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  #1  
Old 04-19-2006, 03:29 AM
Perry Perry is offline
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Default Why is marijuana illegal?

Should it be legalized?
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:30 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Personally, I don't like the idea of stoned people driving, but that's just me.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:33 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Therefore make alcohol illegal.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:35 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Legs
Personally, I don't like the idea of stoned people driving, but that's just me.
Same here, but that argument only supports keeping existing DUI laws in place; it doesn't justify criminalizing possession and use.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:37 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

You want to play word games/semantics? You know it is illegal to drive with alcohol over certain level, how do you manage that with dope? is there a dope breathalyser? or are blood tests required?

Second hand smoke is bad enough, I don't want to breath in second hand dope :laugh:


:smoker: :copno:
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:38 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Legs
You want to play word games/semantics?
He's a lawyer.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:40 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

So no breathalyzer that can be done on the spot?
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:42 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

As far as I know, there are presciption drugs that cause greater motor impairment than marijuana.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:53 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Sorry, you didn't answer the question.

Prescription drugs are given to treat an ailment - not so someone can get high.

Why do people need to get high? It is a whole society issue. Most people who do hard drugs started on marijana. The more acceptable and mainstream it becomes the more people will do it 'just because' and then when they get bored of that.. the next step.

I don't have stats to give, this is just my personal opinion - legalizing this shit that there is no need for will impact on the younger people in society. It will cause breakdowns in families, lack of success in school, loss of jobs and a excuse to be a big waste of life and blame everyone else for your problems.

I'll pass, but thanks.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:57 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Legs
Prescription drugs are given to treat an ailment - not so someone can get high.
Marijuana can be used to treat ailments as well. Glaucoma, cancer, depression, etc.

The rest of your post is just ridiculous. Alcohol, which is legal, is a thousand times as bad.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:58 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Legs
Sorry, you didn't answer the question.

Prescription drugs are given to treat an ailment - not so someone can get high.

Why do people need to get high? It is a whole society issue. Most people who do hard drugs started on marijana.

This is not true. Marijuana as a "gateway drug" has been heavily de-emphasized by studies on the topic over the past 20 years, IIRC.

If you want to talk "gateway drugs", let's drag out caffiene, nicotine and alcohol.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:59 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Here is an argument that some of the marijuana activists put forth: It is not safe to drive stoned. However, it is generally less dangerous than driving drunk. Anybody who has tried marijuana will agree with this, and statistics seem to support this, but I am generally skeptical of statistics when there are so many unknowns. In theory, legalizing marijuana would decrease drunk driving while increasing stoned driving, which would in theory make the roads safer, in a logical way that might be uncomfortable for some people to think about. You can't analyze this one in black and white. Pot makes people paranoid and pay attention to every little detail in their surroundings. Stoned people usually drive really slow and conservative.
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Old 04-19-2006, 03:59 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

We are talking about recreational use, no?

As for ridiculous - only time will tell. Legalize it and see how the kids are 10 years down the road. My bet is MUCH more non productive, failures with no direction either because they are potheads or the adults in their life are.

Tick tock.
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:01 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Because nobody abuses prescription drugs, right? The worst abusers are probably the doctors who prescribe them.
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:03 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

legalize it. prosecute if found stoned and driving.

alcohol is far worse and far more destructive.


michael :)
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:04 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

In my opinion, I believe it is somewhat of a gateway drug because it can raise curiousity and is very different than alcohol. Some people do start with marijuana as their first illegal drug. However, when people try it, they realized they have been lied to by the media and education, not literally, but they have been given different pre-conceived semantics and a lot of omission of information about marijuana. Also, a lot of people who recover from other addictions will say that Marijuana is the best drug. Just some food for thought on the gateway issue.
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:08 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

As far as becoming a pot-head....well, a lot of white-collar and blue-collar hard workers use marijuana discretely at home because they are forced to keep quiet about it in order to keep their jobs and to avoid the social stigma. This de-personalizes people's conceptions of the typical marijuana user because some people have co-workers who are users, but they have absolutely no idea that those people like to get high. Instead, they hear things in infomercials or see bums on the streets, and that is how they form their opinions on the life-long impacts of marijuana.
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  #18  
Old 04-19-2006, 04:24 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Quote:
Originally Posted by D. Scarlatti
Because nobody abuses prescription drugs, right? The worst abusers are probably the doctors who prescribe them.
What is this bait and switch tactic. Instead of discussing the topic your are trying to bring in issues, unrelated.

