Should marijuana be legalized nationally?

Should we legalize pot on a national level? I'd like to hear people's opinions.

I believe we should for the following reasons:

--Marijuana isn't linked to lung cancer, unlike cigarettes.
Cannabis Smoke and Cancer: Assessing the Risk - NORML

--Police arrested an estimated 786,545 persons for marijuana violations in 2005, and 88% were arrested for possession alone.
Marijuana Arrests For Year 2005 -- 786,545 Tops Record High... Pot Smokers Arrested In America At A Rate Of One Every 40 Seconds - NORML
Sending that many people to jail is a big waste of tax money for something so nonthreatening.

--2001 Total Deaths: 2,416,425 Cannabis Related Deaths: 138
truth: the Anti-drugwar Cannabis "Related" Deaths (2001)

-Now let's take a look at the alcohol related deaths.

This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that approximately 75,766 AADs (Alcohol Attributed Deaths) and 2.3 million YPLLs, or approximately 30 years of life lost on average per AAD, were attributable to excessive alcohol use in 2001.

Alcohol-Attributable Deaths and Years of Potential Life Lost --- United States, 2001

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--Marijuana doesn't impair driving ability as much as alcohol, as shown by this introduction to a study:

This program of research has shown that marijuana produces only a moderate degree of driving impairment which is related to the consumed THC dose. The impairment manifests itself mainly in the ability to maintain a steady lateral position on the road, but its magnitude is not exceptional in comparison with changes produced by many medicinal drugs and alcohol. Drivers under the influence of marijuana retain insight into their performance and will compensate where they can (e.g., by increasing distance between vehicles or increasing effort). As a consequence, THC's adverse effects on driving performance appeared relatively small in the tests employed in this program.

Erowid Cannabis Vault : Marijuana Use And Driving

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Here's another quote (facts are on that page but I'm simply summarizing the one above):

A single glass of wine will impair your driving more than smoking a joint.

UK: Alcohol Impairs Driving More Than Marijuana

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As you can see alcohol is a far greater killer than marijuana.

--A common argument is that marijuana leads to harder drugs. That's not the case:

Marijuana is not a “gateway” drug that predicts or eventually leads to substance abuse, suggests a 12-year University of Pittsburgh study. The study, which found that young men who chose to initiate their drug use with marijuana were no more likely to go on to abuse drugs or alcohol than those who smoked or drank first, calls into question the long-held belief that has shaped prevention efforts and governmental policy for six decades.

No 'smoking' gun -- Research indicates teen marijuana use does not predict drug, alcohol abuse

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Also, and I believe this is very important, legalizing marijuana will drastically reduce the amount of people who move on to harder drugs. Imagine this situation: A person looking to buy some pot goes to his neighborhood drug dealer because he can't grow it or buy it legally in a bar or something. He goes back a month later to buy some more and the dealer asks him if he wants to try some harder stuff. The person says yes and marijuana becomes a gateway drug to cocaine, meth, heroin, etc. If marijuana is legalized this won't happen because people won't go to drug dealers to obtain it.

--Another common argument is that by legalizing marijuana more people will use it. This is a flawed argument for two reasons:
1. As shown by the number of deaths in 2004, more users won't really make a difference.
2. Pot being illegal doesn't really stop people from buying it (this is based on personal experience, not any facts).

So in conclusion, if you're going to keep marijuana illegal why not make alcohol illegal also? I'm fine with both being illegal since I don't use either very much, but alcohol is a much bigger killer than weed, and it's not harming anyone, so why criminalize it? And as the bold text above states it's actually doing harm making it illegal.

If there's anything I left out please add.

While I have a sister who sadly graduated from using pot to using meth, I still think it ought to be legal, I think she would have self destructed regardless of whether it was legal or not. We waste so much money and resources on it that ought to be used for the more serious drugs like meth.
I dont' agree that drinking a glass of wine is worse then smoking a joint though, if I smoked a whole joint I would definately not be able to drive! Of course if you're going to drive you shouldn't be doing either.

Willow said:

While I have a sister who sadly graduated from using pot to using meth, I still think it ought to be legal, I think she would have self destructed regardless of whether it was legal or not. We waste so much money and resources on it that ought to be used for the more serious drugs like meth.
I dont' agree that drinking a glass of wine is worse then smoking a joint though, if I smoked a whole joint I would definately not be able to drive! Of course if you're going to drive you shouldn't be doing either.

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I guess it depends on how big the glass and how small the joint lol
I probably shouldn't have put that quote in but that's alright.

Too bad about your sister, my mom's friend's daughter is a meth addict and her life is so messed up now. I think that if marijuana had been legal her dealer wouldn't have hooked her (or her boyfriend) up with meth so she might not be as bad.

