Should Cannabis Be Legalized?

1. 60

   Kaabiposted 15 years ago

   I want to know what the people here think; should cannabis be legalized?  Frankly, I cannot respect anybody who believes it should remain illegal.  Not only is cannabis virtually harmless, it is beneficial in small quantities.  Its criminality ruins the lives of literally hundreds of thousands of people every year, despite the fact it does no damage when consumed.  Also, just look at history.  For thousands of years, not only was cannabis legal, but it was revered for medicine, industry, and spiritual use; not once before the 20th century was ANYTHING bad said about it.  The only reason cannabis started being touted as something negative is because of racism, ambition by people in both government and industry (such as Harry J. Anslinger), and misinformation.
   
   Don't believe me that cannabis is harmless? Look at Irvin Rosenfeld, a man I have personally spoken with on numerous occasions.  He is one of the few people who gets his medicinal cannabis straight from the Federal government.  He has smoked 11 ounces of cannabis a month for the past 30 years (although I think it may be as high as 38 years), amounting to over 250 pounds consumed personally.  Not even Bob Marley came that close.  Guess what Rosenfeld does?  He is a stockbroker for a prestigious firm, and recent tests done on his body show he is completely normal (including his lungs), save for the debilitating disease that got him the cannabis in the first place.
   
   I feel I should also mention that cannabis will soon be one of the primary medicines of humanity.  In a special extract form, known as hemp oil, cannabis can cure essentially any disease, including cancer.  I have spoken to several terminal cancer patients who have been cured with hemp oil.  You can even see hemp oil completely stop the tremors of Parkinson's disease on this video here, and I also personally know the producer of that oil:
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Ue8OBhT2U
   You can learn more about hemp oil at http://phoenixtears.ca
   
   Anyways, the criminalization of cannabis is the most ridiculous and horrible thing in human history.  Whether or not you choose to smoke it, some time in the near future you will probably at least use the oil (which you can consume without getting high) to treat some kind of condition, as it works for practically anything.  Ahh, it's going to be an interesting revolution indeed.

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      tksenseiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      NO.

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      cosetteposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      YES.

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      ledefensetechposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      In short, yes.  You can't legislate morality.  If some dimbulb is going to destroy themselves through the use of weed, let them.  We do it all the time with alcohol, gambling and cigarettes.

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         blue dogposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         seems like you've missed the point of discussion here.

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      oldenuf2nobetterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

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      Google Galposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Cannabis helps with alot of medical conditions , if its legalized the drug companies will be hurting badly, so they won't let it be legalized , plus its kinda hard to tax, but all in all , I say, legalize it drug companies have made enough its someone else's turn

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   Mrvoodooposted 15 years ago

   Viva la revolution!
   
   Legalize the green.

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   caravalhophotoposted 15 years ago

   You forgot to mention that there has never been a reported car accident while driving under the influence of Cannabis alone.  There has never been a Cannabis overdose, but let's talk about asprin.
   And on a personal note, after my chemo days, I didn't take any of the pills that came home with me in my brown paper bag, my nausea and uncomfortableness was handled with Cannabis.
   This herb should be legalized instead of critisized...especially by those who have no clue.
   Great question that unfortunetly wont help change minds, keep talking and writing, you just might meet the right person that has enough influence to change a law.

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   tantrumposted 15 years ago

   YES !!!

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   SparklingJewelposted 15 years ago

   when there has been done a thorough and complete research of many years done on those that smoke on a regular basis...as has been done for alcohol and tobacco...then come back and defend legalization of the use of marijuana as a recreational drug.
   
   I'm for its controlled legalization for medicinal use ONLY.
   
   who is going to control the uses thereof?...that's the ethical and moral problem with legalizing it.
   
   As far as I am concerned alcohol and tobacco should be illegal too. Because obviously they aren't a controlled substance that needs to be...look at the statistics...

