But drinking is legal. Let's ban alcohol because it kills more brain cells than something you can't even overdose on.

Plus the only drug I've ever ingested was coffee, kthx.

I don't remember anybody here saying that pot wasn't influencing your driving. But so does alcohol, fatigue, stress, headache pills and music.

What I do remember is most pro-pot people in here taking about responsible use of pot. I'm sure nobody with at least a tiny little bit of brains would consider driving under the influence of pot as "responsible".

Oh, and smoking pot is no more disgusting than smoking tobacco, and definitely far less disgusting than alcohol abuse (at least I know that I prefer chilled/giggling weedheads over aggressive/lascivious drunks).

@Faggy Chan
I don't smoke pot, and I support it anyway :\

Texting while driving also causes car accidents. Applying makeup causes car accidents. Being too tired or upset while driving causes accidents. Do you think makeup, texting, and being tired should all be banned?

Originally Posted by FAGGY CHAN

Only people defending pot, are the people smoking it and wanting to keep on smoking it.

LOLWUT? My post is right above yours, so you had to have seen it, and in it I specifically state that I don't smoke pot. There's really no excuse for you to make such an ignorant statement.

Feels good man..

Oukan, and anyone else arguing against marijuana, can you back up a SINGLE claim you have made about the plant? And I don't mean "I know someone who smoked pot and they became a loser" lol. I mean real, unbiased scientific studies.

Originally Posted by Philomel

LOLWUT? My post is right above yours, so you had to have seen it, and in it I specifically state that I don't smoke pot. There's really no excuse for you to make such an ignorant statement.

Thank You! Mine wasn't right above but I mentioned I didn't smoke it either and am for it being legalized. I guess these people are just ignoring us or aren't reading the posts before posting their one sided, generalized statements.

Its not addictive.
I've smoked before and I'm not addicted.
And I have an addictive personality. ;D

Its not any more dangerous than alcohol. Less. And alcohol is legal. We banned alcohol and all kinds of problems came from that. Let's legalize marijuana and see if some problems clear up. :]

If you know what its like to be super depressed, then you know that anything that can make you happy is a good thing.

For people (like Faggy Chan) who say its disgusting, how so? What's gross about it? Have you ever seen someone chew tobacco [which is legal]; now THAT is disgusting. ><
Also, as for the accident thing- I'm sure you're saying that only because of the accident that's been on national news recently, where the mother who was driving had pot in her system. But she was drunk as hell too. And BOOZE causes probably more car accidents and deaths than anything else.

If you don't like it, don't do it. More power to you. But the people who do it should have their own choice. Its their body. They aren't forcing it on you. People should be able to decide what they want to do with their own body, whether its smoking pot or cigarettes, drinking alcohol, or even getting an abortion. You should be able to be responsible for your own body, and not having rules and lawmakers and uppity I-know-better-than-you people telling you what to do with it.

Originally Posted by Oukan

I really dont understand it at all. Pot is a drug. Some people make excuses like, indians did it - cigs are legal - my whole family does it so why not? It really does not make any sense to me at all what so ever. How can you make excuses and say its OK for you to destroy your body like that. I wish that it was never made a legal drug in some states and countries. That alone just gives people more a reason to say they should be allowed to do it. Why encourage something thats bad for you?

I understand why you feel that way, but then again, I don't. The "cigs are legal" statement doesn't seem to be an excuse at all to me. It's true that they take lives every day and destroy the body too so....I think whether a bad substance is legal or not, people will do it. Even drugs perscribed to us, FDA approved mind you, can cause severe damage to our body. The only reason why these things aren't illegal, is because of money. Companies pay big money to have cigs, alcohol, and drugs on the market. I mean, even greasy artery clogging foods can eventually kill you, but we eat that stuff all the time. People will harm their bodies till the end of time and that's just it.

i myself have never smoked it and i dont intend to, i think it should be banned, in the end it only cause people harm, my dad has been smoking it since he was 14 he's now 36 and has a mass amount of chest problems, i just dont see the point.

