A day late and a dollar short.
I have never understood why "society" deems one drug "ok" (socially acceptable and legal) and another not. The largest drug scourge in the WORLD by FAR is **alcohol**. Yet it is legal, socially accepted and even encouraged. I mean...after all, what is a party without kegs, jello shooters and beer bongs? Alcohol IS classified as a drug but people seem to conveniently overlook that fact. And I'll be willing to betcha that almost anyone who has experimented with weed, had already started drinking alcohol. Yet for some reason no one says "Alcohol is a 'starter drug' to marijuana!" To say weed sets someone on a path to harder drugs is ridiculous. Its normally a first try (after sneakin' your first beer) simply because its usually easier to obtain than some of the harder stuff. If someone chooses to explore the harder stuff...that's a personal choice and is not driven by the fact that they used pot before. Nicotine and caffeine are drugs too...but again "somebody" decided those drugs are "ok." I'm just not sure who is making these decisions for society..."Hmmm...alcohol, nicotine and caffeine-- gooood...marijuana--baaaaaaad!". Read some statistics on the billions of dollars spent annually in alcohol-related problems (highway accidents and deaths, insurance costs, health industry costs, rehab costs, spousal/child abuse, etc.)
Like everyone else here, I don't advocate the use of harmful drugs. It is healthier to live without so better never to start...that includes alcohol and cigarettes. And I hope all the youngsters here take that to heart. Its a lesson easier to swallow now than after smoking cigs for 30 years....
Legalizing marijuana will remove the criminal element. Weed should be treated just like alcohol where you can buy it legally for an affordable price, it can be taxed and the tax proceeds funneled into drug-related needs such a good rehab centers for those who want to kick their habits. Once its legal, there is no longer a need for dealers and pushers doing deals on streetcorners, drive-by shootings for drug deals gone bad and the strain on our prison systems would be greatly relieved. It really pretty ridiculous to have a man in jail for 15 years for enjoying a joint in his living room while real, hardened criminals are given early release because the prisons just can't hold all the REAL criminals. I've heard of people getting harder pot sentences than some murderers. Now....REALLY! Does that make any sense? (Pardon the pun for anyone who gets that...hehe)
This country spends billions of dollars every year on the "war on drugs"...with no success whatsoever. They cannot stem the tide. They never will. Drugs of all types will flow into this country as long as the demand is there AND...the ***MONEY*** is there. Remove the profitability and you remove the criminal element. Why buy a bag of high-priced weed on a streetcorner when you can go buy safely and cheaply at a store? No more relaliation killings for drug deals gone bad. The "drug deals" are taking place in a controlled and legal environment.
I would be happy to see alcohol wiped off the face of the planet personally. I have seen much suffering because of it. BUT there are people who know how to use alcohol and can enjoy it with moderation. But I think the definition of "social drinker" is not understood by very many. If my child, upon becoming an adult, chose to use pot instead of alcohol, I'd rejoice!
The key word here is "USE" as opposed to "ABUSE." No matter what the drug, abuse will bring misery for sure. You just can't legislate people into doing what is right and healthy ALL the time. You can abuse food...but you don't see anyone making overeating against the law. "Throw all the fat people in jail!--they ate too much!:
ANYTHING abused is harmful--too much TV, too much food, too much shopping... So...again, who is it that is deciding what should be legal and what is not?
I say...put it up for referendum. Let the people decide what they want. If the drug alcohol is legal and accepted, so it should be for pot.
Shoot...I'll bet three-quarters of the people who legislated laws against marijuana enjoyed a little doobie now and then themselves.