Should the US legalize drugs?

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Ya'll are soo wrong. Damn, I'm up to 8. I'm gonna have to chill out with a doobie.


Yeah right.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Ya'll are soo wrong. Damn, I'm up to 8. I'm gonna have to chill out with a doobie.


Yeah right.

TIME FOR STONEY TO SPARK ONE UP

Stoney before/during smoking weed...

...and Stoney AFTER smoking weed!!!

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Spot on. Brilliant!

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Thank you, Sir!!!

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

No it isn't. It should be closed, and its entirety deleted, posthaste. I don't like the way this thing is going!! LOL

 

[ShivaIrish]

Legalize it. It's not like having illegal stops people from doing it.
The lack of motivation thing: it can be, like alcohol, sex, the death of a loved one, etc. On the other hand, there are plenty of motivated/ambitious accomplished people who smoke pot.

People should be able to make their own choice, just like with alcoholl and tobacco. Give people more freedom. Plus, you would cut down a lot of drug violence, free up funds dedicated to a lost-cause "war on drugs" (billions would be freed up) and the drugs that people would use could then be made safer (of course, not necessarily "safe"). Part of the problem right now with pot is the increase of THC levels found in it, compared to that found in past decades.

Here's a decent essay by a former Republican governor against current drug policy: http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/prisons/investment.html

One other thing--comparing pot to tobacco smoking is legitimate, but only if pot is being smoked. Brownies anyone?:cheeburga

 

[lattedatte]

LOL I think pot is bad, because once you start doing drugs, what's the big deal about moving up a notch to speed or coke. Some people start to think that they need that high in order to 'cope'. I've seen alot of losers (who were friends of mine) be pot users. No motivation, no real goals, I don't think that it's the worst thing in life to do, but I can't believe that people think that we should make it available for people, especially kids (who would have much greater access to it).

The gateway drug thing is a myth and I'm walking proof of it. I'm now 30, I was captain of my college football team, Academic all-american, graduated cum laude, CPA, worked for 5 years in a Big 4 acct. firm, make almost 100k, good father, good husband and I smoked like a chimney in college. I haven't smoked in the last 4 yrs, the exact time I've been married but I'd likely do it again if around it.

People that say that stuff about pot, either never did it or were already predisposed to being lazy or weak or had an addictivive personality and if it wasn't drugs it would be gambling, tobacco or whatever.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

The gateway drug thing is a myth and I'm walking proof of it. I'm now 30, I was captain of my college football team, Academic all-american, graduated cum laude, CPA, worked for 5 years in a Big 4 acct. firm, make almost 100k, good father, good husband and I smoked like a chimney in college. I haven't smoked in the last 4 yrs, the exact time I've been married but I'd likely do it again if around it.

People that say that stuff about pot, either never did it or were already predisposed to being lazy or weak or had an addictivive personality and if it wasn't drugs it would be gambling, tobacco or whatever.

You know that one person is not exactly a study. I have a b.s. in accounting as well, and I saw alot of my friends go down the drain smoking pot every day. I'm not saying I'm right, but it sure seems that it doesn't help.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Legalize it. It's not like having illegal stops people from doing it.
The lack of motivation thing: it can be, like alcohol, sex, the death of a loved one, etc. On the other hand, there are plenty of motivated/ambitious accomplished people who smoke pot.

People should be able to make their own choice, just like with alcoholl and tobacco. Give people more freedom. Plus, you would cut down a lot of drug violence, free up funds dedicated to a lost-cause "war on drugs" (billions would be freed up) and the drugs that people would use could then be made safer (of course, not necessarily "safe"). Part of the problem right now with pot is the increase of THC levels found in it, compared to that found in past decades.

Here's a decent essay by a former Republican governor against current drug policy: http://www.motherjones.com/news/special_reports/prisons/investment.html

One other thing--comparing pot to tobacco smoking is legitimate, but only if pot is being smoked. Brownies anyone?:cheeburga

I would think that a drugged society would not be a productive one. It's fine when you're in college and living it up, but drugs and alcohol destroys families. I like freedom more than anybody, but I've seen drugs take too many lives to not care.

 

[lattedatte]

You know that one person is not exactly a study. I have a b.s. in accounting as well, and I saw alot of my friends go down the drain smoking pot every day. I'm not saying I'm right, but it sure seems that it doesn't help.

