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I guess because of my situation I tend to be around a lot of disabled people; so take it for what its worth. I know several people my age that have Medical Marijuana scripts, and way more than that, who can't get them and choose to use. Most of the medical-need people don't smoke it; instead they seem to prefer eating products with it in there. It makes it easier for them to take it without having to smoke it. I also know the stuff they're getting is MUCH safer than he stuff on the street.

My own personal opinion? A) I was raised around alcohol and guns from a young age. A glass of wine at 12 was mostly grape juice and a little wine; a cup of coffee was mostly milk and sugar; and I was taught guns and knives are tools, not toys. I think marijuana is essentially the same thing, if you grow up around it, its not 'cool' or 'taboo' it just 'is'. I'm not saying raise your kids on weed, but I think this sort of Puritanical take on booze, drugs and sexuality causes more problems than it helps. Do some research on Methadone clinics. There are receptor blockers in use in Europe that essentially 'turn off' the receptors for Heroin addicts. Here in the US we take Heroin addicts and make them Methadone addicts. You'll probably never see receptor blockers here in the US for H-addicts; it would cut out billions of dollars of constant revenue for the government.

B) Some people are hardwired to have problems with addiction; gambling, booze, porn, pills, food etc. But; I've never known a guy who was hitting his bong hard, to come home and beat on his ol' lady. However; we all know that guy who gets a 12 pack of Bud, starts drinking it before he gets home, and occasionally feels the need to tune up his spouse because he can't look at himself in the mirror. Which is totally legal. Didn't our government learn back in the 20's that you can't eradicate peoples drug of choice...they'll either make a new 'legal' one (bath salts today) or they'll make it happen through illicit means.

[Custom10]

If you can get your "authorization" from a qualified MD for the stuff that is fine by me. Anything to help these folks out should not be held back from them.

Eveything in moderation, with it legal there will be too many exposed to the temptation, then those that cant control it once they start. More grief for the family unit.

However I hope it is never sold on the store shelves. Society does dont need another "vice" laying around the house. It is too tempting for the kids as it is now with booze and the availablity of all illicit drugs. Legal pot will be impossible to manage from a domestic stand point.

"Hey little Johnny you were told you could not smoke pot during exam week" Try that on for size as a parent.

[cobalt327]

There's more addicts from prescription pain killers being abused than heroin I bet. Prolly by a wide margin.

[johnnyg]

Marijuana is a safe medicine. Marijuana is safer than alcohol.

[bob70]

A couple of points: The last thing the drug dealers want is for currently illegal drugs to become legal. That would put them out of business. Once drugs become legal it opens the door for legitimate competition which would drastically lower the price and, hence, the extreme profit margins. Legal marijuana would then be sold much like booze is now. Of course youngsters can always get their hands on whatever they want if they're willing to put forth enough effort. But, with legal drugs there would be little incentive for "pushers" to try to connect with kids as the profit margin just wouldn't be there. The sale of illegal drugs to youngsters would be on the order of what exists with alcohol sales to them now.

With criminals out of the drug business (and here I mean all drugs) there'd be no more conflict over turf, etc, and I would argue drug related violence would drop dramatically. Additionally, we'd have far fewer non violent drug offenders behind bars at great cost to society in both human terms and treasure.

How's this for a drug plan? No drug laws of any kind for adults. However, anyone providing drugs to a minor gets a mandatory life sentence.

In the end I think we need to ask ourselves if we really want a government that can tell us what we can personally consume. It could be marijuana today, PepsiCola tomorrow. Once we concede the government's right in this arena, we're only arguing about the specifics. One man's pleasure in another man's poison.

[geezer69]

man, got more info than i ever thought i would. thanks to you all. its not legal here. and i wonder how many states it will take to get the fed off em. im gettin the picture, theres both good and bad. and the store shel thing. not for me either. as a fewof you know i cant take meds much at all. seems none of em.im no doper or drunk . but theres times i really need a break guys. if it was legal im thinkin it mite do even me some good. i aint willin to go to jail for a smoke though. hahaha...im in texas. thanks folks. gotcha!

