Marijuana: 0

[Somebody Else]

I have to agree - legalize the stuff, but in a highly restricted manner (something our current government knows all about). Anyone producing the stuff outside the framework gets hammered, hard (Admittedly, this would be tricky to discover, I suspect - more expense). Meanwhile, the legal version gets taxed to the hilt. The people who smoke cigarettes are miles more intelligent, and they still pay through the nose, so this lot'll be easier to extort money from. Oh, and people have to sign something or other to say they are users - perfectly legally, but I'd still not employ them - I've seen just how feckless, useless and mind-numbingly tedious to be around.

The extra cost should be paid for by the taxation, and there should be some more extra (judging by the number of people who seem to use the stuff, despite protestations otherwise... the number of student would-be politicians I know...)

SE

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I have to agree - legalize the stuff, but in a highly restricted manner (something our current government knows all about). Anyone producing the stuff outside the framework gets hammered, hard (Admittedly, this would be tricky to discover, I suspect - more expense). Meanwhile, the legal version gets taxed to the hilt. The people who smoke cigarettes are miles more intelligent, and they still pay through the nose, so this lot'll be easier to extort money from. Oh, and people have to sign something or other to say they are users - perfectly legally, but I'd still not employ them - I've seen just how feckless, useless and mind-numbingly tedious to be around.

The extra cost should be paid for by the taxation, and there should be some more extra (judging by the number of people who seem to use the stuff, despite protestations otherwise... the number of student would-be politicians I know...)

SE

Brilliant post.

[Tribesman]

Of course taxing it is legalising crime because you are taxing every aspect of it, the end-product isn't just something that just shows up. ' Taxing' it would be more like ' taking a cut'.

How so ?
If it is legal then it is legal . Growing it would be legislated , shipping it would be legislated , where does this taking a cut of illegal business come into it ?

[Ice]

The people who smoke cigarettes are miles more intelligent

That's a bit insulting. How do you come to this conclusion?

[Somebody Else]

That's a bit insulting. How do you come to this conclusion?

I lived in a flat with 3 of them for a year.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Coming home every day to a flat wreathed in that foul-smelling smoke by 3pm was one of the more unpleasant features, I won't mention their personal habits

An absolute bloody nightmare, them and their friends. Not met a single one, and I have met several, none of whom I would trust in a position of any responsibility.

SE

[Ice]

I lived in a flat with 3 of them for a year.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Coming home every day to a flat wreathed in that foul-smelling smoke by 3pm was one of the more unpleasant features, I won't mention their personal habits

An absolute bloody nightmare, them and their friends. Not met a single one, and I have met several, none of whom I would trust in a position of any responsibility.

SE

Looks like you are just living with a bunch of idiots. Like I've been saying for a while here, don't judge all weed smokers off a small sample of people.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

Looks like you are just living with a bunch of idiots. Like I've been saying for a while here, don't judge all weed smokers off a small sample of people.

The people who smoke weed on a regular basis are the same here, and where I was in Canada, etc., etc.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

The people who smoke weed on a regular basis are the same here, and where I was in Canada, etc., etc.

I'm sure there are potheads and alcoholics everywhere. But people who smoke aren't the same as potheads just like people who drink aren't the same as alcoholics. You guys seem to be suffering from some confirmation bias.

[Ice]

I'm sure there are potheads and alcoholics everywhere. But people who smoke aren't the same as potheads just like people who drink aren't the same as alcoholics. You guys seem to be suffering from some confirmation bias.

Uh huh.

I use to smoke quite often when I was during the school year. I maintained a 3.9 as an accounting major and held a 15 hour a week administrative job on top of all normal social activitity.

Simply BS to say everyone smoke smokes cannabis is a low life idiot, although I don't deny those people do exist.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

I'm sure there are potheads and alcoholics everywhere. But people who smoke aren't the same as potheads just like people who drink aren't the same as alcoholics. You guys seem to be suffering from some confirmation bias.

You notice, I'm sure, that I said "on a regular basis."

[Spartan198]

Yes, it should remain illegal.

[rotorgun]

I come from the era of the rampant drug culture of the late 1960's-late 1970's. The big argument then about Mary Jane was that the using of it usually lead to experimentation and use of more serious drugs such as LSD and Heroine. Having participated in such societal acts of passage myself in the past, I would tend to say that it was true for me and many others. We did have a tendency to want to get a "better buzz on" and so sought out dealers in those other drugs. Needless to say, my parents were right (shocking!) and I found out the hard way on some bad experiences with the "harder stuff. Thank goodness I came to my senses and sort of just outgrew my interest in drugs.

Despite this, I am in favor of legalization of marajauna on several grounds.

1) It should be regulated and taxed like tobacco and alcohol is

2) There should be very stiff enforcement of illegal dealing and growing of it outside of regulatory requirements.

3) Selling of it to minors should carry stiff punishments, much as for selling alcohol to kids is handled today.

4) Its price should be regulated, so that the temptation to make a fortune off it illegally (the forbidden fruit effect) will be mitigated.

5) Warnings from the Surgeon General should be printed on the packaging to warn people of any medical dangers associated with its use.

Imagine the IRS getting after a grower who tries to do this under the table, or someone suing a manufacturer of marajauna cigarettes for someone getting cancer from their products and you can imagine its popularity as an illicit drug decreasing dramatically.

Let the lawsuits begin!

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Anyone producing the stuff outside the framework gets hammered, hard (Admittedly, this would be tricky to discover, I suspect - more expense).

Why shouldn't you be able to grow it if you want to?

Meanwhile, the legal version gets taxed to the hilt.

Thus guaranteeing that people will grow their own and deal it like they do currently. Brilliant. Sin taxes are for prudes and people for whom "healthy" is their religion.

The people who smoke cigarettes are miles more intelligent, and they still pay through the nose, so this lot'll be easier to extort money from.

Cigarettes don't really do anything besides make you wobbly unless you are addicted and they're quite unhealthy. Marijuana gets you high and his minor health effects.

Oh, and people have to sign something or other to say they are users - perfectly legally, but I'd still not employ them - I've seen just how feckless, useless and mind-numbingly tedious to be around.

Textbook example of prejudice...

Although somebody supports legalization, if anyone wonders why most people don't support it it's because of this kind of ignorance and prejudice.