Why is Marijuana Illegal???????

Page 4 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: gistech1978
whatever someone wants to do with their own body is none of my business
nor is it your business what i do to my own body.

Exactly, which is why I don't have to tell anybody what kind of piercings I have. :p
 

N8Magic

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
11,624
1
81
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: Rogue
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: Rogue
The problem with your entire story is that guys like you can't smoke a tree and do dumb $hit, so it was probably a good decision in the end.
Actually the real problem is that most of America has been effectively brainwashed into forgetting that people do dumb sht!t even without the assistance of drugs.
You're absolutely right! But why provide already stupid people with just another reason to add to a pre-existing condition?
As a police officer, Rogue, you have a vested financial interest in maintaining drug prohibition. Therefore, any argument you would make here is worthless.

Actually, his opinions are worth exponentially more than yours, considering he is submitted to the consequences of users on a daily basis.

Unfortunately, they are not.

As a Police Officer, Rogue gets somewhat of a skewed view of things. He has to clean up the mess that irresponsible people make every day. What about the millions of people that use marijuana that DON'T cause any problems? I'd be willing to wager that in any given year, Rogue deals with far more abusive and violent drunks than he does potheads.

And yes, he does have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal. Think about how much money gets poured into police budgets every year courtesy of the "war on drugs". If that money disappears, the police department will be forced to lay off staff, threatening his job.
 

zzzz

Diamond Member
Sep 1, 2000
5,498
1
76
Originally posted by: Beau

I agree with you there. But unfortunately, not everyone is effected the same way. A few people fvck up, and as a precaution, all are forbidden to do so.


so....you are for making Guns illegal too?

 

chrisms

Diamond Member
Mar 9, 2003
6,615
0
0
As others have said, the cotton industry had something to do with it. In addition, towns in Southern California first outlawed it as a way to jail Mexican workers. It became outlawed by the government in large part because of Henry Anslinger, the nation's first drug czar. He found that it was nearly impossible to stop narcotics from entering the U.S., and in order to make it seem as though he was winning the war on drugs he outlawed marijuana. It was made out to be far worse than it is (Anslinger funded propaganda saying it caused insanity and death), therefore making marijuana socially unacceptable. It was on the fast track to legalization during the late 70s and early 80s, but a cocaine scandal in Jimmy Carter's administration forced him to take an anti-drug stance, though in his campaign he supported its legalization.
 

Electric Amish

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
23,578
1
0
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Encryptic
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
So instead of bitching about making pot legal, you should bitch about making cigarettes, alcohol, and over the counter drugs illegal.
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif

WTF? You think society is BETTER OFF with things that we kill eachother with every day? Man, you guys are FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKT UP!

Well, based on that reasoning, guns, cars, ALL drugs, walking, showering, fast food, etc...should all be illegal.

amish
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Heh...

We'll never change the minds of people who are against it, I guess it's pretty pointless. I just wish they could see all the harm keeping it illegal does.... It serves no purpose, and it certainly doesen't protect anybody.

People have always sought ways to alter their conciousness. That's why the drug war is a fallacy. It is impossible to win. Some of the earliest cultivated plants were cannabis. It has many more uses than just to get high..

How can you ignore the fact that we spend so much money putting harmless people away due to the so called drug war when something like alcohol is legal with certain rules and taxed?

What possible detrimental effects could making cannabis legal create?! It would bring in money. That money could be used for drug education, instead of propagating drug ignorance. I guess I don't know how to adequately explain myself..

If you believe that cannabis is "worse" than alcohol, that is fine.. but I suggest you educate yourself before comming to such conclusions, because evidence to the contrary is all around you.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: Vic
Driving while talking on cellphones is only illegal in very rare places, and not where I live. Plus, that wasn't my point and you know that. Hey, you got your position to defend. You think you can legislate a perfect world. The problem is that you are completely and foolishly wrong. You only make the world worse. But hey, I know your kind. When do you push for legislation to make it illegal to fart in a public place?
rolleye.gif
Explain to me what my kind is?
Farting in a public place hardly puts lives in jeopardy.
rolleye.gif
Neither does someone smoking weed in their own home put anyones life in jeopardy. Your point?

People under the effects of pot can LEAVE their homes and yards. Jesus! Where the hell is your logic? You're almost as bad at reasoning as the potheads. People who are high on pot do not reason well. The do STUPID THINGS. They run the risk of leaving their humble abode and killing others, potentially.

