Thoughts on legalizing marijuana

[born-to-hunt]

I got into this conversation with someone the other day now I know what you're thinking some hippie pot head that wants to smoke without getting caught OK I understand but that's not me I think it should be legal although I do not abuse it. The reasons I think it should be legal is because it would help everything! If they do it will be taxed the same day making more money because it will still probably be cheaper than buying it off the street. but another big reason it would help them farmers would have a new crop maybe it will save them guys too and it's a weed it would be really easy i'd imagine. restaruants, stores and that kind of thing selling it would help them out and transporting it as a crop truckers have more reason to work. I bet a lot of marijuana reastruants would open they just sell a bunch if cannibus. glass blowers would have more to blow for whatever it is they are gonna make for the use of it. and if it were legal i would say it's best if it was only permited at home or permited places it wouldn't be good seeing a bunch of kids at wal-mart getting contact high from other smokers. but yeah thanks for reading and give me some input please.

[SHOOTALL]

That makes way to much sense it will never fly.

[Norm1057]

Personal Responsibility is the key to everything! Besides smoking or eating, the products that can be made could also be sold.

[Mikey]

legalize it, regulate and tax it.  Abuse, as in driving impaired, would fall under the regulatory aspect of legalizing it.  Tax the growers the same way you tax any other grower of produce - they will just pass it on to the user.  Legalizing it drops the bottom right out of the criminal aspect

born - you are right about a lot of pot houses popping up but I doubt you would ever hear of the cops being called out to one to break up a political discussion.

It ain't abuse unless you let it become abuse.  If you use it as a responsible adult it is no worse than alcohol.  You know what your limit is.

[243dave]

If its legalized some of my kin people will be out of a job !!  

[billy_56081]

Legalise it and don't tax it. I pay enough taxes.

[highwayman]

when you come home from work and find your 30 year old kid,that stills live at home, still playing video games, with no job, i want everyone to be greatfull we legalize marijuana. i am very against it.

[Norm1057]

Won't happen at my house. I'd kick the 20 year old out if he's not working or going to school. 30 is just plain stupid! My kids are only teenagers now and they are well aware of the cost of not taking resposibility for their actions!

[born-to-hunt]

Well thanks for the input so far and yes it can be made into a lot of things clothes, paper hey this could save the world instead of using trees we can use a weed that grows like one rope, thread and I know that there's more things that can benifit but yes if it is we will have to be responsible for our actions and I think thats the reason it's illegal now just too many unresponsible people like the 30yr old at moms. for those that don't agree with it being legal i'm sure you have your reasons thank you for posting them

[saddlebum]

I think there are too many intoxicated people in this country as it is. True people will smoke it anyway but being illegal keeps many from doing it and the ones who do, do it in the shadows and are careful not to get caught. They are more likely to stay at home. With it being legal and easier access, kids will be doing it and doing it more than say doing their homework or getting a job or anything that is better for them to become good citizens. It would be like opening the floodgates and would be an open door to say why not legalize all drugs. Anything goes! I think we should crack down harder on it's use and distribution. But it may be too late for that now anyway.

There is a contradiction in the first post about weed restaraunts and regulating it to be used only in the home.
I think we are all aware of how well people regulate themselves. Especially when intoxicated.
Another booming business to come from legalization would be law enforcement especially for DUIs, car wrecks and other social ills conected to intoxicated people. Gun fights, domestic abuse and such. Unfortunately that eats up tax revenue instead of increasing it.

There are lots of better ways to create revenue in America than to create more intoxicated people. Lets try, oh I don't know, cut wasteful spending and create jobs that are meaningful and long term. Shrink government. Stop unfunded entitlements and live within our means.

Do we really need the tax and other revenue so bad as to throw society under the bus? Sounds like a lame excuse to me.

I hate to admit it but this post comes from a former pothead. It's not like I'm just a dumb redneck. I've been around more than I'd like to admit. I like to think I've learned from my past experiences........Who knows, maybe not!

[BUGEYE]

mikey, as you say, it's no worse that alcohol. on the other hand, it's just as bad as alcohol.
legal pot would turn loose a bunch more drunk drivers on our roads.

[GeneRector]

  Howdy! Marijuana will probably not be legalized entirely. However, just think of the Brand/Trade names that could be used: Tijuana Gold, Acapulco Delights, etc. There is an old Chinese saying: "He who stands on top of toilet, gets high on pot!"  Just a thought! 

