Should marijuana be legalized in the US?

[Kristen Horton]

WSJ: "Decriminalizing the possession and use of marijuana would raise billions in taxes and eliminate much of the profits that fuel bloodshed and violence in Mexico." from the WSJ article: Drugs: To Legalize or Not

Should the US legalize marijuana for personal non-medical use?

[Nicki Laycoax]

I absolutely think it should be legalized.

Here are two reasons why:

-I've never met someone that was smoking pot that was angry or violent. (This is much different than someone drinking alcohol)
-How often does one get behind the wheel after smoking? (Also much different than someone drinking... It's a completely different effect)

I don't think that it should be used excessively, just as using alcohol excessively is very destructive, but a few times casually a week to de-stress, and not be penalized by your employer... Why not?

[Steve Stuck]

I used to be a cop. The "weed smokers drive differently" is a total myth. Driving under the influence produces the same thing whether it be prescription pills like pain killers, alcohol and yes, weed. I field tested many under the influence of weed.

[Nicki Laycoax]

I wasn't saying that driving under the influence should be legal... Driving under any substance should always be illegal.

[Marita Topmiller]

And yet millions of Americans drive every day under the influence of strong,
narcotic pain killers.

[Michael R.]

There would be no elimination of bloodshed. If it were legalized, the gov't would make it difficult to get and the criminals would still find ways to deal it; and people would still die and go to prison. If you legalize it, more people will smoke it, and drug use of other drugs will go up becuase Mary Jane is a gateway drug. There will be other problems of course, too. But, I guess they are all out of ideas as to how they can make money so why not become drug dealers themselves. The potential hypocrisy would be world breaking.

[Nicki Laycoax]

@Michael Re: "If you legalize it, more people will smoke it, and drug use of other drugs will go up becuase Mary Jane is a gateway drug".... I know many people that smoke marijuana that don't and have never used any other drug. That statement was what our parents told us to steer us away from smoking it... I'm not saying that it's 100% false, but those that I know... and there are quite a few, don't use any other substance except for alcohol...

[Michael R.]

And I've had just the opposite of experiences with people I know. I've watched it ruin people. But, the biggest problem I think would come as a result of legalization is that I believe the gov't would try to corner the market, raise prices, and put so many restrictions on who could buy, how often, etc. It would be a mess. And, even if it was legalized, no way would it stop drug dealing because like I said, the gov't would make it difficult to get so only certain individuals would be able to get it and/or afford it. Thus, the criminals still have their business...and more people to sell to. Anyone who believes a gov't run marijuana operation would run smoothly is naive.

[Chris Horn]

it depends of if when they legalize it they say you have to purchase it from a government run store. Its just as likely that you would be able to run down to cvs or walmart and buy it. or it would allow people to legally grow it themselves.

[Bob Sullivan]

There is a mountain of medical evidence to show that marajuana is not a "gateway" drug.

That said, I seem to be in the minority in that I think legalization is simply a bad idea. I see a lot of arguments for medicinal uses, but the original posts had to do with leisurely use.

Quite simply, consider the simple logistics of legalized marajuana. I think we can all agree that smoking has become a fairly demonized habit in recent years. What happens when bars and restaurants start trying to put "toking sections" in public places? The secondhand smoke from weed is 10x the cacinogens of cigarette smoke (fact). Do you think the pubic will let weed smokers actually light up anywhere someone else might accidentally someday walk or pass by? So besides the closet where you grow it, where on planet Earth will people be allowed to smoke it?

I grew up in an environment where secondhand smoke was a fact of life. I must admit that while I don't agree with the banning of smoking sections, I do enjoy my nonsmoking dining experiences. i don't think the activists who made those laws happen will sit back for any sort of public weed smoking. Period.

The whole thing is incredibly hypocritical anyway. The fact that someone can't light a cigarette in any establishment where they're nursing a beer (because it might bug the guy next to him--who's ALSO nursing a beer!) frankly boggles my mind. Apparently vices as a whole are now rated on a bizarre scale of subjective relativity.

Bob

[Brian Morgan]

Thanks for the "facts" or insights - very interesting things I did not know. Brian

[Bob Sullivan]

To clarify my previous statement, clinical studies indicate there is no outright addicting quality to weed in and of itself (unlike caffeine or cigarettes, with both have ingredients that addict the user and make quitting the ordeal we know it is). Therefore, it is not, scientifically speaking, a "gateway" drug.

That's not to say that weed could not be a "gateway" experience of a first high that would be a first experience for people who are inclined to pursue the drug thrill experience, and therefore lead to other drugs.

Put another way, Those who became addicted to stronger drugs usually started with weed, but it was not because of any addicting property, it was because of their own choice to see 'what else is out there.' Those who only want to start and stop weed use as an occasional drug can do so without chemical temptations, and many do so. Well--that's what my teachers said. :)

All that said, I'm not a user (allergy reasons) but have no beef with those that do so. I simply think the current political climate combined with the practicalities make legalization a problematic issue, for reasons I already stated.

Bob

[Michael R.]

Eh, I've seen real-life proof that suggests otherwise. And, I think the term "gateway" has at least a couple of different meanings; not just one that is scientific-based. It could be a gateway drug by the fact that MANY MANY people use mary jane before any other drug and it's almost a rite of passage you could say. People aren't afraid of it for the most part, and think that they can smoke it leisurely but like I said, I've seen it lead to some pretty nasty stuff.