Originally Posted by manaboutown (Post 1972787)

Since I have seen the effects is has on users over the years I do not support its legalization.

Follow the money.

Who and what entities lobbied through its legalization?

Who/what entities stand to benefit?

States will tax it so stand to gain although they (taxpayers) will bear some of the costs of pot use.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1972760)

I read that 75% of Americans support the decriminalization of the use of Marijuana.

Do you?

Originally Posted by manaboutown (Post 1972787)

Since I have seen the effects is has on users over the years I do not support its legalization.

Originally Posted by justjim (Post 1972882)

At last count there were 18 States that legalized weed. So far the Federal Government has not. Big disconnect! Prohibition didn’t work and neither has the war on drugs. I would vote to legalize marijuana.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1972818)

The War on Drugs acts as a price support guarantee for the Drug cartels, Americans WANT drugs, and they will pay whatever it costs to get them.

Poor kids from the inner-city have to make a choice - stand on a corner and sell drugs and get rich, buy guns, cars, and sex, or flip burgers for less than minimum wage. Since they need to protect themselves and their stash, they need to have guns. Because the other kids have guns, expensive handguns become an affordable cost of doing business, leading to the arms race with the police departments and the formation of gangs to help control turf for drug markets.

The drug war is possibly the worst policy this country has ever conceived of; whether or not you think drugs should be legal, there has to be a better way to deal with the drug "problems."

And let's not conflate the war on drugs and the separate issue of making marijuana illegal. Making MJ illegal started long before Nixon when the government first commissioned a study to determine if MJ was harmful or dangerous, and the report came back that it wasn't. That was not an acceptable outcome, so they announced that "more studies are needed." And the "More studies are needed" has been constantly repeated ever since - almost 100 years now (1937).

There is no doubt that inhaling smoke from a burning plant is hazardous. There is also evidence that marijuana can have adverse side effects. But, it's a matter of degree. And there are safer ways to take MJ - such as tinctures and edibles.

The old "reefer madness" (government slogan predating "brain on drugs") is simply a flat-out lie.

I believe there is still no evidence of ANYONE ever dying from an overdose of MJ, but many die from overdoses of Alcohol.

There is little or no evidence of automobile accidents resulting from or caused by MJ use. (30,000 die in Auto accidents annually, and the majority have Alcohol associated with them)

I don't believe there has ever been a bar fight with MJ as a cause, yet violence is a common side effect of Alcohol.

MJ is known to cause brain damage but about 10% of the brain damage caused by Alcohol.

Alcohol is addictive; MJ is not addictive.

It goes on and on.

If you can't tell, I am in favor of legalization.

There is NO serious evidence of MJ being a problem or a gateway. On the contrary, there is significant evidence that it is useful in treating numerous diseases and health conditions.

To all the people who comment that they have seen how much damage it can do to people's lives, I suggested some people will destroy their lives with some drug - MJ is not a gateway; it is simply inexpensive and readily available. Once a person has contacts with the black market criminals they buy from, it is a small step to get hard drugs from the same market. Pushers will often offer "free samples". But, again, it is not the MJ that causes the problem; it is forcing people to use illegal channels to get drugs.

I would remind everyone what happened when Alcohol was prohibited - mobs (like the Kennedys) got rich, and many people died. Just like what has been happening ever since we decided to make drugs illegal.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1972760)

I read that 75% of Americans support the decriminalization of the use of Marijuana.

Do you?

Originally Posted by BillY41 (Post 1973219)

Gateway drug! Decriminalize personal possession, no smoking in public.

Originally Posted by Art cov (Post 1973124)

A friend just came back from New Orleans. Where he stayed (French quarter) it’s legal there. He said the place stunk with pot smoking and every corner had people selling it. It’s a amazing cigarette smoking is so bad for people’s health, but pot smoking does so good. Nothing bad, it stinks and destroys in the long run. Most kids who smoke weed, start with it but then try other drugs. I remember how at bus stops some of the kids smelled the bus when they got on after smoking a joint. I guess if it was in the brownies and not smoked we would’ve only knew because of their yeah man speech. But they were 13 yr olds. If you sit out on the lanai and the smoke drifts to you, what do you think? Remember pot smokers enjoy company who indulge with them. Hey, the dancing will change at the squares, it could be entertaining!

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 1973462)

Hey, is anybody looking into buying a few shares of stock?

Acreage Holdings (ACRHF) is at $3.60 this morning. That’s the company with John Boehner on the board — after his 180.

I have not looked too far so far.

So. . .would looking into a small investment be a groovy thing to do?

Or could it lead to REEFER MADNESS!!?

Boomer

Originally Posted by manaboutown (Post 1972787)

Since I have seen the effects is has on users over the years I do not support its legalization.

Follow the money.

Who and what entities lobbied through its legalization?

Who/what entities stand to benefit?

States will tax it so stand to gain although they (taxpayers) will bear some of the costs of pot use.

Originally Posted by Get real (Post 1973226)

It is a friggin plant....who cares????? It grows naturally. Have at it.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1972760)

I read that 75% of Americans support the decriminalization of the use of Marijuana.

Do you?

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive (Post 1972794)

I tend to agree.

Remember who declared the War on Drugs? For those of you who don't, it was Richard Nixon, and we've been losing it ever since. This ludicrous war on drugs has cost more in deaths, broken homes and shattered lives than drugs ever could.

Time to adopt a rational policy, both for those who want to seek help with drugs and AGAINST the criminal element pushing them which has turned sections of our country into something resembling a war zone.

Originally Posted by Windguy (Post 1973501)

Following the money to see who benefitted from its criminalization in the first place might be illuminating. From Wikipedia:



Another reason is that it was to demonize immigrating Mexicans for whom cannabis use was a long cultural tradition. The racists scared people into thinking that dark-skinned drug fiends would murder and rape white women. Hmm. Murders and rapists. Where have I heard that before?

