Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ Tax Cannabis 2010 (California)

[dviv17]

Without going into detail about how ridiculous it is that marijuana is considered by the public to be more dangerous and inhibiting than alcohol is incredibly misguided. Unfortunately govt. and private "anti-drug" groups like Parternship for a Drug-Free America who are funded by pharmaceutical, tobacco, and alcohol companies. Of course they don't want marijuana to be legal, they know that it would definitely hurt them financially. The huge multi-national corporations that produce these DRUGS know they would lose business to people switching to cannabis, a natural drug long used for it's medicinal purposes.

The main argument though for California is our incredible financial crisis. Simple decriminalization would save millions of taxpayer money by removing pot-heads and dealers from jail, and only a slight tax is estimated to produce over a billion in revenue.

With that information, how can anyone not vote to pass this measure? Please, if you're in CA vote for this when you see it on the ballot.

http://www.taxcannabis.org/

[Bravesfan10]

Alcohol is responsible for over 20,000 automobile related deaths each year, and is the cause of countless arrests. So here's a good idea, lets legalize ANOTHER drug that impairs your ability to drive/think clearly, that will help alot!

[dviv17]

Alcohol is responsible for over 20,000 automobile related deaths each year, and is the cause of countless arrests. So here's a good idea, lets legalize ANOTHER drug that impairs your ability to drive/think clearly, that will help alot!

Do you not think marijuana is already rampantly used across this country? If anything, legalization will make it harder for children and young adults (under 21) to get it, and the proportion of legal adults using cannabis to minors would increase.

[stlbaseball15]

Alcohol is responsible for over 20,000 automobile related deaths each year, and is the cause of countless arrests. So here's a good idea, lets legalize ANOTHER drug that impairs your ability to drive/think clearly, that will help alot!

I challenge you or anybody else to cite a single documented death attributed to marijuana use.

[dviv17]

I challenge you or anybody else to cite a single documented death attributed to marijuana use.

Thank you. It is truly sad to see the huge number of people mired in the propaganda against marijuana, largely based purely on it's illegality.

[cardinal]

I challenge you or anybody else to cite a single documented death attributed to marijuana use.

Although I think that if taxed heavily, legalizing marijuana might not be that bad of an idea, one of the biggest reasons you don't see marijuana related deaths as much as alcohol is because its ILLEGAL. There are a LOT more people (millions) that drink alcohol compared to smoking marijuana.

[dviv17]

Although I think that if taxed heavily, legalizing marijuana might not be that bad of an idea, one of the biggest reasons you don't see marijuana related deaths as much as alcohol is because its ILLEGAL. There are a LOT more people (millions) that drink alcohol compared to smoking marijuana.

That's just not true.

Even if the proportion of marijuana users is far less than alcohol consumers, you still don't see even near that proportion of news regarding marijuana-related deaths. To tell you the truth, I don't think I have ever seen anything about people dying even indirectly from marijuana consumption.

In fact, no one has ever died from marijuana consumption alone, it is one of the least toxic drugs there is; unlike alcohol, which kills thousands annually just by overconsumption.

[stlbaseball15]

Although I think that if taxed heavily, legalizing marijuana might not be that bad of an idea, one of the biggest reasons you don't see marijuana related deaths as much as alcohol is because its ILLEGAL. There are a LOT more people (millions) that drink alcohol compared to smoking marijuana.

There are millions of people in California alone who disobey prohibition daily. If cannabis is so toxic and dangerous, then surely there must be some attributable deaths.

Prohibition is the danger. Just look at Mexico. Because of an artificial price floor, higher prices drive the most violent people to compete for profit that wouldn't be available if the government didn't try to control it.

[Bravesfan10]

This article basically sums up my entire view on the subject:

http://alcoholism.about.com/b/2003/11/02/m...s-accidents.htm

[dviv17]

There are millions of people in California alone who disobey prohibition daily. If cannabis is so toxic and dangerous, then surely there must be some attributable deaths.

Prohibition is the danger. Just look at Mexico. Because of an artificial price floor, higher prices drive the most violent people to compete for profit that wouldn't be available if the government didn't try to control it.

