Comments on: Inside Holland's "Half Baked" Pot Policy

Amid Calls for Marijuana Legalization in the U.S., CBSNews.com Looks at the Lessons of the Dutch Approach

[AttentionDeficit]

toldyouso: if you want to get pot users to sign away their rights to health care because of their bad habits, i suggest it would be equally good to do the same with drinkers, smokers, the obese, etc. if you made yourself fat, then you should be denied medical care, no?

[toldyouso29]

by Edwin Hoey July 14, 2009 2:13 PM EDT
toldyouso29

You are wrong. Cannabis can be habit forming, that is true. It is not addictive, that's different. Stop spreading
misinformation. Habitual use can be a problem for some people, but it is less of a problem than what the criminal justice system can do to them. Cannabis is an uncontrolled substance under Prohibition, legalization will put it under better more effective control.
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In terms of the potential affect on an individual and in their lives,
Sorry, I disagree. The difference between the words "addictive and habit forming is one of semantics not degrees. In either case, one has adopted behavior or patterns difficult to break without concentrated effort and perhaps some discomfort--which usually means the behavior continues. For some, the "habit" may become compulsive--it is a matter of personality. Much like some who drink a lot become alcoholics and some are not really affected at all.

[toldyouso29]

and you might be surprised to learn how many cause accidents or drive erratically and pulled over--under those circumstances they usually just get charged with possession--unless there is an accident, then they usually get charged with possession (if they have anything on them) and the accident.

[lorajeantn]

by toldyouso29 July 14, 2009 12:42 PM EDT

Cost. The drug war is lost because the avg citizen will do somethings no matter the price--it is all about perception--I can almost guarantee that legal or not--there will always be black market selling of dope including weed in the hood and those who don't like the quality or cost of Gov sanctioned weed will continue to seek out those alternative sources.

You do know that marijuana is a plant, right? People who don't like the price or quality would be able to grow it themselves, or possibly with a group of friends. But I would be willing to bet that the black market would sell a whole lot less pot if it were legalized. That isn't where the money is for the dealers anyway, mainly because pot is (even though illegal) relatively cheap and easy to get and grow.

[toldyouso29]

LOL. Whatever makes you think I personally want to bother you or anyone else? By extension, what makes you think that threats either implied or inferred would be a deterrent if I chose to not leave you alone? After all, those who are against legalization or ambivalent of it have a ace you do not have--they only have to report others, they don't have to get involved--people should really never make threats that they cannot carry out--that also is childish and a resource of a weak mind.

[mjm117]

zonkzilla - while I agree that potheads are drug addicts, I don't agree with the rest of your statement. I spend over a decade smoking my days away. I am happy to be on a straight line now (sober), however...I never once touched meth and crack. Your statement that pot is a stepping stone is straight out of the Refer Madness book...a book full of lies.

Who cares if the man next to you is stoned and stupid? You can care when his actions harm you. I'm sure you don't think much about people binge drinking...

Step out of the early 1900's...

[BruceHulvey]

"Sorry Brucie--it is ALL our places and you actually do NOT get to do whatever you want. When your rights begin to impugn or threaten other's rights you will find your own rights curtailed or restricted--which is why you will get in trouble if you drink and drive--and why you have to wear a seatbelt whether you want to or not or will get fined for that. We have rules to prevent those who either do not care or consider the effect of their actions on others--from endangering others due to their inconsideration."

You have taken my idea out of context here.

I believe that pot is illegal because it directly flies in the face of those in power. Like a Muslim woman wearing make-up or showing a bit too much calf. Get it. It's called civil disobedience.

Of course if you're from the "any use is abuse" camp, then there really is no argument here. You have clearly shown that a person can train themselves to ignore a basic human need. Congratulations.

"When the government thinks it may be even more detrimental (social problems, robbery, broken homes, etc) they don't fine or simply ticket or take away licenses--they jail--that is because for some--simply telling them that their actions may endanger another person...only elicits the same kinds of remark like you made--which shows a complete disregard of anyone or anything except yourself and since such a self centered person cannot self regulate--the gov has to do it for you."

And you assume a lot about me based on a few sentences.

None of the reasons you listed are the reason pot is illegal today. Pot's legal status has absolutely nothing to do with it being a detriment to society. I can see where your argument would work for murder or rape- but pot? Come one.

I can sum up what you're, in a round about kinda' way, saying. Why doesn't everyone just quit? That is your VERY SIMPLE answer and it would work if we didn't possess a little thing called free will. And people who suffer the personality disorder, control freakism, hate this.

No one is quitting, no one is going to stop because you say it will make us a better nation. People are tired of that lie.

[DoubleHappiness88]

norcal441, try to remember what substance caused your mindless, hysterical rant.

For example, you opened with *IF POT IS SO UN-ADDICTIVE, WHY CAN'T ANY POT SMOKERS STOP SMOKING POT?*

Here is a little of the same logic:
If norcal441 is so thoughtful and good, why will he not stop beating his wife?

norcal441, something is seriously wrong with your brain and it may safely be assumed the problen is not marijuana.

[Grandma111]

Me too! My glucoma is doing well though.

[mjm117]

fleabag...I think you would be surprised to find out how many stoners are already driving around you on a daily basis...

[onesword]

We're individuals that can use our mind, body and soul as we see fit. Whether it's a mutual understanding of others or not. This part of ourselves no one or nothing can change unless we want it to change.

[toldyouso29]

You are right in that we tend to first use, then ban then try to use--but certain markets can longer lend themselves to control. A lot of substances (cocaine, absinthe, opium) were acceptable then banned--but were not mainstream anyway so it was easier to restrict then stop their use. Nor were many of these products allowed to become generational.

