What is it with people wanting to make marijuana legal?

[vipponah]

I really get tired of seeing people argue back and forth about why they think marijuana aka "weed" is 'good' for you because it comes from the earth.

Scientifically proven effects include relaxation, euphoria, altered space-time perception, alteration of visual, auditory, and olfactory senses, fatigue, and appetite stimulation (colloquially known as "the munchies"). It is thought to reduce aggression in certain subjects, but some of the people that I have gone to school with were more aggressive when they were on it. It's smoke going into the lung...no matter if the "herb" is "natural". It's natural state is not on fire, and our lungs' natural state is breathing air and not smoke. A forest is natural wood and plants, but if you go stand in a forest fire, it will kill you within minutes without breathing equipment. We know that when non-natural things are introduced into the body, it has the potential for cancer (and cancer is basically just cells that go crazy, forgot how to function properly and multiply massively into tumors...we seem to overlook that a lot) and other complications.

Millions of people want for it to be "legalized"...but realistically, do you want people driving around in cars, in planes, in machinery, etc. high on what would then be a 'legal' drug? Do people not realize the implications of that and what it would do to our already screwed-up society?

Yes, for people who have medical conditions and who are not driving, flying or operating machinery...if they are sitting around at home, it may help relieve some of their symptoms of various diseases and conditions. I do not dispute that it may have effects on those things. But for the people who want it to be legal for their daily lives...why do people not stop and think about these things if they do not even have a condition or disease that requires it?

Finally...what's the point of the drug? Why is it necessary to sit around tripping and hallucinating or feeling euphoric all of the time? Why can't people learn to be thankful and happy WITHOUT marijuana, drugs, alcohol, etc.? I have no problem being happy without that stuff. No, I'm not rich. No, I don't get everything I want in life. No, my family is not perfect. No, my life does not always go as planned. No, I do not always like my job. Are any of those things reasons to try to 'escape' from them temporarily through smoking, drinking, etc.? Why do people feel that need? I'm certainly no better than anyone else, and my childhood growing up was not good. I had all kinds of examples of what I "could have been" to be like those people and I didn't choose to be that way willingly, because I have common sense and see that there is no point to be that way.

Can anyone give any real insight as to why you want it to be legal? Besides false rants about how it's supposedly 'good' for you and conspiracies about how the government is secretly trying to keep it from us because it's 'good'. I frankly see why the government made it illegal...look at the crazy stuff people did in the 70's. AIDS and STD's spread massively during that time, it was a period of a lot of unrest, "freedom fighters" fighting for things they couldn't even really put into words to describe and all sorts of crazy things.

[marlan43]

I really get tired of seeing people argue back and forth about why they think marijuana aka "weed" is 'good' for you because it comes from the earth.

Scientifically proven effects include relaxation, euphoria, altered space-time perception, alteration of visual, auditory, and olfactory senses, fatigue, and appetite stimulation (colloquially known as "the munchies"). It is thought to reduce aggression in certain subjects, but some of the people that I have gone to school with were more aggressive when they were on it. It's smoke going into the lung...no matter if the "herb" is "natural". It's natural state is not on fire, and our lungs' natural state is breathing air and not smoke. A forest is natural wood and plants, but if you go stand in a forest fire, it will kill you within minutes without breathing equipment. We know that when non-natural things are introduced into the body, it has the potential for cancer (and cancer is basically just cells that go crazy, forgot how to function properly and multiply massively into tumors...we seem to overlook that a lot) and other complications.

Millions of people want for it to be "legalized"...but realistically, do you want people driving around in cars, in planes, in machinery, etc. high on what would then be a 'legal' drug? Do people not realize the implications of that and what it would do to our already screwed-up society?

Yes, for people who have medical conditions and who are not driving, flying or operating machinery...if they are sitting around at home, it may help relieve some of their symptoms of various diseases and conditions. I do not dispute that it may have effects on those things. But for the people who want it to be legal for their daily lives...why do people not stop and think about these things if they do not even have a condition or disease that requires it?

