Monday, April 8, 2013

Marijuana; you for it?

        Are you for legalizing Medical marijuana?
           Are you for legalizing all marijuana?

                                  And WHY?
Z


63 comments:

Unknown said...

I am for it because I am against government telling people what to do in their private lives.

The problem I have with it is that because of our bloated welfare state, private stupidity can end up having public consequences that we all end up paying for, and that is the argument against it.

Ducky's here said...

Legalize it.

Some restrictions like selling to minors but in general give it the same status as alcohol.

Right now there is so much profit in the trade on both sides that it's understandable that legalization is resisted.
The prison industry and "War on Drugs" boondoggle are big money makers.
So legalize it. Tax it and hope (against hope) that the money goes someplace useful and diverts funds from the corrupt "public safety" sector.

Anonymous said...

I agree...legalize it, tax it and control the sale of it...like alcohol.

Long time ago I realized I was safer in a car with someone who was buzzed than anyone who was drunk. Cause they stopped at every burger joint along the way and didn't drive much!!

Constitutional Insurgent said...

I'm for it as well, for most of the reasons outlined above. The only stipulation I would make would be to ensure that one can cultivate their own marijuana plants, unlike the myriad of laws that currently exist proscribing the home manufacture of alcohol.

Anonymous said...

Stop the killing, the rivers of blood from the US to Columbia. and stop the terror and the corruption of children and government officials. Legalize it now!

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

It's going to complicate my job to the Nth degree because, sooner or later, cops will want to utilize marijuana whilst at work, like any other "pain reliever."

Yeah; I'd want a cop on dope trying on some so-called critical thinking skills during YOUR crisis -- just not MINE.

BZ

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Marijuana use would be just as proscibed as alcohol use while on the the job [and in the military at least, 8 hours prior to the duty day].

Speedy G said...

Against legalization. They'll take out the THC and diminish drug potency... then genetically engineer and copyright a semi-harmless product to be sold at exhorbitant prices to the masses.... while crushing all "independent" competitors.

Legalization is merely "extended life" for obsolete tobacco companies.

FreeThinke said...

YES!

I'm for legalizing the use of ALL drugs, BECAUSE it would IMMEDIATELY eliminate the CRIMINAL ELEMENT.

Also, bear this in mind:

If someone is fool enough to want to destroy himself. it would be stupid for society to interfere.

We have far too many fools running around loose as it is. The fewer the better.

If you are determined to go to hell, why should I -- or anyone else -- try to stop you?

It's YOUR business.

JonBerg said...

I have questions. If THC has a real medical benefit why can't it be synthesized into uniform dosage; say in pill form? As I understand it, so called "Medical Marijuana", in smoking form, must be prescribed by a physician. I thought that the very worst thing anyone could possibly do is smoke. It has been reported that marijuana smoke is as, or more, unhealthy than tobacco smoke but there is a massive movement to eliminate tobacco smoke altogether. Therefore as the use of tobacco is being, incrementally, eliminated why, concurrently, is the use of marijuana being promoted?

Thersites said...

Synthetic SOMA? How unnatural!

sue hanes said...


Z - I don't think marijuanna is any worse than the harm that cigarettes and alcohol do.

Yes - I am for legalizing it.

Always On Watch said...

I've never smoked pot, so I really don't have a clue as to what its advantages and disadvantages are.

Maybe it's like booze? Some people get addicted and some don't?

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Ducky's here said...

Thanks Qman, quite the disguise.

Ducky's here said...

A look at the cost of the drug war

Unknown said...

We do spend a lot on the drug war, but legalizing marijuana won't end it.

I think other drugs make up over half of everything trafficked into the US, so unless we legalize it all, the drug war will continue.

Something we should do right now is decriminalize possession of smaller amounts. It is a ridiculous waste of resources to try and lock people up for smoking pot.

And I do not smoke pot.

Bob said...

OK. The "Ayes" bave it! Let's start selling the stuff in drug stores, without prescriptions to any and everybody, youth excluded, of course.

Like Free Thinke, I am in favor of legalizing ALL drugs, including those on the prescription list. If people are too stupid to keep bad crap out of their system, they deserve to be taken out of the gene pool.

There would be problems with some people, but we would spend a lot less on their rehabilitation than we now spend on the so-called War On Drugs.

A man has a right to get high. It is called, "the pursuit of happiness", and it is in our founding documents.

Pris said...

JB,
"Therefore as the use of tobacco is being, incrementally, eliminated why, concurrently, is the use of marijuana being promoted?"

That's my question. I smoke tobacco. Now, to those of you who may want tobacco banned, why would you want marijuana legalized? It's ok, but tobacco isn't?

Marijuana contains carcinogens too, but that's ok? Tobacco doesn't make you high, and marijuana does, yet here in California the voters made it legal! Go figure!!

