Should California Legalize Marijuana?

A California lawmaker is causing a stir with his contention that his state should legalize marijuana for recreational use. (FYI: Medical marijuana has been legal in California since 1996.)

"I'm a martini guy myself," Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, who introduced a bill to legalize pot in the state this week, said at a press conference. "But I think it's time for California to…look at this in a truly deliberative fashion."

According to Ammiano, there are numerous benefits to his proposal, which would allow adults over 21 to grow, buy, sell and smoke pot. For starters, Ammiano claims that the move would cut drug use amongst teens, lower the costs of policing the state for marijuana and raise more than a billion dollars a year for California in the taxes and fees that would be gained from marijuana regulation.

Ammiano's bill has its supporters, including Aaron Smith, policy director for the Marijuana Policy Project California, who notes in a statement, "It is simply nonsensical that California's largest agricultural industry [pot growing is said to be a $14 billion dollar a year industry in the state] is completely unregulated and untaxed."

San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey, who has previously expressed his support for the decriminalization of pot, is also in favor of the bill.

Detractors include Calvina Fay, executive director of Save Our Society From Drugs. "This would open another door in Pandora's Box," she tells The Los Angeles Times. "Legalizing drugs like this would create a whole new set of costs for society."

Where do you stand on this issue? Is pot a harmless drug that should be available to adults like alcohol is? And are the financial benefits of legalizing pot worth factoring into the decision?

(Image courtesy of Getty)

Comments

[Bob]

Yes, legalize pot. Give it the same class as alcohol - which already has controls for it's distribution and laws to monitor it's abuse. Money could be put in the government coffers from taxation of pot and the fines imposed when abused. Never understood it's current legal status anyway.

[Zane]

Well regardless of whether its legalized or not people will always smoke it, but sure if California is looking for more ways to get money, legalize it. Just make sure it don't get into the hands of kids.

[Cris]

They give Marinol (Pot Pills) to Cancer and Aids pateients. Its the only drug with a side effect that only makes a person eat. Being on all those drugs needs something that counter acts that nausia and vomiting. These people really need something that will help them overcome they fine line to an eating disorger. The only natural erb that actually helps people is kept from us because of the GOP and its considered as Moonshine ... they can't tax something that grows wild.

[Rain City Blues]

Yes. Regulate the content of commercially grown and sold pot to ensure there's nothing in it besides pot, require retailers to ID everybody and restrict sales to 21 and older, same way we do with booze. Some states can regulate when it can be sold and where. Tax it, and spend those taxes on health education programs around responsible enjoyment of the substance.

[potheads]

I agree with Mrs. Fay, legalizing it would cause a whole new set of societal problems including increased car accidents and other accidents, jobless and unemployment, issues with other states, some would argue it leads to other drug use (I personally believe that as well). Marijuana causes brain damage and paranoia--that's a scientific fact. And I do not see how it would decrease teen use of marijuana by legalizing it--can someone explain the non-sensical logic behind that?? I understand how Ammianio wants to tax marijuana but there must be another way. In Holland it's sold only in coffee shops and used in the shops--that might be a safer way than totally permitting personal sale and use anytime anywhere... Can you imagine 21 yr olds smoking pot in clubs AND drinking what that would cause?? I think CA would be better off taxing and legalizing monitored prostitution and more gambling like Nevada and maybe growing marijuana to sell to other countries but not for use within the state.

[bubbabudda420]

yes thay should if thay was to make pot legeal it would get the usa out of dept i garentee it

[potheads]

oops that's joblessness I meant to say*

[Randy]

I say legalize it for the medical side of things since there are a few
of us that due and it works to help with the side effects of the Aids medication. As well there are cancer patients that use it as well and need to have resources available for them too. Yes legal legalize it and there will possibley get the usa out of the reccesion where in!

[potheads]

I'm wondering if some of these pro-marijuana, grammatically challenged comments are being posted by potheads? Hmmm... What was that about brain damage I commented on earlier?

[Brad]

They might as well legalize marijuana. If they did they can control the substances that go into it, they can place age restrictions on those who want to purchase, and it can be taxed. That way its safer for those who do smoke up, and it's more money for the government. Cigarettes are about as harmful and you can buy those anywhere.