I agree a sample of one is not a study. I have many freinds that were in the same boat as me but that isn't a study either. I also knew a bunch of potheads that weren't motivated to do anything. I just believe that they would be that way regardless of the pot.

A big suprise we disagree on something. LOL.

I put more onus on people, rather than factors stoney. When my son comes home and gets busted for drinking underage, I will not blame it on who he is hanging around with, I will blame him for using bad judgment. It's similiar to people blaming drugs for laziness. It's the way I am.

 

[notredomer23]

I was captain of my college football team, Academic all-american, .

D1?

 

[lattedatte]

D1?

I wish, DII, 6' 205 and run a 4.9 out of high school doesn't get you many looks by D1. I got about 20 offers but all small school. Keep in mind in west pa, we have a ton of small colleges. But by my sr. year I weighed 230 and ran a 4.7. OLB in the Corwin Brown style defense.

Gannon University.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Better than me Latte..I blew out my knee before Digger Phelps could give me a call...

 

[lattedatte]

Better than me Latte..I blew out my knee before Digger Phelps could give me a call...

lol, nice.

You a hoops guy?

I loved hoops. More of a grinder with a descent set shot. But I also blew my knee out playing my sr. of hoops. Weird. ACL and meniscus. Red-shirted my first year of college.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Not to worry, I erased it before you went friggin' Iwo Jima! LMAO

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

You're a good man (cough)

 

[ShivaIrish]

I would think that a drugged society would not be a productive one. It's fine when you're in college and living it up, but drugs and alcohol destroys families. I like freedom more than anybody, but I've seen drugs take too many lives to not care.

I'm actually not condoning drug use, but part of the point is that the "war on drugs" doesn't help. People who are going to be drugged are most likely still drugged today. It's a joke if some high schoolers have an easier time getting marijuana than alcohol. It doesn't work, and is a waste of time, effort, and money.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm not sure there is an answer. I think good parents, and a good education go a long way in keeping kids from bad choices. Problem is that not all kids get either, and are sucked in by the lifestyle.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

I'm not sure there is an answer. I think good parents, and a good education go a long way in keeping kids from bad choices. Problem is that not all kids get either, and are sucked in by the lifestyle.

Stoney,

You're absolutley correct. Children's choices are greatly influenced by not only their educational background but the stability and influence of a solid family background.

True Story...my wife is a 6th grade teacher in the Cleveland Municipal School District (All prayers and thoughts greatly appreciated). She was having a heart to heart with her kids in what they wanted to do with the rest of their lives and what they could do to better their situations. Her better kids all had high aspirations for where they wanted to be in 10-15-20 years...and then there was this young man named Jerome...

Jerome proclaimed that "he was gonna sit home, smoke weed knock up his ol' lady and collect welfare because no one's gonna tell him what to do." My wife came home crying because she tries to have a really positive influence on these kids and to hear a 12 year old say that to her really frustrated/scared her. What the f###.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Pretty sad. The kid sounds like someone who won't take responsibility for their life, and depend on the rest of us to support him. Wonderful. Probably got that from his parent (s).

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

OK, How can more people be voting that stoney's on drugs more than saying no to legalizing it. That is whack! You f....rs!!

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

OK, How can more people be voting that stoney's on drugs more than saying no to legalizing it. That is whack! You f....rs!!

I asked Jerome to vote #3....

 

[ShivaIrish]

I'm not sure there is an answer. I think good parents, and a good education go a long way in keeping kids from bad choices. Problem is that not all kids get either, and are sucked in by the lifestyle.

I agree that parents and education play large roles in a person's developing life. If some of the money spent on the war on drugs was funnelled into education, wouldn't that be better? It's hard to argue that it would not be.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Well, since pot seems to be the jumping off point to many others, it may help on the demand side. It does seem a huge jump to go from nothing to coke or heroin, as opposed from pot.

That's the tricky part. You or I may not have an addicitive personality when it comes to pot. But the ones that do, can easily make the jump to the stronger stuff. That said, alcohol is the same way & I'd say they are about equal when it comes to society.

I remember my buddies & me smoking pot in college. It was just a fun thing to do that resulted in laughing our asses off & eating everything in sight. There was one buddy though that was smoking w/ us for the first time. He really liked it & kept it up. I graduated & "grew up" and lost touch w/ him. Then I ran in to him a few yrs later & he was tweaking on meth. Luckily, I few years after that (incl some jail time), he got sober & married & is hopefully turned his life around.

