Yes legalization make availibility go up, grow up guys. i don't want my kid getting easier access to drugs. social acceptance is first step to more usage. Get out of my face with legalization arguments please its a burn out idea, with no proper thought processes behind it. They even have pills for the MEDICAL cases now. Theres no logical reason to get people into pot, It brings a whole new driving car issue, kids on drugs issue, and many other problems. Hey weed causes cancer, I think we don't have enough of that either!!! GREAT IDEA!!!

What does it matter if it is weed, ritalin or prozac. The real problem is the fact that people don't see pharmaceuticals as a problem in school.

Instead of drugging our children so they will stay in a chair for 45 minutes at a time and not speak unless spoken to perhaps we should try re-instituting physical education.

After all what is worse for a school insurer, a few bruised elbows and knees on the basketball court or one homicidal kid who spent 4 years on ritalin and decides to take it out on the world.

One would think Mr. Bush would want healthy kids to go fight his war over oil. Perhaps he just wants homicidal ones.

I respect your idea I do not know of one pot advocate who wants kids to have drugs. The facts are its already in school. So is alchohol and cigaretts. These are known as status offenses. Why not cut out sugar? The point there is to many things to gripe about. The main argument is that it is a class C narcotic and the elimination of the black market that fuels dealers and terrorists would be gone.
We can not say its healthy for you but either is sugar or pop which can be adictive to a child. Coffeee is a adictive. Most pot reformers want to get tough on coke and harder drugs and legalize it. Its a new taxable item and may stimulate tourism like in the netherlands.

Say there is no meduical benifit I can name several drugs on the market that are much dangerous that just got pulled. They give patents to pharmicudicals that are much more dangerous.

The study by the triangle instituite says pot is not a gateway drug this is a new paridghm. I think alcohol is more of a gateway drug. I know people who say they only smoke when they drink.I don't drink and its legal nor smoke. I won't smoke pot either.

Much respect in your opinion look at ours please.

Your post makes a lot of sense to me. Decriminalize and tax pot. The War on Drugs causes a
lot more damage to the social system than good.

Use needs to go up. You act like there is something wrong with that. Now a person with limited knowledge like yourself, probably think I am saying smoking needs to increase. I am not saying smoking needs to increase. I am saying use needs to increase. It is prohibition and the paraphanalia laws that hinder alternative delivery systems like vaporizers and cannabis prepared foods. Did you ever stop to think that alcohol use will go down when the superior alternative is legal and do you remember the temperance organizations drove for alcohol prohibition for over a century for a reason?

You probably think that cannabis causes cancer. Dr. Russo, who is a consultant to GW Pharmaceuticals, has repeatedly stated that there has never been a case of lung cancer in a cannabis-only user. It is funny how that thought is different from the research that shows that cannabis prevents some cancer. You now have thousands of cells in your body that are cancerous. Cannabis fights cancer by preventing angiogenesis (it prevents a tumor from developing a blood supply) and apoptosis (it activates programmed cell death where it was once lost).

The crap you are mentioning about there is a pill refers to Marinol which is only a manmade THC in sesame oil. It is extremely expensive for one thing. It raises the issue of why natural THC cannot be extracted from cannabis. Why would a synthetic molecule be legal as a schedule 3 substance and the exact molecule from nature be illegal by virtue of the Schedule One Lie(s) where it is said to have no medical value, be addictive, and not even safe under a doctor's supervision? Why would it not be safe under a doctor's supervision when it is safe without any supervision?

My friend, you have a lot to learn. For one thing, the body has a cannabinoid system with CB1 and CB2 receptors. You can think of CB1 as brain and CB2 as pain, as CB1 receptors are mainly in the brain and the CB2 receptors are located throughout the body. Anything that binds with these receptors is a Schedule 1 substance (except Marinol which enjoys the sole priviledge of being listed by its trademark on the Schedule of Narcotics), which is even more idiotic than having laughing grass as a Schedule 1 Narcotic. THC by itself is harder for people to use because it overloads these receptors with the psycoactive component of cannabis. When whole cannabis or even equal parts CBD and THC are used like in Sativex, the product that GW Pharmaceuticals is waiting on approval in the UK for MS, the problems of pure THC are avoided. Dr. Andrew Weil has something interesting to say about that at http://www.mapinc.org/newscc/v04/n752/a08.html?397-

"Another difference between plant drugs and isolated chemicals -and this is not something that is talked about in medical offices-is a qualitative difference in composition. Nature does not give us drugs as pure, single molecules. Nature produces constellations of related molecules in plants. There may be one compound that's present in the largest amount, and if isolated, reproduces most of the plant's drug effects. We have gotten into the habit of calling that dominant compound the 'active principle' of the plant. We have been taught in medicine and in pharmacology for generations now that it's more scientific and more useful medically to isolate that compound and purify it and, if possible, tinker with the molecule in the laboratory to make the effects even more powerful.

