Should Marihuana Be Legalized?

[jeex]

grow it, tax it, sell it, smoke it?

[Devanshu]

I said yes with the same restrictions on alcohol and cigarettes. It's not a neurotoxin and it just bumps up the serotonin level in the neural synapse. If used in moderation, it leads to decreased motor functions, anxiety, and hallucinations...but that's not for years. Like alcohol, its a drug and it comes with consequences if you're not careful. If weed was taxed, the US government would make a huge profit.

[indolikaa]

Why not?

I can get into less trouble out here beating the living hell out of somebody than I could by getting caught with a roach. There's something wrong with that picture.

I've read/seen how they handle the 'problem' in Amsterdam and they're not turning out animal-molesting pedophiles who shoot-up public schools becaues they're on the bad side of a Monday bender. Maybe we've got the wrong idea over here.

Regulate the shnit. We could wipe out the Federal deficit in two years and take a huge load off the prison system.

.indolikaa.
Weed Sucks
Vodka Better

[lordsmurf]

Didn't they try this in Canada in 2001?

[housepig]

I think it should be legalized, regulated and taxed. You should be able to grow it for your own personal use, or pick up commercial brands in a store.

Put the interdiction employees into regulatory and educational positions, and let people decide for themselves. You will have an initial spike of usage, and then the majority of people will develop a social relationship with it, and you will find about the same percentage of the population will have a problem / addiction as there is now.

but it will increase revenue from taxes, it will free up prison space for real criminals, and people won't have their lives ruined over getting caught with a joint in their pocket. plus, there are industrial benefits from hemp, and it could revitalize some of the failing farm industry.

And think of the tourism benefits! Amsterdam won't have such a lock.

[indolikaa]

And think of the tourism benefits! Amsterdam won't have such a lock.

Well, not on the weed, anyway. The Red Light district, however...

[BJ_M]

Canada - largest producer of weed in the world ...

even the goverment grows it here ...

a lot of legal hemp is also grown here around me ..

[indolikaa]

Be careful! We're already trying to clean-out your prescription drug supply. Word gets out about this and there'll be a Run for the Border like Taco Bell couldn't envision.

[BJ_M]

Be careful! We're already trying to clean-out your prescription drug supply. Word gets out about this and there'll be a Run for the Border like Taco Bell couldn't envision. :lol:

i see wisconsin and minnesota and other states and cities are helping people buy drugs from here -- we got the stuff if you got the cash !

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/newssun/city/w25drugs.htm

[Conquest10]

Word gets out about this and there'll be a Run for the Border like Taco Bell couldn't envision.

ROTFLMAO!!!!

[Will Hay]

It's virtually legal in Britain now anyway.
They've de-classified it and you're likely to get a warning nowadays, you won't get arrested anymore.
Tried it once about ten years ago, not my thing.
Will

[glockjs]

they tried here last year.... and they tryin real hard again this year.. instead of having 3 O's its 1 O this time... c'mon now if vegas isnt the first there would be something seriously wrong.. definatley agree with taxation and controlization..im tired of gettin that dirt shtuuuf from bisbee.. uhh i mean..whatever.

you do know the major tobacco companies already owns fields upon fields in foreign countrys waiting for legalization. cigaweeed comin to ya in 2005 hahaha

[VCDHunter]

My only concern would be how heavily taxed it would be. Of course one could easily solve this dilema with a greenhouse

[jeex]

My only concern would be how heavily taxed it would be. Of course one could easily solve this dilema with a greenhouse

you've got to consider the majority of people (atleast people i know) are paying astrnomical prices for their weed.. the government could tax it and make a tidey profit from it and smokers would be relieved with the lower prices... not to mention the savings of keeping the "marihuana criminals" out of the court system & jails..

if you're really worried that much about the cost, you could always grow your own.. you can grow tobacco legally, you can brew your own beer.. its not like its dangerous to grow marihuana..

[housepig]

My only concern would be how heavily taxed it would be. Of course one could easily solve this dilema with a greenhouse

think about what it costs to produce, especially on a large scale.

I can see a 1oz pack, rolled, costing less than $1 to produce on a large scale.

sell it for $20 = $19 / 2000% profit.

savings to cutomer = $340, at least around where I live.

[BJ_M]

My only concern would be how heavily taxed it would be. Of course one could easily solve this dilema with a greenhouse

think about what it costs to produce, especially on a large scale.

I can see a 1oz pack, rolled, costing less than $1 to produce on a large scale.

sell it for $20 = $19 / 2000% profit.

savings to cutomer = $340, at least around where I live.

you seem to know a lot about this

[indolikaa]

Housepig? A commodities trader?

[housepig]

you seem to know a lot about this

I'm just your average well-informed citizen....

Housepig? A commodities trader?

that's the second time in three days I've heard that phrase...

[VCDHunter]

For a slightly different view on this click here

[gll99]

I'm Canadian. I have never used the stuff myself and probably never will. Quit smoking tobacco 30+ years ago and don't have any desire to go back to that either.
I think many people misunterstand what some in Canada want to do. They want to decriminalize not legalize the use of marijuana (except for certified medical reasons which is now legal here). There would be fines instead of potential jail and criminal records for possessing small amounts. Traffickers and illegal growers could still face criminal charges. I don't think that they have clearly worked out what will happen when someone drives while smoking or commits a crime while smoking pot etc...
There is still a lot of concern here on the subject even though use seems to be a common thing and discussed openly by young people (and some not so young) almost everywhere.
I don't want people to have criminal records for using the stuff but neither do I think its use is without consequence and therefore should be treated with caution like most mild to medium drugs. Governments should not look at this like a cash cow either but any money collected should be put back into social programs and to educate and treat potential addiction, lung, depression and other related diseases.
There are many decriminalization studies showing the pros and cons of such an action. My opinion is that if the authorities are serious about hard drug control then they will make a life sentence of life imprisonment e.g. 35 years for trafficking or importing. Naming sources would reduce that time to 15 years but a potential 10 years for good behaviour and taking anti drug counselling. The next guy up the chain in turn would get 35 years but naming his sources would reduce his sentence in the same way but he would also have to name the people which he was supplying under him. These guys would never be placed in the same jail and would not have to testify since the information provided would only be used to track and catch the named people red handed.
Our Canadian law makers are generally very forward thinking and in line with or leading world opinion. The law enforcement agencies are first rate but unfortunately our judges are often out of touch with reality and much too lax with serious and repeated criminal transgressions far more serious than the use of marijuana.

[ChrisX]

Here in Sydney, Marijuana is now decriminized in having in procession a small amount of the drug.

Other than that, it still illegal here except for medical use to relieve pain just like a doctor’s prescription.