Should US Legalize Marijuana?

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 10-20-2010, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Conan

Yawn. Everyone sees the fallacies of it being illegal. Most everyone agrees it should be legalized. New topic please.

I totally am with you on this. I'm sick of people repeating the same thing.

R4TR Drummer7 · 10-21-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vanilla

I totally am with you on this. I'm sick of people repeating the same thing.

me too! Legalization is a step in the right direction! but who knows how long it will take if cali gets it legalized. its being voted on november 2nd. But it would take like 5 years to spread throughout the whole us...

Insane Guest · 10-24-2010, 01:02 AM

The only thing I am against when it comes to legaliizing Marijuana, is screwing over the people who actually need it for medicinal purpose. If I am not mistaken, if California does pass Prop 19, there will then be the decision of individual counties legalizing it. So if it passes, but the county doesn't pass, wouldn't that screw over the people who need it. Correct me if i'm wrong, anyone know what the real situation is?

Guybrush · 10-25-2010, 05:11 AM

I just read an article from a norwegian sociology professor a couple of days ago who claims most academics don't realize the full extent of what it is that makes cannabis dangerous. He says there's more to it than cannabis' effect on biology and that the associated cannabis culture can also be harmful to society. In Norway, cannabis smokers largely make up a subculture. You may think subcultures are prone to change, but appearantly the "cannabis culture" has been quite similar since the 60s. People (in Norway) who smoke often adopt part of that culture into their own identity and he argues that it's the culture which is bad because the values that it holds dear are counterproductive to society and could turn people into takers rather than givers.

This is more relevant to a leftist country like Norway than it is to the US as takers are more taxing to the givers here, but I thought it might be an interesting point. Although it's a very general comment about a subculture in a small country, maybe someone could recognize if the concern has validity elsewhere.

Source (norwegian) : http://www.uio.no/forskning/aktuelt/.../cannabis.html

VEGANGELICA · 10-25-2010, 06:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

I just read...People (in Norway) who smoke often adopt part of that culture into their own identity and he argues that it's the culture which is bad because the values that it holds dear are counterproductive to society and could turn people into takers rather than givers.

This is more relevant to a leftist country like Norway than it is to the US as takers are more taxing to the givers here, but I thought it might be an interesting point. Although it's a very general comment about a subculture in a small country, maybe someone could recognize if the concern has validity elsewhere.

That's a good point, I feel, about the drug culture encouraging people to be takers rather than givers in a society. The U.S. certainly has a LOT of complaints from people as it is about those who exploit the welfare system to get something while doing nothing. It is a type of stealing, and I assume much less common than people here claim. But it certainly happens.

So, that's an interesting perspective in the article, which I *tried* to read. I'd say drugs epitomize taking rather than giving. When you use drugs like marijuana, you take your mind away from yourself, you take yourself away from others, and you incapacitate yourself so that you can't function as well.

But mostly, all I can think of right now, seeing as you're back, is...

TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE!

Hyperbolic Hampster · 10-25-2010, 07:03 AM

Canabis should be legalized to decrease crime.
Although if it was legalized thousands of dealers/growers would be welcomed to poverty. Also the government would put such a high tax on it that crime would be even worse than when it was legal. I say legalize it for medical purposes and leave it at that.

cardboard adolescent · 10-25-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

I just read an article from a norwegian sociology professor a couple of days ago who claims most academics don't realize the full extent of what it is that makes cannabis dangerous. He says there's more to it than cannabis' effect on biology and that the associated cannabis culture can also be harmful to society. In Norway, cannabis smokers largely make up a subculture. You may think subcultures are prone to change, but appearantly the "cannabis culture" has been quite similar since the 60s. People (in Norway) who smoke often adopt part of that culture into their own identity and he argues that it's the culture which is bad because the values that it holds dear are counterproductive to society and could turn people into takers rather than givers.

This is more relevant to a leftist country like Norway than it is to the US as takers are more taxing to the givers here, but I thought it might be an interesting point. Although it's a very general comment about a subculture in a small country, maybe someone could recognize if the concern has validity elsewhere.

Source (norwegian) : http://www.uio.no/forskning/aktuelt/.../cannabis.html

The subculture is that way because it feels alienated from the mainstream culture. When you're seen as an outsider and a bum for using drugs it kills your desire to contribute somewhat.

duga · 10-25-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

That's a good point, I feel, about the drug culture encouraging people to be takers rather than givers in a society. The U.S. certainly has a LOT of complaints from people as it is about those who exploit the welfare system to get something while doing nothing. It is a type of stealing, and I assume much less common than people here claim. But it certainly happens.

