Should Smoking POT be legal??

[Lovediva]

Should smoking pot finally be allowed or not ?

And if yes how ?

What do you think are the advantages, the dangers ?

[jennaflower]

yes it should be legal :)

I am not a consumer... haven't been for a very long time... but I see no more harm in that than alcohol.. maybe even less.

Not to mention... if it were legal... there would be more fat people like me. ROFL.. just kidding. :) :)

[LixyChick]

I vote yes too.......legal to smoke and sell!

BUT......can you imgine the "sin tax" on it???????

I was gonna vote......"Ya mean it ain't"?.......but I lost my buzz and I am cognizant now and it just didn't seem funny anymore! Got any Frito's?????

LOL Diva.....JK! Sorry, but I couldn't resist that! My first vote stands!

[Steph]

I think we're well on our way to selling it in cafes in Canada. In New Brunswick and British Columbia, there are shops that sell it to people with prescriptions and cafes in Toronto that allow people to smoke up, just not deal . . . yet.

[PantyFanatic]

I don’t believe it’s as addictive as tobacco.

It will be legal as soon as the government can set the tax rate and is sure you can’t get it any other way.

(Rape and murder would be legal if they could tax it)

[Ozling]

Yes it should be legal. Unlike alchohol or tobacco the drug itself has never caused a death. The effects of marijuana may impare motor skills, but so does drinking alchohol and alchohol can kill you just from drinking it. It's not as addictive as either other substances previously mentioned (alchohol/tobacco) and if agents of the law weren't so busy looking for someone rolling a joint in their back yard maybe they could put more money into things that matter, like homeless people or finiding Ben Laden. :)
I think if it were legalized to sell then you would be required to have a license to sell it. It could only be sold in appropriat places and the age on it should be either 18 or 21.

[darogle]

It shouldn't be legalized...yet. Here's why......
There is no standardized field sobriety method for police to use to detect its level in a driver's system like they have for alcohol. (Road side breath tests, ect) And if any of you need to know the consequences of driving under the influence, please, feel free to talk to me. I'm more than happy. Once they can enforce it like they can alcohol, then sure....legalize away. I'd love to have people reduce my tax debt in anyway they can!

[Lilith]

darogle I was thinking about the DUI aspects as well. Good point.

[Oldfart]

In the wonderful world of theory, informed adults use many

mind and body altering substances to grow and grow.

In the real world, children desparately trying to escape the shit in their

lives fuck their heads and bodies with all sorts of things.

Those kids who as a rebellion are going to "step over the line" are

better doing it with something relatively innocuous (but by no means

harmless) like weed than the "Chemical of the Day".

[Belial]

In a word...yes. I don't see what business it is of anyone to tell me what I can or cannot take into my body as long as I harm no-one else.

"Not only do I think pot should be legalized, I think it should be mandatory. That'd be a nice world, wouldn't it? Mellow, hungry, quiet, fucked-up people." -- Bill Hicks.

And yes, I do have thoughts of my own.

[Irish]

I think that it should be legalised,for sale&use.Almost,everyone that I know has been smoking it for years!If it was sold in stores
(like alcohol)at least people would know what strength they were
getting.Over the years,I have known many "dealers",and people
get what is available to them.One week it might be weak&the next might knock you on your ass.By the way,there is a test now,
to tell if you are under the influence!I don't know enough about the test,to know if it measures how much is in your system.As a
recovering alcoholic&previous cigarette smoker,I think that it is
much less harmful to your system.As far as it being a "gateway"
drug,I don't know of anyone who has gone on to a "harder"drug,
because they smoked "Pot"! Irish
P.S.Sorry,for the long-winded reply.I feel very strongly about this.
I still have a 1/2 of 1/4oz. that must be 15 or more yrs old.I don't
use anything anymore.Personal Choice!

[Lovediva]

I still have a 1/2 of 1/4oz. that must be 15 or more yrs old


Holy shit Irish...






Wanna sell it???? :D

[PantyFanatic]

Originally posted by darogle
.....I'd love to have people reduce my tax debt in anyway they can!
Darogle-
Welcome to our planet.;) LMAO What the hell makes you think your tax will be less. Have you EVER seen an additional new tax eliminate an old one?:rolleyes:

Belial-
“…..Mellow, hungry, quiet, fucked-up people…”
I’m not sure that more NON-productive people are a good selling point for this. LOL We had 6.321 BILLION mouths this morning that were looking for breakfast,…. and I have a hunch they’ll be looking for dinner too.:eek:

I may have to rethink this.:confused:

[jseal]

Lovediva,

Legalized: Yes. Regulated: Yes.