When usage or practices become generational, it is difficult to legislate or restrict what people have grown up around and consider normal or acceptable. Many dope users are from families where the parents also used or tried reefer or worse. These people are not inclined to to not try the same drugs which they KNOW their parents tried freely or are still using. It IS hypocritical for people to expect one thing from you while they do something else. It is not hypocritical to try to restrict things in society which one suspects will be detrimental--but it IS hypocritical to restrict one person's supposedly detrimental substance while allowing others to exist and flourish.

Smoking causes cancer--we know this--it also affects others who also can get cancer--it costs billions in health care related problems--yet it is still legal. Same with alcohol--so why not marijuana? Start with the fact that most of it cannot be controlled, that those who sell may also sell other narcotics and use marijuana selling as a front and laundering mechanism, that growing it yourself cuts the government out from a very lucrative business...

The US gov does not allow any business to exist in the states that they can't get their cut of and decide who can operate that business. Dope selling is not controllable.

As long as people want it for use or selling, there will be someone willing to sell it on the black market--making it legal will not change this. If we ever were going to control drugs, it should have been done when it first came on the scene and before use shifted to middle class America.

Like guns it is almost impossible to manage the genie after the fact--logistics and sheer human nature works against this--and like you said--those who would want to control this cannot afford to let you or anyone else grow their own--there would be little profit for them in that. which is why Obama may smile--but he would never consider legalizing marijuana, it is not in the interest of government to let citizens do what they want--gov exist to control people not accommodate them.

[mnelsonix]

IThoughtItWasFunnyNOPE:

You are so far from a true American, you may as well have been on trial at Nuremberg (if you even have a clue what that means). What else do you consider a shooting offense? You macho creeps need to be eradicated. by elpaulito
____________________________________
that laaaaaaaaaast sentence made me laugh. i hope you were funnin'..if not...oh well.

hippo

[lorajeantn]

LMAO!!! I never got the memo either!!

[toldyouso29]

I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED about the curious habit of bloggers in America--to place so much stock on quoting other people. It is almost as if many people give more credibility and validate what others have said before them and negate their own capacity for having an opinion.

It has become the habit of many (and you know who you are) to quote someone famous and long dead or famous and alive as if for some reason--"if a famous person said it, it must be:

right

more relevant

more interesting

more intelligent

Did or did each and every human slide out of someone's vag1na just like you did? Then why in the world would anyone quote others to validate or underline or make a point? Your own words or opinions are worthless?

I seldom quote people--not because I don't like some of the stuff they said--but in reading the words of others, I place no more stock in their opinion than I do in my own and what they have done to become famous or what they haven't done has no bearing in trying to make a point by using their words as some sort of validation.

Another sign of a sort of weakness--perceiving the worth or value of someone else's opinions to be superior (and therefore more worth quoting) than your own. Just what is up with that? :)

[onesword]

We're individuals that can use our mind, body and soul as we see fit. Whether it's a mutual understanding of others or not. This part of ourselves no one or nothing can change unless we want it to change.

[bajajohn1]

It is called the Lemming Effect. Monkey see, Monkey do...well, you get the drift.

[lorajeantn]

by toldyouso29 July 14, 2009 11:29 AM EDT IF the net effect is more negative than good--it is not likely to be approved unless the government becomes peopled by persons with an intellectual deficit created by their own former drug use.
________________________________________

As opposed to those who are simply born intellectually deficient? LOL

Seriously, you raise some good points. These things are worth thinking about. I don't yet know where I stand on this issue, and I am trying to research both sides of the question to the best of my ability. But I have to say, as someone who smoked marijuana, that I find your jibes about my supposed loss of intellect to be rather ignorant. You seem to specialize in sweeping generalizations, which tend to be shallow and inaccurate. Perhaps people would be more willing to listen to you if your tone wasn't so smug and superior. Try to remember that you don't, in fact, know everything.

[jeffersons_ghost]

here's a thought...

I'll leave YOU alone and you will leave ME alone.

if either of us breaks that pact, in ANY WAY, THEN there's a problem.
Whatever happens past that is open to resolve in whatever manner that is appropriate.

[onesword]

Whether you want to believe it or not. It's been happening for over a century. I firmly believe most people have experimented with this marijuana. Some tried once, some still use it occassionally and some went onto stronger drugs. Let there be no mistakes it's been around along time. Just most preferred to keep it private.

[toldyouso29]

hispanics and blacks will still be going to jail for selling reefer even if it is legal--because most minorities are not going to buy and/or sell a drug in which they have now obtained a controlling partner in the form of a government--it is not cost productive to include the government in such operations not to mention that once the government is is--they are likely to marginalized who is allowed to sell anyway--(making franchises or something that minorities do not have the money to pay) consequently, they will get busted for selling reefer without a license and those who recreationally smoke from the burbs will be content with that--after all it is not the criminalization of reefer that angers them--it is the criminalization of something that THEY want to do and must pay consequences for that angers them--as long as they can do as they please they will be okay with the old status quo. And the reason the gov threatens to take homes has to do with the idea that those who sell drugs do not pay taxes--the government will also take the home of someone who does not pay taxes too.

Because the gov did not get their cut--but all of this is moot-- because the government cannot control or even manage the traffic of any kind of dope--too many people doing it in too many areas with too many sources--the gov would become just another source to supply to--and those who can afford to (like bourgie users) would buy from the legal places and sell from the legal shops--and everyone else would continue to do it undercover. This is elementary.

[onesword]

And that's what you call American freedom. You want freedom? You'll have to pay for everything you do. Freedom cost you dearly if you don't know you will find out.