[against all odds]

My thoughts are that the gov't should not mandate wether marajuana should be illegal or not unless strict proof can be furnished that indicates a detriment to society.

[dinger]

Originally Posted by bob70

. Once we concede the government's right in this arena, we're only arguing about the specifics. One man's pleasure in another man's poison.

The government is already doing this in certain areas. Sugared drinks are taken out of schools, hospitals, all in the pretense of watching out for our people and children. Smoking cigs in public started all this, since there are many that feel cigs are stinky and offensive, we ban them in public areas. No matter that they are legal, if it is offensive, make a law. Fat people, beware. There has been talk of taxing fast food like booze or cigs. Losing one right at a time, soon they will be gone and we won't realize what has happened to us until it is too late. I find it refreshing that a couple of states have found the guts to do the right thing, in the face of the Feds. we are not a democracy anymore, much less a "free country". 200 years ago there would have been blood shed in the streets for the government taking rights away, we have our heads in the sand or better yet, up our backsides. No one says a thing anymore.

[geezer69]

theres no doubt the gov is way to far up our backsides. our rights are goin fast. im lookin for a new gas tax too. dont phart folks. its gona smell and somebodys gona complain. its gona be a crime soon.a tax added hahaha, i got the picture. yeah, it is a big mess. i say we dont need 10* of the gov we got. or the laws. just to dang many of em.i dont need um. do yall. i dont want um either.yes we need laws and a gov to protect the citizens but now we need protection from our gov. thats bout all i can make of it.

[gearheadslife]

you see, a few years ago , I'd say about 1978-80 they found out.. that outlawing was a bad way to go about control..
they found that getting one group of people to want something banned.. works so much better.. they let the people take away their own freedoms one by one.. because banning something doesn't sound as bad as the government outlawing it.. so the stage was set.. and slowly they started banning things one by one..
no smoking areas,then banning smoking inside, then banning smoking in a public place/area, then soda/snacks in school, some books in school, texting while in the drivers seat, talking on the phone while driving unless you use a earpiece/etc etc etc.. 'hoods banning flags, b/ball hoops,
banning riding a bike without a helmet.. the list is a few miles long.. and we all allowed it because they changed the wording from outlawing to banning..
war on drugs is a big business.. they'll never drop that war.. to many well connected people make to much money to let that cash cow die.. same reason you'll never see a cure for cancer... tho. you don't hear of tomany doctors die'n of it..
live and let live.. I can't stand the smell of pot.. but some like it..
the doctors want me on pain meds,. but I'm so scared of getting hooked I won't even fill the Rx
lucky for me I haven't found a drink I really like the taste of.. as I like the light buzz every now and then but don't like the taste of the alky.. tho. jameson is ok I choke drinking it..

[geezer69]

Originally Posted by johnnyg

Marijuana is a safe medicine. Marijuana is safer than alcohol.

alcohol is a mega killer. families, life, you name it. the worse drug ive ever seen. no joke. just watch the news. every dang little bit some drunk wipin out a family or one or theirselves. thats just the drunk drivers. if your a smoker your a drug addict. look what smokin does for us, hahaha, an exceptable deadly drug. theres 2 of um. now them pills. my grandson died on um. i wish he'd smoked pot.hed still be here. i wouldnt like it but hed be here.i believe that.

[against all odds]

i would like to offer my theory as to really why drugs are illegal:

Because the people who support/pushed for/enacted the legislation to make drugs illegal believe that drugs will make the user eventually unproductive/less productivetherefore the user(s) will contribute less or none in taxes.

[wretched ratchet]

Originally Posted by against all odds

i would like to offer my theory as to really why drugs are illegal:
Because the people who support/pushed for/enacted the legislation to make drugs illegal believe that drugs will make the user eventually unproductive/less productivetherefore the user(s) will contribute less or none in taxes.

but if you need more proof then ask these guys

[NEW INTERIORS]

I would take a pot smoker over a drunk anyday..

[bob70]

I would take individual freedom over government control any day.