----------------------------------

So we disagree. You are not for freedom. You want to impose your beliefs as ignorant and brainwashed as they are on all of us. Your way takes away my freedom to consume cannabis but my way would not interfere with your decision to not consume. This whole issue is about freedom and the corruption that denies it and you my friend are on the wrong side of freedom and are supporting the corruption that it rode up on.

Yes legalization make availibility go up, grow up guys.

There is no lack of availability now! Your local pusher will not only sell Canabis to your child he will sell Cocaine, Herion, Meth ect. ect. Legalization will end the black market for Canabis, much like it did at the end of Alcohol prohibition. Sure kids will still get it some way, just like they get cigarettes & booze. In all the surveys I have seen Kids say it's easier to get Canabis than cigarettes & booze. Do you still think Canabis Prohibition is the answer?

social acceptance is first step to more usage.

The Netherlands has a less precentage, by about half, of teenagers using Canabis than the United States. The Netherlands allow "Coffee Shops" to sell Canabis to adults. Can you show me some facts to back up your statement?

Get out of my face with legalization arguments please its a burn out idea, with no proper thought processes behind it.

As it now stands, due to the huge profits the black market allows, people are killing each other and innocent bystanders to secure their territorys. Since the begining of recorded history there has never been a death caused by ingesting Canabis. It is physically impossible to overdose on Canabis. Canabis Prohibition causes much more harm!! Talk about improper thought processes !!

They even have pills for the MEDICAL cases now.

Talk to an Aids or Cancer patient who has tried Marinol. Most say that the side effects are terrible. Also Canabis is used by these patients to relieve nausea caused by the treatments, they cannot keep down the Marinol tablet due to their nausea. I personally use Canabis for chronic pain and Irritable Bowel Syndrome. The pain pills prescribed by Doctors are all very physically addictive and cause liver damage ect. Nothing the doctors prescribed for IBS worked at all. I lost my job and everything I owned before learning that Canabis helps both problems. I am now working again and slowly getting back on my feet. If the Doctors could have prescribed Canabis for me I would not have lost everything. Marinol is a synthetic THC. Natural Canabis contains many more therapeutic compounds than just THC.

Theres no logical reason to get people into pot, It brings a whole new driving car issue, kids on drugs issue, and many other problems.

You cannot get people "into" pot or any other substance. People choose to ingest their substance of choice. The issues you have stated are all issues we have now. The current policies are not working. It's time we try something new!!!

Hey weed causes cancer, I think we don't have enough of that either!!! GREAT IDEA!!!

Show me the studies that Canabis causes Cancer!!!

Actually a study conducted in Spain just substanitiated a study done at the University of Virginia in the 70's. The studies both show that a Cancbis extract shrinks Cancer Tumors by restricting the blood supply to the tumors.


Please do some research of your own. I appreciate your concern for your children. But look at the results of the tobbaco education. There are less kids using tobbaco now than in the history of our country. All due to educating our children about the risks of tobbaco use. There are risks in using Canabis. I am saying that I as an adult I should have the freedom to choose whether I use Canabis or not. If I cause someone harm as a result of my Canabis use then punish me. Do not punish me for using Canabis in my own home. I can grow, prepare & ingest Canabis on my property and never expose children or anyone else to it.

The bottom line is that the current prohibition does not work!!

Prohibition causes much more damage to the individual & soceity than Canabis could ever cause!!

It is proven in physchological studies that legalization of substances surely does increase acceptance, which leads to more use. Legalization to gain a tax benifit can have the reverse effect, Pot has also been shown to effect brain function, which in return effects education, which in the long run will effect income! If you tax income and it is going down because of pot use, that then negates any sales tax. saying pot doesn't cause cancer is a joke, It has been shown in AMA studies to hold MORE CARCINOGENS then ciggerettes. The pot smokers are grasping at straws for legalization and it shows. I Just know that adding more drug use to our country is a bad idea. I also believe anti-depressants are not as great as they say, so your Oh but this other stuff is legal argument doesn't wash. It is kind of like a child talking to a parent saying OHHHHH but My brother did it tooo, stop whining, go smoke your pot in private and stop trying to expand our countries already ridiculous drug dependance(legal or otherwise)!!