And the main reason why it is not legal now is because drug gangs, industrial prisons, and pharmaceutical companies don't want that. And, they have lots of money to lobby against legalization.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1972760)

I read that 75% of Americans support the decriminalization of the use of Marijuana.

Do you?

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1972760)

I read that 75% of Americans support the decriminalization of the use of Marijuana.

Do you?

Originally Posted by Wyseguy (Post 1973571)

Would you be for the legalization of all drugs? Fentanyl included?

Originally Posted by Calisport (Post 1973601)

Pot is dangerous for most people because of bad side effects especially if children use it

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive (Post 1972794)

I tend to agree.

Remember who declared the War on Drugs? For those of you who don't, it was Richard Nixon, and we've been losing it ever since. This ludicrous war on drugs has cost more in deaths, broken homes and shattered lives than drugs ever could.

Time to adopt a rational policy, both for those who want to seek help with drugs and AGAINST the criminal element pushing them which has turned sections of our country into something resembling a war zone.

Originally Posted by jimjamuser (Post 1973610)

The Federal and State governments could use the profits from legalized sales for the good of the people. Now the profits from illegal sales go to criminals which then upgrade their customers to harder and more dangerous drugs. Profits from legalized weed could increase the budget of the DEA and allow other Police groups to concentrate on the more life-killing drugs. The profits could also provide more drug treatment centers, homeless shelters, and many other worthwhile programs. There would also be less drug traffic across the Southern Border. The 75% are correct and government needs to respond to the citizens' desires.

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan (Post 1972818)

The War on Drugs acts as a price support guarantee for the Drug cartels, Americans WANT drugs, and they will pay whatever it costs to get them.

Poor kids from the inner-city have to make a choice - stand on a corner and sell drugs and get rich, buy guns, cars, and sex, or flip burgers for less than minimum wage. Since they need to protect themselves and their stash, they need to have guns. Because the other kids have guns, expensive handguns become an affordable cost of doing business, leading to the arms race with the police departments and the formation of gangs to help control turf for drug markets.

The drug war is possibly the worst policy this country has ever conceived of; whether or not you think drugs should be legal, there has to be a better way to deal with the drug "problems."

And let's not conflate the war on drugs and the separate issue of making marijuana illegal. Making MJ illegal started long before Nixon when the government first commissioned a study to determine if MJ was harmful or dangerous, and the report came back that it wasn't. That was not an acceptable outcome, so they announced that "more studies are needed." And the "More studies are needed" has been constantly repeated ever since - almost 100 years now (1937).

There is no doubt that inhaling smoke from a burning plant is hazardous. There is also evidence that marijuana can have adverse side effects. But, it's a matter of degree. And there are safer ways to take MJ - such as tinctures and edibles.

The old "reefer madness" (government slogan predating "brain on drugs") is simply a flat-out lie.

I believe there is still no evidence of ANYONE ever dying from an overdose of MJ, but many die from overdoses of Alcohol.

There is little or no evidence of automobile accidents resulting from or caused by MJ use. (30,000 die in Auto accidents annually, and the majority have Alcohol associated with them)

I don't believe there has ever been a bar fight with MJ as a cause, yet violence is a common side effect of Alcohol.

MJ is known to cause brain damage but about 10% of the brain damage caused by Alcohol.

Alcohol is addictive; MJ is not addictive.

It goes on and on.

If you can't tell, I am in favor of legalization.

There is NO serious evidence of MJ being a problem or a gateway. On the contrary, there is significant evidence that it is useful in treating numerous diseases and health conditions.

To all the people who comment that they have seen how much damage it can do to people's lives, I suggested some people will destroy their lives with some drug - MJ is not a gateway; it is simply inexpensive and readily available. Once a person has contacts with the black market criminals they buy from, it is a small step to get hard drugs from the same market. Pushers will often offer "free samples". But, again, it is not the MJ that causes the problem; it is forcing people to use illegal channels to get drugs.

I would remind everyone what happened when Alcohol was prohibited - mobs (like the Kennedys) got rich, and many people died. Just like what has been happening ever since we decided to make drugs illegal.

Originally Posted by brfree1411@aol.com (Post 1972909)

For those of us who used MJ as a way to relax on weekends in the 60's & 70's, we know that MJ makes you calm, peaceful & hungry. It never makes you violent. Driving is an experience, you S-L-O-W down, stop at green lights, stop for a long while at stop signs. No danger of speeding or having an accident.
Unless you have smoked it, you will believe anything the studies show. I stopped smoking since 1981 and have had no withdrawals ever. Basically, it is a way to really relax & if you do it inside your home & stay put it should be nobody's business. Yes, it will be taxed, as is liquor, so what. The freedom to use it should be legal.
I have seen people addicted to gambling, sex, alcohol & anything else. MJ is not addictive. A person with an addictive personality will get addicted to TV, video games, cell phones, anything.
A good percentage of adults are on "anxiety" medication. MJ would cure that for sure.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1972760)

I read that 75% of Americans support the decriminalization of the use of Marijuana.

Do you?

Originally Posted by rpalumberi (Post 1973560)

I think, especially these days, you cannot believe everything you hear. I always, whenever possible, check sources as to who is saying whatever. We do not support legalization or decriminalization. Decriminalization is the 1st step toward legalization. We don't care much what others do in the privacy of their home but they're likely to go out and drive thereafter, at some point, and that concerns us because we don't want to meet them out on the road. I think this is nuts personally, being pushed by those who want to sell it.

Originally Posted by Calisport (Post 1973601)

Pot is dangerous for most people because of bad side effects especially if children use it