Should marijuana be legalized for recreational use? (Part 3)

[Ziggy Stardust]

edit: Dear Zeus in a Zoot-suit, why do I bother? As a matter of fact ... that is a really good question.

 

[CaptainF]

I thought this was ridiculous enough to revive this thread.

Link

State Republican lawmaker Tommy Benton (31st House District) favors “caning” minor marijuana offenders and “executing” those who sell the drug, according to a recent correspondence sent by the representative to a constituent.

In a July 29, 2009 e-mail (which was voluntarily forwarded to the NORML office), Rep. Benton wrote: “Thanks for the email. We will have to agree to disagree on this and whether or not money is wasted (by mandating the state to prosecute minor marijuana offenders). I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana. I think we should go to caning for people caught using and maybe execute dealers. [emphasis NORML’s] That would solve the problem as well. That is what they do in Singapore and they don’t have a drug problem.”

Caning is a form of corporal punishment consisting of up to 24 violent lashes with a long rattan cane that has been soaked in water. The procedure inflicts intense pain and deep, bloody lacerations that can take several months to heal.

Rep. Benton followed up his remarks in a separate e-mail on August 11 (also forwarded to NORML) in which he threatened to turn over the names of citizens who disagreed with his political viewpoints to local law enforcement.

He wrote: “You and your cronies want it (marijuana) legalized so you can get a hit anytime without having to worry about getting arrested. I have forwarded your email to the Lowndes County sheriffs [sic] office so that they can be on the lookout for you. [emphasis NORML’s] Consider this my last correspondence on the the [sic] subject to you or anyone else who shares your similar “conservative views’.”

Benton was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2005.

I'd like to know if our resident prohibitionists believe that we should inflict such injustice on their fellow American citizens.

 

[homeyg]

I'd like to change my opinion on this. (And also, why the hell does this need 3 parts?)

Marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use because it is an extremely addictive substance, and I am living proof. It is not addictive in a traditional sense, and it takes some real soul searching to realize that you are addicted. For me, I slowly started to notice that it has become my main focus in life on a day to day basis, even to the point where I wouldn't know what to do with my time if I quit. All I do is think about weed, all I do is try to figure out how to get more weed (and how to get the money), and all I do is smoke weed. Great effort has been put towards quitting on my part, but it just does not work. I need to try harder, but I don't really want to. It is really changing my life and not in a good way. It's almost like I'm fighting against myself on this one. Half of me wants to smoke all the time, and the other half knows that it isn't good. It's destroying my friendships, it's destroying my friend's friendships, it's just not cool.

Society doesn't need this kind of added distraction (legalizing certain drugs) as society has enough problems to solve.

 

[Adria]

I thought this was ridiculous enough to revive this thread.

Link

I'd like to know if our resident prohibitionists believe that we should inflict such injustice on their fellow American citizens.

Wow! It'd take them years to get through all the 'offenders' here in BC...

I think I can count on one hand the number of people I know who haven't tried pot (I can get as high as 3 at the moment). At the same time, I also don't know anyone who is addicted to pot or has moved on to harder drugs.

 

[tycoonist]

I'd like to change my opinion on this. (And also, why the hell does this need 3 parts?)

Marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use because it is an extremely addictive substance, and I am living proof. It is not addictive in a traditional sense, and it takes some real soul searching to realize that you are addicted. For me, I slowly started to notice that it has become my main focus in life on a day to day basis, even to the point where I wouldn't know what to do with my time if I quit. All I do is think about weed, all I do is try to figure out how to get more weed (and how to get the money), and all I do is smoke weed. Great effort has been put towards quitting on my part, but it just does not work. I need to try harder, but I don't really want to. It is really changing my life and not in a good way. It's almost like I'm fighting against myself on this one. Half of me wants to smoke all the time, and the other half knows that it isn't good. It's destroying my friendships, it's destroying my friend's friendships, it's just not cool.

Society doesn't need this kind of added distraction (legalizing certain drugs) as society has enough problems to solve.

i found it extremely easy to quit... you sure you aren't addicted to the baccy?

 

[Orange Seeds]

Wow! It'd take them years to get through all the 'offenders' here in BC...

I think I can count on one hand the number of people I know who haven't tried pot (I can get as high as 3 at the moment). At the same time, I also don't know anyone who is addicted to pot or has moved on to harder drugs.