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      Jonathan Jancoposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Alcohol and cigarettes are not for medical use only, and they're killers. We tried outlawing alcohol and only the mob benefitted. And oxycontin is pretty much as bad as heroin, and nobody controls the abuse of that. Furthermore, you let every farmer grow pot and it could recover this economy in a heartbeat. Our founding fathers knew this, that's why they grew it and smoked it. In fact, in Revolutionary America you could even be jailed for not growing it. Pot was legal tender here until about 1800. American flags and King James bibles were once made from it, too. As for the moral issue, I just don't see one. What is immoral about ingesting a substance that is not even as harmful as soda? The only moral issue I see is in  imprisoning people for having it. Meanwhile, untested pharms go to the market and kill people on behalf of the profit-minded drug companies and their advertising clients. And those drugs do wayyy more harm than good.

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   starme77posted 15 years ago

   I don't think the native Americans were putting tobacco in their peace pipes - tobacco is a man made thing with all kinds of chemicals on it - cannabis - is a natural plant and nature rules!

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      starme77posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      SO YES , LEGALIZE IT

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7. 0

   Poppa Bluesposted 15 years ago

   I don't agree that it's harmless. The ill effects of marijuana have been well documented. However, I do believe it as well as all drugs should be legal to possess.
   
   The illegality of these substances is creating a huge violent crime problem. The artificial profit margins are fueling murder and terrorism, and filling our jails with otherwise upstanding citizens. 80 years of illegality has done nothing to stop the flow of drugs or prevent anyone that wants to use them from doing so.

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   ralwusposted 15 years ago

   It used to be. for years and years. should be now, along with free beer.

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   Ultimate_Fitnessposted 15 years ago

   I personally have not used cannabis since my high school days, I find it to be a waste of my time and money, and it really stresses me out now for some reason. That being said, I believe that there is serious benefit legalization would create.
   
   1. quickly renewable source of paper products
   
   2. quality fabric products which are stronger than cotton
   
   3. nutritional products high in Omega 3s from hemp seed oil
   
   4. a quality source of biofuel.
   
   5. they above mentioned points would breathe new life into the world's agricultural industries.
   
   6. potential tax revenue
   
   7. many new micro-industries from cultivation, processing, sale, etc.
   
   8. medicinal benefits. both known and potentially unknown.
   
   
   Here is a video from a gentleman in my neck of the woods named Rick Simpson. He was recently featured on a local talk radio show where he and others who have experienced similar benefits were interviewed. If this is true I find this to be incredible and should warrant immediate medical investigation
   
   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjhT9282-Tw

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    rednckwmnposted 15 years ago

    Pot sould be legal. Yes. It will never be tho, in the US I am sure. The fact that it is illegal, makes them soooo much money...I am not debating if its safe, or not addictave or anything. Alchol is legal....

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    wesleycoxposted 15 years ago

    Think about the economic value of legalising Mary Jane.  If the U.S legalized it, they could tax it.  BAM, you just increased tax revenue by 20% or so.

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       Poppa Bluesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       That sum pales in comparison to the money being made by it being illegal. Consider all the jobs associated with the investigation, pursuit, prosecution, and jailing of individuals. Consider the union dues generated from all those government jobs, from the construction jobs, building prisons, from the aid to foreign nations, from the weapons and planes, helicopters sold to them and the companies that build those things.
       
       No. Pot will never be legal, because it allows government to grow bigger and it justifies their won existence.

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          Pr0metheusposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Except those jobs will all still be there.  We're not talking about legalizing heroin or coke or anything like that.  The jobs associated with jailing actual drug traffickers will still be there, but marijuana won't be considered a drug.  Also, think about all the overcrowding in our prisons, and how much money we're spending on incarcerating people for marijuana offenses.  The average cost to incarcerate a person for 1 year is over $25,000.  Don't forget that's also a person that could be giving taxes (whether it's from revenue generated from marijuana sales, or another job) to the government.  Instead, the government is paying to keep them locked away.  Should we be spending all that money to jail people for their victimless crimes?  We're spending WAY more money then we're making fighting marijuana.  If it were legal we WOULD generate much more revenue from its sales alone.
          
