My simple reason why mary jane should be legal...

There's probably something I'm not taking into account, since it seems so simple to me but anyways:

If you can legalize alcohol, and you can legalize tobacco, why the hell can't you legalize weed?

For starters, alcohol and cigarettes play huge factors in the economy: so would weed. I'm just trying to ask why the world is so scared about weed. In my experience an overdose of alcohol is infinitely worse than an overdose of THC. Plus weed doesn't have nicotine or anything its not physically addictive like crack or cigarettes are.

And then of course, it has medicinal uses. What the hell is so wrong with weed?

because the Taxes on Ciggs/Alchohol have built up over the years, they couldnt put the same tax on Weed as what is on Tobacco/Alchohol now. Also...Weed is direct competition with Tobacco, so big tobacco dont want weed legalized, ever.

And yes, WEED is addicting. As for Medicinal Uses, you have people (mostly people that smoke) that say it is good. while others say it is bad.

that's actually not true (about weed being addicting). There is no scientific evidence that it is physically addicting.

I'm sorry to potentially upset you, but that is the poorest argument for legalization. Claiming one thing should be allowed because other things are worse is never a good way of going about anything. To put it into some kind of perspective, would you tell a judge to let you slide for grand theft auto because rape and murder is worse? This was addressed by an opponent for legalization who said just because there are harmful substances out there, that doesn't mean you should add another-- a very good counter claim.

What you can do with that argument however, is make people aware that cannabis prohibition has little if anything to do with health risks. You can use this is very reasonable proof that cannabis is illegal because it would be a major threat to the tobacco and alcohol businesses.

Ultimately, you want to enlighten people as to do the benefits of cannabis not the harmful effects of other drugs .

My simple reason is: Shouldn't I be able to control the contents of my own fuckin brain? That should be a fundamental human right, you would think.

they've already legalized hundreds and thousands of drugs, why not marijuana??

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Originally Posted by Ganj

they've already legalized hundreds and thousands of drugs, why not marijuana??

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See 3 posts up.

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Originally Posted by zooted999

See 3 posts up.

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there probably wouldn't be much money to make in the sale of marijuana products anyway. by being legalized, it would just inspire people to grow their own marijuana, year round. most of the income from marijuana would be made in cafes and shops specializing in the cultivation of marijuana.

I could see how this would work, but would the following scenario seem so unlikely:

With pot being legal and regulated, the price would drop severely, and the weed sold at a Walgreens or whatever would be top-of-the-line, expert-grown cannabis that you'd be able to afford quite easily and at any time you choose. Growing is a process, requires money and time-- you could just drop the $40 and get an ounce of crazy weed.

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Originally Posted by zooted999

I could see how this would work, but would the following scenario seem so unlikely:

With pot being legal and regulated, the price would drop severely, and the weed sold at a Walgreens or whatever would be top-of-the-line, expert-grown cannabis that you'd be able to afford quite easily and at any time you choose. Growing is a process, requires money and time-- you could just drop the $40 and get an ounce of crazy weed.

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i can only speak for myself when i say, i'd grow marijuana for my usage only. as for selling it, i wouldn't dare. all my marijuana is personal, and that's all i want it for.

And that's exactly why the government would have such a hard time taxing it. Unlike tobacco, it's extremely easy to grow for almost anyone anywhere, and pot-smokers are wary enough of the tobacco companies that they would have a very good reason to do that if weed were legalized. Heck, I wouldn't just grow it in my backyard. I'd plant seeds everywhere I went, to spread the plant as far and wide as I could. With so much homegrown stuff about, it would be very difficult for a few companies to dominate its market as with tobacco. I suspect most of the people who didn't grow on their own would just go to the existing local growers, who would just move their operations above-ground.

There is no scientific evidence that it is physically addicting

IM ADDICTED TO WEED AND I LOVE IT

ok ur all guna look down on me and frown but i dont think weed shuld or will ever be legal,
for the simple fact that its too easy to grow ur own just look at the evidence all over this website, the government would have absolutely no control over the drug at all,
the only benefit of making it legal would be that u could walk down to the dairy and buy it, but why when you can grow ur own,
sure not all peeple have that option but as like me i buy it (im also growing), if it were legalised then people couldnt make money off it, i no a few peeple live off the sales of mj, if it were legalised they would have no income

it's all america's fault anyway.