but what really confusing is the fact that my mum's doctor "told" her to smoke a "joint" once a week in a number of words. you see my mum suffers from bipolar, which basically a server case of depression to a point where she has a mass amount of unbalanced chemicals in her brain that makes her over think things and she does stupid things because of it.
apparently smoking pot actually sets her mind as ease and re balances the chemicals for a short time, so it actually helps her........ i dont understand it, but i have seem a big difference her, she's tried to kill herself many of times (and has come close to succeeding, which is really scary) but since she's been smoking it (she doesn't smoke often like once even two weeks) she seems almost normal like she'd cured....... so i dont really know what to think of it.

on one hand it hurts and damages your body but on the other it heals?
i think it really depends on the person who using it as to weather or not it should be banned.

Originally Posted by Vexous

i myself have never smoked it and i dont intend to, i think it should be banned, in the end it only cause people harm, my dad has been smoking it since he was 14 he's now 36 and has a mass amount of chest problems, i just dont see the point.

but what really confusing is the fact that my mum's doctor "told" her to smoke a "joint" once a week in a number of words. you see my mum suffers from bipolar, which basically a server case of depression to a point where she has a mass amount of unbalanced chemicals in her brain that makes her over think things and she does stupid things because of it.
apparently smoking pot actually sets her mind as ease and re balances the chemicals for a short time, so it actually helps her........ i dont understand it, but i have seem a big difference her, she's tried to kill herself many of times (and has come close to succeeding, which is really scary) but since she's been smoking it (she doesn't smoke often like once even two weeks) she seems almost normal like she'd cured....... so i dont really know what to think of it.

on one hand it hurts and damages your body but on the other it heals?
i think it really depends on the person who using it as to weather or not it should be banned.

Wow! I think that's at least the second time I've seen someone say it's been used for depression/bi-polar. I had never heard of that one before, but I certainly don't doubt it. I wish they would actually do more studies on this type of thing. It's beginning to seem like it may help medically for more things than I bet even "they" thought it did.

Nether had i until my mums DOCTOR! told her.
i'll never get over that XD a doctor told her too rofl, i didn't think they were alound to do that

Dang, my aunt smokes cigarettes but she's too prejudicial to smoke a joint. She's bipolar and I think she needs it but mehh... her life.

My grandmother, on the other hand, does. It's funny because she stopped smoking [cigarettes] a few decades ago, and now she has to learn again because marihuana is helping her with her diabetic glaucoma 8D

The herb itself isn't bad really. It's the usage. But people tend to forget anything can be used irresponsibly. My uncle thinks pork should be banned because it's so greasy and there shouldn't be as many obese people as there is. It doesn't make sense to most people, if not everyone, but that goes along the same line when making arguments against pot.

Originally Posted by Hyena

I approve of pot. Pot is non-addictive, unlike cigarettes, and doesn't include most of the harmful additives. The smoke and effects of marijuana are gone as soon as it is out of your system, which depends on how much you smoke... and is at most an hour. The only times it has lasting harm on one's body or mind is when someone takes too much at a time or when someone decides to do something stupid while under the influence. Its just like alcohol, possibly even less harmful.

Now, there is a lot of crime associated with weed, but that is not unlike any other substance. Back in the 1920's, we had Prohibition. A lot of crime was associated with alcohol. Then we made it legal again and the crime eased back up. I think that if we legalize pot, it will make it harder for there to be crime associated with it. Gangs will lose a lot of their money/members because their main source of trade will be no longer as lucrative. Then they'll just pick up another drug and everything will be status quo.

As for the depletion of funding, if the plant were legal it wouldn't be so taxing on our wallets. The reason its called "weed" is because it grows like one, especially in the fertile marshland of the Northern Midwest. Perhaps a law would be passed, allowing people to keep one plant per house. And as an export, it would be legal under a certain license, just like selling fruit or alcohol overseas. This could be a valuable export and may improve the economy.

Many people suffering from eye problems have a pot plant for medicinal purposes, regulated by state law. If we were to take away their only source of medicine, we would have to pour money into researching alternative treatments. With the eyes being a sensitive area, the treatment would have to be calculated, expensive, and time consuming.

