If legalized, would the amount of users soar?

[BathingApes]

I've been trying to argue the benefits of marijuana legalisation with my friends, but they always seem to want to use the "there will be more car accidents!" argument against me.

Their arguments rely heavily on the assumption that legalization would incur a large increase in users - I'm just wondering if there are any studies to show/refute that claim?

I've tried Google Scholar, no luck so far.

Thanks in advance..

[Breukelen advocaat]

It's legal in Holland, and they have less users per capita than some other countries.

[BathingApes]

It's legal in Holland and they have less users than some countries where it is not legal.

I've said that to them, but they say "Oh, but people there are already extremely liberal in regards to drug law, and illegality of marijuana would probably not deter them at all."

[TheMetal1]

I don't think the amount of people smoking would skyrocket... but the amount of people that you would eventually find out smoked would probably soar like a bald eagle.

I think one of the reasons many people are so against toleration/legalization is because so many people keep quiet about their choice to smoke cannabis... making it difficult for the average non-smoker to visualize the millions of faces that are smoking on a daily basis.

I think in 2006 there was almost 15 million Americans that had smoked cannabis in the month prior to the survey, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. That is just the people that were either 1) Honest 2) Busted for smoking 3) Too high to care that anyone knows :stoned: Many people were probably sketched out or didn't bother to respond to the survey.

I've been in coffeeshops overseas where you will see a 70+ year old woman stroll in to pick out her daily dank. At this point in time, with readily accessible information at our fingertips... if anyone STILL has the audacity to oppose another persons right to EFFECTIVE natural medication, they are either:
1) Too ignorant and oblivious to seek out information/personal testimony of the benefits that safe and legal access to cannabis can bring to our country.
2) Too arrogant to admit that they have been wrong this whole time.

Also, don't forget to bring up the billions of dollars in legal systems costs to arrest/prosecute/jail minor "marijuana offenders."

Yeeesh... some people, right? :jointsmile:
Go get 'em! :hippy:

[GrinKyle]

Your friends are idiots.

[cygnustaxt]

Your friends are idiots.

well i guess thats putting it one way...lol, nah you're friends arguments are dumb though for real.

[BathingApes]

Your friends are idiots.

When it comes to weed.

Its a good thing I never paid attention in school I guess.

The stigma has got to them. I mean, after being told weed is bad all your life, you can see why the general public would kinda be skeptical. It's the governments fault. Here in the UK, the government asked a board of scientific experts to review whether the cannabis laws needed UPGRADING (I know, what the fuck) and the board said no - YET, the government is still doing it. Makes no sense.

It's like they want all the bullshit they believe to be true so bad, that by making all these ridiculous laws they start to believe it themselves. Its a shame that the general public don't ever get balanced information.

When was the last time you heard on the news "Man on marijuana becomes inspired, feels harmony with the rest of the human race and feels a greater sense of compassion for others" - NEVER. If a station even did that, the goddam overreacting public would say they were "advertising drug use" and label them as some sort of demonic force.

Fuck the consensus, that's all I can say. Don't give up hope though. All it takes is time.

[jimmy8778]

the government is just too wrong to be able to admit it now, like metal said, they have spent billions going into this, and if they admit they are wrong then they could be held liable for many many things, such as social security or something else, where the funds have been nothing but drained, and to fund what, a war which didnt get us anywhere.

in modern times war is not really an effective means to fight anything.

[TurnyBright]

Why is it illegal in the first place, you might want to ask your friends. If they say it's because people will get high and crash their cars, then make the obvious response... make it illegal to DRIVE while intoxicated.

If they say it's because people will get high and hurt others... make the obvious response... make it illegal to HURT OTHER PEOPLE.

Just making the "state of mind" illegal is jumping the gun, comparable to making it illegal to wear boots, because you might kick someone.

[texas grass]

in all reality it would go down. kids, trouble makers, and rebels wouldnt do it as much because it wouldnt be as exiting. they wouldnt be breaking the law.

if anyone brings up anything bad about driving or operating stuff while blazed, i always bring up the drunk/alcohol card. well that suff is legal and its a proven fact there are more deaths, fights, arguments, accidents, operator failures, physical mental and emotional problems with drinking and its legal.

[stinkyattic]

I think we would see a shift in the demographic of the smoker.
Kids smoking just to be rebellious? I'll buy that, and I think it depends on whether the parents they are rebelling against make a big deal of pot. If they say "OMG cigarettes are the devil's work!" that's what the little rebel will pick. If they are like, "You do go hell for smoking weed"... guess what!? lol

Now as for older people, I think the numbers would rise, because a lot of mature professionals would like to smoke, in theory, but the legal status and risk of finding a source keep them from pursuing it. Would you believe that a lot of people who would benefit from some smoke actually respect the law? lololol!!! If it were legal, I'd MAYBE, just maybe, finally be able to convince my mom that it would really take a bite out of her wound-tight anxiety problem, which has held her back all her life. Granted, she's a smart one and hard-working, but the times I've seen her overwhelmed and frozen by anxiety I have been SO angry that I can't jsut say, hey mom, take a break, let's go sit by the koi pond and have a smoke.