Thanks I agree, because she had to get her pot illegally she ended up being involved with a whole strange set of people, who certainly helped her down her destructive path. It's heartbreaking watching someone like that, and for those of you who think this only happens in the ghetto or something, she holds a Master's degree and had plans on working on her PHD before she spiralled out of control. She would never had been in a postion to meet those people if she could have bought pot legally, but to be fair like I said I think she would have self destructed some other way. She has that kind of personality.

Willow said:

Thanks I agree, because she had to get her pot illegally she ended up being involved with a whole strange set of people, who certainly helped her down her destructive path. It's heartbreaking watching someone like that, and for those of you who think this only happens in the ghetto or something, she holds a Master's degree and had plans on working on her PHD before she spiralled out of control. She would never had been in a postion to meet those people if she could have bought pot legally, but to be fair like I said I think she would have self destructed some other way. She has that kind of personality.

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Yeah many people are just out of control, but if its the lifestyle they choose then so be it.

No, but it should be left up to each state to decide.

To legalize it nationally we would need to create an amendment that makes marijuana a right. That might give people the wrong idea. :rofl

yes. the cost of enforcing the law is greater than the negative effects of legalizing it.

though, my first reaction to seeing that link that says that smoking marijuana doesnt cause lung cancer was "BS!"

ARealConservative said:

No, but it should be left up to each state to decide.

To legalize it nationally we would need to create an amendment that makes marijuana a right. That might give people the wrong idea. :rofl

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I see your point but what would that wrong idea be?

hopefully states make it legal, because decriminalizing it still forces people to go to dealers.

If you look at a map of decriminalized states Nevada, Colorada, California, and Oregon are all so, and those are the only states I've spend a decent amount of time in lol. surprising I don't smoke pot

saggyjones said:

I see your point but what would that wrong idea be?

hopefully states make it legal, because decriminalizing it still forces people to go to dealers.

If you look at a map of decriminalized states Nevada, Colorada, California, and Oregon are all so, and those are the only states I've spend a decent amount of time in lol. surprising I don't smoke pot

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To seek federal protection you are singling out a particular activity. Is marijuana use any more deserving of this protection then gambling or prostitution would be? I feel singling it out would elevate it to the point it becomes something patriotic which is not what you had in mind I hope.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of kind bud?

saggyjones said:

hopefully states make it legal, because decriminalizing it still forces people to go to dealers.

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This is my stance. I will support full legalization, as long as it is supported by a proper regulatory framework; I will not support any "decriminalization" scheme that essentially informs the police not to bother enforcing the law.

I don't care if it's legalized state-by-state, though I would prefer the product safety regulations to come from the Federal government.

People won't believe me when I say yes, but I vote yes.

I don't like drugs period but like saggy said weigh pot to alcohol, there is no comparison. Long term pot use does fry the brain and it does cause many unfavorable things but so does alcohol and everything else people use to feel good. I don't think pot is any worse than taking strong perscription drugs or drinking to much alcohol. They are all bad in excess.

How many deaths are there across the country on our roads due to pot smokers verse people who have been drinking alcohol. How many children are abused by pot smokers as compared to acolholics? How many domestic violence incidents by pot smokers compared to drinkers?

If pot is illegal so should alcohol.

I will admit to buying pot from a friend (and I'm 50) for my mother who was dying from scleroderma last year, one of the worse and most painful things you can die from. It helped the pain she felt which was all over her body.
I would have gone to prison to get it for her.

It does help nausea and should at least be availabe for those to use who suffer from diseases.

A big yes for legalization. :mrgreen:

doughgirl said:

People won't believe me when I say yes, but I vote yes.

I don't like drugs period but like saggy said weigh pot to alcohol, there is no comparison. Long term pot use does fry the brain and it does cause many unfavorable things but so does alcohol and everything else people use to feel good. I don't think pot is any worse than taking strong perscription drugs or drinking to much alcohol. They are all bad in excess.

How many deaths are there across the country on our roads due to pot smokers verse people who have been drinking alcohol. How many children are abused by pot smokers as compared to acolholics? How many domestic violence incidents by pot smokers compared to drinkers?

If pot is illegal so should alcohol.

I will admit to buying pot from a friend (and I'm 50) for my mother who was dying from scleroderma last year, one of the worse and most painful things you can die from. It helped the pain she felt which was all over her body.
I would have gone to prison to get it for her.

It does help nausea and should at least be availabe for those to use who suffer from diseases.

A big yes for legalization. :mrgreen:

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OMG Do my eyes deceive me? Can this possibly be? Have pigs started flying? Has hell frozen over? I never thought I'd see the day doughgirl would say anything with any connection to liberalism. Cheers sugar.

