Comments on: Time For Marijuana Legalization?

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

[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.

[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.

[puzifer]

It's hard to argue a topic like this when you know who your audience is. One guy thinks alcohol isn't addictive, some think marijuana isn't addictive. What's worse, someone thinks gay marriage shouldn't be legal because "it's against the bible"....that means something??? America is ignorant. I don't care if weed is legal or illegal. I'm gonna either do it once in awhile or never again. For the people who really care: Why are you posting here? This doesn't matter. I could be typing about manure right now and it'd do just as good as typing about weed. Protest, petition, talk, plead, take. Take 4 hours of your life and get ahold of your mayor, ask what he/she can do. When they say they can do nothing. Ask who can. Then when the next person on the list can't do anything ask who's next. You're still gonna fail. At least you will have done something.

Exactly how many million people smoke pot in America? Two million? 10? 20? If i were to guess i'd say at the very least 5 mil. So group up. Get one million people together. Sit a million people on Pennsylvania avenue and smoke up. See if there are enough cops to arrest 1 million people. If there are, go back next year with 2 million.

I'm not trying to sound like a rebel...but, come on now. You live once, just once....and you aren't allowed to smoke a plant. You can drink alcohol (that you can't grow, or escape it's taxes). They let you smoke cigarettes (how much tax is on a pack of those now? 80%?) You are not allowed to pluck a plant out of the earth and say this is mine. What kind of freedom is that. Freedom from choice? Freedom from self abuse? Freedom from yourself..

Weed is just a good example of how this isn't a free country. Sure you are safe. You are safe to earn your paychecks, drive your fast cars, and eat crappy food because it's expensive. Your good ole uncle is watching over you. We're like housecats lol. Watch a house cat for about 20 minutes and pretend you are him. You're entire existence is 6 rooms. It's hard not to let the cat outside and live more in 20 minutes there than it would in 12 years in a house. I've obviously gone way off subject, but i have a point. Think about what you are, what you do, where you live, who tells you what to do...then truly acknowledge the fact that this is your one and only life and YOU ARE GONNA DIE. This really is that big of a picture. The USA may protect you for 80 years of your extended life and let you get all the riches in the world...you don't take anything with you...it's not what you accumulate, it's not about religion, it's about what you do, what you experience, memories, happiness ...and you can't own a ^$(@)&$* plant!
meow

[Conservative_1976]

We could put the criminal drug cartels out of business in a year.
Let ordinary Americans grow a little marijuana in their own back yards.
$100 per year for a permit for 12 plants.
Would anybody go for it?

[swed244]

i think that weed should be legal everywhere because there is no victim so there really is no crime. no deaths have occured to the use of marijuana and if people want to smoke it why not let them. the government could regulate it, tax it, and put age limits on it. it would help the recession that we are in right now and it seems to be the only answer to our problems.

[Native_America]

Top 'Underground' scientists have found several safer methods of ingest marijuana for its medicinal and therapeutic uses other than smoking including- vaporizing, topical ointments, edibles, tinctures, and even supositories, but on top of the countless ailments that medicinal marijuana treats.
Marijuanas' cousin- Hemp (often mistaken for marijuana due to gross ignorance) has it's own seemingly endless array of products that can be made from it. paper, textiles, building materials, food, paint, plastics, detergent, varnish, oil, ink, and fuel, but has very little no 'Medicinal' value.
One acre of Hemp creates as much paper as four acres of trees, and due to its short but robust life span can grow to the size of a tree in grow year. It also cleanses the soil its grown in by its root system and gives off more oxygen than a tree through its leaves, flowers, and stalk.
If legalizing marijuana would lead to knowledge of how to utilize industrial hemp as a natural resource, the collective boom of an industry that could produce all these products in one grow season would for sure save the economy, the environment, and millions of peaceful Americans the heartache of losing a loved one to be a prisoner of this war on 'drugs' sometimes for years over a non-violent offense.

[strangeworld]

A lot of good opinion, but to really make a difference in tis debate, you need to contact your state and US Senators and Concressmen and explain your thoughts on the matter to the person who answers the phone. The Senator generally doesn't have time to anwer phone calls to his office, but his/her staff with tabulate the results and provide the senator with them to take to the hill with him as a guide when the governing bodies start examining the issue, Make some time and call your representatives...you'll be glad that you did..

