Legalizing Marijuana in the U.S.

[RubberBandMethod]

On February 17th, 2007 my friend Ken Gorman was murdered. He had been sitting in the living room of his Denver, Colorado home when the attacker(s) broke through his front door and shot him in the chest. Nothing was stolen, the one hundred plus medical marijuana plants growing in his garage were untouched. It was officially classified as an assassination. Ken had been an outspoken medical marijuana advocate, speaking all over the country about how the use of medical cannabis has helped hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. He was a nice guy, he was not a criminal. He was a martyr for his cause, killed because someone didn't like what he had to say.

Why is it that so many people oppose the idea of marijuana being safer than alcohol? Is it because we have been taught our entire life to oppose marijuana? Marijuana has over thirty proven medical uses, from helping those going through chemotherapy, to relieving the pain of those with muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis. Hemp is a valuable resource with hundreds of uses. You could build a house entirely from hemp products that would be over ten times stronger than the average house.

It has been proven dozens of times that marijuana is a much safer alternative than alcohol. A ratio of how much alcohol it takes to become intoxicated to the amount for a fatal overdose is 1:7. The ratio for marijuana is 1:30,000. Marijuana does not give you hangovers either.

But what about all that tar? Well, that can be solved by using a bong pipe. THC does not dissolve in water, so a bong filters out all those carcinogens and is still effective.

So why is alcohol legal, but marijuana is not? A Colorado organization called SAFER (Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation) wants marijuana to have equal legal status to alcohol. In 2006 they ran a campaign to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Colorado for those 21 and over. It was not passed, with a 40 to 60 against vote outcome. However, the campaign was not very well known. It had a very low budget, and SAFER officials stated that they are amazed that such a low-budget campaign was so succesful.

Let's hope that maybe one day justice will be served and marijuana will be treated the way it should

[Drakim]

Alcohol, if it came about today, would be banned. It's only legal for cultural reasons today (we use it in everything, so banning it would create an uproar). So, your argument fails.

[BitchWeed]

This argument has been posted countless times in the past. It's not even worth debating.

But, just for the record, legalizing marijuana is a stupid idea.

[TheThing]

Marijuana should be kept illegal. It severely effects you mentally, and could put you in situations where you end up hurting yourself or others.

Also, even the use of medical marijuana can cause terrible social effects. Look at California; people are complaining of aches and pains to their doctor, who then prescribes marijuana. You don't have to actually have any real bad illness to get it; just say "I hurt", and you got yourself a month's supply of weed.

[Elfer]

At 10/20/07 08:24 PM, BitchWeed wrote: This argument has been posted countless times in the past. It's not even worth debating.

But, just for the record, legalizing marijuana is a stupid idea.

At 10/20/07 09:00 PM, TheThing wrote: Marijuana should be kept illegal. It severely effects you mentally, and could put you in situations where you end up hurting yourself or others.

I like how all of the arguments against legalization of marijuana are so vague and meaningless.

[EndGameOmega]

At 10/20/07 08:20 PM, Drakim wrote: Alcohol, if it came about today, would be banned. It's only legal for cultural reasons today (we use it in everything, so banning it would create an uproar). So, your argument fails.

But it isn't banned now is it? So the question still remains why dose something which is overall worse for you remain legal, while something which is considerably less harmful is not? If cultural reasons are an excuse, then I can point to whole communities of people who's culture revolves at lest partially around pot.

At 10/20/07 09:00 PM, TheThing wrote: Marijuana should be kept illegal. It severely effects you mentally, and could put you in situations where you end up hurting yourself or others.

Have you ever seen a pot head? The worst it dose is ruin your reaction time and makes you lethargic, basically don't operate heave machinery, or drive a vehicle and you'll be fine.

Also, even the use of medical marijuana can cause terrible social effects.

So that's you primary argument, social effects? First off I question what evidence you have for any truly negative social effects, but perhaps more importantly what about the people it could help? Aren't they worth thinking about?