I've never smoked a joint in my life. Come to think of it, I've only ever had three alcoholic beverages as well.

I have a hard enough time maintaining my vainglorious ambitions as it is.

 

[Berzerker]

I'd like to change my opinion on this. (And also, why the hell does this need 3 parts?)

Marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use because it is an extremely addictive substance, and I am living proof. It is not addictive in a traditional sense, and it takes some real soul searching to realize that you are addicted. For me, I slowly started to notice that it has become my main focus in life on a day to day basis, even to the point where I wouldn't know what to do with my time if I quit. All I do is think about weed, all I do is try to figure out how to get more weed (and how to get the money), and all I do is smoke weed. Great effort has been put towards quitting on my part, but it just does not work. I need to try harder, but I don't really want to. It is really changing my life and not in a good way. It's almost like I'm fighting against myself on this one. Half of me wants to smoke all the time, and the other half knows that it isn't good. It's destroying my friendships, it's destroying my friend's friendships, it's just not cool.

Society doesn't need this kind of added distraction (legalizing certain drugs) as society has enough problems to solve.

then am I living proof pot is not addictive? I quit several times in my life with no problem at all... I like using it, but if I dont have it, I dont have it and life goes on... For some people drug use is a symptom of other problems, and if you are losing friends look a little deeper than blaming pot. And society has the distraction regardless of legality, pot didn't go away because of a law. But what society gets in return is more crime and violence. How have drug wars been for Colombia and Mexico?

 

[Adria]

I've never smoked a joint in my life. Come to think of it, I've only ever had three alcoholic beverages as well.

I have a hard enough time maintaining my vainglorious ambitions as it is.

One of the people I know who's never tried pot also doesn't drink. Actually there's two of them, now that I think of it (that takes my count up to 4 people I know who have never tried it).

I've never had a full joint myself, but I've shared a few (3 or 4, I think). I'm actually a bit surprised it took me until university to try it. It's just such a commonplace thing here. I get the feeling that legalizing it wouldn't have much of an effect at all on the west coast, other than changing where people buy their pot.

 

[CaptainF]

Marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use because it is an extremely addictive substance, and I am living proof.

There's scientific proof that marijuana isn't addictive. Maybe you should look at that before being arrogant enough to proclaim yourself as proof against science.

It is not addictive in a traditional sense, and it takes some real soul searching to realize that you are addicted.

Real soul searching? Are you kidding me? It shouldn't take a whole lot of thinking to realize that you smoke too much pot...

For me, I slowly started to notice that it has become my main focus in life on a day to day basis, even to the point where I wouldn't know what to do with my time if I quit.

Maybe that's because you live a boring life. Marijuana, as we both know, is an excellent cure for boredom. If you lead a boring life that doesn't have much going for it, it's only natural that you'd want to use marijuana more often than if you had other hobbies/activities to partake in.

All I do is think about weed, all I do is try to figure out how to get more weed (and how to get the money), and all I do is smoke weed.

Yep, just sounds like you're really bored.

It's nothing special either. Lots of young men spend a lot (or too much) of their time chasing pot, beer, sex, whatever. For many it's a passing phase.

Great effort has been put towards quitting on my part, but it just does not work.

Define "great effort".

For me, the only "great effort" needed is to put down the bowl/joint and just lay off for a little while. I'm sure you're more than capable of doing the same, despite the histrionics in your post.

I need to try harder, but I don't really want to.

Ah, here we have it. You aren't really addicted, you just want to smoke pot. In all honesty, there's nothing wrong with that. You just have to take care of business first.

It is really changing my life and not in a good way.

No, you're the one changing your life. YOU. Not the weed.

How is it in a bad way pray tell?

It's almost like I'm fighting against myself on this one. Half of me wants to smoke all the time, and the other half knows that it isn't good.

Why isn't it good? I know people that smoke all the time and have been doing so for decades who make six figures a year and lead happy lives.

It's all about taking care of business first. If you do that, it really doesn't matter how much you smoke.

It's destroying my friendships, it's destroying my friend's friendships, it's just not cool.

Well, let's do the math here man. If you want to smoke pot, and your friends aren't big fans of pot, then why are you friends in the first place?

