Should Marijuana be Decriminalized?
Should Marijuana be decriminalized for more than just medical use?
ON ANOTHER NOTE I WANT TO INFORM PEOPLE THAT I HAVE PUT UP A PETITION ABOUT THIS IF ANYONE WANTS TO SIGN IT
There have been many varied opinions about this, and I would love to hear your views on it.
Yes, it is perfectly safe
Side Score: 35
|
 |
No, it is very harmful
Side Score: 8
|
|
|
|
|
3
points
Yes, for a wide variety of reasons. There are the obvious ones that get repeated, such as "Less harmful than legal substances", "Not physiologically addictive", "War on drugs has failed", etc. But there's also the ideological arguments, like that the government doesn't have the right to tell us what to put in our bodies (libertarian/classical liberal), the government has not been given such regulatory power by the constitution without a strained interpretation of a single line (conservative), etc. And of course there are the economic benefits that taxing the substance would bring in as well as the decreased costs of persecution of incarceration of "offenders". Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
But there's also the ideological arguments, like that the government doesn't have the right to tell us what to put in our bodies Yes it does, people on hallucinogens can harm others, people on drugs need more treatment = costs more public money... Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
3
points
Out of curiosity, do you know how many people on hallucinogens violently harm others? Additionally, nations that have decriminalized other substances have taken the money used from police funding for persecuting and incarcerating them, and using it for treatment. In every case it cost LESS money to treat them than it did to imprison them. Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
1
point
1) Why is "going mad" the worst thing that a drug can do? 2) Liver failure caused by alcohol abuse also causes psychosis. It is called hepatic Encephalopathy. Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
1
point
3
points
3
points
3
points
3
points
And I specifically mentioned Co because that is where I live. 1 year isn't enough time to get proper results so the current standing could be coincidence. However: crime and traffic accidents have gone down noticeably, and the tax revenue generated is leading to a refund for tax payers due to surplus. Plus the non-surplus went into the schools, so good to be had there. Drawbacks are known, however. Regulation of the potency of edibles is difficult at best and there have been some high profile incidents regarding them, although they are rare. And neighboring states are none too happy about the trafficking over state lines. Still, the fear-mongering of us turning into an anarchistic wasteland of crime and/or sloth have hardly born fruit. Gone the other way so far, in fact. Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
2
points
i wouldnt say marijuana is perfectly safe, as i have tried it a few times and almost got run over a few times. but as with THESE SORT of drug related mishaps they come with its misuse, just as with listening to music crossing the road, or drunk driving. while it is certain many drugs do have undeniably harmful and addictive affects, i do not believe marijuana is amongst them. it is something i would call psychologically addictive rather than chemically addictive (something like shooting heroin), as it would seem you only become addicted through desire or habit (negotiable), as you would become addicted to your family, or TV, or your job. as with virtually everything, in excess it is likely unhealthy and being addicted in any form is unhealthy, but to avoid this sort of addiction is to adopt a puritan lifestyle and attitude to everything you might cross paths with, which i find undesirable to say the least, and is also a quality that society seems to find detestable ironically ("refusal of integration of muslims" blah blah). maybe the misuse of any drug should be criminalised, but the safe usage within certain safety constrictions should be fully legalised provided the risk of addiction (psychological) is minimalised or understood and chemical addiction is taken as a no-no. also, for the argument that weed is a stepping stone for 'harder' drugs, yes, that is true, but it is only so because of the dealers that sell marijuana opening doors and possibilities to those harder drugs. were production and distribution of weed isolated and controlled that would not be so, and would destroy much of organised crime and the markets for such drugs. Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
I have to agree. While I do not condone the use of marijuana, I believe that having it legalized would negate the taboo aspect, perhaps reducing the temptation to use. Nomoturtle and other's points about pot being a gateway drug in the presence of dealers seems valid as well; obtaining it legally may reduce this risk. At the same time, I do believe some regulation is in order. The "No" side's suggestion of devising a method of testing sobriety seems like a good idea, although I'm not sure how this might be done. I would also suggest an age restriction; 16 or seventeen perhaps, because, let's be realistic, individuals will find a way to obtain it at this age if they really want it, but perhaps we can deter its use at a young age. Do remember that, although it is not chemically addictive, it does kill brain cells! Best Wishes. Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
