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[Fenderputty]

However, nobody seemed to have a counter for my point about the immediate second hand effects of marijuana, which is a major point against legalization, especially when the "cigarettes are legal, so..." arguments pop up.

That's because "second hand high" is bullshit. It's an absolute load of crap. My Fiance gets super stoned and paranoid off of one hit. I can hot box a car with her in it and she feels nothing.

To top that off, it take most people several times of smoking weed to feel the affects. If someone who's never done it is around me, they're definitely NOT going to feel the affects. Second hand smoke high while outside ... HA.

It's a total myth. And one that I've never heard in an argument against the legalization of smoking weed.

 

[Zeliard]

However, nobody seemed to have a counter for my point about the immediate second hand effects of marijuana, which is a major point against legalization, especially when the "cigarettes are legal, so..." arguments pop up.

I have to admit, this is the first time I've seen the notion of a contact high used as a defense against legalization. Guys, don't hotbox with your unwilling friends, then all will be okay. :lol

 

[Fenderputty]

I have to admit, this is the first time I've seen the notion of a contact high used as a defense against legalization. Guys, don't hotbox with your unwilling friends, then all will be okay.

He wasn't even talking hotbox. He was talking smoking outdoors.

 

[riskVSreward]

That's because "second hand high" is bullshit. It's an absolute load of crap. My Fiance gets super stoned and paranoid off of one hit. I can hot box a car with her in it and she feels nothing.

To top that off, it take most people several times of smoking weed to feel the affects. If someone who's never done it is around me, they're definitely NOT going to feel the affects. Second hand smoke high while outside ... HA.

It's a total myth. And one that I've never heard in an argument against the legalization of smoking weed.

I tend to agree. I got a friend who is completely anti-weed, hates the stuff (not sure why.) He will still hang out with us if we are smoking though, and he has never gotten high off of the second hand smoke. I know that if he ever did, he would have said something, and it would've been obvious. Secondly, he probably would've stopped hanging around if everyone else was forcibly getting him high.

Of course this is anecdotal. I don't think I can post anything about the effects of weed without this disclaimer.

 

[got2bekidding]

Here is to hoping that all this reefer madness nonsense will end with the appointment of the new Drug Czar (ex-Seattle Chief of Police). Maybe he will commission some non-biased studies and also allow a more sensible marijuana policy.

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

I'm not really for decriminalization as an alternative for legalization, but if that has to come first, I understand. Maybe within a decade or so it could happen, and from there we can work toward legalization.

 

[Struct09]

I'll never smoke it, but it definitely seems less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol.

I think it should be legalized so the government can tax the hell out of it.

 

[Fenderputty]

I tend to agree. I got a friend who is completely anti-weed, hates the stuff (not sure why.) He will still hang out with us if we are smoking though, and he has never gotten high off of the second hand smoke. I know that if he ever did, he would have said something, and it would've been obvious. Secondly, he probably would've stopped hanging around if everyone else was forcibly getting him high.

Of course this is anecdotal. I don't think I can post anything about the effects of weed without this disclaimer.

I remember a talk show out here in cali had some High Times guys on the show for a Q&A for people. The second hand high question was asked. The dude from High Times actually had some scientific data to show how ridiculous the assertion is, I just don't remember the details. Anecdotal evidence has been enough for me to know it's BS regardless of any data that may come across.

 

[StormyTheRabbit]

Just told my parents I blaze everyday and plan on getting a prescription for depression when I hit 18. Either way, after we talk, I'm going to continue to blaze.

 

[Dahellisdat]

I'll never smoke it, but it definitely seems less harmful than cigarettes and alcohol.

I think it should be legalized so the government can tax the hell out of it.

You know, alcohol prohibition was repealed that same year all the New Deal stuff started. Maybe legalizing weed would be a good economy stimulant as well.

Not that that's going to happen or anything.

 

[StormyTheRabbit]

You know, alcohol prohibition was repealed that same year all the New Deal stuff started. Maybe legalizing weed would be a good economy stimulant as well.

Not that that's going to happen or anything.

People have been saying this since the word "Recession" first slipped out of a politicians mouth. Its a very good idea.

