Marijuana Legalization Debate

taku · Kickflip Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 2868 City: Central FL

What are the pros and cons to legalizing this drug? I'm not talking "yah broh it would be sooooo cool if it was legal"... I'm talking economic implications of legalizing (tax benefits), social, overall cultural changes what would happen if it was?

There are far worse things out there for your body, alcohol (a toxin), pills, tobacco. Used at length or in excess they have all been linked to human death, but maryjane hasn't been, so what makes this drug so bad socially?

Why aren't parents more concerned that it's easier for their kids to buy a bag of weed than it is to get booze usually? With government intervention, the "pot drug dealer" dangers would effectively go away, making it legal would stop dangerous drug exchanges for this particular drug at least, potentially could save lives.

It's pretty well known that greater than 25% of the USA smokes it, it's also used on a global scale... it seems like a wise financial decision for the government who is massively in debt, to look for new ways to boost the economy... but I can understand how it's legalization will greatly disrupt society for a while.

Instead of legalizing it, should we just decriminalize it like Amsterdam?

Thoughts?

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

its going to be hard to debate something we all are on the same side about

Laughing

taku · Kickflip Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 2868 City: Central FL

I think we have a couple people who disagree with it being legal Wink

hopefully they'll say something though, I'm interested in hearing the other side. The religious or other, side.

RedLine Whiine · Posted: Apr 08, 2009 10:51 am Post subject:

Cons: hard to control the substance since weed varys in different THC levels and as well having a way to claim you "smoked over the limit" (we all have exprienced a being to high moment to function) sometimes its considered a "gateway" drug for ppl to try coke and etc. Also if it was to be legal it will be alot easier for younger kids to get hands on it while doctors claim to say your brain has finished growing at the age of 21 depending on your growth rate. so while youg kids have a mind of a sponge to learn knowledge for there future. there cripling themselves. same with under age drinking if its abused. Europeans kids allow there kids to drink at the age of 13, but teach them to drink with responsibly. while us Americans couldnt wait to get our hand on a beer and chugg it so you dont get caught. most alcohol poisoning happens to kids "pregamin" to places they arnt aloud to drink. sorry got a lil off topic.

Pros: Can tax the hell out of it and the government will basically run it and would probaly not allow homegrowing so its controlled as much as possible.

i mean this is one big debate. those are a few of my thoughts. i gotta jet to class.

RedLine Whiine · Posted: Apr 08, 2009 10:52 am Post subject:

haha. there ya go

edrex · Backside 180 Joined: 18 Oct 2006 Posts: 1020 City: NorCal

I guess I'm one of the few that tends to take the "other" side in this debate so I'll chime in.
Mostly, I don't care too much if it were to get legalized... I just don't think its going to happen. I also think that if it were to be legalized, it would be much different then how people tend to dream it - you won't be able to walk down the sidewalk smoking a joint (just like in most places you can't walk down the street chugging a beer), and if the government were to get involved then I also think it would become as highly regulated as alcohol. And regulation means that it would not be as strong as what you are used to. It also means being taxed. So you would be paying for lesser quality bud, but getting it easier. If it turned out like this, then it would not mean the end of drug dealers and the problems that go along with them. People would still want to buy good stuff, and thats where they would find it.
Also, home growing I don't think would ever be legalized (just like distilling your own spirits at home is illegal). It would be too hard to regulate (which, from the governments point of view, would be one of the only reasons to legalize). I would think that growing would most likely be dominated by big tobacco companies that are already set up to do it, and they would be the ones to make all the money off it.
Another massive roadblock to legalization is roadside testing. If you drive drunk, you take a breathalyzer test and they can tell if you are over the limit. Whose best interests are in mind if there is no way to enforce laws regarding driving while under the influence of MJ? And, this isn't to debate whether high drivers are better then drunk drivers. I'm simply saying there would need to be a way to determine how high someone is and as far as I know right now there is not.
I'm always up for hearing why I'm wrong, but lets try to keep this one civil. Seems like legaliztions threads always crash and burn pretty hard.