The more liberal a society is, the fewer adult behaviors are deemed criminal.

Consider sex, and the amount of time and effort consumed in negatin the laws that prohibited most consentual adult behavior.

[Irish]

Diva---No Thanks!I'm the kind of person that won't touch it,if
it's there,but get nervous if I have nothing.The book-keeper
(where I worked)(also buddies roommate)was a dealer.I used
to buy a 1/4lb. of good stuff,from her.I would clean,weigh&
baggie it,into four oz.baggies.My other friend&his wife,worked(?)
at the Ports. Naval Shipyard.He would sell 2 baggies there,for $40
apiece.That way, we would each get 1oz. for $12.50.I paid $105
for the 1/4lb.If you know the right people,you can always make a
deal! Irish
P.S.American bikers,always know where drugs are!

[Aqua]

My concern with legalization is the effect it could have on those that want nothing to do with it. If I'm sitting in a bar, I don't have to worry that I will become intoxicated by the beer being consumed by the guy next to me. Not the same story if I'm sitting in a room with a pot smokers. I do think if someone is smoking it in their own home they should be left alone and not thrown in jail.

[Irish]

Aqua---They could have smoking&non-smoking areas,like they
do with tobacco now.Or better yet,it won't bother you if you don't
go into establishments with alcohol.One thing that I learned when
quitting alcohol,is that altho,most people don't want to admit it"
Alcohol is a drug!Ask me,I had a withdrawl,when my bodie was
deprived of something,that it had had for years.The 15th was 11yrs,3mo since I stopped! Irish

[Lilith]

In my town you can't smoke in any public place. Not even a bar Irish.

[Irish]

Lilith---The Radio sta. that has MOST of the Talk Shows that I
listen to,is in Mass.Some of the towns there,are the same way.
I was listening to a show,the other day.A Resturant owner was
complaining about that.He has establishments in adjoining towns.
One town made it illegal to smoke anywhere.He said that his business,has dropped by 35% in that town,but has increased by
20%,in the adjoining town.He was complaining that the state should make it uniform! Irish

[skipthisone]

Legal yes...tax it...

The tobacco smoking laws are stupid too, if its that bad for ya ban it, dont screw around making smokers evil.

[lakritze]

Marijuana should be legal to use,sell and grow and not just for medicinal purposes. It is long over due.Not only that,but the other drugs,(none of which I have ever used) should be decriminalized.The use of other drugs like heroin and cocaine should be treated as a medical problem with every oppertuntity to stop the use and detox,not as a criminal activity.This would go far to reduce the prison population.

[Irish]

What the Govt. never seems to realise,is that there wouldn't
be anyone selling or bringing things into the country,if there
wasn't a demand(market)!I agree pretty much,with STO on
making things illegal,except that I often wonder:Who is the
Govt. to decide what you should have,and what not.As I told
a Dr. once.I would rather do the things that I enjoyed then
what they tell me&just exist.If my life is shortened by 5yrs,so
what?Who wants to exist& be miserable?! Irish

[paprclphd]

I think they should leagalize it - definately. I guarantee legalaztion would cut down on the number of smokers and the number of drug crimes. In addition - it would make it easier for myself and my fellow pot heads!

[Aqua]

Originally posted by Irish
Aqua---They could have smoking&non-smoking areas,like they
do with tobacco now.Or better yet,it won't bother you if you don't
go into establishments with alcohol.
The alcohol does not bother me. It does not affect ME to have people drink around me. People smoking around me does affect me. If I want to go out to a pub and throw darts are shoot pool, I should be allowed to enjoy that freedom without having to worry about getting high from the people at the table next to me. That is the point I was making.

[skipthisone]

Aqua, I agree with you on this, I am one of the anti-smoking Nazi's, have just never understood it. I just hate the two sides the gov takes on it...1st its bad horrid stuff and kills and stinks and second hand smoke does all these nasty things...but wait....we can TAX it and make money...and the farmers are hurting so lets give them a stipend per plant and on and on....

Ban it or legalize no half ass in between.