Look at California; people are complaining of aches and pains to their doctor, who then prescribes marijuana. You don't have to actually have any real bad illness to get it; just say "I hurt", and you got yourself a month's supply of weed.

So because some people abuse what amount to a prescription drug we should get rid of the drug? I'm sorry but if you truly believe that then we need to get rid of other prescription and abuse items, like oxycodone, morphine, and hell even non-prescriptions like Nyquil.

Note, for the record I am in favor of medical marijuana, as well as decriminalization, and eventual legalization.

[Drakim]

At 10/20/07 09:34 PM, EndGameOmega wrote:

At 10/20/07 08:20 PM, Drakim wrote: Alcohol, if it came about today, would be banned. It's only legal for cultural reasons today (we use it in everything, so banning it would create an uproar). So, your argument fails.

But it isn't banned now is it? So the question still remains why dose something which is overall worse for you remain legal, while something which is considerably less harmful is not? If cultural reasons are an excuse, then I can point to whole communities of people who's culture revolves at lest partially around pot.

I didn't mean it like that. Alcohol is used in so many everyday things, and is already so in-rooted into people's lives. There are entire clubs devoted to wine tasting, which is nothing about getting drunk. Many recipes to expensive restaurants uses small doses of alcohol to get a special taste. Million dollar industries like Bars are dedicated to alcohol in different types. Beer companies, Grape/Wine farmers. Things like that. They all will oppose the banning of alcohol strongly. And people in general doesn't feel like banning it. They want it.

Thus, it would be political suicide to want to ban alcohol.

What I was saying was, what if all these things were gone? If we invented alchol today, without all those things that locks it in place there, it would NEVER EVER be legalized.

While, pot, on the other hand, is only pushed by people who wish to get stoned, and we all know that. Medical benefits and all that might very well be true, but when people push for medical Marijuana and doesn't give a rat ass shit about anything else in medicine, you know very well that they are just out to get their pot legal.

It reminds me of a pro-Marijuana movie I saw. They started talking about how much different stuff Marijuana could be used for, like making natural paper and such. Who the fuck are they trying to fool? I wouldn't for a second believe that they care about more natural ways of producing fucking paper. It's all about finding excuses to legalize Marijuana and get high without breaking the law.

[DarkArgo]

I feel for you and pray for that man. I get things like that all the time. It's so wrong and hateful.

[Tibyrius]

Although am against distribution of illegal marijuana I am also an advocate of medical marijuana, and only be used for that purpose only. It strikes me how people can be so narrow minded and reject the idea of using medical weed to help people deal with pain, such as cancer patients.

[Drakim]

At 10/20/07 10:38 PM, Tibyrius wrote: Although am against distribution of illegal marijuana I am also an advocate of medical marijuana, and only be used for that purpose only. It strikes me how people can be so narrow minded and reject the idea of using medical weed to help people deal with pain, such as cancer patients.

I think medical reasons for marijuana is perfectly okay. I was just mad because people who argue for medical marijuana in most cases just want to get legal pot.

[mercmerc]

Well then. Pot kills eh?
:emotionless

[jfella91]

IT'S A PLANT THAT GROWS DRUGS FOR US TO SMOKE. LIKE WTF. The common street drugs are chemicals and made mostly or entirely synthetically, but weed just grows like it was a tomato plant or something, only it grows drugs that you pick instead of tomatoes.

[JudgeDredd]

At 10/20/07 07:52 PM, RubberBandMethod wrote: Hemp is a valuable resource with hundreds of uses.

As it stands now, the fate of marijuana is tied to hemp production. Only when hemp production becomes a vital commodity in global trade will the stigma (propaganda) of marijuana be put into it's correct perspective. After all.. "Alcohol is the new fuel" -Bush.

[oligarch]

At 10/20/07 09:00 PM, TheThing wrote: Marijuana should be kept illegal. It severely effects you mentally, and could put you in situations where you end up hurting yourself or others.

Also, even the use of medical marijuana can cause terrible social effects. Look at California; people are complaining of aches and pains to their doctor, who then prescribes marijuana. You don't have to actually have any real bad illness to get it; just say "I hurt", and you got yourself a month's supply of weed.

