Should Marijuana be legalized?

[Jokinomx]

With Canada on the verge of legalizing marijuana and some European countries already having done it. Should Marijuana be legalized in the United States?

[NNadir]

1. I think pot's really bad for you, but I don't think criminal sanctions are

ethical.

I would like to see a huge effort to discourage the use of pyschotropic susbstances, including those sold by some pharmaceutical companies, but I think this should be part of an educational rather than legal effort.

[Swamp Rat]

2. Yes... but with NO restrictions.

[napi21]

3. Who in the world would they license to grow it?

I know you are still permited to make alcohol as long as it's for your own consumption, but isn't a crop a little different?

I voted yes in the poll, because I think they are insane with putting all small time marijuana sellers in prison. Everybody keeps complaining about the overcrowding and needing to build more prisons, but they're too blind to see the reason why.

But I do think there's a real problem controling who grows MJ, and how much.

[Union Thug]

4. If cigarettes and alchohol are legal...

Why not pot? Speaking from many years of experience and observation, I can tell you that pot is far less damaging/traumatizing than alcohol. The laws make no sense, except maybe from an economic, emperor is bare bloody naked, perspective.

[Tripper11]

5. Alaska is making it's own run as well.....

Alaska Marijuana Legalization Initiative One Step from 2004 Ballot

[Jokinomx]

6. I am somewhat surprised ..but I am glad to see the poll so one-sided...

I also think marijuana is much less harmful than alcohol or cigarettes. As far as who could grow it.. in Alaska it was legal until a vote a few years ago. Citizens could grow a small amount for personal use and could carry a small amount without penalty.

I believe it was Raygun and his administration that had a media blitz there against pot and it was made illegal by a narrow vote. Any DUers from Alaska my be able to confirm my statement or correct it if I am wrong.

Maybe someday.. we will be able to be free to use it without fear of job loss or jailtime.

Thank you all for voting.. it has been an interesting poll for me to see...:-)

:toast:

[Spinzonner]

7. Mandatory

for the terminally angry

[dave123williams]

8. Anybody else find criminalizing something that grows naturally...

well, un-natural?

[lapfog_1]

9. legal and taxed

BUT, unlike alcohol and tobacco, I don't want any government to
use these funds in general revenue... therefore, any collected
taxes are to be used solely for drug rehab centers. We need to
quit criminalizing drug usage (but not acts that result from
drug usage).

[Jokinomx]

10. I agree.... I have said in the past... the cigarette smokers tax should

only be used to help those that need medical care as a result of their addiction. Whether that be to try to stop smoking or to treat asthma, emphysema, heart disease or cancer.

The same goes for the tax on beer and alcohol...

:kick:

[mark414]

11. whoever said no, it's not necessary

please read the first chapter of 'reefer madness' by eric schlosser and then come back and vote again

[partygirl]

12. sure!

policies like this were why my flower children parents became Democrats in the first place! And we STILL haven't gotten them passed. Bummer bummer bummer bummer. We must work harder.

[Jokinomx]

13. Welcome to the Underground partygirl!!

ffffffffff....eere...party! LOL.. I hope you have a good stay while your here. :toast:

[UpsideDownFlag]

14. dupe nt

[Skip Intro]

15. My body is NOT the property of the government

No law should prohibit what I can and cannot do with my own damned mind and body, to the extent that I harm no one, nor infringe on anyone else's rights.

Its called freedom.

To mr. asskkkroft, and the partnership for a (non-pharmaceutical) drug-free America, and any other org that wants to presume to limit my freedom - in the words of Perry Ferrell - "get your f***ing piss cup outta my f***ing face..."

[Jokinomx]

16. Wow... talk about a oneside issue. Again Thanks so much for

voting in this poll. It seems the vast majority of people that use this site have seen through the propaganda that has been perpetraded on the American public for the last forty years. I am sure that it has something to do with having experienced the truth.

:toast: to you all...

[Hawkeye-X]

17. I'm a recovering MJ addict.

I voted yes, however, because I still believe that MJ is still good for many other peoples, and should be placed the same restrictions as alcohol.

