Feds oppose CA Prop 19 to legalize pot.

[AROCES]

What is your professional opinion and what profession are you in as you seem to have a "professional opinion" on anything right wing. What do you do for work Aroces? I've known you for years but never have you mentioned what you do to profess so much.

First, if you want professional opinions only then you would have been out of almost all the discussions here.

Second, the only professional opinions that you and most here would agree with are those that are on their side.

So cut the crap about professional opinion....

[fireIIC]

Tell me, what are the reasons why some of you people would like it to stay illegal?

[AROCES]

Tell me, what are the reasons why some of you people would like it to stay illegal?

You don't even know?

I suggest you do more reading and research before you get into the discussion.

[MissMelsWell]

So Aroces, do tell... what do you do professionally?

I've been a certified Rx technician for 23 years. While I no longer practice, I still do my CE and maintain my license (I never know when I might want an underpaid and overworked job again)...

Trust me dude, there are over the counter medications you can walk in and buy tonight, at any gas station, and it will get you higher and more out of control than pot. Yet, those are medications you probably take when you have a head cold. They're a hell of a lot more dangerous than pot too.

Would you be against a new antihistamine coming out on the market? Or a new decongestant? Would you be opposed to a new sea sickness medication being sold at your local gas station? No? Well, those meds are far more dangerous and frankly often more addictive than pot...

So what's you're real problem? Is the real problem that you're suppose to be conservative and you feel it necessary to tow the WHOLE party line? Are you such a part of the sheep herd that you can't think for yourself based on facts? That's ok though... lot's of people are that way... it's sad, but I understand it's scary to break away from the herd.

The only other reason I can think of that you might be so opposed is that you yourself like your ganja and don't want it legalized and don't want to pay taxes on it. LOL. I'm begining to think that's the real issue. LOL.

Edited October 19, 2010 by MissMelsWell

[The Silver Thong]

First, if you want professional opinions only then you would have been out of almost all the discussions here.

Second, the only professional opinions that you and most here would agree with are those that are on their side.

So cut the crap about professional opinion....

You brought it up and now I'm asking you. Nothing sinister but just a general idea as it may help as to your platform and reasoning.

For all we know you work for Sarah Palin.

Edited October 19, 2010 by The Silver Thong

[Jack_of_Blades]

It is currently banned in almost all countries, and you asking what the benefits are???????

Could have sworn conservatives we all aboard the "just because everyone does it doesn't mean we should" train. A large amount of modern societies have universal healthcare, would you support it simply because they have it?

Just another case of hippies trying to find ways to get high easier and cheaper. And when the mess is there they would ask for billions and accuse the conservatives of not caring and would not fund their way of life.

Unsurprisingly you are making no sense. If anything it would be taxed and expensive as all hell. Hippies certainly have no hard time in getting high. I guess I(unlike you)just don't like the government telling me what I can and can't put in my body.

Edited October 19, 2010 by Jack_of_Blades

[+DieChecker]

Ha I laugh at people who are against pot legalization, because chances are they like to drink from time to time.

I don't drink. I don't want to model that for my 2 year old daughter. I also don't smoke... tobacco, or weed. I do eat a fair amount of chocolate though.

If you drink alcohol, you are in no position to judge. Pot relaxes you, slows things down and everything is great. Also people on pot do not get violent. Alcohol makes you act dumber than on pot, gives you hangovers, messes up your liver and makes people get in fights. It's no comparison. Cigarettes cause mass cancer deaths all year round, from second hand smoke and first hand smoke, yet that is legal.

I have several friends and family who used pot, and I have to agree with that national campaign from a couple years back. Pot doesn't change you, you don't change at all. You don't do anything at all. You just don't care. So what if you are 45, living with your parents in their garage and single? If you got your weed you're all good.

True, losers probably would have been losers without the weed, but the weed certainly doesn't help. It just helps them feel Ok about being losers.

Legalize one or they all should be illegal.

If it is all or nothing. I vote nothing. If smoking, alcohol and perscription drugs are dangerous, then why add another danger to what already exists. That is like raising the speed limit to 65, from 55, because everyone is already going 65. The problem being when the limit is 65, everyone will be doing 70 or 75. Adding to an existing problem is not the answer. Taxes be damned.

They just need to "Surge" the War on Drugs.

1st of all its a plant and has no reason to be illegal

Yeah, like a pyote mushroom, or an opium poppy, or a cocca plant.

2nd do you even know why it was made illegal in the first place was because paper company and rope companies way back then where not making much money because with hemp you can produce all of that

Blah, blah, blah. Hemp Propoganda. There are kinds of hemp that are not marijuana/pot, but you don't see people advocating that. You only here people saying, "use marijuana plants... and... oh yeah, I'll keep the buds and leaves... heh, heh."

no one has died because of weed

Very debatable. I've read that pot is found at a death scene almost as often as alcohol.