 

[Diatribe1974]

Toking up in small amounts every now and then is a fairly harmless thing. It's the human factor that makes it go from "fairly harmless" to "OMFG WTF ARE YOU DOING YOU GODD*MNED F*CKING *SSHOLE?!?!" status.

Essentially, we as human beings don't know when to say "when". We've got to try to get MORE of the buzz/thrill. We've got to do more of what got us there. When that no longer works, we tend to go into other areas searching for that little bit to get us that high/thrill like what we used to get from the previous method.

I believe that for most people, marijuana is a fairly harmless drug. But what puts it into the "Needs to be outlawed" status for me, is....well.....us. Humans. Or our lack of self control. Did we have self control, I'd shut up now about this and never be heard from again. But since we're humans and tend to lack that self control, we can often times use it as the dreaded "gateway drug" to other stuff that is really bad news. But I've known folks who stuck it out on just pot, but toked up so hardcore, they smoked themselves f*cking stupid. As a result, pot needs banned.

Don't blame me, blame the assholes who don't know how to put the bong down.

 

[JzeroT1437]

It'll turn you into a werewolf.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

Anyone who wants weed to continue on as illegal is a bitch ass fuck.

My schizo ass would likely be in an institution by now without the stuff.

 

[riskVSreward]

Toking up in small amounts every now and then is a fairly harmless thing. It's the human factor that makes it go from "fairly harmless" to "OMFG WTF ARE YOU DOING YOU GODD*MNED F*CKING *SSHOLE?!?!" status.

Essentially, we as human beings don't know when to say "when". We've got to try to get MORE of the buzz/thrill. We've got to do more of what got us there. When that no longer works, we tend to go into other areas searching for that little bit to get us that high/thrill like what we used to get from the previous method.

I believe that for most people, marijuana is a fairly harmless drug. But what puts it into the "Needs to be outlawed" status for me, is....well.....us. Humans. Or our lack of self control. Did we have self control, I'd shut up now about this and never be heard from again. But since we're humans and tend to lack that self control, we can often times use it as the dreaded "gateway drug" to other stuff that is really bad news. But I've known folks who stuck it out on just pot, but toked up so hardcore, they smoked themselves f*cking stupid. As a result, pot needs banned.

Don't blame me, blame the assholes who don't know how to put the bong down.

So all humans are the same, no one has self control, and responsible people should suffer due to irresponsible people.

2 stars, needs work.

 

[Fenderputty]

Toking up in small amounts every now and then is a fairly harmless thing. It's the human factor that makes it go from "fairly harmless" to "OMFG WTF ARE YOU DOING YOU GODD*MNED F*CKING *SSHOLE?!?!" status.

Essentially, we as human beings don't know when to say "when". We've got to try to get MORE of the buzz/thrill. We've got to do more of what got us there. When that no longer works, we tend to go into other areas searching for that little bit to get us that high/thrill like what we used to get from the previous method.

I believe that for most people, marijuana is a fairly harmless drug. But what puts it into the "Needs to be outlawed" status for me, is....well.....us. Humans. Or our lack of self control. Did we have self control, I'd shut up now about this and never be heard from again. But since we're humans and tend to lack that self control, we can often times use it as the dreaded "gateway drug" to other stuff that is really bad news. But I've known folks who stuck it out on just pot, but toked up so hardcore, they smoked themselves f*cking stupid. As a result, pot needs banned.

Don't blame me, blame the assholes who don't know how to put the bong down.

That's the stupidest fucking post I've ever read on this subject. Are you for making booze illegal? Remember what that did? What about cigs? How about really really fatty fast food that people binge on? Obesity causes more deaths than cigarettes. What about gambling? Following your logic, just about everything that could be bad for you should be made illegal due to some people's lack of self control.

 

[Zeliard]

Toking up in small amounts every now and then is a fairly harmless thing. It's the human factor that makes it go from "fairly harmless" to "OMFG WTF ARE YOU DOING YOU GODD*MNED F*CKING *SSHOLE?!?!" status.

Essentially, we as human beings don't know when to say "when". We've got to try to get MORE of the buzz/thrill. We've got to do more of what got us there. When that no longer works, we tend to go into other areas searching for that little bit to get us that high/thrill like what we used to get from the previous method.

