Why marijuana is illegal

[Lurker]

Marijuana doesn't cause violence brah. One LOVE. :canabis:

Tell that to Heriberto Lazcano, Los Barbie and everyone from Zambada to El Chapo.

[Clarke]

Marijuana is another case of "Its all about me" atitude that seems to be getting increasingly prevalent these days. Although I am personally a liberal at heart, and maybe an extreme liberal to many, I kind of appreciate the right wing's stance on this. Whether or not marijuana is healthy is for the Doctors(I wont take it but then again I am a health freak) but really how many people(specially Americans) realize that many a Latin nation, specially Mexico, Columbia and Guetemala have been completely ravaged by this menace just to fulfill the satisfaction of addicts, or pleasure seekers. If people would simply give up smoking marjuana for about a month there would be more lives saved (due to drug violence) than the number of people killed in Iraq or Afganistan. Making it legal or not is up to the lawmakers, but making it legal simply because people shall continue to "experiment" and human beings are killed across the border makes absolutely no sense. xxx

oyee .. isnt the illegality of marijuana the reason why its such a hot commodity and hence the violence and mafia's involvement in it ? We never hear of tobacco mafia do we, and thats because farmers can grow it legally. If that were the case with marijuana, the mafia would be looking at some other means of black money and they would still be around.

[99.94]

I am not against marajuana strongly (although I have never tried it, not to say that I never will) and am still undecided as to whether it should be decriminalised but I think your points weren't all completely true. I think it is a gateway drug (however this does depend on what type of person you are), I know so many people who started smoking it socially during high school and college and these days have moved on to acid, E, and whatever else they can get their hands on (they also all smoke). I would also disagree with it being addictive - maybe not as addictive as tobacco but people still become inredibly dependent on it. I have a friend who can't even get to sleep without having a joint and weed has ruined his life. He was a seriously smart kid in primary school but flunked out of college because of his pot smoking. Also generally smoking weed leads to smoking cigarettes anyway. I think the dangers of it are still being discovered and it may turn out to be more harmful than we think. P.S. I'm listening to the song 'Strobe' by Deadmau5 - Sachinism I suggest you listen to it when you light up next time - it's ****ing epic. Just my thoughts and experiences on it..

[dev.goswami]

Completely agree with clarke above....its the illegality of the drug which has made it a problem...when both nicotine and marijuana are addictive why make a difference between both of them. An eg: The state of Gujarat has complete prohibition but 1) it is one of Gujarat's most flourishing industries, generating revenue and employment for thousands of people and not one paisa of it is legal. Unofficial estimates put the annual turnover of the trade at Rs100 million and 2) Due to the porhibition there is rampant selling of hooch (name for a type of homemade alcohol) which actually is quite poisonous and so has been causing deaths. This happens in-spite of the prohibition. You can't just make marijuana illegal and expect the problem to be solved. It will be much easy to regulate it when its legal.

[Sachinism]

Tell that to Heriberto Lazcano' date=' Los Barbie and everyone from Zambada to El Chapo.[/quote'] Their violence has nothing to do with the effect of marijuana. You could have given them any product which is sought after and can make them a huge profit and there would have been violence And as clarke pointed out, you get this black market for drugs because its illegal. Make it legal, regulate and watch how quickly all these gangs, gangsters disappear.

[EnterTheVoid]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJIjWlLa8MU]YouTube- Drug abuse pictures before and after[/ame] Different drug, but these users might have said the same thing.

[Sachinism]

^^ Totally irrelevant

[EnterTheVoid]

Totally irrelevant

Do you think they would have stopped even if they knew the dangers ? My point is if you are going to drink (abuse), gamble, use drugs, than you are going to do it anyway and there is little anyone can say to convince you to stop it.

[Sachinism]

I think it is a gateway drug (however this does depend on what type of person you are), I know so many people who started smoking it socially during high school and college and these days have moved on to acid, E, and whatever else they can get their hands on (they also all smoke).

I don't agree its a gateway drug in the sense it will make you want to do different drugs. I think the only people who move to others are those who seek 'better and stronger highs' all the time and that can't made to be marijuana's fault, actually it should support it as its not as strong as other drugs. Another reason its labelled a gateway drug is because its illegal and people have to buy it from dealers in the street who are after a quick buck and would be willing to sell you something else as well, or actually push to give you something else on which you can get hooked and make them more profit. Proof of this is Amsterdam, Holland. Their numbers for users of other drugs such as heroin, cocaine, etc. have remained steady over the years i.e. people who are going to do these drugs will do them anyway. Where as if you look at the countries where marijuana is illegal, the numbers for users of other drugs are always on the rise

I would also disagree with it being addictive - maybe not as addictive as tobacco but people still become inredibly dependent on it. I have a friend who can't even get to sleep without having a joint and weed has ruined his life. He was a seriously smart kid in primary school but flunked out of college because of his pot smoking. Also generally smoking weed leads to smoking cigarettes anyway.

