On The Legalization of Cannabis

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Originally Posted by SnaFuBAR in the 4/20 thread

Any posts after mine that are debating 4/20 will be infracted.

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So he made a thread about it.

This thread is for the discussion of the justification behind the legal status of cannabis, as well as discussion of ideas pertaining to its legalization, decriminalization, or even strengthened criminalization.

In order to better organize and compare the views of those partaking in discussion, I would like to ask that those who do include in their first post a quoted summarization of their particular stance, preferably in a non-standard color, to allow people convenient and visually noticeable access to the arguments they are for and against, while separating it from the rest of the quotes in the thread. Example:

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Originally Posted by thehoodedsmack's views

It is my belief that the criminalization of cannabis is a self-fulfilling effort to strengthen the anti-drug budget, and provide cheap fodder for the privatized prison system that is growing worldwide.

I believe that a beneficial system could be maintained wherein cannabis was legalized to the fullest extent, and regulated in a similar sense to tobacco, prohibiting the sale to minors, and taxing the production of those who market cannabis commercially. Apart from that, anyone should be allowed to cultivate cannabis for their own personal use.

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It is my deepest desire that conversation can be ket lively and respectful in this thread, and that we will all come to learn something about ourselves, each other, and the way that cannabis impacts the world. Discuss.

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Originally Posted by what I'm thinking here

Legalizing cannabis would do a great deal of good for the country. Regulate it, package it, and tax it. Voila. TONS of revenue.

And the leftover hemp can make stronger, more durable rope, and you can make a more efficient paper product. You can make the same amount of paper with LESS hemp. It's eco-friendly and faster to grow and harvest for hemp/paper than trees.

People who want to smoke pot are already out there smoking it; it's not as if it's impossible to find. And as far as it goes as being a "drug," it's actually rather tame. Tamer than cigarettes, even. It's non-addictive (to clarify: PEOPLE get addicted to it because of a weakness in character, like people get addicted to gambling. The drug itself does not make one become physiologically dependent like harder drugs). Less people would be going to jail for drug trafficking/possession, which means we as taxpayers wouldn't have to be as burdened with it.

All things considered, if cigarettes are legal (and much more harmful to your health), pot should be too.

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Of course, I don't smoke pot, and never intend to. But it's stupid for the government to make such a big deal out of it.

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Originally Posted by Aerowyn

Of course, I don't smoke pot, and never intend to. But it's stupid for the government to make such a big deal out of it.

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Just look at mexico and see how well that regulation and legalization is holding out.

Reminded by Aerowyn's mention that she has never used cannabis, I have added a poll. Please pick the two answers that best correspond with your situation.

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Originally Posted by tealtext

It is my belief that the criminalization of cannabis is a self-fulfilling effort to strengthen the anti-drug budget, and provide cheap fodder for the privatized prison system that is growing worldwide.

I believe that a beneficial system could be maintained wherein cannabis was legalized to the fullest extent, and regulated in a similar sense to tobacco, prohibiting the sale to minors, and taxing the production of those who market cannabis commercially. Apart from that, anyone should be allowed to cultivate cannabis for their own personal use.

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agreed. I also would add the prevention of gang related crime, see: Laredo, TX.

I disagree with the idea that it is not addictive. It may not be your typical chemical dependency complete with painful withdraw symptoms like heroin but it is addictive. Lack of physiological addiction does not preclude psychological addiction which can be just as powerful as the former and harder to treat.

I also do not harbor any delusion that marijuana smokers will act more responsibly than people who drink. There will always be abusers of substances, legal or not. The abusers of any substance do not represent the average consumer.

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Originally Posted by Dwood

Just look at mexico and see how well that regulation and legalization is holding out.

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Mexico regulating anything is laughable and doesn't compare to the US. Which makes me wonder...

Who lives in a country where cannabis is legal/not legal?

I believe there's more benefits than drawbacks to the drug being legalized. Taxed distribution would generate a lot of revenue, as everyone said, and with the economy in such a bad place right now it's even more of a reason to do so. The medical benefits of the drug speak for itself, chemotherapy patients and aids victims can take it to stimulate hunger, glaucoma sufferers for pain and so on. Some people might counter this argument saying that consumption of the drug (via smoke inhalation) are more harmful than beneficial, but these people don't understand that there's multiple ways to ingest it. THC is fat soluble so it can be baked into foods (delicious brownies) and eaten, a healthier and more effective way of consuming it. I always felt it was wrong for the government to tell me that I can't ingest a plant that can be grown by anyone, and grows wild in some parts of the world. It's alot less incapacitating than alcohol, so driving under the influence isn't really that big of a deal with this substance.

Edit: Ohh and the legal implications for the drug are ridiculous right now. People being jailed and made out to be murderous criminals, having their lives ruined over possessing a plant, it's absolutely unjustifiable.

I think it should be legal to possess, but illegal to sell without a license (I think it's actually legal to sell with a license currently, but the government simply doesn't issue any licenses). It should be illegal to smoke in public and to sell to a minor too. Tax it and make sure that the sales are reported.

I think legalization would be the best economical decision. Los Angeles County is already deep in debt and worrying about paying fire and police departments. Recently it lost 75 million dollars. The money spent on pursuing convictions on use/posession and employing the manpower to fight a losing "war" on cannabis is absolutely ridiculous. Turn that money-hole into some state income. Goddam.

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Originally Posted by jcap

I think it should be legal to possess, but illegal to sell without a license (I think it's actually legal to sell with a license currently, but the government simply doesn't issue any licenses). It should be illegal to smoke in public and to sell to a minor too. Tax it and make sure that the sales are reported.

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That was an old law that was overturned in the 30's by the SC. It basically gave license to sell/posses but it required you already possess in order to get the license which means you had to break the law to comply with the law. It was overturned for violating the 5th amendment. Marijuana was later criminalized in the Controlled Substances Act.

In Wa, you can grow medicinal marijuana with a license. I think you can have up to 16 plants