Everybody SHOULD Support Decriminalization of Cannabis... EVERYBODY

Decriminalisation is fine as long as a heavy fine is imposed for illegal possession and jail time is given for dealing. Otherwise, no.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="Meat_Wad_Fan"]

You are pulling biased facts from the drug war czars at the government who have been spreading misinformation about marijuana since the 1940's. The largest study of it's kind done at the UCLA has shown that heavy pot smoking over a lifetime has no visible increase in chances of lung cancer. Do your own research on scientific studies and there are many that disprove what is on the government website.

Meat_Wad_Fan

Where did I say the government does research? They pay companies to do research and who the hell cares what results they get because they can be made-up for all I care. You seem to discredit the fact I posted that a major university had conucted the LARGEST STUDY EVER on the subject and found no increase in risk, how can you just look past that. You really think the goverment uses research out there?

Even though while announcing that the government's National Academy of Science would launch an investigation into the issue, the drug policy office stated that it won't welcome results showing that marijuana is a useful medicine. The national drug office statement concludes, "Our nation's goal must be to reduce, not promote, the use of illicit drugs.

I'd rather legalize it.

[QUOTE="Sway-"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]You know the research says it CAN cause psychosis. Not that it definitely does for everyone.

Yeah just what I need, more stoners driving around...DeathStar17

[QUOTE="-xPANICx-"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]UH....that is what research is showing dude. :|

RadBooley

So, because alcohol is legal and it causes people to do bad things, we should counterbalance it by legalizing more drugs? :?

Where did I say the government does research? They pay companies to do research and who the hell cares what results they get because they can be made-up for all I care.

Meat_Wad_Fan

But it's the government that's biased.

You ARE aware that government funding can go to pro-pot research (and has in the past), right? How in the hell do you think we know the medical plusses of marijuana?

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="Sway-"] Eating fatty foods CAN cause heart problems should we illegal fatty foods just because some people are irresponsible with them?Sway-

[QUOTE="DeathStar17"]Yeah just what I need, more stoners driving around...-FlyLo-

I love weed, it makes god happy as well.

AZtown860

[QUOTE="DeathStar17"]Yeah just what I need, more stoners driving around...-FlyLo-

I cannot believe what I just read.

[QUOTE="Meat_Wad_Fan"]

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]No. The government uses the research. They don't do the research themselves. I've read many different reports where smoking...including marijuana can cause lung cancer. Seems any research that shows negative affects to the drug is simply dismissed by those who wish to smoke. I don't care what you do......but if you don't think it can harm individuals then you are doing a disservice to yourself.

LJS9502_basic

Where did I say the government does research? They pay companies to do research and who the hell cares what results they get because they can be made-up for all I care. You seem to discredit the fact I posted that a major university had conucted the LARGEST STUDY EVER on the subject and found no increase in risk, how can you just look past that. You really think the goverment uses research out there?

Even though while announcing that the government's National Academy of Science would launch an investigation into the issue, the drug policy office stated that it won't welcome results showing that marijuana is a useful medicine. The national drug office statement concludes, "Our nation's goal must be to reduce, not promote, the use of illicit drugs.

And if you didn't just dodge my main point, you would understand that the government would only post harmful or negative results which is the case of whats on that website you use as your only go-to-source on pot.

[QUOTE="Sway-"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]And that has what to do with drug use. Drug use affects others not just the individual.

[QUOTE="Sway-"][QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]And that has what to do with drug use. Drug use affects others not just the individual.

LJS9502_basic

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="-xPANICx-"]nope, because its untrue. if a person is on a rampage killing innocent people and just happens to be on marijuana then you people blame the pot. a educated person should already know that if marijuana really causes psychosis and addictionlike you people claim, then our country would be full of serial killers looking for there next dime bagof marijuana.

Meat_Wad_Fan

You are pulling biased facts from the drug war czars at the government who have been spreading misinformation about marijuana since the 1940's. The largest study of it's kind done at the UCLA has shown that heavy pot smoking over a lifetime has no visible increase in chances of lung cancer. Do your own research on scientific studies and there are many that disprove what is on the government website.