[SHOOTALL]

Fighting the war on drugs has not had the effect one would hope . It has corrupted the legal system and cost billions in money. It has IMHO turned police departments into military units instead of public supported officers in many locations . The deaths on both sides is unacceptable. I would guess that more Americans die in drug related issues that in military engaugements yet we don't demand it stop. If booze was not already here and it was a debate over having a vice for the first time then I would say no . But we have booze and legal drugs from a doctor willing to get them for you. If pot was worst than these then fine but in reality it isn't . Its really a chevy vs dodge vs ford argurement with ford being illegal for no good reason. I'm tired of footing the bill , as for the cops and legal workers that would be out of a job - the pot people would be looking for people in manf. and dist. 

[zeke08]

1st off I deal with way to many drunk drivers now and I have not met a true pothead yet that believes it impairs their fine motor skills or judgment. 2ND off even if the taxed the S#@% out of it the dang politicians would line their pockets with the taxes and give it to their buddies. Not to mention God forbid its legal and some pothead is in charge of a nuclear missile or even worse troops and he gets the dang munchies and accidentally launches or looses tract of what the heck he is doing and gets a whole unit killed. Out of all the true pot heads I have dealt with over the years all of them together couldn't make a good complete thought. I don't see any good coming from it just more corrupt politicians and more dope house to watch. But that is from a beat cop who is tired of the B.S. and tired of the Government not standing up for US ahhh "We the people for the people" God forbid politicians put citizens before their sorry a@#$ selves and fix this GREAT country that allows us to have such great forums and liberties! God bless and help us all.

[SHOOTALL]

So officer whats your point ? Its already illegal to drive drunk and by your own admission you see to many . Whats that got to do with pot ? If it(pot) is illegal and you see drivers now what will making it legal do ? It would still be illegal to drive impared. Maybe the LEO's chasing kids smoking pot could man check points and make roads safer . I would guess those in nuke launch stations would still need to go thru. checks before maning the station it would be silly to think different. As far as abusing taxes it needs fixing to be sure.No one was really looking for good in a vice just relief from spending to fight a battle that can't be won. The relief from the wasted money and more and more the police becomming a military looking force .

[Mikey]

I sort of wonder whether legalizing pot would really result in more stoned drivers than we have now.  It is like drunken drivers - it is illegal to drive while under the influence yet it doesn't stop those who do and I wonder if we are not already there with pot. 

I believe that police agencies already have the technology to determine if you are driving under the influence of 'clouded' judgement in much the same manner as they can determine that you are under the influence of alcohol.

I just think that legalizing it will knock the bottom out of the criminal enterprise aspect, foster 'locally grown' and 'green' approaches, help divert police costs for drug enforcement into more useful police activities, and reduce the number of people who break the laws to get money to buy pot and other drugs by turning to prostitution, car theft, burglaries and the like.  I would hope that once this stuff was legalized we could think about legalizing clinical drug abuse so that those who commit crimes to afford addictive drugs like coke, crack, heroin, etc., could turn to a clinic to meet their needs rather than crime.  It was a thought.

[born-to-hunt]

well there are a lot of things that would happen I know that but for the guys with nukes getting the munchies and killing a bunch of people they don't let drunk guys work with them why would they let a bunch of high guys do it and for more or less people driving under the influince I don't know thats a tough one some also say more people will get into more serious drugs chemical drugs and all that I think they would either do that or they would be happy with pot and stick with it although some would think they need stronger drugs. I don't really know lets look at countries where it is legal and learn from what they are like ok um... they don't seem too bad right now but they aren't really like America either you know what it is a really hard question whether or not it's a good idea.

[SHOOTALL]

yea yea yea and if they let us carry guns our cities will turn into the wild wild west ! That didn't pan out either now did it ?

[Zulu]

I was going to respond to this but I forgot what I was going to say.   Guess I'll drive on down to McDonalds and get some french fries.

[tscott]

Every Health class in the early 60's I was in, disintegrated into a discussion on legalizing pot. Many years later when I taught Health, same with later kids. I told the students, lets get back on topic (usually STD's), I'll bet it never happens in the context people wish for!

[zeke08]

I was merely making a "wild" exaggeration about the nukes! and yes I see too many and it would only make more. but seriously alot of our crime comes from pot heads turned crack meth or heroin users and the countries where its legal are jacked up in my opinion. It would be nice to man check points to make roads safer but the standard calls for service are so high that we only get to do that couple times a year. Not to mention if some big to dues kid gets arrested for DUI in one and they start raising heck and keep us from doing them(its happened) or a big time lawyer gets arrested for simple possession at a check point then it ties up the legal system for 2 years saying that it was violating his rights to stop him. Its insane but we do it everyday. Now I don't think LEO's have any right acting as military and if ever ordered to do so I will quit. I know here that the true criminals/users would love to have clinics with drugs for help cause they would rob or burglarize the business just as they do here now over oxy's and methadone etc. I have only been at it for 15 years and I have a lot to learn about criminals as each one is different. Just as with alcohol people still "made" moonshine and other Illegal drinks hasn't stopped them yet. But hey stranger things have happened just look to Washington! just bad idea in my simple opinion

