The recreational use of marijuana has been glamorized over the years by such on-screen duos as Cheech & Chong and Harold & Kumar, but is the drug everything that Hollywood makes it out to be? Then again, are we being hypocritical by allowing alcohol consumption but not cannabis usage? With passionate believers on both sides of the argument, it will be interesting to see what happens when the smoke clears.
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Dr. Sabet, you recently objected to NORML's post, "Prohibition doesn't work". The final line of your objection statement says, " there is overwhelming support to keep marijuana illegal". Have you looked at recent CNN polls, and other polls taken by national news agencies? They consistantly show about a 75/25 split, in favor of legalization.
Also, you downplayed the destruction current policy does to those who are convicted of marijuana related charges. While many do not get serious jailtime, they still frequently are fired from their jobs, live on probation for some time, sometimes lose their children,and drivers licenses, and generally are caused severe hardship. While they may not be in prison, they mine as well be.
How do you respond to that?
- Asemili
August 8, 2008 7:21AM
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Using an argument based on polls and popularity is dangerous. For example, look at the stats on all the federal legislators who were in support of sending troops to the Middle East after 9/11. Also, look at the popularity of credit card debt--most Americans are in debt; it's popular based on the sheer majority. So, should we (the US) have gone over to fight in the Middle East? Should we all go out and get in credit card debt? Using this kind of thinking reminds me of a teen who argues with a parent by saying, "Well all my friends are doing it." It's ludicrous.
As sad as it sounds, the government has to essentially legislate morality. I believe that marijuana use is immoral, that's it's an extension of the 'if it feels good then it can't be wrong' mentality that has plagued our country and has brought about widespread problems. If the law allowed marijuana use, but prohibited, say cocaine. Then the new 'line' to tow and threshold to illegal would be pushed further.
- Jefe October 29, 2008 9:08PM
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Constitutionally, it's not really the governments "right" to legislate morality. See "seperation of church and state". Nevertheless, even if it is their right, who decides what's moral and what's not? Some people believe Christianity is immoral, others believe homosexuality is immoral. The only gauge we realisticaly have for what is moral and what is not is "do my action cause harm to others or myself", and if so, "what degree of harm is acceptable". Can one say that, if legalized, privately smoking marijuana in one's home causes such harm to others or yourself that it should be prohibited? One side says, "no" while the other side says, "yes".
The bottom line: If the government should regulate morality, then all harmful immoral behaviors, especially those that promote "feel good" like Alchohol should be made illegal, not just Marijuana.
- Asemili November 4, 2008 8:59AM
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"Any one may renounce a law introduced for his own benefit."
"It is a fault to meddle with what does not belong to or does not concern you."
"What is inconvenient or contrary to reason, is not allowed in law.
The reason ceasing, the law itself ceases."
So, why would anybody who uses, sells, or grows marijuana be of any concern to those who don't? as long as one isn't hurting others, or damaging other peoples property, why is marijuana illegal in the first place? it shouldn't be, as evidenced by these maxims of law.
"In default of the law, the maxim rules"
- Kawlinz
December 10, 2008 9:08PM
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Your argument is only valid if you believe in the prohibition of alcohol. PERIOD.
Why?
Well...
1. Alcohol is legal because the overwhelming majority of Americans think that it should be. But that doesn't matter, right? Because all that matters is that the laws reflect what "should" be done, in a moral sense. Since alcohol causes, statistically, more deaths than marijuana, what is so much moral about it than marijuana use?
2. Since only a small percentage of Americans drink alcohol for religious reasons, the vast majority of those who believe that alcohol should be legal believe this because either:
a) 'if it feels good then it can't be wrong'
b) "Well all my friends are doing it," or
c) I know it's bad, but we've tried prohibition before and we all know how that went.
Therefore, the arguments you've made are only valid if you believe in the reenactment of the 18th amendment.
- AlliedToasters March 9, 2009 12:02AM
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you say that “number of marijuana users in prison for their use is perhaps 800-2,300 individuals" the reason of "well there aren't that many people in jail for this policy so why does it matter" is non-sense if there is even 1 person in jail for a policy that is clearly wrong then isn't that 1 person too many?
- Officer Cooper August 10, 2008 12:06PM
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Ok, first off the recent objection I read " Maijuana use rarely leads to arrest & it's not 20s-style prohibition" in my opinion is a bunch of bullsh*t. Most of these points are not even major. Pretty much saying "well its not 700,000 its just more like 100,000". Its still a outstanding number. My argument has always been why alcohol and not marijuana.
You say because alcohol has been longer been used in culture issues. SO WHAT! That should have not be the argument! Alcohol has been the reason for more murders, assults roberies, etc.. than marijuana by far. Examples: A man and his wife get in a heated argument. The man drinks alcohol and the argument continues. The Man is more likely to react in a violent way under the influence of alcohol than if he smoked marijuana. I mean I think we have all been to a party or what not and seen someone get all stupid drunk and talk shit. Even try fighting friends, family, etc.. Now if a man smoked marijuana in this situation he is more likely to be calmed by the THC (chemical compound in mairjuana that gets you "high"). Also through personal experience people at parties that smoked weed instead of drinking or just drank. Are alot more (relaxed&mellowed out) than gettin all crazy drinking. I lean toward the person's personality being the reason for moods and activites than the substance he is on.