I am 51 years old and have read millions of words on the cannabis issue. The one thing I am not is niave. You may not know who Richard Cowan is. He is past director of NORML and his writings are at MarijuanaNews.com. This is the link to his commentary on MMJ- http://www.marijuananews.com/marijuananews...al_cannabis.htm This is what he wrote when the research came out that explained why Steve Kubby did not die of his adrenal cancer because pot kept him alive- http://marijuananews.com/news.php3?sid=717 That link needs to be read by everyone so that we might be better armed in the educational efforts against the ignorance supports the fraud that we know as Cannabis Prohiibition.

Scott, I am nowhere near niave on MMJ, but you are totally there.

What physchological studies? By the way Physchology is not a true science !!
So how does that override a real world fact from the Netherlands?

This subject should have nothing to do about money!! It's about freedom, compassion and thinking for yourself, not buying into the goverment lies!!

So, more carcinogens. Where are your facts and figures showing it causes cancer?

You just go ahead with the rest of the Sheople, ignore all the facts and studies contrary to your beliefs about Canabis. I just pray that you, or one of your loved ones doesn't ever have a disease that Canabis could make a little more bearable. Or in the case of Steve Kubby, who has Adrenal Cancer, and was not expected to live more than five years after his diagnosis, has beat the odds because of Canabis. It has now been more than twenty five years since his diagnosis.

I thought I presented my view in an educated and adult manner. The last part of your post is just infantile!!

I expected an educated response, I guess I was expecting too much.

What the hell is this crap????? Where do you get your information from? You sound like my grandmother who beleives the story in Reefer Madness.

There is no basis for your comment and you have nothing that provides any facts whatsoever in regardss to your statement. What you posted is what I call a "butt statement". It's where someone talks out of thier a$$.

Talk about issues you know about.

legalize cannabis, the price will drop and eating it will become a more viable alternative. In addition to that individuals and corporations will be able to freely research vaporization technology and techniques that reduce, to extremely low levels, carcinogenic substances produced from the burning of plant material.

furthermore black market cannabis is often ill prepared, and without quality control it can result in mold and mildew which can sometimes cause serious health problems There is also the issue of some cannabis being littered with adulterants, further contributing to health problems.

If health problems are your only concern than legalization is the answer.

However if you are concerned about people using cannabis and driving legislation could be attached to legislation that would de-schedule cannabis that would rule driving under the influence a crime, to be determined by certain guidelines (piss tests wont work for reasons i can explain), until further studies can be done to determine the dangers of driving under its influence.

Oh yeah smoking pot stunts mental growth too, so go light up another joint and tell me who is infantile!!! hey i wasn't running a reefer madness video, just stating facts and my interpretation of them, but I guess a burnt out, mental midget such as yourself has bested me again!!! GO FIGURE!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY BERNIE!!!

If your saying you need a study to prove you shouldn't drive stoned your nuts!! that one sentence says it all!!!

Go light up and do me a favor, blow the smoke out your azzz, it'll sound better then your words!!!