ARealConservative said:

To seek federal protection you are singling out a particular activity. Is marijuana use any more deserving of this protection then gambling or prostitution would be? I feel singling it out would elevate it to the point it becomes something patriotic which is not what you had in mind I hope.

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of kind bud?

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I think gambling and prostitution are different situations, but legalizing them would be fine with me, and I wouldn't support or criticize that measure, except that it would really hurt Nevada's economy. And I'm suggesting lifting the bans on marijuana that's grown at home or sold in bars and such, not creating an amendment to the Constitution and encouraging it.

Korimyr the Rat said:

This is my stance. I will support full legalization, as long as it is supported by a proper regulatory framework; I will not support any "decriminalization" scheme that essentially informs the police not to bother enforcing the law.

I don't care if it's legalized state-by-state, though I would prefer the product safety regulations to come from the Federal government.

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I agree totally.

doughgirl said:

People won't believe me when I say yes, but I vote yes.

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Awesome, a conservative is backing this liberal proposition!

ARealConservative said:

No, but it should be left up to each state to decide.

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I'll give you that, but as it stands now, the federal government has usurped that power.

ARealConservative said:

To legalize it nationally we would need to create an amendment that makes marijuana a right. That might give people the wrong idea. :rofl

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Why would you think that it would require a Constitutional Amendment?

This is nothing more than a form of prohibition, something that it was realized required an Amendment to implement.

I see no reason to legalize marijuana. And I am consistent...in principle, I am for reviving the 18th Amendment. I know, pretty radical, huh? This should get some interesting responses.

CaptainCourtesy said:

This should get some interesting responses.

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Does that mean your post is flame bait, or are you actually serious? Because I was ready to flame until I saw that, hehe!

Binary_Digit said:

Does that mean your post is flame bait, or are you actually serious? Because I was ready to flame until I saw that, hehe!

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Uh, oh... Nope, totally serious. I have some pretty logical reasons, so don't flame. I'd be happy to debate the issue, even if I lose.

CaptainCourtesy said:

Uh, oh... Nope, totally serious. I have some pretty logical reasons, so don't flame. I'd be happy to debate the issue, even if I lose.

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I was kidding about being ready to flame. :2razz:

I'm very interested in understanding your logic. How do you reconcile the fact that prohibition actually increased the amount of overall harm that alcohol caused to society?

I've got a stupid question... Is there a difference between legalizing something and de-criminalizing something? I'm actually being serious.... Aps, you're a lawyer aren't you?

Anyways, I think there are WAY too many people in jail for pot possession, so if my option to end that is legalizing pot... then I vote yes...

And, I'm a conservative, too... damn, it's cold in hell today, right?

reaganburch said:

I've got a stupid question... Is there a difference between legalizing something and de-criminalizing something? I'm actually being serious.... Aps, you're a lawyer aren't you?

Anyways, I think there are WAY too many people in jail for pot possession, so if my option to end that is legalizing pot... then I vote yes...

And, I'm a conservative, too... damn, it's cold in hell today, right?

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Breaking News. The Devil is currently at the U.N. building asking world leaders for firewood for his home.

Hatuey said:

Breaking News. The Devil is currently at the U.N. building asking world leaders for firewood for his home.

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What, Bush is at the UN? :rofl

Plus, if the Devil is asking the UN for anything, he'll be waiting a long time for a response... just ask those in Darfur... oh wait, you can't... they're dead...

But I digress with my sarcasm...

YES


It would have to be legalized at a national level because even if states legalized it, it would still be against federal law. I heard states like CA, where medicinal marijuana is legal, the DEA is all over their asses all the time.
I also agree with Doughgirl and Saggy on the pot vs. alcohol debate.

americanwoman said:

YES


It would have to be legalized at a national level because even if states legalized it, it would still be against federal law. I heard states like CA, where medicinal marijuana is legal, the DEA is all over their asses all the time.
I also agree with Doughgirl and Saggy on the pot vs. alcohol debate.

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Although you make an interesting point, legalizing at the federal level would tell all states that it must be legal.

The current national policy makes no sense to me. Can anyone explain why the federal government needed a constitutional amendment for alcohol, but one isn't needed for other substances?

Seems to be prohibition was passed at a time that the constitutiuon was still followed and now it isn't being followed.

reaganburch said:

I've got a stupid question... Is there a difference between legalizing something and de-criminalizing something?

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Actually that's a good question and I couldn't find a definitive answer on google. But if I'm not mistaken, decriminalize means to stop punishing the users and focus on catching the dealers instead. Illegal to sell, but not illegal to have.