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Thread: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

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    Featured Member discretedancer's Avatar
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    Default So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    We know it's fun, nonaddictive (even government tests say so) and does NOT lead to use of other drugs (being used WITH other drugs isn't the same - if it were, alcohol should be illegal too), is good for glaucoma/AIDS/other medical conditions



    It's also costing BILLIONS in a "war on drugs" we can't win...and now studies show it may be
    Good for your heart
    http://webcenter.health.webmd.netsca...tentSRC_nsmain

    What am I missing? Decriminalize it, tax it, and take the taxes plus savings (from all the intervention programs and jails we don't need) and do some real good with the money!

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    Featured Member GnBeret's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Quote Originally Posted by discretedancer
    What am I missing?
    The politics of it all: The Republicans can't go there as it will alienate a large segment of their core supporters, and the Democrats can't go there because they'll get hammered mercilessly by the Republicans for being "in favor of drug use," "soft on crime," etc.
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    Featured Member Muyaha's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Right now there is synthetic THC Marinol (dronabinol). There are problems with this drug one the dosage that has to be taken by mouth is huge and if you are nausated you aren't going to want to toss down any pills. Plus supposedly it can cause some really strong psychoactive results vs. smoking. Then there's problems with the absorption etc. It just ends up that between this medication (and like ones) vs. smoking; smoking is just better.

    Okay I saw this part in the article and I know exactly what is going on... "The best way to take advantage of THC's artery-protecting effects may be by developing new prescription drugs "rather than using marijuana or oral THC as medicines," he writes. "
    Sounds like Dr. Roth is already working or in works with a private pharmacuetical company as a principle investigator for investigational medication. More money for the already big walleted pharmacuetical companies. Plus he's pretty much anti medicinal marijuana. Interesingly, on the UCLA clinical trial website he is currently doing studies on the impact that inhaled drugs of abuse (marijuana and cocaine) have on the immune system. Plus just for laughs he looks like he is high in his photo.
    I think he's smoking the stash
    Last edited by Muyaha; 04-20-2005 at 04:35 PM.

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    Veteran Member Hello~Kitty's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Lets not forget that there are various levels of legal pot in some US states....so there is hope !

    I'll take a person high on MJ over a drunk any and everyday of the year.
    Example of discrimination (Imho):

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    Senior Member Archangel's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    THC alternatives may be the best bet. While the THC in pot may not have any ill effects, the rest of what you get from the plant does. Smoking it does cause cancer and other diseases, same as tobacco. Here's the American Cancer Society link on it: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/co...ancer_Risk.asp

    Granted, this has nothing to do with legalizing it, but think about it. If there weren't billions of dollars of pressure on the government from tobacco and alcoholic beverage companies, do you really think those would still be legal? I think the current administration would have a field day with these things if they didn't have to worry about money.

    Personally, I don't care if people smoke pot or not. But God help them if they drive under the influence of pot and kill a member of my family in an "accident"...
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    Banned BigGreenMnM's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    The reason it will never be legal is because its something that can never be taxed.

    Every kitchen window will have a flower box with a plant or 5.

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    Banned BigGreenMnM's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    I do however have a plot already planned in the lower 40 if im wrong!!

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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    In my case it lead me to experimentation of other drugs . I think I am lucky to have not od in my quest for the best high . Looking back I am sure my life would of been more enjoyable without an artificial mood creator.I just feel that I probably missed out on so many good things because I wanted to get high . Its much easier to look back then forward on this one . But hey if you like it doesnt bother me each to his own .Not to mention the money I could have saved !

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    Veteran Member merely_lurking's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    I think politicians have a lot to lose and not much to gain by supporting the legalization of marijuana....
    A fat chick is like a big, warm, comfortable pillow that you can also have sex with....

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    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    I frankly don't care if it's legalized or not. We have enough readily available intoxicants in society as it is.

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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jay Zeno
    I frankly don't care if it's legalized or not. We have enough readily available intoxicants in society as it is.

    LOL!! Great answer. I love that!

    Anywho, I've heard (from a policeman, but I've never researched the facts) that the THC "absorbed" into the body when consuming MJ is stored in the body's fat cells. When the fat cells are burned (eg. after long periods of time between meals) the THC is rereleased into the bloodstream and cause a type of "flashback". Apparently you don't get high again, but there are other side effects associated with it. The policeman explained to me that part of the reason lawmakers are hesitant to push legalization is because of these "after-effects" of THC.
    I'm not sure if this was complete bullshit or not, the guy is a drug specialist, but I see him all the time at the gym and it looks like he uses steroids to me....



