Best day of the year

[Gordon Fearman]

legalize, tax, regulate, restrict.

-m

Man, we should do this with murder. Imagine the profits.

(Note: This post isn't meant to criticise the original point.)

[goat]

I put it for being like alcohol, although I don't think there should be an age limit on either. My current mindset is that there should not be an age limit on use, but maybe to set an age limit for the purchase. That or what some have compared to a driver's license. You have to take a test to show your knowledge of the thing and potential consequences. After that though, you can use it.

No.

If there is an age limit for buying only, people will buy and give to kids. And I don't think that it's something that kids need to be exposed to.

A driver's license type exam would be a good idea, but equally unenforceable. If legalization happens it needs to be cut and dry as to who can use and who can't. Preferably, an obvious visual marker, like age, would be employed so that at a glance an officer can determine the legality of the situation.

[theDreamer]

I hate the smell of weed, and what it does to people.

I like how Ontario does alcohol: special government run shops which sell it. Normal stores can't unless they have this special government run store INDEPENDENTLY inside it.

Weed should be like this, if you must legalize it.

And, like cigarettes, please to be keeping it away from places I might go, ie restaurants, stores, malls, office buildings.

Fucking hate tobacco smoke, too.

[Dubious_wolf]

Right I'm not a fan of legalizing it

Mind telling me why?

I really don't like any kind of drug taken for recreational purposes. Alcohol, pot, cigarettes , any of the illegal drugs, they aren't really good to do. Any time you light anything organic on fire and inhale the resulting smoke you are breathing in carcinogens... basically I am not a fan of legalization, but i realize that there are some strong arguments for legalization, and the arguments against it aren't great.
No I don't have any specific number I just know in my area of crazy ol' Texas most of the suburbs of Dallas/Ft. Worth Have passed city ordinances along these lines.

[Gordon Fearman]

I hate the smell of weed, and what it does to people.

But duuuuude. If you don't do weed just because you're like...afraid of how it's going to like...change your behaviour, then it's already like...changing your behaviour maaaaaaaan.

And yes, real argument made on these forums. Just it was for alcohol. You can check.

Anyway, I think that all drugs should be made legal for rappers only. All laws should be removed for rappers. Then they can't rap about how they oppose establishment.

[Bananafish]

Alcohol is far to deep rooted in our history and up bringing to be illegalized

It has more to do with the fact that there is no multi-million Marijuana lobby like there is with things like cigarettes and alcohol.

[Bananafish]

Then they can't rap about how they oppose establishment.

You don't listen to good rap~

[InsaneFool]

Alcohol is far to deep rooted in our history and up bringing to be illegalized

It has more to do with the fact that there is no multi-million Marijuana lobby like there is with things like cigarettes and alcohol.

That and the whole "War on Drugs" thing has done a good job of demonizing marijuana to people who are ignorant of the drug and its effects. This is about the only thing it has managed to accomplish.

[2stepz]

I have had nothing to do with it, nor will I if given the option. HOWEVER... I've been told that the argument against taxation is that it's too easy to grow, so it would be rather unenforcable. Contrary to tobacco that is stubborn and a time-consuming growth and development, Pot tends to grow wild in a lot of the US, and even in areas where it doesn't, a hot house in someone's garage can produce a large amount of product in a short amount of time. This makes it extremely difficult to regulate and tax.

As I said, I don't really have an opinion either way, but it's a point I hadn't seen mentioned yet.

[DRog]

I'm for legalizing and large restrictions. Like smoking cigarettes or drinking. I'm also surprised that Berkeley stayed off that list. At UC Berkeley today there were about 300 people congregated smoking, all together.

[Master Gunner]

It's the middle of exam week for me, I had an exam today, and I have another one tomorrow. I'm not about to get stoned off my ass, even if I were the type to do so. While I have shown up to exams drunk before, that was in high school with Music and Canadian History, which are far simpler than Discrete Math and Information Systems.

As for legalizing it, I'm not convinced that it's less dangerous than alcohol (and seeing as joints tend to contain four times the amount of carcinogens that are in cigarettes, it's certainly not significantly safer than smoking). However, so long as the same laws presently in place in my area that cover smoking apply (no smoking inside in public places, have to be a certain distance away from buildings, blah blah blah), I don't really care. I've tried it a few times, never really got any effects from it, but to each their own. So I have no problem with legalizing it in theory.

[far_wanderer]

I'm of the opinion that people shouldn't be using drugs of any sort for any reason other than health. And I include even things as "normal" as alcohol and caffeine in that list of drugs. But that's a cultural battle, not a legal one. And more importantly, it's a cultural battle that was lost a long time ago.
So I'm fine with legalization. I won't vote for it, if it comes to that, but I won't try to stop it. People are going to do drugs regardless, and unlike alcohol, cigarettes, and coffee, the smell of pot doesn't make me instantly nauseous.