Edited October 19, 2010 by DieChecker

[AROCES]

Could have sworn conservatives we all aboard the "just because everyone does it doesn't mean we should" train. A large amount of modern societies have universal healthcare, would you support it simply because they have it?

Well, you left been crying about European Socialism and Health Care.

And you been supporting socialist health care simply because others do have them.

Unsurprisingly you are making no sense. If anything it would be taxed and expensive as all hell. Hippies certainly have no hard time in getting high. I guess I(unlike you)just don't like the government telling me what I can and can't put in my body.

Funny how you Libs wants government here and there except when it's about getting restricted in getting stoned.

Edited October 19, 2010 by AROCES

[AROCES]

Ha I laugh at people who are against pot legalization, because chances are they like to drink from time to time. If you drink alcohol, you are in no position to judge. Pot relaxes you, slows things down and everything is great. Also people on pot do not get violent. Alcohol makes you act dumber than on pot, gives you hangovers, messes up your liver and makes people get in fights. It's no comparison. Cigarettes cause mass cancer deaths all year round, from second hand smoke and first hand smoke, yet that is legal. Legalize one or they all should be illegal.

Does alcohol addiction or tobacco makes you go to more potent drugs?

[Agent X]

Tell me, what are the reasons why some of you people would like it to stay illegal?

What does it matter to you? Would you actually change your mind if you were shown to be wrong?

[AROCES]

I'd much rather be in a car with a stoned person than a drunk one.

Point is, applying these extreme situations has no place in the legalisation debate.

No one who argues for the legalisation of marijuana is arguing that it should be a blanket legalisation, or that people should be allowed to conduct everyday activities like driving while under the influence of it. But if we're allowed the situationalised legislation of alcohol consumption, why not marijuana too?

See, we already have alcohol as you argue, so why add marijuana?

[venqax]

The government doesn't have to enforce any law that it doesn't want to. There are lots of places where technically illegal things are tolerated by the cops.

You're right, but that is a very, very bad thing. I'm not talking about minor misdemeanors or infractions, or areas that are almost always discretionary. This is a major law-- a criminal law in the federal code that can be a felony (I'm don't know what the threshold is off hand). To allow a law like that to go unenforced promotes a lack of respect for the law across the board, and invites corruption on a scale that gets out of hand very quickly. I'm not necessarily saying I don't think the fed law should be repealed or changed, but the issue of the fed/state conflict has to be resolved. Personally, I would rather the laws be amended than to leave it up to courts to make these decisions. Courts make too many political decisions as it is.

Edited October 19, 2010 by venqax

[conspiracybeliever]

This is the real drug problem in thsi country.

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=192682

[zenfahr]

I have several friends and family who used pot, and I have to agree with that national campaign from a couple years back. Pot doesn't change you, you don't change at all. You don't do anything at all. You just don't care. So what if you are 45, living with your parents in their garage and single? If you got your weed you're all good.

Try this Link

If it is all or nothing. I vote nothing. If smoking, alcohol and perscription drugs are dangerous, then why add another danger to what already exists. That is like raising the speed limit to 65, from 55, because everyone is already going 65. The problem being when the limit is 65, everyone will be doing 70 or 75. Adding to an existing problem is not the answer. Taxes be damned.

I can agree with this, I would also vote nothing. There are many very harmful drugs out there.

Blah, blah, blah. Hemp Propoganda. There are kinds of hemp that are not marijuana/pot, but you don't see people advocating that. You only here people saying, "use marijuana plants... and... oh yeah, I'll keep the buds and leaves... heh, heh."

Very debatable. I've read that pot is found at a death scene almost as often as alcohol.

I would love to hear the REAL reason why it is illegal.

Do you have the stastistics on pot related deaths. No not where pot is found at the scene, because you will almost always find other things at the scene as well. How many deaths a year does the use of pot cause? Please provide a link.

[FurthurBB]

So, you think people that break the law shouldn't be punished in accordance with the law? Unless they kill someone?

Well, that's great!! Remember that when someone steals all your stuff, or drives their car into your house (because they were stoned).

Link that marijuana makes people steal.

[+OverSword]

Sometimes I wish a giant sinkhole would open under DC and swallow it all. The politicians, FBI, CIA, Pentagon.

[The Silver Thong]

I would think having pot illegal is what makes it dangerous. People kill people over drugs and that includes pot. I'm not saying legalize all drugs but legalizing pot sure would reduce crime.

[Torgo]

Who wants to get pot today tries to get it, disregarding that crime and a life could have been taken to provide him/her a temporary high.

So to take out the guilt they try to push for legalization, an act of addiction really.

Is there a country that legalized marijuana and benefited from it?

If it was legal, they could get it WITHOUT it having being obtained through criminal channels, that will not have harmed anyone.

Is there a country that legalized tobacco or alcohol and benefited from it?

