S/o marijuana...

[tntgoodwin]

It is easier for minors to get ahold of marijuana than beer.

[Spy Car]

It is easier for minors to get ahold of marijuana than beer.

 

Should we make it even easier?

 

And then add marketing pressures and profit-incentives on top of the increased availability? Do you think more minors would smoke more pot than they do today? I certainly think they would.

 

And I don't think that would be good for our society.

 

Bill

[Rebookie]

I put other. I just don't have a clue on the subject. It's not one of my past times... I've never even seen the stuff. I do think that there are A LOT of scary legal stuff already. So why not add one more to the list.

 

I'm neutral on the subject.

[Peela]

Should we make it even easier?

 

And then add marketing pressures and profit-incentives on top of the increased availability? Do you think more minors would smoke more pot than they do today? I certainly think they would.

 

And I don't think that would be good for our society.

 

Bill

 

If it was legal...it probably still wouldnt be legal for minors.

But it would virtually eliminate a huge blackmarket around it.

The blackmarket and all its issues can be far more insidious than marijuana itself.

 

Personally (and I don't smoke), I don't want the law- Big Daddy- to be telling me what I can and cannot do in the privacy of my own home, my own life, that harms no one but myself. The more you treat people as incapable and like children, the more they will behave like them. For many people, and in some cultures particularly, marijuana and many other mind altering substances are considered to be plant medicines, with healing properties, and quite often, spiritual potential- they are doorways. Our society is so far removed from its connection with nature, that we would prefer to take pills from bottles than reconnect with the plant medicines that we share the planet with, and learn to use them respectfully.

 

The teenagers using pot are actually seeking its healing qualities, albeit unconsciously. It is soothing, it helps with pain- emotional and physical pain, and many young people are in at least emotional pain. It can open people to forms of spirituality. It is doing something for them that they obviously crave and who is to say it is worse than gambling, sugar, alcohol, or any number of other addictions we sanction. By just denying it to them...we simply create more problems. Its not so simple as "its bad for you, dont do it.". Thats not even true- its not necessarily bad for anyone in reasonable quantities- any more than a few glasses of wine every now and then are any major problem. It being illegal creates a huge black cloud around it so that people can't see it for what it is- the potentially helpful along with its potential for abuse. A plant. Used as a medicine and a sacrement for thousands of years. It is not evil. But it should be respected- and making it illegal does not help with that at all.

[LaxMom]

Yes. It already has been legalized/decriminalized.

 

So, do you also suggest making oxycodone illegal?

 

My thought exactly. Legal, and buying it yourself at 7-11 are two very different things.

[tntgoodwin]

Should we make it even easier?

 

And then add marketing pressures and profit-incentives on top of the increased availability? Do you think more minors would smoke more pot than they do today? I certainly think they would.

 

And I don't think that would be good for our society.

 

Bill

 

My point is that if it were legal and regulated, it would be more difficult to get ahold of for minors.

[Rhonda in TX]

Decriminalization? Yes.

 

Legal for legitimate medical use? Yes.

 

Industrial hemp for Food and Fiber? Yes

 

Full-out legalization for recreational use, commercial sale and cultivation? No.

 

Bill

 

:iagree:

[dancer67]

Originally Posted by Spy Car

Should we make it even easier?

 

And then add marketing pressures and profit-incentives on top of the increased availability? Do you think more minors would smoke more pot than they do today? I certainly think they would.

 

And I don't think that would be good for our society.

 

Bill

 

 

You mean the same way it has cut down on teenage smoking, by making a law that you must be 18 to smoke? That is laughable. There are more 18 and under smokers now then ever. No law is going to change that. Does it make it harder? Yep. But there are always ways around it.

 

More minors would NOT be smoking more pot if it was legal. Seriously.

 

And if you think the government gives a hoot about our "childrens" health, or anyone elses health for that matter, you are sorely mislead.

 

Anyway they can find to tax something, whether it is good for you or not, they will.

 

When they lowered the age of smoking to 18, did you notice how the price of cigarettes went up? Do you really think it is to "deter" people from buying cigarettes? :lol::lol::lol:................Truth is, NO. Instead they are charging $8.00 a pack, with about 75% of that in tax alone. They are making millions.

 

Pot is very hard to regulate. Because it can be grown anywhere. So it is illegal because the government has not found an excact way to MAKE it legal so they get their tax money.

 

Anything is legal as long as you are paying taxes to the big boys.

 

And alcohol is just as dangerous as pot. Yet one is legal and the other isnt/ One is taxed, and the other isn't.