My YES / NO questions to those reading this thread.

1) Do you like to smoke pot Y or N

2) Do you have a personal interest for wanting it legalized? Y N

3) Do you think teens that smoke pot are as successful in school & work as teens who do not? Y N

4) Do you think it makes no difference to younger children whether if their parents do dope. They receive adequate care & parenting anyway? Y N

5) If pot is legalized - more people will do it. Y N

6) Hard drug users worked their way up from pot? Y N

FYI - my answers...

N - I don't smoke pot

N - I think in our screwed up society it will just make things worse.

N - I think kids who take pot are less successful

N - I think young kids with parents smoking dope do not always recieve the best care in the best enviornment.

Y - If pot is legalized many, many, many more people will starting using.

Y - I believe drug use builds over a lifetime, step by step.
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:33 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

1- yes
2- no...i'll do it anyhow
3- depends..if they smoke a bit at parties, fine, but if they become chronic then of course they'll do poorly. same applies to booze though.
4- depends on the parent or the drug. put it this way...i think it would be better if every alcoholic parent were instead a pothead...not that it's right, but you see what i'm saying...
5- more people will do it in the open
6- as many as worked up from alcohol.

michael :)
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:36 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Perry
Here is an argument that some of the marijuana activists put forth: It is not safe to drive stoned. However, it is generally less dangerous than driving drunk. Anybody who has tried marijuana will agree with this, and statistics seem to support this
Another point is, if you are dead stoned do you really want to drive?

:bonghit:
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:37 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

weed is not a gateway drug like you're implying, legs. yes, it introduces you to that culture, but booze can also get you in the door. i was debating this at another site and i wrote this (being lazy :P)


weed is not a gateway drug. people are just gateways to drugs. if you have a predispostion to be an addict, you'll become one. weed usually comes first because it's the most accepted of the lot and a good way to get into the scene. it does NOT leave you longing for something stronger, since all drugs do different things...heroin isn't a stronger version of weed...
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  #22  
Old 04-19-2006, 04:37 AM
Perry Perry is offline
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Some users are successful at work and school. I will admit that it can sometimes affect people's motivation, but that might also be because pot removes assumptions and raises questions. Also, there is the question about whether a non-ambitious person is/can be/usually is happy.

It sounds like you have never smoked pot, or never in a comfortable environment (maybe nervous and had a bad experience). I generally don't use ad hominem arguments, but there is a very big difference of understanding between those who have and those who haven't. I'm curious on what basis you are forming your opinions.
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:42 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Eastern religions teach that desire is the cause of suffering, and I believe there is a lot of truth to that. However, if you do nothing ambitious with your life....later on you may *desire* that you did something more with your life.
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Old 04-19-2006, 04:58 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

I started drinking alcohol, smoking pot and took acid when I was 12/13. I took hallucinogenic drugs infrequently during the 20 years hence, smoked pot quite a bit more often, but drank constantly and excessively. I've passed every opportunity to try coke, heroin or other hard drugs, and every time I've been in major trouble (ie. ended up in the emergency room or woke up in jail) was the result of drinking.

I don't drink or smoke now, so I don't really care if pot is legalized for recreational use.
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Old 04-19-2006, 05:07 AM
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Default Re: Why is marijuana illegal?

Franky, I really have no time or patience for drug users. Meth, cocaine, etc etc... It eats up peoples finances and makes them do desperate things for more drugs.

I realize smoking pot is common place, widely accepted as harmless, however I have friends with teens who smoke pot at any chance they get, break into houses for cash or things to pawn. They do not do well in school, they are screwed up socially, they are unmotivated and I think - what a waste.

Personally, I find it a weakness in people, a lazy escape and I wonder what is so bad in their lives they need to do it.

If it becomes legalized I really feel it will hit the youth of the nation hard, drop outs, losers, unmotivated bumps on logs, miserable and turning to drugs to feel better. A vicious circle if you will.

Like I said earlier, only time will tell and don't think there is much you guys can say to convince me easier access to drugs will make the world a better place.
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