I believe that for most people, marijuana is a fairly harmless drug. But what puts it into the "Needs to be outlawed" status for me, is....well.....us. Humans. Or our lack of self control. Did we have self control, I'd shut up now about this and never be heard from again. But since we're humans and tend to lack that self control, we can often times use it as the dreaded "gateway drug" to other stuff that is really bad news. But I've known folks who stuck it out on just pot, but toked up so hardcore, they smoked themselves f*cking stupid. As a result, pot needs banned.

Don't blame me, blame the assholes who don't know how to put the bong down.

Let's ban the Internet while we're at it. This is what amuses me about this sort of silly logic. People don't seem to realize it can be applied to anything that people can become negatively hooked on. That also includes television.

 

[RiskyChris]

Don't blame me, blame the assholes who don't know how to put the bong down.

Need to ban: Tobacco, alcohol, gambling, overeating, MMOs, games in general, movies, cable TV, the internet...

Maybe we can start putting people behind bars for speeding too.

 

[Fenderputty]

Let's ban the Internet while we're at it. This is what amuses me about this sort of logic. People don't seem to realize this can be applied to anything that people can become negatively hooked on. That also includes television.

fuck why not ... I mean some people use if for kiddy porn.

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

Toking up in small amounts every now and then is a fairly harmless thing. It's the human factor that makes it go from "fairly harmless" to "OMFG WTF ARE YOU DOING YOU GODD*MNED F*CKING *SSHOLE?!?!" status.

Essentially, we as human beings don't know when to say "when". We've got to try to get MORE of the buzz/thrill. We've got to do more of what got us there. When that no longer works, we tend to go into other areas searching for that little bit to get us that high/thrill like what we used to get from the previous method.

I believe that for most people, marijuana is a fairly harmless drug. But what puts it into the "Needs to be outlawed" status for me, is....well.....us. Humans. Or our lack of self control. Did we have self control, I'd shut up now about this and never be heard from again. But since we're humans and tend to lack that self control, we can often times use it as the dreaded "gateway drug" to other stuff that is really bad news. But I've known folks who stuck it out on just pot, but toked up so hardcore, they smoked themselves f*cking stupid. As a result, pot needs banned.

Don't blame me, blame the assholes who don't know how to put the bong down.

The train of logic didn't quite reach the station here.

The government does not exist to protect irresponsible people from themselves; it exists to protect responsible people from irresponsible ones, which is why you should punish the action that happens while high (driving, operating machinery, etc.), not the act of toking in general. To me, a nanny state is not one that provides welfare benefits and jobs programs; a nanny state is one that bans thing that could even be the least bit harmful and tries to control our lives with laws about little things, rather than encouraging responsibility and education.

I think you overestimate the effect of marijuana on people. The VAST, OVERWHELMING majority of pot smokers do so in a purely recreational manner and become neither burn-outs nor hard drug users. You don't protect a minority of individuals by denying something to the vast majority.

 

[TheExodu5]

You'll have to excuse me if I think you're talking about something you have no idea about.

Marijuana is less physically addictive than Caffeine. Fact.

Seeing as how a few of my friends have been unable to quit smoking weed, I can't disagree with him.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Toking up in small amounts every now and then is a fairly harmless thing. It's the human factor that makes it go from "fairly harmless" to "OMFG WTF ARE YOU DOING YOU GODD*MNED F*CKING *SSHOLE?!?!" status.

Essentially, we as human beings don't know when to say "when". We've got to try to get MORE of the buzz/thrill. We've got to do more of what got us there. When that no longer works, we tend to go into other areas searching for that little bit to get us that high/thrill like what we used to get from the previous method.

I believe that for most people, marijuana is a fairly harmless drug. But what puts it into the "Needs to be outlawed" status for me, is....well.....us. Humans. Or our lack of self control. Did we have self control, I'd shut up now about this and never be heard from again. But since we're humans and tend to lack that self control, we can often times use it as the dreaded "gateway drug" to other stuff that is really bad news. But I've known folks who stuck it out on just pot, but toked up so hardcore, they smoked themselves f*cking stupid. As a result, pot needs banned.

Don't blame me, blame the assholes who don't know how to put the bong down.

so what about those stories of the people who neglect their kids because they get addicted to Starcraft or MySpace? Should we ban those things too? Lets ban fast food because some people abuse it and become morbidly obese!

