Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

16 states are onboard with legal Marijuana for medical reasons. At least 2 states will have initiatives on the ballot this year for complete legalization. How do members feel about medical marijuana and/or complete legalization?

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RE: Feelings about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

I agree with you about the alcohol thing. Alcohol is far more dangerous than marijuana. I think the kids need to be protected from sale to them...In Colorado, it states that sale would be governed by liquor control. No sale to anyone under 21. I don't think legal sales would change much in acquiring marijuana. Right now I have at least a half dozen people I could call to purchase it AND many deliver. Its easier for me here in California to purchase illegally than to use my prescription and go to a dispensary. The quality is just as good. Its High Time that the plant is decriminalized.

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RE: Feelings about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

I agree with you about the alcohol thing. Alcohol is far more dangerous than marijuana. I think the kids need to be protected from sale to them...In Colorado, it states that sale would be governed by liquor control. No sale to anyone under 21. I don't think legal sales would change much in acquiring marijuana. Right now I have at least a half dozen people I could call to purchase it AND many deliver. Its easier for me here in California to purchase illegally than to use my prescription and go to a dispensary. The quality is just as good.Its High Time that the plant is decriminalized.
I agree it is "High Time"
High Times is a New York-based monthly magazine founded in 1974 by Tom Forcade.
The publication is devoted to, and advocates the legalization of marijuana.

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RE: Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

Hi, just wondering if there is a difference between 'legalized' and 'decriminalized'? As i see both terms used. P.S. I love a recreational puff. That shouldn't mean that i'm a criminal.I found this on-line.
Q What is the difference between legalization and decriminalization of marijuana?
A Decriminalization means that a specific activity (such as the possession of a small amount of marijuana) would be removed from the scope of the criminal courts, but would still be against the law. With decriminalization, the user would be prosecuted differently and an alternative penalty, such as a fine, would be the consequence. Legalization would involve the removal of legal penalties, although regulations and rules about production and distribution could still be developed and put into effect.

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RE: Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

My thoughts about the use of marijuana for recreational or medical purposes.
Should be OK to use by people who are over the age of 21 in their own homes. Using it in public where some people could be affected by 2nd hand smoke, should be banned. Laws that prohibit people from driving while under the influence of MJ should be enforced.
Medicinal uses: Taking an unknown quantity of a drug of unknown strength seems like very poor medical practice. I feel that this drug, like many others, deserves a fair and unbiased study to determine its efficiency and effectiveness.
For people who don't like the ban on marijuana in the United States, they have to thank to Southern cotton growers and their lobbyists in Congress. This ban was instituted in Congress for just one thing; to protect the cotton crop from competition by the hemp growers.

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RE: Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

I live in a state where medical marijuana is very commonly used. The medical justifications are often pretty thin, although of course some people may benefit greatly. It really seems to function more like the systems of "registered addicts" used in Europe for harder drugs - check in with a doctor, get your supply through more-or-less limited channels, avoid creating a wide-open marketplace. Not a bad situation, really.

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RE: Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

About earlier comment regarding gateway drug. According to my experience there is one gateway drug beyond any other - and it is legal. Tobacco. Non-smokers generally do not start habitual pot smoking, nor those non-smokers who try any other drug (unless they serious caffein addicts become easily addicted as they not used to daily drug use and thus inclined not start using the substance beyond experimenting.
In general I am in favour of legalization, alone for the sake of cutting the profits of organized crime, as well as improving situation of junkies, who could easier obtain their addictives instead of committing property crimes in order to finance their addiction. Production prices for buds, heroin or coca leaves is minuscule and with free trade even government could take a cut as it does with alcohol and cigarettes now.

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RE: Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

Full disclosure: I smoked some dope in the past, and very rarely do so now. I don't smoke much anymore because even one hit can make me stupid for days. Turns out this is probably related to my ADD. Who knew!? Still, I'll take the occasional puff (once a year?).
I'm all for legalization of pot, and a number of other drugs.
Prohibition merely criminalizes a portion of the population and
subsidized the cartels. Marijuana is a very inoffensive drug when
compared to other illegal chemicals, and even tobacco and alcohol. But I'm also for legalization of all but the most heinous of mind altering substances. Legalization would increase the number of casual users of these substances, but I don't think it would increase the number of "addicts." People who might be addicts of cocaine are likely already addicts of some other substance. We might wind up with more coke heads but fewer alcoholics. My guess? 15% of the population are addicts of some kind, and that number would be similar under a legalization scenario but they TYPES of addicts would be varied, so there'd be fewer of any one kind.
And, so far, the two most awful addictions I have ever witnessed are 1) methamphetamine (which should remain illegal), and 2) alcohol--which is the most debilitating drug I've ever witnessed. (and yes, I drink, but responsibly).
So, I don't think we'd lose any MORE people under a legalization scenario. I do think we'd hurt the cartels, and we'd help a relatively large portion of our population that has been criminalized for no particularly good reason.
Remember, we tried Prohibition, once. It didn't work.

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RE: Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

well its about time

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RE: Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

I'm in favor of full legalization, just like alcohol. The purported 'War on Drugs' has failed and cost taxpayers dearly. Legalization can be obtained in a sane manner. Check out Judge Jim Gray's book titled 'Why Our Drug Laws Have Failed'. Logical and well reasoned.

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RE: Thoughts about legalized Marijuana for recreational use???

Pot is in about the same situation that alcohol was during Prohibition: it's illegal (sort of) and yet you see it EVERYWHERE. When the government is completely incapable of enforcing a law, it needs to be changed in order to avoid creating disrespect for all laws. Pot should become exactly like alcohol, taxed and for those 21 and older. This would have 3 beneficial effects: 1. Help with the economy 2. Cut the drug cartels out of the pie 3. Make it easier to keep out of the hands of children (sure, they could still get it, but it's currently much easier for kids to get pot than booze)I though it was interesting that during the vote in CA's last election, the legalization measure failed, in part because the illegal pot growers were against it. Such hypocrites, they say they want people with medical problems to have pot, but ONLY if they can make tons of money selling it. Studies show the cost of pot would be reduced by 1.2 to 1/10th if it was legal, even with taxes included.I wasn't in the country at the time of the referendum in CA but I was told, and I thought it was really interesting that big business was behind the initiative to legalize it. I understand that the tobacco giants were ready to move, in CA, with warehouses and huge plots of land ready to plant and process. It's just a matter of time..and i feel the time is near.

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