So either lobby for all of this crap to be illegal and deal with a safer society (ooo, that's gonna be hard), or lobby for all this crap to be legal and deal with a worse society.

I choose a better society.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: JzeroWell, most states and cities have laws against public drunkenness and open containers in public. To prevent drunks from getting into mischief.
And, quite frankly, I support these laws. I'd be fine if smoking pot in public and being stoned in public was illegal.
I completely agree, I was just trying to understand his point...
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Encryptic
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
So instead of bitching about making pot legal, you should bitch about making cigarettes, alcohol, and over the counter drugs illegal.
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif

WTF? You think society is BETTER OFF with things that we kill eachother with every day? Man, you guys are FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKT UP!

Well, based on that reasoning, guns, cars, ALL drugs, walking, showering, fast food, etc...should all be illegal.

amish

If you can prove that there are more negative consequences than there are positive consequences, I might agree with you no matter what the topic.
 

Josh

Lifer
Mar 20, 2000
10,917
0
0
Government wouldn't be able to control/tax it. It's as simple as that.

However, I do think they should seriously reduce the laws/penalties associated with it. Once again our fearless leader Bush is to blame for that one I suppose
rolleye.gif
 

waylman

Diamond Member
Apr 4, 2003
3,473
0
0
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: Vic
Driving while talking on cellphones is only illegal in very rare places, and not where I live. Plus, that wasn't my point and you know that. Hey, you got your position to defend. You think you can legislate a perfect world. The problem is that you are completely and foolishly wrong. You only make the world worse. But hey, I know your kind. When do you push for legislation to make it illegal to fart in a public place?
rolleye.gif
Explain to me what my kind is?
Farting in a public place hardly puts lives in jeopardy.
rolleye.gif
Neither does someone smoking weed in their own home put anyones life in jeopardy. Your point?

People under the effects of pot can LEAVE their homes and yards. Jesus! Where the hell is your logic? You're almost as bad at reasoning as the potheads. People who are high on pot do not reason well. The do STUPID THINGS. They run the risk of leaving their humble abode and killing others, potentially.

So either lobby for all of this crap to be illegal and deal with a safer society (ooo, that's gonna be hard), or lobby for all this crap to be legal and deal with a worse society.

I choose a better society.

Anything you've said to this point can now be considered utter drivel. You are obviously a moron. Pot does not lead others to kill.
 

yukichigai

Diamond Member
Apr 23, 2003
6,404
0
76
Originally posted by: N8Magic
As a Police Officer, Rogue gets somewhat of a skewed view of things. He has to clean up the mess that irresponsible people make every day. What about the millions of people that use marijuana that DON'T cause any problems? I'd be willing to wager that in any given year, Rogue deals with far more abusive and violent drunks than he does potheads.

And yes, he does have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal. Think about how much money gets poured into police budgets every year courtesy of the "war on drugs". If that money disappears, the police department will be forced to lay off staff, threatening his job.

I agree with your first point more than the second. Rogue obviously isn't dealing with the cream of the crop here; all he gets the pleasure of dealing with are the re-res. As for the funding, I can tell you that Average Joe Gov't Employee doesn't really know or care where money for his paycheck comes from, so much as whether or not it's there. If you asked me where funding for my job comes from I would be able to say "fuel tax, car registration fees... umm.... stuff..." and that's about it.
 

Josh

Lifer
Mar 20, 2000
10,917
0
0
Originally posted by: waylman
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: Vic
Driving while talking on cellphones is only illegal in very rare places, and not where I live. Plus, that wasn't my point and you know that. Hey, you got your position to defend. You think you can legislate a perfect world. The problem is that you are completely and foolishly wrong. You only make the world worse. But hey, I know your kind. When do you push for legislation to make it illegal to fart in a public place?
rolleye.gif
Explain to me what my kind is?
Farting in a public place hardly puts lives in jeopardy.
rolleye.gif
Neither does someone smoking weed in their own home put anyones life in jeopardy. Your point?

People under the effects of pot can LEAVE their homes and yards. Jesus! Where the hell is your logic? You're almost as bad at reasoning as the potheads. People who are high on pot do not reason well. The do STUPID THINGS. They run the risk of leaving their humble abode and killing others, potentially.

