Justin Trudeau says marijuana should be legalized

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

ah sorry man, I didn't mean to Flip out.

Ooh twice in one week.

Is there some reason people can explain why referencing an old username is thought to be an insult? I just don't get it.

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Clearly pot is not harmless, and the people who claim it's harmless are idiots. But if it's legalized, it would still be a controlled substance, like alcohol. The issue is why it should be treated more severely than alcohol.

Harmless compared to what? Nothing is harmless.

As for your last sentence there...what do you mean treated more severely than alcohol? As in you support that? Or are questioning why others would support that? Because as far as I can tell there are no sensible reasons why it should be treated more severely than alcohol, either in terms of driving, using at work etc or the sale of it.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by peter12

Great standard bearers for the movement, Flash.

The e are talking about a stigma which you brought up.

Generally, stigmatized subject matter isn't routinely discussed on David Letterman. Of maybe I missed his riveting discussion on auto erotic asphyxiation with Luke Wilson.

Where is the stigma, other than in the heads of old folks and busy bodies?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

Maybe stigma is the wrong word, but it is still something a lot of people are in the closet about. I know one of the principles at the firm I work at uses marijuana, but you will never hear him mention it.

As long as it is technically illegal, having open and honest discussions about it will be difficult.

What would be the point in this therapeutic approach?

It is also a drug with more immediate harmful effects than alcohol. I have smoked it (and inhaled) probably 10 times in my life, and each time, it was a very uncomfortable experience.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by peter12

Black markets find a way.

Really? How are those black markets for alcohol and cigarettes?

Originally Posted by peter12

It is also a drug with more immediate harmful effects than alcohol.

No. It's just not.

I have smoked it (and inhaled) probably 10 times in my life, and each time, it was a very uncomfortable experience.

A) Some people die on prescription medication. Your personal distaste for the substance has no bearing on whether or not it should be legal.

B) You don't have to smoke it. One of the big reasons for legalization is to have other methods of taking it readily available that don't have the harmful physical affects of smoking it.

[peter12]

Depends where you live. Black markets for cigarettes are flourishing across Canada. Bootlegging is still a vibrant profession in the North.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by peter12

What would be the point in this therapeutic approach?

It is also a drug with more immediate harmful effects than alcohol. I have smoked it (and inhaled) probably 10 times in my life, and each time, it was a very uncomfortable experience.

Are you and Silver in a competition with each other or something?

[peter12]

It has been shown to cause profoundly serious mental illness in young people. Permanent effects that stay with them for the rest of their lives. Yet, it is treated as a soft drug.

I grant you that alcohol is wretched. I have experienced first-hand the awful, devastating effects it has on community, and family. So why introduce a second, normalized substance that will do the same?

[Flash Walken]

I don't even know what we're talking about anymore, the conversation has changed so much.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Ooh twice in one week.

Is there some reason people can explain why referencing an old username is thought to be an insult? I just don't get it.

......

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

It's gonna take more weed

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I don't even know what we're talking about anymore, the conversation has changed so much.

Don't make it legal. The potential harm is too great. Stop using alcohol as a straw man.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by peter12

What would be the point in this therapeutic approach?

It is also a drug with more immediate harmful effects than alcohol. I have smoked it (and inhaled) probably 10 times in my life, and each time, it was a very uncomfortable experience.

All of your posts are quite uninformed, but this one is just puzzling.

So it's more harmful than alcohol because it was an uncomfortable experience for you? So harmful you chose to do it 9 more times after the first smoke. Science be damned, peter had a bad time so it must be more harmful than alcohol, a substance that damages vital organs and can kill you.

For others, daily life is an uncomfortable experience and marijuana is the most effective way to manage their ailments or depression. I strongly believe that legalizing marijuana will more than halve the amount of prescription medication being taken in North America. Why do you think it's been illegal for so long. The biggest corporations in the world have been trying to keep it status quo to maintain their profits.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by peter12

Don't make it legal. The potential harm is too great. Stop using alcohol as a straw man.

Well, it's happening, so...

[nik-]

Originally Posted by peter12

Don't make it legal. The potential harm is too great. Stop using alcohol as a straw man.

How is comparing another legal "drug" which has more destructive potential a straw man exactly?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Well, it's happening, so...

Do you have your own thoughts or do you just go with kind of the progressive issue of the day?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by peter12

Don't make it legal. The potential harm is too great. Stop using alcohol as a straw man.

What's the harm, exactly?

[peter12]

Originally Posted by nik-

How is comparing another legal "drug" which has more destructive potential a straw man exactly?

Just because alcohol is legal, a harmful drug, and somewhat successfully regulated does not mean that the same should apply to marijuana.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

What's the harm, exactly?

Did you see the study that I posted?

[nik-]

Originally Posted by peter12

Just because alcohol is legal, a harmful drug, and somewhat successfully regulated does not mean that the same should apply to marijuana.

So you disagree with it, but how is it a straw man?

[CaptainCrunch]

I think that there are lots of questions that need to be answered on this and some snap decision by the government would be foolish in terms of legalizing it

1) Do we treat it like liquor, it can only be sold in the liquor stores and you have to be over the age of 18 to buy it. Its ok to buy seeds (like wine kits) and grow your own, but you can't distribute or sell it without registering and paying taxes on it, and if you give it or sell it to someone under the age of 18 its a humungous fine.

2) How do we treat the impairment of it in terms of operating motor vehicles and how do we check stop test for it. Does a cop waive a twinkie in front of your face and if you go feral your going to jail?

3) how much do we tax it, how much do we charge for it, where does the revenue go?

4) As much as people think that pot is harmless, how do we set the potency levels? I've seen lots of studies that say that its not good for teenagers with developing brains at all, and its not really good for you if your a high consumptor of it in terms of long term mental effects and effects to your lungs.

5) If anyone thinks that the criminals that sell it now are just going to throw up their hands and vanish you're fooling yourself. They'll undercut the government pricing with taxation like they do with illegal cigarettes, or they'll up the potency, or push other drugs more heavily. I don't believe its as easy as just saying we're selling it, violent drug gangs and crimes will go away. They'll find a way to either compete with or change their product to replace the lost revenue.

as much as people tend to think that bam, next Tuesday I'll be able to go and buy some legal pot in a fancy package, I think that this debate stretches way out past the next election.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by peter12

Did you see the study that I posted?

Yes, but that doesn't answer the question.

"What is the harm in legalizing Marijuana?"

We know of the effects of Marijuana on the developing brain, but that's not any compelling factor in legalization. In fact, a very strong argument could be made that by better controlling the supply we may actually make an improvement in teen use