          "Assuming a national consumer market for marijuana of about $13 billion annually, Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron has estimated that legalization could be expected to bring state and federal governments about $7 billion annually in additional tax revenue, while saving them $13.5 billion in prohibition-related law enforcement costs." -http://money.cnn.com/2009/09/11/magazines/fortune/medical_marijuana_legalizing.fortune/index.htm
          
          Californians, vote for your freedom of personal choice.  Vote to release the perpetrators of victimless marijuana crimes.  Vote for more revenue for a struggling government.
          
          Vote YES on THC 2010!
          
          http://www.californiacannabisinitiative … -2010.html

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             rhamsonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             I really get your point and agree with you that it makes sense for us the taxpayers to legalize pot and reap the benefits thatcould be realized.  BUT, the government is not out to save any money they are out to make it.  What would you profit as a government agency if we took away your 13 billion dollar expenditure if we legalized it?

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                Pr0metheusposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                I don't see the argument?  Save money on incarceration and enforcement, make money on taxes?  We still need drug enforcement for the hard drugs, but not for marijuana.

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                   rhamsonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                   I gotta go with Poppa Blues on this one.  Pot busts are more visible and easy money.  Besides why give up a segment of the industry when you can have it all?  The government is not out to save you a thing and least of all give up any power they have over you. 
                   
                   You need to find a squeeky clean legislator with a lot of favors to get the good old boys on the hill to go for it.  When was the last time you saw that?
                   
                   Try to get it on a referendum is your only chance and GOOD LUCK.  They hate it when we tell them what to do!

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          elliot.dunnposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          i don't believe that smoking marijuana is good or even right, in the same way as i don't think that getting drunk is right.  but i also don't believe that it is governments job to keep us safe from ourselves. if you want to smoke weed in your basement, you should be able to.  but we also need to consider what the Declaration means by a pursuit of happiness.  We are free to pursue our happiness but it is governments job to defend its persons against others invading their happiness.  if you can smoke marijuana without impeding on anyone's happiness than government should allow you to do it.

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          wesleycoxposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Um. Ok, do you realize that what you stated is a cost of the government.  What I stated is a revenue for the government.  Law enforcement for pot, pursuit, and all that other stuff is pretty much non existant.  Pot is a misdemenor crime. Like Drinking and Driving.

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             rednckwmnposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             wait....
             what? i think it should be legal
             i think its not likely
             gov cost come out of taxes, i think
             all the stuff they seize and sell, is profit
             i dont agree with it...
             oh yeah, in civillian lufe its a misdemeanor. but if they think you have it, there  is the reasonable suspicion....
             oh, you werent talking to me...oooops

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             Poppa Bluesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Yes, it's a cost that the government (ultimately the taxpayer)pays, but look what it supports! Rmemeber, the government isn't interested in being profitable, if it was it would be smaller and more efficient. This is about power and influence and that's what you get when you "create" jobs. The government hires all these people, who then become members of the unions (big campagin contributors). The government then points at what they've done as concrete steps to fight crime ( crime that wouldn't exist if there wasn't so much profit in the drug trade).

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          jiberishposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          But Poppa, if they legalized it, took it over, hired people to grow and package it, the sold it like cigs, and taxed it, don't you think they would make more money.  Also isn't Hemp a form of pot, that used to be used in making flour sacks and rope, the gov't could actually create a few jobs then.

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       rednckwmnposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I agree, especially if it gets taxed ike tobacco. But they are thinking about all the stuff they can sieze, becuase they claim its realted to the drug crime..cars, houses, dogs, guns, property, other drugs, all of wich they turn around and sell... and our taxes pay for all of that...

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    sooner than laterposted 15 years ago

    Its deff. not for everyone. when I use to smoke it, I could not function with any day to day activities. Then the next day I was lazy as a hound.

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    Cherokeebanditposted 15 years ago

    I totally agree that pot should be legalized, if for no other reason than for the revenue it could bring into the states coffers. It's weird that only the Federal gov't. is making this so difficult, each state has the right to legalize it or not. Seriously, California could really use it.

