Comments on: Time For Marijuana Legalization?

Andrew Cohen: Economic Crisis Spurring Politicians To Talk About Legalizing Pot

[candlewalk]

As a former police Captain in the NYPD with narcotics enforcement experience I truly believe that there are many benefits to legalize marijuana. I addition to freeing time from a law enforcement perspective, having the ability to concentrate on more important matters, we will free up our criminal justice system and at the same time tax and control the growing and safe sale to adults.

The techniques of growing marihuana today include using artifitial substances that should not be injested. By legalizing we can ensure an organic marihuana that is safer than smoking cigarettes or consuming alcohol. In all my years in law enforcement, I have never seen any person hospitalized or overdose on marijuana. We cannot say the same for cigarettes and alcohol.

[Szentivanyi]

Your facts are actually right, except emotion rides over reason in the matter. "I have never seen any person hospitaized or overdose on marijuana." It has produced a two faced society . . . drink yourself to death, that's okay . . . smoke yourself to death that's okay.
When the money gets low, lots of the b. s. stops.

[texanforlogi]

Marijuana is a gift from a loving God.

Our marijuana laws are a reaction by the cotton industry (which financed Reefer Madness) to the economic threat offered by the hemp industry.

[Szentivanyi]

I have a different understanding of why marijuana was criminalized. In the thirties a new method of rhetting the marijuana (removing the outside filaments) was invented. This tremendously increased production.
At that time 80% of what Dupont made could also be produced from marijuana. The new rhetting device increased production tremendously thus putting pressure on Dupont.
The Secretary of the Treasury was Henry Morgentheau, who was also over the Mellon Bank in Philadelphia. The Duponts had their money in the Mellon Bank and at that time had the largest cash reserves of any company in the world. With the threat of their products being extinquished, and ruining their fortune, Secretary of the Treasury appointed his nephew Henry Anxlinger (sp?) whose first act in office was to criminalize marijuana.
Thus saving the Dupont fortune. (Marijuana can be made into linseed oil, paint, paper, endless).
One day, someone will wake up and realized that the Duponts were beind the criminalization of marijuana, which left them producing chemicals that severly polluted the environment. Duponts would be criminally libel for this activity.
Just remember regardless of what is said, there are no scientific proofs of its harm and more than plenty of proof of its beneficialness. The government has lied for years about the issue. The tragedy and horrors caused by this false government policy is countless and the money to incarcerate these people has been unaccountable and of course will not be counted. God gave us marijuana. The devil gave us politicians. As the country continues to go broke, while huffing and puffing, a lot of their incompetent rules and policies will disappear, hopefully.

[snowman2795]

Like wow, I mean you ever looked at your hands everything while listening to Michael Jackson? Kewl man.

Look, this stuff is a weed. It grows everywhere. And bad guys are making a fortune selling this highly potent weed that people DEMAND. This is like prohibition. Do we legalize and tax this crap as we do with alcohol or do we finance the drug cartels by making it a huge money-maker?

Meanwhile before legalization, the courts should just throw possession charges out effectively tolerating a practice that is everywhere. In Canada you might get a fine of $25 for having 20 marijuana cigarettes. Instead here in the US we throw idiot kids in Tennessee into jail for ten years after being caught smoking dope three times. What is the point of that?

As for the health arguments. So what? It is bad stuff. And people want it.

Once legalization is contemplated, we need to have roadside tests for people stupid enough to drink/smoke or just smoke while driving.

And for the die-hards opposed to legalization or any backing down on the war on drugs. Fine. Here's the solution: mandatory death sentences for possession and trafficking. Trial in the morning. Bullet to the head in the evening. After a fair trial of course. Otherwise, let's stop wasting money chasing down the idiots who smoke this stuff and invest it in universal healthcare, security, and jobs.

[sparek1961]

I also want to add that most of us that are Baby Boomers close to retirement age or past it. Were taught that "pot" is a gateway drug and leads to harder and more dangerous drugs. I teach my kids to abstain till marriage,to not use drugs and to not drink. Of course you do your best. It does not always go your way. But it is better to have tried and failed then to not have tried at all to teach your kids drugs are wrong.

[rrozsa]

Pot is only a gateway drug if you have to go to a pusher/dealer to get it. If you can grow it yourself, most users likely wouldn't even know how to go about getting the "harder stuff". No dealer, no gateway.

[thompsonai]

If Tylenol were purchased from the same guy who sold heroin, crack, and coke, it would likely be a gateway drug as well. It's consumed to relieve pain, right? And it's manufactured, just like other hard drugs. What makes Tylenol and different from Marijuana?

