Legalizing Marijuana & Other Drugs

[Sephiroth Crescent]

Hi peeps,

Before you all assume I support legalizing Marijuana, I don't, not all that much to be frank. I personally have never used any illegal drug of any kind, or even smoked a cigarette. But today got me thinking. If Marijuana and maybe a few other illegal drugs were legalized like in that place in Europe, and we have places(like the Coffee shop in Deus Bigalo ) that allow you to freely use them, I truly believe less people will use them. And heres why:

1. Just because its an option doesn't mean everyone will do it, I think kids(18+) who do it casually, will see all the bums who devote their whole life to "feeling good" and decide theres better things to do.

2. If its legalized, and theres no Government support to those who mess up their lives by repeatedly using these drugs, then they probably wont waste their time doing it.

This is just something to think about, again I don't really support this idea all too much, but I just want to see what everyone else thinks.

Ty,

- Sephiroth

 

[Davey Gaga]

2. If its legalized, and theres no Government support to those who mess up their lives by repeatedly using these drugs, then they probably wont waste their time doing it.

If you're about to take part in something like that, the thought of "I wonder if the Government will help me, if this develops into something horrible" never comes close to entering your mind. You'd take it and, if you liked it, you'd keep doing it. If you didn't, you'd either stop or feel the need to conform to peer pressure, so it wouldn't help anything.

I'm not too fond of the idea but, tbqh, it isn't actually that much different to drinking excessively.

 

[Bun]

The only reason I believe marijuana should be legalized is so that we can tax the shit out of it. I mean, honestly, it's one of the lesser evils out there in the drug world, and could be easily regulated, so why not make a few bucks while we're at it?

 

[Donald Trump]

I think it should be legalised. It isn't a harmful drug compared to meth, heroin etc. And like Bun said, the government can tax it, the amount of bud smoked won't increase significantly. It is incredibly easy to find a tinny house, so it's not as if people wouldn't know where to buy it from.
Furthermore there are less marijuana related deaths than alcohol. You can't OD, you can however drink too much alcohol and die. Also there are no car accidents that happen when people are blazed, however there are many accidents as a result of DUI.
Also the amount of fights that happen after drinking is rather high, whereas no one who is high starts a fight with anyone.

 

[Big Boss]

Also there are no car accidents that happen when people are blazed, however there are many accidents as a result of DUI.
Also the amount of fights that happen after drinking is rather high, whereas no one who is high starts a fight with anyone.

Probably because when you're high, you couldn't be fucked to get off you're lazy ass and do those things. Which leads me to believe, if this was legalized, there would be a lot less criminal activity, but since it wouldn't be a crime, you'd probably get a big decrease in overall society activity.. So on second thought, maybe they shouldn't legalize it.

Talk about contradicting myself.

 

[SaShman]

It's hard to determine whether legalizing marijuana would be a smart move. On one hand it can be taxed, controlled and it wouldn't be an underground business anymore. On the other hand, drug dealers would focus on harder, more harmful drugs such as Cocaine and Heroin and these harmful drugs would be far more abundant.

Apparently in Sydney's red light district there used to be a room specifically set up for people to shoot Heroin. What this did was keep addicts off the street, keep them under close monitoring in case they overdosed and most importantly keep the needles off the street. Maybe instead of complete legalization, we should focus on regulation.

 

[One-winged Demon]

If it becomes legal I will take too.
But in my country this will never happen because the Goverment is protecting the drug dealers.

 

[Sephiroth Crescent]

Probably because when you're high, you couldn't be fucked to get off you're lazy ass and do those things. Which leads me to believe, if this was legalized, there would be a lot less criminal activity, but since it wouldn't be a crime, you'd probably get a big decrease in overall society activity.. So on second thought, maybe they shouldn't legalize it.

Talk about contradicting myself

Aside from taxing, which I forgot to mention lol, just because the drugs are there doesnt mean everybody will use them. Under that assumption Bar-Tenders would always be drunk, but their not. Having been one myself I can only say with all the drunken idiots around you, it makes you stay sober, and Its the perfect college job. Not everybody who smokes Marijuana is going to wake up at 5 in the morning just to smoke it, thats a very...well close-minded thing to say.

- Sephiroth

 

[Soul Saver]

All drug prohibition is nothing more than state censorship.

The only person drug use harms, is the user. Tobacco/Alcohol is worse for the body than the vast majority of "illegal" drugs. There are more lethal prescription pills than illegal drugs.

The arguement of "drug addicts commit crime to feed their habit" is a silly one. You don't see people robbing stores to buy more cigarettes - because they are readily available. On top of this, it comes down to personal responsibility. The reasons for someone committing a crime are irrelevant. There are plenty of reasons for it, taking one away doesn't change much.