[duggankaleb]

this is a step in the right direction for sure. hopefully one day this wisdom will spread across the country and we will discontinue to be such an ignorant country. this was bound to happen and the only reason marijuana was ever illegalized (sp) was on completely racist and pregidous grounds. free the people, free the country. thank you

[avoicefortn]

Legalize TENNESSEE: I think it should be legalized for the simple fact it would bring better marijuana instead of getting crappy nasty pot you would get bigger better looking and flavorful smoke. But that?s not why I would legalize Marijuana, It would bring more jobs to the united states and would give tobacco farmers another crop which would mean better revenue for them and their families. It would also bring taxes that we also need to help pay back our national debt. I propose that the taxes should be one tax throughout the entire U.S. We the people could start getting crops from other countries and we would have imported revenues from those crops alone. Not only has it been proven that it helps those who need it for medical purpose it also helps the average person relax at the end of a very stressful work day.(hey some people choose cheese and wine, I choose flavorful Bowls). These are some of the reasons I would legalize Marijuana in the U.S. and Home of the FREE.

[Angieonline]

I am a Christian and responsible adult. I am 54 years young. I don't smoke marijuana but what's all the fuss about?
It was legal before and my grandmother used to tell me stories that she did it. She said no one really cared about it. It was just "there".
I have always had an open mind about it because I have seen how people react when they are "stoned" and I have seen people who are tipsy and drunk. Legalize the pot and take away the boose. Maybe the world would calm down, you think?

[tischj41]

I am just sick and tired of this discussion. Just f'ing legalize it. It's what everyone wants. I don't hink we should have to be doing this blogging thing to raise some eyebrows. I have been smoking pot since I was 11. I don't condone any substance use at that age, but I'm a normal human being. I pay my taxes, I have a job, I went to college and I SMOKE POT! It just bursts my bubble about all of this. I think that it shouldn't be discriminated as much as it is. People can't even get jobs anymore without UA's and I understand in cases like machine operators and drivers, but anything else? It's getting ridicilous now. I've never been caught with it, so I don't really care either way and if it does come to being legalized, they are gonna tax the **** out of it, but c'mon, lets be good americans and pay those taxes. Lets get ourselves out of all this debt and then maybe illegalize drinking. I drink on occasion, but c'mon, its the single largest problem in this country. DWI's are probably the single highest offense among my friends and drinking and driving KILLS PEOPLE! I drive high all the time and it has probably kept me out of some pretty bad road rage and in some cases calmed me down on worried days. As for medical use, it could save lives. Cancer patient are taking drugs to ease the pain and suffering and then they have to take these pills that are probably killing them faster and not to mention the theiving little teenagers going in those cabinets to steal those drugs that might kill then with one or two pills. I don't know about anyone else out there, but I have never in my life heard of anyone overdosing or so much as coming close. I would much rather find my child smoking pot than the alternative in those med cabinets.

Look, I'm gonna smoke weed whether this bill is ever even written or not. I'm gonna keep an eye out and hope that these legislators just take their heads out of big business' behinds and take a look at the bigger picture... WE ARE DOING IT ANYWAYS! Just give it up!

[Bagpiper92]

Hello all, I'm Ethan, Junior inhighschool. I started smoking pot sophomore summer. It was an occasional thing, I used to drink more than smoke.. but the last 4 months I started getting more into pot and less into beer. I started doing it once every couple days in small increments. Later on I would do it about every other day. I will say there are side effects to this kind of usage.. you will forget easier (depending on how your body reacts to the grass.) Obviously too much of anything isn't the best for one's physical being but thats only one opinion. When I smoked, my grades in my english classes and classes with essays went up because when I was assigned a report I would smoke beforehand and normally coming up with a pretty creative paper which would then get me a good grade. So for readers who say all marijuana does is make you a lazy slacker that won't go anywhere, think again. I am planning on being a chiropractor after college (how's that for a lazy slacker?) On to gov't. After researching benefits and fall backs of marijuana, I have come to a conclusion that it's benefits are far more outreaching than the negatives of it. To me, there seems to be only one reason as to why pot is illegal. The government not wanting to take a chance. If it were to be legalized (God help us, anytime soon) there would be people who smoke pot and enjoy it, but do other but more harmful drugs such as acid, abusing prescription drugs, opiates etc. who want those drugs to be legalized which could then bring up future conflicts. The other chance they would take would be switching from smoking tobacco to smoking pot. If weed was legalized, obviously, it being a smokeable product would bleed the cigarette companies. For something that can be smoked and not be PHYSICALLY addicted to, would be a dream to some people, but then again, with cigarette and tobacco companies supporting the gov't with their tax money, why would our gov't want to take a chance of losing that? I'll tell you why they would. Because if smoke shops were open that could legally sell green, and could be taxed, it would be able to match if not surpass the tax dollars tobacco gives to the government. If legalized it could again, strain out the prison of non violent people who haven't been brainwashed into thinking if you smoke marijuana you'll die. I've smoked for about 2 and half years now, and some over 20+ years, and guess what? We're still walkin on the same streets as you all. Obviously there is alot more to be said about the topic but one can only type so much. I think with the economic mess we're in now has got the people upstairs thinking on new ways to create more citizen spending and less gov't spending and this is without a doubt one of the better ways.