[celticangel]

Yes I think it should be legalised. Most of my friends have at some time used it. Some as a form of self medication (MS) and others because it "takes the pain away" without having to use prescribed anti depressent drugs which have adverse effects on them. Like any substance or set of circumstances, the variable is in how the individual reacts ~~~~~~~psychologically or physically.
I have nursed people who have been screwed up by hash~~~~~~~paranoia, deterioration of mental state (underlying mental health issues) and also have seen how the use of hash has improved the quality of life for people in sever pain.
People will continue to miss use and abuse all sorts of things whatever the "legal status"
So~~~~~~unless there is a ban on all things that may cause harm (alchohol,guns, plastic syringes!!!!!), I feel that it should be legalised~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~and as for stronger drugs~~~~~~well thats a whole other story!!!!!

[GingerV]

Honestly, I can see both sides of this question. I tend to come down on the side of legalization...but I honestly don't think it's the most important issue facing mankind.

What do aggrivate me are half assed, noncommital policies that suggest that use should be legal but selling shouldn't. Hypocracy pisses me off. Do it. Don't do it. Whatever. Don't faff about trying to please everyone.

Oh, AND, if you keep it illegal....make the punishment fit the harmless crime. Don't put people in jail because they've got a joint in their pocket.

(Ginge wanders off grumbling about the silly people in charge of the world, wonders when she gets her chance to run the place at long last ;) )

[Steph]

The driving aspect has me thinking . . . I know lots of people who drive after a joint and they're fine. I don't think the Ontario police are worried about someone driving after smoking a jay.

Some of the law enforcement people could advise me otherwise . . .

[rabbit]

I find nothing desirous about legalizing pot. I have no desire to see the legalized "stoning" of America....our kids would run to it in a heartbeat.

I know it is legal in other countries. I just don't think it would be good for the US culture.

No thanks....


rabbit

[Amaranthine]

I think it definately should be legal. I mean it's a fucking plant for god's sake. No one has ever ODed on it before and it really doesn't have any major risks. It would also reduce the crime rate if it were legal. And it's much safer than alcohol.

[LixyChick]

Originally posted by rabbit
I find nothing desirous about legalizing pot. I have no desire to see the legalized "stoning" of America....our kids would run to it in a heartbeat.

I know it is legal in other countries. I just don't think it would be good for the US culture.

No thanks....


rabbit
Truly don't mean to be persnickety rabbit.......and I promise I totally understand your point in principal.........but......

Kids drink even though alcohol is legal in America (albeit NOT for minors).......and kids smoke pot even though it is illegal in America! I've always been of the opinion that the more you try to take something away from someone....the more they want it! Take sexuality for example! If one is brought up to think it a "dirty" experience..........they try to experience it and hide the discovery of it.....(ex. Playboy mags. under the mattress). There are much worse examples...but you get my gist!

My motto....don't make everything so taboo....and we'll not have the secrecy of trying to discover it!

[Belial]

Originally posted by rabbit
I find nothing desirous about legalizing pot. I have no desire to see the legalized "stoning" of America....our kids would run to it in a heartbeat.

I know it is legal in other countries. I just don't think it would be good for the US culture.

No thanks....


rabbit
The US culture?
There's only one now?

[Akasha]

I'd have to agree with Belial on this, I did my english paper on this very subject, and i found some intresting fact, pot has NO chemical addiction what so ever, and it is one of the safest drugs out there, it has amazing healing properties, and is competly impossible to overdose on, if i remember correctly one would need to smoke 3 pounds in the span of thirty seconds to even have the chance, and seeing as thats not really humanly possible, whats so wrong with it? Every kid will expirment no matter what, i did and i know plently of others that have as well, its not dangerous, and i personally will agree to let my kids try it if they so desired (when i have children anyways) i know way back when people with schizophrenia and other mental diseases were thought to bahave they way they did because of marajuana effect, including fighting and other violent behaviour, and i was later proved that the effects of pot are competly the opposite, so whats really all that bad about a few laid back, happy people? I dont see anything wrong with it, but then, that is my personal opinion.

[Belial]

Well, excessive apathy or relaxation can be bad...but the extent to which this happens is only a function of excessive use anyway. Even then, those effects aren't that bad..and even if they were, if we were all potheads, we'd be too high to care :)

More Hicks:
"The only thing they say is pot might lower sperm count....good! There's too many fuckin' people in the world!"

[Lilith]

I know I can't drive drunk or stoned. I am aware of my limitations unfortunately self control/awareness is not everyone's forte and until they develop something to detect MJ in an "on the road tox screen of sorts" I say it's not safe. I could give a shit what people do in their homes but if they endanger lives by driving it's a public safety issue.

