Legalize Marijuana?

[pkk]

There have been over 7,000,000 marijuana arrests in the U.S. since 1995, around 85% of those for simple possession.

drugwarfacts.org (http://www.drugwarfacts.org/marijuan.htm)

I'm for total legalization with driving restrictions in place similar to those for alcohol and possibly an age restriction.

[Sevenseas]

I support legalization too. The downside, though, would be the number of libertarians celebrating.

[Schoska]

I think (I'm in the UK) it should be legalized, but as you said, pkk, with restrictions re driving, age, etc etc.

[piratemoon]

Pot is far less harmful, healthwise, than drink, in my opinion. The worst thing about it is the tobacco you smoke it with.

I'd far rather be high than drunk any day.

[Savannah]

it should be legalized. in fact, i am for the legalization of all drugs because i believe that making them illegal only creates criminal millionares and cartels that corrupt governments and disrupt society. criminalization of drugs adds to, not lessens, human misery. look at all those in prison for drug offenses and all the resources spent on drug law enforcement and the interdiction of drug supply lines. i think it is pretty insane. the resources saved could be utilized for drug education and help for those addicted as well as spent on fighting real crime.

[SuperChicken]

I'm for total legalization with driving restrictions in place similar to those for alcohol and possibly an age restriction.

Agreed. What the "war on drugs" has done to our prison system alone is justification for ending this BS.

[1vegan]

I think (I'm in the UK) it should be legalized, but as you said, pkk, with restrictions re driving, age, etc etc.

Yes, and put tax on it, that could pay for education on the subject :)

[Shantih]

I'm completely against legalising it. But I have this whole crazy thing going on where I hate recreational drugs :surprised

[Sevenseas]

I'm completely against legalising it. But I have this whole crazy thing going on where I hate recreational drugs :surprisedYou hate drinking?

[Shantih]

Indeedy.

[otomik]

Yes, and put tax on it, that could pay for education on the subject :)As long as I can still grow my own for personal use. But then you see how pointless and unenforcible a tax would be then.


I support legalization too. The downside, though, would be the number of libertarians celebrating.it's like a perverse puritanical marxist thing with you guys, you can't enjoy it unless it's heavily taxed and "redistributing wealth".

like, hold on guys, we can't legalizing pot because it's too difficult to tax :wall:

don't care, maybe gov't doesn't want pot legal because it would compete with it's tax on other recreational drugs like alcohol and tobacco.

taxes suck, you're letting your socialist love of taxes blind you.

[Schoska]

Eh... I'd rather not pay tax on it, but if it was a condition of me not being locked up for 5 years for having one spliff on me, then hell I'd pay it.

[Gnome Chomsky]

All recreational drugs should be legalized.
I also think (given the continued existence of capitalism and the state) that tax revenue should come from other sources.

ebola

[troub]

keep it banned!

and ban tobacco cigarettes too!

[Savannah]

i don't get it. why do people want to govern other people's lives?

i don't use any drugs at all because i am fussy about what i put in my bod. but i don't see why i shouldn't be allowed to use a drug if i wished to. whose business is it but my own?

furthermore, the efforts of society to control the drug 'problem' result in making criminals out of good people, enriching criminals, filling prisons, corrupting governments and law enforcement and ruining lives. far more damage flows from the efforts to 'fight drugs' than would from legalization.

[Sevenseas]

i don't get it. why do people want to govern other people's lives?

i don't use any drugs at all because i am fussy about what i put in my bod. but i don't see why i shouldn't be allowed to use a drug if i wished to. whose business is it but my own?Are you against all gun laws as well? I'm not defending drug criminalization because I'm opposed to it, just saying that the "governing people's lives" argument can be used in various ways. It would not be difficult to argue that drugs often cause various harms to people around those who use them, problems which don't result from criminalization.

[Technobarbie]

i don't get it. why do people want to govern other people's lives?

I agree. Why don't we ban religion too while we're at it?

[Sevenseas]

I think we should ban Tom Cruise, so that it would be illegal for him to exist and he would have to pay fines for that crime instead of buying jets for himself.

[Technobarbie]

I think we should ban Tom Cruise, so that it would be illegal for him to exist and he would have to pay fines for that crime instead of buying jets for himself.

Definitively agree.

Pro-gun here - good point though.

[Savannah]

Are you against all gun laws as well? I'm not defending drug criminalization because I'm opposed to it, just saying that the "governing people's lives" argument can be used in various ways. It would not be difficult to argue that drugs often cause various harms to people around those who use them, problems which don't result from criminalization.

okay fair point. im not against all gun laws. i am for gun control laws that require licensing of things like hand guns. but im not for banning them. im not for total non-control of drugs either. but i am against criminalization of them.

there may be some harms that flow from drug use (addictions and intoxication while doing something like driving). however, addictions are treatable and more would readily undergo treatment if there wasn't the stigma of criminality surrounding drug use. and DUI still would be unlawful like it is now. and i would be for controlling drug distribution (like no one under 18 being sold the drugs and only licensed sellers like pharmacists or something like them being allowed to sell.)

[delicious]

legalize it already!

[Sevenseas]

there may be some harms that flow from drug use (addictions and intoxication while doing something like driving).Well I was speaking more widely I guess, i.e. in addition to all the violent crimes committed while under the influence of one substance or another, I think there are all the emotional/social effects, effects on relationships etc. But I don't think the law is the right tool to reduce substance use and its harms.

[Hang~Ten~Honey]

Legalize and tax, like cigs and alcohol.

Not all drugs should be legal though... pcp hasn't done anyone any good. Some are just too nasty to legalize. And if anything, cigarettes should be banned, as those seem more toxic than manijuana.

So yeah... can't we just trade cigs for pot? I'd vote for that (and I've never smoked either).

[Technobarbie]

And if anything, cigarettes should be banned, as those seem more toxic than manijuana.

I'll disagree with that (http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3039).

[sabbath999]

I am a Libertarian, so I don't even need to respond further to the original poster's question.

Convenient, eh?