Colum You are apparently very uneducated when it comes to the use of cannabis. First of all there have been many studies funded by our own government proving that there are no physically or psychologically damaging effects from the consumption of cannabis. They did a study back in the 70's, which Richard Nixon had done to prove the harmful effects of cannabis. What they found was that it was NOT dangerous, that people who smoked cannabis regularly performed the same tasks just as well as people who didn't smoke at all. They also found that people who consume cannabis before driving become more cautious and usually slow down. Gee, that's really dangerous, huh? Better to have some overconfident drunk speeding down the road, right? First of all you need to educate yourself before you speak of what you don't know. I suggest you go to : http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/govpubs/psycviol.htm and read these government reports also go to http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/Librar...ies/cu/cul.htm then go to this site: http://www.sumeria.net/politics/shadv3.html and find out the real and true story about why cannabis is illegal. Then if you are still not convinced in the idiocy of the drug war, go to the drug war clock at www.drugsense.org/wodclock.htm and see how many billions of dollars are being spent in this senseless war against the users of drugs and cannabis, which I separate from drugs since it is a plant that God made. God also put cannabinoid receptors in our brains and bodies because it was God's intention that we use it. It is a stress reliever, a pain reliever, and also a cancer prevention and treatment. I also hope you never have to eat your words if you should become ill with something that cannabis can cure. Or even worse, have a loved one suffering from one of these (curable by cannabis consumption) illnesses, and not be able to get this cure( or treatment as the case may be.) So many times in life we find ourselves judging others only to find ourselves in their shoes shortly afterwords , and eating our words. (Or our judgements) Unless you have been in a situation where you are watching someone you love waste away because they can't keep their food down because of chemotherapy, and you know that cannabis can help them, but they aren't allowed to get it because it is illegal, you cannot judge. How many people have you ever been around that were smoking pot? I bet you have been around plenty, and never even knew it. Everyone who smokes doesn't get glassy eyed or even red eyed, or stupid, or forgetful. They don't get violent, and they don't get lazy. There are many highly educated and intelligent people who smoke on a regular basis. You don't know about it because they don't act any different than people who don't smoke. Please check out the links here and become educated on this subject, then come back with an informed opinion.

WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET A BONG ??????????????????????????????????????

if you are saying you know the right penalties for, and all the dangers of driving while under the influence of cannabis than you are twice the nut you suppose i am. Get some class, and a lot of sense (and maybe some sinsemilla) or take your excessive question marks elsewhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Prove it where are the studies? Then when you come forward I will with my own studies. The point there is a study for everything. As for the argument carcinogens in pot or cigatetts there are toxic fumes in the envoroment already they are out of hand. We have ozone alerts because of polution cuting out cigarets or pot would never be enough thats just reality. You fail to notice this fact or mention it either or. Legalized pot would not exspand it everyone does it now its the drug of choice on the streets. Alchol is legal I don't drink ending prohibition on alchol worked. I am not so sure on the taxed item. If people smoke as much as I know they do we are talking big bucks but its not the money its the crime and black market I want to eliminate.

Believe it or not I am a criminologist let me say this there is no crime without law.
A 1999 studyby Blumstein found that 30% of new commitments are drug offenses to state prison. The drug offenders serve longer terms under get tough laws.
In 1995 39 states were under court orders to stop overcrowding.

The impact is big money its about 30 grand a year to house inmates you do the math.Most pot users who just use pot and nothing else are non violent users. The black market can be dangerous with any item or drug.Some consider drug use a private mater.

The Instituite of Social Research found in a study that the top three drugs of high school seniors are alcohol 50.0 tobacco 31.4 and marijuna is 21.6. The kids barely use harder drugs. The numbers fluctuate but remain about the same. This means dare does not work. These kids after having dare go on to the university level and binge drink. DARE does not work there are several studies out there.

You can't lie to kids they smoke grass. If you tell them all these wild stories about it they won't believe the other stuff about crack or heroin. If a role model lies that role model is not to believed.

Alchohol acounts for most of police calls when they are on a substance. But there is other drug use to on calls. The highest instance of offenders who are intoxicated use alchohol. For the most part pot smokers are to stoned to fight. Not saying its not possible.

I am not saying its not harmful I agree its harmful but not as harmful as other stuff. It just makes more sense to legalize it.

I don't even know why we should waste our time fighting for the legalization of Marijuana. We have Bush attacking Social Security, which affects the disabled, elderly, and even the economy; an unjust war on Iraq, and terrorism to counter. Why is marijuana even an issue?

Besides, it's not as if Tobacco was a great idea, and Marijuana is just as hard on your lungs as it is. While Rome burns some people will be playing their violins in lament over the criminilization of pot. How pathetic is that?

I refuse to enter into a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent !!!!

More than 700,000 people are arrested each year for choosing to use a relatively harmless plant. I think that is every bit as important as "We have Bush attacking Social Security, which affects the disabled, elderly, and even the economy; an unjust war on Iraq, and terrorism to counter." Other than terrorism the other problems are all linked with prohibition by the fact that are constitution is being ignored by the goverment and the courts. It required an amendment to the constitution to prohibit alcohol. Why was an amendment not required for drugs?
They simply ignored the constitution!!!

There are other ways to ingest Canabis than smoking. One of the federal Canabis patients, who has been smoking Canabis daily for more than twenty years had a lung capacitity test, and showed no adverse effects from his comsumption.

