Legalization of Cannabis

[Electrode]

Jesus christ you don't get it do you? Keeping it illegal doesn't deter people from smoking it AND doing stupid shit like driving while high.

And neither would legalizing it-unless there were strict regulations like I or other people have suggested.

The 'drug hotel' idea suffers from one big problem - it would be no fun.

Possibly yes and possibly no. I'll explain here in a second.

It would really suck to have to go to some horrible concrete building in the shittiest part of town (and the 'drug hotels' WOULD be in the worst areas; would you want one next to where you live?), where they'll want three forms of ID and there's no hope in hell of me and my mate having a game of Mario Kart.

I don't think we could say for sure. With how many people participate in drug use, it could have a casino-like effect. They could end up really shoddy like you suggest, or they could be quite lavish. Personally, I think that it would be both.

Mixed with other things, for sake of argument let's call a drug Hotel Joe's 240, it could end up with a place like Joe's 240 & McDonalds (or any type of resturant as well). Drug hotels could very well turn into mini resorts, at least in some areas.

EDIT: Either way, it would probably still have a hard time getting to be in a community.

 

[Oddish On Fire]

I just have to chime in for a second and tell you that the "drug-hotel" idea is not only a horrible one, but it also is a complete invasion of privacy. You continuously claim marijuana has a massive affect on you to the point where you may inflict bodily harm to yourself and others, but you have never smoked marijuana. As someone who has, I assure that your argument is flawed. Smoking chills people out usually. I have never seen anyone do something genuinely violent whilst under the influence of it. Sure, drugs like PCP have a habit of creating violence, but marijuana is a depressant and does not even create hallucinations.

 

[WaterBomb]

When I first glanced at the thread title I thought it said legalization of cannibals

 

[sce4]

I just have to chime in for a second and tell you that the "drug-hotel" idea is not only a horrible one, but it also is a complete invasion of privacy. You continuously claim marijuana has a massive affect on you to the point where you may inflict bodily harm to yourself and others, but you have never smoked marijuana. As someone who has, I assure that your argument is flawed. Smoking chills people out usually. I have never seen anyone do something genuinely violent whilst under the influence of it. Sure, drugs like PCP have a habit of creating violence, but marijuana is a depressant and does not even create hallucinations.

It can cause hallucinations, I know because me and my friends once smoked some spliff puries through a bong, I didn't have much (because i didn't pay as much) but the ones who had the most were laughing at each other for an hour while tripping, so sure you have to have a lot but you can hallucinate. Also, you aren't going to become aggressive but that doesn't mean you can't cause harm to yourself, you are more susceptible to outside tings like being run over (one of my friends broke their foot like this) or being mugged and beaten up (although this can easily happen without taking drugs but you become an easier target and people want to steal the weed that you have on you). Not to mention that you become affiliated with drug dealers, hence (most of the time) affiliated with gangs. By the way I have smoked marijuana (and had a good time) but I've stopped and don't think the positives outweigh the negatives. Though none of what I have said actually affects the legalization of cannabis. Btw, alcohol is a depressant but that can make you violent.

One thing I will say though is that I have seen people in hospital thanks to alcohol abuse, having their stomachs pumped, but I've never seen anybody hospitalized due to the effects of cannabis.

 

[Oddish On Fire]

It can cause hallucinations, I know because me and my friends once smoked some spliff puries through a bong, I didn't have much (because i didn't pay as much) but the ones who had the most were laughing at each other for an hour while tripping, so sure you have to have a lot but you can hallucinate. Also, you aren't going to become aggressive but that doesn't mean you can't cause harm to yourself, you are more susceptible to outside tings like being run over (one of my friends broke their foot like this) or being mugged and beaten up (although this can easily happen without taking drugs but you become an easier target and people want to steal the weed that you have on you). Not to mention that you become affiliated with drug dealers, hence (most of the time) affiliated with gangs. By the way I have smoked marijuana (and had a good time) but I've stopped and don't think the positives outweigh the negatives. Though none of what I have said actually affects the legalization of cannabis. Btw, alcohol is a depressant but that can make you violent.