Marijuana leads to crime? (laughs) someone that steals, is involved in gangs, tags walls, is viloent, etc.. is that way already. Being under the influence of alcohol sure the hell isn't going to help that, but I think marijuana has more potential to make this individual calm and think about doing this activity, perhaps even pursuade the individual from doing it. And on the helth issues, come on now be real about this. People eat themselve's obese! Is this healthy? Hell no, people smoke ciggiretes (can cause lung cancer), drink alcohol (damages kidneys), eat greasy food (which can lead to clots and heart attacks), etc.. is any of this healthy? No, but people still do these things and freely from any regulations from the law. So why try to use a argument "marijuana can cause mental illness" "marijuana can cause lung problems". Cigirettes can too! An everyday life, situations, and events are enought to give someone mental illnesses and make one "crazy". Well these are just some of my arguments on this subject. In the end you can make marijuana illegal, and say its bad. But in the end people will still consume and enjoy it everyday. And ontop of all that, look at the facts and polls. MORE PEOPLE AGREE WITH IT AND ACCEPT MARIJUANA THAN THOSE WHO OPPOSE IT! Theres just a goverment saying its bad. With a majority of the people in that country saying its not.
- RealeyezTheMC December 13, 2008 3:17AM
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Sadisitic greedy pigs love prohibition and profit from it. They can say " you are bad, you smoke marijuana ", "now we will take your all your property and put you in jail." It happened to me, no sale, no violence they just took my pot and everything I worked for my whole life. They are Nazis and if there was a God he would stike prohibitionist lying stealing pigs down and send thenm to the eternal hell they deserve. Thanks for being on the moral high ground Realeyez
- atliberty June 17, 2009 10:26PM
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It isn't? So all that violence in Mexico is a figment of my imagination?
Over 60% of the cartels profits come from cannabis .
- OuttaLuck May 5, 2009 11:23AM
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"On the other hand, there is overwhelming support to keep marijuana illegal, and introducing a legal market for the substance in no way guarantees the elimination of the black market."
That is definitely a stretch.
Here is some actual data:
http://www.gallup.com/poll/19561/Who-Supports-Marijuana-Legalization.aspxLegalization .aspx
In the Western US, in 2005, it was definitely within the margin of error. I'm sure it has only gained support since then. You know why? California marijuana is far superior to anything you can get elsewhere (that wasn't originally brought from there).
Take a stand against the cartel violence in Mexico. Buy only California grown marijuana!
- econguy May 30, 2009 11:17AM
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Remember Prohibition? It Still Doesn’t Work.
- From NORML
By National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws - Working to Reform Marijuana Laws
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Cherokee Fred Hussein
Americans will never, never, never let prohibition stop them from getting what they want. After all they are free Americans until our leaders put us in jail!! Did not work with liquor will not work with a weed!!
- Cherokee Fred hussein August 19, 2008 2:37PM
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Side: Yes
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Prohibition did work!
It made certain gangsters rich...compare that with today, who's getting rich while our innocent kids (ones who werent hurting anyone- not even themselves sit in jail): Jails and Prisons get more money from the state because they have more inmates, there are fines so the courthouse can get new computers, and there are court ordered treatment programs where the judge assigns you to a "facility", and that's for the people who are using Marajuana recreationally.....I'm a type 1 Diabetic who's had thousands of seizures, my arms and legs constantly dislocate without warning and I'm in constant pain, my doctor says that the only long term pain medication I can take "safely" is Ibuprofen (without side effects or withdrawls) .....4.5 years ago my general practicioner and my Diabetes doctor gave my kidneys around 5 years of function (ibuprofen damages the kidneys).....People like John Stewart say the american government creates terrorists with our policies, and while the people you and I hired to represent us sit on their hands and do nothing to make the quality of life better for people with disabilities, making us turn to criminals (and by doing so turning us into criminals) to obtain a safe pain medication....meanwhile my doctors tell me everything I know is soon going to change because I was born different....It's difficult for me to sleep:PAIN...It's difficult to be awake:PAIN......I'm 29 years old and I'm taking more medications than my 97 year old grandma....I don't believe in suicide (a cowards way out) ....I dont know if its the pain talking but if I can't live for something maybe I can die for something
- sr038
March 10, 2009 7:52AM
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Side: Yes
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Drug tolerant Netherlands
The Netherlands is closing 8 prisons because there isn't enough crime to keep them filled. Our government would have us believe that the " war on drugs " keeps us safe. In my biased opinion, the war on drugs is a waste of resources.
- Pyromaniac
May 27, 2009 11:18PM
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Side: Yes
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Haven't you heard?
The prison closings had nothing to do with not enough prisoners. According to the Fer'ners Death Panel Exploratory Committee the prisons are being emptied because:
1. They can no longer afford them since they have Gub'ment Nazi Socialized Communist healthcare .
2. They needed the prison space for the "Soylent Green Euthanization and Abortion Center". They did manage to allot a small portion of the space for a daycare.
- tek August 23, 2009 10:58PM
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Prohibition is crime
The dangers of a police state are vastly greater than the dangers of the most chronic marijuana user. Give a sadistic fascist leaning person a gun and a badge and they will lie under oath and the judges who own stock in Whakenhut and Corrections Corporation of America eat up the lies like candy. Prohibit Tyrannical police state not a natural herb. You cannot deny people the control of their minds and bodies and say the constitution is valid. The illegitimate US government tells us how dangerous marijuana is and then they patent it as a neuro-protectant and anti-oxidant medicine . Government officials making false statements is a criminal. Prohibition is the real crime .
- atliberty
June 17, 2009 10:18PM
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Down with Prohibition
Prohibition will never work,We need to stop this crime in the USA
We as Americans must not put people in office who wants to keep Prohibition.We must vote them out.
- countryboy
June 29, 2009 5:35PM
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Side: Yes
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Prohibitionn didn't work
I am tempted tosay not "No!" but "Hell No". Yet: No market, No sales. No sales, no money . No money, why not find something ese to sell.? Could this be the answer in the US for Mexico's cartel wars?
- bobalou
September 18, 2009 2:15PM
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Side: Uncommitted
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