how long until...

Ok, I'll buy that Dutch Master. I feel it should be legalized but I would settle for decriminalized. If it's decriminalized it could still be fined, which is a way for society to show it's displeasure and try to curb it's use without throwing people in jail and ruining their lives. Even it being illegal hasn't slowed me down so decriminalization won't either. I was just trying to bring the law into reality and get this revenue away from criminal organizations is all.

An added benefit is that cops would not only be able to focus on more dangerous drugs, but they could receive more support from people who already smoke weed in getting rid of crack, meth and heroin dealers. Those drugs don't do anyone any good.

Thats true indeed.

But of course theres always this.. if its decriminalized, drug dealers would laugh at any consequences, and at the fact that the worst that could happen for getting caught with a few ounces, is: "just a fine". Drug dealing would skyrocket. Marijuana has just set itself into society, influenced by it's "illegal" status, and I personally feel its just too late for it to be messed with.

Besides, at least I can be at ease when I'm a parent, and the worst my son is doing by breaking the law, is just smoking some pot.. and not getting into worse stuff. Kids are always going to have that attraction to what they can't or aren't supposed to have.. Take away pot, they'll go for something else.

I see your point. However, if I may point out, drug dealers are already laughing at the consequences and are widespread already. There is no way for the number of weed dealers to skyrocket because the market is already saturated. It's the same with any market that already has a satisfied demand. Besides, ask your child. Anyone who has been to a school in the US for the last 30yrs know that schools are where a lot of the best drugs can be found. I can promise you there are at least 3-10 student dealers already in any school above the 7th grade. Used to be they just sold candy.....

Also, I understand that the worst your child would do is smoking some pot. As long as he doesn't get arrested then I agree that it wouldn't do too much harm. However, I feel we need to do more to focus LEO attention on the more dangerous drugs that harm everyone instead of relatively mild ones like weed.

The problem with decriminalizing or legalizing marijuana is that LEO would not have enough of a "threat" because compared to marijuana, the number of people using the more dangerous drugs are too small to justify their budgets and powers. This is why they focus so much on marijuana when there are clearly more dangerous drugs. It's a budgeting reality, a numbers game.

IMHO, we need to decriminalize/legalize just to bring the laws into reality. I also feel, however, that random school drug testing should be mandatory for all students nationally. I started smoking weed at 13 and, while I love weed, I wish I hadn't started so early. It does mess with a childs development and I do not feel it, or any drug, should be used before 18yrs old.

I know a lot of people here would disagree with mandatory school testing (my automatic knee-jerk reaction as well) and ordinarily I side with the less interference rule. However, children are children and they need to have adults do what's best for them. We're not their friends, we are their parents. Until they are old enough to make proper decisions then they should not be exposed to these potentially disrupting influences. With random testing, at least two or three a year, we can put a massive dent in gradeschool drug use. College and adult use should be entirely seperated from underage useage.

It's hard enough to be a child. No reason I see to dump more on them.