One thing I will say though is that I have seen people in hospital thanks to alcohol abuse, having their stomachs pumped, but I've never seen anybody hospitalized due to the effects of cannabis.

If it caused hallucinations, your pot was sadly laced. Regarding harm to oneself, if I want to harm myself, I can. This is because I should be the only person that controls my body. Your friend may have broken his foot, but it's his right to break his foot. That is because it is his foot, not the governments. Past that, your "gang" argument would be completely decimated if pot was legal. If someone you know was mugged for having cannabis, he probably shouldn't run around dangerous areas screaming "I HAVE POT ON ME HOBOS." No one should know if he has illegal drugs on him unless he says so.

 

[hobo bob]

It can cause hallucinations, I know because me and my friends once smoked some spliff puries through a bong, I didn't have much (because i didn't pay as much) but the ones who had the most were laughing at each other for an hour while tripping, so sure you have to have a lot but you can hallucinate.

Laughing and hallucinating are two different things.

 

[VKCA]

The 'drug hotel' idea suffers from one big problem - it would be no fun.

Possibly yes and possibly no. I'll explain here in a second.

Why do does it have to be a "drug hotel"? Why can't it be something as normal as a bar. A different kind of bar for every different kind of drug. Your more likely to kill yourself from drinking to much then from smoking to much, yet nobody proposes to have trained paramedics monitoring people at bars.
Your not going to hallucinate on pot, don't be stupid.

 

[sce4]

I know laughing and hallucinating are two different things, I'm just going by what they told us afterwards, as they are the only ones who possibly could have known. Although they have obviously gotten that mixed up with Visual Disturbances and Delusions rather than actual hallucinations but it's clear how they got it wrong. Also my friend didn't get mugged because he was screaming about having weed but because of obvious signs that pretty much everyone knows about today (e.g Red eyes, dazed or blank expression, sluggish movements etc). Also it seems as though you haven't actually researched anything about cannabis before posting.

The regular use of cannabis is known to be associated with an increase in the risk of later developing psychotic illnesses including schizophrenia. If the recent increase in availability of stronger forms of cannabis does lead to an increase in total use by some people, this might also lead to an increase in their future risk of developing mental health problems.

As with other drugs, dependence on cannabis is influenced by a number of factors, including how long you’ve been using it, how much you use and whether you are just more prone to become dependent. You may find you have difficulty stopping regular use and you may experience psychological and physical withdrawals when you do stop. The withdrawals can include cravings for cannabis irritability, mood changes; appetite disturbance, weight loss, difficulty sleeping and even sweating, shaking and diarrhoea in some people.

Both of these were taken from FRANK's website. I think the most notable things here are the mental health problems. These are a pain to treat and can often cost much more money than it would take to treat smoking or drinking problems. Also, most Cannabis users are generally quite young and by the time they are old enough for the serious effects to take affect they have either quit (for a reason) or are taking other, worse drugs that are often attributed for having put them in the mental state that they are in.

 

[cantab]

FRANK is a government website with an anti-drug agenda. While no shock tactics, I wouldn't trust it to be impartial. A quick Wikipedia reveals they were forced to withdraw untrue articles about cannabis in 2007.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I've seen this infographic around before, and while I'm not sure how accurate it is, it's still food for thought (especially with the mounting government debt).

avoiding stretch

I've never smoked marijuana (or smoked anything), despite being offered weed multiple times. It just doesn't appeal to me, but at the same time I don't care whether or not someone smokes (unless it ends up taking over their life, but that can happen with a lot of stuff).

 

[VKCA]

What are the two circles "number of arrests made in 2008"?
Is it that the size of the circles corresponds to number of arrests?