Soon...

[Dutch Pimp]

Now as for older people, I think the numbers would rise, because a lot of mature

I agree. Old dudes can't find a connection anymore. Their out of the loop.

This does not mean they don't enjoy a good puff, every now and then...:jointsmile:

[psychocat]

I agree. Old dudes can't find a connection anymore. Their out of the loop. :

You are well wide of the mark with that idea.


This does not mean they don't enjoy a good puff, every now and then...:jointsmile:

Spot on with that one though. :D

[GreenDestiny]

More people will definitely be able to freely try cannabis without fear of legal persecution.
That's just the first step, a very small step.


The number would EXPLODE exponentially if it also excludes cannabinoids from all drug tests. That's the big step. No fear of social persecution for what you do in private. Then you'll be able to enjoy your fancy job without having to buy fake pee or quick fix crap freaking out all the time.

[Dutch Pimp]

You are well wide of the mark with that idea.





I only meant...it's risky for 40-50 year old dudes...to roam around the "hood" at night...:D... It use to be easy...back in the day.

[Reefer Rogue]

There's no positive corrolation between legalization and an increases ratio of car accidents, it's merely an ignorant assumption.

[kingjustin]

The number would EXPLODE exponentially if it also excludes cannabinoids from all drug tests. That's the big step. No fear of social persecution for what you do in private. Then you'll be able to enjoy your fancy job without having to buy fake pee or quick fix crap freaking out all the time.

That's the ticket :thumbsup:

[theforthdrive]

FUCK IT....what we are doing now isnt working. why not try something new and see what happens. maybe it goes up maybe it goes down. hell if everyone starts to get high then we can always repeal..... wait, what am i talkin about, Im high!

[silkyblue]

Oh God!!

I wish herbal root growing plants were legal especially in midwest America

The shits deep in these parts,

the Moral is low in Midwest America low


Somebody either needs to legalise it for medical r take it OFF the Arrest list! Alot of smokers need to "come out" and stand up for the herb Nation



If herby was legal ??? Weould open a small quaint shoppe and b a rich American Id grow fields of herbs. What a beautifil life that would be

They [American gov] are spending Americas money in all the wrong places


something has got to change

[IanCurtisWishlist]

decriminalizing marijuana , as it is done in Holland, would probably not cause more traffic accidents.

now all-out legalization--where you might drive down the street and see cannabis advertised on billboards, in the magazines/newspapers, and on television-- this might stir up some problems.

I feel that the USA should develop the same attitude towards cannabis as does Holland--that is to say, allow people to buy it in limited quantities, smoke it on site as long as alcohol is not served at the same place, and advertising is strictly prohibited.

I hate the fact that tobacco is sold almost everywhere. I hate the marlboro man advertisements , I hate the fucking bastards getting rich off chemicals that are more dangerous and toxic than crack cocaine. I would prefer to never see another advertisement for tobacco in my life. I would also be very pissed off if the same people who profit from tobacco could also profit from our precious herb!

I am all for decriminalization, where a business could pay lots of money to our government to obtain a permit to distribute either weed or alcohol (not both at the same time). you can buy 5 grams in a coffee house and smoke it on site, or smoke it in your home. but all-out legalization is only going to make the tobacco-pushers rich. I don't know about you guys but I'd rather give my drug dealer 40 bucks for an 8th as opposed to phillip morris 10 dollars for the same 8th (mainly because i know my drug dealer is going to use it for something better!)

i also like the idea of the government controlling cannabis 100 percent--that is to say, you could only obtain cannabis from a government-ran shop. or grow your own.

as far as traffic accidents are concerned, i'm not worried. i'd be more worried about alcohol and pills--the legal and more deadly drugs.

ps-- our solution to foreign oil dependence could be solved if we grew industrial-grade hemp. we could also begin paying off the national debt if the federal government taxed cannabis at the rate of 1 dollar per gram sold.

[Algag]

I like your ideas, especially marijuana being strictly sold by government so it is somewhat mandated. As far as car crashes go, there are still DUI laws. Legalizing marijuana wouldnt mean you could cruise around freely toking up. But on the other hand I don't have any problems obtaining my marijuana so its not a huge deal to me. Also it would spoil my amsterdam savings fund.

[SouthernGuerilla]

There is DUI and DWI laws.