Yes, there are studies linking drug abuse to crime, but at the same time, the %age of crime linked to drug abuse in most countries is much less than that linked to alcohol abuse (or not drug abuse at all). The "feeding the habit" crime would be irrelevant if drugs were cheaper and less dangerous to procure.

In no other aspect of our lives would we willingly accept government interference in what we are allowed to do to OURSELVES, yet thanks to long term propaganda campaigns, thats exactly what we have allowed them to do.

...

It is not some propaganda campaign, it is a fact that many hard drugs make people dangerous to themselves and others. Personal responsibility only comes down to it so much as informed and competent people should be largely responsible for their own actions, within reason. When you're high on certain drugs, you don't have that control, and may hurt others and yourself. The reason there are more deaths from alcohol poisoning and drunken behaviour, is because it's alot more widespread. Three units of alcohol a day won't hurt you, whereas very potent and highly addictive drugs such as crystal meth and cocaine can have serious effects, just from small amounts. Whereas alcohol is a problem when you consume more than a certain amount, consuming a pill of ecstasy a day will do alot of harm to the body.
Another difference between dangerous illegal drugs and alcohol, is that loads of people can go out and get drunk, very visibly. The effects will soon wear off if you haven't drunk too much. With other drugs which make people likely to attack others, the abusers aren't out clubbing in very visible locations, generally.
I don't look upon alcohol very favourably, but at the same time, many other drugs are alot worse and extremely addictive, and should never be legalised. Heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, crystal meth, and so on. You don't want people to be able to walk into a chemist's and buy them.


Okay, I was attacking the "legalise all drugs" idea.

As for cannabis, I don't really see any harm in legalising it. It is a mild and theraputic drug, which does not do much harm. Provided that certain questions over its long-term effects are answered, otherwise, there aren't many reasons not to legalise, regulate, and tax it. It would take a big burden off the police force, and leave them to focus on drugs which are actually a threat.

 

[Soul Saver]

QUestion - Have you ever tried any hard drugs for any period of time?

You are discussing the effects these have on people... But i imagine you haven't actually experienced them. You say its not propaganda, yet you believe what you are told... Hmm.

I've had to live with a hard drug addict on all kinds of shit (step-brother) for 3 years. I've experienced the effects that drugs have on families, thank you. All too much. Hell, and I had a very hard time living through it all. Can you say that you've had that same experience?

You also seem to be very misinformed about drugs like cocaine. Used in moderation, cocaine is less dangerous than alcohol. Heroin is presribed in several countries as medicine, and the active ingredient is used in EVERY country as a painkiller, again, it's about use in moderation.

No, I'm not misinformed. You can stop with that patronising bullshit right there. A tiny bit of most hard drugs won't kill you, but the way that they are taken for recreational use, people get high and addicted to them very fast.

Diamorphine is used as a painkiller for people in extreme pain. Its use is controlled. It isn't abused for decadent recreational purposes.

Alcohol actually has a very typical Half-life. It's about the same as other drugs. In fact, the amount of alcohol you have to consume to kill is is significantly LESS than other illegal drugs. Alcohol is more poisonous to our bodies than the active ingredient in, say, heroin.

Um... which drugs are these? Can you link to studies showing a direct correlation between the use of these drugs and enlargement of the medula oblongota please? (NOT anecdotal evidence)

You need to produce some evidence to back up your outrageous claims, first.

Yes i do. Cocaine and methamphetamines are less addictive than tobacco and alcohol. Heroin is as just addictive as prescription pain medication. Unfortunately i do not have the education on crystal meth to comment on it.

Heroin and Cocaine top the scale of dependence, whilst nicotine is at the top of the scale for addictiveness. The effects of Heroin and Cocaine dependence are alot more severe, however.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:..._(mean_physical_harm_and_mean_dependence).svg

Yes it will. Besides which, 3 units is only 30 millilitres. Thats not a lot. at all. thats less than a mouthful. Two or three mouthfuls of pure alcohol will kill you. Thats how dangerous alcohol is. It's mixed with other things to increase the profit for the manufacturers. If hard drugs were legalised, the same process would occur. Drugs would be "watered down" to increase profit for the manufacturers.

Looking forward to your response =)

3 units of alcohol on the UK scale will not kill you. Far from it. Yes, two or three mouthfuls of PURE alcohol WILL kill you, but that is not the way it is usually consumed.

That is disputable, but good point. I do know of one time when it has happened. Coca-cola used to be named such because it actually contained some coke.

I look forward to your non-patronising response.

 

[Sephiroth Crescent]

...

