at best.

    what needs to be done, and what i would support 100% is the decriminalisagion of pot... not the legalisation. don't restrict it or regulate it in any way. make it okay for anyone who wants to grow their own in their flower beds, and window boxes who wants to. make it okay to give it away as presents for birthdays and for christmas, but not okay to sell it anywhere; including stores. the only thing related to pot that should ever be sold is all the different varieties of high quality seeds for planting in garden stores everywhere.
  • OhWiseOne
    !
    It sure is and I'm all for it. I personally believe marijuana is much less dangerous than alcohol. So, why isn't that banned? Oh that's right. Prohibition and it failed big time. Same with marijuana. I also believe it would create a lot of wealth in this country because once it becomes legalized, and it will, a LOT of people will start growing it and get filthy rich. I plan on being one of them.
  • srennelkztirF
    !
    A heck of a lot faster than I'd buy into the idea that Chick-fil-As across the country are feeling the pressure that you guys are feebly attempting to put on them? You guys must have problems sleeping at night knowing that despite your best efforts, the funds are rolling in over at CFA. Why you seem to be taking a pro-criminalization stance on MJ is beyond me...oh yeah: I guess that you don't want any competition for your buddies in the Mexi-gangs!
  • srennelkztirF
    !
    Read how the question was worded there, Helen Keller: "Do you buy any of these reasons for legalizing pot?" Now tell me...what would a bunch of liberals have against the decriminalization of MJ? Well, I guess since Obama has flip-flopped over the last four years and decided that he is not in favor of it (likely due to the fact that it would actually help our economy without taxing the heck out of small-business owners who he believes do not pay their fair share), his followers were bound to fall in line.
  • EliasCrowe
    !
    Yes. The federal laws against the cannabis plant are some of the most ridiculous laws we have. Prohibition has made the drug problem a whole lot worse. It's time for a change.
  • classychazy
    !
    No vote has ever been made as far as I know, but most sitting up on the hill don't give a damn what we want! If they did we would not be in the mess we are in right now. Things need to change or the America people need to over throw our own government! Its time to stop praying something will happen its come time to force the issue!
  • autiger
    !
    Nope .. I hate tobacco too.. But it's amazing we demonize smokers and now we want to legalize something very similar.. Hard to hate one & endorse the other???? Raising tax money should be the last reason.
  • FollowTheMoney
    !
    It's the same thing. Tobacco, pot, alcohol, Fast food, etc etc etc..... What you do is what you do. What I do is what I do. Personalty, I don't like men that dye their hair, but what ever floats their boats.
  • dances-weebles
    !
    you know... it really doesn't matter if you hate tobacco smoke or not. if another person smokes it's none of your business. if you don't like to be with smokers, then don't go to places where they'll be smoking. that's simple, huh?

    yeah... smoking is smoking... except for one thing. pot has no tar or nicotine, and according to both federal gov't studies, and medical studies it doesn't cause any damage at all to the lungs. it's not addictive, and it causes no harm to any internal organs. tobacco and alcohol do all of those. you see the difference?
  • MongoAPillager
    !
    i don't know about that weeblees,any smoke going into the body on a regular bases is going to do harm,thats just common sense,nicotine by the judgement of some researchers can be very useful, i know in Dare class they said that pot smoke was 5 times more harmful than coffin nails.i,ll look it up

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  • Thunderchicken
    !
    If someone wants to smoke pot, tobacco, corn silk or human hair, it's their business. BUT, the cost of any related problems is also the smokers business. Legalize it, fine. Tax it, great. Ask me to pick up any mess from it, nope.
  • Righton
    !
    : Health-related costs per user are eight times higher for drinkers than they are for those who use cannabis, and are more than 40 times higher for tobacco smokers, according to a report published in the British Columbia Mental Health and Addictions Journal.

    According to the report, "In terms of [health-related] costs per user: tobacco-related health costs are over $800 per user, alcohol-related health costs are much lower at $165 per user, and cannabis-related health costs are the lowest at $20 per user."
  • Bobolinsky
    !
    In theory I agree with you Thunder. But as others have pointed out, in theory, we shouldn't have to pick up messes caused by a lot of things.