Did you know all those things you "learned" in your youth were entirely fabricated by a Mr. Henry Aslinger? Have you ever tried, known someone who has tried, or even done any research into the illegalization in the 1930s? Or do you just believe everything you *remember* hearing. Did you know the main opposers of the illegalization of Marijuana were the AMA, also known as the American Medical Association? Do you have any clue at all?

[kgh0st]

Yet another absurdly uninformed comment. Why do you think Marijuana is considered a gateway drug, while alcohol and tobacco (both more dangerous and addictive) are not? It's because it's illegal! Seriously, do some research before jumping to conclusions, though I do fully support your concerns as a parent, I think you need to do some responsible research rather than just jumping on whatever bandwagon you THINK is responsible.

[thereal_yeti]

"Were taught that 'pot' is a gateway drug and leads to harder and more dangerous drugs."

So, at least you openly admit you're brainwashed...

It is only a gate way drug..

Because people who are interested in drugs in GENERAL find marijuana to be the most easily obtainable..

So they run across pot first, than later stumble across other drugs they were interested in..

If heroine were more available, and marijuana was difficult to obtain, many people would try heroine before marijuana..

[sparek1961]

Legalizing marijuana does not sound cool. It sounds stupid. Medical reasons is one thing. But decriminalizing pot is just a "Pandora's Box." What will be next cocaine because we can't win the so-called drug war. Remember Cocaine use to be legal way back when. Legalizing pot would just bring us full circle to a point where Cocaine would be legal again. Michael Phelps was stupid to come to South Carolina to my city, Columbia. Did he think it was funny to hold a "bong" up to his mouth. Didn't he have a clue that undercover cops could have been at that party that night. Instead someone took a photo of him. It made him lose endorsements and lose alot of credibility with old and young alike. What has gone wrong with these celebriities don't they know "To whom much is given that much will be rquired" that's from the Bible. Michael you were being given a break by Sheriff Lott. Because no case could be brought against you. But you do that again in our state your automatic in the "Gray Bar Hotel" I'm an ex-cop. So heed my advice. And you others out there that like to skirt the law. I reiterate lets not be a bunch of simpletons if you want legal dope (pot and so on go to the Netherlands or elsewhere).

[wmaxham]

leme ask you this, why cant we live in peace? if i were to "legally" smoke in my house, just for the fact that it makes me sleep better? and that i like the way it makes me feel? comparisons as such are that like a roller coster, or bungie jumping.....without leaving my house? yes please. so for this to be illegal still is rough at best. now cocain is on another level then mary jane. mary jane cane be kept under control. and should be used for recreational use only, driving is ok but not adivised. and yeah, as for drinking. dont lower the drinking age, but decriminalize it, no jail time for college campus students. maybe a fine. but make a DUI like hella crazy for anyone found drinking over .10% or some number thats really not safe and any other crime wile found under the influence. but just under the influence in the private of my home under age should be legal, or atleast not criminalised

[rrozsa]

Legalizing marijuana will greatly reduce the probability that a user will ever "graduate" to the harder stuff. Currently the only way to buy pot is through dealers (often hard-core criminals), who usually also deal in the harder stuff. If you leave the hard stuff to the illegal street dealers, and allow pot to be sold or grown by individuals, most pot users can conceivable go their entire life without even MEETING a dope pusher and being exposed to "harder stuff".

[Heather3103]

First Off its Police Officers Like you that make people mot trust and not want to call the police when something is really Wrong.
I'm 24 years old and i think that if we legalize and tax marijuana it would be a good thing for our economy
Do you not realize the revenue it would create. People would quit fighting over it and the world would be a better place
The fact that your an ex-officer and you don't see these points make me wonder how safe the town you policed over was. Do you Know that there are more people in prison for weed then anything and the average Weed offender gets a longer sentence then a sex offender or a rapist
Get real Officer sparek open your old tired eyes and realize whats going on in the world you swore to protect............

[heita4631]

how many deaths from overdose of cocaine as compared to marijuana? honestly, how could you even compare the two, ESPECIALLY being an ex-cop, a profession in which you surely would know the difference in the outcome of usage of each? it just seems like you're completely slandering against something you really know nothing about, besides what has been publicated to you. just because people are considering this harmless herb being legalized doesn't mean that everyone's just lost their common sense and is going to legalize other drugs that actually are potentially dangerous. think about what you're saying. and inform yourself before you decide to speak. just a suggestion.

