[modi123_1]

Screw it all - keep the crap banned. Why in the name of all that is red, white, and blue should pot be legalized?

The government is tightening the thumbscrews on smokers (cigs), and if you go see the other post in the lounge on smoking you will notice a lot of folks irrationally hate it. Why allow another form of evil inhalants?

The dirty looks people give smokers who are forced outside into the elements would only be a hundred times worse for mary-jane.. let alone the second hand smoke filled with THC getting into baby lungs? Wow.. rude.

[KYA]

If it is legalized I'm buying stock in Frito Lay and Cheetos. I'll make a damn fortune.

[baavgai]

BigAnt, on 27 Apr, 2009 - 03:52 PM, said:

Should be legalized and heavily taxed.

Absolutely agree.

While you're at it, every other "illegal" drug can make that list. I'm serious. The supply lines for such things have never been broken, the best option is to undercut the black market and dry it up with fair trade.

For weed specifically... A friend of mine was on kidney dialysis for seven years. With the level she was at, most folks don't make it past three or four years. She smoked pot. Her doctor knew, and while he was unable to prescribe it, he told her to keep doing what she was doing. He believed it was the only reason she lasted as long as she did.

[computerfox]

i think yes, but make it like cigarretes. have an age limit and tax it. i think this because it's not really a drug, it's just made out to be because it's illegal and nobody wants to change it. personally it think it's a waste of money, i tried it once and i hated it. plus this would be one good thing the president can do-try to illiminate the present governmental debt which is around 13 trillion. hey maybe pot can be our only hope to bringing this economy back to somewhat normal. you never know...

This post has been edited by computerfox: 28 April 2009 - 10:17 AM

[Nykc]

KYA, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 10:12 AM, said:

If it is legalized I'm buying stock in Frito Lay and Cheetos. I'll make a damn fortune.

I am buying stock in:

[Locke]

KYA, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 10:12 AM, said:

If it is legalized I'm buying stock in Frito Lay and Cheetos. I'll make a damn fortune.

Oh my god, you're my new hero.

[333OnlyHalfEvil]

firebolt, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 01:39 AM, said:

No matter what, someone will always have a marijuana seed in there pocket, ready to take over the drug world. It also depends how legalized. So could I just walk into a marijuana store and get a back of it. Or you mean it gets prescribed and then you could just get it. So final answer, No.

Personally, I think it should be like cigarettes. Walk into a store and buy a pack of Js. But for the sake of actually getting it legalized I would say it gets prescribed because that's the first step.

modi123_1, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 08:00 AM, said:

Screw it all - keep the crap banned. Why in the name of all that is red, white, and blue should pot be legalized?

The government is tightening the thumbscrews on smokers (cigs), and if you go see the other post in the lounge on smoking you will notice a lot of folks irrationally hate it. Why allow another form of evil inhalants?

The dirty looks people give smokers who are forced outside into the elements would only be a hundred times worse for mary-jane.. let alone the second hand smoke filled with THC getting into baby lungs? Wow.. rude.

Why pot should be legalized is what the debate is going to be about. You know that marijuana is legal in California state law right? Second hand smoke getting into baby lungs? Who the hell smokes around a baby and blows their smoke in the baby's face? Dave Chappelle?

baavgai, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 08:25 AM, said:

BigAnt, on 27 Apr, 2009 - 03:52 PM, said:

Should be legalized and heavily taxed.

Absolutely agree.

While you're at it, every other "illegal" drug can make that list. I'm serious. The supply lines for such things have never been broken, the best option is to undercut the black market and dry it up with fair trade.

For weed specifically... A friend of mine was on kidney dialysis for seven years. With the level she was at, most folks don't make it past three or four years. She smoked pot. Her doctor knew, and while he was unable to prescribe it, he told her to keep doing what she was doing. He believed it was the only reason she lasted as long as she did.

I would agree with all illegal drugs being legalized. I was going to state it later on though. Each drug should have a different age restriction. I mean, if you're 90, dieing because of heroin is better than having a heart attack.

This post has been edited by 333OnlyHalfEvil: 28 April 2009 - 12:38 PM

[modi123_1]

333OnlyHalfEvil, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 01:37 PM, said:

<snip>

modi123_1, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 08:00 AM, said:

Screw it all - keep the crap banned. Why in the name of all that is red, white, and blue should pot be legalized?

The government is tightening the thumbscrews on smokers (cigs), and if you go see the other post in the lounge on smoking you will notice a lot of folks irrationally hate it. Why allow another form of evil inhalants?

The dirty looks people give smokers who are forced outside into the elements would only be a hundred times worse for mary-jane.. let alone the second hand smoke filled with THC getting into baby lungs? Wow.. rude.

Why pot should be legalized is what the debate is going to be about. You know that marijuana is legal in California state law right? Second hand smoke getting into baby lungs? Who the hell smokes around a baby and blows their smoke in the baby's face? Dave Chappelle?