Hmm, I don't think you can really become dependant on marijuana and it also doesn't have withdrawal symptoms. I'm talking from personal experience and experiences of people who I smoke with and people who I know that smoke. I agree there can be cravings for it, but not to an extent where you'd do anything to get some. I actually have similar feelings towards chocolate and with chocolate if I have a craving, I'd go and buy one. Maybe we should ban chocolate as its highly addictive.

I think the dangers of it are still being discovered and it may turn out to be more harmful than we think.

Maybe. Maybe not. But what about the benefits? Why is it when a drugs expert in the UK, challenges the law on marijuana because he doesn't see it as harmful, he gets fired from his job, because someone who knows nothing of the drug and become a MP doesn't agree with his views?

P.S. I'm listening to the song 'Strobe' by Deadmau5 - Sachinism I suggest you listen to it when you light up next time - it's ****ing epic. Just my thoughts and experiences on it..

Thanks for your thoughts, will check out that song

[Sachinism]

Do you think they would have stopped even if they knew the dangers ? My point is if you are going to drink (abuse), gamble, use drugs, than you are going to do it anyway and there is little anyone can say to convince you to stop it.

So you show a video of crystal meth users to prove your point? Pick one of the most f'd up drugs to make a point about other drugs. I agree if people are going to do it, they're going to do it anyway. But the effects are totally different for both drugs

[EnterTheVoid]

So you show a video of crystal meth users to prove your point? Pick one of the most f'd up drugs to make a point about other drugs. I agree if people are going to do it, they're going to do it anyway. But the effects are totally different for both drugs

So, if a drug becomes available whose potency makes Ice seem "relatively safe", as marijuana is now when compared to Ice, then what.

[99.94]

But perhaps those who do smoke marijuana end up trying other drugs because it comes a bit boring for them? As I said I know people whose pot smoking has led to other drugs but I think ultimately it depends on what type of person you are. I have friends who do it once every few months and then others (who I rarely see anymore) who need to smoke every day. Anyway, I’m still undecided on the issue as I can see points either way. I’m just not sure the idea of young kids being allowed to smoke pot so easily appeals to me. Again you could make the point that kids are often drawn to things that they aren’t allowed. For example, in some European countries where alcohol is so easily accessible, kids don’t feel inclined to drink, whereas others that strictly enforce it have problems with teen drinking. :idunno:

[Lurker]

Their violence has nothing to do with the effect of marijuana. You could have given them any product which is sought after and can make them a huge profit and there would have been violence.And as clarke pointed out' date=' you get this black market for drugs because its illegal. Make it legal, regulate and watch how quickly all these gangs, gangsters disappear.[/quote'] All these ifs-buts-do-this-and-not-that does not really hold any water now, does it? Lets make things crystal. Marijuana is illegal. Period. End of story. Finito. Now if you, or other pleasure seekers, are really into it do the right thing, in the right manner and wait for the time when it becomes legal. Or force your Govt into making this legal by a typical democractic process. Instead what you have is a thought of "I am going to smok it, no matter what". I have never quite understood how anyone can derive pleasure from a substance knowing fully well that people are being slaughtered for the same. xxx

[Lurker]

oyee .. isnt the illegality of marijuana the reason why its such a hot commodity and hence the violence and mafia's involvement in it ? We never hear of tobacco mafia do we' date=' and thats because farmers can grow it legally. If that were the case with marijuana, the mafia would be looking at some other means of black money and they would still be around.[/quote'] And full marks to you for thinking smoking marijuana and smoking tobacco is the same. I am sure you beleive a gentleman smoking marijuana in front of a school where your kid goes to is the same as another smoking cigarette. As for the "illegality" piece, I mentioned this in my first post, how this essentially brings out the "selfishness" of people. Marijuana is illega. Period. As a reasonable citizen you should obey the law of the land or try to change it in the rightful manner. The failure to do so results in demand which is wiping out cities and making them amongst the most violent in the world. Of course you can smoke your pipe and blame it on the Government, I am only too happy I dont have to worry about the moral dilemma. xxx