 

I don't know, maybe I am the only one who has been seeing the big picture here.:tongue_smilie:

[hsmom]

Now here is my take on it. I think for medical reasons yes, but they need to regulate it better. I know way too many people who go to Colorado to get a "card" and honestly they don't have anything wrong with them.

 

The reason I am not to hot on the personal use being legal is that it doesn't only effect the person smoking it. It effects anyone near. Second hand mj smoke also makes anyone close enough high also. So yes alcohol is a nasty thing, but sitting on my couch having a beer doesn't mean my 6yr old is having a beer also. Versus someone sitting with their child smoking mj and the child is getting high also. Not a good thing. I am also against smoking cigarettes around children and in public places. I hate walking somewhere to pass by a store that has 5 people outside smoking. Yuck!

[Carrie12345]

Personally I think great harm could (and would) come to our society if the marketing forces that are not arrayed to convince people that McDonalds Happy Meals (which are neither) put their minds to marketing pot over the nations airwaves.

 

What would happen if one could just go down to the Piggly Wiggly, or the liquor store or 7/11 and purchase some cannabis? And what if the marketing (as it always is) was aimed at our children? No harm to society? I would certainly argue otherwise. Mill's threshold is not met.

 

Personally I don't care one way or another if an adult want to smoke pot, if they can handle it, or if it does them good.

 

For those with medical conditions there is no question in my mind that it should be legal.

 

I also think it should be decriminalized. But keeping marijuana possession as a minor offense which could result in a small citation for public consumption keeps it on the down-low. Where it belongs. Legalize it and we will have marketing forces working overtime looking to make money by getting children to use this drug. And not just children. The rate of consumption would soar.

 

I am not a prohibitionist. I would sent no one to jail for smoking a little pot. But I think society would pay too great a price for the wholesale legalization and the commercialization of marijuana.

 

 

Bill

 

It is not the law's job to parent my children.

Protect from others, sure. (Just as it's illegal for others to contribute to the corruption of minors by selling them cigarettes or alcohol. Or other such restrictions on the things we are/aren't allowed to involve minors in.) But the law needn't assume I'm incapable of combating media messages.

 

I have alcohol and tobacco in my home. Technically, I guess I don't have firearms, unless you count BB guns ;). I also have matches, lighters, power tools, hatchets, porn, and a bag of frozen french fries. I teach my kids safety and responsibility.

I can't claim ultimate success yet, because my eldest is barely a teenager, but I don't fear any of the messages my kids are receiving.

 

If it were legal to do so, yes, there would be a marijuana plant nicely nestled into my organic raised-bed garden.

But I also have kids who know they aren't allowed to touch the bottle of Absolute in the freezer or light a camp fire without supervision.

[dancer67]

It is not the law's job to parent my children.

Protect from others, sure. (Just as it's illegal for others to contribute to the corruption of minors by selling them cigarettes or alcohol. Or other such restrictions on the things we are/aren't allowed to involve minors in.) But the law needn't assume I'm incapable of combating media messages.

 

I have alcohol and tobacco in my home. Technically, I guess I don't have firearms, unless you count BB guns ;). I also have matches, lighters, power tools, hatchets, porn, and a bag of frozen french fries. I teach my kids safety and responsibility.

I can't claim ultimate success yet, because my eldest is barely a teenager, but I don't fear any of the messages my kids are receiving.

 

If it were legal to do so, yes, there would be a marijuana plant nicely nestled into my organic raised-bed garden.

But I also have kids who know they aren't allowed to touch the bottle of Absolute in the freezer or light a camp fire without supervision.

 

:iagree::iagree:

 

And I will nicely come over and trade you 2 marijuana plants for 3 zuchinni plants, and raise you by one bean plant:lol:

[cathmom]

But have you been to Amsterdam? I don't want to smell pot everywhere. The very idea makes me nauseous.

 

:iagree: Yuckola!

 

 

I am not a prohibitionist. I would sent no one to jail for smoking a little pot. But I think society would pay too great a price for the wholesale legalization and the commercialization of marijuana.

 

 

:iagree:

 

The reason I am not to hot on the personal use being legal is that it doesn't only effect the person smoking it. It effects anyone near. Second hand mj smoke also makes anyone close enough high also. So yes alcohol is a nasty thing, but sitting on my couch having a beer doesn't mean my 6yr old is having a beer also.

 

I would not equate alcohol and marijuana either.

