Legalise Cannabis?

[medici]

This has been brought up at least once before, way back when; I think old Fires probably started it. But now that the community is starting to flourish again with lots of new members I thought we could do with some good hot topics and get some opinions out there.

I've always been very middle of the road on the subject of weed; I've always known people who smoke it, and some who grow it, but I've been fairly unopinionated on the subject of legalising it, maybe slightly on the side of keeping it illegal but without any conviction.

But then a friend of mine kindly brought some to a party a couple of nights ago and we got high together, and now I very much feel that it should be legalised. I now realise that without experiencing it before I never really knew what I was talking about; I've never been more happy, relaxed or able to think more clearly in my life.

I've read a lot of the scientific literature on weed in the past and I don't believe that there's any reliable evidence for particularly serious effects on health. So as far as I see it the only danger is in addiction and the effects of smoking too much, however, I don't know anybody who is addicted to weed, but I do see addiction to cigarettes everywhere; some people can end up smoking in excess of 50 per day. An article in the Lancet actually found that weed has a lower rate or dependency than alcohol and nicotine. So even alcohol seems to be more addictive, and it seems to me that it's a lot easier to cause damage when you're drunk than when you're high.

So I think that while alcohol and fags are legal, weed should be legal too.

[dagun]

You need a don't care option

[Epsilon]

I have a very liberal approach to this argument, I personally think that any drug, rather it be weed, or any other drug. I think that it should be left up to those who wish to use the drug, I know I personally would never use any form of drug - Even alcohol I watch - but I know people in person that use all different types, and some that are affecting their health. I don't wish that they would get caught, because they should already understand the risks and they still presumably, use the drug.

Also making a drug Illegal does not make it imposable to get the drug, people would still use it.

[Kanetsugu]

I have a very liberal approach to this argument, I personally think that any drug, rather it be weed, or any other drug. I think that it should be left up to those who wish to use the drug, I know I personally would never use any form of drug - Even alcohol I watch - but I know people in person that use all different types, and some that are affecting their health. I don't wish that they would get caught, because they should already understand the risks and they still presumably, use the drug.

Also making a drug Illegal does not make it imposable to get the drug, people would still use it.

Basically this.

[medici]

You need a don't care option

Added one fella. People may have to vote again.

I have a very liberal approach to this argument, I personally think that any drug, rather it be weed, or any other drug. I think that it should be left up to those who wish to use the drug, I know I personally would never use any form of drug - Even alcohol I watch - but I know people in person that use all different types, and some that are affecting their health. I don't wish that they would get caught, because they should already understand the risks and they still presumably, use the drug.

Also making a drug Illegal does not make it imposable to get the drug, people would still use it.

I disagree with you here dog, partly because some drugs are so addictive and damaging that it's just insane having them available. The main reason, however, is because in the U.K. (unlike where you are in the U.S.) we have a universal state healthcare system where everybody is treated for free regardless of their condition or circumstances. I'm already pissed off enough at paying for people who have destroyed their liver with alcohol, without having to pay to look after f*cked up heroin addicts.

Your approach makes more sense in the U.S. where you have a more laissez-faire attitude and system, but if Obama gets his way that might change =P.

[fl00d3d]

From a social and economic position: I support it. Even my macroeconomics instructor (who holds a PhD in Economics) supports legalization. It would just need appropriate regulation just like alcohol.

[darkdarr]

i honestly dont care if someone wants it (if just to try or for fun) they can get it pretty easily also posseccion of weed is a class 3 mistomeaner in the US (lowest level of crime; less of a charge then doing 82 in a 70 in the state of VA...) but it should be regulated and taxed it can be such a huge money maker for the government

[BassAce]

From a social and economic position: I support it. Even my macroeconomics instructor (who holds a PhD in Economics) supports legalization. It would just need appropriate regulation just like alcohol.

[TsuScorpio]

Smoking tobacco has more serious effects than smoking marijuana. The real reason they don't want to legalize it is so that they can make a sh*t load of money off of the taxes they make off of cigarettes. It's even shown that marijuana has benefits, while tobacco does not. I'm not going to say whether i support it or not, because one of my "female contemporaries" disapproves of it in general.

[Nightma12]

I voted yes

[fl00d3d]

Smoking tobacco has more serious effects than smoking marijuana. The real reason they don't want to legalize it is so that they can make a sh*t load of money off of the taxes they make off of cigarettes. It's even shown that marijuana has benefits, while tobacco does not. I'm not going to say whether i support it or not, because one of my "female contemporaries" disapproves of it in general.

It shouldn't matter if a mother, girlfriend, wife, etc disapproves of it. That's their opinion. If you're making an opinion (and only an opinion) and it is backed by facts or some kind of supporting evidence I don't see how they could hold it against you. Do they agree with you on everything in your life? Never let anyone think for you.

[Epsilon]

Smoking tobacco has more serious effects than smoking marijuana. The real reason they don't want to legalize it is so that they can make a sh*t load of money off of the taxes they make off of cigarettes. It's even shown that marijuana has benefits, while tobacco does not. I'm not going to say whether i support it or not, because one of my "female contemporaries" disapproves of it in general.

It shouldn't matter if a mother, girlfriend, wife, etc disapproves of it. That's their opinion. If you're making an opinion (and only an opinion) and it is backed by facts or some kind of supporting evidence I don't see how they could hold it against you. Do they agree with you on everything in your life? Never let anyone think for you.

That is true, you shouldn't worry about their opinions unless they are willing to listen to you defend yourself.

[fl00d3d]

Btw, I wasn't trying to pick on you. And I realize that most people here have parents that have full or partial control over their lives. But even in those situations, a fair and intelligent adult should be willing to hear the side of an argument without bias as a parent. Just because you support the legalization of weed (perhaps), doesn't mean you would break the law or violate the rights/rules of your parents.

[TsuScorpio]

It's not my parents lol. The reason why i'm not going to say, is because while I see the benefits of it, it's a very sensitive topic between me and my friend, because we've had some very bad things happen before, whether it involved us being spectators or our friends, and it involved cannabis. I'm just neutral on the topic.

[medici]

What kind of bad things?