Marijuana/Drug Usage

[The Persnickety Platypus]

It's about time.






Lighten regulations, strengthen regulations, or keep the same?

[McCulloch]

Can anyone make an argument against marijuana that cannot logically apply to either alcohol or nicotine? If not, then legal restrictions against marijuana greater than those against alcohol and nicotine are hypocritical.

[Woody]

Everybody take a 5 minute break. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em.

[McCulloch]

The legal ban on marijuana in the U.S. artificially keeps the price of this very important cash crop in British Columbia high. This high price is important to the British Columbian economy which is reeling from the unfair and illegal actions of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

• Softwood: NAFTA Countervailing Duty Panel Rejects U.S. Motions
• BC Lumber Trade Council
• Canada-U.S. Lumber Trade Disputes

Therefore, I suggest that the U.S. ban on marijuana should continue, for the sake of the B.C. economy until such time as the U.S. Department of Commerce decides to live up to the terms of its treaty with Canada and the multiple unanimous decisions of the NAFTA arbitrators.

[hannahjoy]

Can anyone make an argument against marijuana that cannot logically apply to either alcohol or nicotine? If not, then legal restrictions against marijuana greater than those against alcohol and nicotine are hypocritical.

That doesn't really answer the question at all. If the argument applies to all three, you still have the issue of whether to change the current regulations and how. Allow all three, or ban all three?
You need a generic standard, then you can decide where a substance fits under that standard.

Hannah Joy

[The Persnickety Platypus]

Can anyone make an argument against marijuana that cannot logically apply to either alcohol or nicotine? If not, then legal restrictions against marijuana greater than those against alcohol and nicotine are hypocritical.

It is because, some way or another, the government can't find a way to tax marijuana like it can alcohol and cigarettes.

However, there is another theory.
Anyone ever listen to "Prison Song" by System of a Down? Probably not, but it can be summed up with a few exerpts:

"Following the rights movements
You clamped on with your iron fists,
Drugs became conveniently
Available for all the kids,"

"Minor drug offenders fill your prisons
You don't even flinch
All our taxes paying for your wars
Against the new non-rich,"

"The percentage of Americans in the prison system
Prison system, has doubled since 1985,"

"All research and successful drug policy show
That treatment should be increased,
And law enforcement decreased,
While abolishing mandatory minimum sentences,"

"Drug money is used to rig elections,
And train brutal corporate sponsored
Dictators around the world."



So basicly, throwing kids in prison generates income, which is then used to exploit poor countries by putting corporate inclined dictators in power. Rash claims, but highly concievable.


I have also heard the idea that kids do drugs merely to defy authority, and by legalizing them they will go out of fashion. May work to some extent, but in the end I think we would just end up with a nation of crackheads.

[Grumpy]

Just a few thoughts.

"life, liberty and the persuit of happiness" In a truly free country the lawmakers would have to prove harm to society in order to make consentual private behavior illegal. Unfortunately we do not live in such freedom.

Alcohol, consumrd responsibly, does have serious health problems associated with overconsumption, but in moderation can be largely harmless. Irresponsible use(driving impaired, etc.) has grave consequences for society. Therefore regulation of the permitted use of alcohol should be imposed.

Marijuana, used responsibly, has few harmful health effects and tends to self regulate for overconsumption(once you're stoned it's hard to do anything, even smoking more). Irresponsible use(driving impaired) also has harmful effects on society and should be regulated. However the banning of use is unconstitutional in principle and harmful in effect(jails full, lives ruined). This is a shameful situation that should be rectified.

Most other drugs(including tobacco) have various but largely harmful health effects and cause great harm to society. Their regulation is necessary for the common good, but each should be considered on it's own in that regulation. Eventual elimination of tobacco use should be the goal but jailing users would be counterproductive.

Grumpy

[McCulloch]

Can anyone make an argument against marijuana that cannot logically apply to either alcohol or nicotine? If not, then legal restrictions against marijuana greater than those against alcohol and nicotine are hypocritical.

It is because, some way or another, the government can't find a way to tax marijuana like it can alcohol and cigarettes.

Not so. It is because it is illegal that the governments cannot tax it. Make it legal and regulate its production, distribution and sale and voilá, tax revenue.

[Cathar1950]

It might be making a lot of money now is why it isn't taxed. If you look at the history of it's ban you would find all kinds of factors that should not be acceptable today. Racism was involved as it related to Mexicans. Special interests and just plan lack of knowledge are others.
Today it is a money maker for the gov. such as fine, jail, task forces, property seisures, enforcement and lawyers.
Of course it make money that is not traceable and therefor can be used for a variety of reasons. It does all seem silly. I think kids do it because humans like altered states of consciousness . Even animals enjoy substances.

[juliod]

Not so. It is because it is illegal that the governments cannot tax it. Make it legal and regulate its production, distribution and sale and voilá, tax revenue.

Yes, and we already have an agency that can take on the task: the ATF. That's what they are there for.

DanZ