 

[Battersea Power Station]

Although, it's less harmless than listening to Bill Maher.

That's not true at all. The dude is obnoxious, whether or not you agree with him.

 

[The Lamonster]

Seeing as how a few of my friends have been unable to quit smoking weed, I can't disagree with him.

If your friends cant quit smoking weed, hand them a tiny violin and a pair of balls.

 

[Fenderputty]

Seeing as how a few of my friends have been unable to quit smoking weed, I can't disagree with him.

Metal addiction is different then physical addiction.

 

[TheExodu5]

Metal addiction is different then physical addiction.

Does that matter?

Like, if I were to ask is it easier for a long time alcoholic to stop drinking or a long time smoker to stop smoking? I couldn't really tell you which one.

The physical addiction component to cigarettes is laughably small anyways. The physical addiction goes away in less than 48 hours. The mental addiction is what gets you.

 

[riskVSreward]

Metal addiction is different then physical addiction.

METAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ninja Scooter]

Metal addiction is different then physical addiction.

well then we obviously need to ban metal. Throw Dio in jail!

 

[Fenderputty]

Also ... the whole "gateway drug" thing is a byproduct of it being illegal in the first place.

Once someone tries it, they've broken that legal barrier that prevents many from doing it. Once that's broken it's easier to break another one. If you make weed legal, it's no more of a gateway drug then alcohol.

 

[got2bekidding]

Metal addiction is different then physical addiction.

Dethklok approves of this post.

 

[Dahellisdat]

Seeing as how a few of my friends have been unable to quit smoking weed, I can't disagree with him.

Why would they want to quit smoking weed?

 

[Fenderputty]

Does that matter?

Like, if I were to ask is it easier for a long time alcoholic to stop drinking or a long time smoker to stop smoking? I couldn't really tell you which one.

The physical addiction component to cigarettes is laughably small anyways. The physical addiction goes away in less than 48 hours. The mental addiction is what gets you.

I'm not really arguing that. The mental addiction is something that can happen with anything though. Food, Gambling, drinking, smoking, sex, MMORPGs etc etc. Something shouldn't be banned because it could be bad for you. Otherwise Mac Donalds and KFC would be outta here.

What separates weed from the more serious drugs is that, unless you're the type of person who gets addicted to things easily, you don't crave the drug right after taking it. Coke, Heroin, Speed and other narcotics all leave you instantly needing more.

 

[A Link to the Past]

Short Answer - Yes.

Long answer - Sorta.

This, basically.

Marijuana is one of the least harmless drug out there - definitely lower than heroin, cocaine, cigarettes, and alcohol.

 

[ice cream]

Why would they want to quit smoking weed?

Exactley.
It makes everything better and its fun. It's like saying why would you want to quit masterbating/sex?

 

[Fenderputty]

Exactley.
It makes everything better and its fun. It's like saying why would you want to quit masterbating/sex?

It doesn't make everything better. Although it does add a little something to sex. :lol

Generally though ... herb just makes you not care as much about the things that suck. Boredom, crappy movie, etc etc.

 

[Broseybrose]

harmless? no, but neither are cars and we use those everyday. its all about whether youre doing it wright or if youre doing it wrong. :lol

 

[JB1981]

I can't smoke weed .... i get panic attacks

 

[Snowman Prophet of Doom]

It doesn't make everything better. Although it does add a little something to sex. :lol

Generally though ... herb just makes you not care as much about the things that suck. Boredom, crappy movie, etc etc.

Not necessarily. Weed can be a freeing thing that lets you see things in a different light. I tend to have great conversations when on weed because it lets me let go of my pre-established dogmatism, at least to an extent. It can also make you appreciate things that you love in a different light. Hell, Carl Sagan smoked weed all the time; it helped him think in a different mindset.

 

[Fenderputty]

Not necessarily. Weed can be a freeing thing that lets you see things in a different light. I tend to have great conversations when on weed because it lets me let go of my pre-established dogmatism, at least to an extent. It can also make you appreciate things that you love in a different light. Hell, Carl Sagan smoked weed all the time; it helped him think in a different mindset.

I know it can enhance and also be a used to see things from a different mindset. I was just responding to a claim that it makes everything better.