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    rhamsonposted 15 years ago

    I think one of the main reasons the Federal Government won't allow the legalization of pot is that agencies make so much money from enforcing the laws against it now.  All kinds of grant money is available to them and they know that it will keep on coming because they can't keep up with the enforcement.
    
    If you turn it into a tax collection effort these agencies would have greatly reduced budgets to catch the pot heads and the only other enforcement procedures would be the revenuers like we had with moonshine.

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       C.J. Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       There is a lot of truth there.  A stoned person is a lot easier to catch than a serial rapist!

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    Jeryposted 15 years ago

    While I don't think pot is completely "harmless" I do think it should be legal. And I think it will be in some states here in the US in the near future. It would really help eliminate a lot of aches and pains in all us baby-boomers lol. I feel other drugs should be considered a health problem, with the emphasis on overcoming the addiction through treatment instead of incarceration.

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    Poppa Bluesposted 15 years ago

    Why just legalize marijunana? Why NOT ALL drugs?

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       Pr0metheusposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Because that just can't happen right now - besides most of the other drugs are not victimless... consider the victims of the coke and heroin trade.  They're definitely harmful to society - marijuana really isn't (or wouldn't be if we legalized it).

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          Poppa Bluesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          The victims? What victims? The only crimes associated with drugs are thefts for the money to pay for em, and the violence over "territory" amongst drug dealers You wouldn't have this if it was legal. Pot especially since anyone could grow it, but even drugs like heroine and cocaine, if they were legal would cost much, much less, so much less that there wouldn't be enough profit in it for criminals and they'd have to make their money other ways like selling priated DVDS!

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    sooner than laterposted 15 years ago

    why are you hippies so caught up in getting it leagalized? If I smoked, I think it would take the fun out of it.

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       Pr0metheusposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Does the fact that beer is legal take the fun out of drinking?

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          sooner than laterposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          no, but definately transporting. that's what I meant

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             Jeryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             If you go out and transport pot "just for the fun of it" sooner than later (pun intended) you'll get stopped and caught and all the "fun" you've had will hardly seem worth it!

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                Poppa Bluesposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                No kidding! People are getting killed over this crap! Look what's happening in Mexico!! It's an outrage! Americans should stand up and DEMAND that the government legalize pot to put an end to the violence! It's been illegal for 80 years! The government has proven their way isn't working! How much longer are we going to sit back and let this continue???

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                   rhamsonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                   Poppa you said it earlier that it is too profitable a business to give up.  The government is not concerned for our safety when it comes to drugs.  Their way IS working and we are paying for it.
                   
                   The country is way too polarized by stupid issues to effect any kind of change.  We are busy with the infighting and worried about how many seats this party has or that party got preffered status because they had an in with someone.  Law makers love it when we fight with each other, they know their spot is secure.
                   
                   Looking out for US? They are looking out for A number one.

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    BeccaHubbardWoodsposted 15 years ago

    Yes, pot should be legal. There should be an age limit on it, like cigarettes and alcohol. Just imagine going to the store and buying a pack of joints. LMAO! I think more people would quit smoking cigarettes if pot were legal. I'm pro-pot, all the way (and I don't even smoke it anymore).

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       rednckwmnposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       
       grow your own...

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          BeccaHubbardWoodsposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          

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    sneakorocksolidposted 15 years ago

    First it should be sent to me and I'll get back to you on whether it's worth the trouble or not.

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       earnestshubposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I also volunteer for quality control duty!

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          sneakorocksolidposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I'll bring the Oreos!

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             Make Moneyposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Peace man.

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                sneakorocksolidposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                Right back at you!

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    svencillposted 15 years ago

    It should be regulated and taxed, but absolutely. There are more pros than cons when it comes to marijuana and I cannot believe it is still illegal. Politics!!!!!!!

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       joannabananaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Ya know they have startedtaxing it in certain places, and i think once the government realizes just how much they can get out of pot smokers that they will definitly legalize. but thats just me speculating!

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    Make Moneyposted 15 years ago

    "Should Cannabis Be Legalized?"
    