[Adrian L]

Ok guys read the article California has already approved marijuana for medicinal use. It is the federal goverment that needs to change the law. If Cali legalizes the recreational use and the Feds still say no it is still a crime as Federal law supercedes state legislation. As we have seen with the hundreds of medicinal users being charged with drug possesion and other charges related to the purchase and distribution. Oh and Pothead show me where and it better be independent studies and research that shows that pot creates brain damage. Pot has been shown to have no ill effects other than a psychological dependency which can be said of cigarettes or alcohol or any other drug when abused. It is not just the recreational use that we need to be concerned with. Hemp and or pot can be grown to make paper, fuel, food, clothing, medicine and so many other uses that it seems a shame not to utilize it when the whole country is in need. and it is these industries such as the lumber and oil industry that keeps the use of pot criminalized. I say before you offer your ill informed opinions you go educate yourself with independent studies and research anything else should be considered biased and not worthy of the paper it is printed on. Many pharmaceutical companies lobby for the criminalization of the drug so they can pump you full of artificial chemicals rather than the natural cures and remedies that God has given us. Dont let the FDA determine for you the way you want to be medically treated. This is supposed to be a free country and that includes how we want to be treated for disease.

[Duniq]

Pot should be legalized and taxed for the revnue it generates. I've been to Amsterdam many times and agree the coffee shops provide a safe controlled evirnonment. They stopped selling alcohol in the coffee shops last year--an establismnet must decide if it is a bar (alcohol) or a coffee shop (pot). All other durgs are illegal.

[Sean]

I believe it should be legalized! As stated earlier: it would help California raise money through its taxation, it would SAVE California money by not having to try and monitor its growth, distribution, and use, and it would be a kick in the nuts to all the gang bangers and drug lords that sell weed at ridiculous prices (simply because it's illegal).
The argument that weed is a gateway drug.... alcohol is just as much a gateway drug. Cigarettes are just as much a gateway drug. Vicadin is a gateway drug. ANYTHING is a gateway drug. Marijuana is not physically addicting, it's only harmful side effect is perhaps overeating lol, and to the person who said it causes brain damage: alcohol causes brain damage AND liver damage, so I guess using your logic we need to make alcohol illegal again. Marijuana may make some people paranoid (if they're already paranoid types of people), just like alcohol makes some people turn into annoying douchebags or violent, slobbering asswipes. I would much rather be around a group of potheads with the munchies than a group of drunks unsatisfied with their lives and looking for a fight (I realize i'm being extreme, but common, since we're talking about stereotypes, lets at least be fair and admit that drunks are more violent, more annoying, and more DANGEROUS than potheads; how many accidents are there involving pot vs. drunk driving?)

People keep mentioning Pandora's Box, but they fail to realize that it was opened a ridiculously long time ago! lol, people have been smoking weed since it was first discovered, and people will continue to smoke it. Legalizing it will not trigger Armageddon, it will not cause riots in the street, you won't suddenly see zombies parading around craving brain. You're most likely going to see a boost in sales at fast food joints, people driving 5-10 miles under the speed limit (pot makes you drive slow for some reason, lol) and a lot more happy people. Oh, one more important thing before i end this tirade, you can smoke copious amounts of weed and it WON'T effect your motor (driving) skills, UNLIKE alcohol. And attacking someone for their bad grammar and spelling, regardless of whether they're for or against legalization of marijuana, is pretty bad form lol. Hope it makes you feel big and important for knowing how to spell better :)

[shawn]

i think it should be available for anyone who is 21 or older...... i mean i have smoked it before and half the stuff you see on tv i would never do..... and neither would any of my friends.... yes it might make you hungry... but not stupid... and as far as accidents go.... i have never gotten into one and neither has any of my friends.. and i think that if it was regulated like tobacco and alcohol then we would be making more money for our country instead of wasting time on trying to stop the use... i mean its a plant and its grown in the ground whats the big deal... you just dry it and smoke it.... i think its way better for our society if we stopped the cancer causing sales of tobacco... we need to ask ourselves whats worse munchies or cancer and start focusing on the real problems in this ever evolving world... like poverty... aids.. cancer.. abuse

[seawulf]

uhh...yeah! duh! see u in happy cali!