So, that's an interesting perspective in the article, which I *tried* to read. I'd say drugs epitomize taking rather than giving. When you use drugs like marijuana, you take your mind away from yourself, you take yourself away from others, and you incapacitate yourself so that you can't function as well.

But mostly, all I can think of right now, seeing as you're back, is...

TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE TORE!

Ugh...I wasn't going to respond to this thread but I had to say something. Drugs have nothing to do with giving and taking. I do agree with the subculture bit, but as CA put it, feeling like an outsider breeds resentment towards the main culture. That particular subculture may be more about taking from their society as a whole, but I promise you they are all about giving within the subculture itself.

Marijuana is what you make it. I am in a band, work 40 hours a week, am about to start school again to earn my PhD, and try to participate in any philanthropies that pique my interest. I do all this and I smoke all the damn time. If anything, it has helped many of the issues I used to have. However, it is completely possible to be a lazy bum pothead type of person. I've met those, too. Then again, I have met plenty of lazy bum types who don't smoke at all. It's all about the type of person you are.

I promise you, tore, if you started smoking one day you wouldn't up and quit work and start living under a bridge. Chances are, you will continue with your life just as you always have.

cliche, yet classic:

crash_override · 10-25-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hyperbolic Hampster

Canabis should be legalized to decrease crime.
Although if it was legalized thousands of dealers/growers would be welcomed to poverty. Also the government would put such a high tax on it that crime would be even worse than when it was legal. I say legalize it for medical purposes and leave it at that.

The dealers and growers would be welcomed to poverty? Who exactly is going to be growing all the pot when the demand goes up 1000 fold? These people would be given a chance at a legitimate career. If Marijuana is legalized, then we will need weed farmers, mabye even people with experience in it's sales. So I don't understand your logic here. The government will definately put a tax on it, but it will be minute compared to the street tax you're already paying. An ounce of grass costs between $4-10 depending on quality to make. You end up paying anywhere from $100-400 (again, depending on quality). The government would maybe tax it 10-20%, but nothing as outrageous as the street prices we are used to paying.

VEGANGELICA · 10-25-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

Ugh...I wasn't going to respond to this thread but I had to say something. Drugs have nothing to do with giving and taking.

Marijuana is what you make it. I am in a band, work 40 hours a week, am about to start school again to earn my PhD, and try to participate in any philanthropies that pique my interest. I do all this and I smoke all the damn time. If anything, it has helped many of the issues I used to have.

My opinion is just based on my experience with the people I've known who smoked pot...so you may be right that how people integrate it into their lives and are affected by it depends on the person. I just haven't ever seen any positives come from people using pot for non-medical reasons, other than their pleasure at the moment.

I generally feel drugs should be legalized so they become dirt cheap, as long as there is a massive public education program to teach people why not to use them. My main reason for legalization is the elimination of the lucrative and illegal drug trade that leads to so many people being killed.

My dad suggests that drugs should be sold in grocery stores in the rat poison aisle, to try to get people to think twice.

10-25-2010, 05:11 AM	#344 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	I just read an article from a norwegian sociology professor a couple of days ago who claims most academics don't realize the full extent of what it is that makes cannabis dangerous. He says there's more to it than cannabis' effect on biology and that the associated cannabis culture can also be harmful to society. In Norway, cannabis smokers largely make up a subculture. You may think subcultures are prone to change, but appearantly the "cannabis culture" has been quite similar since the 60s. People (in Norway) who smoke often adopt part of that culture into their own identity and he argues that it's the culture which is bad because the values that it holds dear are counterproductive to society and could turn people into takers rather than givers. This is more relevant to a leftist country like Norway than it is to the US as takers are more taxing to the givers here, but I thought it might be an interesting point. Although it's a very general comment about a subculture in a small country, maybe someone could recognize if the concern has validity elsewhere. Source (norwegian) : http://www.uio.no/forskning/aktuelt/.../cannabis.html __________________ Something Completely Different

10-25-2010, 07:03 AM	#346 (permalink)
Hyperbolic Hampster Groupie Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Gaylando, FL Posts: 12	Canabis should be legalized to decrease crime. Although if it was legalized thousands of dealers/growers would be welcomed to poverty. Also the government would put such a high tax on it that crime would be even worse than when it was legal. I say legalize it for medical purposes and leave it at that. __________________ "..and squeeze, until the beds, completely red."

10-24-2010, 01:02 AM	#343 (permalink)
Insane Guest Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: CA Posts: 1,322	The only thing I am against when it comes to legaliizing Marijuana, is screwing over the people who actually need it for medicinal purpose. If I am not mistaken, if California does pass Prop 19, there will then be the decision of individual counties legalizing it. So if it passes, but the county doesn't pass, wouldn't that screw over the people who need it. Correct me if i'm wrong, anyone know what the real situation is?