The UCLA study is interesting, because it actually mentions the following:

The study found that 80% of lung cancer patients and 70% of patients with head and neck cancer had smoked tobacco, while only about half of patients with both types of cancer smoked marijuana.

Which is surprising, because there are confounding variables.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080123104017.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070731085550.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521145539.htm

The above are important to note, however, and I recommend finding the actual studies.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="Meat_Wad_Fan"]

Where did I say the government does research? They pay companies to do research and who the hell cares what results they get because they can be made-up for all I care. You seem to discredit the fact I posted that a major university had conucted the LARGEST STUDY EVER on the subject and found no increase in risk, how can you just look past that. You really think the goverment uses research out there?

Even though while announcing that the government's National Academy of Science would launch an investigation into the issue, the drug policy office stated that it won't welcome results showing that marijuana is a useful medicine. The national drug office statement concludes, "Our nation's goal must be to reduce, not promote, the use of illicit drugs.

Meat_Wad_Fan

And if you didn't just dodge my main point, you would understand that the government would only post harmful or negative results which is the case of whats on that website you use as your only go-to-source on pot.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="Sway-"] If I use drugs responsibly then they dont effect anyone other than me in any way that eatting fatty foods would effect other people.-xPANICx-

Notice I said decriminalized, not legalized. If you don't think cannabis should be legalized, The_Versatile

stopped reading right there.

"Don't legalize it, decreminalize it! Seriously though legalize it."

seriously potheads need to stop making arguments.

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"][QUOTE="DeathStar17"]Yeah just what I need, more stoners driving around...-_Rain_-

I cannot believe what I just read.

Hey, guys! Since only the evil government says bad stuff about pot, I have deduced that Cambridge University is a part of the government conspiracy!

Cannabis is much less harmful than either alcohol or tobacco. We should at least have consistency in our laws, if those two remain legal then cannabis should be legal. If we're going to keep cannabis illegal, we should criminalize tobacco and alcohol as well.

[QUOTE="Stevo_the_gamer"]

I'm sorry, but I want people who break the rules of society to be labeled as a criminal -- so in the words of JC from Liar Liar: "STOP BREAKING THE LAW *******" :P

Theokhoth

Best part of that movie.

[QUOTE="-_Rain_-"]

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"] Better than drunk drivers :roll: I mean really, what harm can come out of driving stoned?-FlyLo-

I cannot believe what I just read.

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"][QUOTE="-_Rain_-"]

I cannot believe what I just read.

LJS9502_basic

Hey, guys! Since only the evil government says bad stuff about pot, I have deduced that Cambridge University is a part of the government conspiracy!

-_Rain_-

[QUOTE="-_Rain_-"]

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"] Better than drunk drivers :roll: I mean really, what harm can come out of driving stoned?-FlyLo-

I cannot believe what I just read.

Ahem

And while I've never read that specific headline, I have read one that went like this: "Man under influence of marijuana mistakes wife for demon; mutilates and eats her."

Seriously, common sense. Pot impairs perception, perception is important to driving.

I am TOTALLY PRO-Marijuana. The people that don't like it, have never tried it or given it a chance. It actaully suggests creativity, mellowness, and harmony. The only CON about smoking weed is the fact that it can cause respiratory disease (like cigarretts) only if smoked ALOT! But you don't normally smoke ganja as much as you do cigarretts. A common misconception is that its the THC in weed that gets you "high". It has no addictive substances in it, so its non-addictive, you have better chances of getting addicted to chocolate cookies. If you want to smoke weedm but don't like smoke, go buy a Vaporizer, you put some weed in the "bowl" set it to the correct temp, and let the THC rise into a plastic bag. when all THC is extracted simply inhale and MAGIC! your HIGH. unless its your first time of course cause then you won't feel much. It is entirely non-man made, so only one person could have put it here. Do you know who that is? Thats right, same guy that created Earth, GOD! HE wants us to blaze with him, grap a sac, grab a friend and hit that **** up!! "Up, Up and away"

Cannabis is much less harmful than either alcohol or tobacco. We should at least have consistency in our laws, if those two remain legal then cannabis should be legal. If we're going to keep cannabis illegal, we should criminalize tobacco and alcohol as well.

theone86

The only reason tobacco and alcohol are legal is because they are so ingrained in our society from thousands of years past that to make them illegal would be catastrophic, as we've seen.

