What's Your View On Marijuana?

[Lone Wanderer]

As a very casual user, I haven't encountered any negative effects. As with everything, moderation is important

[Luke]

My view is that the NSA is watching you, your isp is easily tracked, and publicly announcing that you use illegal drugs is a stupid thing to do.

Not that the feds are going to break down your door for posting that you smoke, but it could have repercussions.

[dsheinem]

My view is that the NSA is watching you, your isp is easily tracked, and publicly announcing that you use illegal drugs is a stupid thing to do.

Not that the feds are going to break down your door for posting that you smoke, but it could have repercussions.

You're just paranoid from smoking too much weed.

[Luke]

You're just paranoid from smoking too much weed.

Did I just post that out loud?

Hold on. I think I hear a knock at the door. The jig is up!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYUHeEPVeUo

[AppleQueso]

Never used it, likely never will.

I do think it should be legalized, but Dave brings up some valid concerns that should be addressed.

[Luke]

Never used it, likely never will.

I do think it should be legalized, but Dave brings up some valid concerns that should be addressed.

I say no to legalization, at least for now.

I think we've all met that moron who says things like "I drive better on weed" or "I think more clearly on weed". Bullocks.

In the privacy of your own home I don't give a hoot what you do, but behind the wheel you best be sober.

[ZeroAX]

Went to the netherlands, ate a cake, had fun, came back, don't see us doing any better than them (or most of the countries I've been to, including the US), so I don't see how it can hurt.

Just the decreased crime (no longer black market goods = less crime) is worth the risk imo.

[Hatta]

1) There is no way to prevent/police the damage of second hand smoke in the home around infants/children. As I understand it, the effects of second hand pot smoke are more immediate, dangerous, and damaging than those of second hand cigarette smoke.

I'd like to see that research. Everything else they've told us about the evil demon weed has been a lie, why would you believe this? Even if that's the case, how does it compare to the effects of raising a child with a parent in prison? Why would you support criminalization instead of parental education?

2) Unlike with alcohol, there is no way for an arresting officer to know with certainty if my driving error was caused by something I smoked an hour ago (high while driving) or a week ago (sober while driving). If I was sober but had evidence of recent use in my blood, I'm fucked.

Why does it matter what's in your blood system? The proper test of driving ability is functional. If you drift into on coming traffic and kill someone, it doesn't matter if you're drunk, stoned, or sober.


What everyone ignores in these debates is the cost of criminalized Cannabis. Jailing thousands of otherwise harmless individuals who just like to have fun in an unpopular way costs us hundreds of millions of dollars, removes labor from the economy for no good reason, breaks up families, and the burden of all of this is vastly, vastly borne by minorities. The way drug laws are enforced should lead to them getting struck down for violating equal protection, without considering any other issues.

Drug criminalization is simply barbaric. If you want to protect children, outlaw high school football. That actually causes brain damage. Cannabis on the other hand has a thousand year record of safety. There's absolutely no reason to criminalize it besides enriching pharmaceutical and alcohol companies, and oppressing minorities. Far more people are harmed by drug laws than are harmed by drugs.

BTW, "decriminalization" is just half-assed criminalization. All the downsides of criminalization, with none of the upsides of regulation.

[dsheinem]

1) There is no way to prevent/police the damage of second hand smoke in the home around infants/children. As I understand it, the effects of second hand pot smoke are more immediate, dangerous, and damaging than those of second hand cigarette smoke.

I'd like to see that research. Everything else they've told us about the evil demon weed has been a lie, why would you believe this? Even if that's the case, how does it compare to the effects of raising a child with a parent in prison? Why would you support criminalization instead of parental education?

2) Unlike with alcohol, there is no way for an arresting officer to know with certainty if my driving error was caused by something I smoked an hour ago (high while driving) or a week ago (sober while driving). If I was sober but had evidence of recent use in my blood, I'm fucked.

Why does it matter what's in your blood system? The proper test of driving ability is functional. If you drift into on coming traffic and kill someone, it doesn't matter if you're drunk, stoned, or sober.


What everyone ignores in these debates is the cost of criminalized Cannabis. Jailing thousands of otherwise harmless individuals who just like to have fun in an unpopular way costs us hundreds of millions of dollars, removes labor from the economy for no good reason, breaks up families, and the burden of all of this is vastly, vastly borne by minorities. The way drug laws are enforced should lead to them getting struck down for violating equal protection, without considering any other issues.

Drug criminalization is simply barbaric. If you want to protect children, outlaw high school football. That actually causes brain damage. Cannabis on the other hand has a thousand year record of safety. There's absolutely no reason to criminalize it besides enriching pharmaceutical and alcohol companies, and oppressing minorities. Far more people are harmed by drug laws than are harmed by drugs.

BTW, "decriminalization" is just half-assed criminalization. All the downsides of criminalization, with none of the upsides of regulation.

I'm moved by your argument, which actually reflects much of my own thinking about legalization, but two things:

The physical and mental state of someone behind the wheel DOES matter. If you are not functioning properly, you are a much higher risk to the safety of others. If you knowingly put yourself into that state before getting behind the wheel, then you deserve to pay harsher penalties. It's called deterrence, and it is for the good of public safety. I think I can drive fine when over the legal limit of BAC but I absolutely deserve the full penalty of the law if I get caught driving in that state.

As for smoking around kids, I don't know if I can produce studies that you'd believe weren't some government created nonsense about demon weed. I don't want to waste the time looking. I'd be fine
with big PSA campaigns post-legalization about the issue as well as harsh laws about smoking with children in confined spaces (like cars).

[flex wood]

Inb4 circular argument.