Should US Legalize Marijuana?

Insane Guest · 10-25-2010, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

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.

Two good points.
But Cigarattes should be in the rat poison aisle.
Marijuana should be in the Medicine aisle.

duga · 10-25-2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VEGANGELICA

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.

I agree with you completely about eliminating the drug trade. Our war on drugs is only fueling the trade more, making for a more expensive war on drugs and so on.

I also agree with you on public education. This is a MUST. However, I have to say you are in the minority as far as people who do not like to do things for "pleasure in the moment". I only need to point to the alcohol industry to show you that people like diversions and to lose sense of their normal selves. You are a rare person indeed to go through life content with the way your mind is right now. Speaking only for myself (though I'm sure most will agree), I need to stop thinking sometimes. I have a million things going on and pot puts me back in the moment and I can gain some perspective. I will choose it over alcohol any day (which I think is the better choice).

Value your mind of steel, Vegangelica. My mom is the same way. I don't know how you guys do it, personally. Maybe that is weak of me, but it is what it is.

Violent & Funky · 10-25-2010, 08:07 PM

What's wrong with a product's only benefit being pleasure?

VEGANGELICA · 10-25-2010, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

You are a rare person indeed to go through life content with the way your mind is right now. Speaking only for myself (though I'm sure most will agree), I need to stop thinking sometimes. I have a million things going on and pot puts me back in the moment and I can gain some perspective. I will choose it over alcohol any day (which I think is the better choice).

Value your mind of steel, Vegangelica. My mom is the same way. I don't know how you guys do it, personally. Maybe that is weak of me, but it is what it is.

Heh heh...mind of steel!

I wish, duga!

I value how my mind normally works, even if it isn't always a pleasure ride. But it's real, and I like that, even if sobbing in a corner occasionally is part of the package, or feeling overwhelmed, or feeling despair.

I guess I just never expected life to feel consistently happy and content--well, at least not since I was a child--so I'm okay with feeling psychologically uncomfortable sometimes. As long as I have food and shelter, I can reason myself out of most self-inflicted woes. Or at least have sympathy for my brain's functions, since I know that my mind = my brain and I'm kind of along for the ride plus I AM the ride, if you know what I mean.

And I do have numerous non-drug coping methods to escape situations or just give me a break from them, or create psychological pleasure for myself. I am typing on MusicBanter, for example!

Generally the more I type, the more troubled I'm feeling about something!

This may be why my posts are so long.

MAStudent · 10-26-2010, 12:43 AM

California votes for it in november.

The pot growers here are against it. They look at it as the governement taking the monoploy on it.

Regular end users like it, because its no longer illegal and you can get it with your T-Shirt at the show. Transport will still be illegal in some ways, and it will be difficult to get a license- read, the governement will control who gets a license. So the many indy growers here will actually be left out.

(I live in Humboldt County CA)

cardboard adolescent · 10-26-2010, 05:23 PM

Insane Guest · 10-26-2010, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Violent & Funky

What's wrong with a product's only benefit being pleasure?

Absolutly nothing. Cigarettes, sex toys, even alcohol, they are all legal, why not pot?

Guybrush · 10-27-2010, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duga

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.

I think you have to think of it more in terms of young people growing up in a world with legalized pot rather than apply it to me. Would it turn more people into underachievers or work as a gateway drug? But I think you're right that legalization would change the subculture. I think some people like the excitement or rebelness associated with pot here today, but getting one's pot from the apothecary would remove the glory completely. You wouldn't be a rebel, just a dope smoker.

In the US, I guess an obvious bonus from legalization on society is that you have a lot of cannabis-related crime which taxes society. Are there any less political reasons on how pot could add something positive to society?

**Janszoon** · 10-27-2010, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

In the US, I guess an obvious bonus from legalization on society is that you have a lot of cannabis-related crime which taxes society. Are there any less political reasons on how pot could add something positive to society?

Why does something have to add something positive to society in order to be legal?

Guybrush · 10-28-2010, 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Why does something have to add something positive to society in order to be legal?

I wouldn't say something has to add positively to society for it to be accepted, but if you want to create a good society where people are happy, it should be the general train of thought. If you live completely detached from society, you can do whatever you want and your business is noone elses. But the basis for society is about people coming together and giving up some of their freedoms for the common good, net negative freedoms like the freedom to abuse and kill people.

Besides, when I ask if it can add positively to society, I am genuinely interested in the answer. I believe there are more positives. It's not like I'm just asking for something to argue against.

I think the way to discuss stuff like this is to try and remove yourself from your own selfish interests and look at the bigger picture. That made me go from no to a maybe and now I don't have a clear idea on whether it would be a net good or bad thing to legalize. I'm interested in reading any argument if it's a good one.

10-25-2010, 08:07 PM	#353 (permalink)
Violent & Funky FUNky Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Midland, MI Posts: 2,482	What's wrong with a product's only benefit being pleasure? __________________ http://www.last.fm/user/ohio0808 sometimes I don't thrill you sometimes I think I'll kill you just don't let me fuck up will you 'cause when I need a friend it's still you

10-26-2010, 12:43 AM	#355 (permalink)
MAStudent Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Eureka, CA Posts: 87	California votes for it in november. The pot growers here are against it. They look at it as the governement taking the monoploy on it. Regular end users like it, because its no longer illegal and you can get it with your T-Shirt at the show. Transport will still be illegal in some ways, and it will be difficult to get a license- read, the governement will control who gets a license. So the many indy growers here will actually be left out. (I live in Humboldt County CA) __________________ "i think that's the real issue right there. first they tell us that there's no such thing as a brontosaurus, and then they tell us that pluto isn't a planet. i think after those two let-downs most americans have just decided "frag scientists." "- oops, I forgot who I quoted. adolescent something?

10-26-2010, 05:23 PM	#356 (permalink)
cardboard adolescent ;) Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: CA Posts: 3,503