I'm against Government owned and operated cannabis business or any business. :)
Smaller / lesser Government the better! It's bad enough the amount we pay in taxes, and their wasteful spending habbits.

Far as quality control and such, I think vendors are doing that already where cannabis is legal.

Would be nice to see the reintroduction of landrace species in the wild :p

[blizz]

in oregon in the 1900's when pot was legalized, they noticed a crime decrease of 40% after this happend.on the other side of the gun marijuana should be legal,no if ands or buts about it. i wish people would realise that the us really isnt a free country. unfornitly we live in a world that has to be run by a power or we struggle to survive. i dont want the government selling marijuana im fine growing my own cause there stupid as hell they dont know whats going on in this country.

[blizz]

and btw the big tabacoo companies are supporting the illegalization and anti drug ads to take the heat off themselves when in reality 10x more poeple die from cigs then heroin,thats the truth

[GreenDestiny]

It would be crazy to let the same people who have demonized cannabis be the ones to grow it for us. We already pay them with taxes to criminalize us, would we wanna pay those same people to grow it once it's legalized? We're more or less trapped in a system where we have to pay them taxes no matter what. We don't rely on the government to grow all other healing herbs, food, etc..... so why give them more money and power to control hemp/cannabis???? Oh yeah, that's right.... we're totally at their mercy, for they are the ones with the real power to make it legal and allow us the privilege to use it.... if we're old enough...

Medicine with an age limit... hahahahahah... who the hell thinks age is a factor for considering efficacy of medicinal use? It's gonna be a VERY VERY long time before it can be considered as a pure medicine... instead of a natural drug that just happens to have medicinal uses. Ahh... the techno-industrial dark age continues.

[thcbongman]

It would be crazy to let the same people who have demonized cannabis be the ones to grow it for us. We already pay them with taxes to criminalize us, would we wanna pay those same people to grow it once it's legalized? We're more or less trapped in a system where we have to pay them taxes no matter what. We don't rely on the government to grow all other healing herbs, food, etc..... so why give them more money and power to control hemp/cannabis???? Oh yeah, that's right.... we're totally at their mercy, for they are the ones with the real power to make it legal and allow us the privilege to use it.... if we're old enough...

Medicine with an age limit... hahahahahah... who the hell thinks age is a factor for considering efficacy of medicinal use? It's gonna be a VERY VERY long time before it can be considered as a pure medicine... instead of a natural drug that just happens to have medicinal uses. Ahh... the techno-industrial dark age continues.

You have a very good point there and a real example of history we can look at.

Tobacco. Certain tobacco strains has hallucinogenic properties. Also has medicinal uses. Now it's degenerated by tobacco companies into a cancer-causing, medicinally useless stick.

Do you want this to happen to cannabis? Didn't think so!

[suhl]

it may go up a little, since it being illegal is what has so many ignorant people latching on to the idea that it is bad for you, but not a lot. not at all really look at places where it is more tolerated or legal they dont have any more smokers just fewer closet smokers and people hiding it.

[silkyblue]

Whats so wrong about taking it off the arresst list? plainly simply? as far as operating vehicles. I hate driving with herby he freaks out!

I of course have the luxuty of not needing to drive

legalise the medicine dudes! just do it! sign it! done! over! sit back and watch what happens. Legalize her temporarily try it see how it works with legalization.


Growing hemp just may be the answer to Americas problems.

I wanna be rich!


especially during harvest time.



This ain working . Cant peeps in higher seats see when something is not working

I get so sick of not being allowed to grow a friggin certain plant
on my own land

American dream my arse

[Sounds good to me]

This might be related to the topic.

The first bit of Pro-Marijuana in the Uk i've seen in a long time and its a good one.

Danny Kushlick: Drug prohibition ââ?¬â?? an untenable hypocrisy | Comment is free | guardian.co.uk (http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/13/drugspolicy.drugstrade)

So many people activly smoke it now, it's just a matter of time befor the law needs to be changed.

Just keep smoking responsably, spread your knowledge and support your choice, if we act alone nothing will change, if we act as one a revolution will come.
I just try not to think about how much it winds me up now, it's no good for stress and will only kill me in the long run.

Shame my area is dry atm i really fancy a smoke atm.

[Chong Version 2.0]

Do you guys get the impression that weed culture is getting more and more mainstream? I definitely get that impression. It almost feels like it is going to come to some kind of climax in the coming years.:twocents::detective1::stoned:

[ghosty]

and btw the big tabacoo companies are supporting the illegalization and anti drug ads to take the heat off themselves when in reality 10x more poeple die from cigs then heroin,thats the truth

well part of that is because the big tobacco companies are being the same greedy bastardxs they've always been. Many large tobacco companies already have brand name's for commercial joints copyrighted should marijuana ever become legal.