If you legalize mar1juana. . . . why keep any thing else from being legal? Why not legalize Heroin, Cocaine, Crack? [What else is there? I'm not in the know] Would Fry or WET be legal [I think one is mar1juana dipped in Embalming fluid. . .and the other is Tobacco. . . IF YOU CAN BELEIVE THAT SH*T] Should we be a totally live and let live/die society. I do not envision crime going up because of crack heads etc. because the prices of the sh*t would fall DRASTICALLY. The problem is functioning with these people in our society. How does Amsterdan do it? How are their drunk/doped up driving laws? Are their any? What would happen if a Doctor proform while high? Rocket River What are the logical things that would need to safe guard the public . . .
He is held liable. . . i understand that . . .i was asking about amsterdan I had been thinking of that. Maybe that should be put on a doctor's Resume Rocket River
Crime would go down if all drugs were legalized and that's a fact. The vast majority of "drug related crimes" are a direct result of them being illegal. The mafia was virtually invented by Prohibition. The prohibition of drugs has birthed a gigantic industry of a new breed of criminals. Overdoses would go down too, as the vast majority of overdoses are caused by users not knowing how much they're using. I'd imagine more people suffered from alcohol poisioning when drinking moonshine as well. If these drugs went through the FDA, users wouldn't accidentally overdose. They'd know how much they were doing and they'd know that it wasn't cut with glass or some other drug. Another thing is that it would actually be harder for kids to get drugs if they were sold like alcohol. Right now it's easier for a kid to buy a quarter bag than a six pack. And if legalized drugs would carry a large tax. Instead of going to criminals, that money would go to the government, who could in turn use it for drug treatment. Any worry about bad effects from legalizing pot needs to realize those effects exist, in considerably worse form, because alcohol is legal. And I think you could rest assured that each of the laws which applies to alcohol use would apply to weed. Doctors, airline pilots, etc, would not be allowed to operate under the influence. But, if they did, I promise the effect would not be so severe as it is when they do so drunk.
I'd imagine there was a time people said that about slavery and women voting. Pot will become legal eventually. The vast majority of medical experts, academics and researchers are for it and the trend in recent years is toward legalization. Might not happen any time soon, but it will happen.
How is it a "fact" that drug related crimes would go down? It is an opinion. Alcohol is legal, yet look at all of the DWIs. Obviously the crime of 'using drugs' would go down since they would be legal, but to say that it is a 'fact' that drug related crimes would go down is very premature. Also, folks OD on prescription medicine so I would think it is safe to assume that they will continue to accidentally OD on drugs if they were legalized.
It's a fact that drug related crime would go down because nearly ninety percent of what is categorized as "drug related" crime is directly ties to the drug laws, i.e. buying/selling drugs, drug deal related shootings, etc. Drug related car crashes, etc, account for about ten percent of "drug related" crimes. So while driving high might go up marginally, it wouldn't go up enough to counteract all the prison cells full of drug sellers or buyers. As for OD's, yes they would still exist. But the thing where a coke user sniffs glass or a heroin user injects four times as potent heroin as they thought or a potsmoker accidentally smokes angel dust would be OVER. You don't like the word "fact?" Okay. It's not a "fact" that the sun will rise tomorrow. But it's very, very probable. As is the fact that 'drug related' crime and accidental overdose would be decreased by legalization.
It's not about whether stuff is illegal or not, IMO. If it's bad for my BODY, I won't eat/take/shoot up anything. Thats the bottonline. French Fries: there bad for you, I dont eat them. Cokes: I dont have those. I'm not a dipsh**, so I know whats right and whats wrong. Drugs are Wrong, legal or not.
Don't eat a steak. Don't eat fruit that's not organic. It's covered in pesticide. Don't eat fruit that's organic. It's been contaminated by bugs which carry disease. Don't breathe the air in Houston. It's toxic. Better zip yourself up in a plastic bubble. Like Joe Jackson said, "Everything gives you cancer." It's heartening that you KNOW what's right and wrong though. Do me a favor and go clear everything up for all these people who are confused about religion. They could use a little clarification from an omniscient, moral absolutist.
Well, that much was obvious by the fact that you're considering joining the Marines. Best not to use words like right and wrong if you ask me. Here's another, appropriate, Bill Hicks quote, in case aelliot is reading: "Making mar1juana illegal is like saying God f***ed up. Look at my wonderful creation... Perfect and beautiful in every way... Now I can rest... Oh my me... I left f***ing pot everwhere... ****! Now I gotta create Republicans."
You see the movie UNTOUCHABLES . .all that death was about smuggling ALCOHOL . . . when it became legal guess what . . .the killing stopped. WHen the last time the DEA made an alcohol bust? Rocket River
mar1juana is not a drug, it's a plant. To be more specific, it's an herb. According to the Bible, it was put here for our use. Genesis 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
No MadMax, Batman Jones is spot-on. All the crime that results from the illegal drug trade would stop. People wouldn't have to deal with potentially violent drug dealers if they could just run to the cigarette shop and buy a pack of joints, or crack ultra-lights. Not that I'm into crack, mind you, but if I want to be, it should be my choice. The government should not be able to tell people what they can and cannot ingest into their bodies. I'm pretty sure that everyone that uses drugs is at least somewhat aware of the risks. Let them choose their own destiny. I am totally for tougher DUI laws. Driving under the influence of any substance is stupid. Still, if alcohol is legal, why isn't the far less potent marajuana? It is a backwards-thinking, ultra-conservative law that belongs in the history books.
O.K. For those of you who say that all crimes related to the illegal drug trade would stop (see ZRB's post), what is going to happen when a junkie has no money and needs drugs? Note that I am not saying pot users are junkies, I am commenting on ZRB's post where he references crack. Also, y'all assume it is a given that there will be no laced drugs (see Batman Jones post). Why not? How is the government going to stop folks from lacing Cocaine and selling it to unsuspecting users? How will the government prevent folks from selling drugs cheaper than they are offering them? The legalized drug argument is similar to the NRA argument concerning the banning of assault weapons. The NRA claims if you ban assault weapons, what's next? Many folks agree assault weapons are bad and should be banned, but what comes next. It is similar to the argument, if you legalize mar1juana, what's next? Many people agree that pot is not that bad, but once it is legalized, what comes next. Perhaps pot is not that bad, but crack, heroin and LSD are proven killers and addictive.
Why oh why use the Bible to defend using cannibis as a drug. You could also use it to make ropes and clothing Not even counting numerous verses about being drunk which is also relevant concerning drug use, but the Bible also speaks of drug use in a historical context. Drugs were an integral part of many ancient Near East societies. For example, the pagan cultures surrounding the nation of Israel used drugs as part of their religious ceremonies. Both the Old Testament and New Testament condemn sorcery and witchcraft. In those days, drug use was tied to sorcery (the word translated "sorcery" comes from the Greek word from which we get the English words pharmacy and pharmaceutical). Drugs were prepared by a witch or shaman. They were used to enter into the spiritual world by inducing an altered state of consciousness that allowed demons to take over the mind of the user. In our day, many use drugs merely for so-called recreational purposes, but we cannot discount the occult connection. Galatians 5:19-21 says: The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft [which includes the use of drugs]; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. The word witchcraft here is also translated "sorcery" and refers to the use of drugs. I know, you wouldn't smoke weed to cast a spell, but that's what it was used for back then (and probably still now). Please don't take Bible snippets to support an argument that is contrary to the continuity of the Bible. (By the way, shouldn't increased social costs and lowered work force productivity be included in any legalizing discussions?)