I have friends that don't smoke, and they don't have a problem with me doing it. Actually, at first one of them did, but upon seeing that I could both smoke and hold myself together like any other responsible person came around and now doesn't really care.

If they were really your friends, they wouldn't care so long as you weren't getting baked at the expense of taking care of business.

Society doesn't need this kind of added distraction (legalizing certain drugs) as society has enough problems to solve.

Yes, and one of those problems that society needs to solve is marijuana criminalization.

 

[homeyg]

then am I living proof pot is not addictive? I quit several times in my life with no problem at all... I like using it, but if I dont have it, I dont have it and life goes on... For some people drug use is a symptom of other problems, and if you are losing friends look a little deeper than blaming pot. And society has the distraction regardless of legality, pot didn't go away because of a law. But what society gets in return is more crime and violence. How have drug wars been for Colombia and Mexico?

You don't know me, you don't know what I have to deal with every day, and I'm not going to let up my side of the story just because you know how to use crappy sarcasm, and crappy, cliche examples of why it should be legalized.

You were obviously not a constant, every day, multiple-times-per-day user, so your story about quitting easily is invalid. It's easy to quit something that you aren't psychologically or physically addicted to.

What kind of crime and violence are caused by weed? Do you know why crime and violence are caused by this substance? It's because it is addictive. You would rather have a majority of people in this society addicted to a substance that clearly disrupts any form of logical thinking whatsoever?

Why don't you try using Google. Marijuana Addiction is a medically accepted disease, and I am trying to rid myself of it. If it was easy to kick, I wouldn't have any reason to be posting in this thread.

 

[tycoonist]

Wow, it finally clicked. I always wondered what the . .. .. .. . was wrong with everyone on this board. I finally figured it out. You people are a bunch of f-u-c-k-i-n-g morons! Every single one of you. I have nothing to learn here... Please f-u-c-k-i-n-g ban me like I've been asking.

if i was a psychologist, i would be diagnosing you with far more problems than just overuse of weed.

 

[CaptainF]

You don't know me, you don't know what I have to deal with every day, and I'm not going to let up my side of the story just because you know how to use crappy sarcasm, and crappy, cliche examples of why it should be legalized.

You're right man, we don't know you or what you "deal with". We also happen to know, however, that marijuana is not anymore addictive than videogames, soda or chocolate cake.

You were obviously not a constant, every day, multiple-times-per-day user

I was/still am, depending on the day.

so your story about quitting easily is invalid.

Is mine?

It's easy to quit something that you aren't psychologically or physically addicted to.

Marijuana isn't physically addictive, at all.

What kind of crime and violence are caused by weed?

Lolz. Yes, those marijuana smoking darkies sure have been raping lots of white women lately...

Do you know why crime and violence are caused by this substance?

Why, yes I do!

It's because it is addictive.

But you clearly don't.

Does the fact that it's illegal and makes a lot of money for some people at all make sense to you? That's why people grow it, sell it, and sometimes hurt other people over it, unfortunately.

You would rather have a majority of people in this society addicted to a substance that clearly disrupts any form of logical thinking whatsoever?

Ironic that you'd mention the lack of logical thinking, given the content of your posts.

Why don't you try using Google. Marijuana Addiction is a medically accepted disease

Eh, no.

 

[amadeus]

You don't know me, you don't know what I have to deal with every day, and I'm not going to let up my side of the story just because you know how to use crappy sarcasm, and crappy, cliche examples of why it should be legalized.

You were obviously not a constant, every day, multiple-times-per-day user, so your story about quitting easily is invalid. It's easy to quit something that you aren't psychologically or physically addicted to.

What kind of crime and violence are caused by weed? Do you know why crime and violence are caused by this substance? It's because it is addictive. You would rather have a majority of people in this society addicted to a substance that clearly disrupts any form of logical thinking whatsoever?

Why don't you try using Google. Marijuana Addiction is a medically accepted disease, and I am trying to rid myself of it. If it was easy to kick, I wouldn't have any reason to be posting in this thread.

Marijuana is as physically addictive as Legos or SimCity.

 

[Berzerker]

You don't know me, you don't know what I have to deal with every day, and I'm not going to let up my side of the story just because you know how to use crappy sarcasm, and crappy, cliche examples of why it should be legalized.

