[Wyseguy]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

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.

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

[Wyseguy]

Originally Posted by Windguy

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.

Different drugs have been a part of people cultures for ever. Not sure that should play a part in our legalizing the drug. In college my professor brought a group of us to study, live with, learn from the Yaqui Indians. They use peyote. I am not sure our current culture would be able to partake with the same respect I witnessed back then. Without this there would be death and degradation of our cities.

[mcwood4d]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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

Do you?

Seems like an opportunity for more voluntary taxation 💁*♂️

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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

Do you?

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Calisport]

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

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by Wyseguy

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

I would be for the legalization of all drugs.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by Calisport

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

Why mention children? Do we allow children to drink Everclear? Legalization does not imply 6-year-olds can buy it at the corner store. And I am not sure what "bad side effects" you are referring to.

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

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.

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.

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by jimjamuser

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.

All true, but then, when does the government vote in its constituent's interest? MIT study of congressional voting patterns over several decades showed that Congress Critters vote against their own constituents' best interests 85% of the time, choosing instead to vote in the interest of special interest (big money).

[jimjamuser]

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.

This IS a great post. I would like to add that, "Reefer Madness" was an early movie paid for by the Hearst family because they owned a chain of newspapers - and owned many acres of timber farms to make paper. Marijuana also makes good paper and grows prolifically (a weed). So, Grandpaw Hearst avoided the competition by scaring the public about, "the Devil's Weed". And it has taken the US around 100 years to dispel the Hearst MYTH!

[jimjamuser]

Originally Posted by brfree1411@aol.com

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.

A great post!

[SugarOnMyTongue]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

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

Do you?

Broke my back and was left with nerve damage and chronic pain beyond imagine.

The oxycotin scare was blown out of proportion and and doctors were all scared poopless to prescribe it. As a result I was put on a medical marijuana program. Life would be unbearable without it.

Now, there is tons of room for improvement in these programs....its super expensive, limited strains, often is only available in a vape (poisonous) form, etc..

This is yet another situation where commercial industry does a much better job than the government.


In addition to addressing chronic pain, marijuana has a lot of other uses and is helpful in solving many other daily strifes where pharmaceutical meds and/ or alcohol fill that gap now. Legal marijuana is a far more rational choice.

If this was not true, you would not find so many people on board with this movement.

Some of you may never need anything like this and you are the blessed. For the remainder of us, recreational marijuana serves a vital purpose. I realize some of you want to keep others of us hurting, and/or to use stronger pharmaceuticals or alcohol for relief . I would simply ask that you educate yourself from a medical perspective and be compassionate to your fellow man.

Sug

[ScottGo]

Should be totally legal, pot/weed. The other sh-t should remain as it currently is. Med. weed works great if you make cannibutter w/crock pot, no inhaling. Butter your toast-muffin with it or make cookies.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by rpalumberi

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.

1. They're already doing it while driving. You're already meeting them on the road.

2. Most people don't want to sell it. Most people who are prolegalization want to buy it, legally.

3. Your argument might make sense if you were also fighting for the return of Prohibition of alcohol, except it wouldn't make sense since it's already been proven to be a failure. The cannabis prohibition has also been proven a failure, which is why it's legal in 18 states already and - in fact - lots of your fellow Villagers are smoking or ingesting cannabis and related products legally already with a medical card.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Calisport

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

So is fried food, alcohol, blood thinners, Benadryl, football, and sex.