Legalize it?????

[Akuma]

The middle class rebels drug of choice


Smoking some fresh bud on a carribean beach, watching the sun come up = win

smoking some dirty 99% tar solid in a filthy bedsit, watching daytime TV = lose

that said I've not really done any drugs for the last 2 years or so, bar the occasional mash-up

they just dont play a part in going out like they did when I was a wee nipper. Remember kids, drugs are BAD.

 

[SpiritWalker]

well... IMO

Originally posted by Frostblood

Also, even if you deny this, legalising the use of cannabis wouldnt actually increase the usage and would free up great amounts of police time and prison space, as well as reducing the use of harder drugs by removing the gateways to drug dealers, so no matter how dangerous you believe it to be, there is no reason not to legalise it.

I won't get into the addicitive qualities of the wacky weed because I do belive that anything is addicitive given the "makeup" of the individual users..
BUT
to make pot legal, yes that would free up police time, and prison space.. the same would happen if you made coke, herion, crystal meth, and anything else that is illegal..that is a poor excuse for what is a valid argument.. I lean towards "yes" make GENERAL use legal.. but if there were some way (and there probably is) is measure the amount that has been used, like a DWI test, use that as a "safe" use type of thing..

a little background before I go on..

have I used pot?
oohh yes... I used to smoke so much that I lost interest in it..getting high just started to make me sleepy.. other drug use..yes again.. a whole bunch of other stuff, but never shot up anything.. and while I was in highschool I had a good friend get killed by a drunk driver..

my problem with making pot legal is that, if you "give an inch, you usually lose a foot" meaning that if you make pot legal then were does it stop.... and how much easier would it be to get other "harder" drugs legalized?? And I really don't think that anyone would want to see coke or herione as a legal drug..
I could go on but..nah!

 

[Frostblood]

Spirit : If I thought that legalising heroin wouldnt increase the usage of it, i would legalise it. Many deaths from heroin are a result of contamination and legalisation would prevent that, as well as freeing up more time and money. But as it is, I think that legalisation would do ( in the long run ) far more harm than good. I take your point but I think that legalising cannabis would decrease the harm it causes ( mainly by breaking links with suppliers, as it is at the moment anyone that has access to pot probably has access to much harder drugs as well ) as well as being fairer.

As for addictiveness, anything can be pyschologically addictive if it gives pleasure, drug or not. Studys have shown that in most cases cannabis is no more addictive than anything else, and undeniably less so than nicotine or alchohol.

 

[Evil_Cope]

Originally posted by Frostblood
Spirit : If I thought that legalising heroin wouldnt increase the usage of it, i would legalise it. Many deaths from heroin are a result of contamination and legalisation would prevent that, as well as freeing up more time and money. But as it is, I think that legalisation would do ( in the long run ) far more harm than good. I take your point but I think that legalising cannabis would decrease the harm it causes ( mainly by breaking links with suppliers, as it is at the moment anyone that has access to pot probably has access to much harder drugs as well ) as well as being fairer.

As for addictiveness, anything can be pyschologically addictive if it gives pleasure, drug or not. Studys have shown that in most cases cannabis is no more addictive than anything else, and undeniably less so than nicotine or alchohol.

actually, all problems with heroine are a result of the criminalisation of it. if, like it used to be, it was a controlled substance available through doctors then the addicts would have a serious chance of getting off it, which they dont have under the current- "smoke/inject etc anything and we'll lock you up" approach.

 

[SpiritWalker]

Originally posted by mister_cope


actually, all problems with heroine are a result of the criminalisation of it. if, like it used to be, it was a controlled substance available through doctors then the addicts would have a serious chance of getting off it, which they dont have under the current- "smoke/inject etc anything and we'll lock you up" approach.