[Pioneer]

I am not against marajuana strongly (although I have never tried it, not to say that I never will) and am still undecided as to whether it should be decriminalised but I think your points weren't all completely true. I think it is a gateway drug (however this does depend on what type of person you are), I know so many people who started smoking it socially during high school and college and these days have moved on to acid, E, and whatever else they can get their hands on (they also all smoke). I would also disagree with it being addictive - maybe not as addictive as tobacco but people still become inredibly dependent on it. I have a friend who can't even get to sleep without having a joint and weed has ruined his life. He was a seriously smart kid in primary school but flunked out of college because of his pot smoking. Also generally smoking weed leads to smoking cigarettes anyway. I think the dangers of it are still being discovered and it may turn out to be more harmful than we think. P.S. I'm listening to the song 'Strobe' by Deadmau5 - Sachinism I suggest you listen to it when you light up next time - it's ****ing epic. Just my thoughts and experiences on it..

Trippy ass song

[Clarke]

And full marks to you for thinking smoking marijuana and smoking tobacco is the same. I am sure you beleive a gentleman smoking marijuana in front of a school where your kid goes to is the same as another smoking cigarette.

My point was from the business perspective, not the end user .. They still try and convert the marijuana farmers to banana farmers in Colombia. Any idea why many of them prefer marijuana ? Its because of higher profits. Why are they higher ? Coz its illegal. I assume u live in USA like most members here, although the problem i'm referring to affects most of the upcoming generation. U notice how the fast food industry influences the minds of young ones ? Why is that fkin legal while obesity remains the number one health concern of USA ? Just check the food being served in most schools, i wasn't impressed with my nephew's when i checked a couple of years back. There's something called parenting & coupled with good education, no other factor can help as much as that. At the end of the day, any kid is an individual who shall make his own choices sooner or later.

As for the "illegality" piece, I mentioned this in my first post, how this essentially brings out the "selfishness" of people. Marijuana is illega. Period. As a reasonable citizen you should obey the law of the land or try to change it in the rightful manner. The failure to do so results in demand which is wiping out cities and making them amongst the most violent in the world. Of course you can smoke your pipe and blame it on the Government, I am only too happy I dont have to worry about the moral dilemma. xxx

As a reasonable citizen i obey the law (i'm not a smoker) and hope that is the case with the marijuana farmer, the smuggler and the dealer as well. But seeing that this is not an ideal world, i look at means which prevents the accumulation of wealth and power with the mafia and affects the society in a degrading manner. Maybe legalization is the lesser of the two evils which is why we discuss it here. I hope it does not make me immoral just because i can think differently from you.

[Lurker]

As a reasonable citizen i obey the law (i'm not a smoker) and hope that is the case with the marijuana farmer, the smuggler and the dealer as well. But seeing that this is not an ideal world, i look at means which prevents the accumulation of wealth and power with the mafia and affects the society in a degrading manner. Maybe legalization is the lesser of the two evils which is why we discuss it here. I hope it does not make me immoral just because i can think differently from you.

The word is not ideal, but responsible. To me it is rather simple(and I dont want to spend hours discussing banana farmers, tobacco agriculture vis a vis marijuana). I couldnt care less if my neighbour was smoking pot, shooting cocaine or sleeping with his sheep. However as a human being I do care if because of his antics, and lack of being resposible to a certain level, there are generations getting wiped out. Almost every major town in Mexico today, Tijuana, Juarez, Mexico City, Nuevo Laredo is a war zone(aside from MC possibly) and almost every citizen has lost a family member, or knows someone who has. What kind of a human being would I be if I choose to close my eyes and simply get high regardless? This is not about being immoral, or illegal, it is about being (ir)responsible. And who said only Government can be irresponsible? xxx

[flamy]

All these ifs-buts-do-this-and-not-that does not really hold any water now, does it? Lets make things crystal. Marijuana is illegal. Period. End of story. Finito. Now if you, or other pleasure seekers, are really into it do the right thing, in the right manner and wait for the time when it becomes legal. Or force your Govt into making this legal by a typical democractic process. Instead what you have is a thought of "I am going to smok it, no matter what". I have never quite understood how anyone can derive pleasure from a substance knowing fully well that people are being slaughtered for the same. xxx

Weed grows in the backyard, brah. No slaughter vaughter.