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    Veteran Member myssi's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    I think that cop is thinking of LSD....
    Here's some 420...uh 411 for you:
    Pot/weed/cannabis was legal in most of the US until 1937 when federal law made possession or transfer without a tax stamp illegal. (The tax has very high for the time period... $100 per pound.) In 1969 this law was ruled unconstitutional (violation of the 5th Amendment). In 1970 the law was changed and unconstitutionality issues were bypassed. Some states now do tax marijuana. The medical pot laws are essentially decriminalizing personal use. I think the UK effectively decriminalized it by announcing that laws against it would not be enforced. The consequence was that all narcotics laws became less enforced.
    If cannabis was legalized, what about hashish?
    Would you want a family member killed by an pot impaired driver?
    The real question should be, why is tobacco becoming criminalized? (Answer: social engineering)

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    Jay Zeno
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Quote Originally Posted by myssi
    The real question should be, why is tobacco becoming criminalized? (Answer: social engineering)
    Disagree. Answer: Because it's an addictive carcinogen and tissues destroyer, bereft of any real benefit. If it hadn't been introduced till now, there's no way it would be legal.

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    Featured Member discretedancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Alcohol wasn't de-prohibited because of pressure from the companies...rather, the government realized it COULDN'T stop bootlegging and people DEMANDED it be easier to get and cheaper (plus, there were the bathtub gin deaths and sicknesses).

    Too bad for Joe Kennedy and hundreds of other bootleggers- profits were gone and their control of the streets (plus the graft to cops and da's) was reduced. Kind of like drug dealers today. Now, we have people WORKING in alcohol factories, companies paying taxes and usage laws/practices being (mostly) enforced...the future for pot?

    Weed could be taxed...just like alcohol some people would home brew but I'd guess not a large % - there'd be plenty of regular buyers. You can grow broccoli at home, but most people just buy it. You can grow tobacco, but...you get the idea

    Great points though. Personally, I don't trust the "pharmeceutical THC" versions because of a) not natural b)side effects and c) their profit margin will go to support prevent "competition" by home growers

    Weed, alcohol, tobacco, etc. ALL have negatives. ALL have health risks. ALL affect your judgement and timing (to different degrees). It's up to the user to decide what risks we're willing to take, and it's up to society to determine WHERE and WHEN (for instance: not at work) they are acceptable. Unless a product has a direct and likely unavoidable connection to serious consequences (heroin/cocaine addiction is SHORT-TERM life threatening and causes theft/violence to get the next fix - few stoners or tobacco users will kill someone to get a hit) my vote is the lawmakers should stay out of it.

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    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Quote Originally Posted by discretedancer
    What am I missing? Decriminalize it, tax it, and take the taxes plus savings (from all the intervention programs and jails we don't need) and do some real good with the money!
    The product versatality. Marijuana can be broken down and made into just about anything that you can think of...and will last much, much longer than a lot of the "production" items on the market now. Most of the big businesses do not want the competition.

    However, as big business starts to lose it's stong-hold...you'll see it more in the future.

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    Featured Member discretedancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Big business is losing it's strong-hold...Lordy, I hope you're right!

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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Did anybody see the indie documentary "Grass" narrated by Woody Harrelson?


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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    JZ, I think pot should be decriminalized because pot charges have the potential to cause big trouble for basically good, hardworking and productive members of society. I haven't smoked any since I was a teenager, but the majority of regular smokers I know are college graduates with professional careers. It pains me to think that they are lawbreakers just because they smoke.

    It's gonna happen, probably when my generation is the majority in office, because by then you will have had two generations of legislators (baby boomers, "gen X") where it would be hard to find someone who hadn't been exposed to marijuana use. And with this exposure comes the awareness that it's hardly a demon drug and in fact less harmful than alcohol. Now there is a killer drug.

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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes" - Anslinger
    That is why marijuana is illegal of course. Actually, it has more to do the medical industry, the cotton industry, the paper industry and the law enforcement bureaucracies who would lose a lot of money if marijuana was legal. Saying big business really isn't very fair because many big businesses probably wish it was legal so they could save money on paper, fuel, rope, cloth, etc.


    No taxing it please. Taxing it is how we got into this problem in the first place. Just repeal the laws.
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    Veteran Member myssi's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Has anyone heard of Sativex ? It is a liquid form of marijuana... a mouth spray that Canada has approved as a treatment for multiple sclerosis. Here's one link:
    http://www.drugdevelopment-technolog...jects/sativex/

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    Veteran Member myssi's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Here's a news article about Schapelle Corby, an Australian facing the firing squad in Bali for smuggling pot...
    http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2005/s1351212.htm
    see also
    savecorby.com
    dontshootschapelle.com

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    Featured Member discretedancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Can I bring Sativex into the US for personal use?...am going to Canada this summer!

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    Banned Madcap's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Why would you want to?

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    Featured Member discretedancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    having trouble getting "the real thing" where I live care to share?

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    Banned Madcap's Avatar
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    Default Re: So why isn't pot legal? or at least de-criminalized like alcohol?

    Sheeeit, i live on weed street. Six dealers live within five houses of me.

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