I don't know if doctors can or can't prescribe herion.. but if doctors could prescribe it as a controled substance.. then don't you think that, that would be just another avenue to go about getting a drug with (apperantly) very little "good" involved with it..
look at sleeping pills, delotted (sp) and some of the other harder drugs.. you can get them through a doctor.. but there is a huge demand for them on the black market... so what makes you think that getting "x,y,and z" drugs from a doctor leagly would make a difference to those that want them?

 

[Evil_Cope]

Originally posted by The Spiritwalker


I don't know if doctors can or can't prescribe herion.. but if doctors could prescribe it as a controled substance.. then don't you think that, that would be just another avenue to go about getting a drug with (apperantly) very little "good" involved with it..
look at sleeping pills, delotted (sp) and some of the other harder drugs.. you can get them through a doctor.. but there is a huge demand for them on the black market... so what makes you think that getting "x,y,and z" drugs from a doctor leagly would make a difference to those that want them?

why, because as i said, before some time in the swingin sixties, heroine was merely a controlled substance, doctors could prescribe it medicinaly or something. when a stop was put to this, the handfull of addicts still wanted their fix, so it turned to the criminals to provide,
dince then, the problem with heroine has skyrocketed.and it also carries additional risks because of impurities and uncertain doesage.

also, studies have shown that if and when doctors are aloowed to rpescribe actual, pure heroine to addicts wanting to get cleen, theyt have a greater chance of doing so, and staying so.

now do you see?

 

[Cat Fuzz]

Go smoke a maple leaf.

No! Friggin' dopeheads.

 

[Claw]

Caffeine. I drink alcohol now and then, but I am a caffeine junkie. Just as I am typing this I am gulping down a coke and long for more


But what the heck, I am all for legalizing pot. And the reason sleeping pills and painkillers etc. are sold at the black market is 'cos you can't just get it fo no reason from your doctor, and some of 'em are pretty addictive; so you got them for a reason first, and whan your doc stops prescribing them, you still want 'em. I guess the problem lies in prescribing the stuff in the first place.
And I think punishing addicts doesn't help solving their problems either...

ohohoh... I ne-need my caff-feiine...

 

[SpiritWalker]

Originally posted by mister_cope


now do you see?

that was sometime in the 60's as you said.. well also in the 60's and so on.. racisism was ok. and things changed.. just like the desire for drugs getting more violent .. and as to your point.. Yes I can see.. I can see that you want to give addicts the very thing that they are addicted to.. and somehow that will get them clean..personally I belive that peeps that are addicted to an illegal substance.. should be locked away.. (rehab or jail depending on the offense) and with out their drug of choice.. they can get clean.. it is a FACT.. if you can't get what you want.. then you can get over it..

and as to my other point...
look at sleeping pills, delotted (sp) and some of the other harder drugs.. you can get them through a doctor.. but there is a huge demand for them on the black market... so what makes you think that getting "x,y,and z" drugs from a doctor leagly would make a difference to those that want them
please address that..

 

[Claw]

*cough*answergivenalready*cough*

But Spirit is right here... you can force a junkie to get clean, and I'd do that to just any addict who is found out and doesn't ask for help on his own... "cold withdrawl" it's called in German.
The problem with jails is, you can get the accursed stuff in there

 

[QUALTHWAR]

Uh, drugs are bad, mkay?

 

[SpiritWalker]

Originally posted by Claw
[B
The problem with jails is, you can get the accursed stuff in there [/B]

you do have a point there

 

[Deathwing]

The problem with legalizing any drug is that, eventually, people will think about it as the norm, realize this other drug isn't much different, and try to legalize that. And it'll happen again, and again, and again, until finally people are debating whether to legalize cocaine, heroin, ecstacy, and the like.

 

[SpiritWalker]

Originally posted by Deathwing
The problem with legalizing any drug is that, eventually, people will think about it as the norm, realize this other drug isn't much different, and try to legalize that. And it'll happen again, and again, and again, until finally people are debating whether to legalize cocaine, heroin, ecstacy, and the like.

and THAT is what I was trying to get at in a gun control debate as well as this discussion... but other peoples seem to be a hellofalot more consice than me lately...

