[LonnyP]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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

Do you?

I do. And even after 35 years in law enforcement. Just don't use it out in the public areas or drive.
For those interested about the war on drugs there is a fascinating book out there title
Chasing the Scream. Extremely interesting.

[merled]

I will never support a mind altering drug. We have enough issues with beer, wine and alcohol.

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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

Do you?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by merled

I will never support a mind altering drug. We have enough issues with beer, wine and alcohol.

Erm, wine and beer ARE alcohol. And yes they are mind altering drugs.

[tvbound]

Although a moot point for us, since we don't do either, the embracing of alcohol while being against pot is simply a massive hypocrisy. I think it started with the ridiculous and factually wrong short film 'Reefer Madness,' which a lot of now older and highly gullible people, actually still believe. I'll take a bunch of pot smokers, over drinkers, any day. The supposed 'War on Drugs' has been a huge failure, except for those who make a lot of money or wages off of it, or wanted a way to punish minorities even more (re: huge sentencing differences between crack and powder cocaine users).

One of the best comments I've ever heard, that is also at its core very true, is; "Four guys sitting around drinking booze want to start a fight, while four guys sitting around smoking pot - want to start a band." LOL

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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

Do you?

Regulation has a better chance of working than prohibition. Get the Feds out of it and leave it up to the States

[Ruth Garza]

As a retired substance abuse therapist I absolutely do not agree with de criminalizing pot.

[Proveone]

How is what you say any different than alcohol. Prohibition didn't last or work. The two substances are similar and should be treated as such.

Originally Posted by manaboutown

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.

[Chuckndianne]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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

Do you?

No!

[airstreamingypsy]

Yes, I believe it should be legal for recreational use, and I believe the thousands of people serving jail sentences for using it should be released and their records expunged. It never should have been illegal in the first place. God put it on this earth to help people, and idiots took it away. I don't know why Florida hasn't jumped on the bandwagon, but I assume it's been cause crooked politicians want to make us pay for licenses, which we will no longer have to do when it's legal.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

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

Should we also bring back prohibition of alcohol?

[ronharvey2]

Seems to me the only taxpayers contributing to the State pot revenue will be pot smokers. Besides, we know where the revenue goes now. Better the States get it.

[KristineTVFL]

I absolutely do not.

[Rose Ann Vinci Igoe]

Originally Posted by justjim

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.

I'm with you. And waiting for Florida !!!! as with anything do it responsibly.

[Blackbird45]

Put everything aside, this is a supply and demand issue.
You are never going to end the supply of and substance as long as there is a demand.
It doesn't matter if it is legal or not.

[Spalumbos62]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan

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.

I agree with you.

I am not saying I smoke, have smoked or quit smoking..not relevant...but I know (people have told me...but to make this easier I'll say. "I" ) that getting high today is not going to make me need to get high tomorrow.
I know I have never, ever been tempted to move onto stronger, more dangerous drugs.
I know it can certainly help in stressful situations and have a person feel calm.
And best of all, it can make you laugh, over silly everyday things, w/o slobbering all over another.
I too vote for it to be legal.