This is about FREEDOM people. If they can take away your right to choose your own medicine/intoxicant they feel they can get away with even more constitutional abuses !!!

Fighting againist our unjust drug laws, is a fight againist FASCISM & a fight to restore our constitutional rights, given to us by our forefathers !!!

The same social/political/financial forces that drive the so war on drugs also drive
the domination of multinational corporations, the illegal war in Iraq and other
current drifts towards Facism.

Your lacking brain cells and abilities to comprehend things. The people in here trying to claim pot cures cancer and makes you drive slower, so therefore safer, do however make you apper intelligent!! Read the list of KNOWN chemicals in pot, They are bad. Carcinogens more then outweigh benifits. I smoke ciggerettes, and I think truly, they should be put in a grandfather clause type ban too, If you are not 18 by this certain date, you can never buy them legally, It would be great for this countries health while not taking an addictive substance away from already smoking individuals!! I smoked pot for years, and KNOW first hand its not a healthy substance. Reduced lung capacity, tar out put, brain cell damage alone prove the argument!! YOUR UNARMED OR UNABLE TO SEE BASIC FACTS!! At least I can truthfully see truths even about products I use being bad!! Hey I used to drink too, It wasn't good for me, But it does hold value for some!! A beverage vs a product thats use automatically incurrs damage is a different argument. Alcoholic beverages actually do hold some nutritional values. What does smoking pot do besides create a buzz, kill brain cells and mess up lungs?

POTHEADS UNITE!!! THE EMPIRE IS DOING WARS TO KEEP YOU FROM POT!! OMG your brainless!! IRAQ WAR IS RELATED TO POT WAR? OH YES AND IF WE DON'T ALLOW POT SMOKINGLEGALLY WE WILL BECOME NAZI'S!!! STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!

I STARTED THIS POST!!! YOU GO AWAY!! YOU STATED YOU NEED A STUDY TO PROVE DRIVING STONED IS BAD IDEA, ANOTHER PERSON WROTE< OH THEY SLOW DOWN HIGH SO ITS SAFER! OK THEN I PROPOSE DRIVING DRUNK BE LEGAL AS LONG AS YOU ONLY GO 30 MILES PER HOUR!! YOU GUYS ARE SOOOOOOOOO BRIGHT>>>>> MAKE POTHEAD STEREO TYPE SEEM TRUE!!

OHK you admit its harmful, maybe you would even admit legalization will lead to more use, and maybe you'll even admit people driving under its influence will go up also. My point is, totally WHY LEGALIZE ANOTHER HARMFUL THING? I think ciggerettes ought to be banned for future generations, and I am a smoker!! I think we ought to pick a cut off year and ease our population off of nicotine! Im not saying pot is only problem, by no means, Im saying lets fix our peoples health and welfare issues, not add to them! Besides I smoked pot, I had to get it illegally , if you want it you can get it. I believe giving it an air of social acceptance will increase users. Its just not clear thinking to expand use! Maybe some reductions in punishment are in order(which I believe have been done over the last 40 years) but not flat out HEY OK AMERICA LIGHT UP!!

Just a personal note here, my brother died in accident, HMMMM he was smoking pot, Theories of safe slow driving>shot down. My freind a heavy pot smoker but curiously a non ciggerette smoker, died of cancer , theories of pot curing cancer>shot down!! Another freind died in accident mixing booze and pot, wrecked his car and snapped hios neck, Guess what was still in his hand when they found him? A joint!! Oh yeah Pot smoking leads to smarter safer driving, I see your point now!!

Have any of you given thought to the advertising push coming if you legalize pot? You think big tobacco isn't The model? Hey everyone sits their claiming big tobacco and booze companies are bad influence, right down to lobbiests in DC, Imagine creating a whole new corporate empire to try and advertise peddle, and create a POT selling giants BUSINESS FREINDLY ENVIROMENT!! You think it will be small time dealers running the companies? Bull, It would be corporations, Yeah we need that!! GREAT IDEA!!

first off what is so bad about marijuana use? Please dont respond with something about how stupid it makes people in all caps, discuss social problems rationally or post scientific studies (not ONDCP talking points) that indicate it causes significant health problems (and yes, we all know burning things creates carcinogens). Second, your assumption that use will go up relies on use being caused by a positive response to its effects, not by social factors. What i mean is that among teenagers rebellion is often found pleasurable. This could create an environment in which marijuana use is proportional to the tendency to rebel. This idea might be supported by the rise in drug use during the years where the counter culture was very influential among young people. There is also the example of the neatherlands, where drug use, including cannabis, is much lower among teenagers, and the population as a whole, than it is here, with it being criminalized.

you also have to weigh the negative consequences of current policy vs possible negative effects of decriminalization/legalization.