 

[Stilgar]

Originally posted by Deathwing
The problem with legalizing any drug is that, eventually, people will think about it as the norm, realize this other drug isn't much different, and try to legalize that. And it'll happen again, and again, and again, until finally people are debating whether to legalize cocaine, heroin, ecstacy, and the like.

this is the kind of conjecture which pisses off those trying to legalise pot...

 

[Frostblood]

I dont think legalising pot would lead to anything else being legalised...look at tobacco , that kills millions and has been legal for decades while pot is a criminalised.

I do agree that legalising hard drugs would be a mistake...40% of people have tried pot, and if it was legal and cheap a good number would try heroin, cocain etc. But they would be far more likely to become regular users,thanks to the addiction, and with that sheer quantuty of usage there would be many more drugs deaths. Crime rates would fall dramatically however, at least in the short run.

 

[oosyxxx]

WAT AER YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?! POT ISN'T BAD FOR YOU ALCOHOL IS WAY WORSER JUST LOOK AT THE TRAFIC SMASHES! POT NEVER MADE ANYONE GO TO JAIL FOR POT DRIVING! GOD PUT POT ON THE EARTH FOR MEN TO SMOKE IT MAN WHY IS IT ILLEGAL? THEN DIRT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL! PEOPLE WHO THINK IT IS ILLEGAL IARE DUMB BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALIZE! HEMP CAN BE USED FOR PAPER AND BUILDING TREE FORTS AND SCHOOLBOOKS! IT WOULD CURE THE NATIONAL DET! ALL THE GOOD THINGS I CANT THINK OF BAD THINGS!

 

[Vendetta]

smoke some ganja mon?-predator
you wanna hit this ****?-scary movie

i've been smokin for 24 years. if it was legal it wouldnt cost like it does.

in my opinion alcohol is much worse. ever heard of stoned driving?

 

[Claw]

Originally posted by Vendetta
(...) ever heard of stoned driving?

As a matter of fact, yes, and also of ppl causing car accidents bein' stoned, and getting arrested for it, which is a damn good thing.

You're really funny. Natuarally, all drugs influence the sensoric system of the body. Of course driving stoned is stupid, dangerous and should be punished, even IF pot is legalized.
Alcohol IS legal after all, and still you're not allowed to drive when drunk.

 

[Sven_ya!]

Originally posted by Deathwing
The problem with legalizing any drug is that, eventually, people will think about it as the norm, realize this other drug isn't much different, and try to legalize that. And it'll happen again, and again, and again, until finally people are debating whether to legalize cocaine, heroin, ecstacy, and the like.

Wrong.

The reason Marijuana will become legal within our lifetime has nothing to do with health risks, addictive qualities of the drug or any of that BS. It's strictly to do with cultural acceptance.

Most people these days don't really think of Marijuana in the same league as cocaine, heroine, crack and any other hard drugs. I know plenty of people who have no problem with Marijuana, but would never fry their brains and bodies on harder drugs.

Especially in the US, the history of drug legalization has had far more to do with societal and political pressure than health issues. Prohibition was an attempt at cultural assimilation: get the German to drink less beer and get the Italian Americans to stop drinking wine and make the whole lot more puritan. Prohibition happened at a time when many immigrants were taking their place in American culture, and banning alcohol was a backlash against that disguised as a public health move.

Prohibition failed because alcohol was too strong a cultural force to make illegal, especially in "The land of the free." Ask any member of MADD and they'll give you a good earfull about the dangers of alcohol, it's arguably the most dangerous drug out there.

As far as I'm concerned, this is a pointless debate. Marijuana will be legal because culturally it has already become accepted. I mean, *everybody* smokes it. I'm one of the rare people I do know who's never tried it. As for all the people I do know that smoke it, only a small fraction are what I would call addicted or even have a serious problem as a result of their use. The rest of the potheads I know run businesses, raise families and contribute to the GNP like anybody else.