Legalizing Marijuana

[Hammy]

You can't sell tobacco to anyone under 18 in most states in the US (only exception being a handful of southern states).
And of course you shouldn't be able to buy weed if you're a minor.

It could still be illegal to sell marijuana without a licence (just like anything else). People are already allowed to grow their own weed for medicinal purposes. Of course there are some slip-ups, but that's why there's regulation.

It doesn't matter if you "buy" them, they're the truth.

Oh my, well now I'm convinced.

I can see how these would be arguments in favor of "not legalizing" marijuana, but to me neither do they justify this decision, nor are they the "only two reasons" as you seem to state.

I think there's also a huge historical and cultural factor, and that the reason tobacco escapes this ban is because of how powerful the lobbies are. Weed hasn't been legalized yet because there aren't as powerful groups pushing for it to be legalized.
I think it's only a matter of time in many states/countries though. Look at california's plan.

[DemolitionSquid]

You can't sell tobacco to anyone under 18 in most states in the US (only exception being a handful of southern states).
And of course you shouldn't be able to buy weed if you're a minor.

It could still be illegal to sell marijuana without a licence (just like anything else). People are already allowed to grow their own weed for medicinal purposes. Of course there are some slip-ups, but that's why there's regulation.


Oh my, well now I'm convinced.

I can see how these would be arguments in favor of "not legalizing" marijuana, but to me neither do they justify this decision, nor are they the "only two reasons" as you seem to state.

I think there's also a huge historical and cultural factor, and that the reason tobacco escapes this ban is because of how powerful the lobbies are. Weed hasn't been legalized yet because there aren't as powerful groups pushing for it to be legalized.
I think it's only a matter of time in many states/countries though. Look at california's plan.

I'm not in favor or against it. I'm merely simplifying the situation so everyone can understand. Marijuana is easier to produce than cigarettes or alcohol, and thus harder to tax. If the government can't make money off it, they'd rather have it illegal. Because they need a way to keep all the unneeded judges and lawyers employed. It also has side-effects like alcohol but once again can't be as controlled as that substance.

[Taoo]

There was this Cracked article addressing that particular issue (there being way to many lawsuits), Pistols as dawn!

(Link - Warning, it can be a little...disturbing...)

If a SWAT team did that to my dog I would hunt them down and let them bleed to death watching a picture of my dog.
That was very disturbing and it made me angry.
Thanks for sharing though, a nice example of the pointlessness of chasing Mary Jane.
On a side note, that video also teaches you to always open the door when the police is asking.

[InpuBot]

There is so much problems with the drug cartels. Its so bad we don't even know if the mexican government can win. Legalizing marijuana is the only way. Just look at Al Capone and the gangsters in Chicago during the Alchohol prohibition.

[//MavericK\\]

There are only two reasons marijuana is illegal.

1. Marijuana is illegal yet cigarettes are sold everywhere is because its much easier for people to farm their own weed than make their own cancer sticks, and thus its harder to gain tax revenue from the mary jane. If Marijuana took as much effort to produce as tobacco you can bet it'd have been legalized a long time ago and be taxed up the wazoo like cigarettes are now.

True...but long before modern cigarettes came into fashion, people rolled and, in some cases, grew their own Tobacco. Companies came along and streamlined the process, creating relatively cheap alternatives. People stopped rolling their own, for the most part, and switched to these. I'm sure if Marijuana were to be legalized tomorrow across the US and Canada, the big Tobacco companies and a few upstarts would scramble to create ready-made Marijuana in cigarette-like form. And people would buy them, I bet.

2. Marijuana, unlike cigarettes, impairs your judgment and reaction time. While you shouldn't smoke cigarettes while you drive, its still possible and you remain relatively alert. Smoking weed however causes actual real-time effects beyond addiction like lethargy, and it can simply lead to more accidents due to inattention/distraction. Again, if marijuana didn't have the obvious side-effects (which are in fact the reason people smoke it in the first place) it would have been legalized long long ago.

Also true. However, alcohol has been responsible for many, many automotive, industrial, nautical, aeronautical and domestic related accidents and deaths over the years and it is no where near being baned. I'm not saying that's a good thing, but from a legal stand-point, what grounds would a legal body have for saying one was not any more or less mind-altering than the other.

One good point that can be drawn from this example is that if the damaging history of alcohol is any indication, the legalized introduction of Marijuana would be devastating.

[Hamshank]

Squidward, you present all the logical arguments for legalization, yet you fail to take a position?

[DemolitionSquid]

Squidward, you present all the logical arguments for legalization, yet you fail to take a position?

I don't "fail" to pick a side. I choose not to. The outcome doesn't affect me in any major way. I understand why its illegal, and I understand why and how it could be legalized safely. That's more proactive than most people get.

[Blazur]

Please explain, I have yet to see evidence of this

Physically it's not (unless you're considering the munchies). But emotionally it could have long term effects. And there's no denying the drastic effects it has on one's motivation.

I'm not condoning its use, and in fact would LOVE to see it legalized. Just speaking from experience here.

[n00bonicPlague]

A big part of the problem is that there are only so many people in the world that actually know how to take things in moderation. In an ideal world, everything could be legalized, because no one would overdo it. Unfortunately, with everything you legalize — guns, drugs, physical discipline, etc. — someone overdoes it and makes it look like an inherently bad thing.

Because I tend to favor freedom, I'd tend toward the legalization of marijuana, but before we go making it okay off of a whim, we really need to sit down and think about how this would affect not only the people but also the economy and other things like that.

[//MavericK\\]

Well, I'm not opposed to others using it, the same way I'm not opposed to others smoking cigarettes(in well-ventilated outdoor areas) and/or drinking alcohol (safely). Actually, I've never tried a cigarette. Always kind of grossed me out. And I limit my alcohol intake to a little wine every now and again. No hard liquor.

And from a personal standpoint, I won't use Marijuana if it were to become legal.

Concerning the health affects...

I figure we've got enough imperfection health-wise built-in. Why add to the problems with this stuff.