[Garrett]

Yes! They should definitely legalize it.

[shawn]

and just because people cannot spell it does not mean they are potheads.... lol i know lots of really successful people who do not smoke and still cannot pick up a book and read it.... so its not grammar these obviously close minded individuals should be worried about... once again.... poverty... racism... aids.... cancer... war.. peace.... so much more to worry about.... god i hate judgmental people.... there is only one that can judge and hes not wasting time deciding pot is a horrible thing lol...

[Brian]

Whoever said pot causes brain damage is confused. It doesn't. Unless "brain damage" now means something besides what it means to medical doctors. If pot causes brain damage then I can only imagine what cigarettes or alcohol would do to your brain, because they're even worse on your body. Look up what it does on Google and remember the sites you will find will probably be trying to make it sound as bad as they possibly can anyway.

[Anon]

Yes, it would be great if Marijuana became legal..but that sure hasn't stopped people from enjoying it..nor will it ever. A lot of the reasons people are giving for keeping pot illegal are basically the same reasons given for Prohibition, aka when alcohol became illegal. Will there be more car accidents from pot users? Probably. Will more people be likely to try other substances because they tried pot? Possibly. Did all of these things also happen when alcohol was legalized? You bet your ass they did! And that didn't stop us from enjoying alcohol, now did it? So why should we let these things stop us from enjoying pot as well? A life lived in fear of everything that could possibly happen to you isn't much of a life at all. And I guarantee you that if some of these people who are screaming their heads off that pot should stay illegal would actually try smoking a joint, they would realize that it isn't so bad after all. Peace everybody...

[random]

LOL at people who think marijuana is a horrible thing because it is a proven scientific fact that it causes brain damage. I'm not denying that there are numerous side-effects to the drug but seriously -- alcohol is neurotoxic as well and totally legal. Many would argue that alcohol is MORE harmful than marijuana based on the potential for addiction, the risk of overdose, and the liver damage caused by chronic alcohol consumption. It's important to note there is a difference between a casual marijuana smoker and a total pothead in the same way that there is a difference between someone who drinks alcohol and someone who is an alcoholic. I totally understand if your opinion is that they should BOTH be illegal but if you are someone who enjoys drinking and its legality, there is no reason for you to think marijuana should be illegal. My neuroscience professor whose research area is memory freely admits his use of marijuana. There are just so many reasons to legalize -- giving people the ability to make their OWN decisions concerning their health, the money made in taxes, not to mention the lack of teenagers getting busted and getting in trouble for NOT HURTING ANYONE!

And do you really think marijuana CAUSES improper grammar? I'm pretty sure you can't learn and then FORGET to talk properly because you smoked a couple (or a hundred) joints.

[Ross]

Unfortunately, grammar is important if one wants to affect policy change in the US. Legislators are more apt to buy in to this issue if factual data can come from educated sources.

Personally, I can say that the legalization of marijuana could help the entire country with its multiple uses. Farmers can use it as a rotational crop to help put nutrients back into the soil, we can make fuel for automobiles, rope, paint, and much more.

As far as brain damage goes, any foreign substance that goes into one's body is considered a poison. I'm not saying it should be outlawed, but to make arguments that are not based in fact because we think it should be legal is not the way to go about making a change. I do think it should be legalized and taxed. But, with any other substance, such as alcohol, moderation and education need to be considered.

[Mikestead73]

I have smoked pot for over 12 years off and on and it has not in one bit affected my driving ability, college grades, nor has it ever been addicting to me. Alcohol, however, has killed three people I know in car accidents and some friends have had their lives ruined for leaving a bar and getting a DUI.

The local police departments make way too much money off busting people with pot, even little amounts. This is why they do not want to legalize it.

[joemama]

Marijuana should be treated just like our "government-approved" drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The whole "gateway drug" issue is a bunch of nonsense - if you're of a mind to try something, you will. In fact, there are plenty of kids who smoke pot simply because it's easier for them to get than alcohol. And the above-mentioned claims about joblessness, school & domestic problems, etc., are quite dubious, too - alcohol is far worse than pot on most of those measures. Think about it - drunks get into fights, while stoners watch TV and giggle. You can have your martini at the end of a hard day - I prefer a couple of bong hits!