 

[Zach]

What are the two circles "number of arrests made in 2008"?
Is it that the size of the circles corresponds to number of arrests?

yes, although I find it strange that they didn't assign a numerical value.

the right column is spot on though

 

[jtgagarin]

I think it's wrong how we can justify legalizing a drug due to the revenue it would create. Although it would possibly ease our state's debt, allowing people to mess up their bodies for an economic gain is morally wrong in my opinion. Recreational drug use in general is not beneficial to a striving society. I surely wouldn't support my family and friends to smoke weed, so why should we practically (not literally) endorse smoking to the whole state of California by legalizing the drug?

 

[VKCA]

I think it's wrong how we can justify legalizing a drug due to the revenue it would create. Although it would possibly ease our state's debt, allowing people to mess up their bodies for an economic gain is morally wrong in my opinion. Recreational drug use in general is not beneficial to a striving society. I surely wouldn't support my family and friends to smoke weed, so why should we practically (not literally) endorse smoking to the whole state of California by legalizing the drug?

Well they do it with alcohol, what makes weed so different?

 

[drifblim70]

haven't replied to anything in a while, but this is as good a thread as any. i say yes, marijuana deserves legalization. as far as i'm concerned alcohol does far more harm in the long run and it's legal; in fact i subjectively think that if selling pot became a legitimate business it might actually hurt cartels, which is always nice. I've never done the stuff myself, but i have plenty of friends who have and i've never seen them doing anything too societally dangerous, so... And if it isn't causing too much destruction in itself, then i don't see the big deal... and yes, as much as "it could ease government debt" isn't a strong argument for legalizing a drug, if it helps the states fill their budget gaps and keep people employed or whatnot, why wouldn't we? Somebody has to tell me how marijuana is actually injuring those who don't use it (a la alcohol, with drunk driving) before i'll be against its legalization. And yeah, i know people can drive while they're high, but i don't see that being as much of a threat; there aren't public service announcements all over the place about it, for example. ...so yeah, legalize cannabis.

Oh, and as far as using recreational drugs goes, i don't see it as a massive loss to GDP (because workers aren't working as hard or whatever) or as a huge detriment to a given society's morals. It's not like soma in Brave New World where the government kept all potential rebellion quiet with euphoria, it really just changes outlook on your surroundings in a positive way temporarily, right? If the system by which it is sold/distributed isn't corrupt or coerced, then i don't see an issue, as long as people are choosing to use it themselves. Tobacco is legal, alcohol is legal... hell, caffeine's a drug and it's legal too, that can't be too good for your heart or your sleep cycle, can it? I don't agree with kind of "cheating" your way to a physical happiness, but hey, if it makes life better for some and not worse for others, live and let live. wOOt, hippy life...

I don't see the legalization of cannabis as an endorsement for it, i see it as the decriminalization of it. People are doing it already, and if they want to do it, they're pretty much doing it regardless of its legality; the enforcement of these laws is weighing down the criminal justice system. Just because something doesn't get criminally reprimanded doesn't mean it's considered good; i don't know how employers would view a stoner, but it probably wouldn't be in a favorable light. There are better ways to censure the activity than by inept government intervention, like the pressure of holding a legitimate job and having to live responsibly in order to survive/succeed. Banned for children? Probably/yes. For 18+? No, it's just a waste of taxpayer money to incarcerate needlessly...

 

[Zach]

I think it's wrong how we can justify legalizing a drug due to the revenue it would create. Although it would possibly ease our state's debt, allowing people to mess up their bodies for an economic gain is morally wrong in my opinion. Recreational drug use in general is not beneficial to a striving society. I surely wouldn't support my family and friends to smoke weed, so why should we practically (not literally) endorse smoking to the whole state of California by legalizing the drug?

there is absolutely no endorsement implied by legalization. look at the way tobacco and alcohol are talked about in health classes. besides, people are free to do what they want in the privacy of their own homes, and if that behavior or activity has repeatedly shown to not be harmful to the body (as you would know if you bothered reading this thread), then that is a plus, and if that behavior will also be an incredible financial benefit, then that is a huge plus.

