As far as I am concerned we should legalise it, regulate growing, preperation for sale, and taxe the crap out of it.
For myself I have seen what illegal grows can do land and streams and have been shot at while hiking by illegal mexicans(mexican cartel) that grow illegally on public lands.
Yes that cheap dime bag of skunk you bought was grown on land that became TOXIC because of the chemicals they laid down to grow it....and the garbage they left behind.
I can see a whole host of problems that would come from it but I think regulating/taxing it is the best option.
All that being said I do not smoke it. I was raised around pot heads and have seen what a few years(let alone MANY years) does to people.
Is legalizing marijuana really the best option?
Natasha
2012/02/25 19:56:19
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First of all, I don't believe that marijuana is the harmful or dangerous substance society makes it out to be and don't understand the enormous stigmas associated with it. Quoting Pineapple Express, "weed makes everything better."
Its illegal status is an archaic remnant of times when paper companies didn't want to be driven out of business with hemp production. Society is already undergoing a paradigm shift with an acceptance and, at times, (media) glorification of its use. I'm partially for legalization, saying the the government should tax and regulate its use and distribution and set guidelines, but also take into account the consequences of legalization. I'd also advocate decriminalization which would make possession and use of weed in reasonable quantities, usually around 3g, legal. (Not that the government would ever go for an option where people get to smoke weed legally without the gov profiting) For those who use marijuana, legalization is a terrible option. Yes the government won't be able to prosecute us for lighting a joint anymore, but are all of the taxes and regulations worth it? With the FDA guidelines that would be placed in marijuana growers, bud quality would go down and almost everything you buy will be generic. You can say goodbye to that killer kush you can get from your local dealer at a relatively decent price. The government will tax the shit out of marijuana, putting a luxury tax on top of whatever state tax you have to pay already, driving prices up, leading to a proliferation of bad weed because that's the only thing people will be able to afford. So next time you or one of your stoner friends advocates legalization, remind them that it would only lead to bad quality weed and ridiculous prices for the good stuff. It's so much easier to just get it from your local dealer. But disregarding the effect that it will have on people who do smoke weed, legalization would provide economic stimulus (through taxation) and help curve problems associated with the illegal drug trade (prohibition of alcohol in the 20s led to speakeasies and moonshiners but when it was abolished illegal trade of alcohol ceased). It may also curb use of other drugs. In Holland, the (partial) legalization of marijuana has lead to an overall decrease in hard drug use. Benefits of legalization overall outweigh the costs. Society is waking up already and so should the government.
Its illegal status is an archaic remnant of times when paper companies didn't want to be driven out of business with hemp production. Society is already undergoing a paradigm shift with an acceptance and, at times, (media) glorification of its use. I'm partially for legalization, saying the the government should tax and regulate its use and distribution and set guidelines, but also take into account the consequences of legalization. I'd also advocate decriminalization which would make possession and use of weed in reasonable quantities, usually around 3g, legal. (Not that the government would ever go for an option where people get to smoke weed legally without the gov profiting) For those who use marijuana, legalization is a terrible option. Yes the government won't be able to prosecute us for lighting a joint anymore, but are all of the taxes and regulations worth it? With the FDA guidelines that would be placed in marijuana growers, bud quality would go down and almost everything you buy will be generic. You can say goodbye to that killer kush you can get from your local dealer at a relatively decent price. The government will tax the shit out of marijuana, putting a luxury tax on top of whatever state tax you have to pay already, driving prices up, leading to a proliferation of bad weed because that's the only thing people will be able to afford. So next time you or one of your stoner friends advocates legalization, remind them that it would only lead to bad quality weed and ridiculous prices for the good stuff. It's so much easier to just get it from your local dealer. But disregarding the effect that it will have on people who do smoke weed, legalization would provide economic stimulus (through taxation) and help curve problems associated with the illegal drug trade (prohibition of alcohol in the 20s led to speakeasies and moonshiners but when it was abolished illegal trade of alcohol ceased). It may also curb use of other drugs. In Holland, the (partial) legalization of marijuana has lead to an overall decrease in hard drug use. Benefits of legalization overall outweigh the costs. Society is waking up already and so should the government.
Top Opinion
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Mamaknows 2012/02/25 21:53:08
11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.
People who want weed will get it anyway. Making it illegal (besides being an affront to liberty) simply creates a black market which leads to real crime and violence.
It's a no brainer!
Only strict penalties for being under the influence at work or when operating equipment or vehicles potentially dangerous to others, and for those drugs smoked for doing so only in private spaces so as not to involuntarily expose other need be put in placer and vigorously enforced.
Why should I as a non-user have to pay in both dollars and liberty for abusers' irresponsibility and Nanny Statists' Leviathon fantasy?
Legal drugs.
Cheap drugs.
Strong drugs.
Let the bureaucrats starve.
Let the abusers kill themselves more quickly.
Let the rest of us reclaim some prosperity and liberty.
http://images.sodahead.com/pr...