    Well all it's doing by keeping cannabis illegal is putting millions of dollars into the pockets of organized crime.  It's only connection to hard drugs is organized crime.  It's wasting tax payers money by paying the police and courts that try to control it.  It's filling the courts and jails up with useless charges and convictions over something that is beneficial and harmless.  So yes, definitely legalize it.

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       Jonathan Jancoposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I consider myself a law-abiding citizen. Yet, I have two convictions on my record because I smoke pot. The cops who searched me broke more laws in that 15minute period than I have my entire life. Both my arrests combined yielded busts for almost enough pot to roll about five joints . . . and I roll'em small!

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    Kaabiposted 15 years ago

    I had no idea that the support for this would be so high here.  It warms my heart to know that all these minds are in the right place.
    
    Prohibition of anything doesn't work.  Alcohol is so much worse than cannabis, but it is illegal.  From a health perspective standpoint, as is taken with cannabis, alcohol should be illegal, but it's not.  You don't see the country going to hell because alcohol is illegal.  Making cannabis legal could only help things in regards to drug use, as many alcohol and cigarette smokers would switch to cannabis, which is essentially harmless to the body, and it actually does have positive effects.  If you don't believe me, go out and do the research.
    
    I would like to call more attention to Rick Simpson, the man who CURED CANCER with cannabis hemp oil.  I have personally seen this oil work with my own eyes, on incurable skin infections, and I have talked to terminal cancer survivors.  Research shows THC kills cancer cells, so this shouldn't even be a surprise.  Please, learn about it at http://phoenixtears.ca!

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       sneakorocksolidposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Tell him to send it I'll check it out to! Is it like hash oil?

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          Kaabiposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          If you went to see him directly you could get it probably, but he does not send it through the mail; some people do though.  You can always make it yourself, and the directions are on http://phoenixtears.ca.  If you have a loved one dying, you shouldn't let a draconian law stop you from saving them.

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          Jeryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          It is hash oil that he makes. If anybody is thinking about doing this you should remember that the solvent (no matter which you use) is very flammable especially when it's heated and boiled off. Wow this if true (curing cancer) should make everyone situp and take notice, and give the pro-pot movement a real shot in the arm. I have a portion of my garden that could grow some really dank bud, not that I know much about it lol.

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             BeccaHubbardWoodsposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             I believe that...

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    cosetteposted 15 years ago

    i think it should be legalized. not because i use it but i think it is ridiculous to incarcerate people who do, and who sell it, when there are real criminals on the street and far more dangerous substances out there.

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    sneakorocksolidposted 15 years ago

    All these old heads are scaring me! Wait a minute I'm old! Ah crap!

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       Jeryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Who you calling an "old head" sneakorocksolid? Haven't heard that term used in years, takes me back to the 70's Ahhhh the 70's those were some good years!

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          sneakorocksolidposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I remember some of the seventies then I went to Amsterdam. Stupid me bought this righteous brownie, I needed something for the munchies, well you guessed it! After that things kind of came and went so did my memory!

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    JulietduPreezposted 15 years ago

    Yup. Alcohol causes far more damage.

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    europewalkerposted 15 years ago

    It should be legal. Then I could stop taking Xanax!

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    yoshi97posted 15 years ago

    I know I must be tired - I thought this thread was about cannibals.
    
    Well ... no to canibus, but a maybe on the cannibal vote.

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    glendoncabaposted 15 years ago

    Best ganja (cannabis) in world grown right here in Jamaica.  I have never smoked it, by now most forum addicts (meaning hubpages addicts, not ganja)know that I am ultra-conservative, ultra-radical Christian socialist fundamentalist . 
    
    But making cannabis illegal is part of a historically racist and imperialist monopoly of hard drugs, and is responsible for a violent underground trade.
    
    Legalize it.  Tax and control use of it.  Ban it in public spaces.
    
    Medical and economic uses would rescue Jamaican economy.