Exactly.

This article basically sums up my entire view on the subject:

http://alcoholism.about.com/b/2003/11/02/m...s-accidents.htm

I'm sorry you choose to ignore what I say and instead base your "entire view on the subject" off of one poorly written article on a website with the intent to form about the dangers of alcoholism.

[Bravesfan10]

Fine, I'll just go with some personal experience. I know a lot of people that do drugs. And not ONCE have I known someone to do something other than alcohol/cigarettes without doing weed first. It is the king of all gateway drugs, and causes more indirect deaths than you know. It also alters a persons personality in a drastic way. Everyone that smokes it is just "dull." That's really the only way I know how to describe them. It seems like the only way they know how to have fun is getting high, and no good can happen to a person when they can't even think straight. Addictions can also form. Regardless of the fact that there is no nicotine in marijuana, people can clearly become addicted to it. The definition of an addiction is as follows:

"the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma"

Making a substance that can develop an addiction more available to the public can hinder a persons social and professional life as well as their self esteem. Making a some extra money is no trade off to having 20 percent of America stoned 24/7.

[Bravesfan10]

One last thing, it seems that the reoccurring theme in your arguments is that there are no direct deaths due to marijuana. One thing to remember:

You don't have to DIE to mess yourself up for a long time.

[stlbaseball15]

One last thing, it seems that the reoccurring theme in your arguments is that there are no direct deaths due to marijuana. One thing to remember:

You don't have to DIE to mess yourself up for a long time.

Lots of things can mess you up. Many of them are legal, such as alcohol, over the counter nasal decongestants, the amphetimine called caffeine, transfats, nicotine, prescription drugs, etc. There is no way a plant god created is worse than all those destructive chemicals. Shouldn't big government keep it's nose out of peoples lives?

How is it wrong that big brother makes you get health insurance but it's ok that big brother tells you which herbs you can grow in your garden?

[dviv17]

Fine, I'll just go with some personal experience. I know a lot of people that do drugs. And not ONCE have I known someone to do something other than alcohol/cigarettes without doing weed first. It is the king of all gateway drugs, and causes more indirect deaths than you know. It also alters a persons personality in a drastic way. Everyone that smokes it is just "dull." That's really the only way I know how to describe them. It seems like the only way they know how to have fun is getting high, and no good can happen to a person when they can't even think straight. Addictions can also form. Regardless of the fact that there is no nicotine in marijuana, people can clearly become addicted to it. The definition of an addiction is as follows:

"the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming, as narcotics, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma" 

Making a substance that can develop an addiction more available to the public can hinder a persons social and professional life as well as their self esteem. Making a some extra money is no trade off to having 20 percent of America stoned 24/7.

The gateway drug theory is widely dismissed in the scientific community, barring those who are in support of this ridiculous War on Drugs.

Marijuana is not physically addicting, and legalzation does not mean that suddenly "20% of Americans are going to be stoned 24/7." Your claims are ludicrous, where do you come up w/ this stuff?

One last thing, it seems that the reoccurring theme in your arguments is that there are no direct deaths due to marijuana. One thing to remember:

You don't have to DIE to mess yourself up for a long time.

There are thousands and thousands of Americans that smoke or used to smoke marijuana that go to work everyday, have families, etc. etc. These ordinary people just want to be able to consume a drug w/o -- like Logan said -- the government telling them what to do.

The funny thing is all these conservatives who are against it are the big supporters of "freedom." Apparently this shouldn't apply to what adult citizens can put into their own body.

[stlbaseball15]

The gateway drug theory is widely dismissed in the scientific community, barring those who are in support of this ridiculous War on Drugs.

Marijuana is not physically addicting, and legalzation does not mean that suddenly "20% of Americans are going to be stoned 24/7." Your claims are ludicrous, where do you come up w/ this stuff?
There are thousands and thousands of Americans that smoke or used to smoke marijuana that go to work everyday, have families, etc. etc. These ordinary people just want to be able to consume a drug w/o -- like Logan said -- the government telling them what to do.

The funny thing is all these conservatives who are against it are the big supporters of "freedom." Apparently this shouldn't apply to what adult citizens can put into their own body.