 

[AndersTheSwede]

Ooh, a whole seven days! I can go (and have gone) years without eating certain types of foods that I like.:lol

That you made this statement shows you know nothing about physical addictions.

There's a ton of anecdotal evidence and passionate reasonings being supplied in this thread, which is always the case when this issue is brought up.

Regular users are incredibly passionate about marijuana, to the point that it's pretty much impossible to get a non-scientific viewpoint without inherent bias.

Yes, people being passionate about tens of thousands of people being thrown in jail because dumbfucks like you have your head up your ass. Imagine that!

Put your money where your mouth is and show us some scientific evidence supporting it's continued prohibition. Oh that's right, the only scientific evidence against it is that it can cause extreme anxiety. Bad, for sure, but not really up there with... you know... death, which are side effects of too much alcohol and cigarettes.

I could give anecdotal evidence about how many people I know that smoke marijuana and how they've done it for years and they have said they would quit many times but they give in no more than two weeks later. But none of that is scientific. And the argument is not whether it's addictive, (and besides, what people say in confidence is often different from what they say when attempting to defend something).

So our anecdotal evidences are canceling each other out with leaves us with what reasons for continued prohibition?

However, nobody seemed to have a counter for my point about the immediate second hand effects of marijuana, which is a major point against legalization, especially when the "cigarettes are legal, so..." arguments pop up.

Uh yes they did. It is very difficult to get high from second hand smoke. And even if you could legalization doesn't mean everyone being able to smoke everywhere. It would be restricted just like cigarettes are today: only your home or designated smoke shops/cafes etc.

Also two deaths of friends of mine during our school years that were certainly linked to heavy usage of marijuana.

This is the type of ridiculous bullshit that I expect to hear from a DARE teacher. How about you back up this with some evidence before spewing?

Know how many people have been confirmed to have died directly from marijuana in the entire recorded history of mankind? None. Zero.

 

[StormyTheRabbit]

That you made this statement shows you know nothing about physical addictions.



Yes, people being passionate about tens of thousands of people being thrown in jail because dumbfucks like you have your head up your ass. Imagine that!

Put your money where your mouth is and show us some scientific evidence supporting it's continued prohibition. Oh that's right, the only scientific evidence against it is that it can cause extreme anxiety. Bad, for sure, but not really up there with... you know... death, which are side effects of too much alcohol and cigarettes.



So our anecdotal evidences are canceling each other out with leaves us with what reasons for continued prohibition?



Nobody countered it you tool because you never made it in this thread. But since you've made it now: it is very difficult to get high from second hand smoke. And even if you could legalization doesn't mean everyone being able to smoke everywhere. It would be restricted just like cigarettes are today: only your home or designated smoke shops/cafes etc.



This is the type of ridiculous bullshit that I expect to hear from a DARE teacher. How about you back up this with some evidence before spewing?

Know how many people have been confirmed to have died directly from marijuana in the entire recorded history of mankind? None. Zero.

 

[Diatribe1974]

I'll agree that if anything, we need more control over our lives. We live in excess, even with the most mundane of things. For example: Food. In a world in which we can live longer than ever before, we shorten our lives by incredible amounts due to how we eat & live as a result. The obesity rate in the US alone is growing by staggering amounts each decade. That shows just on the foods we eat (let alone other more truly harmful things), we lack any real self control.

As I said, did we have actual self control over ourselves and our impulses, I'd never have any issue over marijuana whatsoever. As Dennis Leary said in a routine years ago on his HBO show: "Pot is a happy, harmless drug. When's the last time you were in a bar in which you cracked a buddy of yours upside the head with a pool stick? NEVER! It's because you're too busy laughing at the fucking cue ball!"

Personally, I've known just as many folks who smoked pot and never let it negatively influence their life one single bit. If anything, most of whom who eventually ended up stopping smoking it altogether cite those years as their "carefree wonder years" (or something to that extent) but are now past that point in their lives. But I've also known folks who either smoked their fucking brains out and ended up being the most worthless motherfuckers on the planet, or ended up trying more hardline drugs and really fucked their lives up.

I know I take an unpopular stance on the forums, but it's what I think and feel: We're humans. We're fucked up enough without the need to further potentially fuck it up by adding in outside variables to the equation.

