[DonH57]

Personal attacks gain nothing. At the point it becomes personal it's best to take a breather and step back.

[wendyquat]

Originally Posted by Golfingnut

BUT, well beyond his time and should not be up this late talking to adults.

One thing is for sure that half of your screen name well applies! Me thinks you are trying to pick a fight! You don't go on a forum comprised primarily of "seniors" and call us "foggies"!

I don't know your age but I'm betting we "foggies" can tell you a thing or two!

Now find yourself a "stoner" forum and leave us to our codgitating!

[gamby]

Answer is NO;

Tax dollars are the motive for this . The same reason Cigarettes are still for sale.

I've seen so many people start off with booze in their teens then POT then Heroin.
One person in mind just died on Xmas day from drugs. He lost everything in his 20s wife,3 great kids , job, and any friends.
He spent his life in and out of Prison. Turns out 2 of his brothers took the same route starting with booze and POT then Heroin.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

No vote here from me but I'll make a very easy prediction:
Pot will be legal, such as Colorado, in at least 30 states within 15 years. I think back about 20 years to the states who didn't have Lottery or Casinos. As time went on they saw all the money they were losing. Now I don't know of ANY state that doesn't have some form of Lotto. And many states (not just Indian nation Casinos) have casinos and more to come such as Massachusetts. That number will reach all 50 very soon.

I also predict that there will be zero subsequent problems discovered. In other words as time passes and studies are done there will be no significant increases in car accidents or decreases in test scores etc. A hundred years from now people will say "Marijuana used to be illegal?" What were they thinking? Much the same as we say about a law almost 100 years ago that prohibited alcohol sales. Remember, not all laws were created with great forethought. At one time in this great nation we didn't allow women to vote or blacks to eat in the same restaurant as whites. Not all change is bad!

As usual, Russ presents a logical and unemotional viewpoint.

[rp001]

Originally Posted by gamby

Answer is NO;

Tax dollars are the motive for this . The same reason Cigarettes are still for sale.

I've seen so many people start off with booze in their teens then POT then Heroin.
One person in mind just died on Xmas day from drugs. He lost everything in his 20s wife,3 great kids , job, and any friends.
He spent his life in and out of Prison. Turns out 2 of his brothers took the same route starting with booze and POT then Heroin.

Once and for all, Pot is Not a gateway drug. People fall victim to their own neediness and it could have just as easily been sugar addiction. I question the validity of this post!

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by rp001

Once and for all, Pot is Not a gateway drug. People fall victim to their own neediness and it could have just as easily been sugar addiction. I question the validity of this post!

In my experience, and personal observation, pot is very much a gateway drug. That's not to say all who use pot graduate to a higher drug, but those who get there got started with pot. I agree that the neediness and lack of self confidence is a factor as well. Pot for many is a crutch, just like booze is to some people.

[JourneyOfLife]

The poll numbers are fairly interesting.

If the TV political leanings (generally speaking) are any indication, one might conclude that there are a larger number of conservatives or conservative leaning people that took this poll and the medical poll on the other thread.

Of course it is not scientific or random... but still.

If this poll is any indication of a cross-section of people from different states... I agree with the observation Russ made in an earlier post on this thread.

[quirky3]

Originally Posted by JourneyOfLife

The poll numbers are fairly interesting.

If the TV political leanings (generally speaking) are any indication, one might conclude that there are a larger number of conservatives or conservative leaning people that took this poll and the medical poll on the other thread.

Of course it is not scientific or random... but still.

If this poll is any indication of a cross-section of people from different states... I agree with the observation Russ made in an earlier post on this thread.

Actually, I was thinking that the survey numbers reflect a clear shift in the political leanings of the TOTV respondents. As of this morning, they favor legalization of recreational marijuana almost 3 to 1, and legalization of medicinal marijuana about 6 to 1. Perception is sometimes VERY different from facts!

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by JourneyOfLife

The poll numbers are fairly interesting.