No, some people just believe that freedom only applies to people who look and act exactly like they do.

[Bravesfan10]

The gateway drug theory is widely dismissed in the scientific community, barring those who are in support of this ridiculous War on Drugs.

Marijuana is not physically addicting, and legalzation does not mean that suddenly "20% of Americans are going to be stoned 24/7." Your claims are ludicrous, where do you come up w/ this stuff?
There are thousands and thousands of Americans that smoke or used to smoke marijuana that go to work everyday, have families, etc. etc. These ordinary people just want to be able to consume a drug w/o -- like Logan said -- the government telling them what to do.

The funny thing is all these conservatives who are against it are the big supporters of "freedom." Apparently this shouldn't apply to what adult citizens can put into their own body.

Well it doesn't seem like the "millions of Americans that violate prohibition every day" have an obvious lack of freedom

[Bravesfan10]

No, some people just believe that freedom only applies to people who look and act exactly like they do.

Gosh, you have an amazing ability to read people's thoughts

First, I'll go ahead and share my stance. I think that the government should regulate drugs that kill and drastically alter people in a negative way. The govt locks up people that kill, but drugs that kill millions fly under the radar. Should is the key word here. I wish that cigarettes and alcohol were illegal. But the truth is, it's too late for that, it won't work. Everyone saw what happened during the prohibition of alcohol. Also, the use of pot in teenagers is declining at the moment, and it would be nice to keep it that way, it's one less drug to worry about!

Also, you state that:

Lots of things can mess you up. Many of them are legal, such as alcohol, over the counter nasal decongestants, the amphetimine called caffeine, transfats, nicotine, prescription drugs, etc.

So what you're saying is if that you have 10 legal drugs that can mess you up, it's okay to just add an 11th? Well, if every drug is doing it, then I guess it's okay...

[2000 rushing yards]

I challenge you or anybody else to cite a single documented death attributed to marijuana use.

agreed .

also i dont know if any of you have seen this but

http://www.udel.edu/chem/theopold/chem465/...rug%20chart.gif

cannabis is "safer" than alcohol and tobacco

[phatman68]

I will admit I frequently smoke and am never a different person. Sure I behave different but I am not a different person at all. I have never been sick the day after smoking like a hangover, but hey smoking can sure kill a hangover I assure you. Sure some people can abuse it and get super stoned and be real dumb, but thats true with any drug, especially alcohol which obviously is already legal. Just think, if marijuana is legalized and taxed, besides the fact it could help the economy, think of how it could open up spaces in jails for the true criminals. With all these people being arrested for possessing and selling a natural plant being let go, crowded prisons will not be as crowded, and new prisons will not have to be built, again saving money for other things. I am not sure if there really is that big of an over-population problem in jails,but that's just a thought. I could go on and on but you guys are seeming to cover this well.

One more thing, dude dont say its a gateway drug. I have done nothing but smoke and drink. I smoke a lot (not as much as I used to) and it never led me to do anything harder. From people I know, rolling (ecstacy) is the real gateway drug to real hard stuff

[stlbaseball15]

I will admit I frequently smoke and am never a different person.  Sure I behave different but I am not a different person at all.  I have never been sick the day after smoking like a hangover, but hey smoking can sure kill a hangover I assure you.  Sure some people can abuse it and get super stoned and be real dumb, but thats true with any drug, especially alcohol which obviously is already legal.  Just think, if marijuana is legalized and taxed, besides the fact it could help the economy, think of how it could open up spaces in jails for the true criminals.  With all these people being arrested for possessing and selling a natural plant being let go, crowded prisons will not be as crowded, and new prisons will not have to be built, again saving money for other things.  I am not sure if there really is that big of an over-population problem in jails,but that's just a thought.  I could go on and on but you guys are seeming to cover this well.

One more thing, dude dont say its a gateway drug.  I have done nothing but smoke and drink.  I smoke a lot (not as much as I used to) and it never led me to do anything harder.  From people I know, rolling (ecstacy) is the real gateway drug to real hard stuff

The United States have the most prison inmates in the entire world. More than Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.