Comments on: High Stakes: A Call to Legalize Marijuana

California Desperately Needs Tax Revenue, Prompting Some to See Green in Making Grass Legal

[onelove4-20]

ok, everybody, get high and then read these comments, its awesome. unfortunately u forget what the original story was about half way thru due to the short term memory loss. getting to the point, it seems to me that most people in favor of legalization use facts and well formulated ideas to backup their point of view, while the prohibitionists tend to come across as old, angry, foolish drunks. As a final word, legalization would be nice, but any stoner would tell u its not that hard to get away with smoking pot. just freak it and roll blunts, nobody will ever know :-)

[eyesC]

I am for not only the legalization of pot but also opiates as well, under the supervision of medical personnel as is the case in some European countries now.
1. Legalization would take much of the steam out of the illegal drug cartels.
2. Supervised personnel prevents the use of needle sharing and disease, as well as, provide gainful employment since drug facilites would have to be built,maintained,well stocked, and they would turn a profit. Our POLICE DEPARTMENTS could then put their talents to other uses.
3. It's the law of supply and demand. Where there is great supply the demand (PRICE) goes down.
4 Our overlogged courts system could erase this burden from the tax payers and in a strapped economy we need to save every penny.
5. Our jails would also be less crowded. Pushers of drugs with a little training would be excellent marketer and have gainful employment.
6. If the tobacco industry could lie to the public about the addictive
nature of tobacco, as well as, it's harmful nature for so many years then why not just make it legal? Just tell the public the truth and let them decide.
7. People would be given special merit points for good conduct applicable for gift DRUGS.
8. School children wouldn't be overdosing on cheese but a form to be mass produced especially for them with the SEAL of approval from the FDA. (Once again this mass production would mean gainful employment)
9. School children would not be in the dark about drugs because their fellow classmates and shooters would be more than happy to educate them. Thereby promoting friendship, as well as, SHARING of good drug habits and not needles.
10. Those in need of a FIX but unable to pay would be asked to work a minimum amount of hours in community work before receiving a FIX. This would contribute to civic pride, as well as, the beautification of our cities.


3.

[brainfoodie]

I see alot of foolishness exhibited by both sides of the argument.

To the Prohibitionists: Simply trying to push the sterotypes and demonize pot is a waste of time. The reason more and more people are siding with legalization is that they have tried it and found it to be no big deal.

To the legalizers: Take the high road for God's sake. You know pot will eventually be legalized. Relax - no need to get mean and nasty - chill out and smoke another bowl :)

I for one started smoking Pot in 1977. Heavily in college and every now and again for the last 8 years. I took time off because...really no idea; I just decided to stop for a while - really, it's not addictive. Now I smoke once every 6 months or so.

It also doesn't ruin your life. My circle of friend in high school and college smoked as much or more than I did. All of us are now successful, highly paid professionals with strong marriges and social lives - and we hit it together every once and a while.

On the issue of one substance being a nasty evil and another an accepted evil the potential harm a drug can do should be the litmus test. Let's compare Viagra to pot:

Viagra has been implicated as the primary cause of death in thousands of cases in the decade it has been available. Pot has not been reported as the primary cause ever (I said primary - so please hold the car crash comments...and by the way - based on that logic - cars should be banned because they are the primary cause of car crash deaths).

Viagra makes a man hard, but not aroused, for 36 hrs. The sex is, well - wierd.

Pot makes a man aroused and then hard, for the duration of intercourse and the sex is fantastic, even for the woman if she hasn't smoked pot. Unlike Viagra, it isn't about the act, it's about love and caring for another human.

Now, say what you want, but why is a drug that improves a relationship banned and one that harms a relationship legal (e.g. booze induced beating - doesn't hapen with pot)?

Like I said, I'm fully confident it will be legalized within the next 5 years. Those who think it will spell the end of society will find it will be the dawn of an enlightened era.

They said the same thing about ending slavery..."it will destroy the moral fabric of society". Not!

Pot is safe and everyone knows it.

I love the argument that the dope growers are destroying our National forests. If it were legal, people could grow it legally and responsibly.

They say that it cant be taxed at 50 bucks an ounce because people will just buy cheap weed. What, like they buy home brew, or grow their own tobacco to avoid taxes? Please, try to stay reality based and try some kindness, on both sides.

Peace

[kansas1946]

"I thought it was high time, no pun intended, for this to be on the table," Ammiano said. "I'm trying to beat everybody to the punch with the jokes, because I get a lot of 'em," he laughed.

*************************************
Yes, it is certainly "high" time. Had we done this in the 70's, we could have saved trillions of law enforcement dollars, saved millions of kids from having a record, and saved thousands of lives.

[rsteeb]

So true... 22 March 1972* was the "high time" to abolish the abomination that is cannabis prohibition. Cast off those chains, people.

*"Shafer commission" --look it up.

[kingkrub]

Can anyone spell correctly?

[cujat]

How can anyone support the legalization of Marijuana!!?? Haven't any of you seen Reefer Madness, the stuff makes you go crazy and kill people!

[gunownerdan]

We can't legalize marijuana! All those drug gangs and cartels might be forced to find another way to make money, and government officials might need to find other people to take bribes from.

[idcabouturproblems]

I just find this entire webpage hilarious; all these potheads coming onto the internet to preach why weed should be legalized. In my opinion if you believe pot should be legalized so badly, so you can go around smoking with your friends, you are a dead beat loser and I look forward to your cavity searches at the airport. Stop crying like little babies and live in the real world. Your life must really suck if the only way you can feel good about yourself is to light up a plant and inhale the debris that are produced. I feel so bad for you, I am sorry and I hope the next stimulus package gets you your job back. *cries*

[Joe_NY_15]

National Referendum is the answer.....if the majority want it, then they should have it

[Joe_NY_15]

google "the american way" too