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Originally Posted by sMOkeY bOB

the only benefit of making it legal would be that u could walk down to the dairy and buy it

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Are you serious? Have you forgotten about the black market that would die out, the kids who wouldn't turn to drug dealing and the drug-related gang violence that would suddenly cease?

Forget cannabis, legalize every drug. Period.

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Originally Posted by StEeLpHanToM

There's probably something I'm not taking into account, since it seems so simple to me but anyways:

If you can legalize alcohol, and you can legalize tobacco, why the hell can't you legalize weed?

For starters, alcohol and cigarettes play huge factors in the economy: so would weed. I'm just trying to ask why the world is so scared about weed. In my experience an overdose of alcohol is infinitely worse than an overdose of THC. Plus weed doesn't have nicotine or anything its not physically addictive like crack or cigarettes are.

And then of course, it has medicinal uses. What the hell is so wrong with weed?

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Nothing's wrong with weed. However, if it were legal, it would hold a huge monopoly over the anti-depressants market, the fuel market (as hemp can be used to create an inexpensive vast amounts of feul), and various other markets (ie, paper industries). Obviously, marijuana is cheap, easy to grow, and can be grown in large amounts. If it were legal, someone would capitalize on it, and gas prices would not remain $2.50-$3.00 a gallon. Seeing as how Bush likes to make his money, especially from the Oil industry, I doubt it will become legalized with him in office. Soon though; I'm predicting in the next 10 years it'll be legalized. :thumbsup:

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Originally Posted by Tholiak

And yes, WEED is addicting. As for Medicinal Uses, you have people (mostly people that smoke) that say it is good. while others say it is bad.

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Actually, weed is not addicting. Try doing some independant research on it. I myself stopped cold turkey after smoking for two years on a nearly daily basis, stopped for over a year, and didn't lose any sleep over need for marijuana. I have never known anyone "addicted" to marijuana in any way. Yes, there are everyday smokers, but that's not the same as being "addicted."

I want to see some research results proving it's psychologically addicting. If it's from the DSM-IV, don't bother, because they've been sketchy various times, ie for years they said that being gay was a mental disorder.

So, a challenge. Find proof (scientific research) that marijuana is addicting either physically or psychologically from a none-biased source, and present it to us on these forums.

Have people in this thread ever went to amsterdam?? Please tell me, does everyone grow out there and is the situation under control or not?? I never went there but heard great storie of a certain balance about decriminalisation...The one who told me his trip down there is a serious young adult achieving his "doctorat: in electro biochemical something, or i f you prefer, he's a smart assss...So my point, would decriminalisation would be a smoother aproach to start with??

dude wen i turn 18 im goin to amsterdam and i think its my body i can do wateva i want to it it shouldnt b the governments choice that weed is illegal it sholuld b ours

But if tobbaco and alcohole were illigal today would they be legalised?

The gov wants to make alcohole and cigs illigal but there just way too many people who use them.

If they legalised weed they would never be able to make it illigal again for the same reasons so there playing it safe.

I think we should just do what they do in Amsterdam and legalize it! they should just let whoever wants to sell it, sell it! and whoever is dumb enough to buy it then just let them buy it!! because the truth is everyones gonna grow it if it is legalized and they are gonna try to sell it to people and those people that are buying are dumb or just dont realize they can just grow there own!, The fact is everyone wants there own damn weed! so they should just legalize it and grow there own!

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Originally Posted by MightyFourTwenty

Nothing's wrong with weed. However, if it were legal, it would hold a huge monopoly over the anti-depressants market, the fuel market (as hemp can be used to create an inexpensive vast amounts of feul), and various other markets (ie, paper industries). Obviously, marijuana is cheap, easy to grow, and can be grown in large amounts. If it were legal, someone would capitalize on it, and gas prices would not remain $2.50-$3.00 a gallon. Seeing as how Bush likes to make his money, especially from the Oil industry, I doubt it will become legalized with him in office. Soon though; I'm predicting in the next 10 years it'll be legalized. :thumbsup:

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Weed wouldn't do too well in the anti-depressant market, it's a depressant. Also what is up with 10 years? Our next election is in a little over 2 years, so why not 3 years, instead of 10?

