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Post by ConcernedCitizen on Aug 8, 2004 12:50:48 GMT -5
TALKING POINT #1:
Decriminalizing marijuana frees up police resources to deal with more serious crimes.
TALKING POINT #2:
Far more harm is caused by the criminal prohibition of marijuana than by the use of marijuana itself.
TALKING POINT #3:
Decriminalization does not lead to greater marijuana use.
TALKING POINT #4:
Criminal laws prohibiting marijuana possession do not deter marijuana use.
The journal PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEWS
[2] reports that decades of research prove that, "Compared with legal drugs...marijuana does not pose greater risks." Yet based upon mortality statistics, we can safely conclude that cannabis is one of the safest medical drugs known, for, while prescription drugs, defined as safe by the FDA, kill up to 27,000 and aspirin up to 1,000 Americans per year, cannabis kills 0 per year
[3].
When we know the facts we can understand why in 1988, after extensive review of the scientific literature, the DEA's own administrative judge Frances Young concluded that ``Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man.''
[4]
Opponents of legal cannabis access would have us believe that there is not enough research available to determine its safety. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cannabis is one of the most thoroughly researched drugs in history, and the evidence gathered over the centuries clearly proves that it is safe.
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Post by ConcernedCitizen on Aug 8, 2004 12:55:13 GMT -5
Despite many studys showing that Marijuana is safe, some people still believe these myths the government throw at us. Think about it this way, alchohol is legal and is one of the leading causes of death in the US. Marijuana does no harm to our economy by itself, its the laws prohibiting it that do the damage. And remember, 1/3 of high school students use marijuana often.
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Post by 2much2do on Aug 10, 2004 15:25:26 GMT -5
Yah, 1/3 of High School students use this illegal substance and if it were legal far more would take it up. The problem you have is abuse, and these kids would definitely abuse the privilege if given a chance. Remember when we were kids, alcohol became legal at 18 and we abused ourselves. That was a mistake then and POT is a mistake now.
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Post by ConcernedCitizen on Aug 11, 2004 16:36:35 GMT -5
Yah, 1/3 of High School students use this illegal substance and if it were legal far more would take it up. The problem you have is abuse, and these kids would definitely abuse the privilege if given a chance. Remember when we were kids, alcohol became legal at 18 and we abused ourselves. That was a mistake then and POT is a mistake now. But most of them abuse it anyway. Think about it this way, if cigarettes became illegal (which they should be) do you think people would stop smoking? No, they would do anything it takes to get their nicotine fix, even if it meant rolling their own. So legalizing it would just make pot easier to attain, keeping our children away from shady dealers, and the "game" as its called. |
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Post by ConcernedCitizen on Aug 11, 2004 16:37:52 GMT -5
And im not trying to start a flame war, I just want peoples honest opinions, and maybe we can spark a good ol' debate, who knows...
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Post by LouS on Aug 12, 2004 8:07:13 GMT -5
I am very ambivalent about legalization. Why?
As adults, there are laws that should prevent inapropriate consumption (alcohol for this example) and behavior based on this consumption - in public and at work. Legalizing pot would certainly fall within the pros and cons of alcohol use, abuse and parameters/control, whether these are sufficient or not currently and therefore I could agree with this at some point.
However, the impact on our kids would be potentially catastrophic. For our young people (middle school to HS) that do not have as much control as adults (for those adults that are within this description) and are more apt to use pot, I think there would be additional use and abuse.
Alcohol, and its effect is much more visible and easier to spot. Marijuana use, especially when used constantly or in a limited amount is often not visually detectable and its effect is chalked up to a behavioral or emotional feature. Comparable changes are what is significant and unless someone is looking at these they often go undected.
I would implore everyone that has a thought on this not to live in a glass house. I believe, based on interactions with kids for over 25 years, that survey results are not accurate. I believe that a vast majority of today's kids have tried it at least once, that use (although intermittent) by many is ongoing, that more than you would expect are under the influence during school, and a vast number of behavioral, educational and emotional irregularities are due to this use.