[kgh0st]

What an absurdly uninformed comment. Do you honestly believe legalizing marijuana, an almost entirely harmless plant, would lead to legalizing cocaine, an extremely addictive and dangerous drug, attributed to thousands of deaths a year? I hope you realize that alcohol was illegal once, and making it legal didn't force every other drug to suddenly become legal, despite the fact that it is the second most deadly drug abused in the United States (behind tobacco). If you can give me one logical reason that Marijuana should remain illegal, I will never smoke again. There simply is no reason to keep it illegal, get informed and I'm certain you will agree with me.

[thereal_yeti]

...

The amount of cocaine users out there, is not enough to justify prohibiting it IMO...

About phelps, that only irks you because he is living proof that someone can enjoy cannabis and still be a successful person...

Also, the revenue argument isn't NEARLY as strong for cocaine, the resources we use against cocaine isn't NEARLY as much as for marijuana..

[mswolfestock]

Lowering the legal drinking age will lead to LOTS more death 'n' destruction through more drunk driving. More students will die from acute alcohol poisoning at frat house initiations. The cost of auto insurance for EVERYBODY will go up with more drunks on the road. This is a lose, lose, lose situation. The drunk drivers who don't kill themselves will end up . . . . . . guess where? IN JAIL!!!!!!!!! I live in a college town and I see the carnage all the time. Lowering the legal drinking age will not lower the prison population, but I guess they want to see it for some kind of gruesome population control, and that is just sick.

[thereal_yeti]

so would you advocate RAISING the drinking age?

[ColleenMcCool]

Does anyone you know or love have cancer? I know 11,000 people recently raced for a cure in El Paso, but we actually seem to be running from the cure!!. It is down right sinister, a crime against humanity, for the medicinal uses of cannabis to be suppressed.
http://www.phoenixtears.ca/diy.html

THC is the active ingrediant in cannabis. Watch the herb in action in the Seth Group's petri dish. An internet search for "THC cancer" brings up thousands of research papers from all over the world. Ooooops! Who spilled the beans? SCIENTISTS and PATIENTS all over the world, that's who! http://www.sethgroup.org/

Patients testify to Cannabis' help in treating post traumatic stress, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, gastrointestinal (GI) tract disorders, Alzheimer's, Cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS and more! They swear it is an effective safer replacement for very dangerous pharmaceuticals. http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/30

Profiteering has no place in medicine, which must be concerned with the well being of the individual not the bottom line. Doctors who have monitored cannabis use by hundreds of thousands of patients in California and Oregon can document a consistent pattern of using less pharmaceuticals including cutting opiates use by half. Repealing prohibition of marijuana would bring other much needed healthcare reform.

It is reefer madness policy to equate use with abuse and to punish nonviolent people for a safer choice. People who use the word, "doper" for smart people who make a safer, wiser choice are just showing their ignorance.

[ColleenMcCool]

Andrew Cohen and CBS news thank you and please continue this conversation.

Considering the oppression, the bloodshed and corruption triggered by the new prohibition; the worst public policy since slavery is a simmering scandal and disgrace more explosive than sex in the oval office!

Public safety should come first. At least 230 US citizens have been murdered in Mexico in the last 5 years. Former presidents of Brazil, Columbia and Mexico have called for a change in focus to reducing harm and tackling organized crime.
http://www.chron.com/databases/mexicomurders.html

Across America paramilitary drug raids trigger violence rather than lesson the risk. The outrageous violence and official lawlessness triggered by the drug war will end with repeal just as these policy created problems disappeared with repeal of alcohol prohibition. http://www.cato.org/raidmap/

Please visit www.DrugWarDebate.com to ask YOUR state and federal representatives to support a blue ribbon commission reviewing the effectiveness of drug prohibition. Our corrupt system attracts those interested in milking it for all it is worth. Restore justice and attract more of those who will make the system run with the milk of human kindness.

[rrozsa]

I think the very last phrase of your post is a bit naive -- politics will always attract those who are best at manipulating the system for their personal gain; however, I agree with the rest of what you have said.

[ubrew12]

These are good ideas. As he says at the end, if we're going to be cutting law enforcement and prison spending anyway (and we are), then we need to identify area's where that dollar is just being WASTED.

[BC Kelly]

You can do your own Google/Wiki dig to verify the specifics about this ... but:


Remember reading years ago about Europe in the 1200-1500s, or sometime back then.