The only reason I had to quit MJ is because I was on probation for a federal offense. (Thanks A$$KKKroft)

Hawkeye-X

[Jokinomx]

21. If I am understanding you... the government is the one

that says your an addict. I have used weed off and on for over twenty five years. It has no phyically addictive qualities. In my case.. the pyschological dependance is minor. After a day or so without any.. the thought that I want some is completely gone. I may go months with not so much as a thought about it. I enjoy it when I have it... but I really don't lose sleep over it either.

I am not saying everyone is like me... but that is my experience with it.

[RivetJoint]

18. I don't think the Govt

has any right to ban me from smoking ANY plant that I can find growing wild...

[Jokinomx]

19. So Mushrooms and Peote should be legal?

Just wondering... I respectfully disagree with you.. but many natural substances are not as mild as weed. I haven't done peote but I have experienced shrooms in my younger days. I can say that there is a very big difference between effects of weed and mushrooms.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

20. Absolutely NOT!! NO! NO! NO!

Corporations will ruin pot. It should be decriminalized....but not legalized.

[Jokinomx]

22. How would corporations ruin it?

Please explain yourself a little better...:-)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

24. They will make longer burning pot..they will use the funds to further

secure their political power...they will add chemicals as they have with cigarettes in order to compete with one another and will simply enslave workers for profits making handy little artful packages...leave pot in the hands of the outlaws that grow it now. They are doing a fine job of following the laws of supply and demand...or let people grow their own..decriminalize it but let the free black market handle it. :D

[redqueen]

26. It doesn't seem to have ruined anything in Canada.

But I don't live there... so... maybe I'm wrong.

[redqueen]

23. I saw a picture of a car wreck on the news

Over the weekend some drunk managed to drive straight into a tollbooth. You could only recognize that the wreckage used to be a vehicle by the last 20" or so of the car... the rest was too badly mangled... it could have been anything.

That was one story that made me wonder why that's legal and other things aren't.

The other one was about how more teenagers are abusing alcohol and prescription drugs than illicit drugs.

Someone is profiting off of drugs being illegal -- gangs and organized crime. Does anyone really want so much tax money being spent on such the ridiculous 'war on drugs'?

How long did it take this country to figure this out during prohibition?

[Chovexani]

25. The War on Drugs is a War on Sanity

There is no good reason for pot to be illegal. Not one.

[jpgray]

27. Unless you smoke bad shit *all* the time

It's healthier than cigarettes, and about as dangerous as alcohol.

[Nikia]

29. I say it is less dangerous than alcohol

There are lots of different level of alcohol and marijuana intoxication so it isn't always easy to compare the two though. A large dose of marijuana will not kill you nor hospitalize you for a serious problem triggered solely by your intoxication. Regular large doses of alcohol often leads to serious physical addiction while any marijuana addiction is relatively mild. Severe drunkeness is much more likely to lead to violent behavior than marijuana. Long term heavy alcohol use puts the user at a much greater risk of dying prematurely than heavy chronic marijuana use.

[jpgray]

30. I should have said 'with moderate use'

You're right--there is no way I know of to 'OD' on marijuana. Unless you ingested several huge bricks of the stuff, that is. But in moderation, alcohol and marijuana bring loss of coordination, lowered reactions, etc.

[Nikia]

28. Yes, for a couple of reasons

It is more harmful to use alcohol both short term and long term than marijuana. Using marijuana alone does not lead to chronic health problems like tobacco. Some people are more inclined to using it than alcohol for a variety of reasons and they should not be punished for their drug of choice.
Marijuana is not nearly as harmful as many other illegal drugs. Making it illegal, encourages people to try other drugs more than if it were legal.
If marijuana is legalized, pre employment and employment testing for marijuana should be illegal also. Employees should be able to use it on their own time without fear odf losing their jobs.
Decriminalization generally still punishes even low level dealrs. Drug dealers have a bad reputation based on the illegliaty of their business and taking matters into their own hands. Decriminalization would neither prevent the otherwise non criminal dealer from going to prision. It won't help reduce criminal activity of dealers who resort to it into order to protect their business either.