stockwiz Posted December 3, 2004 Share Posted December 3, 2004 http://www.anchoragepress.com/archives-200...vol13ed39.shtml Never before have so many Americans supported decriminalizing and even legalizing marijuana. Seventy-two percent say that for simple marijuana possession, people should not be incarcerated but fined: the generally accepted definition of ?decriminalization.? Even more Americans support making marijuana legal for medical purposes. Support for broader legalization ranges between 25 and 42 percent, depending on how one asks the question. Two of every five Americans - according to a 2003 Zogby poll - say ?the government should treat marijuana more or less the same way it treats alcohol: It should regulate it, control it, tax it, and only make it illegal for children.? Close to 100 million Americans - including more than half of those between the ages of 18 and 50 - have tried marijuana at least once. Military and police recruiters often have no choice but to ignore past marijuana use by job seekers. The public apparently feels the same way about presidential and other political candidates. Al Gore, Bill Bradley and John Kerry all say they smoked pot in days past. So did Bill Clinton, with his notorious caveat. George W. Bush won't deny he did. And ever more political, business, religious, intellectual and other leaders plead guilty as well. The debate over ending marijuana prohibition simmers just below the surface of mainstream politics, crossing ideological and partisan boundaries. Marijuana is no longer the symbol of Sixties rebellion and Seventies permissiveness, and it's not just liberals and libertarians who say it should be legal, as William F. Buckley Jr. has demonstrated better than anyone. As director of the country's leading drug-policy-reform organization, I've had countless conversations with police and prosecutors, judges and politicians, and hundreds of others who quietly agree that the criminalization of marijuana is costly, foolish and destructive. What's most needed now is principled conservative leadership. Buckley has led the way, and New Mexico's former governor, Gary Johnson, spoke out courageously while in office. How about others? Marijuana prohibition is unique among American criminal laws. No other law is both enforced so widely and harshly and yet deemed unnecessary by such a substantial portion of the populace. Police make about 700,000 arrests per year for marijuana offenses. That's almost the same number as are arrested each year for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Ecstasy, and all other illicit drugs combined. Roughly 600,000, or 87 percent, of marijuana arrests are for nothing more than possession of small amounts. Millions of Americans have never been arrested or convicted of any criminal offense except this. Enforcing marijuana laws costs an estimated $10-15 billion in direct costs alone. (continued on website) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Posted December 3, 2004 Share Posted December 3, 2004 So no more uninformed Canada talk, ya hear? :p Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neowin_hipster Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 You know what, token up is just as bad as alcoholism. The moment we legalize it means that criminal operations will slowly dissappear as they cannot compete with the trust and economy of a large farm. Besides, if its legal there's no "Rebelling". That's half the appeal? Who do you think is the most likely to try it in the first place! I live in vancouver, surrey does around $1billion conservative estimates a year. California does around $3billion and the street value here is underinflated. Pot is not by far our biggest problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 The moment we legalize it means that criminal operations will slowly dissappear as they cannot compete with the trust and economy of a large farm.585038148[/snapback] you still have coke/crack, smack etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlennon Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 The day is coming... :yes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishX Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 Anything in excess is not good (alcohol, nicotein, THC, etc.), but legalizing it would allow better control, more generated tax money and less gang/mob competiton. Not to mention the seemingly bajillions of people sitting in jails and prisons all over America for having a bit of weed on them. Most of the pharmacutical commercials you see these days are pimping products that have much greater long term effects and damaging chemicals than marijuana. Cigarettes and alcohol are both worse for you than pot. Legalize it, tax it, control it and let people live their lives. Mellow, munchy lives. :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neoufo51 Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 Decriminalize it. Put the tax dollars elsewhere. I'd rather have schools funded than put some morons in jail for selling weed to somebody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YBG Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 I think they should decriminalize it, seeing that I'd take the numbers waaaay down in teenage pot smokers. I know in my town A LOT of teenagers smoke pot. But since they're getting away with it, everyone here has started doing coke but me, but that's besides the point. My point is, decriminalize it, because once it's not against the law, teenagers wont be "going against The Man" and they'll stop doing it. The government should really do something about cocaine and crack though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PseudoRandomDragon Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 I'd rather have schools funded than put some morons in jail for selling weed to somebody. 585038574[/snapback] Yes because with pot legal and school funding raised, education is bound to increase. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b mitchell Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 Yes because with pot legal and school funding raised, education is bound to increase. :rolleyes: 585039754[/snapback] Where is the poinit that is will decrease? Funding prove itself in schools. You have no evidence to show the legalization of marijuana will lower education. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kairon Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 Where is the poinit that is will decrease?Funding prove itself in schools. You have no evidence to show the legalization of marijuana will lower education. 585040371[/snapback] But if/when it happens and the proof shows that, then what? :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kairon Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 If the US gives in to this, how long before they give into homosexual marriages, and the legalization of other harmful substances?Give people an inch, then watch them take a mile, and then another mile, then another..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b mitchell Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 If the US gives in to this, how long before they give into homosexual marriages, and the legalization of other harmful substances?Give people an inch, then watch them take a mile, and then another mile, then another..... 585040674[/snapback] you are one sad individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b mitchell Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 But if/when it happens and the proof shows that, then what? :rolleyes: 585040669[/snapback] so because you fear something you cant prove, you wont allow it. wow, you sure make a lot of sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebigj Posted December 4, 2004 Share Posted December 4, 2004 But if/when it happens and the proof shows that, then what? :rolleyes: 585040669[/snapback] But if/when there is proof that marijuana actually bumps your IQ 500 points, then what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlennon Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 If the US gives in to this, how long before they give into homosexual marriages, and the legalization of other harmful substances?Give people an inch, then watch them take a mile, and then another mile, then another..... 585040674[/snapback] I think your scared of change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webeagle12 Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 make sure only whoever need medical treatment will get it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b mitchell Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 I dont think we shoul even stop there. You have less of a chance of dying with marijuana than you do with alcohol. Something is wrong then if MJ is still illegal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joel Posted December 6, 2004 Share Posted December 6, 2004 Use the proper terms, people. Decriminalise means no criminal record if you're caught. It doesn't mean legal pot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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