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       earnestshubposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Sorry Glendon, the world has changed. Special seeds designed for summer, winter, hot, cold climates have been engineered over the last 10 years that I know of, and any country can grow Dutch seed even designed to grow short and look like a bush. Almost no leaves, almost all browning head. Growth times are shorter too! I have sampled some of the weed from an original dutch seed a neigbor purchased in Holland in the 90's
       It grew to full maturity in 3 months, looked like a thick shrub and was just a huge pack of heads! The yield from that one plant kept him tokin for a very long time!

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          glendoncabaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          You mean the geneticists have taken away our brand power of Jamaican sensimella. No wonder the Jamaican mafia is pushing cocaine now.
          
          Dang!  Just when I was ready to launch my product.  Now I have to stick to writing for measly PPC
          
          You know what those global marketers do, stock the mass produced stuff, just slap on a Jamaican label and double the price.
          
          Earnest I'm really being a bad Christian.  I should be telling you to exercise and the endorphines will give you a natural high.  Mind altering drugs bad habits.
          
          But cannabis has many medicinal uses in folk medicine.  Smoking itself is not healthy.  Although I seem to recall there is one illness that smoking pot is used to treat in folk medicine.

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    druk_tsheringposted 15 years ago

    It should be legalized in the whole world. Hats up to you, Netherlands.( Get plenty of this magical herbs in Bhutan)
    
    <URL snipped - do not promote links in the Forums>

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    Mighty Momposted 15 years ago

    Pot is in a class by itself. There is no personal or social benefit to smoking cigarettes, and yet, cigarettes are legal. There is tremendous personal and social ill associated with alcohol, and yet it is legal as well.
    And yet pot remains illegal. And it has all these known medicinal qualities. The hemp plant is used in so many applications.
    
    On the other side of the coin, cannibas is not as benign as some would make it out to be. Because it is smoked, it can hurt the lungs and lead to lung cancer.
    For those prone to addiction, marijuana CAN be addicting. I'm not going with the "it's a gateway drug" excuse here. There are people legitimately addicted to weed itself.
    But those people would be addicted whether it's legal or not.
    
    Overall: Yes. I think it should be legalized.

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       earnestshubposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I think this is nice logic. No drug is perfect, but easy to beat alcohol and tobacco for safety, so current law is in need of some adjustment. Ha! I'd like to see that!

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    sarah dawkinsposted 15 years ago

    Yes, of course it should be legal.  It would generate a revenue for the government and help people with chronic pain.

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    Kaabiposted 15 years ago

    Once again, I am glad to see the support here.  However, I must disagree with the notion that smoking cannabis leads to lung cancer, and it has been proven there is NO LINK.  Not only is there no link, but Dr. Donald Tashkin has found that there may be a small protective effect from lung cancer by smoking cannabis:
    http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_con … s&cate
    
    This should be no surprise, as THC, the main ingredient in cannabis, KILLS CANCER CELLS!  If you search THC and cancer on Google, you will find tons of studies showing this relationship.  I've also been saying that cannabis hemp oil can cure cancer, as I have spoken with terminal cancer survivors who only used hemp oil and are now still alive.  Being that THC kills cancer cells, this should not be that much of a surprise.

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       Jeryposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       If this is true, it will come out I suspect, and and give the pro-cannabis movement a shot in the arm. I can see legalization on the horizon I really can! All us baby-boomers are going to need it for our aches and pains! lol

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          joannabananaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          it is real and true! but what this person didn't say is that you don't get the regenerative cell effect unless you eat it! so put pot in your food, thats what i say! smoking it ,i don't think does the same thing.

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    lyricsingrayposted 15 years ago

    Dude is it really illegal, shit

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    fishtiger58posted 15 years ago

    I grew up in the 70s and I think booze is way more dangerous. They need to legalize cannabis it might even help the economy. Think of all the taxes.

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    sneakorocksolidposted 15 years ago

    Why not, if we're going to ruin the social fabric of America, may as well go all the way.