So, let's see. I'm a bad person because I smoke, but marijuana users aren't? Wow!!

BTW, I never tried pot, nor any illegal drug. I did research marijuana when my kids were young teens so I could discourage them from trying, or using it.
I thought pot is a gateway drug, isn't it?

The Dark Fury said...

Our leader's name is Obama,
He says he inhaled marijuana,
A tip of the hat,
Goes to someone like that,
And did he tell you that he caught Osama

Z said...

Pris, pot can definitely be a gateway drug...particularly if you're really into it. I saw it a lot...the people kids hung out with were the types who did harder drugs, so voila. bad trouble

CSPELM?..I'd almost prefer they smoke it and NOT tell!!!' I think part of our woes are people have to tell EVERYTHING!

Bob, just the thought of marijuana on the shelves at CVS or whatever drug stores you have in your area is enough for me to decide against legalization. What a creepy state of affairs.

Sure, alcohol's sold everywhere and nobody minds, but we have to remember CONTEXT: Americans aren't used to that!
It's like Europeans say we're prudes because they sunbathe topless (some of them)...we don't because we're not USED to it. Period. What's so bad about not being used to things? No reason to call us names or scoff, right!?

Curt, why don't we? Just decriminalize a small amount.



CURT WINS THE MARIJUANA DEBATE :-)
At least here at geeeeZ!!!!

Anonymous said...

Legalize it, tax it (not too the point you still have traffic) and use the money to treat people who suffer from addictions. I'm sure the cost benefit analysis will show we're better off when you include the money spent on cops, prison, trials and the murders for it.
Now is it better for society as a whole? I don't think so. But people still do it now A LOT. And I think the more it'll have visibility, the less cool it'll become. The same thing that happened to smoking could happen to pot as well.

Anonymous said...

Now, to those of you who may want tobacco banned, why would you want marijuana legalized? It's ok, but tobacco isn't?

I don't get the logic of some pro-legalization people who want to ban cigarettes either.

Z said...

Frog...I forgot to mention that part of Pris's comment.
She's always SO smart and focuses like a laser beam on such obvious things...like why make it as hard as possible to smoke tobacco but talk about legalizing pot?

excellent point

-FJ the Dangerous and Extreme MAGA Jew said...

Wow.

How the intelligencia must hate the working classes. As if they are not already dysfunctional enough, we need to foist more opportunities for escapism.

*shakes head*

Z said...

FJ...what a great line!
Thanks for that... good one.

Anonymous said...

How the intelligencia must hate the working classes. As if they are not already dysfunctional enough, we need to foist more opportunities for escapism.

Sounds like a comment from the intelligentsia itself, sadly.

Kid said...

I'm for legalizing ALL Drugs.

Why:
- I don't care about addicts. Give them the drugs for all I care and it will be 1,000 times less expensive than this 'war on drugs'. If they OD and die, I don't care. The faster the better,
- people who do drugs are going to do drugs regardless.
- eliminate massive amounts of crime and costs that affect the rest of us in a very negative way.
- drunks are 1000 times more dangerous on the roads than a high person. Unless we're talking about sleeping pills.
It will reduce the need for cops, court time, prison space, medical care (no dirty needles)

- The positives are the only change to the situation. The negatives will Always be there.

- All drugs were legal until around 1920. They were made illegal as a way for the government to collect revenue.

There is nothing to lose, and everything to gain.


They're been taking a med truck around in Amsterdam for decades now shooting up the addicts.

Portugal decriminalized drugs about 7 yrs ago now and their addict population has decreased by over 40%.



Kid said...

CI, People are free to make their own beer and wine.

Anonymous said...

Kid makes great points.

You know I've seen more drugs in the US than in France. Heard more stories about it. Cocaine is a lot more "common" here, including in average middle class families.

Yet it's not more legal in France than it is here. So there's something else that makes people use drugs. More disposable income? More opportunities? More sorrows? (France is #1 for per capita consumption of anti-depressants). What is it?

Kid said...

FrogBurger,.... I believe the government is bringing it in.

There, I said it.

Anonymous said...

They ship weapons to Mexico so nothing would shock me, sadly.

Kid said...

One thought, not my main thought, but:
-Race Riots
-Kent State
-Massive Drugs on Campus and inner-city
-We be Jammin ever since.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

@Kid - "CI, People are free to make their own beer and wine."

Not necessarily. Wine making is still regulated in many states, and if you live in Delaware, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio and Oklahoma, you cannot legally brew your own beer. Federal law regarding this only changed in 1978.

But I used the term alcohol. One still cannot brew spirits for private consumption. Little doubt that the alcohol lobby played [and still plays] a strong hand in this. If marijuana is legalized at the federal level, without having the caveat that I brought up, there is little doubt that we would see the same paradigm in place.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Are you for legalizing Medical marijuana?