|
The threat isn't so much in the thing, so much as it is in what it can cause. There can be no legal limit to marijuana because it cannot be quantified like alcohol via a test. It would be very dangerous, simply because someone could get higher than the empire state building and then decide to go for an evening drive. That would be similar to getting drunk and deciding the same thing. Also, just an interesting fact, Colorado's crime rat is up 7% since it legalized marijuana. Interesting facts galore as to why it might be a bad idea to decriminalize marijuana. Side: No, it is very harmful
The threat isn't so much in the thing, so much as it is in what it can cause. This reasoning has daunting implications when used for justification of laws. Firearms, alcohol, personally owned vehicles, pharmaceuticals with mind altering side effects, even some educational material could fit under the banner of “not so bad in essence, but it can cause bad things.” Yes these things are regulated to a degree, but they are not completely illegal. Marijuana legalization would understandably come with some forms of regulation. There can be no legal limit to marijuana because it cannot be quantified like alcohol via a test. If marijuana affects your motor skills then a field sobriety test should demonstrate this. In most states, a field sobriety test is sufficient to remove a person from behind the wheel of a car and prevent the reckless endangerment of others. The Breathalyzer test wasn’t introduced until 1967, if we take into account the ratification of the 23 amendment in 1933 that leaves 34 years before a test to indicate an illegal amount of BAC was used in the US. The lack of technology to detect THC in the blood is not the only sufficient means to warrant law enforcement and we could possibly develop the technology to meet public demands given time. It would be very dangerous, simply because someone could get higher than the empire state building and then decide to go for an evening drive. That would be similar to getting drunk and deciding the same thing. You’re right. It would be very similar to getting drunk and deciding to go for a drive, which is illegal. Should alcohol be completely illegal for this reason? If not, why is it a legitimate reason for marijuana to be completely illegal? Do you see the double standard here? Also, just an interesting fact, Colorado's crime rat is up 7% since it legalized marijuana. The source you referenced indicated that that increase was in Denver alone and it specifically states in the article that “We do not know whether legalization has anything to do with it.” Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
2
points
No, there isn't a marijuana breathalyzer that can define how much you've consumed. But there are ways to identify if someone is under the influence (i.e. mouth swabs, blood tests, etc.) Society hasn't invented something as quick and precise as a breathalyzer because society doesn't welcome marijuana consumption like it does alcohol. Why not? Someone can get higher than the empire state building from drinking alcohol, taking pills, huffing glue - the list goes on. You can't justify not decriminalizing marijuana because of the potential risk that someone could get high and crash their car. If you choose to drive under the influence of anything, you're breaking the law and that's a matter of personal responsibility. In terms of Colorado, I just read an article stating that crime (as a whole) was down, and revenue (as a whole) was up. Even if there was a 7% increase in crime in the city of Denver, I still argue the matter of personal responsibility. Think back to when alcohol first became legal to consume, imagine the immediate consequences and crimes that exploded out of that decision. All in all, I always try to argue this point. Alcohol is literally poison. Marijuana is medicinal. Anyone who turns their head at the positive implications of decriminalizing marijuana is being fearful and ignorant. Another interesting statistic, 48% of people (nationally) initially voted that decriminalization was a good thing. After it actually happened, the vote increased to 58%. I honestly think people as a whole are afraid of change and understandably so when it's regarding a controlled substance; but I do believe that decriminalizing marijuana will bring much more good than bad. Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
If you are saying that the reason marijuana shouldn't be legal is because people can go to far with something they have the privilege to use. If that is the case we should make forks illegal because some people could go to far with the whole "pointy things hurt". Plus there is no way to know that marijuana is the leading cause of the crime increase in Colorado. Crime goes up and down all the time all over. Side: Yes, it is perfectly safe
1
point
1
point
1
point
|