Finally...what's the point of the drug? Why is it necessary to sit around tripping and hallucinating or feeling euphoric all of the time? Why can't people learn to be thankful and happy WITHOUT marijuana, drugs, alcohol, etc.? I have no problem being happy without that stuff. No, I'm not rich. No, I don't get everything I want in life. No, my family is not perfect. No, my life does not always go as planned. No, I do not always like my job. Are any of those things reasons to try to 'escape' from them temporarily through smoking, drinking, etc.? Why do people feel that need? I'm certainly no better than anyone else, and my childhood growing up was not good. I had all kinds of examples of what I "could have been" to be like those people and I didn't choose to be that way willingly, because I have common sense and see that there is no point to be that way.

Can anyone give any real insight as to why you want it to be legal? Besides false rants about how it's supposedly 'good' for you and conspiracies about how the government is secretly trying to keep it from us because it's 'good'. I frankly see why the government made it illegal...look at the crazy stuff people did in the 70's. AIDS and STD's spread massively during that time, it was a period of a lot of unrest, "freedom fighters" fighting for things they couldn't even really put into words to describe and all sorts of crazy things.

"Millions of people want for it to be "legalized"...but realistically, do you want people driving around in cars, in planes, in machinery, etc. high on what would then be a 'legal' drug?"

Alcohol is legal as well, yet that doesn't make it legal to drive with it. Marijuana is far less detrimental to your motor skills than alcohol is. You may be a little bit clumsier at times, but your body goes into what is essentially auto-pilot when you're high...if you've done something with regularity (such as driving), you will have no issue doing that thing after smoking. That said, it will be illegal to drive or operate machinery while under the influence of marijuana, just as it is with alcohol.

When I smoke, the only people that even notice are the veteran smokers. You really can't even tell the difference. Weed makes everyone and everything more enjoyable, including the person that is smoking it.

Smoke it before you make a final decision on it.

EDIT: Whatever. It's your loss.

[anson34]

Now that your done ranting. Go hug a tree! I bet your an athiest too. ~Judge not, lest ye be judged.~

[advent]

Nothing is 100% harmless. I dont necessarily think its good for you, but its no where near as bad as gov sponsored studies make it out to be. Some of those studies dont even use real marijuana, they use synthetic cannabanoids. Some of the chemicals made for those studies are the ones showing up in the quasi legal spice and k2 mixes.
I do not advocate smoking it, rather cooking it into food or vaporizing.

Realistically, I support dui laws, and that includes with marijuana, even with it being legal. People simply need to learn about drug testing. Yes, you can detect the traces of thc in urine for weeks after use has ended with a chronic user. But you are NOT detecting actual thc, its the non psycho active metabolites. A blood drug test can decipher the difference between thc blood content, and the metabolite content of already broken down marijuana that is no longer active.

I also don't support people flying or driving or operating on xanax, but its a hell of a lot harder to detect, at least you can smell marijuana. I dont see anyone trying to make that or other narcotics in a pill illegal. Beyond that, there are far more people on the road with marijuana dui than there are alcohol, but marijuana dui arrests only account for less than 5% of all duis per year. Some studies even suggest marijuana effects driving less than caffeine. Anyone up for banning soda while driving?

You have never had marijuana. You dont trip, you dont hallucinate. You dont feel euphoric. Its a high, yeah, but not really too different from the high obese people get from eating, tobacco users get from a cig, and not anywhere close to the effects people who drink get. I have NEVER met someone asking why people cant be happy without drugs who are not using some sort of drug themselves, once you tear down the hypocrasies of what they call a drug and what they dont.

But my biggest reason, is because its a joke of a law. I strongly disagree with how it was passed to begin with (by the way, what does the 70s have to do with anything? It was criminalized federally in 1937). I strongly disagree with its current schedule, even if it were to remain illegal - I think all we are doing is lying to kids and pushing them into hard core addiction when we tell them the illegal drug they have the easiest access to is the most dangerous. It gives the wrong impression about drugs that ARE far more dangerous than marijuana. Furthermore, I dont believe its the gov's right to tell people they cant use it, when tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and fast food are all protected and fav past times. And finally, the only reason its illegal today is because its an unfair way to control market competition, from several industries.

ADD
legalization will reduce the crime rates surrounding it.

Legalization will help keep it out of the hands of kids - the US' own studies report that kids have drastically easier access to marijuana, even completely illegal, than they do to alcohol and tobacco.