 

[Raj]

I know I'm going against the general trend but I don't think it should be legalized. For one, the only reason smoking is legal is the money the government can get from taxing it and Cannabis is 15 times worse for you. The only reason smoking kills more people is because it's legalized.
Another reason is all of the chemicals that can be found in it. For instance there was a trend of putting pieces of glass in it to make it look shiny so that it looks like it has a high concentration of the chemical that gives you a high.
One of the reasons it is banned is because even once you quit the effects can last, which it doesn't with smoking or alcohol, and, because although it is somewhat OK for people in early 20s, but after 30 it really starts to fuck you up (that was told to me by somebody who has done drugs).
While it may seem that alcohol and cigarettes are worse in the short term, which is all people seem to care about anyway, Cannabis is much worse in the long term.
And it's not exactly good financially for you, or the government (hence the country as a whole) which will affect you even more.
Also if we legalize it and then reevaluate and then make it illegal again (which probably could happen) there could be a scenario not unlike the Prohibition in America where gangs pretty much ruled and there was many killings etc because of it.
However it should be used for medicinal purposes (if necessary) and I know someone who was given Heroine for medicinal purposes shortly after she died and was resuscitated, which, according to her, worked well.

The only positives I can think of is getting high (which doesn't exactly last for an eternity all though it is good while it lasts) and my dad met Russell Brand (who most of you probably haven't even heard of anyway) at an NA (narcotics anonymous) meeting. And hash-fudge, -brownies and -cakes are amazing.

BS
Any setbacks caused from smoking pot are fully regained within 6 months of non use.

 

[MrIndigo]

BS
Any setbacks caused from smoking pot are fully regained within 6 months of non use.

Anecdotal. There's still no settled evidence on the long-term effects of marijuana.

 

[Minwu]

Anecdotal. There's still no settled evidence on the long-term effects of marijuana.

There's none on there being any long-term effects of the drug, either, barring the tar from it being smoked. Users are hooked to the habit-forming psychological effects of the experience rather than any physically addictive chemicals in pure weed, unlike nicotine.

 

[MrIndigo]

There's none on there being any long-term effects of the drug, either, barring the tar from it being smoked. Users are hooked to the habit-forming psychological effects of the experience rather than any physically addictive chemicals in pure weed, unlike nicotine.

I was referring to the reports of mental illness and brain damage etc, rather than the chemical addiction. Those have been published, but they're not 'settled' in the sense of conclusiveness and criticism has been leveled at the methodologies employed.

 

[Raj]

I was referring to the reports of mental illness and brain damage etc, rather than the chemical addiction. Those have been published, but they're not 'settled' in the sense of conclusiveness and criticism has been leveled at the methodologies employed.

LIES!!!

 

[VKCA]

lies as in they are " 'settled' in the sense of conclusiveness and criticism has been leveled at the methodologies employed."?
or lies as in weed has no mental effects down the road?

 

[Robinzzz]

It is legal here in Holland :D

 

[Raj]

The effects of cannabis are only temporary. The memory loss is only for the period in which you're stoned. After 6 months the lungs return to normal capacity. The only "damage" that weed does is shrink the amygdala, and I wouldn't call that damage. The amygdala id responsible for anger and agression, which is why potheads seem so mellow.

 

[Oddish On Fire]

Yesterday I went to an 8 hour drug seminar as part of my punishment for testing postitive in our schools random drug-testing program. I debated with the instructor for a good hour, citing how cannabis is not physically addictive.

The idiot said that these are signs of physical addiction;

Loss of appetite
Insomnia

His definition of physical addiction was this; "If the opposite of something occuring while taking the drug occurs after quitting, you have a physical addiction."

He also asked us why pot is illegal but nicotine and alcohol are legal. I responded with "Pot has always served as a great political means to ignore larger problems. For instance, the Nixon administration first begun the "war on drugs" as an attempt to make people ignore the larger problems associated with the Vietnam War." He called me an idiot, asked me who taught me History, and said "The Vietnam War was during the Kennedy administration." ......