[Mike]

I think legalizing pot would be a good thing, so long as buying and selling required licenses. But pot also strips you of ambition and personality, so I think it should be strictly regulated to prevent people from being able to get high everyday(unless medically required). We dont want a completely hippie california :P

[Keith Hammond]

Yes legalize it.

Certainly less destructive than alcohol. If everyone is so afraid of the side effects, then back to prohibition because alcohol is one of the most destructive activities we engage in so the argument of increased accidents and the like are just fear mongering. Drunk driving is killing more people than the wars we have engaged in. People will continue to smoke regardless of the legality. Imagine how many people are crowding our jails and prisons just for selling or possession, ridiculous. What a drain on tax payers for something that has been practiced for thousands of years.

BTW, I ran this thru spell check for the smart azz that feels inclined to even criticize spelling.

Have a nice day all!

[Kevin]

In todays economy we can't afford to "police" for marijuana. I think leagalizing it is one of the smartest things that our government leaders could do. I've been alot more drunk than I've ever been stoned. If this passes, I'm moving to california.

[Trevor Kiel Ballard]

Why are we even having this discussion? It's a crime that people are punished for cultivating, selling, and smoking a plant that has never actually killed anyone. Alcohol is a poison, and cigarettes kill more people than anything else.

We are a capitalist society, people should be allow to engage in the market place. Yes, with regulation. Straight out prohibition is favoring the dogmatic views of some over the rational rights of others.

Try something here. Exchange "pot smoker" with "gay person" and see if the arguments stack up.

[tomriddlesmate]

I dont think it will pass. Marijuana is far too profitable in its illegal state. The criminals will even go as far as to recruit Religious leaders to talk about the evils of legalized pot.

[anthony altieri]

yes it should it was made illegal by haters in the first place by people who hated that mexicans smoked it they thought that by making it illegal they would keep the mexicans out well it didnt so why dont the haters just give up?

[Marijuana]

Sure Why Not - If Alcohols & Tobaccos is Legal, this should be as Legal as well - when you come to think about Alcohols & Tobaccos could Kill you in a long run, Not often you hear about Marijuana does kill you - Usually its a Herbs & Besides it Produce Oil for other Purpose in Medical used as well, Plus they makes good excellent strong Fabrics & Etc s - Comes to think about, who is the Bigger Mobs or the Control Freaks in Breaking the Law come to Public view, Just in another way as a Point Proofing there are bunch of Backwards Hypocritical Bullies in all above the Law in Societies ...

[Ricky]

The government should have no right to determine what anyone does with their own body nor should it criminalize ANY victimless crime. Cannabis has no serious or permanent effect on the human body (the idiot claiming that cannabis causes brain damage - with no foundation whatsoever - has clearly been ingesting something that DOES cause brain damage) and, even if it did (which, again, it does NOT), it is not the business of the government to play nanny to its citizens.

[Marc_Canada]

I was for a long time in my life myself a user of marijuana and did tried other drugs also .... till i decided to stop it all and change my bad habits and life gone on the wrong path... about legalising i do supprisingly oppose to it ... there is enough problems in this world to make this a banalised affaire .... to make it look ok to smoke drugs ... other than for medical reasons i oppose it ... lets first think about this world, its poverty level ... enviroment , crime , corruption , economy , well being as a society and a whole before we think about stupid things like marijuana that destroys ur health , brain ect .... so for medical only i say yes , for the rest i say , clean up the atmos :-) thanks

[Thomas Jennings]

they will consider thsi but not gay marriages oh that 's great

[Arthur Graves]

Yes. It not as dangerous as other drugs. Like cocaine or black tar heroine or Tina or Meth and what ever party drugs that are out there.These drugs can destroy the body organs and is very addicted. And they what ends up causing more problems. I have a friend that smoke marijuana for years and he quit with no side effects. And with the Tax Money they can restart Civil Unions and in about ten years turn it over to Gay Married.

[the_real_sweedie]

Fact: Alcohol is a LOT more dangerous to the body than Marijuana is.

Fact: Marijuana has not directly killed one single person (I don't know about accidents caused by it).

Fact: Marijuana can help people deal with certain diseases, such as MS, where nothing else seems to work.