It is not some propaganda campaign, it is a fact that many hard drugs make people dangerous to themselves and others. Personal responsibility only comes down to it so much as informed and competent people should be largely responsible for their own actions, within reason. When you're high on certain drugs, you don't have that control, and may hurt others and yourself. The reason there are more deaths from alcohol poisoning and drunken behaviour, is because it's alot more widespread. Three units of alcohol a day won't hurt you, whereas very potent and highly addictive drugs such as crystal meth and cocaine can have serious effects, just from small amounts. Whereas alcohol is a problem when you consume more than a certain amount, consuming a pill of ecstasy a day will do alot of harm to the body.
Another difference between dangerous illegal drugs and alcohol, is that loads of people can go out and get drunk, very visibly. The effects will soon wear off if you haven't drunk too much. With other drugs which make people likely to attack others, the abusers aren't out clubbing in very visible locations, generally.
I don't look upon alcohol very favourably, but at the same time, many other drugs are alot worse and extremely addictive, and should never be legalised. Heroin, cocaine, methamphetamines, crystal meth, and so on. You don't want people to be able to walk into a chemist's and buy them.


Okay, I was attacking the "legalise all drugs" idea.

As for cannabis, I don't really see any harm in legalising it. It is a mild and theraputic drug, which does not do much harm. Provided that certain questions over its long-term effects are answered, otherwise, there aren't many reasons not to legalise, regulate, and tax it. It would take a big burden off the police force, and leave them to focus on drugs which are actually a threat.

Decado, and Pidemon, just out of curiosity do either of you support the decriminalization of marijuana(not other drugs)?

- Sephir8th

 

[looneymoon]

Considering my location, they may aswell legalize marijuana. I obviously don't know first hand what the situation may be in different areas in the world, but getting your hands on pot is just as easy as getting alcohol. And this is coming from someone who hasn't even had the interest in ever doing it.

Interestingly enough: I remember this issue being my first post-secondary paper. My prof chose it because it's such a talked-about issue. The majority of the class agreed on legalizing it because it's a little silly keeping a law that very few people really take seriously. It's really in best interest, because then it eleiminates an illegal market and contributes tax money to the government.

This is just from an observer's point of view though, the issue doesn't really personally affects me either way.

 

[Sergeant_P]

In California, you have to be 21 to purchase, possess or consume alcohol.

In California, there is no age limit on who can get a license, and smoke medical marijuana.

Something to ponder.​

 

[Aztec Triogal]

Since when was legalization of marajuwanannana ever the big deal? I can go out right now and buy a dime bag in from of a cop and he'll ask me for a pinch. Fuck. It's not important... but if they drunk test my ass at work, I'll get canned. So that's why I don't light up. If it weren't for college and work, I would've been blazing all throughout the years. It's not the law that is the problem, it's "responsibility". Fuck "responsibility".

 

[Sergeant_P]

Any chance of some detail on what you personally feel the pertinence of that is?

​

In a thread dedicated to the legality of marijuana, The fact that marijuana is more legal than alcohol brings up the question as to where our priorities truly lie.

I get the feeling you don't like me much Mr. Decado. ​

 

[Sergeant_P]

Good, Because I like you too. However if this relationship is to work out, you're going to have to learn to share me.


All drugs should be legalized.​

 

[Mitsuki]

Just a quick reminder, guys - please make sure that all your posts are in decent length at least and should be more detailed. Sleeping Forest is not a spam section. Thank you. ^^

 

[Ness]

Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

Somebody mentioned this in the ShoutBox, and I think it's an interesting topic for discussion. So, let's have it.

Marijuana legalization has been a hot-button issue in recent years, and there are still plenty of people who holds to both perspectives. However, the fact that remains that marijuana use is becoming more widespread with each passing year, and many argue that "something's gotta give".

So, what do you think? Should we legalize the stuff and tax it? Is there any reason to legalize it at all? Et cetera?

 

[OZpajamas]

Why not make weed legal? Who cares, really. I think that as long as their not smoking it on street corners and stuff, it should be okay. You have cigarettes and alcohol. You should just put an age limit on it and what not. I believe that many places now are starting to make Marijuana legal, but only for medical purposes (such as MS).

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

I think if it's used in moderation like alcohol then it's not a bad thing.

You see drunken people getting up to more mischief than potheads due to the fact that weed makes you more of a harmless couch potato.

My partner smokes it every day and it would help save him some money too in my opinion. <_< Wouldn't be giving his dealer so much for a puny amount of grass each week.

They really need to crack down on the hardcore drugs such as heroin and such and stop running after weed dealers. Weed does nothing but relax the body and make people happy from what I've seen.

What is so bad about that? The only thing is that some people will abuse it like they do with alcohol. Drink driving etc.

But that happens anyway unfortunately. =/