If the TV political leanings (generally speaking) are any indication, one might conclude that there are a larger number of conservatives or conservative leaning people that took this poll and the medical poll on the other thread.

Of course it is not scientific or random... but still.

If this poll is any indication of a cross-section of people from different states... I agree with the observation Russ made in an earlier post on this thread.

The results are interesting, and somewhat counter intuitive is one is to believes TV's reputation as being generally conservative. It's clear the ayes have it but a strong margin. Once the poll completes, we can discuss the implications, demographics, who likely responded and so forth.

I agree with Russ that "not all change is bad" but let's face it, the reverse is equally true ... "not all change is good". It always depends on how things turn out.

[TexaninVA]

I did some quick research and, from what I can tell, there are currently four countries in the world where pot is fully legal: Netherlands, Uruguay, Bangladesh and North Korea.

If the US legalizes pot, we will be joining an elite group

[joerocker]

Originally Posted by TexaninVA

In my experience, and personal observation, pot is very much a gateway drug. That's not to say all who use pot graduate to a higher drug, but those who get there got started with pot. I agree that the neediness and lack of self confidence is a factor as well. Pot for many is a crutch, just like booze is to some people.

People can't have "crutches"? Why not? Not everyone is as emotionally strong as another. Religion is a "crutch" too. I'd be more in favor of banning that over marijuana.

This "gateway" discussion always get's so twisted. Marijuana is just one of MANY drugs that an addictive personality will go through during his lifetime. It usually starts with caffeine then moves to nicotine then on to alcohol and marijuana after that cocaine, pills, finally heroin. It's the PERSON not the drug.

Punishing everyone because a few can't handle themselves is not the answer. If sugar was outlawed for you because too many are getting fat because they ABUSE it, how would you feel? It's the same. Marijuana when used moderately, is not a problem for anyone. I lived in a marijuana friendly state, it's not a problem to society. The abusers are the problem to society. And abusers find something to abuse.

[quirky3]

Originally Posted by joerocker

People can't have "crutches"? Why not? Not everyone is as emotionally strong as another. Religion is a "crutch" too. I'd be more in favor of banning that over marijuana.

This "gateway" discussion always get's so twisted. Marijuana is just one of MANY drugs that an addictive personality will go through during his lifetime. It usually starts with caffeine then moves to nicotine then on to alcohol and marijuana after that cocaine, pills, finally heroin. It's the PERSON not the drug.

Punishing everyone because a few can't handle themselves is not the answer. If sugar was outlawed for you because too many are getting fat because they ABUSE it, how would you feel? It's the same. Marijuana when used moderately, is not a problem for anyone. I lived in a marijuana friendly state, it's not a problem to society. The abusers are the problem to society. And abusers find something to abuse.

Excellent! Very reasonable perspective.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by quirky3

Actually, I was thinking that the survey numbers reflect a clear shift in the political leanings of the TOTV respondents. As of this morning, they favor legalization of recreational marijuana almost 3 to 1, and legalization of medicinal marijuana about 6 to 1. Perception is sometimes VERY different from facts!

It's not a shift. It's the little-publicized fact that most people here choose to think on their own, about individual issues and candidates, and do not vote blindfolded and straight down the party line.

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by joerocker

People can't have "crutches"? Why not? Not everyone is as emotionally strong as another. Religion is a "crutch" too. I'd be more in favor of banning that over marijuana..

Your comment about being more in favor of banning religion than pot is ... well amazing, to put it simply. It provides insight into how you likely lead your life ... ok with me because, as is the contemporary culture mandates ... who is to judge? But, one can still make inferences and my guess is you would probably like a "religion" of some type that celebrates secular humanism or something?

Let me ask about the gateway question differently ... do you know anyone who got into heavy cocaine or heroin usage who did not start out with pot?

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

It's not a shift. It's the little-publicized fact that most people here choose to think on their own, about individual issues and candidates, and do not vote blindfolded and straight down the party line.

There's also the question of what percentage of Villagers actually use, read or post to TOTV. Does anyone have data or insights on this?