Fact: Hemp can be used to produce clothes, hair products, etc etc. for a fraction of the cost of what for instant cotton can be produced for.

Why is this illegal again?

[James]

This is a no-brainer....YES! It's on the ballot here in Oregon next year...California should do the same. Decriminalization does just that-Takes crime out of the process. Tax it. Let the Feds concentrate on real harmful drugs-Meth,Heroin,Viagra,Loloft,Scotch, etc.

[Chett]

To everyone for pot : Vote.

To everyone against pot : Vote.

I don't see why this is an issue.

[Clay]

Because of the current cannibis (recreational marijuana) prohibition in this country, the growing of industrial hemp is also prohibited. During WW II the US government encouraged tobacco belt farmers to raise hemp instead of their other crops since the Japanese navy had blockaded our hemp supply from the Phillipines. Hemp provided material to make ropes for all purposes, parachute cords, boot laces, etc.. The inventor of the diesel engine also created that machine so farmers could run it from hemp seed oil which they could cultivate themselves. It was the original Biodeisel. Researchers in Europe have discovered that chickens fed the left-overs of hemp seed oil pressing lay cholestrol-free eggs. Is this the "Pandora's Box" some are so worried about? Additionally, biodegradeable carpet, fabrics, plastics and more can be manufatured from hemp seed oil. If the laws of "Marijuana" (incidentally, the Mexican name for the weed was used by the US propaganda machine to demonize cannibis in the 1920's to perpetuate racism against minorities) were abolished, countless beneficial results would spring from this Pandora's Box and stimulate economic growth in many known and also unimaginable ways. It is time to grow hemp and grow up.

[Doesnt Matter]

State legalization of pot, while long overdue, is rather moot if the federal government doesn't decriminalize it. As everyone who has had 6th grade Civics knows, federal law supersedes state law so the ATF could still arrest people even in a state where it is legal.

[Desanero]

I think it should be legalized, only because I was reading DMT The Spirit Molecule, which cited Marry Jane's apparent illegalization around/during that of LSD's. I feel the drug was dramatically classified, considering the difference between its and other drugs' affects and causes in the same category. LSD was apparently curing many psychological illnesses, if not advancing research concerning them, but was illegalized when stolen viles of the drug led to overdoses.
Marijuana may also have been considered to be a drug loosening of the inhibitions of the individual and society, like that of alcohol, and could have been illegalized as an overgeneralized cause or catalyst for the protests of the hippy generation.
Seeing as it is not as addictive, I believe new research noted it is somewhat habit forming, and damages brain-cells, which can also be said about alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs, I believe it should be legalized. Just as tobacco helped found this nation, so too could this become not only a taxable product, but a new market and industry.
My argument against the whole "its a gateway drug," is that marijuana is a drug, so if you're willing to smoke it- you're already willing to do drugs, and cannot be further influenced to be open to drugs by a drug.

[t]

i say yes an it would be about time too.make it legal.

[Derick]

If California begins regulating its users, it would be only a matter of time before other states began regulation themselves. It takes a lot of small steps before the big picture is realized, hence American being so ass-backwards for years. If more states can start ushering for medicinal usage, then we as a people can sit back and breathe easy, no pun intended.

[BKistIGotANer]

I feel this would be a great step that needs to be made. As a heavy ganja smoker I think it's about time people really start looking at the actual facts and proof and not just what the govt has been spending years trying to make us believe. All the propaganda started when the oil companies were worried about the discovery of a cheaper more efficient use of hemp seed oil made into a better source of fuel. So to keep all the money still flowing into their pockets, and to continue to pollute the world as it has been, they got together with the govt who also makes a shit ton of money from oil to make it illegal. Lets not all forget that George Washington and Thomas Jefferson used to grow weed for the benefits of all its byproducts when this country first came into being.

And as for pot smokers being "brain dead" thats not the case with everyone. I know many many intelligent people who smoke weed and it obviously hasn't had such a great effect on them that it would show it causes people to become stupid. People dont get high and get behind the wheel and kill people. That's drunk drivers.