Its not like the legalization of marijuana would significantly affect consumption and its effects are only temporary and doesn't put you in situations that alcohol doesn't. Furthermore, I live in California and that just doesn't work.

[rakninja]

At 10/20/07 09:00 PM, TheThing wrote: Marijuana should be kept illegal. It severely effects you mentally, and could put you in situations where you end up hurting yourself or others.

Also, even the use of medical marijuana can cause terrible social effects. Look at California; people are complaining of aches and pains to their doctor, who then prescribes marijuana. You don't have to actually have any real bad illness to get it; just say "I hurt", and you got yourself a month's supply of weed.

pot affects you mentally? then explain how i, a lifetime pot smoker, graduated from a technical school as possibly the overall best student to grace its halls? how was i able to join the military and get promoted almost as early as regulations allowed EVERY TIME?

and on the subject of military service, how about this - i am permanently disabled because of my service. i now suffer from chronic, debilitating pain. smoking pot eases and fades this pain without drugging me up like the only other medications to actually ease the pain, celebrex and hydrocodone.

sadly, you show all the signs of the brainwashing against weed, my friend. all of these "facts" that they like to throw at us are UNCONFIRMED, and made up from whole cloth for the most part.

all because of racism and greed, or do i need to find that newspaper headline from the time of pot's first illegality reading "drug crazed negro murder's 5"? or how much money the dupont corporation used to lobby the illegality of pot so that their plastics would be able to outsell cheaper, superior hemp?

[Dash-Underscore-Dash]

I want it banned for the sole reason that it makes stoners unhappy.

[PrespectBlock]

First off, this topic has been way over done.

But, forgetting other types of weed, I heard you can't even get high on hemp (and it can be used for all kinds of things). So, whats the argument against hemp alone.

[Elfer]

At 10/21/07 12:57 AM, PrespectBlock wrote: First off, this topic has been way over done.

But, forgetting other types of weed, I heard you can't even get high on hemp (and it can be used for all kinds of things). So, whats the argument against hemp alone.

You can hide pot in a field of it.

[catman03]

you're 100% right.marijuana should be legal due to it's various medical usages(primarily as a painkiller) and the general health benefit that comes from using it.the risk of lung cancer is significantly less than smoking,and there virtually no negatives(excluding the rare interactions with other medicines,etc.)

[Ravariel]

Shameless plug.

[Imperator]

At 10/21/07 02:40 AM, Ravariel wrote: Shameless plug.

Shit, talk about trips down memory lane.....

Glad to see the rousing nature of Newgrounds hasn't changed my undecided stance any.....

[Ravariel]

I link to it in every marijuana thread I see. it has yet to be necrobumped, so it seems that the apathy of stoners is their own downfall yet again.

mmm, I do love me some juicy eye-runny.

[specimen56]

At 10/20/07 11:43 PM, jfella91 wrote: IT'S A PLANT THAT GROWS DRUGS FOR US TO SMOKE. LIKE WTF. The common street drugs are chemicals and made mostly or entirely synthetically, but weed just grows like it was a tomato plant or something, only it grows drugs that you pick instead of tomatoes.

And because its natural- its ok..?
And because other drugs are chemically made- they're not ok..?

I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time finding a valid point of argument here...

Anyways, as a long standing smoker I'm in two minds about whether it should be legalised.
Legalisation and taxation would be a good plan- but (and as much as I hate to bring this in- but someone will) there's the slippery slope argument. If we legalise weed, then people will start coming up with arguments for why Heroine should be legalised: if its industrialised then the government can look after the users and make sure that no-ones selling dirty stuff.
But a government has to draw the line somewhere. In a state of government where the state was just there to look after its populace and nothing else, then maybe heroine and weed would be legalised or at least could under the guise of keeping it clean, or so the government can highlight heavy users easily/easier and help them if needs be.

Unfortunately as we all know, none of us liv in such a state.