<snip>

You miss understood the point. Look - we see smokers treated as second class citizens because they chose to unlock the sweet sweet nicotine with a lighter... right? First hand, second hand, and now third hand smoke are all bad. You can't smoke in bars, you have to be 10 feet away, your insurance goes up, etc. My point is if we are demonizing (with what seems to be the intent of getting rid of it) smoking why would we open the flood gates for pot?

I could care less if it's legal in Cali - federal law trumps state law in this matter.

Who smokes around a baby? Have you ever WATCHED the show COPS? How about worked in a free health clinic? Drove around and saw twelve kids in a rusted truck with mom chain burning Kools? Been to the south? Turned on CMT? Hahahaha.. parents smoke around kids all the time - why expose more kids to the cancer causing cloud of smoke?

[NeoTifa]

I think legalizing it would free up all the prisons and jails. It would allow more room for the real dangerous criminals, and we wouldn't have to destroy so much land and woods to build new prisons. That money could be spent on fixing our deficit or helping to bring our soldiers home. Making it illigal is a waste of time and money and prison cells. Do like everyone else said: legalize and tax heavily.

[Rhymer]

I don't see people who smoke pot causing any harm to anyone beyond the obvious (lung damage). I believe it is a LOT less dangerous than drinking alcohol. If you are stoned you don't have the brains to do anything anyway.

[WolfCoder]

modi123_1, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 01:53 PM, said:

...
You miss understood the point. Look - we see smokers treated as second class citizens because they chose to unlock the sweet sweet nicotine with a lighter... right? First hand, second hand, and now third hand smoke are all bad...

People smoking around other people is an entirely unrelated issue, if people smoke anything at all then secondhand smoke will be a problem. The issue is whether to legalize pot or not.

[Winstinology]

Or simply implement laws nationwide like we have up here in Alaska...

[modi123_1]

WolfCoder, on 29 Apr, 2009 - 01:13 PM, said:

modi123_1, on 28 Apr, 2009 - 01:53 PM, said:

...
You miss understood the point. Look - we see smokers treated as second class citizens because they chose to unlock the sweet sweet nicotine with a lighter... right? First hand, second hand, and now third hand smoke are all bad...

People smoking around other people is an entirely unrelated issue, if people smoke anything at all then secondhand smoke will be a problem. The issue is whether to legalize pot or not.

Second hand pot smoke has a lot to do with it. Legalizing it means the potheads don't have to hide in basements, back alleyways, or houses of ill repute. They can leave their ancient papasan thrones, come out into the sunlight and smoke on the corners, in bus stops, or outside bars.

Great.

With regular smokers I had only to worry about lung cancer, but with open air pot heads I have to worry about walking by and getting lung cancer *AND* a contact high. Stellar. Impair me a bit more why don't you. It blows that these "smoke free" concerts get me mildly baked while in the pit because a bunch of referheads cannot contain their addiction until after the show.

Let's not even start on what this might do to children.

The second hand issues of pot by themselves stand as reasons to keep it illegal let alone the moral decay and degeneracy that comes with it.

[Gloin]

What makes people think it would solve all problems if it was legalized but heavily taxed? Why would anyone except overclass punks buy the legal, heavily taxed pot when there's still illegal but considerably cheaper pot available on the other side of the street? I mean you don't have to pay tax on the black market.
The worst part is that the guys selling illegal MJ would be able to charge more than before as well, they're not stupid, why charge $100 when you can get $150 as the legally sold MJ cost $200.
And how would the officers of law possibly be able to distinguish between what pot is legally imported and what pot isn't?
Crimes related to marijuana would not likely decrease either. If prices go up, that only mean some people have to steal more to finance their habit. The only thing that would happen is some harmless addict would get to leave his cell and be out stealing your brand new TV instead.

modi123_1 already mentioned the second hand pot smoke so I won't go into that but only say I agree. If regular smokers ignore you when you ask them to put out their cigarettes, what do you think could be expected by someone smoking pot?

This post has been edited by Gloin: 29 April 2009 - 03:46 PM

[baavgai]

Gloin, on 29 Apr, 2009 - 03:53 PM, said:

What makes people think it would solve all problems if it was legalized but heavily taxed? Why would anyone except overclass punks buy the legal, heavily taxed pot when there's still illegal but considerably cheaper pot available on the other side of the street?

Weed is a weed. The cost of production is marginal, the markup is currently around 15 times the cost. ( Found that tidbit here; isn't google grand?) That's with basement growers dodging law enforcement. A tobacco company could doubtless produce the stuff for a pittance. The cost of a legal MJ cigarette should be significantly less than the traditional cancer stick.

Your assumption that it would be more expensive is absurd. However, to be reasonable, we can use US Prohibition as guide.

Again, with the google, The Economics of Prohibition (PDF):

Quote

The implied percentage increase in alcohol price, including the premium for breaking the law, decreased from 318 percent in 1921 to 171 percent of pre-Prohibition level in 1929.

That was the first hit, feel free to find someone you feel supports your view.

This post has been edited by baavgai: 29 April 2009 - 04:39 PM