As of midnight today (the sixth), marijuana is legal in Washington State. What a

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  1. ThompsonPen profile image65
    ThompsonPenposted 11 years ago

    As of midnight today (the sixth), marijuana is legal in Washington State. What are your thoughts?

  2. dailytop10 profile image84
    dailytop10posted 11 years ago

    That's bad news for parents. It will be a very big challenge for them to keep their kids safe from marijuana if the state itself approves its use.

    1. nightwork4 profile image60
      nightwork4posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      what are the dangers from pot that people need to be safe from?

    2. Gary Holdaway profile image87
      Gary Holdawayposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Its very hard in my country to get a hold of pure cannabis. It's made in a certain way that releases a certain chemical that causes paranoia and other negative effects.

    3. profile image57
      ubermonkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Kids already smoke, and thats called poor parenting. Cold medicine is legal, yet I don't see a line of kids at the drugstore waiting to get in. If a nine yr old tried to buy 3 bottles of NyQuil would you sell it to them? Its about education.  Morals.

  3. profile image0
    Bronwyn J Hansenposted 11 years ago

    There are pros and cons, I suppose. Here in Australia, one State (Sth Australia) and one Territory (ACT) both decriminalised marijuana decades ago. My understanding of the Sth Australian law is that if you are found in possession of more pot than can reasonably be claimed for "personal use", you are in deep bong water. It was designed to target large scale growers and dealers, rather than the weekend potheads.

    1. my_girl_sara profile image76
      my_girl_saraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It all sounds like a Pandora's Box kind of situation we just welcomed in with this new law...You can smoke it, you just can't grow it for yourself and others (and possibly sell). It all comes down to revenue and taxation, unfortunately.

  4. Cassie Smith profile image61
    Cassie Smithposted 11 years ago

    I would look to see if accidents from driving while drugged increase.

    1. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Do you think they will?

    2. profile image57
      ubermonkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Possibly. And I'm sure there will be those that try to pin it on Canabis. But I bet alchohol will still be the main factor.

  5. my_girl_sara profile image76
    my_girl_saraposted 11 years ago

    Washington just passed another tax burden on their citizens. Everyone thinks this will be wonderful but there's always fallout that no one realizes. As a non-drug user, I would worry about being on the road with someone who is still high. The buzz lasts a lot longer than alcohol does. Not to mention those marijuana users who choose to operate other types of machinery or who might be responsible for children, or God forbid, be a medical professional. With freedom comes much responsibility that frankly, many adults cannot handle.

    1. nightwork4 profile image60
      nightwork4posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      it doesn't last longer then alcohol.my doctor smokes pot and she is amazing at her job like many other health professionals.as for operating machinery, prove to me how it impares your ability. i operate everything from backhoes to forklifts, high.

    2. profile image57
      ubermonkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think there should be testing on this to put it to rest. So many have a cheech and chong image of someone getting "high". Its almost so racial to me peoples responses to their limited experience and understanding.

  6. nightwork4 profile image60
    nightwork4posted 11 years ago

    there are two sides to this. first, to me it's a good thing because perhaps it will get more people away from alcohol and it's also about freedom of choice.
    the other side, as you can see from a lot of the answers is that it will make people who obviously know nothing about it's effects paranoid and they will try to act like there are going to be horrible stoned drivers out there, people smoking pot and not being able to be good parents etc.. thanks to all the negative propoganda society has been fed over the last 70 years, these people will now live in fear.

  7. profile image0
    Sri Tposted 11 years ago

    It is a step in the wrong direction. First, it encourages more people to use it. So now millons of people are free to be stoned 24/7. The law kept some people in check. Second, they are not considering how powerful the high grade marijuana has become. Not everybody can handle it, especially while driving. Some people say, well look at alcohol. But why multiply the problems with legal weed?

    1. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      If heroine became legal, would you go out and use it just because it's legal? Are people drunk 24/7? Just because it's legal, doesn't mean more people will use it. It means the state will make more money while the black market will not

    2. profile image0
      Sri Tposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I know people who are already stoned 24/7, because it feels good! They don't miss a day. If we get rid of all laws, what kind of world would this be? Making things legal will definitely cause an increase. Legalize prostitution and see what happens.

    3. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Actually in places where prostitution is legal, it's not increased, but the girls are safer because it's regulated. It's going to happen no matter what, might as well allow the state to make money off it and make it safer for everyone

    4. Dan Barfield profile image74
      Dan Barfieldposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Excellent point ThompsonPen!

    5. profile image0
      Sri Tposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The real danger is; smoke for 10 or 15 years then get an xray of your lungs and internal organs. There will be an effect from that amount of smoke intake on a continuous basis. You may not want to admit it now. Check it ten years from now.

