Marijuana... Some reflections

[George_Bonanza]

I am definitely for medicinal marijuana. If we allow morphine, and opium-based painkillers, what's so bad about marijuana? Morphine's worse anyway, I think. In a medical perspective, when painkillers are needed, if marijuana works, then why the hell not? There's a childish fear of this plant while morphine flows freely in our hospitals.

I am definitely for decriminalization. Marijuana is the runt of the drug litter. Going after it is not going after the root of the problem. Catching and frying all the minnows don't help, and burden jails and tax payers. The war on drugs cannot possibly succeed when relatively harmless and bumbling marijuana smokers are stuffing our jails. I see drug problems as mainly a health concern, not a criminal concern. A heroin addict is a person in deep medical trouble. Instead of being thrown in jail or beaten, he should be treated like any medical sufferer. Heroin is a terrible drug that needs a lot of attention. Just bullying its victims doesn't solve anything. You'd never beat up a schizophrenic and lock them up, would you?

However, I am not as jubilant about marijuana legalization. I fully realize that marijuana is no worse than alcohol or cigarettes, and solely by those standards, marijuana should be allowed as well. There's an unjust amount of fear of this plant as I already said. But it is with a regretful mind that I concede this. Here comes one more substance to goof people up and potentially ruin lives, although it should be legalized since other similar substances are socially acceptable. I realize legalization is right in today's society, but I don't like it. That's basically my feeling. Does anybody share the same feeling? Like I won't be jumping for joy the day when marijuana is fully legalized. I know it's the fair thing to do, but I can't be too happy about it.

[JohnKleeb]

1. I agree with you man

Now wheres my pot lol. I was asking whether I should start last night.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Marijuana should remain illegal

Otherwise corporations will ruin that too.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

6. Corporate Buds

They've already done it:

Prairie Plant Systems Marijuana Crop



Lucas, who smokes marijuana to cope with his hepatitis C infection, said the lab results also showed that the cannabis provided at a Victoria compassion club for patients registers at more than 12 per cent and is freer from contaminants.

He said the government cannabis was too finely ground up with stems and leaves, calling it "shwag" or "bunk,"
First Tokers of Health Canada Cannabis Call It Disgusting

[JohnKleeb]

10. Join Potron

CEO Ken Lay

[Superfly]

3. You can have "reflections" on mary-joe?

Shit, I can barely remember what happened yesterday, thanks to that stuff, let alone write a 3 paragraph "reflection" piece.

B

[scarlet_owl]

4. Right on.

I have always said that you never see a violent pothead, but there are plenty of violent drunks. Weed is illegal because way back when, when new discoveries for the uses of hemp were taking place, William Randolph Hearst owned lots of forests to make paper for his newspapers. He saw hemp to be a threat to these forests, and to protect his interests, he started a yellow journalism campaign against hemp. He managed to turn the public's opinion against marijuana by falsely reporting the dangers of its use. These reports caused legislation to make it illegal. At least this is the way I have heard it.

[FDRrocks]

5. It was popular mechanics

released a report on a new way of processing hemp, and predicted that it would be the new cash crop. Goddamn to HELL corporate lobbyists.

[Webster Green]

7. True...........

Also threatened were the burgeoning petro-chemical/plastics industry corporations, as well as the federal law enforcment agencies, who needed a new demon, as alcohol prohibition was ending.
By the way, the worst thing about any of the substances mentioned in the original post, are the laws against them. IMHO, it is nobody's business how we choose to alter our reality unless we are harming someone else. Users of opiates are no threat to you unless they are trying to steal your TV to obtain their favorite herbal delights. These are natural substances that have a profound effect on our central nervous systems. Big deal! If someone wants to get high on these gifts from God (if you will), and isn't threatening anyone else, then who cares. Anyone stupid enough to drive while impaired won't care if it is legal or illegal. Enough of the Nazi/control freak bullshit. Live and let live.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

8. If marijuana became legal

it would put a BIG hit on the underground, cash economy.

[AntiCoup2K4]

9. Not to mention the pharmaceutical companies...

And this Fraudministration has deep ties in both the legal, and illegal drug business.

[FireHeart]

12. Ah but...

Think of what how much it would help the pizza and delivery restaurant businesses. :evilgrin:

[KCDem]

15. screw them, they all give $ to Repugs.

:mad: I MISS PAPA JOHNS!!! But I refuse to buy from them anymore.