Federal and state governments spend 50 billion USD every year fighting the war on drugs. Six years of the war on drugs will be more expensive than the iraq war.

The War on Drugs targets, disproportionally, minorities, and puts people into an already overcrowded prison system, that has additional side effects on the individual and society as a whole. For instance our prison system is notorious for its inmates being sexually assaulted. Than there is the possibility that out of prison, since the individual might be unable to find work, they will turn to crime, and possibly harder drugs or full blown addiction (that they may have come into contact with in prison). Drug crime is estimated at 36 billion annually.

The war on drugs is an estimated 400 billion dollar market, accounting for roughly 8% of the world's total commerce. Most of this money flows into the hands of criminals, paramilitaries, and terrorists.

The war on drugs causes and funds gang warfare on our city streets.

The war on drugs has no reduced purity, or the price of illegal drugs despite our reckless spending.

The war on drugs contributes to disease and prostitution.

The war on drugs causes corruption of government officials, that can lead to murder as evidenced by the shenanigans that went on in mena arkansas during the mid and late 80's.

The war on drugs causes our government to lie to us, and contributes to dangerous social engineering. Evidenced by the federal governments shutting down of ibogaine trials in 1995, despite overwhelming evidence that it can treat any addiction effectively, because it produces hallucinogenic effects. They also shut down trials of 18-MC, and ibogaine analog, that produces the same effects on addiction, without the hallucinogenic side effects (likely because they would have to re-schedule ibogaine because of the analog act).

Im sorry my friend, but the war on drugs is a travisty, and your current tendency to support it shows how effective the propaganda and social engineering has been. Furthermore it violates democratic principles, which rely on the ability of people to make proper decisions.

Causes accidents, causes lung problems. kills brain cells, AND BIG BUSINESS WILL RUN WITH IT!! If you legalize pot you in effect create a profit making business that will be fueled by your money and grow into a cross between big tobacco and big booze companies. They will no doubt pudsh for advertizing, expansion of markets, And A BUSINESS FREINDLY ENVIROMENT!! To say use and consequences won't increase is just plain naive and uneducated. You guys in legalization movement have so little foresight it almost proves the old BURN OUT theories so prevalant in the 60's and 70's!!

Colum first of all, let me say , I am very sorry you lost your brother and your friends. I can see why you would think that pot is dangerous, but those studies are true. What kind of cancer did your friend die from? How much alcohol was in your friend's system when he wrecked his car? Alchohol makes people do stupid things that they would not do if they weren't drunk. I am sure that personality has alot to do with how a person drives, be it sober, drunk or stoned. Yes, actually, if people who were drunk drove at no faster than thirty miles an hour, they probably wouldn't have as many accidents. I know some people who can't drive as well on NOTHING as people who I know that drive drunk or stoned. Not that I am advocating driving drunk or stoned, I am not. But actually I think it should be illegal to drive stupid . What a person has ingested shouldn't make a difference as long as they are driving ok. You say you smoke cigarettes, and that you think they should make them illegal for anyone under 18. I think they should make them illegal now so all you tobacco addicts can get so pissed off that you start a revolution and we get our freedom back! You can bet your a$$ if tobacco all of a sudden could earn you the same treatment as pot does now, you'd change your mind really quickly, and THERE IS A TRUE HEALTH ISSUE THERE! Maybe they should take away anybody's kids that smokes cigarettes in front of them , after all, children learn by example, and most cigarette smoker's kids end up smoking cigarettes also!!!! How would you like that? They could arrest all the cigarette smokers and throw them in jail, take their homes and cars and property, same as they do to people now for pot, and make them work for nothing in prison, same as they do now for pot. After all, I don't smoke cigarettes, they are dangerous. I used to smoke, but I quit because they were taking away my lung capacity and my voice was suffering from them, and I am a singer. Now that I haven't used tobacco since 1991, my lung capacity is back like it was and so is my voice. Can you imagine how bad the $hit would hit the fan if they were to do that? I know people who are poor who still buy cigarettes. They have children and need stuff they can't afford , but they sure still buy those cigarettes. They also smoke pot on occasion, if someone else gives it to them. You see, they don't buy it because they can't afford it, but they still buy their cigarettes.