[Alveraz]

I'm for complete legalization and taxation of marijuana. However the problem is folks want their cake and eat it too. They want it legal for this, but not for that. It doesn't work that way. It's either legal or not. It's going to be sold for recreational use, that's just something we're going to have to deal with when it's legalized. However, you tax the heck out of it, regulate it and set laws similar to alcohol, i.e., no use under 21, not driving under the influence, no smoking in public, etc. Set some strict rules to start with. Use the tax revenues to support detox and drug counseling. The revenues would be staggering and along with hemp production could ease so many tax problems it's a no-brainer.

[Lolly]

Considering that I think cigarettes should be illegal...

 

 

 

 

 

I don't actually care what you do in your own house, but outside of it? Nope. My family shouldn't have to suffer so that you can have your smoke.

[krisperry]

absolutely

[Wheres Toto]

There are more 18 and under smokers now then ever.

 

My first thought was to disagree with this. I'm remembering how common it was to see kids smoking everywhere, including at school, in the 80's. According to my 17 year old, smoking is not a common thing with teenagers around here - she hangs around with athletes and theatre kids mostly. I used to walk to the store and buy my mother cigarettes when I was 13 or 14 years old.

 

But, then I also have to realize that smoking is not allowed in most public places in NJ, so maybe I'm just not seeing it?

 

I don't see clouds of mj smoke everywhere if it's legalized. I very rarely see someone smoking (usually I see people in their cars) and never see anyone drinking outside of restaurants or private residences.

 

I would hope the advertising of mj would be restricted in the same way as smoking. I very rarely see cigarette ads outside of the windows of convenience stores.

[Lolly]

My first thought was to disagree with this. I'm remembering how common it was to see kids smoking everywhere, including at school, in the 80's. According to my 17 year old, smoking is not a common thing with teenagers around here - she hangs around with athletes and theatre kids mostly. I used to walk to the store and buy my mother cigarettes when I was 13 or 14 years old.

 

But, then I also have to realize that smoking is not allowed in most public places in NJ, so maybe I'm just not seeing it?

 

I don't see clouds of mj smoke everywhere if it's legalized. I very rarely see someone smoking (usually I see people in their cars) and never see anyone drinking outside of restaurants or private residences.

 

I would hope the advertising of mj would be restricted in the same way as smoking. I very rarely see cigarette ads outside of the windows of convenience stores.

 

you just aren't seeing it. The younger age groups have the highest percentage of smokers. It is banned here indoors in public and within 50 ft of doorways. The doorway one is totally overlooked. One of my dc has a severe allergy to smoke. It is a huge problem to be outdoors in public spaces. Shopping in an ourdoor mall? Smokers everywhere. Trying to leave a restaurant? Do you know how nasty you have to get with the manager to be allowed out the side door/emergency exit? I do. Last time we went out to eat, there were 8 people smoking right outside the doorway. Want to get into the hospital? Run the gauntlet of smokers first. It is absolutely insane and getting worse on a daily basis.

[Ecclecticmum]

I believe it should be legalized. If people want to try it/smoke it, there going to get it anyway. Its not a "hard" drug.

 

Policemans time, and court, is wasted with petty marijuana crimes, when there are much more serious things out there that should take precedence.

 

If not legalized, it should become a minor felony (or whatever its called) basically pay a $20 fine or something, end of story, no court appearance, no time taken up etc. But in doing that, you'll still end up with those that want to "fight" the system, so in the end, its just better to legalize.

 

i would much rather police take more time/action on murders, and associated other major crimes, then busting a college student experimenting.

[Spy Car]

I'm for complete legalization and taxation of marijuana. However the problem is folks want their cake and eat it too. They want it legal for this, but not for that. It doesn't work that way. It's either legal or not. It's going to be sold for recreational use, that's just something we're going to have to deal with when it's legalized. However, you tax the heck out of it, regulate it and set laws similar to alcohol, i.e., no use under 21, not driving under the influence, no smoking in public, etc. Set some strict rules to start with. Use the tax revenues to support detox and drug counseling. The revenues would be staggering and along with hemp production could ease so many tax problems it's a no-brainer.

 

I don't want it legalized for the every reason you suggest it should be. Once society looks at drug-use by it's citizens as an opportunity to rake in tax revenues we are in serious trouble.

 

Bill

[Alveraz]

I don't want it legalized for the every reason you suggest it should be. Once society looks at drug-use by it's citizens as an opportunity to rake in tax revenues we are in serious trouble.

 

Bill

 

Uh, what are we doing with cigarettes and alcohol? By your suggestion we should ban those too?

[Peela]

I don't want it legalized for the every reason you suggest it should be. Once society looks at drug-use by it's citizens as an opportunity to rake in tax revenues we are in serious trouble.

 

Bill

 

Well, we are already doing that so I don't understand your argument.

[smilesonly]

A definite YES.