For the tobacco arguement:
I'm sure the tobacco industry would be happy to have something they could market to kids, it's illegal for them to advertise cigs, so they need something new to advertise.

Marijuana was legal in america at one point, it was only made illegal in the 1970's, none of your arguements played any part in Marijuana use. All of the arguements I have seen here have been wrong. Perhaps more people should read about the history of Marijuana. Also (as i've stated elsewhere) everyone that thinks that Marijuana is bad for you needs to read: Drugs and Behavior An Introduction to Behavioral Pharmacology by William A. McKim, It's all current medical information about Marijuana stated from a nonbiased point of view. Although I recommend checking it out from a library. It's a college text book, so it's going to run you around $80 if you were to buy it.

All of you with your ignorant theories really need to learn acurate information, otherwise the "fight" to legalize Marijuana will be an even harder challenge.

made illegal in 1970's? huh? 1937 i believe...

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Originally Posted by Sentinel

made illegal in 1970's? huh? 1937 i believe...

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with the help of a douche by the name of :cursing: Harry Anslinger :cursing:

It wasn't fully illegal until 1970, it was off and on until then.

Here is my theory:

Ok
1. If weed is legalized, then you immediataly put into control of the gov't
2. By having it gv't controlled you eliminate a huge % of our prison pop.
3. This would save the gov't money which in turn would save us money
4. The weed production would then either be cntrolled by the gov't or companies that would be watched by the gov't
5. The everyday person is not going to waste their time trying to grow their own stuff, when you will be able to buy top of the line stuff in stores
6. As the gov't has done w/ the alcohol and tobbacco industries they can tax the hell outa weed and make good money
7. By legalizin pot, you elimante a huge portion of the youth violence rates on our streets
8. Cops would be able to work on catchin REAL criminals instead of the harmless mary j growing facilities
9. Since smokin pot for a lot of kids is just a rebelious thing, you might even see a decline in use by minors (i kno this is stretchin it a bit)
10. The gov't wuld be able to monitor all weed activity and control the content etc. eliminating people who sell laced stuff to unsuspecting people
11. you wont have to worry about gettin ripped off nemore
12. the gov't culd also make good money off of the sale of smoking paraphanalia (sp)
13. the medcal prperties culd finally be cmpletly understood

as far as i can c it would be a win win situation for the gov't and the ppl of america, but then agian im just a 16 yr old w/ my opinions

besides weed was only made illegal due to a smear campaign by the US gov't in the late 1930s and early 40s mainly to avoid having illegal immigrants comin from mexico.

ok well i think it could happen very soon (legalzation) Because Denver is trying to pass a law to make it possible for you to carry an ounce of marijuana. Its not legalzation but a very good start. http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/...1-03-pot_x.htm (look at this one ^ http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/386/denver.shtml

Simply put, the reason why cannabis is not legal is that it cannot be used responsibly... Unlike alcohol, when weed is smoked, it fucks you up. People can drink alcohol without getting drunk, it can be enjoyed responsibly. However, MJ gets u fucked up off one blunt/joint/bowl/etc... that is my reason at least..

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Originally Posted by jailer3000

Here is my theory:

Ok
1. If weed is legalized, then you immediataly put into control of the gov't
2. By having it gv't controlled you eliminate a huge % of our prison pop.
3. This would save the gov't money which in turn would save us money
4. The weed production would then either be cntrolled by the gov't or companies that would be watched by the gov't
5. The everyday person is not going to waste their time trying to grow their own stuff, when you will be able to buy top of the line stuff in stores
6. As the gov't has done w/ the alcohol and tobbacco industries they can tax the hell outa weed and make good money
7. By legalizin pot, you elimante a huge portion of the youth violence rates on our streets
8. Cops would be able to work on catchin REAL criminals instead of the harmless mary j growing facilities
9. Since smokin pot for a lot of kids is just a rebelious thing, you might even see a decline in use by minors (i kno this is stretchin it a bit)
10. The gov't wuld be able to monitor all weed activity and control the content etc. eliminating people who sell laced stuff to unsuspecting people
11. you wont have to worry about gettin ripped off nemore
12. the gov't culd also make good money off of the sale of smoking paraphanalia (sp)
13. the medcal prperties culd finally be cmpletly understood

as far as i can c it would be a win win situation for the gov't and the ppl of america, but then agian im just a 16 yr old w/ my opinions

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All good points except we live in quite the capitalist time and unfortunatly if weed were sold than, as you said, there would be mad taxation, boosting prices. That is the reason for people growing their own. Therefore, no money would be made, leaving no reason for a country to legalize weed.