I always felt guilty about intro. pot to this dude b/c of the path it led him on. I thought everyone was like me. I could pick it up & put it back down. My heavy conscious usually got the best of me when I was doing something harmful. That's why, to this day, I can have a few beers & bum a cigarette off a buddy w/o going out the next day and buying a pack for myself.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

TIME FOR STONEY TO SPARK ONE UP

Stoney before/during smoking weed...

...and Stoney AFTER smoking weed!!!

nice chicklets!

 

[IRISHDODGER]

whose side?

In most cases the left, but I think it's safe to say that both sides of the aisle are addicted (no pun intended) to the tax dollars that smokey treats bring in. The reason the left gets more flak is the hypocrisy in denouncing the tobacco companies & the evil of cigarettes. If they're so bad...let's ban 'em. That's where the rub is, libs like those tax $$$ rolling in & since they're all pretty much spoken for, they can't afford to go fwd. w/ a ban on smokes. Remember all the tobacco settlement money they was shaken down by the gov't? It was supposed to be earmarked for education. To date, only 2 of the 50 states properly spent those tax dollars on 'anti-smoking' promotion. The rest spent it on pet projects.

I don't know how far pols would get it they did put forth an effort to ban 'em. It would save us tax payers billions. Tobacco companies are the last industry any of us will feel sorry for & yes, in most cases, they lobby pols on the right. Although I imagine any elected official from a state where tobacco is a cash crop feels obliged to their constituents to take care of that industry.

Just think, tobacco can't advertise on TV, radio or billboards anymore & they continue to go up in price. Like Denis Leary so aptly put it: you could package smokes in a black package w/ a skull & cross-bones on the front; change the brand name to "Death"; charge $10 per pack...and you'd still see smokers lining up around the block to purchase a pack.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

I agree that parents and education play large roles in a person's developing life. If some of the money spent on the war on drugs was funnelled into education, wouldn't that be better? It's hard to argue that it would not be.

There was money earmarked for anti-smoking education (at least tobacco cigs). Only 2 of the 50 states actually spent it on education. The rest spent it on other projects. That was after the gov't shook down Big Tobacco for billions in the name of protecting our children.

In utopia, however; I would agree w/ your point 100%. Education combined w/ responsible parenting would greatly improve the situation. Unfortunately, the road to hell is paved w/ good intentions.

 

[ShivaIrish]

There was money earmarked for anti-smoking education (at least tobacco cigs). Only 2 of the 50 states actually spent it on education. The rest spent it on other projects. That was after the gov't shook down Big Tobacco for billions in the name of protecting our children.

In utopia, however; I would agree w/ your point 100%. Education combined w/ responsible parenting would greatly improve the situation. Unfortunately, the road to hell is paved w/ good intentions.

Education and responsible parenting are still applicable for non-utopians. Making drugs illegal certainly is not, nor will it, make a significant positive effect on drug use. It makes it worse. If you take some of the money and help fund public schools k-12 better, I would say that would help. Would it be perfect? No, but to err is human, so you'll not have it perfect on earth. But it can be helped.

You actually don't even have to increase education funding to help the drug problem. Just stop the drug war, and use the money to decrease the deficit. That would still be better.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I don't believe we should stop the drug war. There are too many bad drugs for us to just give in. If the US did legalize pot, those gangs/cartels would just ship in more drugs that are worse. I think the US is addicted to pleasing themselves, rather than doing what is right. Trying it in college is one thing, having it around 24/7 is asking for a doped out America.

 

[ShivaIrish]

I don't believe we should stop the drug war. There are too many bad drugs for us to just give in. If the US did legalize pot, those gangs/cartels would just ship in more drugs that are worse. I think the US is addicted to pleasing themselves, rather than doing what is right. Trying it in college is one thing, having it around 24/7 is asking for a doped out America.

Just look at the stats, and hang around people who use drugs (for all sorts of reasons). This is another example of the government sticking its nose where it does not belong. And it makes it worse. The US may be addicted to pleasing themselves, and making it illegal won't stop it.

In addition, even though alcohol is my current drug of choice, that doesn't mean I should restrict another individual's choice in the matter.

Again, the drug war only hurts the situation. Milton Friedman (who knew something about markets) stated: "Whose interests are served by the drug war? The U.S. government enforces a drug cartel. The major beneficiaries from drug prohibition are the drug lords, who can maintain a cartel that they would be unable to maintain without current government policy." Whether you support or are against drug use, one has to recognize that the "drug war" must go.