So, basically, I agree with you: alcohol and tobacco should be banned, but they won't be because of social acceptance. It'd be like banning shirts.

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"] Have you ever turned on the news to hear this "A man was killed after another man was driving stoned in his car and ran him over". If you don't have proof of any accidents happening then you shouldn't be talking.-FlyLo-

From the previously cited actual DAWN report: "For 2002 there were a total of 157 deaths in the 31 metro areas in which marijuana was the only drug reported. Two of these deaths were reported as being induced, or directly caused, by marijuana (that is, an overdose). These two deaths, and the other deaths shown in this analysis, provide evidence to refute the claims that "no one efer died from marijuana." "Of the 157 total deaths involving only marijuana, 35 were suicides, 53 were accidental/unexpected, and 69 fell into the remaining 'all other' category." "Assuming marijuana-only drug abuse deaths occurred at the same rate per capita in the rest of the Nation as they did in these identified large metro areas, a base 'national' figure of 581 can be projected." "This estimated figure would still be too low, however. As noted above, the D.A.W.N. drug abuse death figures contain substantial elements of underreporting. It's not possible to account for this underreporting and estimate a more accurate national total. Apparently, though, solely-marijuana-related drug deaths occur many hundreds of times a year. This analysis shows that marijuana is the sole drug in deaths much more commonly than may have been previously recognized. Its prevalence in these deaths provides further documentation of the social harms caused by marijuana and supports continued prohibition and opposition to this drug's proliferation."

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"][QUOTE="-_Rain_-"]

I cannot believe what I just read.

-_Rain_-

From a pot smoker.

And while I've never read that specific headline, I have read one that went like this: "Man under influence of marijuana mistakes wife for demon; mutilates and eats her."

Seriously, common sense. Pot impairs perception, perception is important to driving.

Isn't decriminalizeing something basically the same a legalizing it?Treflis

Isn't decriminalizeing something basically the same a legalizing it?Treflis

No. It just makes it where you're not so heavily punished, and maybe you can carry a pinch around with you.

The people that don't like it, have never tried it or given it a chance. It actaully suggests creativity, mellowness, and harmony.

jstamm33

Heh. Reminds me of something a teacher of mine once told me regarding marijuana:

When you're high, you feel that you're brilliant. Yet to others, you're just a babbling idiot.

Just tossing that out there. I try not to hang around people who smoke, so I can't really confirm this.

[QUOTE="jstamm33"]

The people that don't like it, have never tried it or given it a chance. It actaully suggests creativity, mellowness, and harmony.

RadBooley

Heh. Reminds me of something a teacher of mine once told me regarding marijuana:

When you're high, you feel that you're brilliant. Yet to others, you're just a babbling idiot.

Just tossing that out there. I try not to hang around people who smoke, so I can't really confirm this.

[QUOTE="jstamm33"]

The people that don't like it, have never tried it or given it a chance. It actaully suggests creativity, mellowness, and harmony.

RadBooley

Heh. Reminds me of something a teacher of mine once told me regarding marijuana:

When you're high, you feel that you're brilliant. Yet to others, you're just a babbling idiot.

Just tossing that out there. I try not to hang around people who smoke, so I can't really confirm this.

I can. I know people who thought they were the next ****ing Da Vinci while on pot, but couldn't string together a whole sentence without giggling.

[QUOTE="Treflis"]Isn't decriminalizeing something basically the same a legalizing it?-FlyLo-

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"][QUOTE="Treflis"]Isn't decriminalizeing something basically the same a legalizing it?Treflis

People driving under the influence of alcohol are arrested, at least in my state. They sure as black hell aren't allowed to drive again until they're sober.

I wonder if Carl Sagan sounded like a blithering idiot while high. Try reading some of what he wrote regarding marijuana, it's really interesting. Only people who are morons while sober sound dumb while high. People who use it for meditation and whatnot can have some great ideas.pis3rch

I wonder if Carl Sagan sounded like a blithering idiot while high. Try reading some of what he wrote regarding marijuana, it's really interesting. Only people who are morons while sober sound dumb while high. People who use it for meditation and whatnot can have some great ideas.pis3rch

Only smart people while sober have good ideas while high.