[SlithVampir]

At 10/20/07 08:20 PM, Drakim wrote: Alcohol, if it came about today, would be banned. It's only legal for cultural reasons today (we use it in everything, so banning it would create an uproar). So, your argument fails.

I'm pretty sure it did create an uproar.

[CogSpin]

it's a brilliant idea. hemp is god. it can be used for anything. obviously the big oil and medical companies don't want you abandoning their products, so that's why the thing will never be legalised.

[Drakim]

At 10/21/07 07:43 AM, SlithVampir wrote:

At 10/20/07 08:20 PM, Drakim wrote: Alcohol, if it came about today, would be banned. It's only legal for cultural reasons today (we use it in everything, so banning it would create an uproar). So, your argument fails.

I'm pretty sure it did create an uproar.

Ah, that is right. It was banned in the US before, wasn't it? That only furthers my point. You can't stop it. It isn't that Alcohol is "okay", but rather, there is no way to stop it.

Pot, however, is not so strong in culture as alchole, thus we can fortunately ban it. Don't try to argue that since we have one mistake, another one is okay. That's just stupid.

[Tomsan]

At 10/21/07 06:38 AM, specimen56 wrote:

At 10/20/07 11:43 PM, jfella91 wrote: IT'S A PLANT THAT GROWS DRUGS FOR US TO SMOKE. LIKE WTF. The common street drugs are chemicals and made mostly or entirely synthetically, but weed just grows like it was a tomato plant or something, only it grows drugs that you pick instead of tomatoes.

And because its natural- its ok..?
And because other drugs are chemically made- they're not ok..?

I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time finding a valid point of argument here...

well actually that is more or less the dutch goverment mentality. They feel that you cannot phorhibit something that is 100% natural because it can be found in nature. You cannot phorhibit the use of herbs, it would be ridiculous to restrain such freedoms, So shrooms are indeed legal too.

Anyways, as a long standing smoker I'm in two minds about whether it should be legalised.
Legalisation and taxation would be a good plan- but (and as much as I hate to bring this in- but someone will) there's the slippery slope argument. If we legalise weed, then people will start coming up with arguments for why Heroine should be legalised:

they havent in the netherlands. so no

But a government has to draw the line somewhere. In a state of government where the state was just there to look after its populace and nothing else, then maybe heroine and weed would be legalised or at least could under the guise of keeping it clean, or so the government can highlight heavy users easily/easier and help them if needs be.

I dont get you comparing weed and heroine, there somewhat different in effect and toxicity

[Tomsan]

At 10/21/07 09:05 AM, Drakim wrote:

Pot, however, is not so strong in culture as alchole, thus we can fortunately ban it. Don't try to argue that since we have one mistake, another one is okay. That's just stupid.

you are just ignoring the point that pot isnt bad for you at all (in normal use, but everything is harmfull in high dosages).

[Drakim]

At 10/21/07 09:43 AM, Tomsan wrote:

At 10/21/07 09:05 AM, Drakim wrote:

Pot, however, is not so strong in culture as alchole, thus we can fortunately ban it. Don't try to argue that since we have one mistake, another one is okay. That's just stupid.

you are just ignoring the point that pot isnt bad for you at all (in normal use, but everything is harmfull in high dosages).

It doesn't need to be directly bad. Alcohol, if not taken over a very long period of time (thus ruining your liver), isn't bad for you either.

The problem lies in that you get high from pot. Just as you get drunk from alcohol. It alters your mind from what it normally is, and society isn't all to happy about things like that.

[Elfer]

At 10/21/07 09:05 AM, Drakim wrote: Ah, that is right. It was banned in the US before, wasn't it? That only furthers my point. You can't stop it. It isn't that Alcohol is "okay", but rather, there is no way to stop it.

Pot, however, is not so strong in culture as alchole, thus we can fortunately ban it. Don't try to argue that since we have one mistake, another one is okay. That's just stupid.

What the hell are you talking about? Despite the prohibition, marijuana use is RAMPANT.

Know what the real part is? You can't stop consensual adult behaviour. The job of the police is to protect us from each other, not to protect us from ourselves.