[sugar_maple]

I am 24 and teenagers need to learn that their brains are developing. Ease up on marijuana brothers and sisters. This is exactly why marijuana needs to be LEGALIZED! It needs a control factor on it because the DRUG WAR isn't working! I smoked ganja back in high school. I went on to college and graduated in the crappiest economy for God knows how many years. Thank God I have fallen into a job not even in what my degree is for.

Anyways, marijuana should be used by responsible adults, not teenagers. I know I am a hypocrite on this, but you have no idea what could happen. Your brains are changing daily with hormones and the alike. LEGALIZE, REGULATE, and CONTROL MARIJUANA!

[Diry_McGirt]

Ok I am 15 years old, i was NOT a weed smoker, my friend gets good grades he is like try it, it isnt bad and I tryed it and loved it, i have been doing it ever since. I still play basketball and yea a few people call me a pothead cause i do "Drugs" yeah *** ever legalize and everyhting will be better

[RelaxAndSmokeSomeWeed]

Weed should be legal to smoke and legal to have. im 15 years old and i love smoking weed, i hate how every body thinks smoking weed is such a terrible thing. i smoke it and i get good grades and play sports. i dont get why things like beer and cigs are legal, they kill you and make some people turn just nasty. but smoking weed HAS NEVER KILLED ANYBODY and its illegal. it doesn't turn you into a nasty person or destroys your life. i mean i guess it can if all you care about is smoking weed. But people always look at smoking weed is a bad thing (being a pot head) and thats because people assume things about weed like it gives you cancer or it makes you stupid and lazy but it doesn't. ya maybe it might shave off a month of your life just because your breathing in smoke but other wise its the best thing in the world. depending on how much you smoke you are only high for 2-5 hours, it doesn't give your hangovers, IT DOESNT KILL YOU, and its relaxing to just chill out and be high. i hope within the next year or so weed should be legal and be able to buy at a drug store if your over the age of 16 or 18. cause if weed is illegal i think cigs and beer should be illegal as well.

[Jim11234]

It should have been legalize a long time ago! It will stop the money that supports gangs in our cities, and put the drug dealers out of business. We can tax it and control the flow of it a whole lot better than all the tax payers money we spend to stop it. It just makes good sense wether you use it or not!!!

[jujufirebreather]

Oh, my Lord. Alcohol isn't addictive?! Who wrote that? A fifteen year old who has never had a sip in his whole life? My father is an alcoholic who drinks a case of beer a night to get buzzed. No he doesn't beat my brothers, but he does drive buzzed and drunk with frequency. He literally CANNOT go one whole day without a six-pack. And it isn't addictive? Try seeing the firsthand effects. Alcoholic mothers taking their babies to bars (secondhand cigarette smoke and all), parents driving drunk with their kids in the car... It is depressing and ridiculous. I used to drink. I gave it up when I was sixteen. GAVE it UP! I picked it up at twelve! From my Dad! I hate to say this (since it goes against everything known about college kids), but I honestly know that even if there was a lower drinking age, it would no longer affect me. I'm 19 now, and wouldn't touch the stuff if you paid me for it. However, marijuana should be legalized, if for no other reason than the economic standpoint. I'm a recreational user. Sometimes I smoke with a couple of friends, but never on my own. I smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, and marijuana has actually helped me smoke less. I am down from one and a half packs to one a day, and I am convinced that IF I decided to smoke pot regularly, I would go through far less cigarettes. And a whole lot more grape juice. But those can only be seen as positive effects to me. I'm Jessica Cale, and I smoke pot. I don't drive when I smoke it; heck, I don't even use the bathroom when I smoke, and I am safer for it. Make marijuana legal!

[Kramericaa]