So really, I can think of many reasons why marijuana, while not necessarily good on all accounts, is at its most negative "benign." It is just like alcohol. Its less harmful than cigarettes. And as a hallucinogen, its pretty weak. At most, it makes you giggle over nothing for an hour.

If it were to be legalized, I would of course put an age limitation. 21, I think would be appropriate. Its the same age at which you're allowed to make all sorts of stupid decisions. I personally think that pot would be one of the less stupid decisions you could make.

I have to agree with all that Hyena has said here.

Contrary to people's belief, marijuana is a great medical herb. I hear many people telling me about the conditions they have, and that smoking pot has actually helped them. I can't back those statements up 100%, but I do know that pot helps with minor ailments. Perfect example: migraines.


As for the general idea that people throw out there: "Oh, but it's bad for your health!". It's really not. You can't get addicted. Also, pot is a natural plant, there's no harmful chemicals mixed into it, opposed to cigarettes. The only time you'd have to worry about the contents of your pot is when you think it's been laced (mixed with other drugs, ie. cocaine. But it's easy to stay away from that, just grow your own pot instead of buying it from dealers).

And as far as the government goes with having it outlawed, I think it's them being sore that they have no way of getting the income. Same as prostitution. They aren't in the equation. So what's left to do? Make it illegal.

I don't see what's bad about marijuana, really. It doesn't make you violent, in fact it's the complete opposite. All it does to you is effect your mental state. Everything runs more slowly, you'll forget what you were doing a mere moment ago, and your mind will race. You don't get the urge to murder people, or cause any disturbance. As Hyena said, the violence comes from the gangs. It's the people trying to get their hands on the drug, not them actually being on it.

Edit: And yes, I am one of those people who have smoked pot and am backing it up.
How I see it, you don't know about a certain subject until you try it for yourself.
Although, I'm not telling you to go out and try it, heavens no. Only if you're sincerely curious about it, then you should. I tried it because I believe you should try anything once. ;D

I used to smoke pot regularly. Now I only occasionally do. I agree that it is non-addictive, as you cannot get chemically addicted to it. It can also be good for your mental health.
However, it is not physically good for you. It has some of the same carcinogens as ciggarettes(minus the nicotine). and it's not necessarily that it's pot that's bad for you. burning anything and breathing it in is not good. smoke from a piece of grass will have the same chemicals.
I am PRO pot, but I do realize that it is physically bad for me. If used in moderation, the benefits can outweigh the costs.

I feel I have some insight into both sides of the argument.

On one hand, I have never smoked pot. Never tried it and don't really intend to. I don't enjoy the smell, and don't feel the need to alter my mood with it or beer. I'm a naturally happy person, and can be around my friends while they are smoking without needed the alteration myself.

On the other hand, I grew up in a very broken home. My mother and step father both did a number of drugs and drank heavily. Pot was a constant, and my younger brother was selling it when he was 12 years old. Most nights my mother would be drunk and drugged and very violent. The problem came when Pot was mixed with beer and other, more potent, illegal drugs.

On the occasions she or my step father only smoked pot, the mood lightened, we would eat well and everyone would stay home watching movies. It's sad to say, actually, but my best childhood memories are of my mother being high. She once rented Dusk Til Dawn and she, my sister and I watched it 4 times in a row, just giggling at the fake blood.

That being said, I agree with the legalization of marijuana. And agree with the argument that it is a safer and less harmful substance then beer or cigarettes. I feel that the legalization would make it's use safer in general, seeing that laws could be put in place to control it's distribution. I knew a lot of children growing up who bought and sold for their parents. Legalization would curb this dangerous activity as well.

I agree that being able to tax such a substance would also be good for not just the government, but local communities. And, there is also the fact that, like alcoholic, it can be removed from some areas. I live in a Dry county. No store here is allowed to sell hard liquor, only beer. The same could be done for Marijuana.