See? I can say silly things, too.

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"][QUOTE="-_Rain_-"]

I cannot believe what I just read.

-_Rain_-

From a pot smoker.

And while I've never read that specific headline, I have read one that went like this: "Man under influence of marijuana mistakes wife for demon; mutilates and eats her."

Seriously, common sense. Pot impairs perception, perception is important to driving.

That's an oversimplification. Pot does not impair perception in the same manner that alcohol does. Most people I know who have driven stoned, including myself, drive a lot slower and more carefully in part because of a slower reaction time and in part because of the paranoia. Pot also doesn't impair your visionlike that alcohol does, and you're a lot more likely to fall asleep at the wheel while drunk.

Still, I don't get why a lot of people on my side are getting behind this argument. I haven't read the whole thread, perhaps it's because their original point is being misconstrued. I'm not saying it's a good idea to get really stoned and then go out driving, but it is safer than getting really drunk and going out driving, and anyone who's been really drunk and really stoned on seperate occasions can attest to that. At any rate, I'm not arguing that cannabis be completely removed from DUI law, just that it be treated the same way as alcohol is.

That's my whole point, is people get up in arms about cannabis, but alcohol is proven to be a lot worse in every respect and yet no one ever says word one about that. Do you know how many driving accidents alcohol is responsible for each year? If you're going by the logic that if driving under the influence of a drug can be dangerous that should be grounds for criminalization, then alcohol should be criminalized no questions asked. You mentioned someone getting high and killing their wife, I'm sure we could find a case of someone getting drunk and doing the same, so why isn't alcohol criminalized? Let's go through alcohol's negative side effects:

Overdose-Check

Illness-Check (alcohol poisoning)

Physical addiction-Check

Major organ damage-Check

And then there's cannabis, which is non-physically addictive, is impossible to overdose on, and does not cause major illness or organ failure but in fact has medicinal uses. The only knock on cannabis is that prolonged heavy usage can cause brain damage, which is still minimal compared to the damage alcohol can do, and that it might cause lung cancer over prolonged periods of use, but that isn't proven due to bad methodology during testing. At any rate, it's better than tobacco, seeing as how tobacco is pumped full of carcinogens added in by the tobacco manufacturers. Again, there needs to be consistency in legal standards. If we're going to say, "these drugs over here are legal, but these over here aren't," we need to have clear guidelines that are adhered to universally, not just with certain drugs.

[QUOTE="-_Rain_-"]

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"] Have you ever turned on the news to hear this "A man was killed after another man was driving stoned in his car and ran him over". If you don't have proof of any accidents happening then you shouldn't be talking.theone86

From a pot smoker.

And while I've never read that specific headline, I have read one that went like this: "Man under influence of marijuana mistakes wife for demon; mutilates and eats her."

Seriously, common sense. Pot impairs perception, perception is important to driving.

That's an oversimplification. Pot does not impair perception in the same manner that alcohol does. Most people I know who have driven stoned, including myself, drive a lot slower and more carefully in part because of a slower reaction time and in part because of the paranoia. Pot also doesn't impair your visionlike that alcohol does, and you're a lot more likely to fall asleep at the wheel while drunk.

Still, I don't get why a lot of people on my side are getting behind this argument. I haven't read the whole thread, perhaps it's because their original point is being misconstrued. I'm not saying it's a good idea to get really stoned and then go out driving, but it is safer than getting really drunk and going out driving, and anyone who's been really drunk and really stoned on seperate occasions can attest to that. At any rate, I'm not arguing that cannabis be completely removed from DUI law, just that it be treated the same way as alcohol is.