Gnarly Dancer 42 · 360 flip Joined: 21 May 2007 Posts: 5121 City: kalamazoo

i say keep it illegal cus it smells horrible

mojo · Posted: Apr 08, 2009 11:20 am Post subject:

put simply, it would help alot of sick people feel better and be able to eat, the thc level can be controlled to the same standards as any other drug(ask israeli scientists), high grade pot has no seeds so people couldn't grow it, nationwide revenue would be in the 10billion plus number, jails and prisons would be less crowded and tax payers money wouldnt go to keeping an 18 year old kid in jail for an 1/8 of an ounce. there are definitely cons to the argument, but the pro's outweigh the cons. it should be controlled as alcohol is and only used at home. i know i can drive my car better than 99% of the population baked though i don't condone it. oh and it would end the billions spent on policing marijuana and allow officers to focus on hard, dangerous drugs like meth and end all the importation of crap weed from mexico.

RedLine Whiine · Posted: Apr 08, 2009 11:23 am Post subject:

POPTART · 360 flip Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 7621

i personally think that if they are going to reform the marijuana law they should take a look at reforming the entire drugs and alcohol law system. they should lower the drinking age back to 18 and make harsher penalties for first time offenders. they would have to totally rethink they way the control tax and distribute drugs and alcohol. but i dont think its going to happen.
and if they were to distribute weed legally i would assume that the government grade (which could be taxed) would be a higher quality than your average dealer
which would make it harder for the dealers to compete at the same price for the same quality
and they could sell pre rolled ciggs

Kay-Kay · Posted: Apr 08, 2009 11:32 am Post subject:

taku · Kickflip Joined: 10 Mar 2007 Posts: 2868 City: Central FL

brassmonkey · Posted: Apr 08, 2009 1:11 pm Post subject:

Decriminalize for sure

I just don't want to see this beautiful plant be glamorized the same way that tobacco and alcohol are. Disgusting..

ZackFL(BRE) · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 2386 City: Tampa

Parker · Backside 180 Joined: 14 Oct 2007 Posts: 1731 City: Norman

First I'm aware my opinion is probably biased. (Went to court for this less than a week ago)

The government spends an estimated over 5 billion dollars in Marijuana law enforcement, judicial, and correction cost. This combined with the I believe 6 billion estimated revenue of taxing it is a lot of money for our government.

As far as a gateway drug I'm not sure how this could be proven or not. I personally believe drug dealers are the gateway. If someone buys their weed at the store how does that help them locate a hardcore drug dealer?

Blood tests can show if someone is high. Although I'm guilty of driving high all the time, I still think it should be illegal to drive high because someone people do accomplish getting so high they feel impaired.

ZackFL(BRE) · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 2386 City: Tampa

ZackFL(BRE) · Backside 180 Joined: 11 Oct 2008 Posts: 2386 City: Tampa

POT IS NOT A GATEWAY DRUG!!!!!! if a kid were to find coke or meth or anything else first they might.. might try pot. If someone gets drunk they might try pot knowing it makes you feel as abnorml as the alcohol did........... how can anything be considered a gateway drug?? not everyone finds pot first... you could blame cigarettes for being a gateway drug because the first time you smoke one it makes you feel "high"...... Cool

lets keep this thread chill so there are no arguments those are just my own personal views... esp. when i have never met anyone that doesnt smoke...

tad · 360 flip Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 5031

SwissArmyKnife · Pop Shuvit Joined: 30 Nov 2007 Posts: 152 City: PawPaw

How does the govornment make money off of drug busts? other than the money confinskate.

I thought it was illegal to have drugs not money.

do they sell the stuff after the confinskate it?

how does the earned tax revanue compare to the money they find on said busts?

I beleive that if pot growers can figure out how to make sweet sticky buds. i think the govornment might be able to figure out how to regulate the THC/gram ratio.

I don't understand how pot can be called a "gateway" drug. I have been burnin' down for years, and never have i tried anything other than pot.

GULIBILITY is the real "gateway" drug.

YOU CANT O.D. ON POT. that can't be said about alcohol

lets start the second revolution!

tad · 360 flip Joined: 07 May 2006 Posts: 5031