Legalized Marijuana

[Lemur]

Yes, and while criminal cartels are very good at avoiding or cooping officials tasked with catching them, they have limited success in combating nation-states head-on. I don't see what the Mexican cartels can do beyond take taking the financial hit, and contributing as much money as possible to politicians who promise to continue prohibition.

[Xiahou]

I've asked this already, but what about people who don't want to smoke or have to smell the stuff everywhere? How do we respect their rights if marijuana is legalized? If someone is sitting across from me drinking, at least I don't run the risk of getting drunk too by virtue of being in close proximity. Do we allow people to smoke weed in bars and public places? At home with the children? I have yet to see any of these concerns addressed.

[Fragony]

The black market (i.e. the cartels) has other sources of revenue. There's a limit to what they'll risk in a reaction.

I wouldn't be all that eager to anger them, accepting some hypocracy to not have video's of kids getting their heads sawn of with an electric buzzsaw sounds good. For fighting the cartels you would have to be able to outbudget them, until you do you can forget about any effort, it only exists on paper.
@Xiahou, nobody does that here. Tourists think it's hilarious to ask a police-officer for a light but you will never see anything of what you are pondering about.

[Fisherking]

I've asked this already, but what about people who don't want to smoke or have to smell the stuff everywhere? How do we respect their rights if marijuana is legalized? If someone is sitting across from me drinking, at least I don't run the risk of getting drunk too by virtue of being in close proximity. Do we allow people to smoke weed in bars and public places? At home with the children? I have yet to see any of these concerns addressed.

Have them install those god awful smoking booths.

I think it is silly that it was a banned substance in the first place. It was first outlawed in the US. 1906 in Washington DC. Then in South Africa in 1911. I think the reason was they thought it made the peasants too lazy. Odd that it was outlawed in the US before opiates.

Anyway I don’t see it as a threat to society. Also it would remove the excuse for having industrial hemp illegal.

[Idaho]

I've asked this already, but what about people who don't want to smoke or have to smell the stuff everywhere? How do we respect their rights if marijuana is legalized? If someone is sitting across from me drinking, at least I don't run the risk of getting drunk too by virtue of being in close proximity. Do we allow people to smoke weed in bars and public places? At home with the children? I have yet to see any of these concerns addressed.

You can't get high from just smelling it. Nonetheless it is reasonable to question whether you will be obliged to tolerate it. I suppose in all likelihood it would be easiest to restrict it to private cafes clubs and bars and to people's homes.

That said, no one asks me permission to smoke a cigarette in the street or drive by my house in a diesel truck. I don't think you can legislate courtesy into existence.

[TinCow]

I've asked this already, but what about people who don't want to smoke or have to smell the stuff everywhere? How do we respect their rights if marijuana is legalized? If someone is sitting across from me drinking, at least I don't run the risk of getting drunk too by virtue of being in close proximity. Do we allow people to smoke weed in bars and public places? At home with the children? I have yet to see any of these concerns addressed.

Presumably the same laws as smoking anything else would apply. Where I live that means no smoking in public places.

In any case, it's pretty much impossible to accidentally get high off of second-hand marijuana smoke. In order to get stoned, the smoke has to be relatively concentrated in your lungs. I have never seen someone get stoned through second-hand smoke unless they were shotgunning or hotboxing. Shotgunning cannot be done accidentally, and hotboxing requires such an extreme amount of smoke in such a small, confined area that no one can possibly stumble into that situation unless they are intentionally going there for that purpose. It would also never happen in a restaurant or bar, as those spaces are too large.

[Major Robert Dump]

As soon as I get out of the Army, I am going to try my hardest to overdose on marijuana.

for research.

[Idaho]

As soon as I get out of the Army, I am going to try my hardest to overdose on marijuana.

for research.

Maybe you can be the first person ever! You'd be famous for sure.

[Tellos Athenaios]

it contains almost none of the same carcinogens as cigarette smoke.

And there was me thinking that the main source of those carcinogens would be, in fact, the tar like substance itself which is what makes the smoke a smoke and not a gas in the first place?

[Idaho]

Cannabis smoke does contain carcinogens, but most research seems to suggest that it isn't a significant factor in lung cancer. There is also some suggestion from studies that CBD (one of the main cannabinoids) has cancer preventing/restricting properties.

[spankythehippo]

Cannabis smoke does contain carcinogens, but most research seems to suggest that it isn't a significant factor in lung cancer. There is also some suggestion from studies that CBD (one of the main cannabinoids) has cancer preventing/restricting properties.

To overdose on marijuana, you would need to smoke 20 pounds of it.

I wish they would hurry up and legalise it in Australia. I'm getting tired of smoking in alleys when I'm outside.

[rory_20_uk]

When I was foing my Pharm and Tox BSc, one article I read was clearly anti-drugs, and with cannabis managed to find danger if the crushed plant material was administered... intranvenously!

The fact that this holds true for almost all plant materials (and indeed many of the problems drugs cause is the impurities rather than the drugs themselves.

[Idaho]

When I was foing my Pharm and Tox BSc, one article I read was clearly anti-drugs, and with cannabis managed to find danger if the crushed plant material was administered... intranvenously!

The fact that this holds true for almost all plant materials (and indeed many of the problems drugs cause is the impurities rather than the drugs themselves.

Damn. You mean mainlining vegetable matter is bad for you? I'll have no hobbies left at this rate.

[Slyspy]

Most pubs have a "pubs against drugs" sign up - which is laughable.

While I agree with the idea of pot being legal, given that the pub trade is my profession, I should point out that preventing the use of illegal drugs on your premises is a condition of your license. Although enforcement may vary from pub to pub, everytime someone lights up, snorts a line etc they are putting someone's livelihood at risk. If the licensee fails to take action against users then they themselves are risking their livelihood.