    6. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Depending on how you habitually smoke it. I agree. But if that's the case then we also shouldn't hve cigarettes legal, pesticides, herbicides or aspartame, as they are all more harmful

  8. profile image0
    ahorsebackposted 11 years ago

    Why not !?  America has become the most self endulged population in the world .  Entitlements NOOOoooo!  not here !   Whats next , free coke ,  painkillers , Oxy ?

  9. safiq ali patel profile image67
    safiq ali patelposted 11 years ago

    I had to think about this. Washington State, Not Washington D.C. That's the state where Seattle and such cities are. Well I guess it's a little progress. Zero tolerance to Cannabis has not worked and the trade of Cannabis while it has been illegal has soared. I'm all for sensible policies for Narcotics and other drugs. And I've never really felt that any government in the world so far has a sensible policy for drugs. Apart from the Netherlands where Cannabis can be bought and smoked in some areas of Amsterdam legally.

  10. jcales profile image54
    jcalesposted 11 years ago

    I think it is fine.
    For it to pass, extensive research had to be done to demonstrate that it is not as harmful as the media has portrayed it to be.
    Just 2 or 3 alcoholic drinks makes people incoherent and unable to drive. Now you'll have laws to not smoke a fatty while driving. DUI or DWI will have an expanded meaning. The breat-alyzier will become more advanced for traffic cops.

  11. SunilKalsi profile image59
    SunilKalsiposted 11 years ago

    Roll up! Roll up! But seriously it's not that big a deal really. I think there will be a lot of people staying in and watching Star Wars.

    1. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We just finished watching all the Star Wars wink

  12. mikedean84 profile image61
    mikedean84posted 11 years ago

    It should have been legal all along. As far as D.U.I.'s, people have been driving high and drunk forever. Laws seem not to have an effect on what people choose to do. If someone wants to do something bad enough they will do it. One thing is certain, this is supposed to be a "free" country and this is a step in the right direction. Regardless of what someone chooses to do they should have the freedom to do so. Laws never protect anybody. It's just another form of tax for the government. I always thought that it was funny that while judges violate the Eighth Ammendment and charge  DUI offenders with outrageous fines I wonder if they know that about half their checks come from beer and liquor sales in their own district. Oh and how every store you walk in has 16ounce singles iced down right next to the cash register. Even the nice schools and public programs that all you "goody Goodies" enjoy are funded by the sell and prosecution of the alcohol and behaviors that you so readily bash. Hypocrites. All of you.

    1. profile image49
      ItsMeAlyssaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hypocrites? If I drunk or high driver was to kill your kid, how would  you feel?  Would you support the drunk driver by saying "Oh, its ok....you have your rights as a citizen to drink and drive."  Um...?

    2. mikedean84 profile image61
      mikedean84posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No it should be capital punishment. You kill someone then you die as well.

  13. lifetips123 profile image56
    lifetips123posted 11 years ago

    In every sense using marijuana should be considered illegal except medical usage. Addiction of this will lead to many ill effects, which cant be recovered mostly. so my opinion is to strictly prohibit the usage of marijuana with good laws.

    1. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      What are the addictive properties of marijuana?

    2. Dan Barfield profile image74
      Dan Barfieldposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Cannabis is not addictive. It is possible to become psychologically dependant on it - but this is more to do with underlying issues. Why did the dependant person start smoking in the first place? What is truly the route problem?

    3. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly smile

    4. Dan Barfield profile image74
      Dan Barfieldposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It is not an addictive drug. Heavy users are known to become 'dependant' or 'reliant' in psychological terms, but they don't get the DTs if they just stop. They may have trouble sleeping, but that's about it...

    5. profile image57
      ubermonkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Define medical usage. There are so many over the counter meds abused and no one has concern for them. Ofcourse it is common and without misinformation. Just look at acetaminophen. Its toxic.

  14. visionandfocus profile image69
    visionandfocusposted 11 years ago

    I think it's sheer foolishness to legalize anything that dangerous. To say that it will not encourage people to use it is to be in complete denial of the existence of teenagers and the concept of peer pressure.
    People think marijuana is harmless because it’s derived from a plant, cannabis, but that's a fallacy. M is often mixed with tobacco and smoked without a filter. Like tobacco, there are lots of chemicals in marijuana which, with long-term or heavy use, can aggravate asthma, cause lung disease and even cancer. It  can affect your co-ordination, which could well increase the incidence of traffic accidents. It increases heart rate and can affect blood pressure, and is therefore potentially lethal, esp. when the heart problem is latent or undiagnosed. It can cause paranoia and in those with a pre-existing psychotic illness, such as schizophrenia, it can contribute to relapse.
    Frequent use can reduce a man's sperm count and reduce sperm motility. It can suppress ovulation in women and so may affect fertility.
    Regular use of cannabis makes it difficult to learn and concentrate, reduce motivation and increase fatigue.
    Strong herbal cannabis (also known as skunk) can cause powerful abreactions as well as as the usual dependency with its attendant withdrawal effects that can prove devastating if not lethal.