And weed being a gateway drug is another thing that annoys me. I didn't experiment with other drugs bc I got high on weed and it led me to it, I did other drugs bc I wanted to. I made the choice not weed. Today heroin is the drug to worry about. its cheap and easy to come by and is so addictive that it ruins peoples lives on a daily basis. You never hear of people smoking then becoming addicted to where they HAVE to get more weed and end up losing their jobs and ability to function without it.

[Wyatt1969again]

Well,

I for one am tired of shitty weed, over priced bags, too many stems and in general - an inconsistent product.

Don’t get me wrong - I can get the Chronic - but the better it is - the more the DEA is all the fuck over it (that’s right bitches -the DEA).

But really - if the DEA was like, “Hmmm - Wyatt’s got some killer weed” - they would then say some other shit like…if it keeps him calm - let him have it. They’d never admit this but its true - they’d probably rather be shutting down narcotics operations.

Actually it’s been my experience that DEA officers are like everyone else - they start out all bright eyed and honorable - and then later they become jaded and convinced the whole deal is bullshit. Like when they follow a trail across the border and then their supervisor essentially says someone else will take over and then they watch their hard work dissolve into a political cloud of bureaucratic smoke.

But there’s a reason drug task forces work together and there’s a reason Marijuana is illegal. It’s not all happy go lucky.

People like to think that weed is some innocuous thing - that just helps us relax and all that. But the truth is - people who engage in the trade, sale, and import or really export of Marijuana are just as dangerous as any other person involved in drug trafficking.

If anyone thinks legalizing Pot will make those people disappear think again. The only way that will happen is if the State of California produces killer weed at bargain basement prices - tax or no tax - that’s it.

And make no mistake about it - if they actually do this - they will also have to hand down some seriously harsh sentences to anyone who contributes to the sale of a minor. Because that’s what we’ll have in the end - a bunch of kids outside of the dug store trying to get some dude to buy an eighth or some bullshit like that. And then what? Who’s going to start saying shit like - lower the age of consumption? The same arguments for alcohol use will ensue.

I mean - I already know young people can get Pot - and I am not too sure about the gateway theory as it relates to choice and the eventuality of yet another drug being added to anyone’s repertoire as it were. Still I do know that Marijuana is almost never the sole product available from the same person - and at the least - it is odd that even when one finds one who “only” sells weed - that same someone can also “get” something else.

So I don’t know - I mean - if the State of California can do better at keeping legalized Marijuana out of the hands of not just minors but really - anyone under say age 25 - then give it a shot. 21 is too young. 18 is a joke (sorry eighteen year olds you are still children - which by the way is why you shouldn’t be sent off to war either).

People like to say Pot is safe. But not always. Just like everything else illicit it appears as if Marijuana can create problems - particularly for young people.

If it becomes legal - an entire industry will be made legitimate and revenue will be generated. But at what cost?

I think I’ll stick to breaking the law and playing the cat and mouse bit for now. Sometimes its better to individually break the rule but let it stand for the sake of so much else. I’d rather get a ticket or do a few days in jail then watch a bunch of kids smoke pot. That’s just lame and making Marijuana legal will not stop young people from doing just that.

Extraordinarily harsh penalties, severe repercussions, and long lasting shame might do the trick.

If Californians wants to make Pot legal - maybe they should demonstrate first their ability to effectively keep it out of the hands of children. To date they have not done this.

I see no reason to grant permission to anyone who has not proven the ability to look beyond their own desires and really show through example what it means to responsibly allocate or consume any illicit drug.

So how do we go about proving just that?

Frankly, I don’t even know if I want to find out.

[Clay Burton]

Ok I just love all these wonderful legitimate reasons to get high.

I dont really care if you legalize heroin or cocaine either simply because alcohol and cigarettes are legal and can be deadly, harmful and dangerous so why not pot. There's your new campaign slogan "Why Not Pot!'

So yippie and yahoo to people who like to get high or tipsy! And Can Responsibly! After all we have to poreserve everyones rights even if it can be harmful to us and others.

Now...what about the addicts and irrespsonsible folks who shouldn't and can't smoke anything or drink. Ya know the ones that smoke pot have a few cocktails and then off to races scoring coke and crack and a few weeks later have been stealing from thier mom's purse to get high.

Or the ones that become lathargic and all they want to do is get stoned all the time and eat.