[Idaho]

It's laughable because it should say "pubs against the drugs we don't sell on the premises" or even "customers are not permitted to take drugs bought off the premises". The whole culturally ingrained notion that people going to the pub and sinking a few pints are not embarking on an evening of drug taking needs to be challenged at every turn.

[rvg]

It's laughable because it should say "pubs against the drugs we don't sell on the premises" or even "customers are not permitted to take drugs bought off the premises". The whole culturally ingrained notion that people going to the pub and sinking a few pints are not embarking on an evening of drug taking needs to be challenged at every turn.

Is it really so unusual for people to completely abhor drugs and at the same time be social drinkers?

[Lemur]

Is it really so unusual for people to completely abhor drugs and at the same time be social drinkers?

Perhaps not unusual, but highly illogical, as Spock would say.

[Idaho]

When you tell some people that alcohol is a drug, they either don't believe it, or think you are making some point of semantic pedantry.

It's a drug. It's a chemical that affects your mood and behavior. It's isn't analogous to a drug. It isn't the equivalent of a drug. It isn't like a drug. IT'S A DRUG!

[Tellos Athenaios]

The point is alcohol is a drug. By far one of the most potent, poisonous and dangerous in general. Easy to overdose on, as well.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

The point is alcohol is a drug. By far one of the most potent, poisonous and dangerous in general. Easy to overdose on, as well.

Actually, a lethal overdose is rather difficult, albeit not impossible. On the other hand, alcohol certainly holds its own in the long term damage potential category.

[Major Robert Dump]

I thought Republicans were all for small gubberment?

legalizing teh pot will make gubberment smaller because we will have less drug cops and pay less prison contracts

Except prison contracts typically have a gauranteed % of capacity ensured by the state, perfectly legitimate and not the least bit immoral, so the private prisons are all too unhappy about this

Incidentally, the state ok oklahoma just voted to establish a commission that handles parole for non violent offenders and takes it out of the governors hands. The governor opposed this measure. The governor is great friends with the GEO Group

weed weed I loub weed

[spankythehippo]

When some people drink alcohol, they are inclined to beat their family.

When most people smoke weed, they are inclined to eat all your food, giggle manically then promptly fall asleep.

[Idaho]

Unless I've smoked a lot, you wouldn't be able to tell if I've had a smoke, other than I am in a positive mood and quite chatty.

[Idaho]

I thought Republicans were all for small gubberment?

legalizing teh pot will make gubberment smaller because we will have less drug cops and pay less prison contracts

Except prison contracts typically have a gauranteed % of capacity ensured by the state, perfectly legitimate and not the least bit immoral, so the private prisons are all too unhappy about this

Incidentally, the state ok oklahoma just voted to establish a commission that handles parole for non violent offenders and takes it out of the governors hands. The governor opposed this measure. The governor is great friends with the GEO Group

weed weed I loub weed

The prison business in the US is unbelievable. A complete contradiction in a country that prides itself on notions of freedom and small government.

[rvg]

While we're at it, let's legalize crystal meth. It'll make lots of people happy.

[Idaho]

While we're at it, let's legalize crystal meth. It'll make lots of people happy.

What do you want to see in ten years time rvg?

Less drug related crime?
Less drug use?
Less drug related illness?
Less expensive prison process?
Less black market violence?

I don't see any of these being achieved by prohibition.

Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. Legality doesn't mean approval, it means control.

[rvg]

What do you want to see in ten years time rvg?

Less drug related crime?
Less drug use?
Less drug related illness?
Less expensive prison process?
Less black market violence?

I don't see any of these being achieved by prohibition.

Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. Legality doesn't mean approval, it means control.

I just want to see my favorite drug legalized, that's all.
My name is rvg and I am a meth head. I have a good job in a multi national company. I am to all outward appearances a normal person. Perhaps an outside observer would say I was a bit of a fitness/health food freak albeit with bad teeth and bad skin.

However I love meth. It's a passion for me. I don't cook it but I would love to. I love trying new chemical combos just like a wine buff loves to taste wine. I don't partake during the week or if I have important stuff to do at the weekend. I am no more dangerous to myself or others than any other normal person.

So what is the problem? The problem is that I can't be honest about my life. I have to sneak about. I have to worry about what would happen if the company found out. This is in a work environment where drinking to excess is considered healthy and natural.

I would love to go out on the weekend to a meth club/cafe. I don't mind going to the bar but after 2 pints I've had enough and want a smoke. Do that in a bar and things can get serious. Most bars have a zero tolerance policy against drugs - which is laughable.

There are millions of us. Normal people who want to engage normally with society.

I am rvg and I want my meth.

[Idaho]

Er... I don't understand.

If you want to mock me - fine. What's your point? Are you suggesting that all drugs (other than your favourite - alcohol) are the same and should be treated alike?

Perhaps you might want to examine why you don't want to smoke meth. I am guessing that the legal status is the least of it.

[Lemur]

I am rvg and I want my meth.

A cute parody, but blissfully disassociated from reality.

I would like to think that we learned about the effects of prohibition in the 1920s, but apparently we didn't.

I don't smoke pot, but criminalizing a popular drug has several obvious side-effects:

• Encourges lawbreaking
• Decreases respect for the law
• Criminalizes a broad swath of citizens
• Incarcerates citizens who could be contributing to the economy
• Deprives states of tax revenue
• Incentivizes a level of policing and incarceration that is helpful to nobody

And most importantly ...

• Leaves a giant WELCOME mat for organized crime

[rvg]

I don't smoke meth, but criminalizing a popular drug has several obvious side-effects:

• Encourages lawbreaking...
• etc.