 

[AndersTheSwede]

I'll agree that if anything, we need more control over our lives. We live in excess, even with the most mundane of things. For example: Food. In a world in which we can live longer than ever before, we shorten our lives by incredible amounts due to how we eat & live as a result. The obesity rate in the US alone is growing by staggering amounts each decade. That shows just on the foods we eat (let alone other more truly harmful things), we lack any real self control.

Um ok, but what is going to provide this control? The government? Laws? So what is the punishment? If you don't eat healthy... go to jail! They've already tried to control marijuana for 40 years and look what its done: nothing but ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands of people with no reduction in use.

Personally, I've known just as many folks who smoked pot and never let it negatively influence their life one single bit. If anything, most of whom who eventually ended up stopping smoking it altogether cite those years as their "carefree wonder years" (or something to that extent) but are now past that point in their lives. But I've also known folks who either smoked their fucking brains out and ended up being the most worthless motherfuckers on the planet, or ended up trying more hardline drugs and really fucked their lives up.

I know I take an unpopular stance on the forums, but it's what I think and feel: We're humans. We're fucked up enough without the need to further potentially fuck it up by adding in outside variables to the equation.

And those outside variables (in your argument) include the government coming into our lives and dictating what we can and cannot eat, what we can and cannot put into our bodies. I'm willing to conceded certain substances like Heroin that have been proven demonstratively to be completely destructive to the human body, but come on your being ridiculous.

How is signing away our free will to some controlling agency supposed to allow us to develop or improve our own free will? How does that improve society?

So everyone in society should sacrifice their free will because a certain percentage can't control theirs?

People have the right to make their own decisions, right or wrong, because only through both failure and success do we learn from our mistakes and improve.

The world is imperfect, humans are imperfect. Stop trying to create some shiny little utopia were everyone acts exactly in their own best interests as outlined according to your own little nerocises. Does someone being obese effect your life? Does someone getting stoned effect your life? Live your life and let other lives theirs and stop trying to summon forces from on high to regulate theirs according to the rules of yours.

 

[Dahellisdat]

I'll agree that if anything, we need more control over our lives. We live in excess, even with the most mundane of things. For example: Food. In a world in which we can live longer than ever before, we shorten our lives by incredible amounts due to how we eat & live as a result. The obesity rate in the US alone is growing by staggering amounts each decade. That shows just on the foods we eat (let alone other more truly harmful things), we lack any real self control.

As I said, did we have actual self control over ourselves and our impulses, I'd never have any issue over marijuana whatsoever. As Dennis Leary said in a routine years ago on his HBO show: "Pot is a happy, harmless drug. When's the last time you were in a bar in which you cracked a buddy of yours upside the head with a pool stick? NEVER! It's because you're too busy laughing at the fucking cue ball!"

Personally, I've known just as many folks who smoked pot and never let it negatively influence their life one single bit. If anything, most of whom who eventually ended up stopping smoking it altogether cite those years as their "carefree wonder years" (or something to that extent) but are now past that point in their lives. But I've also known folks who either smoked their fucking brains out and ended up being the most worthless motherfuckers on the planet, or ended up trying more hardline drugs and really fucked their lives up.

I know I take an unpopular stance on the forums, but it's what I think and feel: We're humans. We're fucked up enough without the need to further potentially fuck it up by adding in outside variables to the equation.

Contradictions, contradictions.

These "worthless motherfuckers" you know......are they worthless motherfuckers BECAUSE of weed, or are they just naturally worthless motherfuckers who happen to smoke weed?

 

[MrTroubleMaker]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvct5fgEH_U

:lol

 

[antiloop]

No.

 

[AndersTheSwede]

Here is to hoping that all this reefer madness nonsense will end with the appointment of the new Drug Czar (ex-Seattle Chief of Police). Maybe he will commission some non-biased studies and also allow a more sensible marijuana policy.

When I first heard this I thought Norm Stamper had been tapped and was fucking ecstatic. But then I found out it is the current chief. He has come out against decriminalization of marijuana which (despite how I feel about decrim, it's still movement in the right direction) is really disappointing.