Not to mention the reefer madness and reefer madness 2 movements. You can't expect a country to admit that all the "facts" they've told the country over the years were lies. The population would think to ask "why", to find rascism to be a major factor. This is turn would make society lose respect and feel betrayed by their perfect little gorvenment, ultimately loosing some patriotism and support.

All in all I fully support the legalization of marijuana but it's going to be a tough fight and Denver and the SAFER organization are definatly helping out along the way.

If you live in the United States, and are over 18 years of age, you vote for things. If Weed became legal, we'd vote on it. If the tax was too high, we could vote for a lower tax. We run our government by voting for what we want. If we don't like something we can change it. We pay their paychecks, the government are our employees. So if you want weed to be legal, and not have it taxed, vote for it to be legal, and not taxed. That's how America works.

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Originally Posted by Monkey4Sale

If you live in the United States, and are over 18 years of age, you vote for things. If Weed became legal, we'd vote on it. If the tax was too high, we could vote for a lower tax. We run our government by voting for what we want. If we don't like something we can change it. We pay their paychecks, the government are our employees. So if you want weed to be legal, and not have it taxed, vote for it to be legal, and not taxed. That's how America works.

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thats how we would like it to work........unfortunatyl there r greater powers at work.

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weed were sold than, as you said, there would be mad taxation, boosting prices. That is the reason for people growing their own. Therefore, no money would be made, leaving no reason for a country to legalize weed.

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yes some ppl will grow their own, but the majority of ppl wont be willin to put the effort into growin it. plus the quality of the pot u could get would be so much greater then it would for the regualr grower. u can grow tobacco or make alcohol...but not that many ppl do it cuz its not worth the effort and the quality wont be anywhere near what u can buy. i bet the same would happen with pot

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Originally Posted by jailer3000

Here is my theory:

Ok
1. If weed is legalized, then you immediataly put into control of the gov't
2. By having it gv't controlled you eliminate a huge % of our prison pop.
3. This would save the gov't money which in turn would save us money
4. The weed production would then either be cntrolled by the gov't or companies that would be watched by the gov't
5. The everyday person is not going to waste their time trying to grow their own stuff, when you will be able to buy top of the line stuff in stores
6. As the gov't has done w/ the alcohol and tobbacco industries they can tax the hell outa weed and make good money
7. By legalizin pot, you elimante a huge portion of the youth violence rates on our streets
8. Cops would be able to work on catchin REAL criminals instead of the harmless mary j growing facilities
9. Since smokin pot for a lot of kids is just a rebelious thing, you might even see a decline in use by minors (i kno this is stretchin it a bit)
10. The gov't wuld be able to monitor all weed activity and control the content etc. eliminating people who sell laced stuff to unsuspecting people
11. you wont have to worry about gettin ripped off nemore
12. the gov't culd also make good money off of the sale of smoking paraphanalia (sp)
13. the medcal prperties culd finally be cmpletly understood

as far as i can c it would be a win win situation for the gov't and the ppl of america, but then agian im just a 16 yr old w/ my opinions

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I agree with the point in whole. I wish one day weed would be legal but I don't think government having control is the right way and I know many other people like myself who would still grow. The government is too money hungry to trust and does add things to substances unnecessarily. I would grow my own still, knowing what I am smoking is very important to me and I am not paranoid either. Fluoride is a good example.

The Big Bush won't allow it because he has a hard on for control and legalizing mj would mean legalizing hemp. Boy would he lose control if hemp were legalized. It would help our deficite in more ways than most can imagine but the major thing holding it back is the drug companies. Most of our governments, doctors and many other leaders accept money from drug companies in various ways.

About the addiction part, I would say that it couldn't be an addiction because I felt I was addicted but I wanted it, not needed it, and when your addicted to something your mind and body tells you you need it or you'll die

I don't think it should be legalized, just de-criminalized