Yes.

Are you for legalizing all marijuana?

Yes, but also a government declaration needs to be made that it was ridiculous to illegalize it in the first place, and provisions made to pay back restitution and interest to the people and families of people that have spent any amount of jail time or fines resulting from these stupid laws, to be taken directly from the operating budgets of every law enforcement agency within the borders of the United States of America.

And WHY?

Because if you REALLY want to do something about drug abuse in America, you'd make it a capital offense to provide medical care to someone overdosed in an emergency room.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Marijuana contains carcinogens too, but that's ok?

You'd have to smoke a spliff the size of a telephone pole to get the carcinogens contained in one pack of cigarettes.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

I believe the government is bringing it in.

I stole a few plants off of land belonging to a former Governor of Illinois back in the day....

Z said...

Kid, there SURE was a lot of chatter about Clinton and some airport in Arkansas bringing a LOT of stuff in and everybody turning blind eyes to it.
I'm sure this is happening still.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Occasionally when things get too flagrant, the gang of car thieves, drug dealers, and assassins for hire that run around here caling themselves the "St. Louis Police Department" will drum out one of their flunkies for pushing pounds out of his garage.

We even have a cop in the "St. Louis Tea Party" who sued successfully to keep his job after moonlighting as a marijuana legalization advocate / lobbyist.

So me a cop around here that doesn't get high as nizzuts with his co-workers and I'll show you a cop that's not been on the force very long.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

So = show

Ducky's here said...

That's right, z. The Clintons are running drugs into an airport in Arkansas.

If the Red Sox weren't off to such a good start I'd cry.

JonBerg said...

Pris,
Thank you for always being you! I too, smoke the evil tobacco weed. I appreciate your understanding of my comment. Now I would like to ask a question to some (you know who you are). If you were in an airplane and you were in flight, approching to land or whatever and you depend upon the the Air Traffic Control person to direct the situation, which would you rather have: someone who just did a cigarette or one who just did a joint? Having done it all, you better belive the former. And I promise another thing, the mixture of marijuana and alcohol, driving, is about the most deadly thing that you can imagine! My sister-in-law is still in the 'can' over that!

Z said...

Ducky, I'm quite sure they're not doing that anymore. You can start crying now.

You are SUCH a jerk. No offense.

JB....trust me, I'd trust the cigarette smoker.


SO...marijuana legal or not? VERY good arguments on both sides. Most of my readers (98%) are SO SMART.

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Now I would like to ask a question to some (you know who you are). If you were in an airplane and you were in flight, approching to land or whatever and you depend upon the the Air Traffic Control person to direct the situation, which would you rather have: someone who just did a cigarette or one who just did a joint?

Depends. Are we talking minor, privately run airports or one of the larger ones with federal employees being paid to nap at their consoles?

I kid. I see no problem with employers banning their workers from coming to work inebriated (or getting inebriated at work), no different than CatDaddy spiced moonshine being legal to purchase and use yet restricted while working on the clock.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

What exactly is the rationale that marijuana would be permitted during the duty/work day, and not prohibited as is alcohol? Especially in high risk, public safety and cleared positions.

It's a fallacious argument from start to finish.

JonBerg said...

BM (HUMMM)

As far as I can tell you missed the point, completely; but what's new?

Z said...

Const. Insurg..since when did someone on drugs or alcohol at work need permission?

Bob said...

OK, Z. It would look a little strange to see weed on the shelves at CVS. Would you prefer a local farmer's market, or maybe your hairdresser can sell the stuff?

It doesn't make any difference. Medical marijuana is just an excuse for most people in Cali and other medical pot states to smoke the stuff for enjoyment. Legalizing the stuff takes the crime out of it, but not the stupidity.

The same applies to all the other illegal drugs. Milton Friedman had a fascinating case for legalizing all drugs. It just makes sense. Like COF said, earlier, there is a literal trail of blood from US cities to the rest of the western hemisphere, and it is getting worse.

Legalizing drugs will present new problems, but certainly not thousands of people being murdered for the stuff. Once stuff becomes legal and available, there's no reason for people to pay hoods for their high.

Constitutional Insurgent said...

Z - They obviously don't. But they face the consequences. Opponents of legalized or decriminalized marijuana often trot out the spectre of all manner of risk laden professions being inundated by those under the influence.

Why, if the framework of retribution, disemployment and /or incarceration works to a reasonable degree with alcohol, would it not be likewise with marijuana?

And if you were to argue that it would not be effective, must we not then entertain the notion of criminalizing alcohol as well?

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

As far as I can tell you missed the point, completely; but what's new?

You seemed to be suggesting that our already asleep at the switch unionized federal air traffic controllers aren't hitting the bongs already.

JonBerg said...

