Marijuana Legalization

[)O( Hytegia )O(]

As of today, 25 out of the 50 states of the United States have approved Marijuana reform by giving it some form of use and decriminalization. 5 of those have full, unbridled use.

Let's open the dialogue for discussion about the legalizing of Marijuana. The ethics, the impact on society as a whole, and the way your homeland political climate is on the subject.

I can say that in many states, and in the United States as a whole, the view towards the War on Drugs has shifted rather harshly and drug treatment is being administered more.
It is now a ticket in my state, and one I will never have to pay because I hold a medical card.
How crazy is that? People our age ten years ago couldn't have claim to that freedom in any rate.

 

[Visaki]

Note that I'm taking a Finnish perspective as a person who hasn't tried marijuana in his life.

Legalize it, regulate it. Treat it a bit like tobacco at the moment; legal to sell to persons over 18, legal to grow* for persons over 18, illegal to sell, grow, give or possess for minors. Oh, and tax it, and use the tax income to make better treatment programs for people who have a real, life impacting problem with marijuana (or others drugs).

Why? Because marijuana is, although certainly not risk free, less harmful than tobacco or alcohol which are legal drugs at the moment. Banning a less harmful substance is a bit hypocritical. Because it would take money of the pockets of organized crime and put it in the pocket of the government and businesses. Because it would make easier to help people who have a real problem with marijuana usage. All in all, because I think that keeping it illegal causes more harm to society in general than legalizing and regulating it does.

*For non-commercial use, I'd imagine there is some need for regulation and permits for commercial growing as is for any consumable.

 

[Steelmage99]

Treat it like tobacco and alcohol.

Simple as that.

I don't think it is controversial to say that, anybody attempting to introduce tobacco and/or alcohol as something you would consume recreationally today would really have their work cut out for them.

 

[he_who_is_nobody]

Come November, New Mexico will have marijuana legalized. I am actually surprised that two states legalized it before us.

 

[Prolescum]

The arguments for prohibition don't outweigh the arguments against it. By any stretch.

I don't care if people smoke or eat it, and it's an otherwise valuable crop.

Gordon Brown, when he was the UK's Prime Minister, admitted that the government's choice to keep it on the proscribed list was emotional and cultural, not based on science or any other serious analysis. Which, as we all are likely aware, was based on propaganda to demonize Mexicans.







Which is odd.

 

[)O( Hytegia )O(]

Say what you will about the United States, but as far as "cultural trends" go America has a good way of making the ready of the world play silly games with arbitrary rules.
I think weed is too powerful for younger teens though - not on a health level, but on a social responsibility level.

Say that it WAS fully legal - 16-20 is not the best time in your life to realize that edibles kick in after an hour or two and you're driving on the freeway to school or Uni. It doesn't have a predictable curve like alcohol, especially the medically grown stuff that's tiers of powerful greater than what you guys have in Europe right now (at least that's what I was told).

I don't think that it should be illegal at all though. By any means. Worst case scenario is having shitty judgement.
"Overdose" in any situation usually means going near death.
When I wake up the next morning and realize that I ate all the Chips n' Dip and that I left the remote in the fridge - I consider that an "overdose".

 

[MarsCydonia]

Come November, New Mexico will have marijuana legalized. I am actually surprised that two states legalized it before us.

As a Canadian, I am actually surprised that some states have legalized it before us.

Before the election win of the Conservative Party of Canada in 2006, legalization was an often discussed political issue but the Conservative Party opposed any legalization (since it's platform of "tough on crime" included opposing legalization). However, since the election win of the Liberal Party of Canada, legalization is now back as a political topic with the party favoring legalization. It remains to be seen if they will actually act on it.

Just as many others, I share in the idea that there is no sound reason to criminalize marijuana when alcholol, also a recreational drug but with more nefarious effects, is legal. I say legalize it and put around it similar restrictions to that of alcohol.

 

[Laurens]

There is as far as I am concerned there is no argument. Marijuana prohibition harms millions more than are harmed by the drug itself, and only helps prisions, criminals, and police.

In Britain for instance an arrest counts as an arrest no matter what. When you consider how much easier it is to catch a couple of guys smoking a reefer, than it is to catch a burglar, or a rapist, young people's lives are being disproportionately fucked up (being given a criminal record etc.) because police want easy targets to boost their statistics.

I'm partial to a bit of hashish every now and then, I would far rather be able to walk into a shop and know that I am supporting the economy rather than criminals. A lot of the marijuana produced in the UK for example is controlled by Vietnamese gangs who have been known to traffic child slaves to guard and maintain their cannabis facilities. All that because the market for something which millions of people enjoy peacefully is totally unregulated.

Prohibition is an utter failure.