Marijuana- Should it be legalized?

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Posted by marymoon

This is not a topic I feel strongly about either way, but I do think the argument is stronger FOR legalization.

If you legalize the drug, it can be regulated, therefore people won't be getting anything with any kind of poisonous chemicals in it, and you would of course make it like alcohol...you can't drive while under the influence. Also, people will buy the drug in a store and won't be exposed to the dangers of drug dealers, etc.

They say Marijuana is a gateway drug, but I think this is at least partially attributed to the fact that people have to buy it from street drug dealers who after selling them the mj, will look to sell them other, harder drugs. If marijuana is bought in a drug store, people won't be exposed to those harder drugs. People who smoke cigarettes don't switch to ahrder drugs, because they buy it in a drug store, but I think if they had to buy it from a dealer who said 'oh, try this..' they'd be more likely to move on to harder stuff.

Marijuana is not shown to be physically addictive. Plenty of substances that ARE addicitve are allowed. Alcoholo, tobacco, pain killers, etc.

You shouldn;t drive while on vicodin, it impairs your judgement and it has significant potential for abuse, but it's completely legal, but regulated. This is why I especially don't see why medical marijuana is outlawed.

Another big argument people give againt the legalization of marijuana is the slippery slope..that next we'll legalize crack or something, but the truth is that there is a HUGE difference between marijuana and crack. HUGE. Crack is much more addicitive and causes far worse physical effects. Also, you can't OD on marijuana.

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Posted by MrsERod

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Posted by marymoon

Also, you can't OD on marijuana.

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But it's a hallucenogenic drug...look at what happens when someone drinks and gets behind the wheel...imagine being stoned, and then trying to drive!!??

Just too much exposure for abuse!


edited for spelling

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Posted by marymoon

Could you imagine how much fun it would be to go to a abr if everyone were stoned instead of drunk?

There wouldn't be any bar fights, i can tell you that...and they'd make a LOT of money selling wings!

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Posted by nferrandi



I do NOT believe that pot is detrimental, and I fully understand that some people may not agree with me. I do NOT believe that pot is a 'gateway' drug. Some people are more likely than others to experiment and pot has nothing to do with it.

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Posted by meishie

I did a term paper in college on the legalization of marijuana, and used data from many studies done in and on Amsterdam. The crime rate is comparitively lower, as is the money spent on arresting, processing, jailing, etc. on people arrested for simple possession crimes. (It was five years ago and I don't remember much of it.)

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Posted by meishie

I did a term paper in college on the legalization of marijuana, and used data from many studies done in and on Amsterdam. The crime rate is comparitively lower, as is the money spent on arresting, processing, jailing, etc. on people arrested for simple possession crimes. (It was five years ago and I don't remember much of it.)

I don't think legalizing it will be detrimental to our society - I think it would improve it. Look at what prohibition did to our society - it increased crime (especially 'organized' crime), it increased the incidents of alcohol poisoning (from home-made 'bath tub gin') and many more things that I just can't remember right now.

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Posted by nferrandi

I definitely think it should be legalized. I just don't see the big deal.

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Posted by palebride

I have to disagree with you on this.
Smoking pot almost ruined my brother's life. it CAN be incredibly harmful for people. It CAN be addictive. It CAN be a gateway to other drugs.
I think people thinking it is harmless is what leads it to becoming harmful.

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