Yes, there are health risks. But if you look at the papers, at the studies and at the packaging on your favorite food, nearly everything we eat and breath today is a health risk. Air bags are a risk. Sandwich meat is a risk. Milk is a risk. Eating raw tomatoes puts you at risk. There are very few things that are unarguably risk free. If compared to it's equivalents, those being beer, PCP, Acid, crack, cocaine... I think pot is the least harmful, and in this day and age, that's all we can ask for. Compare it to other inhaled product.. the problem isn't with the pot or tobacco itself, but with the additives. My husband smokes cigs and rolls his own from locally grown crops. It's less expensive and, at least he claims, lasts longer and doesn't do the damage processed packs do.

I think the PURE PRODUCT, Marijuana, compared to the PURE PRODUCT of tobacco is on par, health wise, If the government feels it's safe to add chemicals to it.. well they already do with tobacco, right or wrong.

Probably because it's by far the least addictive drug out there, including legal ones like Nicotine and Alcohol. There is a chart on Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ra...endence%29.svg) that shows the physical harm and addiction levels of drugs compared to other drugs. From the chart you can see that Cannibis is actually less addictive/harmful than tobbaco (legal) and alcohol (legal as well). I think that either of those should be illegal before Cannibis. If you're going to prevent people from doing something because it's "harmful" why not make it something that actually hurts people.

Addiction is pretty subjective seeing that you can addictive to anything- WoW, star wars, LOTR ect. People can become psychologically addicted to it. That's no reason to ban pot or LOTR but if it was to be legalized it would be something that we would have to keep in mind.
There is a load whoo-ha about how harmful pot is. Mainly into psychosis, there is lots of research floating about whether it causes psychotic illness or not. Nothing conclusive has ever been decided although pro and anti weed sites would have you believe different. There are medical case studies for and against but none of which are conclusive which is the nature of a case study. Plus with it being illegal it's hard to get a decent sample of people. One of the main criticisms of this type of research is that is conducted in mental units. So the psychosis might be a side effect of the mental illness rather than the pot smoking. Also very higgly piggedy hope one day someone makes heads or tails of the mess. I believe pot should be legalized but it should be monitored so we don't get another ticking time bomb as we've got with cigarettes and obesity.

I hate how it is called "The Gateway Drug".
That isn't true as far as I'm concerened. It isn't addictive physically and has nothing to do with other drugs.
So stop blaming it on the weed you crackheads, that's your fault D<

People just like the high. They just want to get high and not care if they are destroying their body. I mean I am sure they know that but I know some people at my school just like the high. It is quite dumb to think of it that way but if they want to do it. Let them do it, it's not you to care for their health. Unless it is, of course, a friend of yours. I would worry much. But don't stop them unless they want to stop for themselves. If they can't see that, then they are blind.

Originally Posted by lightkanna

People just like the high. They just want to get high and not care if they are destroying their body. I mean I am sure they know that but I know some people at my school just like the high. It is quite dumb to think of it that way but if they want to do it. Let them do it, it's not you to care for their health. Unless it is, of course, a friend of yours. I would worry much. But don't stop them unless they want to stop for themselves. If they can't see that, then they are blind.

How are they destroying their bodies? It's true that inhaling smoke of any sort is unhealthy, but if you're going to get upset at someone for doing such, you should get upset at people for driving certain kinds of cars and living in certain places, too. And don't even get me started on burning leaves or, god forbid, incense.

Of course, an argument might be made that pot gives you the munchies and some people might gain a lot of weight that way, thus "destroying their bodies", but something tells me that isn't what you were referencing :P

It should be legal:
A. Who cares what other people do to themselves besides their family. If their family cares they can make them stop. There's no law saying that you can't be a racecar driver or a football player or a stuntman because it is dangerous.
B. Cigarettes and Alcohol are by far worse drugs but yet they are legal.
C. The war on drugs fills prisons, costing taxpayer money, hardening mild users into gang members and true criminals. (not to mention the state using them as forced workers)
D. The gov't benefits from lobbyists(who also benefit from it) by also being able to keep hemp illegal, protecting the corn, lumber, and cotton industries.
E. It is only a "gateway" drug because the dealers who sell all the hard drugs (which are illegal) also sell marijuana (because it's also illegal). If pot was legal, it would be sold retail like alcohol and cigarettes, people wouldn't have to go to drug dealers for it.
F. It can be used for medical reasons as a pain reliever or appetite enhancer.

