umm... that already happened

i think i'll just light up a joint and give this some deep thought.

Pardon me if I haven't read the posts in this thread, but I do believe in legalized Marijuana... I personally do not smoke, but I remember doing this type of research back when I was in High School. I believe the government should ban cigarettes that contain tobacco, where it puts an impact on the health issues that raised around the world. And by legalizing Marijuana would perhaps be an effective replacement for those who are use to smoking (those who just refuse to quit, etc). I am not trying to promote it, I just believe through the research I did wayyy back in the day that tobacco is indeed more harmful (and perhaps cause more harm on themselves and around others) than marijuana.

That doesn't really make any sense to me
pot (to my knowledge) doesn't have nicotine in it and therefor
wouldn't satisfy the addiction smokers have

the only thing that would satisfy would be an oral fixation
and that can be helped in a much more healthy way
like chewing on a toothpick or sucking on a lifesaver
(The candy not the flotation device)


as for the harmful effects of the smoke, all hot smoke going into your lungs is harmful
this is why I would tell any users to get a vaporizer which I believe
actually make it more potent

I wouldn't want to smoke anything, personally. If I were into drugs, I would probably make pot brownies or something. But I am not interested in anything that has a mind-altering effect on me.

As I said before I don't actually use so nothing I said
is based on personal Experience
just what I've read

I smoked all sorts of crap in School and to be honest after watching what Pot did to my friends career and how he couldnt be bothered to work or care enough to show up on time and so lost his job and wife and is now living in a council flat with lots of drug dealers and other scum it turned me off the shit totally and i dont touch any mind altering shit like that and havent for years.... Only single malt whisky from time to time after a rough night patrolling and a bottle of red with my Mrs

The problem is, even if that drug is legalized, it won't be used the way it's supposed to be. ANd why smoke it? If anybody wants to get better, why not simply have the doctors bring it up in a liquid form, a pill, something else?

tetrahydracannibinol is a heat activated chemical. the pill form, Marinol is not the same thing, even the "oil" is something to be smoked. there have been advances in the confectioners market tho (as I've mentioned, my problem is illegal cultivation) including candybars and truffles, along with the traditional rice krispy treats and brownies.

point is, it isn't easy to put the chemical in another form.

as to vaporizers; they smell like my lawnmower bag. studies say a bong is best for smoking.

*draw what conclusions from this you will. I don't do illegal things.

just figured I'd put it out there. if you delve back farther into this thread, my opinions on why "stoners" can't pull off being intellectual is in here somewhere. in short SpongeBob, ie; the quality of entertainment/stimulation they expose themselves to

Arm yourself with knowledge.

http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/pot/a/blucsd030628.htm
http://www.drugabuse.gov/Infofacts/marijuana.html
http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Health:issues:and:the:effects:of:cannabis.html

I dislike drugs, but comparatively the effects of cannabis are minimal. I still think that making yourself stupid and forgetful and subjecting yourself to the control of something else is evil, but it is a lesser evil than others out there. I'm not saying I approve, I'm just restating my opinion.

Drugs are evil. Marijuana is a drug. But it is not as bad of a drug. Just because it is not as bad as others, though, does not mean I think it should be legal. Because, as I said, drugs are evil.

thanks for the links Jack. myself, I have had the benefit of a thorough education provided in my time of need, but I do feel it's important to learn about something before you make a statement based on what you heard one time. so anyone who hasn't had the benefit of "help".... please read into these things. it's better to give an informed opinion than to rant on in ignorance (not aimed at anyone, just saying)

Jack- I can respect what you have to say on this matter. as always, you are there when required, good sir.

Going to bump this and throw in my two cents.

Legalize it. Regulate it. Tax the hell out of it.

We'd be hurting the criminals wallets, and having another supply of revenue for government.

I did not go back and read all this, but my answer is still the same. No way, not now, not tomorrow, not ever. I don't think anything that is a mind altering substance should actually be legal but that is me.

That is how I feel, no, no, no.

Hello,

I believe in Libertarian principles. This means that I believe people can do what they like if they don't harm someone else.

So I would see it packaged, labeled with information about its effects and dangers, regulated (no smoking and driving, etc), and sold to whomever wants it. If products are being taxed, then it should be taxed.

I do understand the need for some taxes to support the community, even though the strict Libertarian ideal eschews them. Few pure ideals can ever be manifest in the real world, and so you have to make reasonable compromises.

People will certainly misuse the product, harm themselves, and harm others. This happens currently as well. It happens with all products to varying degrees. It is a human nature, and I'm not prepared to outlaw humans. ;-)

I am a man of anarchism (no, not anarchy) and an atheist practitioner of Theravada Buddhism. And as such I have serious issues within myself between freedom and enlightenment. What I know to be true is this:

Intoxicants of any variety deprive you of your will to act.
Intoxicants of any variety create desire, which is to be overcome.
Intoxicants of any variety create suffering, no matter how they are used.
Intoxicants of any variety do not create anything positive.

Now, if you disagree with that, that is an opinion, but you'll just be disagreeing or trying to fudge a truth, and when we get into that line of thinking then lines start easily being crossed and your life does not become your own.

Based off of these four precepts, I cannot in good faith ever stand by the decision to legalize marijuana. I could go into my perfect world scenario about banning all substances, but I know I would get a ton of "it is human nature" and "we already tried and failed" responses, so I will save that for another time.

I will, however, be adamant about marijuana. As I have said it has terrible costs on people that aren't as immediate as you may think. It is has proven ties to mental stability, long term memory, intelligence development, and several issues with withdrawal that I do not like or find to be "not dangerous enough." There is also the fact that I have known people who heavily abuse the drug on an illegal level. Their lives are pointless hells in both social and familial contexts.

I have seen too many people suck their lives away with this drug to ever allow it to be legalized. I want people to have both freedom and enlightenment, so as an advocate of both, I will never support something that steals at both those opportunities.

Also, cannabis smells horrendously bad. Honestly, it stinks.