So either lobby for all of this crap to be illegal and deal with a safer society (ooo, that's gonna be hard), or lobby for all this crap to be legal and deal with a worse society.

I choose a better society.

Anything you've said to this point can now be considered utter drivel. You are obviously a moron. Pot does not lead others to kill.

Exactly. If i were to blaze something real quick and jump in a car and drive or if I were to drink a bottle of vodka and take my car out, what do you think would be more lethal? You aren't going to smoke a joint then go out and kill somebody, that's just stupid. Your more likely to sit on your sofa at home and find some food if anything.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Originally posted by: waylman
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: Vic
Driving while talking on cellphones is only illegal in very rare places, and not where I live. Plus, that wasn't my point and you know that. Hey, you got your position to defend. You think you can legislate a perfect world. The problem is that you are completely and foolishly wrong. You only make the world worse. But hey, I know your kind. When do you push for legislation to make it illegal to fart in a public place?
rolleye.gif
Explain to me what my kind is?
Farting in a public place hardly puts lives in jeopardy.
rolleye.gif
Neither does someone smoking weed in their own home put anyones life in jeopardy. Your point?

People under the effects of pot can LEAVE their homes and yards. Jesus! Where the hell is your logic? You're almost as bad at reasoning as the potheads. People who are high on pot do not reason well. The do STUPID THINGS. They run the risk of leaving their humble abode and killing others, potentially.

So either lobby for all of this crap to be illegal and deal with a safer society (ooo, that's gonna be hard), or lobby for all this crap to be legal and deal with a worse society.

I choose a better society.

Anything you've said to this point can now be considered utter drivel. You are obviously a moron. Pot does not lead others to kill.
I think he was meaning while driving, or something like that.

But that is, obviously, not good enough excuse to make/keep it illegal, or alcohol would be illegal also. Being drunk "impairs your conciousness" far more than even the most THC-laden cannabis.
 

Electric Amish

Elite Member
Oct 11, 1999
23,578
1
0
How can you ignore the fact that we spend so much money putting harmless people away due to the so called drug war when something like alcohol is legal with certain rules and taxed?

I don't agree with that totally. Some are jailed there with good drug-based reasons such as selling to young kids. Others are correctly jailed based on the drug crime when that's the only evidence the police can get on them e.g. a known burglar jailed for pot possession. It's a way to get a known criminal off the streets if you can't get him on evidence of his normal crime.

Finally, I'm sure there are many that are/were just harmless recreational users, which is very unfortunate.

If made legal, laws could be erected to prevent some of the problems e.g. driving while intoxicated, selling/usage by minors, etc.

amish
 

yoda291

Diamond Member
Aug 11, 2001
5,079
0
0
First off, what convinces me that most people don't really care about the medicinal benefits of marijuana is if you put this out for them to consider...
if marijuana becomes legal, you're gonna get legitimate companies that have to follow government guidelines for marijuana. Growing will probably still be illegal over a certain volume. On top of that, it will probably be subject to a boatload of taxes. End result, that gram of bud or oz of schwag will prolly balloon in price 2-3 hundred percent since the demand for legal weed appears to be so high(no pun intended). I find the majority of people who think on this tend to become quiet.

Otherwise...Marijuana is illegal because it is a mood altering substance. You can say, so is alcohol and you'd be right. The kicker is, you are not allowed to vend alcohol without a license. Public intoxication is against the law and can be interpreted, depending on where you are, as simply drinking in the park. Even having an open alcohol container is prosecutable. The same goes for marijuana. You should have it or consume it in public...and there is no way you can claim that 10lb bag in your closet is for personal consumption rationally, but you are ok so long as you don't have baggies or a scale. If you get caught with a pallet of smirnoff in your house tho, you are damned sure gonna have to explain that. You can claim that cigarettes are also mood altering substances...and you'd be right...but have you noticed you can't legally smoke a cigarette anywhere these days? You can't smoke in the streets really, not in bars or restaurants anymore...plus you aren't allowed to go around selling stoges to peeps on the street. On top of that...should you refuse to put out your cig when someone asks you to? God help you in the country where you can be sued for selling coffee that is too hot.
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
I choose a better society.

I guess we disagree on what makes for a "better" society. I don't think the government being my own personal safety watchdog implies a "better" society. I don't think wasting time, money and manpower on keeping idiots from hurting themselves makes for a "better" society. I played with Jarts without putting anyone's eye out. I have drank plenty without hurting anyone but myself.