That's my whole point, is people get up in arms about cannabis, but alcohol is proven to be a lot worse in every respect and yet no one ever says word one about that. Do you know how many driving accidents alcohol is responsible for each year? If you're going by the logic that if driving under the influence of a drug can be dangerous that should be grounds for criminalization, then alcohol should be criminalized no questions asked. You mentioned someone getting high and killing their wife, I'm sure we could find a case of someone getting drunk and doing the same, so why isn't alcohol criminalized? Let's go through alcohol's negative side effects:

Overdose-Check

Illness-Check (alcohol poisoning)

Physical addiction-Check

Major organ damage-Check

And then there's cannabis, which is non-physically addictive, is impossible to overdose on, and does not cause major illness or organ failure but in fact has medicinal uses. The only knock on cannabis is that prolonged heavy usage can cause brain damage, which is still minimal compared to the damage alcohol can do, and that it might cause lung cancer over prolonged periods of use, but that isn't proven due to bad methodology during testing. At any rate, it's better than tobacco, seeing as how tobacco is pumped full of carcinogens added in by the tobacco manufacturers. Again, there needs to be consistency in legal standards. If we're going to say, "these drugs over here are legal, but these over here aren't," we need to have clear guidelines that are adhered to universally, not just with certain drugs.

As I said before, opposition to alcohol is viewed upon as insanity due to how socially accepted it is; that's not to say nobody is against it (I myself am), but trying to ban alcohol is like trying to ban clothing at this time.

Plus, the legalisation of one bad thing is not justification for the legalisation of another, even if it is a lesser evil.

That's my whole point, is people get up in arms about cannabis, but alcohol is proven to be a lot worse in every respect and yet no one ever says word one about that. Do you know how many driving accidents alcohol is responsible for each year? If you're going by the logic that if driving under the influence of a drug can be dangerous that should be grounds for criminalization, then alcohol should be criminalized no questions asked. You mentioned someone getting high and killing their wife, I'm sure we could find a case of someone getting drunk and doing the same, so why isn't alcohol criminalized? Let's go through alcohol's negative side effects:

Overdose-Check

Illness-Check (alcohol poisoning)

Physical addiction-Check

Major organ damage-Check

theone86

Okay, alcohol is bad for you.

So why are we proposing that, due to alcohol's health risks, we legalize another drug?

If we're going to pick on alcohol for its health risks, why not just be against any substance that impairs people? Why give them access to more?

[QUOTE="RadBooley"]

[QUOTE="jstamm33"]

The people that don't like it, have never tried it or given it a chance. It actaully suggests creativity, mellowness, and harmony.

LJS9502_basic

Heh. Reminds me of something a teacher of mine once told me regarding marijuana:

When you're high, you feel that you're brilliant. Yet to others, you're just a babbling idiot.

Just tossing that out there. I try not to hang around people who smoke, so I can't really confirm this.

I've been around people who smoke it as well, both when I was high and when I was sober, and I can confirm that not everybody who smokes acts like an idiot. Besides, how is that any different from how people act when they're drunk? If anything, I'd say drunk people are worse because they tend to be more agressive, loud, and unpredictable. Oooh, people who smoke sit around and say stupid **** even though they think they're discovering some unkown level of enlightenment, at least they don't go around starting bar fights, getting in drunk driving accidents, and pissing off everyone around them.

[QUOTE="-_Rain_-"]

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"] Better than drunk drivers :roll: I mean really, what harm can come out of driving stoned?-FlyLo-

I cannot believe what I just read.

Unfortunately I can't link it, as I got it from my university psychology database (PsycINFO).

[QUOTE="LJS9502_basic"]

[QUOTE="RadBooley"]

Heh. Reminds me of something a teacher of mine once told me regarding marijuana:

When you're high, you feel that you're brilliant. Yet to others, you're just a babbling idiot.

Just tossing that out there. I try not to hang around people who smoke, so I can't really confirm this.

theone86

I've been around people who smoke it as well, both when I was high and when I was sober, and I can confirm that not everybody who smokes acts like an idiot. Besides, how is that any different from how people act when they're drunk? If anything, I'd say drunk people are worse because they tend to be more agressive, loud, and unpredictable. Oooh, people who smoke sit around and say stupid **** even though they think they're discovering some unkown level of enlightenment, at least they don't go around starting bar fights, getting in drunk driving accidents, and pissing off everyone around them.

[QUOTE="-FlyLo-"][QUOTE="-_Rain_-"]

I cannot believe what I just read.

AirGuitarist87

Unfortunately I can't link it, as I got it from my university psychology database (PsycINFO).

Pah, that just means the APA is a part of the conspiracy. www.grassheds4life.com says pot's good, so your guys are biased!