I, like most, agree with the legalization of pot. I'll try not to say what everyone else has already said, in that it should be a no brainer that it is much better, safer, and less addictive than alcohol, tobacco products, many many legal prescription drugs (which I know several sad addicted cases that I won't even go into). Those who smoke weed already know all of this, we are simpily talking to those who don't, for those who think it's a "DRUG". Heroin, cocaine, PCP, meth, LCD, acid, etc........I think y'all get the point, those are "DRUGS". Marijuana is on the same level as tylenol, asprin, flintstone vitamins( ok that was a joke) but again you get my point. I don't have any facts for these findings, but you don't have any facts to dispute them. The facts I think we all can agree on are: Alcohol(which is legal) has killed people in so many different ways I'm not even going to list them. We all know at least a few people that have died from tobacco(also legal). Let me ask you this: Do you know anyone that has died from smoking pot????? I didn't think so. Now I will say weed can be abused like anything else, but my point is, that in worst case scenarios it does not lead to death, maybe extreme lazyiness, over eating, or being anit-social. I am 26, I do not smoke anymore because and only because I have a good job that gives random drug tests. I first started smoking when I was 16, I have smoked ever since, up until the last couple years do to my job treating me like a criminal, even though I am not one and I have a clean record. I was an athlete all through High School and partially through College(I smoked the whole time and had no problems keeping up metally and physically!) I don't mean to bash on alcohol an tobacco so much and I do believe they should also continue to be legal. However, the facts still remain, that alcohol and tobacco are much worse than marijuana and they are LEGAL , while pot is ILLEGAL. Could someone explain this to me?? Now we have more and more small town cops arresting too many people for petty ****, "fry the small fish and let the big ones go" (no it's not a saying, it's what they do). I want criminals (-guilty of crime or SERIOUS offense) to be in our jails and prisons not some recreational "pot head". I wonder how many people are in there for something to do with weed? This is for you parents out there, let's say your kid is 18 and gets caught with over a 1/4 ounce of weed. I hope you have a good lawyer to get him or her out of that felony case because if not your son or daughter will have a tough time gettin a good or even ok job with that on their record. A rapist(also a felony offense) will have just as good of a chance at that job. (yea, that is disgusting). I trulely hope we all know who is a worse individual in that case. I could go on for days about this topic on so many different levels but I will spare your eyes from reading this long post. I hope someone important really looks into this topic and opens up their eyes. America is a great country, let's keep it that way.

[bmwtuner]

I started smoking pot when i was 13. I also started smoking cigarrettes when i was 14. The longer i've smoked its gotten harder and harder to quit smoking cigarettes. I hate that i smoke cigs. I wish it was easier to quit. I am 25. I've never had a problem with smoking pot. I quit smoking pot to get a good job after school just to learn that most of the people that i worked with all smoked pot. I started drinking more and ended up in the end getting a dui and almost killing myself by totaling my truck. Granite that was my fault but they talk about lowering the drinking age. That sounds way worse than legalizing pot. To younger kids, if they could drink at a younger age that just means they won't have to find somone to buy there alcohol for them anymore. That would just be making it easier for them. Also some kids are still in high school when they are 18. I can see it now, kids going in with hang overs to high school. Wonderful. I smoked pot all through high school and after and never had hang overs or never had a problem getting grades or anything in school. I prefer to be able to work all day and be able to go home and kick back and enjoy a little pot and relax. Just like plenty of people already do. Why is that so different from getting off work and going home to drink a beer? I'm struggling right now thru hard times like many, i am still smoking pot and buying it, just like many. If anything people i know are smoking more now. So why don't they legalize it and tax it that way nothing will really change, as in people smoking pot, and the government can make a lot of money while doing it and right there would be more funding for every states needs. This would also give more jobs to thousands of people which could help out americans a ton.

[gwlhardwurkr1962]

what will it take for our government to see our point ! grow your own and live your own life !! makes sense to me ! hell god made it just to relax him self ! come on let me pay my taxes and work my ass off just so i can enjoy my life not yours ! I am not killing anyone smoking my on pot Just that you cant make or should I take any money out of my pocket to put int to yours ! build another statium so you can taxe us for something we will most likley never get to us !!Hell the players want to cry about playing outside because it is to cold to play !! get a job and work outside all year long ! I do and dont get millions a year doing it !pay for the place yourselfs ! hell thats an idea huh !! And I love my job!give me the freedom and leave the hard working man alone!Make it legal to smoke not legal to sell and youll have less of a problem on your hands ! age limit just like you taxed liquor !

[cantbreath]

I started smoking pot at about 13 because my parants did.(monkey see monkey do) I stopped smoking pot when I was 18 so that I could get a job. I am now 23 and smoke cigarettes. I can't stop smoking them and I get very very upset when I run out. I cough up some nasty things, mostly in the morning. I smoke about 2 packs a day. I'm down from 3 packs a day. I never had severe chest pains when I smoked pot, I used to be athletic. Not now. I never felt like I had to smoke pot. I just liked it. I could quit when ever I wanted. Not cigarettes. I hate them and think there should be AA just for smokers or detox or something. Pot does not do this to you. And if it was legal it might actually help me quit smoking cigarettes. Then I could quit smoking pot if I wanted. Cigarettes are a chemically enduced mind game to make profit from tax payers, as is alcohol. I also have high blood pressure and a slipped disk in my back. I was told by a doctor to quit smoking to allow more blood flow to my spine or I am looking at not being able to walk. Guess what a licenced doctor told me. It would be better for me if I smoked pot and I wouldn't have high blood pressure anymore. But he wasn't suppost to say that for his own well being and job. I can't breath anymore I get light headed and pass out when I run. I AM 23 YEARS OLD. Someone needs to stand up and tell the government to sit down. IF WE DON'T WHO WILL?!!