[Cottonball]

11. vote YES

Like alcohol, weed is used by people to relax at home or with friends. Unlike alcohol, you don't drive two tons of metal into another human being or whatever is in your way. If weed was legalized, the only people smoking would be the people who are already smoking, but not paraniod that they could wind up in jail or lose their livelyhood, because they were caught smokin a joint. The war on drugs is a war on the lower class, payed for by the middle class. Like the war in Iraq, the war on drugs has no purpose or direction. It is all just the goverments way of control. The republicans say they want to keep the government out of our lives so you can have as many guns in your house that you want, but they don't care if your house is stormed because you have a water bong.

[FDRrocks]

13. That is how I see it, basically.

I don't care if the government taxes me, I consider myself a socialist, really. When they start telling me what I can and can't do to myself via drugs or toxins, then they step over the line, imo.

Drinking and smoking should be legal. So should everything else. It is a matter of choice. I support womens rights, minority rights, and HUMAN rights. The latter of the three I consider this to fall under. If I want to smoke weed, I should be able to.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi Cottonball!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[scarlet_owl]

16. Welcome, Cottonball!

[populistmom]

17. Welcome Cottonball (a.k.a. PopulistDAD) nt

:loveya:

[Terwilliger]

18. I am in favor of legalization, with caveats

One...no company may copyright cannabis, cannabinoids, or any other derivative or mixture.

Two...no single company (no company) should be allowed to sell cannabis (NO Marlboro joints)

Three...cannabis must be grown (if not by an individual in his backyard) by non-corporate farmers

Four...those farmers may sell their product through co-operative distribution points, price-controlled, and quality tested

[George_Bonanza]

19. Hemp is harmless

Hemp is not even the same plant as marijuana. Its THC level is so low that getting a high off hemp is impossible. Might as well burn paper and grass and try to get some kind of sensation off of that. We're wasting a perfectly valuable resource that can help our economy and save trees. To me, this is like banning all mushrooms because certain ones have toxic and psychedelic properties.

Driving under influence of marijuana is just as destructive as drinking and driving. There should be laws instituted if legalization occurs.

Students should still be discouraged from doing drugs, even if it's legal. There are anti-smoking campaigns and anti-alcohol campaigns all over TV for young people. They don't really work, but there's still a feeling of it's not beneficial to use substances when you're still growing up. The same should be held for marijuana. If it's legalized, it means its legalized for adults, NOT high schoolers. I still firmly believe that we should try to keep our young kids substance-free.

I cannot feel good about commercialization of marijuana. It's bad enough we have Formula One cars advertising cigarettes and alcohol companies like Smirnoff's blatantly targeting the teen party crowd. I'd hate to see us allowing another amoral or immoral corporation try and lure kids into using substances that can only hurt them. As somebody already said, I do not want to see a Marlboro joint, or a Player joint. Sell it like fruit on the road or a market, but not with corporations. We already have evil tobacco and alcohol companies corrupting us. It happened so long ago we missed our chance to limit them. I hope we don't let another evil corporation rise when we know full well the consequences of having them.

[KG]

20. i favor de-criminalization, not legalization..

make it just another plant growing in you back yard, like a tomato or a daisy - no more no less.

[Nikia]

21. Marijuana is relatively harmless

I would say that it is completely safe for an adult to get high on pot, provided that they were not planning on doing something potentially dangerous like rock climbing right afterwards or during. In contrast, it is easy for a person to consume enough alcohol to kill them. The impairment level of alcohol is much higher as well. Some people are also under the influence of legal pharmacuticals which can cause impairment, behaviorial changes, and addiction. No one seems concerns about this problem and doctors often continue to prescribe drugs to patients that might have an unhealthy relationship with the drugs and may no longer be medically needed.
As far as long term effects, I would say that it is healthier to be a habitual, chronic user of pot than alcohol and some prescription drugs. Many heavy, chronic users live very productive lives and are pleasant to be around. I think there is some danger to being a chronic heavy user. The physical health problems are probably less than regular tobacco use though. As far as mentally and the way of life, I think that there is a chance of what I'd call "harpie syndrome." I think that only a small percentage is affected this way, but that it would be easy to fall into it. Basically, living life high becomes so good that real life is no longer important. The government calls it amotivational syndrome, but I don't know if that is really accurate. Anyway, even though harpie syndrome is possible with pot use, I'd say that it is also possible with television shows, computer and video games, exercise, literature and writing, religion, and any other activity that might bring us pleasure.