You dismiss any and all evidence of dangers of driving intoxicated, on anything by saying, as long as they drive ok! Even with that you claim ciggerettes have health issues, well pot smoking does too. It is proven it kills brain cells, and its also proven smoke is damaging to lungs! HEALTH ISSUES!! taking away a substance that is legal requires more tact then not legalizing one. You can't addicyt a population legally then pull out the carpet! Pot smokers claim Pot is unaddictive anyway so that argument is dead!! You want big businees creating a new lobbiest group promoting advertising, selling, and expansion of use of an unhealthy mind altering substance? Well thats what you will get! It won't be your street corner dealer or freind making money, it will end up being a corporation, bent on profits only!! Anyone who claims pot doesn't impair abilities thought processes and cause health problems is being foolish. Hey no ones ever done a study proving smoking old tires through a waterpipe is harmful either, go light up a good year baby!! The studies on pot are very limited in reference to ciggerettes because its illegal. We truly don't know every chemical in ciggerette smokes effects yet, and thats with BILLIONS OF DOLLARS spent, probably hundreds of times the amount spent on pot studies!! Hey If you want a joe camel with red eyes billboard or a maryjane nascar race being brought to your town, fine, but leave my town alone!!

An increase in users would be a great thing! One love, One world! Just think if Bush and Cheney would've invited some world leaders over for some bong rips (I bet we would not have renamed french fries, freedom fries. Wait, that DOES sounds like they were smoking pot!) But I think that Bush and Cheney see better effects from heroine, thus the support for afghan farmers. Heroine is much more effective at silencing and incapacitating users(read disagreable segments of society) than pot smokers.

It's so funny, you are against legalization, however, you have now stated over and over that posters should go partake:
#8 "stop whining, go smoke your pot in private and stop trying to expand our countries already ridiculous drug dependance(legal or otherwise)!! "

#15 "Go light up and do me a favor, blow the smoke out your azzz, it'll sound better then your words!!! "

#27"HEY OK AMERICA LIGHT UP!! "

But again, as freemetopartake has stated, its about freedom. I think I see where you are coming from colum, its similar to the gay marriage issue for you, isn't it? If we allow gay marriage, then you might want to have a gay marriage of your own. America is all about our individual freedoms, why are so many trying to take away others rights and freedom, that's un-american. And just because I might smoke pot, that doesn't mean you are going to get high, unless we are in the same room with no windows. colum, are you taking any perscription drugs right now?

Wake up! This is the 21st century, you cling to old stereo types and irrational fear like a homophobe on Polk St! If you want to dictate how people live their lives, then I suggest you move out of my country!

I understand that this concept of legalization is very hard for you. You should "free your mind" and try and see the larger picture. But its great to hear from soo many intelligent progressive fact and report supported pro-legalization posters. Thanks colum for starting this thread. Some of my hope has been restored, and I feel a renewed kinship with my fellow americans, that is the true americans.

You create another corporate giant by legalizing pot!! The profits will be to tempting for big business! I don't want another 1000 lobbiests in congress trying to create a pot selling business freindly enviroment!! You guys just do not get it at all! The big business will try to advertise, expand markets, and increase pfofits! The government will be lobbied for corporate tax breaks, people will be funding Pot growing and production, just like big tobacco!! Creating a new lobbying and profit driven unhealthy business is stupid. You see the damage JOE CAMEL DID? Come on think!! Damn you just don't follow your ideas all the way through!!

Your a moron. I support gay marriage, Its their right! You think its insulting me to call me gay, Im not but if I were I wouldn't be embarassed. Your a twit! Gay marriage is no threat to me, the health of america or people who are secure in their own beliefs! Just because I state facts about not legalizing a harmful substance some idiot like you wants to label me a homophobe? Grow up you burnt out twit. YOUR A FLAMING MORON!!

so legalize it and make it illegal to advertise it anywhere, in any media, they could make it available for sale, but not advertise. The people would be happy with that , who cares whether or not big business is. Wouldn't all you other pot friendly folks out there be happy with that? Many people would just grow their own anyway, so they wouldn't have to worry whether or not it was adulterated with anything else. People who lived in cities would have to buy it, but it would be safer to buy , it would take it off the black market, take it out of the hands of terrorists(I find this hard to believe, but just in case it is true that it supports terrorism)and less available to our children. The glamour of the "forbidden fruit" would be gone, making it less inviting to teens. Hell, they could even tax it so that they could use the money to help anyone who ends up with health issues in the future from using it. Then, when we are all old, we could tap into that great accumulation of funds when the Social Security gives out. BTW,where can I get a JOE CAMEL with red eyes?