[243dave]

The biggest problem with legalizing marijuana is the message it sends to our youth.  It says its no worse than a beer or cigarette.  It is already too wide spread as it is.  Lots of kids smoke it already, lets not make it easier for them to get.  If a adult does it and they are not driving and can handle it, I have no problem with marajuana.  I know some other european countries have made it legal and don't have the problems as the U.S. but we are not them, as much as I hate to admit it, we are a country with little self-control.  Our children are way overweight and they still cry for McDonalds.  America is not what it once was and the people as a whole have changed.  Many times a full blown drug addict starts small with alcohol and marijuana and it keeps stepping up to prescription pills then meth, herion, etc.. Lets not promote drug use, lets send out the right message and discourage it.    Dave   

[BUGEYE]

The biggest problem with legalizing marijuana is the message it sends to our youth.  It says its no worse than a beer or cigarette.  It is already too wide spread as it is.  Lots of kids smoke it already, lets not make it easier for them to get.  If a adult does it and they are not driving and can handle it, I have no problem with marajuana.  I know some other european countries have made it legal and don't have the problems as the U.S. but we are not them, as much as I hate to admit it, we are a country with little self-control.  Our children are way overweight and they still cry for McDonalds.  America is not what it once was and the people as a whole have changed.  Many times a full blown drug addict starts small with alcohol and marijuana and it keeps stepping up to prescription pills then meth, herion, etc.. Lets not promote drug use, lets send out the right message and discourage it.    Dave   

X 10

[hillbill]

you guys are all missing the freekin point of why the libs all want to legalize pot.its not for the taxes or the freedom to do want yu want. it is because it will make more people dependent on the goverment, it will help the population become more ignorant and uneducated by impairing young peoples ability to learn when they are young, when they should be getting educated.it will make the population lazier, stupider and more apathetic. everything the libs require to go ahead and push their adgenda on thru and turn us into their ideal society.thier ideal society is a bunch of lazy, dont give a crap, slightly impaired,slighltly productive workers who do whatever they are told and dont ask any questions of their leaders.

[SHOOTALL]

hillbill the ones who would use it already do . But instead of the drug market being run by thugs killing 100's each day in cities across America and other places It could be legal commerce with taxes paying for its control. I think you miss the point. At least those in the roaring 20's and 30's understood and did away tith probation . And yes until the 30's it was legal here . Consider the leaders of industry and govt. may have used it  . Some say the founding fathers did .

[born-to-hunt]

I don't want to make this any kind of argument or anything but I think there would be a legal age and schools would probably start drug testing reguarly to keep they're parents at ease while they're children are at school. and maybe awareness of kids useing it would kick in a little more and people would be more strict against it but there is no way to be sure it's just a possibility like everyones opinion here.

[hillbill]

hillbill the ones who would use it already do . But instead of the drug market being run by thugs killing 100's each day in cities across America and other places It could be legal commerce with taxes paying for its control. I think you miss the point. At least those in the roaring 20's and 30's understood and did away tith probation . And yes until the 30's it was legal here . Consider the leaders of industry and govt. may have used it  . Some say the founding fathers did .

shootall, i totally understand and also agree with your point and your reasoning for it.i also realize it is used by many who are really not effected in a harmfull way by it.id like to see it taxed  also if they do legalize it. what im afraid of is the gov will tax it so heaveily that its not going to have a whole lot of effect on the illegal trade.kind of the why moonshiners kept on selling their product at a cheaper rate for years after prohibition was repealed because it wasnt taxed and could be delivered to the consumer at a much lower price.but the biggest problem is the message it sends to our young people and what it will do to a generation that doesnt already doesnt have the drive, determination, attitude and intelligence of our former founders and leaders of industry.also use in the workplace is going to be a huge problem. im a heavy equipment operator and i cant imagine working on a big dirt job with several toked up dump truck drivers and guys running machines that weigh in excess of 10 to 20 tons.

[SHOOTALL]

I have worked construction for 38 years and have seen drunks and druggies on site. It is already a problem. With testing it has not been as bad on commerical jobs but has moved to the housing market. I know of places where the random check is always of the same guy so there will be no one getting in trouble.
 The message it sends , here we differ. I feel a FREE man should be taught by his parents how to decide what he wants in life not have it decided by others using laws . What you advocate says to me if its legal it OK . That my friend teaches soicalism to our youth. You cannot protect them you must allow them to decide and make mistakes.
 At least if it is taxed those buying will pay to police it.

[billy_56081]

I still can't believe you conservatives want another tax.

[SHOOTALL]

I won't use it so I won't pay a tax at time of purc. However we are all paying for it now with little return on our money.