I imagine you will be able to get medical pot for any reason and collect a social security check and get stoned everyday.

And what kind of message does it send to children and blah blah blah!

No I haven't heard of anybody smoking a joint and driving and killing a familiy of four...but I have been stoned many times myself and shoudn't drive. I don't care if you say you drive better stoned I sure as hell don't want you on the road wasted!

Ok and of course we need the billion dollar business for our countries taxes..yada yada yada

Don't forget to discuss the real ADULT reasons to legally get high. Not that your of age and can drink and smoke but are you mature enough to smoke and drink responsibly.I would love to see alcohol have stricter requirements to buy and sell it.

It's so funny when I see people get all serious and political all of a sudden when they want what they want. Suddenly everyone is an expert on Constitutional Rights when it comes to smoking pot.

I want beefy buff 16 yr old boys with facial and leg hair to be legal to date and have sex with but apparently it's illeagal and immoral..but damn they sure look good!

Anyway..legalize it ..don't legalize it...whatever..if I want to score anything I can! The hardest thing I find to score is a decent paying job with benefits.

[Shawn]

Oh please. Weed use is so common these days almost everyone I know smokes them. Im a non-smoker and I dont smoke pot but I say let them smoke it. Its their body.

[just me]

Yes, legalize it. Although I do not use it myself, I understand that it is simply an herb that has side effects. There are companies selling every type of herb under the sun, some with worse side effects I am sure than what marijuana has. However, with the idea in mind that it does have side effects, control it...as tobacco and alcohol are controlled.

[Matt]

Most of my arguments have already been made, so I will simply say it SHOULD be legalized. I will say this though, the FIRST illegal drug I ever tried was meth and THAT is an awful experience. However, through that phase in my life I met some potheads who got me smoking. Weed is actually one of the reasons I QUIT harder drugs. Its benefits are endless, but as with any other mind altering substance, any claim made by anyone as to the effects of pot HAS to be looked at on a person-by-person basis, as its effects are completely different from one person to another.

[sirald66]

I am FOR the legalization of pot, but it does present some interesting problems and benefits.

- the crops will be prime targets for theft and crime syndicates.

- providing a reasonably priced product should offer the public safety and take the profit out of it for drug dealers.

- since our FDA has failed consistently to protect the public from tainted foods, would it surprise you when a manufacture supplies 'enhanced' product?

- how can politicians approve of smoking pot, when they don't approve of smoking in general?

- the tobacco industry and pharmaceutical industries will do all they can to patent and monopolize the market.

- once the first pot related DUI deaths occur, how will the public balance the view that it is not the product, but the individual at fault? [Mothers Against Drunk Driving will be chained to your heel]

- what is the field sobriety test for a pot-DUI?

I consider pot no more or less dangerous than alcohol abuse, but opponents will muddy the discussion indefinitely ignoring this.

[Visciousdragon]

Didn't god say something similar to 'all the seed bearing plants shall be food for you'? Isn't food defined in many different ways as something that can be helpful to the body? Who is it to tell someone that they can't have something that God made?

This is in the new testament :
Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, 3 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Now, off of the religious points... how often is it we hear about marijuana based car accidents and such compared to alcahol accidents? Almost none, correct? The fact of the matter is is that most people who smoke the stuff aren't capable of coming up with thoughts to move away from whatever they are doing with the way most folks smoke it. If you ask me, I think legalizing it would actually keep more folks out of trouble. Alot of crime that may be related to the subject usually happens because folks get bad stuff or laced with something or they have some cop chasing after them when they are high, when all they wanted to do was sit around and just have a good smoke. A good example would be to look at what was said about Europe when they legalized pot.

When Europe legalized pot, their crime rate actually went way down. It's amazing what happens when you don't cut off someone's God given right to enjoy themselves as they please out of what God has made isn't it? ; )

So, what if someone decides they get hungry after smoking pot? Well, most folks who smoke pot are going to be smart and have food in their house beforehand. Just make the rules like the alcahol rules and everything will be hunky dory... if not better ; p

Lastly, since this would be an item that would bring more money to the state, or any other that would go along with this, it would be worth it for the state/s to accept the idea instead of throwing everyone into jail for ... again, a God given right/for just wanting to relax and have a good time.