The experience in Holland has shown that you are wrong. It has been legal for many years and it is shown that drug use in Holland is not higher than other countries that it is illegal. The only people who benefit from it being illegal is the people who are involved in drug trade and can get a higher price.
krak then you are putting what the law should be just for your little area. Many areas you will need to go to the same people making money off of crack cocaine to get pot, simply because those are the dealers. The law makes all illegal drugs combined in many areas of the world, especially the US. As far as being over the counter and 'no control' actually there would and could be much more control. Now with it being illegal at least here in the states, if you have a source you can buy as much as you want. Make it legal and controlled and you could easily limit personal usage and buying to X amount a week. You also hope your kids will have enough respect, what you think and hope for with children are two totally different things.
Amsterdam is by far the most peaceful, crime free city I have ever been too. You can walk the streets at 4am and never feel like you are in any danger. Can you say that for any other major cities while walking through dark back allies? The dutch got it right. I take a trip there every year for a much needed break. As far as legalization in this country goes I consider myself a libertarian and therefore I am all for it. I feel the government has no right to tell you what you can and can't put in to your own body (even heroin if you are dumb enough to try it knowing the risks). However, I am smart enough to realize that the government will never allow it to happen in this country. Canada came close to legalizing a few years ago and the U.S. came down on them so hard with sanctions that although 70% of the country voted to decriminalize the government didn't follow through. I at least hope that the federal government has enough sense to allow it to be legalized for medical reasons and stop busting 70 year old cancer patients for smoking pot. In my opinion, if smoking a joint can give you a little comfort while you are basically DIEING then the government has no right to deny you of that. As far as people claiming marijuana is a drug that leads to other drugs I would think that most kids will have tried a cigarette or a beer long before they smoke pot. RANT END
I dont want it legalized, just decriminalized. There is no reason people should be put in jail for exercising the true meaning of personal freedom. Nor do I think the federal government deserves a dime from tax dollars after they have treated users like absolute trash.
I have been to many cities in Europe, And i felt far safer in amsterdam than i did in any other city. Like thinkarcade pointed out, You can walk the streets in the early hours of the morning and you feel safe. Making something as safe and fun as pot illegal is wrong for so many reasons.
Bottom line, it's not fair that Alcohol is legal and weed not. Everyone should be able to do whatever they want as long as they don't hurt anyone, and weed... has never hurt anyone!
First of all I think he was trying to say that smoking marijuana wont harm others. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are harmful too your own body as well but they are legal. Also, I question some of these so called "facts" about marijuana that you referenced from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services of all places. Propaganda like this is the main reason that marijuana is still a controlled substance. This statement especially struck a chord with me: "One of the biggest hazards of marijuana for teens is this: The drug can make you mess up in school, in sports or clubs, or with your friends. If you're high on marijuana, you are more likely to make stupid mistakes that could embarrass or even hurt you. If you use marijuana a lot, you could start to lose energy and lose interest in how you look and how you're getting along at school or work. In addition, there is a strong link between drug use and unsafe sex and the spread of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS." First this blanket statement is linking marijuana to HIV, where does that come from? Same government scare tactics they've been using for years (ever see the movie Reefer Madness). Secondly, where is the proof that smoking marijuana makes you "mess up". I smoked marijuana daily when I was in high school and graduated with a 4.0GPA. As always there are those who can abuse the drug but that goes with pretty much anything out there that can give someone pleasure. I am not saying that everyone should smoke marijuana but the government should at least be honest about its effects and allow people to make their own decisions.
Caffeine has kills more than 7000 people each year due to overdose. Cannabis, zero. And I dont condone driving under any influence, I know for a fact those numbers are skewed when discussing the amount of auto deaths due to cannabis. 1) People who use drugs are more likely to take on other risky behaviors; speeding, swerving, just plain driving recklessly. 2) When testing a persons blood, heavy users will have traces of THC metabolites for up to 45 days. Seeing the amount of people who use cannabis regularly, this number would coincide with the amount of deaths attributed to the plant. Whether the driver was under the influence during the accident or not; toxicology reports will show cannabis in the system. This automatically makes it the reason for the accident. 3) Weed and alcohol are very often mixed together. I have, in the past, operated a car with my mother in the passenger seat and she had absolutely no idea that I was high. Granted, I was a daily user so I had quite the tolerance. Cannabis was one of the best treatments for inflammation I have ever used. Quick, easy and after all these years I've experienced no adverse side effects.
Ha! Weed has hurt plenty of people. So have cars, books, knives, hot dogs, hemmoroids and hammers etc. but I don't want them illegal. Pot should be legal as well a host of other drugs too many to name here. Give me liberty or give me death.
Everything should be legalized, cannabis, guns, abortions, prostitution, everything Legalize, legislate, and give information to people. Anyway that´s my personal opinion.
Should cannabis be legalized? Yes. Absolutely. Oh, sorry, thought it read: Should cannibals be legalized? Back to station.
I am always looking for more info o this topic and I came across this article and put it up on netscape to be voted for.. anyways, it is legalizing in cali and will come around. help make this artice and video more popular with Social Bookmarking!