Possession of Coffee or Tobacco, in certain areas, could get you the Death Penalty

They were considered 'dangerous drugs'

One account told of a General who had a cup of coffee in morning before going into battle, lost the battle, and was later decided the loss was due to that cup of coffee. He was executed.




Like Mr Cohen, will not delve into the plus/minus of what should be legal at what age, but ...

Is very interesting, as a Society, that we pump our kids full of Ritalin, as Parents take Prozac, Ambien, etc ... and the TV folks make loads of money from the advertising.

Raises many questions about our Values and how we express them in reality.

[rrozsa]

My husband grew up in a country where there were no minimum age for drinking -- he had wine with his meals at a very early age - as most Hungarians do, but you had to be 21 to drive a car. DUI's are FAR less frequent there.

[rrozsa]

Sorry -- I didn't mean DUI's, I meant alcohol-related automobile fatalities.

[eewrites]

I don't think you can equate legalizing marijuana with lowering the drinking age. Our society allows adults to smoke, drink, and otherwise make high risk choices for themselves. To allow impulsive, often immature young people to legally drink is, I believe, foolish for a society to do. The argument that "they'll do it anyway" could be used for many destructive behaviors. I believe that a certain percentage of teenagers would not want to break the law and a certain percentage of parents would be more vigilant about their kids not breaking the law. This percentage could save lives. In addition, those kids who will sneak a drink, will likely be less likely to do it and then get behind a wheel knowing they are breaking the law.
Finally, when you look at the statistics on binge drinking in colleges, as well as the percentages of date rapes, personal injury, and deaths due to alcohol poisening that goes on with college age kids, it seems absurd to me to condone this behavior and make it easier for kids to drink.

[matt_the_ninja]

Speaking from the point of view of an under 21 college student, I can tell you firsthand, college students aren't obeying the law and have no intention of obeying such a law. At any given party, the majority of the people who are there are under 21, and they're also the ones who are drinking the most. When you make it illegal for people to drink who are going to drink anyway, they tend to drink more at one time, exacerbating the problems associated with drinking; alcohol poisoning, vomiting, hangover, etc. Lowering the drinking age to 21 would lessen the need to get all of your drinking done in one place at one time.

The nation would be well-served to focus on drunk drivers rather than underage drinkers older than 18. The purpose of such a change in law would not be to condone drinking, but would be to condone drinking responsibly.

[heita4631]

first of all, yes we allow adults to "smoke, drink, and otherwise make high risk choices for themselves". but the key word here is CHOICE. people are making these decisions for themselves, and i hate to say it but with or without laws prohibiting these things, the decision making is going to remain the same. sure, the decisions come with sometimes very large consequences/damages to the person's health and other factors, but it's their own fault, because they DECIDED to do these things. and obviously it's not good to say they'll do it anyways, but it's the cold hard truth. people have been using marijuana for decades, even centuries, under the prohibition of it, and the number using it is ever growing, even today. and as far as alcohol goes, i personally believe the old "if you're old enough to fight for your country.."
it all comes down to choices, and the fact that no matter what anyone does, people are still going to make the choices that they want to, and is it really worth fighting? especially over something as small and harmless as marijuana use (which, by the way, has no cases of overdose, unlike many over the counter drugs, or any direct link to a single death, unlike alcohol itself) and college underage drinkers? we need to face the reality that there are bigger things that we need to be worrying about in today's society, and maybe loosening things up is just what this recession needs.

[r1chyr1chy]

legalizing marijuana is a great idea but lowering the drinking age isnt at all. for one thing, underage drinkers will avoid public situations when drunk, and won't be driving. marijuana would make the world a better place

[thereal_yeti]

If you compare more liberal countries like Germany (When it comes to alcohol) They are less prone to alcohol abuse..

Many ADULTS are simpley defying the law, they find it BS that they are legally considered adults, yet are treated like children..

18 year olds should be treated like adults.. I turned 21 june third, haven't gotten smashed since (Got a small buzz a couple times, but no vomitting or passing out)

[willcaine]

Legalizing marijuana sounds cool, but lowering the drinking age was dumb mistake in the 1980s; it'd be a dumb mistake today: you'd have kids of 15 and 16 passing for 18.

[rrozsa]

Um, they still have to show an ID.

[kgh0st]

I hope you realize how much easier it is for young kids to get marijuana when it's illegal. Drug dealers don't require an ID, and will sell to anyone, a controlled system like we have with alcohol would work much better at keeping marijuana out of the hands of young children. Why do you support giving money to drug dealers rather than legitimate businesses and farmers? It makes no sense.