If you idiots think that expanding the use of cocaine ,meth or anything like that stuff is a good idea, you are probably already on it or you are clueless! Also if you think that the "Cartel" will just go away with "legalization", think again! They won't!

(((Thought Criminal))) said...

They've found bags of cocaine in restricted areas in the Space Center at Cape Canaveral more than a couple of times in the last few years, after all.

We've all seen hidden camera video of daily beer-and-weed binges done by auto workers on their lunch breaks.

How many fighter pilots do we have jacked up on eugeroics flying over Afghanistan right now?

How loaded is the dude behind the counter at Subway that just made your sandwich?

Drugs are bad, unless there's work to be done :P







(((Thought Criminal))) said...

Ask your doctor if you need to fill his prescription kickback quota...

Average American said...

One point that has not been made yet which is the main reason that pot has not been made legal is that there is no test for it that can conclusively tell WHEN it was used. If you get stopped for DUI, there are tests to tell if you are or are not over the legal limit--not so for pot. You may have stoked one up 15 minutes ago, or maybe it was last weekend---no way to tell when. Same for workplace usage, no way to know if it was while you were on break, or was it 2 days ago that you got high---no way to tell.

To answer your question Z, yes I am for legalization. Give the government something to spend some money on, coming up with better testing. It won't take long.

Tax it and treat it just like beer. It'll be cheaper than it is right now, and a ton of crime will go away quick. We can also empty a few jails and save a bundle of cash there too.

Unknown said...

JonBerg says, Also if you think that the "Cartel" will just go away with "legalization", think again! They won't!"

I believe you are correct. If we legalize only marijuana, they will continue trafficking in other illegal drugs. That's why we need to legalize ALL drugs.

Of course, the cartels, being organized for their economic benefit, will seek other ways to make money. Since they most likely cannot compete in the legal world, they will still try to find illegal commodities. If they cannot find a way to make money, they will shrivel up and die.

In this case they might take an entire nation down the tubes. Just how much of the Mexican economy is tied up in illegal drugs could spell the death of that nation.

Unknown said...

Uh, the previous post was by Bob.

Kid said...

Average A. Field sobriety test solves that problem.

TS/WS said...

Electronics are the most smuggled contra ban.
There is too much stuff for the black market---bullets will be next!
Will you buy 22 ammo from china via the Cartels, or 357 hollow points, or 30 round magazines.
Yea there is just too much stuff for the Cartels to black market smuggle over here; as long as China or Indonesia, or Some other third world Country thinks there is a need here for their smuggled contra ban...beats all that Gubment RED TAPE.
Drugs are the easiest to sway the novices who know nothing about the outlawing of pot in the first place...all about Gov Contracts with the new fangled nylon Rope and other stuff that hemp competed with.
New Money puts sparks in the eyes of Representatives and Senators, and cools the itch of their palms.
It took a long time for the Dog tracks to have approval- the time taken was finding out whose palms would be greased. The same with outlawing something...hummmm whose palms will be greased by outlawing 30 round magazines and having to register sales of a gun present from a dad to the son?

Kid said...

Z, no to clarify, I believe that the government, led by Nixon on those days, looked around at race riots and college based Vietnam riots, and 4 killed in O Hi O, and strategically brought marijuana (and possibly some other drugs known for soothing the savage beast) into America on a massive scale and made it available and Cool at colleges, and it just went 'viral' as they say form there. I believe some of the other drugs were not planned but were collateral damage that was just accepted.

In short, I believe the government decided to drug the rioting populace, rather than use violence against it.

It went from there, and now, planned or not it is such a money maker for them, they're not going to let it go.

Divine Theatre said...

Re-legalize it. The Drug War has killed more people than drugs alone. It's time to end it and allow free people to make their own mistakes as long as they don't hurt anyone else.
Have you read "Ain't Nobody's Business if You Do" by the late, great Peter McWilliams?
HIGHLY recommend!

Andie

Unknown said...

What any of us put in our bodies is none of the government's business. How we behave is definitely is society's business. Legalize it and all who use it just need to be responsible while on marijuana. Same goes with alcohol. I have no problem with marijuana use when one is on his or her own time. However, use it at work or other inappropriate times and you're fired, same as alcohol.

Unknown said...

What any of us put in our bodies is none of the government's business. How we behave is definitely is society's business. Legalize it and all who use it just need to be responsible while on marijuana. Same goes with alcohol. I have no problem with marijuana use when one is on his or her own time. However, use it at work or other inappropriate times and you're fired, same as alcohol.

JonBerg said...

CI
"marijuana would be permitted during the duty/work day,.......It's a fallacious argument from start to finish."

Notwithstanding, the fact of your, obvious, naivety, you miss the genesis of the "argument", completely! I'm afraid that further explanation would prove to be futile, in your case.