[Teddy Bear]

Legal by doctors prescription. To come with the same warning labels many other drugs do: 'Do not drive while taking', 'May cause sleepiness', etc.

It is helpful for a number of medical issues, MS, chemo., glocoma, etc. The latest finding is that it may benifit Parkinsons people. Why deny a person a drug that may help them.

[Steph]

And to lighten the mood, a story about our prime minister:

Chretien jokes about trying pot
Canadian Press
Saturday, October 04, 2003

WINNIPEG -- It's an unlikely retirement scenario for Prime Minister Jean Chretien: he's at his lakeside cottage, sipping tea with his wife Aline - and smoking a big fat joint.

The 69-year-old prime minister has never smoked marijuana, he says, but he joked in an interview this week he might be willing to give it a try once it's decriminalized. Chretien made the joke in an Ottawa interview with the Winnipeg Free Press published in Friday's paper.

Chretien was asked how it felt to have bills for decriminalizing marijuana and legalizing same-sex marriages as the exclamation points to his lengthy political career.

"I don't know what is marijuana," Chretien replied.

"Perhaps I will try it when it will no longer be criminal. I will have my money for my fine and a joint in the other hand."

-----

You have to understand that the quote "I don't know what is marijuana" is a Chretien-ism. The pundits have joked that he can't speak either official language well. I'd love to have a speech file to play you!
:cool:

[Steph]

Can we go back again?

Court makes pot possession illegal again
Ontario judges tell Ottawa it has duty to provide medical marijuana to the ill

CANADIAN PRESS

The Ontario Court of Appeal has struck down provisions of the federal government's medicinal marijuana program, reinstating in the process the prohibition against possession of small amounts of pot.

The decision released today struck down what it called unconstitutional provisions of the federal Marijuana Medical Access Regulations that govern the growth and distribution of the drug for medicinal purposes.

Those provisions restricted licensed growers of medical marijuana from receiving compensation for their product, from growing the drug for more than one qualified patient and from pooling resources with other licensed producers.

But not only does the ruling eliminate those provisions of the program that were considered unconstitutional, it also reinstates the pot-possession laws that were effectively suspended in Ontario late last year.

"This narrow remedy would create a constitutionally valid medical exemption, making marijuana prohibition ... immediately constitutionally valid and of full force and effect and removing any uncertainty concerning the validity of the prohibition," said a synopsis of the ruling issued by the court.

The ruling agreed with a lower court ruling in January that found the regulations were unfair because they forced those who qualified under the program to either grow their own pot or buy it on the black market.

"Many of these individuals are not only seriously ill, they are also significantly physically handicapped and therefore cannot possibly grow their own marijuana," the synopsis said.

"A scheme that authorizes possession of marijuana by seriously ill individuals but which drives some of them to the black market ... undermines the rule of law and fails to create a constitutionally valid medical exemption to the criminal prohibition against marijuana."

The January ruling, by Ontario Court Justice Sidney Lederman, left marijuana possession laws across Canada in tatters, because it effectively rendered marijuana prohibition in the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of no force and effect.

Lederman gave the government a July 9 deadline to either fix the regulations or supply the pot itself. The government then instituted an interim policy where it supplies pot at set prices to approved users.

The government appealed the ruling, saying it shouldn't be forced to provide a legal source of marijuana.

The initial lawsuit was launched by seven Canadians with various medical conditions, along with their caregiver, who demanded the federal government provide a safe and reliable source of medical marijuana.

Earlier this year, Ontario's laws against marijuana possession were thrown into question after a judge ruled that possessing less than 30 grams of pot is no longer against the law in the province.

[PantyFanatic]

The initial lawsuit was launched by seven Canadians .....
So who were the other six?:rolleyes:

























LOL~ (Looks like somebody scored some good herb.;) )

[jseal]

Originally posted by Belial
The US culture?
There's only one now?
Belial,

If one may reasonable refer to "French culture", "German culture", or "Italian culture", then yes, one can indeed say the American culture.

In general, if there exists a set of shared behaviors, or if there exists a perception of a set of shared behaviors, and if those behaviors are - correctly or incorrectly - also generally associated with a nation, then those behaviors can be referred to as being part of that nation's culture.

For example, "guns" and "America" are very commonly closely associated among Europeans.