However he has done a good job in Seattle. Hemp Fest every year is simply astounding. With literally 10-20 thousand people openly smoking downtown in view of police and they don't do a damn thing, so if anything he at least isn't a "beat down the door and club those dirty pot smokers!" kind of cop.

 

[Diatribe1974]

Um ok, but what is going to provide this control? The government? Laws? So what is the punishment? If you don't eat healthy... go to jail! They've already tried to control marijuana for 40 years and look what its done: nothing but ruining the lives of hundreds of thousands of people with no reduction in use.



And those outside variables (in your argument) include the government coming into our lives and dictating what we can and cannot eat, what we can and cannot put into our bodies. I'm willing to conceded certain substances like Heroin that have been proven demonstratively to be completely destructive to the human body, but come on your being ridiculous.

How is signing away our free will to some controlling agency supposed to allow us to develop or improve our own free will? How does that improve society?

So everyone in society should sacrifice their free will because a certain percentage can't control theirs?

People have the right to make their own decisions, right or wrong, because only through both failure and success do we learn from our mistakes and improve.

The world is imperfect, humans are imperfect. Stop trying to create some shiny little utopia were everyone acts exactly in their own best interests as outlined according to your own little nerocises. Does someone being obese effect your life? Does someone getting stoned effect your life? Live your life and let other lives theirs and stop trying to summon forces from on high to regulate theirs according to the rules of yours.

If anything, we need LESS government control in our lives. So who does the deed? You. Me. The guy down the street. The woman who made your sub at the local sandwich shop. We need people to intervene and say "No, you've had enough."

It's because we aren't doing what it takes to control ourselves, that ultimately, you're going to get MORE government control over our lives. It will all be done in the guise of "We're only doing this for your own good......" but since we're all fucked up to varying degrees to start with, it'll go horribly, horribly wrong from there.

Why?

Because we don't have the ability to say "when".

We seemingly don't have the ability to push ourselves away from the tables at dinner time without going for another oversized helping of supper.

We seemingly don't have the ability to control our tempers as yet another woman is brutally beaten by her boyfriend/husband.

We seemingly don't have the ability to say "Hey, I'm already going to be late to work, no sense rushing it." but instead, plow through traffic with reckless abandon without ever thinking we're 37 seconds away from t-boning that minivan carrying the family of 4.

We seemingly don't have the ability to say "Hey, I've had waaaaaaaay too much to drink tonight, who wants to call me a cab?" Instead they stand a good chance to adding to the 40,000+ years deaths in the US due to drunk driving.

So what makes you think we have the ability to keep marijuana as safe and harmless as it technically is versus what we make it?

 

[riskVSreward]

Don't you think your whole argument is off-topic?

 

[Dahellisdat]

If anything, we need LESS government control in our lives. So who does the deed? You. Me. The guy down the street. The woman who made your sub at the local sandwich shop. We need people to intervene and say "No, you've had enough."

It's because we aren't doing what it takes to control ourselves, that ultimately, you're going to get MORE government control over our lives. It will all be done in the guise of "We're only doing this for your own good......" but since we're all fucked up to varying degrees to start with, it'll go horribly, horribly wrong from there.

Why?

Because we don't have the ability to say "when".

We seemingly don't have the ability to push ourselves away from the tables at dinner time without going for another oversized helping of supper.

We seemingly don't have the ability to control our tempers as yet another woman is brutally beaten by her boyfriend/husband.

We seemingly don't have the ability to say "Hey, I'm already going to be late to work, no sense rushing it." but instead, plow through traffic with reckless abandon without ever thinking we're 37 seconds away from t-boning that minivan carrying the family of 4.

We seemingly don't have the ability to say "Hey, I've had waaaaaaaay too much to drink tonight, who wants to call me a cab?" Instead they stand a good chance to adding to the 40,000+ years deaths in the US due to drunk driving.

So what makes you think we have the ability to keep marijuana as safe and harmless as it technically is versus what we make it?

What the fuck are you talking about???? Not everyone is a giant pushover. You get what you want out of life. If you have ambition to do something and can balance that with smoking weed thats awesome. Me and all of my potsmoking friends have managed to do it. Having ANYBODY come in and fuck with your personal privacy and rights as a citizen is not at all a legitimate means to curbing someone with no self control's appetites. God damn, its just weed.