Legalization would help with the economy, once legit US businesses can manufacture and sell it.

[hewlett]

Nothing is 100% harmless. I dont necessarily think its good for you, but its no where near as bad as gov sponsored studies make it out to be. Some of those studies dont even use real marijuana, they use synthetic cannabanoids. Some of the chemicals made for those studies are the ones showing up in the quasi legal spice and k2 mixes.
I do not advocate smoking it, rather cooking it into food or vaporizing.

Realistically, I support dui laws, and that includes with marijuana, even with it being legal. People simply need to learn about drug testing. Yes, you can detect the traces of thc in urine for weeks after use has ended with a chronic user. But you are NOT detecting actual thc, its the non psycho active metabolites. A blood drug test can decipher the difference between thc blood content, and the metabolite content of already broken down marijuana that is no longer active.

I also don't support people flying or driving or operating on xanax, but its a hell of a lot harder to detect, at least you can smell marijuana. I dont see anyone trying to make that or other narcotics in a pill illegal. Beyond that, there are far more people on the road with marijuana dui than there are alcohol, but marijuana dui arrests only account for less than 5% of all duis per year. Some studies even suggest marijuana effects driving less than caffeine. Anyone up for banning soda while driving?

You have never had marijuana. You dont trip, you dont hallucinate. You dont feel euphoric. Its a high, yeah, but not really too different from the high obese people get from eating, tobacco users get from a cig, and not anywhere close to the effects people who drink get. I have NEVER met someone asking why people cant be happy without drugs who are not using some sort of drug themselves, once you tear down the hypocrasies of what they call a drug and what they dont.

But my biggest reason, is because its a joke of a law. I strongly disagree with how it was passed to begin with (by the way, what does the 70s have to do with anything? It was criminalized federally in 1937). I strongly disagree with its current schedule, even if it were to remain illegal - I think all we are doing is lying to kids and pushing them into hard core addiction when we tell them the illegal drug they have the easiest access to is the most dangerous. It gives the wrong impression about drugs that ARE far more dangerous than marijuana. Furthermore, I dont believe its the gov's right to tell people they cant use it, when tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and fast food are all protected and fav past times. And finally, the only reason its illegal today is because its an unfair way to control market competition, from several industries.

ADD
legalization will reduce the crime rates surrounding it.

Legalization will help keep it out of the hands of kids - the US' own studies report that kids have drastically easier access to marijuana, even completely illegal, than they do to alcohol and tobacco.

Legalization would help with the economy, once legit US businesses can manufacture and sell it.

I have to say it seems pretty simple...
Is it because it makes people feel good and they'd rather not go to jail for it?

Now that we resolved that...

re: the rest of your post:
You kinda lost me when you asked, "Why can't people learn to be thankful and happy WITHOUT marijuana, drugs, alcohol, etc.?....I have no problem being happy without that stuff...."

I have to say "happy" seems to be far from where you are....:-)
Could you please lighten up!

I agree we shouldn't "need" ANYTHING to enjoy life.....and I do not drink or do drugs...
but, listening to those who continually force their own agendas and morals on others.....kinda make me wanna get....well....they make ME wanna get high.....

I do hope this helps answer your question.

[ahanu]

I know right! I can't stand it!

Especially all these kids walking around, who are in about middle school, wearing "legalize weed" bracelets.
They wouldn't even be able to use it if it were legalized.

People are just naive. They are stupid and clueless and don't realize all of the harmful health and other affects it can have on you.

[motega]

A couple reasons...

1) People want to smoke it legally, because to some extent, they have become dependent on it
2) Others want it leagalized so that government can tax it just like they do cigarettes. This would help with city, state, and federal budgets (more money)

SImply stated, it is no different from cigarrettes or alcohol. If you legalize it, the governement can generate tons of money through taxes. Once legalized, it can reduce crime since it would make marijuana so much easier to get. When was the last time anyone heard of people being killed over cigarrettes? Lastly, I personally think we should legalize so that government can generate more money... (hopefully then taxing us less) BUT they should enforce the same rules that they do with alcohol. You have to be 18... and if you drive under the influence, then it is a crime. I believe this is the only way it would work...