The above is based on years of direct interaction with children, parents, schools, therapists and law enforcement across the country.
Legalizing will definitely take away the "illegal profits and sales" and any negative problems associated with this.
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MrsB
Silver Member
Posts: 60
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Post by MrsB on Aug 12, 2004 8:58:08 GMT -5
Aside from the social and emotional damage that I think this would do to our country’s weakest and poorest, I would like to throw out the evils of advertising and big business.
Can you imagine the rush by the tobacco companies to sell and distribute this drug?
The ads in themselves are something I don't really want to see.
Do I think that the people that use pot know will use it more, no I really don't.
Those that have managed to use it and still have a life and pay the bills will continue to do so. It may even provide a business opportunity to the nation’s farmers, to provide a high quality "bud" something like the organic food boom. You would pay more but it wouldn't be schwag( dried out leafy pot) in a can. Which by the way if what the government pedals to AIDS, and Cancer patients in the states that it is legal.
What I think will happen with its eventual legalization is that the business of it will take over and market to the poorest and weakest of society, the young and undereducated, and that will lead to the inevitable gateway we all hear so much about.
This country will never be like the Netherlands, where you can walk the streets of Amsterdam and sit at a fine coffee establishment and look over a menu, like a wine list, of marijuana. Sit sip your strong coffee, smoke your pot, eat a desert and go home. We as a culture are far to into the consumption on a large scale. We are the Americans that don't know when to stop. Unfortunately it’s not just the pot; it’s a social issue that wraps around everything. If the drug lords didn’t have that to sell they would make something else. That is the pitiful part.
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Post by LouS on Aug 12, 2004 13:12:31 GMT -5
Didn't have time to continue but that was the next topic.
You are correct that big business will end up taking over and that the populations that can least afford this, from the socio-economic stata, will be impacted to a larger percentage extent. Gambling comes to mind.
And yes, the next illegal market will pop up to fill the void, as well.
I really believe that a segment that will be impacted the most will be the kids of all levels.
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Post by Bulldog on Aug 13, 2004 0:11:22 GMT -5
It is happening anyway. Let's at least collect a tax on it.
In this we would control it and collect a tax on it where right now it is a black market item.
It is not new, Former President Clinton was a pot head and he turned out just peachy.
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Post by GoldShield on Aug 13, 2004 7:07:57 GMT -5
BD, If you think Clinton "turned out just peachy" then you ARE smoking some nasty SH*T. (Did you understand that?*) Now, go pee on the threads of your own rug and leave serious discussions to real adults. (Did you understand that?*)  * "...what the "F" is he/she talking about", BullDog. |
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Post by TheFreshman on Aug 13, 2004 8:38:37 GMT -5
To quote someone I'm sure you look up to Gold, "...There you go again..." Why do you have to get all severe on people who take the opposite side of you? Everyone of Clinton's generation smoked dope and most of them turned out OK. Before that generation, there was the bootleggers... I sure don't want my kids smoking dope or drinking either...
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mocmoc
Silver Member
Posts: 48
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Post by mocmoc on Aug 13, 2004 10:05:39 GMT -5
I say lets tax it and use the money to improve our sports programs and light every field in town! I also say that council members and Rocco's group should be required to take a couple of hits prior to council meetings. I know A.A. would favor this. ;D
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Post by tooold on Aug 13, 2004 11:36:30 GMT -5
This is getting to be more like the diatribe that is often verbalized during the comment portion of the council meetings. There is more "creative" attacking than there is content. No wonder Mrs.B and LouS reserve comment for actual fact or opinion and only go on the offense (very selectively) when appropriate.
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Post by GoldShield on Aug 13, 2004 13:47:42 GMT -5
Freshman noted: I sure don't want my kids smoking dope or drinking either...  What makes you think that you will have any more control over them than GWB had over his kids, especially if they are both (drugs) are further "legalized"? (fact) Anyway, I have no problem with Bulldog taking an opposite position; I just dislike his canine traits (I can't quite bring myself to call them 'qualities'.) (opinion)  Enuf: I will email you privately. (fact) |
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