Currently I get my stuff for around $20 per gram and I get more pleasure out of it than a comparable (in terms of price) amount of tobacco or alcohol. But it is not about price, and I'm more than willing to pay taxes on them and pay more for my health care as it should also be for fat people, smokers and alcohol consumers (not just alcoholics). I don't care if the stuff go up to a $100 (after all the taxes), still worth it to me.
I believe marijuana is a lesser evil than alcohol, and rationalwiki backs me up
Its effects at these doses are best likened to those of moderate alcohol consumption, but without the same degree of motor impairment and without the disinhibition towards aggressionWhich is also my own experience with them. When high, I'm still more aware and more conscious of my actions than when I were drunk, fully aware of being high and avoiding anything that could get me in trouble (driving a car, stabbing people, etc..). All while enjoying myself more and not having to suffer a horrible hangover or anything afterwards. I just sober up and get on with my life.
The discrimination against pot smokers is ridiculous, and it is a product of negative advertising and racism more than anything else.
You'd be actually reducing crime if you legalize pot, and the federal government and the state would be reeking in the millions from taxes on marijuana.
Cannabis was legal, and only was banned recently!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States
A product of this era:
That's the thing. If pot is legalized we'll get rid of the dealers, and will obtain it like we obtain tobacco and alcohol.
[source]
Now someone says "think of the children?" I say if their parents are incapable of raising them and making it clear to them that something are for kids and somethings are not, then fuck 'em!
Actually if anything marijuana tax money can be spent on helping children. Helping the whole economy! the government is instead wasting millions fighting endless wars like "War on Drugs" and "War on Terror". Robbing us of our freedoms at the same time!
And how is legalization bad? children wont suddenly start smoking it just because it is legal.
And when did I say I want it to be made accessible for teenagers? or I want teenagers to be high?
Just the fact that I don't mind it being taxed to $100 per gram shows that I don't want it to be accessible to everyone, especially underage kids.
Alcohol has known medical benefits, sure! every time I see a drunk driver, I go there is someone who was drinking for the medical benefits.
The absurdities we go through!
Prison sentences and fines just for possession.
Otherwise innocent people, just for smoking it, end up in jail! This is not right and not fair!
Discrimination...
The fact that more deadly mind altering drugs (alcohol and nicotine) are allowed and cannabis isn't.
I'm talking about individual freedoms that doesn't come at the cost of others'.
Murder and theft cause extreme harm (and sometimes death) for the people affected by the crime.
What does the effect smoking marijuana in private has on anyone? Someone in his house not bothering anyone is no criminal.
That's why it is called a recreational drug! recreational! some people miss that part!
When the government makes a substance illegal then they give a monopoly to gangs. People have to go to the gangs to get the substance so the gangs influence and power increases. The police being to monitor them and so the gangs begin to obtain guns to fight back. People begin to get hurt because of police involvement, rivalries between gangs and deals involving large quantities of the substance that go sour.
If the government makes it legal the the average Joe isn't going to purchase it from gangs and so their income falls, eventually leading to fewer crimes such as theft and murder.
But that wont happen as long as it remains illegal. In order for people to not abuse it and use it sensibly the government needs to educate people. As long as the government refuses to make it legal and wont educate people so they wont abuse the drug it will just become a symbol of freedom. Lies, such as its entirely harmless, spread and people see the government as oppressors. Keeping it illegal until people are mature enough to use it isn't going to work as people will just become more immature as long as it is forbidden. Exactly like the teenager who will abuse alcohol because it was always forbidden rather than the teenager who was given the choice to use it and knew about its consequences.
It isn't 'why should we make legal?' but rather 'why is it illegal?'. If people want it then that should be reason enough. Lets apply your argument to something else: 'Why should gay marriage be legal? Just because gays want it doesn't mean it should be legal, they need more of a reason'. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense now does it? You seem to be under the impression that the government is here to give us certain liberties. This isn't true. The government is elected by the people to keep them safe, if a law has no purpose to keep people safe then it only serves to block their liberties. If people want to smoke it and it has more harmful effects illegal than harmful effect legal then make it legal.
-- miniPhil