In my eyes, a "better" society is a FREE society. What people do in the privacy of their own homes under their own consent is their own business so long as they don't hurt anyone else. Whether it's pot, anal sex, or neffing.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: waylman
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: Vic
Driving while talking on cellphones is only illegal in very rare places, and not where I live. Plus, that wasn't my point and you know that. Hey, you got your position to defend. You think you can legislate a perfect world. The problem is that you are completely and foolishly wrong. You only make the world worse. But hey, I know your kind. When do you push for legislation to make it illegal to fart in a public place?
rolleye.gif
Explain to me what my kind is?
Farting in a public place hardly puts lives in jeopardy.
rolleye.gif
Neither does someone smoking weed in their own home put anyones life in jeopardy. Your point?

People under the effects of pot can LEAVE their homes and yards. Jesus! Where the hell is your logic? You're almost as bad at reasoning as the potheads. People who are high on pot do not reason well. The do STUPID THINGS. They run the risk of leaving their humble abode and killing others, potentially.

So either lobby for all of this crap to be illegal and deal with a safer society (ooo, that's gonna be hard), or lobby for all this crap to be legal and deal with a worse society.

I choose a better society.

Anything you've said to this point can now be considered utter drivel. You are obviously a moron. Pot does not lead others to kill.

Okay. Think for yourself. THINK.

Pot lessens people's ability to reason. Someone might do something that they think is cool, cute, funny, wtf ever. You never know what that person will do. If that leads to deaths, then that leads to deaths. Just because you can't see it happening, doesn't mean it won't. You give too much credit to the fools of today.
 

PHiuR

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2001
9,539
2
76
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: Vic
Driving while talking on cellphones is only illegal in very rare places, and not where I live. Plus, that wasn't my point and you know that. Hey, you got your position to defend. You think you can legislate a perfect world. The problem is that you are completely and foolishly wrong. You only make the world worse. But hey, I know your kind. When do you push for legislation to make it illegal to fart in a public place?
rolleye.gif
Explain to me what my kind is?
Farting in a public place hardly puts lives in jeopardy.
rolleye.gif
Neither does someone smoking weed in their own home put anyones life in jeopardy. Your point?

People under the effects of pot can LEAVE their homes and yards. Jesus! Where the hell is your logic? You're almost as bad at reasoning as the potheads. People who are high on pot do not reason well. The do STUPID THINGS. They run the risk of leaving their humble abode and killing others, potentially.

So either lobby for all of this crap to be illegal and deal with a safer society (ooo, that's gonna be hard), or lobby for all this crap to be legal and deal with a worse society.

I choose a better society.

okay... dude i have to say some things... even tho i dont express myself too well... have you ever been "high" before? do you know what people do when they are high? they dont tend to "harm" things... its just a "life is good.." type thing..."chilled out" if you might call it..i agree..driving while on it isnt the smartest thing to do...but driving while drunk is worse. and the society is DEFINTILY not safer with drugs illegal because the average joe does not have million dollar homes nor entertainment devices... drugs (when used responsibily) are "good for society" it keeps people happy. try banning alcohol again... i want to see what happens in person...

btw...ever watch the movie "halfbaked"? i say that that movie explains cannibas prettty well.... watch it.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Eli
Originally posted by: waylman
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Beau
Originally posted by: Vic
Driving while talking on cellphones is only illegal in very rare places, and not where I live. Plus, that wasn't my point and you know that. Hey, you got your position to defend. You think you can legislate a perfect world. The problem is that you are completely and foolishly wrong. You only make the world worse. But hey, I know your kind. When do you push for legislation to make it illegal to fart in a public place?
rolleye.gif
Explain to me what my kind is?
Farting in a public place hardly puts lives in jeopardy.
rolleye.gif
Neither does someone smoking weed in their own home put anyones life in jeopardy. Your point?

People under the effects of pot can LEAVE their homes and yards. Jesus! Where the hell is your logic? You're almost as bad at reasoning as the potheads. People who are high on pot do not reason well. The do STUPID THINGS. They run the risk of leaving their humble abode and killing others, potentially.

So either lobby for all of this crap to be illegal and deal with a safer society (ooo, that's gonna be hard), or lobby for all this crap to be legal and deal with a worse society.

I choose a better society.

