Marijuana . To legalize or keep illegal

1. 60

   fonnyposted 13 years ago

   Theres probably hundreds of these, but .
   I think it should be, but as with drinking have rules, dont smoke and drive etc.
   I mean i duno, lol

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   TMMasonposted 13 years ago

   Fire it up... pass the cup cakes please.

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3. 86

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   Marijuana has been decriminalised in many states of the US, and many more permit medical marijuana, where you can have it if a doctor says you need it for a medical condition.
   Will someone please explain to me why it is still illegal?
   I can understand the growing of it for sale, or the distribution of it to the general public, but is it illegal to grow some plants for your own use? Especially in the states where it has been decriminalised.

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      Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Why is it illegal?  Why is Sarah Palin considered a viable political candidate in 2012.
      
      Strange shit man.

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4. 68

   ilmdamailyposted 13 years ago

   It's a little more complicated than legalisation.
   
   As Izzy points out, there's decriminlisation too - which makes it a "diluted" form of crime.
   
   Personally, I think it should probably stay illegal. Though not for the reasons you'd think.
   
   By sustaining the illegality of marijuana, we create an artificial floor for the marijuana market. The risk of prosecution builds in a risk premium into the price of marijuana, making it sell for more than ordinary supply constraints would allow.   
   
   Illegality ensures the profitability of the marijuana market. Which for growers and distributors, is great.
   
   Legalise it, and the process will be commoditised to the point where it will just be outsourced to poorer nations (who already grow large amounts of the stuff (sierra leone, morrocco, pakistan etc), lowering the price even further.
   
   It's not complicated to grow - nor particularly time consuming. 
   
   Nobody wins when marijuana is legalised - except the casual user at the end of the supply chain. 
   
   Additionally, the amount of money that circulates in the economy due to illicit substances and organised crime in general is nothing short of monumental.
   
   Removing all of that disposable cash from the economy probably wouldn't help anyone.
   
   Besides, if we really want it, we'll get it anyway;-)

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5. 60

   fonnyposted 13 years ago

   if it were legalised like maybe just for home use etc, not for retail sale or whatever, could the government tax it??
   Seems to me they'd make a hefty profit if they did

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   1. 86

      IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      They make an even bigger profit being the sole legal distributors.

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   2. 68

      ilmdamailyposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      They could.
      
      But that's the problem.
      
      Money that goes into the government's hands is "slowed down" in its circulation through the economy. All roads lead to Rome. Every cent eventually passes through the hands of government departments. The longer it remains out of their hands, the more chance it has to circulate to the rest of us.
      
      The government spends alot of money. But dealers traditionally spend more. Much more (proportionally, of course). 
      
      I'd probably rather they (dealers) spent it first, before it found its way into some bloated gov't program.
      
      And the only way that can happen, is if it stays illegal.

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      1. 58

         Jeramiposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Actually hemp is a viable alternate fuel source.
         But to go this rout would open up growing hybrid forms for purposes of smoking.
             Growing hemp was legal in the US until the invention of nylon rope.  (DuPont got rich)

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6. 86

   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   So marijuana is a bit like the diamonds. Far from being a rare commodity, there are enough dimaonds in the world to give every men, woman and child a cupful each, and still have some left over.
   But the diamond mining companies hold the reserves back to force market prices ever upwards.
   An interesting thing about marijuana, early in American settler days it was almost compulsory to grow it. Not for personal use but for its viability in the production of hemp which at that time was a much-needed and valuable commodity.

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   1. 59

      Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think hemp and marijuana are exactly the same.  I could be wrong, I'm pretty stoned at the moment plus my wife is looking at me with a devilish grin and a length of rope.

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         wildernessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         RUN, Ron!
         
         Just make sure it's the right direction, whichever that might be.....

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         Doug Hughesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ron, Is she wearing leather and boots?

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            Ron Montgomeryposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I can't tell, I'm blindfolded.

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               habeeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Does she have the ball gag and punishment hood on you??

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7. 94

   wildernessposted 13 years ago

   A little odd, here, in that the US is slowly but surely pushing the smoking of cigarettes into the illegal category while trying to legalize the smoking of weed.

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      Cagsilposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      

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8. 0

   WizardOfOzposted 13 years ago

   It is decriminalized here in all states, I think all states.  Most, certainly.  If you get caught its basically like a speeding fine.  You can get caught with up to two plants and off the plant about an ounce, give or take a gram depending on the state.
   
   On another note, we also have legal brothels.  One of them is on the stock exchange.

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9. 61

   lxxyposted 13 years ago

   Society and culture has to evolve and become more aware of drugs in general; I feel that if one can teach a child and young adult objective truths about mind and body altering substances they may be more level headed when they try them.
   
   DARE, and other similar programs are full of false information. So, while it's a nice thought to lie and keep children away from drugs--it's kinda like the whole idea of abstinence. Works real well, oh yes indeed...

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      saddlerider1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I agree with lxxy. I have been educating my 16 yr old about the use of marijuana, he has started experimenting with it in his first year of HS  like 75% if not most of students in North America, I am not against the use of cannabis, it is a herb with many great uses and proven to help with most medical ailments. I have smoked on an off for 30 yrs so I am not about to tell my son it's wrong. But I do inform him of moderation in all good things in life.

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10. 77

    Mighty Momposted 13 years ago

    *giggle* at ron

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11. 60

    Daniel J. Neumannposted 13 years ago

    And let's not forget Industrial Hemp's many uses such as a stronger and cheaper paper pulp that decreases deforestation. There's hemp ethanol, which is renewable, cheaper, and more fuel efficient---and plus it won't ruin our Gulf Coast....
    
    oh, logic...

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