I would like to clarify that I use no drugs (not even cigarettes or alcohol or even some medicines) but I defend the legality of it because I oppose totalitarianism and moral fascism. The war on drugs has ruined more lives than pot ever did.

Pot falls into the same category for me as any other kind of mind altering substance. Alcohol, cigs, and any other kind of drug is equally as stupid to take, simply because they're a poison on our bodies. I don't think pot should be illegal however, because it's a persons choice to do that kind of stuff to themselves, and maybe then at least so many people wouldn't be going to jail for such a minor offense.

I've never taken any drugs, and I've only been drunk a couple times, but those two times, even though at the time it seemed fun, scare the crap out of me. Having such a lack of control over myself is terrifying.

Theres many different opinions on pot usage, but really you can't be on either side if you havent experienced it.

Pot is a drug. Pot is addictive, no matter what people may think or say. Pot is just as dangerous as any other drug. You may not be able to overdose from it but you will end up messing up your life over it.

Pot makes you lazy and distracted. Prolonged use can cause schizoprania, paranoia, anxiety, insomnia, and many other problems.

It destroys brain cells. The thc in marajuana is a mild hallucinagine so it can cause people to really lose there minds.

Im speaking mainly from experience. People get into it because the first couple of times its really fun. It relaxes you, it makes a lot of things funny, and it makes your problems go away. But thats still the same for every drug out there. and when you come down your problems are still there.

Mainly i think people don't mind it because its been around for so long. And because scientist aren't sure if it has any long term effects nothings really being done about it. Pot is something you can find almost anywhere, and its cheap.

Its a social drug. At almost every party you go to someone there will be smoking pot, if drinking is involved. Not talking about your moms bridge party lol.

Most of your parents have either tried it or still do it.

I for one hope its never legalized. Its taken some really good friends of mine. Changed them into careless people who really aren't doing anything for themselves or society. Just sitting around talking about what they will do but not doing it. And waiting for the next score.

Originally Posted by D T

Theres many different opinions on pot usage, but really you can't be on either side if you havent experienced it.

Pot is a drug. Pot is addictive, no matter what people may think or say. Pot is just as dangerous as any other drug. You may not be able to overdose from it but you will end up messing up your life over it.

Pot makes you lazy and distracted. Prolonged use can cause schizoprania, paranoia, anxiety, insomnia, and many other problems.

It destroys brain cells. The thc in marajuana is a mild hallucinagine so it can cause people to really lose there minds.

Im speaking mainly from experience. People get into it because the first couple of times its really fun. It relaxes you, it makes a lot of things funny, and it makes your problems go away. But thats still the same for every drug out there. and when you come down your problems are still there.

Mainly i think people don't mind it because its been around for so long. And because scientist aren't sure if it has any long term effects nothings really being done about it. Pot is something you can find almost anywhere, and its cheap.

Its a social drug. At almost every party you go to someone there will be smoking pot, if drinking is involved. Not talking about your moms bridge party lol.

Most of your parents have either tried it or still do it.

I for one hope its never legalized. Its taken some really good friends of mine. Changed them into careless people who really aren't doing anything for themselves or society. Just sitting around talking about what they will do but not doing it. And waiting for the next score.

You say that you will end up messing up your life over it. This isn't true for everybody who uses it, not even for the majority of people who use it. It only messes up people's lives is if they CHOOSE to let it do so. It also hasn't taken ANY of your friends. THEY have CHOSEN to do this to themselves. They CHOSE to smoke it and let it become more than it had to be. The drug didn't do it, THEY did it. I'm not trying to be mean, but you're putting all the blame on the pot, when it's not the pot causing the problem, it's the people who are using it, probably to excess, that are the problem. With people like that, it could easily be anything they chose to do instead of marijuana. People need to start taking responsibility for the decisions they make and the damage those decisions can cause instead of finding something else to blame it on.