Anything you've said to this point can now be considered utter drivel. You are obviously a moron. Pot does not lead others to kill.
I think he was meaning while driving, or something like that.

But that is, obviously, not good enough excuse to make/keep it illegal, or alcohol would be illegal also. Being drunk "impairs your conciousness" far more than even the most THC-laden cannabis.

You don't think that saving potential lives is enough reason? Jesus... :disgust:

Maybe alcohol and cigarettes should be legal. Why aren't you guys lobbying for that? Are you alcoholics or smokers?

Heh... BAH!
 

N8Magic

Lifer
Dec 12, 2000
11,624
1
81
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt


People under the effects of pot can LEAVE their homes and yards. Jesus! Where the hell is your logic? You're almost as bad at reasoning as the potheads. People who are high on pot do not reason well. The do STUPID THINGS. They run the risk of leaving their humble abode and killing others, potentially.

So either lobby for all of this crap to be illegal and deal with a safer society (ooo, that's gonna be hard), or lobby for all this crap to be legal and deal with a worse society.

I choose a better society.

Let me start by saying that your debating skills are pretty poor. :)

Where is YOUR logic? Using your example, alcohol should also be illegal because someone might drive after having 6 beers. Maybe they should only sell 1 beer at a time and then make you take a breathalyzer before you can purchase the next one?
rolleye.gif


Can you give examples of poor reasoning and stupid things that people do when they're under the influence? You make it sound like anyone who smokes a joint is automatically converted into a raving mass murderer lunatic while they're under the influence. Being someone who has smoked before, I can tell you that you couldn't be further from the truth. If anything, I sat on my ass and told jokes to my friends while listening to music. I had no desire to go out and drive around, nor did I want to go out and cause trouble.

Until you have first hand experience, you have no idea. It's nothing like getting drunk and rowdy like you seem to think.
 

Encryptic

Diamond Member
May 21, 2003
8,885
0
0
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Electric Amish
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
Originally posted by: Encryptic
Originally posted by: Vic
Originally posted by: FFMCobalt
So instead of bitching about making pot legal, you should bitch about making cigarettes, alcohol, and over the counter drugs illegal.
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif
rolleye.gif

WTF? You think society is BETTER OFF with things that we kill eachother with every day? Man, you guys are FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCKT UP!

Well, based on that reasoning, guns, cars, ALL drugs, walking, showering, fast food, etc...should all be illegal.

amish

If you can prove that there are more negative consequences than there are positive consequences, I might agree with you no matter what the topic.

OK, here. We'll use the shower as an example, Mr. Logic King.
rolleye.gif


Pro: You get clean in it

Cons: You can slip and fall
You can drown in it if you have a shower/bathtub with the drain closed.
It uses a lot of water.
Some people choose not to use a shower or bath, anyway.
It requires money, plumbing, and professionals to install and run it.

You want me to give you the same breakdown for GUNS or CARS, for fvck's sake? I'm sure we can find a lot more negative reasons than positive reasons for having those two things in society. Give it up. Everything has a bad side to it. Even WATER can kill you if you drink too much of it.

If you don't want to face the fact that marijuana DOES have benefits beyond getting people high and is not a tool of the Devil, feel free to remain deluded.
 

Jzero

Lifer
Oct 10, 1999
18,834
1
0
Pot lessens people's ability to reason. Someone might do something that they think is cool, cute, funny, wtf ever. You never know what that person will do. If that leads to deaths, then that leads to deaths. Just because you can't see it happening, doesn't mean it won't. You give too much credit to the fools of today.

SO does LOTS of things that are LEGAL. You don't give ENOUGH credit to the majority of society.
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Originally posted by: Jzero
Pot lessens people's ability to reason. Someone might do something that they think is cool, cute, funny, wtf ever. You never know what that person will do. If that leads to deaths, then that leads to deaths. Just because you can't see it happening, doesn't mean it won't. You give too much credit to the fools of today.

SO does LOTS of things that are LEGAL. You don't give ENOUGH credit to the majority of society.

Maybe I don't. Either way, you're nothing short of a hypocrite if you lobby against one and not another.
 

Eli

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
50,419
8
81
Do you "against legalization" people realize why we compare it to alcohol so much? The fact is, they aren't really even comparable, besides the fact that they're both drugs.

We compare it to alcohol because alcohol is far more powerful a drug, yet it is legal. That's what boggles the mind.