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    B.C. BOUTIQUEposted 15 years ago

    My 2 cents on the subject : YES..it should be legalized ( nut then it would be over taxed by the government ) but it is a very good alternative to many things and is much safer than alcohol, wich should be illegal. I have never known a pot head to get in a serious accident because they were high and kill a family of 5, put a dunk behind the wheel and watch out for your lifr..it also does not make people mean like alcohol does or distort the judgment the same way alcohol does..I am afraid of drunks, but never met a pot head I was afraid of, never...plus as medicinal value goes, it is alot safer than the crap I am on for the rest of my life, but the dr's cant prescribe it in ohio for those who really need the pain killing effect and to nake them eat..My pillls kill the pain, are probly slowly killing me and cause me to not have an appetite..
    
    there is my 2 cents....

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    donotfearposted 15 years ago

    Legalized with prescription only for approved illness, in the natural form, in an inhaler (not smokin it), NOT Marinol (synthetic THC).  But the real thing in a nebulizer.
    
    Not too keen on the idea of legalizing for recreational use.

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    songsterposted 15 years ago

    cannibalism is an abomination and never should be legalised!

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    kirstenblogposted 15 years ago

    at least de-criminalize it. My only worry about total legalization is that companies selling it will do the same thing they did with tobacco, add loads of poisons to make it as addictive as humanly possible. On the other hand the government could control its sale and distribution (not unlike alcohol) and tax the hell out of it! People who wish to smoke it would likely be happy to pay through the nose for it if they A. wont be arrested for it and B. can trust that it isn't laced and is totally 'organic'

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       C.J. Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I agree. My only question is that now there is a cottage "illegal" industry. Much of it foriegn. Much of it supported by organized crime. Wouldn't legal pot farms be targeted by organized crime? My guess would be yes. No way are these guys going to let go easily. Just another case of the government making a mess of things.

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          ledefensetechposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          Actually C.J. what you'd see is the price of "illegeal" drugs crash.  This would make it very unprofitable for criminal organizations to continue to make money of of it and would weaken the power of the drug cartels.
          
          Did the Mafia intimidate and break up newly legal breweries and other alcohol manufacturers after Prohibition ended?  No.  The same thing would hold true for pot farms and such.  Also you'd see quality increase.  By bringing these players into the legit world, they'd be subject to quality control in order to avoid lawsuits for product liability.
          
          Criminal organizations have always benefited from government outlaw of certain practices.  In societies which have few restrictions on their freedoms, criminal enterprises are pretty much limited to theft of persons and property.  There's not usually very much money in that and criminal organizations remain weak.  The more you restrict things, the more power you give criminal organizations.  People want the stuff, after all, and are willing to pay those who can get it to them.  Legalize that stuff and you'll see the gang and crime problems decrease.

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             C.J. Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

             I don't think prohibition was around long enough. Further Alcohol was legal prior to prohibition. In either case, simply legalizing it will not crash the illegal market. Organized crime will allways be able to bring their product to market for less than any entity constrained by the US government.

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                ledefensetechposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                Prohibition was around plenty long enough.  That's where the Mafia really got its start.  The reason it was abandoned was because our inner cities were being turned into hollowed out shells of their former glory.  Unlike the 1950's-1970's there was no Interstate Highway system to provide a way for people to escape and so the government was forced to abandon their experiment in Prohibition.
                
                It sound like in the second part of your post that we are in agreement.

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                   C.J. Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                   And so we can expect that as with the ending of prohibition, legalizing pot will not reduce organized crime....just redirect it. Thats my point. They will strugle to hold on to the market, when it's no longer profitable to do so they will move on. My point is that pot and crime are mutually exclusive. Further there will be very little difference between the the government and the gangs running the pot industry!LOL

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                      ledefensetechposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                      You'll still be shutting off what is a profitable sideline for criminal gangs.  That should be worth something, surely?  You're right, government will screw it up if they are allowed to run it.  But they don't necessarily have to run it.  That's all dependent on whether or not we can rein in the power of the Feds or not.

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                         C.J. Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                         It only temporarily shuts off a revenu stream....
                         If it gets legalized...they will jump in with both feet!(government)

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                            ledefensetechposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                            Sure organized crime will have to move on, but the pool of money they have to cause trouble will be much, much smaller.  Drugs are a multibillion dollar industry.  Pushing them out will cripple them.  Will it destroy them?  No.  But they won't be nearly the threat they are today.
                            