[supervike]

I would think having pot illegal is what makes it dangerous. People kill people over drugs and that includes pot. I'm not saying legalize all drugs but legalizing pot sure would reduce crime.

Exactly.

[fireIIC]

I've done more than my fair share of research thank you very much. What I'm trying to get across here is that there is too much research on both sides of the fence. There has never been one fatality from marijuana. Ever. It is not an physically addicting substance. Like anything, it can be a problem for some people. The money that goes into the illegal trade only benefits criminals. More harm comes from outlawing the substance than good. Plus, I don't feel is constitutional for the government to tell us what we can put in our bodies.

[soldier4death]

"doesn't affect you if you don't smoke it?"

Legalizing pot for both smokers and nonsmokers will affect both. Have you ever lived next to a grower that has 50 plants? You can smell it for half a mile.

Have you ever heard of "contact high?" I have children and the last thing we need in the air in California is more pollution. Especially the kind that could get them high.

It's hard enough for a tobacco smoker to find a place to smoke. Marijuana is 20 times stronger in terms of scent.

[+DieChecker]

Try this Link

I'm sure that somewhere we can find a list of successful people who use cocaine, or heroin, or opium, or who are alcoholics. For every person who is talented enough to smoke pot and still be successful, there are 20 or 100 who are held back, just that little bit and don't reach their potential. But, like I said, a loser probably would be a loser without smoking pot. It just makes them OK with being a loser.

I would love to hear the REAL reason why it is illegal.

Do you have the stastistics on pot related deaths. No not where pot is found at the scene, because you will almost always find other things at the scene as well. How many deaths a year does the use of pot cause? Please provide a link.

So it contributes not at all??? Come on. For every crime or accident where it is found, it clearly is a contributing factor. If a driver died from smoking pot, drinking a bottle of Jack and driving, would he be alive if he drunk and drove, but did not smoke pot? I don't think that has been proven either way yet, but why heap a potentially dangerous chemical onto of other already known to be dangerous chemicals?

I would think having pot illegal is what makes it dangerous. People kill people over drugs and that includes pot. I'm not saying legalize all drugs but legalizing pot sure would reduce crime.

I thought it was said that pot actually reduced crime, because the pot smokers did not feel like doing anything. I think the crime rate related to pot and violence is actually very low. But, that is just my impression.

If it was legal, they could get it WITHOUT it having being obtained through criminal channels, that will not have harmed anyone.

Is there a country that legalized tobacco or alcohol and benefited from it?

Exactly. What countries have had a net loss in crime and health problems by making alcohol and tobacco and pot legal?

I've done more than my fair share of research thank you very much. What I'm trying to get across here is that there is too much research on both sides of the fence. There has never been one fatality from marijuana. Ever. It is not an physically addicting substance. Like anything, it can be a problem for some people. The money that goes into the illegal trade only benefits criminals. More harm comes from outlawing the substance than good. Plus, I don't feel is constitutional for the government to tell us what we can put in our bodies.

It is not addicting, true. That you can not OD on it is supposed to be true. Has anyone died as a direct result of pot... definately. It is a major problem for some people, so why do we need to make that problem legal and available to everyone? At what level do we say a problem rationalizes making something illegal? When 1 in dies from it, 1 in 20, 1 in 100, 1 in 1000? If 1 in every 10 people can't handle pot and everyday life, then why should it be so easy for them to get it? Are we more concerned with peoples liberties or with the community health? Obama has come down clearly on Health. Almost everyone these days does. Look at smoking cigarettes. Those people have to go outside and 10 meters from the building, or to a specified smoke shack. In Portland now, it is illegal in most public areas where children or people with health issues might be found, such as parks and sidewalks. Who is trumpeting these people's Rights? That's right... no one, because smoking is considered dangerous, just as pot is considered dangerous.

[The Silver Thong]

See, we already have alcohol as you argue, so why add marijuana?

To reduce crime for cryin out loud. Have you forgotten what prohibition did? It created gangstas mo fo

Make cheese burgers illegal and you create the same problem. An underground cheeseburger ring, think about very scary

Edited October 20, 2010 by The Silver Thong

[Agent X]

Here's the problem:

If pot becomes legal, it won't reduce the criminal element getting involved. This is what the potheads just can't wrap their heads around. Whenever there's money to made, the criminal element thinks that all money should be theirs and will try to control it.

The only way to diminish this influence is to regulate pot.

Which means increasing the power of the government.

[FlamingLiberal]

Here's the problem:

If pot becomes legal, it won't reduce the criminal element getting involved. This is what the potheads just can't wrap their heads around. Whenever there's money to made, the criminal element thinks that all money should be theirs and will try to control it.

The only way to diminish this influence is to regulate pot.

Which means increasing the power of the government.

To the bolded: what proof do you have of this? I don't see people smuggling moonshine around anymore...