Whats your opinion?

[swedish]

I read in a magazine that 3/4 of Americans don't support prosecution of responsible marijuana users, just wondering how you all felt. P.S: they didn't define a responsible pot-head, i just assume it means people who sit around and get high w/o shooting people or having unprotected sex.

[jon@af]

Probably could go in current affairs, but nonetheless: It's hard to form a firm opinion on one side or another of this because I know people who smoke marijuana, and have no problem with them doing it as it's their choice, but still don't condone it in the least, know what I mean? I honestly think that if it were legal and sales were run by the government, and laws were implicated as they are with alcohol, things would be less controversial. As I said, I dont smoke it, and dont necessarily like that some of my friends do, but im not going to not be their friend because of what they choose to do with their own time.

[TexasF355F1]

Swedish, you don't know how many times I've asked myself that question. I really think the govt. knows it too. They really need to pull all of the anti-pot commercials off the air b/c they are exaggerated to a point that it makes them almost ficticious(is this a word?). But in retrospect why all of the sudden are there an abundance of anti-marijuana related items coming up? Maybe b/c it is coming a little closer to being legal? And maybe its being realized that marijuana use is almost as common as people who drink beer. Out of all the new people i've met in the last few years, most either smoke or have smoked at some point. And the ones who don't have no problem with it.

There really is no difference b/w alcohol and marijuana except in the feeling and form it is consumed. The anti-everythings are the ones who are sticking the guns to the govt and keeping it illegal and having millions being prosecuted for a plant. I bet if you polled the members of the govt and they answered honestly i bet a large percentage have tried or used it at some point in their life.

[moondog]

I haven't replied because I'm not in the US. But... (1) prohibition doesn't work. End of story. You will not stop people using something by making it illegal; if anything, it's just harder to police. (2) Alcohol is actually a more dangerous drug than marijuana, and it's perfectly legal - though with some controls on it.

[YogsVR4]

As long as rules existed for its use like there is with alcohol then I'd be fine with it being legal.

I don't smoke it and don't want to.

[Highlyaspir8ed]

it's all about $ people... it's something that's hard to regulate the sales of. anyone can grow it, the govt can get the sales tax on it. which is a crock of shit! all boils down to economics.

[mybenzbaby024]

I dont smoke weed but i know a lot of people that do and i know in some countries it is leagal... I personally think that if it wasnt illegal not so many people would be doing it because I think there is more of a thrill of doing something illegal then just getting high.... I dont agree with my friends that get high but that is their choice and this is the counrty of freedom and choices

[taranaki]

Never really tried the stuff,can't say that Iwant to any more.It's pointless trying to control it here,damn stuff grows like weeds.Any halfwit stoner can cultivate it,and many do.The big damage caused by cannabis culture is caused by prohibition.Make something illegal,and the criminals get right into it.

[jcz1987]

Well, I know people that smoke marijuana but I don't. But let them do it. Its their body. I don't have a problem with that. I think if the United States legalizes it, there would not be a huge concern about pot.

[goat_launcher]

Originally Posted by jcz1987

. I think if the United States legalizes it, there would not be a huge concern about pot.

Exactly...just look at Amsterdam..they have hash bars on every other corner and there isnt mass chaos running amuck...I mean, yeah they have a different culture but legalization shouldnt be a big deal.

[stealthj]

just to clear things up (yes i used to sell back in 9th grade.....good source of funds if anyone wanna start selling)... but yeah... just to clear things up...

weed is ILEGAL ALL OVER THE WOLRD due to all these world treaties and stufff.. it is just TOLERATED in amsterdam and such...NOT LEGAL

remember that!

or am i wrong???

[Chris]

Well, the american drug laws were written by the puritans hundreds of years ago, and havent changed as far as the anal-ness of it is concerned. I mean, the puritans were so up-tight the English kicked them out :O
In Italy and Spain, from what Ive heard, marijuana is now legal for personal possesion. It can be purchased in Spain at stores (But as a type of potpourri, not a drug). Havent heard of any problems.

And if you ever do spend the time to get real, independent studies of the effects of marijuana in the long and short term, you will find that it is almost harmless. Far better than alcohol. The only problem with it is that smoking it damages your lungs. But, the amount of marijuana smoked in a day (say, 1-2 grams) is far less bad then smoking a pack of cigarettes.
Once you're off the high, your body returns to normal, only, tired (it elevates melatonin by about 900%). And the affect on short term memory is temporary, and only happens because the cannaboid receptors in your brain are next to your short term memory; when high, your brain more or less ignores your short term memory. If you are a heavy user, you will be pretty dumb for up to a month after stopping using it, by that time, you're brain returns to normal. And THC occurs naturally in humans, and in most animals. Alcohol doesnt, and is a poision. Its impossible to OD on pot.
Also, studies have found that more than 50% of adults do, occasionally, get high.
And really, when you're high, its pretty much impossible to be an ass. When your drunk, you can be a real asshole, hated by all.
And while i dont condone driving high, if you do, you are far less likely to get in an accident...mainly because you're only going 3 miles an hour....:P
In the US, teh most used drugs are: Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, and then marijuana.

If they were to fully legalise it, and sell/tax it, they would make a very large sum of money from the extra revenue. And good people wouldnt be imprisioned and/or branded a criminal for being in possesion of a few joints.
And most of the drug dealers would find themselves out of a job. Woohoo, less crime. And less court costs/congestion.

I can see absolutely no negatives for legalising pot. It would increase government revenue, decrease court congestion, keep good people free of criminal records (remember, John Chretian, our Premier, admits to having smoked pot. Almost everyone has, actually).
AND, its almost harmless. If filters were developed for pot smoking, it would be even less harmful.

And people claiming that everyone would buy it and be blazed all the time, screwing up their jobs, etc, are just plain wrong. People dont show up to work drunk everyday, and they could just as easily show up stoned now, as if it were legal.

EDIT: oh, a Royal Commission found that pot should be fully legalized. And the senate also recommended legalization. NOT decriminalization, legalization.

/endrant.