You just told us about your experience with pot, I know that much. Now where is this sarcasm you mentioned? And the devastation of drug wars in Colombia and Mexico are crappy cliches? Thousands are dead because of drug wars waged ostensibly to protect you from yourself, and you dont seem to care one bit.

You were obviously not a constant, every day, multiple-times-per-day user, so your story about quitting easily is invalid. It's easy to quit something that you aren't psychologically or physically addicted to.

I see, I dont know you but now you know me? I was/am a heavy user when I use(d). Everyday, multiple times a day. I've used probably longer than you've been alive. I never had a problem stopping. So answer my question: if you are proof of pot's addictive nature, am I proof it aint addictive?

What kind of crime and violence are caused by weed?

The drug war causes crime and violence.

Do you know why crime and violence are caused by this substance? It's because it is addictive.

If pot makes you violent, that would explain why you lose friends. Dont use pot... But dont smear the rest of us because of your problem. Dont put people in cages because you lack a modicum of self control and maturity...

You would rather have a majority of people in this society addicted to a substance that clearly disrupts any form of logical thinking whatsoever?

A majority would not use pot if legal, never has... and pot was legal in this country for most of our history. In countries where pot is legal or decriminalized majorities dont use pot. But I was not put on this planet to make sure you think logically.

Why don't you try using Google. Marijuana Addiction is a medically accepted disease, and I am trying to rid myself of it. If it was easy to kick, I wouldn't have any reason to be posting in this thread.

Sorry, I dont buy into the "its a disease" argument. Strange you'd advocate punishing sick people, especially when you have the same "disease".

But good luck with yer addiction. They have pills for that I think, I recently ended my tobacco addiction of almost 3 decades thanks to one month of Chantix. The stuff works and the mechanism behind it should apply to pot as well, ie blocking receptors in the brain. But having been addicted to tobacco I know pot aint even in the same ballpark.

 

[Munch]

Marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use because it is an extremely addictive substance, and I am living proof.

...

All I do is think about weed, all I do is try to figure out how to get more weed (and how to get the money), and all I do is smoke weed. Great effort has been put towards quitting on my part, but it just does not work. I need to try harder, but I don't really want to.

Marijuana is as physically addictive as Legos or SimCity.

^ it's just a habit that you need to break. Like any other habit, lego/simcity included, it can be negative if you do it too much. By the power of anecdotal evidence I know several people who are long-term high-volume marijuana smokers, but who retain the power to stop whenever they want, as they have demonstrated (the reason they don't go for long periods without, usually, is the ready availability of the stuff). It is harder for those who smoke tobacco though, for obvious reasons.

Just go on holiday for 2-3 weeks (not to Amsterdam) and clear your head.

 

[El_Machinae]

Moderator Action: Spam & Spat deleted.
Please do not quote swearing, people

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

Marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use because it is an extremely addictive substance, and I am living proof.

Required reading for you.

 

[Gustave5436]

Why don't you try using Google. Marijuana Addiction is a medically accepted disease, and I am trying to rid myself of it. If it was easy to kick, I wouldn't have any reason to be posting in this thread.

Cannabis dependence is in the DSM, but then again there's also things like Internet addiction, and the Internet isn't really a drug, so it can't be physically addictive.

 

[BirraImperial]

Legalize it, that's all I can say
... : )

 

[BasketCase]

Ah, it seems the Internet Necromancer ressurected this one when I wasn't looking.

Cannabis dependence is in the DSM, but then again there's also things like Internet addiction, and the Internet isn't really a drug, so it can't be physically addictive.

Key point underlined.

The Internet is in fact addictive, but the benefits of the Internet so vastly outweigh the costs of Internet addiction that it just doesn't compare with weed. Whereas weed is a drug, and the benefits of it are highly dubious.


Now digressing to have fun and cause trouble. To make reference to one of my favorite comparisons: the Internet can't kill anybody besides the user (gee, where have we heard that one before?), unless you're surfing the web while driving, which is unheard of. I've found no known cases of anybody having a car accident due to web surfing while driving--however, I did find two cases of laws being passed making it illegal to surf the web while driving. Just goes to show that common sense is really not so common.

Oh, and here's another one: THE INTERNET CAUSES CANCER. If only by way of face cancer as a result of radiation from the CRT.......