the GOOD and the BAD aspects of legalization

[Buddha Man]

pretty simple:

GOOD- Smoking wherever you want. No dealing with rip off dealers. BEing able to go to the corner store to pick some up.
BAD-if it is legalized i guarantee stores will charge more than street prices. it probably wont be the BOMB either. just some commercial shit

Buddha Man Reviewed by Buddha Man on 08-07-2006. the GOOD and the BAD aspects of legalization pretty simple: GOOD- Smoking wherever you want. No dealing with rip off dealers. BEing able to go to the corner store to pick some up. BAD-if it is legalized i guarantee stores will charge more than street prices. it probably wont be the BOMB either. just some commercial shit Rating: 5

[hossua34]

Not so simple at all.

First off, there would be no "smoking wherever you want". If legalization were to occur, it would pretty much be legal to smoke in your home or a friend's home, and nowhere else. As it should be. You shouldn't have the right to blaze while driving, for example, or on a sidewalk where any kid could walk by.

Second, there's no way they would charge more than street prices if it were legal. If they did, they'd just lose business to street dealers. AND, the only reason marijuana is so expensive is because it's a scarce commodity. It takes time, effort and considerable risk to produce. If it were legal, lots of companies would make some bomb-ass shit on a large scale, and it wouldn't be so expensive. And if you didn't like the sound of that, you could always grow your own!

There are virtually no downsides to legalization (apart from more potential exposure to young children, like cigarette smoke, which would be a sad thing).

[Captain Hanks]

well from my eyes marijuana smoke is completely harmless, so the little kid issue isn't an issue at all, from my view at leat

[Pride]

Same with beer though how you shouldn't drink in public or drive with it.

[bud breath420]

my thoughts on this.. well my stoned thoughts on this...good point are: if weed was legal there would be alot less usage of harder drugs like heroin and shit, i could wave to the cops as they drove past my house smokeing a big spliff, it would be easier to get for medicinal users and such and im guessing the crime rate would probably go down (everyone would be too stoned to care about crime!!) bad points: umm not realy many except i kinda like how i can say fuck the system in my own little way by sparkin one up... maybe thats just me.... Peace!!

[Lucifuge]

The good points only refer to what YOU personally would gain from legalization. What does society and the economy have to gain? Not from commercial Hemp, but from cannabis.

[Hamlet]

What does society have to gain? How about organized crime's profits being completely undermined. Government agencies profits being completely underminded (how many billions every year in the War on Drugs?) The guys clear-cutting our forests profits would be undermined-hemp makes better paper. And the economy in general would have to make some dramatic shifts. It's the first, second and third largest mony crop in a lot of places. So basically, just like everything else, if you want to understand something-just follow the money. That works for almost everything from Marijuana to Iraq.

The down side? I think the Culture would fall away. It wouldn't be cool and rebellious anymore and most people would loose interest. As it stands now it's something of a beckon pointing out our society's corruption, hypocracy and greed. Joe Average is being persecuted and becomes aware of Big Brother's tyranny. I think we would loose that and a lot of people would put their heads right back up their asses and fall into complacancy, blindly doing what 'The Man' wants and never thinking for themselves. You wouldn't be cool anymore, you would just be stoned.

[SinisterK]

It's a natural progression, societys constantly changing. Once marijuana is legal people will move on the other issues.

You'll have to be 21 to buy it. Society will pressure you not to do it. If it does become legal, it'll take ages before it's an excepted thing. But you'll rebel against them and do what you think is best for you. If your concern is being rebelious, that is.

I'm personally tired of seeing this harmless plant demonized, things need to change.

[bud breath420]

Yeah!! naw to be honest it wouldnt bother me either way if legalization occured or not.. id still smoke the same amount everyday.. but when i realy think about it the chances of legalization actualy happening in my lifetime is slim...... very slim.. Ive just been listening to system of a down (prison song?) it tells me the government uses drug money to pay for secret wars around the world, drugs are now a global policy .. which in turn makes greater nations like America and what not to police the globe... i love you system of a down!! peace!!!!

[hossua34]

well from my eyes marijuana smoke is completely harmless, so the little kid issue isn't an issue at all, from my view at leat

Don't fool yourself - marijuana smoke isn't completely harmless. It irritates the lungs and may or may not be a cancer risk. I just don't think it's right to expose children to any mind-altering chemical at such a vital time for physical and psychological development.

And as far as what society has to gain at large, the point has already been made about the illicit drug trade taking a big hit, and it is a good point. How about the millions of dollars in vice taxes that states stand to make from legalization? There is no way that would be less than what they currently make through fines against smokers. There would also be a minor ease on our overburdened prision system, and countless other benefits.