    1. mikedean84 profile image61
      mikedean84posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You need to study more. About half of the stuff you wrote is opinion not fact. In recent studies Marijuana has been proven to cure cancer. And from a personal standpoint, I used to live with someone who had huntingtons disease and smoking helped him.

  15. Dan Barfield profile image74
    Dan Barfieldposted 11 years ago

    All drugs should be legalised, regulated and taxed to hell and back. For certain individuals the mental health cost is awful (I know someone whose severe psychosis was induced by weed smoking and it aint funny). However, THC has medical uses and in small quantities is not particularly harmful. Other drugs have medical uses that haven't been explored properly either. LSD is effective at curing addiction of all things. Ecstasy has been used successfully with psychiatric patients to help them recover from PTSD. These are just a couple of examples. The tax revenue would more than pay for the health costs and take money out of the pockets of organised crime. It would also mean we weren't criminalising youths for no reason other than they are curious and want to experiment with mind altering substances. This would save the state money and stop thousands of young people having career wrecking criminal records. As long as people are informed of the risks, we should trust them to make their own choices.

  16. profile image57
    ubermonkposted 11 years ago

    A step in the right direction.
    It can cause paranoia ? Yea. cause no one wants to go to jail for a joint.
    Regular use of cannabis makes it difficult to learn and concentrate? It has inspired many. Just ask all the teachers that came out of the 60's. Off record ofcourse.
    First, it encourages more people to use it. So now millons of people are free to be stoned 24/7? I'm sure those that smoke are mainly the only ones who know and care. Perhaps when kids can't steal unkle bobs dime bag you would rather they go sniff bath salt or the next new replacement.
    The only people that find it dangerous are those with no experience at all. And those that do well how many "other" drugs were you on? Nuff said.

    We live in a world where a 100 yrs ago it was ok to drink a beer at the age of nine. Now you cant smack your kids if they get out of line. Smoke a J put on some tunes read a book  or two sit back and take it in. The rat race byproduct has become monumental since the explosion of coke in the 80's.
    Its time to slow down and take a different approach towards appreciating Life, each other and the world around us. By the way I'm a non smoker. If it were legal? Well perhaps someday I will need it. I'd like to afford that freedom.

    1. my_girl_sara profile image76
      my_girl_saraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Don't know if you realise that your response speaks for smoking as well as the dangers of smoking. Which is it?

    2. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      He's addressing the concerns listed here. All but the DUI's, which to me aren't any concerns at all. As was stated above, most of the people who have never had an mj experience have more outlandish worries about the plant.

    3. profile image0
      Sri Tposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      People tend to ignore the destructive side of marijuana, just like alcohol there is a destructive side. People in favor of it have not tried the most potent marijuana out there. It makes a difference between a buzz and being stretched out.

    4. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Show me a documented tested factual destructive side to it. Don't give me dui's because I'll rebuttal with cough syrup. There's psychological addiction but that can happen with stamp collecting. Give me a real danger

    5. mikedean84 profile image61
      mikedean84posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Then eat it!

    6. profile image57
      ubermonkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I suppose no one has ever been given a medication by a Dr. and had the Dr. or Pharmacist tell you that It will take a few days to a week for your body to adjust to the medication. So do not drive or operate machinery during this time.

  17. nanderson500 profile image79
    nanderson500posted 11 years ago

    I voted for it and approve of it being legal. It doesn't appeal to me personally, but I think people have the right to do it if they choose. I have the exact same opinion about gay marriage.

  18. rfmoran profile image70
    rfmoranposted 11 years ago

    Although I do not partake of the weed myself, I can see no intellectual justification for keeping marijuana illegal while booze is still legal. We tried prohibition with alcohol - that went well didn''t it? Prohibition was as ill conceived as the war on drugs. By the way, has anyone ever heard of a "marijuana fueled brawl"? Back when I practiced law I handled one pot case. A pleasant young guy was having a toke on the beach and was busted. I remember thinking: "What a complete waste of the legal system."

    1. profile image57
      ubermonkposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Something else people have not considered is MJ infused Tea. or Bakes goods!  That should quelsh some of the dangers of smoking as people have a choice! MJ has fueled the legal systems budget for long enough.

  19. Marcus99 profile image58
    Marcus99posted 11 years ago

    I think it is absolutely horrible timing on behalf of Hostess.

    1. ThompsonPen profile image65
      ThompsonPenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It would have sparked an munchie wave which would have resurrected then from there near death! smile

 
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