[Whitmore]

smoke pot 420!!

In all seriousness, I haven't tried it, but I've seen people on it and those particular people are INSUFFERABLE!

I agree with Matt.

[Arius]

I really don't like any kind of drug taken for recreational purposes. Alcohol, pot, cigarettes , any of the illegal drugs, they aren't really good to do. Any time you light anything organic on fire and inhale the resulting smoke you are breathing in carcinogens... basically I am not a fan of legalization, but i realize that there are some strong arguments for legalization, and the arguments against it aren't great.
No I don't have any specific number I just know in my area of crazy ol' Texas most of the suburbs of Dallas/Ft. Worth Have passed city ordinances along these lines.

So, no one should be allowed to smoke pot because you don't want to smoke pot?

Now, I don't smoke pot. I have no desire to. But I have in the past. But I do have sex for pleasure while using birth control. It does absolutely no good to my body except making me feel good. And it can lead to injuries, trust me on that one. And even with a condom, there is a small risk of receiving an STD.

Should consensual sex between two adults be illegal if not for the purpose of procreation?

[Dubious_wolf]

Arius I actually believe that in some states there are archaic laws which haven't been removed, do to the hassle it would be to remove those laws through more legislation that say something to that effect, yes. However do to the right to Privacy citizens of the United States mostly enjoy, these archaic laws are unenforceable. No I'm not saying just because I don't want to no one should. What I am saying is that legal or no it needs to stay far, far, far the fuck away from me. I would rather it stay illegal 'cause then I don't come into contact with it, if it's legal it is accepted and so you will see it in everyday life, and I don;t want to.

And I did see one person pointing out the ease with which pot grows, and while this is true, I do have a theory. People are by and large really really damned lazy. If they don't HAVE to grow their own weed then they probably won't. You will get those that want to grow it. However those people are akin to people who make their own alcohol. most people don't distill their own alcohol, most of us go down to the liquor store and by our alcohol. 'cause it's easier.

Oh another argument against it is the difficulty proving someone is high. as far as I know there isn't a quick test similar to the Breathalyzer test to check if you are being affected in some one by a substance.

[Arius]

If I don't want to be around alcohol, I don't go to bars.

If I don't want to be around cigarettes, I stay away from them.

If I don't want to be around meat, I go to a vegan restaurant.

If I don't want to be around children, I unzip.

I have choices I make, but I would never impose my choices on another's right to choose for themselves. And I'd expect the same courtesy from them, and if they can't respect my choice, they don't need to be my friend.

And you want to tell if someone is high? Show them some Dane Cook stand up. If they laugh, they're high.

[Evil Jim]

I'm in favour of any legislation that limits, restricts or outright bans (especially bans) usage of tobacco products. The last thing I want is MORE products that people can ignite & inhale for recreation. Especially if it's highly recommended they don't drive or operate heavy machinery within four hours afterward. Smokers are filthy people & the fewer of them there are, the better.

[Arius]

[Dubious_wolf]

no no I'm with Evil Jim on this one.

[InsaneFool]

Completely understandable, and by understandable I mean retarded.

God forbid someone else in this world makes different choices than you.

Really, unless a smoker is being a douche and blowing smoke in your face, how is it any of your business what I do in the privacy of my home or car.

[Evil Jim]

The only smokers I see are in public, & therefore douches. Every time I drive, someone ahead of me is throwing their butt out the car window to throw sparks on the road. Every time I walk down the street there are people in business doorways stinking up the air because they can't do it inside. Everywhere I go there are cigarette butts on the ground, the sidewalks & gutters. The world is not your ashtray.

[Arius]

Simple way to solve that:
Have police enforce litter laws. It's illegal to throw a cigarette butt out the window of a car. Both as littering and a fire hazard. Cars come with ash trays.

And I see far more piles of fast food packaging than anything else.

[InsaneFool]

The world is not your ashtray.

But it is all our septic tank!

[Evil Jim]

Simple way to solve that:
Have police enforce litter laws. It's illegal to throw a cigarette butt out the window of a car. Both as littering and a fire hazard. Cars come with ash trays.

And I see far more piles of fast food packaging than anything else.

It's not that simple. There aren't enough police & it's too small of a crime. I really wish litter laws were more heavily enforced. Or rather, that people themselves followed them just because it makes the environment look nicer. When I was in Japan 5 years ago the places I visited were so clean that on the occasions I found litter *I* felt compelled to pick it up & throw it away just because there was so little of it.

[Arius]

And there's the problem right there. The law isn't enforced and people don't care. It's not because they're smokers, it's because they're people.

Also, I'm pretty sure Japan has the highest rate of smokers per capita. Not 100% sure, but I know there's a lot.