[flamy]

But perhaps those who do smoke marijuana end up trying other drugs because it comes a bit boring for them? As I said I know people whose pot smoking has led to other drugs but I think ultimately it depends on what type of person you are. I have friends who do it once every few months and then others (who I rarely see anymore) who need to smoke every day.

Weed is not boring brah. :D You are in the driving seat of the trip and it will take you anywhere and everywhere into the deepest parts of your own mind. Fantastic stuff, really. Of course, you must realize that you are in control all the time. And another novel thing is you can readily observe the ego and the spirit seperating. When I was smoking with my friend, he said he can feel himself as two, the one who observes, and the one who experiences (or tripping).

[b555]

William Randolph Hearst (Citizen Kane) and the Hearst Paper Manufacturing Division of Kimberly Clark owned vast acreage of timberlands. The Hearst Company supplied most paper products. Patty Hearst's grandfather, a destroyer of nature for his own personal profit, stood to lose billions because of hemp. In 1937, Dupont patented the processes to make plastics from oil and coal. Dupont's Annual Report urged stockholders to invest in its new petrochemical division. Synthetics such as plastics, cellophane, celluloid, methanol, nylon, rayon, Dacron, etc., could now be made from oil. Natural hemp industrialization would have ruined over 80% of Dupont's business. THE CONSPIRACY Andrew Mellon became Hoover's Secretary of the Treasury and Dupont's primary investor. He appointed his future nephew-in-law, Harry J. Anslinger, to head the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs. Secret meetings were held by these financial tycoons. Hemp was declared dangerous and a threat to their billion dollar enterprises. For their dynasties to remain intact, hemp had to go. These men took an obscure Mexican slang word: 'marihuana' and pushed it into the consciousness of America. MEDIA MANIPULATION A media blitz of 'yellow journalism' raged in the late 1920s and 1930s. Hearst's newspapers ran stories emphasizing the horrors of marihuana. The menace of marihuana made headlines. Readers learned that it was responsible for everything from car accidents to loose morality. Films like 'Reefer Madness' (1936), 'Marihuana: Assassin of Youth' (1935) and 'Marihuana: The Devil's Weed' (1936) were propaganda designed by these industrialists to create an enemy. Their purpose was to gain public support so that anti-marihuana laws could be passed. Examine the following quotes from 'The Burning Question' aka REEFER MADNESS: a violent narcotic. acts of shocking violence. incurable insanity. soul-destroying effects. under the influence of the drug he killed his entire family with an ax. more vicious, more deadly even than these soul-destroying drugs (heroin, cocaine) is the menace of marihuana! Reefer Madness did not end with the usual 'the end.' The film concluded with these words plastered on the screen: TELL YOUR CHILDREN. In the 1930s, people were very naive; even to the point of ignorance. The masses were like sheep waiting to be led by the few in power. They did not challenge authority. If the news was in print or on the radio, they believed it had to be true. They told their children and their children grew up to be the parents of the baby-boomers. On April 14, 1937, the Prohibitive Marihuana Tax Law or the bill that outlawed hemp was directly brought to the House Ways and Means Committee. This committee is the only one that can introduce a bill to the House floor without it being debated by other committees. The Chairman of the Ways and Means, Robert Doughton, was a Dupont supporter. He insured that the bill would pass Congress. Dr. James Woodward, a physician and attorney, testified too late on behalf of the American Medical Association. He told the committee that the reason the AMA had not denounced the Marihuana Tax Law sooner was that the Association had just discovered that marihuana was hemp. Few people, at the time, realized that the deadly menace they had been reading about on Hearst's front pages was in fact passive hemp. The AMA understood cannabis to be a MEDICINE found in numerous healing products sold over the last hundred years. In September of 1937, hemp became illegal. The most useful crop known became a drug and our planet has been suffering ever since. Congress banned hemp because it was said to be the most violence-causing drug known. Anslinger, head of the Drug Commission for 31 years, promoted the idea that marihuana made users act extremely violent. In the 1950s, under the Communist threat of McCarthyism, Anslinger now said the exact opposite. Marijuana will pacify you so much that soldiers would not want to fight. Today, our planet is in desperate trouble. Earth is suffocating as large tracts of rain forests disappear. Pollution, poisons and chemicals are killing people. These great problems could be reversed if we industrialized hemp. Natural biomass could provide all of the planet's energy needs that are currently supplied by fossil fuels. We have consumed 80% of our oil and gas reserves. We need a renewable resource. Hemp could be the solution to soaring gas prices.