    The reality is that we do pick up other people's messes of their own making. And we do it, and will continue to do it, whether MJ is legal or not.
  • Keyjo
    !
    Yes, I absolutely favor legalization of marijuana.
    Here in Oregon, it's on the ballot. We already have legal medical marijuana.
    It has always struck me as odd that alcohol, which frequently makes people violent, is legal! I've never known a pot smoker decide out of the blue, that he wants to fight everyone in the room. Many alcoholics get drunk and abuse their partners. Most pot heads I know, would rather make love than hate.
  • sheldonschaub
    !
    what i can't figure out is you make it legal to got a bar and get Blown away, but yet you can't smoke any pot which doesn't get you blown away like alcohol. Here is another example of Government not doing what the people want.
  • Wilberhum
    !
    "Legalizing would allow pot be regulated and kept out of the hands of teens"? That is a joke right?
    The rest are valid but the main reason we should legalize pot is to help deprive income to the criminals.
  • AceLuby
    !
    It's not a joke, do you think a drug dealer will ever card a teenager? Of course not? Now what about a dispensary that could lose its license? There are incentives for legal businesses to keep it legal, there are no incentives for an illegal drug dealer to do the same. Just make the legal age 21 just like alcohol.
  • questioner
    !
    I've heard convincing arguments for and against, but I have read some of the same arguments about prohibition of booze (fm the late 1800s and early 1910s). The drift I get is that Pot is not as bad a drug, but the organized crime now associated with it is worse.
    Legalize it, to cut back on some of the crime.
  • freethinker
    !
    maybe we can do something like issue a permit of some kind, where you have pay say $200 to purchase in order buy from authorize dealer. who you will be required to show in order to buy. the permit will be as long as you are in good standing. but could be pulled for any offence such as driving under influence, or crime or valance.
  • guest
    !
    JUST SAY NO !!!

    Not a good idea, especially for people that don't know it's effects to their systems. Especially teens and younger that don't know what they are getting into. Also have possibilities of getting a bad cut, like having pcp in it ore some other harmful drug.

    Pot could be very damaging to some people and they don't even know it until it's too late. May have to be medicated for life, ruining their lives, or even institutionalized, or death...not to mention taking up tax dollars to pay for the medicines and heath care for any damage done.

    Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/blogs/na...
  • Righton
    !
    Such fear mongering here. Like people that sell pot want to add a more costly drug into it? There are NO recorded deaths from weed. Medicated for life? Institutionalized LOL or DEATH Bigger joke.
  • ZappaCrappa
    !
    Holy crap!! Someone's parents made them watch "Reefer Madness"!
    And masturbation causes blindness and hairy palms!

    Priceless. I spit beer reading that tripe!
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  •
    ZappaCrappa
    !
    You have to laugh.

    I've "partied" with cops, CEO's, VP's, successful business owners, several MD's including a heart surgeon, and in one memorable case, a District Attorney. If all the closet smokers would stand up and come clean, this would already be a non issue.

    The stereotype of the tie dye wearing, long haired, lazy, worthless, pot head is just that. A stereotype. And an incorrect one. I own 2 houses. Never been fired. Never collected a government check for welfare or unemployment. My current employer has told me that if he had 2 more of me, he would need 4 less employees.

    Tired of all the misinformation. You want to make something destructive illegal, start with tobacco and alcohol.

    When is tje last time you heard this 9-1-1 call on Cops or the evening news?
    "Omg help us help us! My husband came home from work, went to the garage and smoked a joint, and now he's on a rampage! Help us!"

    Nope. Never. This is what you would hear:

    "help us please! My husband came home from work, went in the garage and smoked a joint, and now he won't turn off Family Guy and he's eating all the cheezy poofs with a big grin on his face!"

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  • Keyjo
    !
    How many thousands of people are in over crowded jails/prisons for simple possession or sales of weed?
    Part of the difficulty in legalizing pot is that the manufacturers of "legal" drugs object. They stand to lose millions when grandma finds smoking a bowl will relieve her pain as well or better than her $20 per pill meds.
  • Righton
    !
    X2 Big pharm has to be bribed to even make child cancer treatments because the % of profit is so low. They will now have a bonus if they make child cancer med by having one of there other DRUGS rushed thru FDA approval. Can you believe that?
  • Keyjo
    !
    Hemp is largely illegal because it can be made to make durable products at a cost effective price. This ticked off the big oil because of it's promotion of oil based, plastic products.
    Did you know that Henry Ford produced a hemp plastic car? It was said to be "ten times stronger than steel!" I can't validate the "ten times stronger" claim. But think about a car body that could bounce back to shape after a fender bender. A car that could have the color molded into the body so that scratches and scrapes were almost invisible.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp_plastic

    I believe that the United States is the only industrialized nation in which hemp is illegal. And while most hemp is NOT of the smoking variety, it all got thrown into the mix.
  • Stratton
    !
    Jail, yes. Prison, no. Nobody does extended prison time for simple misdemeanor posession of marijuana. You either have to be a repeat offender or caught with an amount that indicates intent to distribute. And sorry, I don't have any sympathy for drug dealers. I know a guy who sells pot, and he seems like a nice guy, but if he goes to prison, too bad for him.
  • bwilbered
    !
    You are too right!! And about the plastic car, what a great idea! And if you crash your car, its recycleable. You can just smoke it! LOL! About the meds, I have a lot of stomach problems and the only medicine for nausea puts me to sleep! My pain management doc completely supports using bud for my nausea. If only it were legal!

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