                            As for the government, they would have to monopolize the manufacture and distribution of drugs.  In that case you're right back to where you started from except that the government benefits from the high cost of drugs, not organized crime.  I think you're overlookng a shift in American attitudes towards the nanny state.  People, more and more, are considering it their responsibility to pay for healthcare, not the government.  This could be the start of a broad based shift in the attitudes of Americans and the role of government in the life of its citizens.

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                               Jonathan Jancoposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                               Ah, but if you legalized cannabis then Big Pharma would collapse on itself, immediately decreasing emergency room treatments.

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                                  C.J. Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                                  Right...like thats going to happen.  LOL, I'm supposing your being sarcastic?

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                                     Jonathan Jancoposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                                     Cynicism is a killer, CJ.

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                                  rhamsonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

                                  I don't know which way it will go.  Will the government take over the distribution as they did with the State Liquor Stores as in the past.  That way they could continue busting people for growing it and selling it tax free.  This would be something like moonshine and the government could convert a lot of the enforcers over to revenuers.
                                  
                                  Or will they drop the ball and allow organized crime regulate it through strong arming the growers for pay offs. The mob could corner the market in distribution by getting protection money from the dealers.

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    R.Edwardsposted 15 years ago

    It just shows how hypocritical the U.S. is, or the world for that matter. However, I will just state my opinion.
    
    I believe Cannabis should be legalized, and I'm shocked to see so many of you in approval.

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    rhamsonposted 15 years ago

    I just had another thought.  Can you imagine the scene of stoners walking into a State Store to purchase their weed? LOL  I never thought I might live to see that day. LOL

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    Jonathan Jancoposted 15 years ago

    C'mon, rham, this is America! We only nationalize that which can't make a profit, like the car companies. Since pot is immensely profitable, the private industry should have it and accept suitable regulations. It might even bring Starbucks back into the realm of reputable popularity.

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       rhamsonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       I take it you are too young to remember the State Liquor Stores run by the government.  It was their way to control underage distribution and get taxes as well as profit from selling hard liquor.  The State Stores were a great success until private industry sued to sell it and not in competition with the govrnment.  Uncle Sam still gets the tax this way.

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          Jonathan Jancoposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          You're right, I don't remember. But I have been to Canada, so I've seen something similar to what you describe and have gotten an earful about the sentiment it inspires.

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    Pr0metheusposted 15 years ago

    

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44. 0

    oldenuf2nobetterposted 15 years ago

    It should be legalized,yes.It would go a long way toward solving a lot of problems in America.There are lots of practical aspects for doing it but the primary reason is because people have the right to get high.

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    tksenseiposted 15 years ago

    No, it should not be legalized. Potheads spend all the energy they spend on nothing else trying to find ways to justify their simple, selfish desire to get their smokey-smokey.

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       Pr0metheusposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Seriously, why don't they just drink alcohol in excess like all the normal people!?

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    mel22posted 15 years ago

    At one point the even George Washington grew Hemp. Think he just tossed those buds out. NOT ! Him and Martha were rolling up Hoots before the Revolution. The first real flag was probably made of Hemp. And don't anyone get smart and try to correct me about it being made of British linen or something bcuz itsmeant to be funny. In fact there were others flags with snakes on them before the one now so it may really have been hemp who knows.

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    mel22posted 15 years ago

    I personally think excessiove amounts of caffeine in drinks should be outlawed before cannabis. Cannabis calms nerves and makes you relax and be able to function. Caffeibe just makes everyone jitterey, ornary and overall makes people act rude toward each other

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    helotposted 15 years ago

    I would say keep it illegal only because I pay the same amount today as I did 10 years ago.  If it were made legal I am certain the price would increase as inflation does.  Though I would just grow my own so nevermind.

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    Denno66posted 15 years ago

    Either that, or make Alcohol illegal; oh, the hipocrisy!

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    habeeposted 15 years ago

    I agree with the sheep.

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