I'm not calling you gay, I'm calling you un-american. I would never insult gay persons by associating you with them.

And your arugments for "big corporations" taking control of marijaunna is ridiculous. If its legal, anyone can grow it, its a weed.

You do not state facts, you have not stated a fact yet! And once again, name calling only makes you sound infantile.

Oh, and as you have stated, you have smoked pot, so your unfounded and proven wrong in studies argument about addiction is, by your own experience a propaganda lie.

So do you have any argument?

InAWorldGoneMad I think colum needs to get high. He is obviously very stressed out, and stress is the main cause of disease. Perhaps he would like some Prozac or Quaeludes (sp?) or Xanax, or some other mind altering substance that is legal. They advertise all those on tv,hey, he could just pick which one he wants and ask his doctor for a prescription. Just remember, there are side effects with all that crap too. Maybe he'd be better off just eating a magic brownie.

You said You might want a gay marriage of your own, THEREBY inferring it! Insulting to gay americans is comparing pot legalization rights to there struggle! Pot most certainly effects more then the user. Homosexual marriage would not. It would not increase traffic accidents, it wouldn't increase medical problems, and it truly costs me nothing! YOUR A FREAKING FOOL! Making that comparison was juvinile stupid ans frankly anti-gay! Act as if you are intelligent when all you are is a "expletive deleted"ing stupid ass stoner!

UNLIKE THE WEAK AZZED STONERS IN HERE I DON'T NEED DRUGS TO COPE!!

And inaworldgonemads argument he says its a right to smoke pot!! OK THEN LEGALIZE HEROIN< CRACK< MURDER< LOTSA RIGHTS WE NEED HERE!!

Definately Jilly!

And now that colum doesn't have an argument, he is attacking me personally.

And I was not equating the fight for legalization with the fight for gay marriage, I was equating your fear of allowing some one you disagree with equal rights.

you may not need drugs to cope, but apparently you need to use name calling.

I'll check back later to see if you, colum, have anything intelligent to say on the matter further.

IF smoking and selling pot is your legal right, I wanna sell crack to your street, your kids and whomever I choose, I DEMAND MY RIGHTS TOO!!

YEP ITS MY LEGAL RIGHT!!! LETS LEGALIZE IT ALL< FREEDOM RING BABY, HOPE YOUR KIDS GET A BIGGGGGG ALLOWANCE!!!

Hows that for a simple answer to a moronic statement! bye now idiot!!!

Gee, maybe the alcohol was the problem. Maybe we should prohibit alcohol now that we have a superior alternative. Maybe we should prohibit cars or maybe just driving. Let's prohibit everything except prohibitions.

Oh i see its ok to legalize your vices, but oh maybe not crack? Hey crack drivers drive faster and are more aware they MUST BE SAFER!!! LOL DAMN YOUR ARGUMENTS ARE STUPID!!

ok, before I go, I can't let you put words in my mouth (posts).

The legalization issue being discussed in this thread is regarding marijaunna. Crack and heroine kill people, so they should not be legalized. I didn't think I had to say it, but apparently I do.

So you would be for legalization if you could profit from it? Wow, maybe we are winning you over. Or you just don't have any morals.

My right is to make descision for myself. And I am willing to fight anyone who tries to take away that right.

oh, and btw, you are starting to quoting yourself...

gotta go pick up my kids. talk to you later, in the meantime colum, you seem to be able to keep your conversation going with yourself. Just don't call yourself too many insulting things, it may be bad for your self esteem.

HMMMM i bet you never heard of anyone dying while impaired on pot? OH WELL i guess if pots ok, MUSHROOMS ARE GOOD FOR DRIVING TOO!! HEY LETS LEGALIZE STEROIDS TOO< YOU GET BIGGER AND ONLY SOME PEOPLE DIE!!!