I don't have a huge problem with legalizing pot, but we need to pass and enforce tougher drunk driving laws first. Driving under the influence of any mind altering substance needs to have much lower legal thresholds, and pot would need to be included in that.

Legalizing drug abuse is like letting the population drink (alcohol) with out limits!
as long as we globally can not contain drunk driving, and we do (in most countries)
have very strong laws, and yet still have a growing abuse, especially in the youth!
Why to add another component, that is a dangers, for recreational use
and in combination with alcohol even more so!

As for medical use, yes..... but then as a prescription drug, and that will make it one more
substance that is controlled by the pharma industry, and the price will rocket sky high, it will
need to get all the approvals, tested and that is very costly.........

selling the drugs over the counter will be a card blanch for abuse.......  

I just don’t see how can the law and law enforcement control abuse,  as perverted as it is
I would rather have a safer streets, and highways, then legalize the substances....
I do not want to see my kids killed by a drug (cannabis) user killed, driving under intoxication!

and yes I do (know) with that stance condemn some to suffering, and deny some from a possible
cure, or at least a better quality of life........

As long as we as a society can not control efficiently the abuse of intoxicating substances that
are legal, namely alcohol, I object strongly to add even more loos cannons on the population!

And to the Parma industry.... yes drugs are very costly, and the pharma giants do control the
markets, that is part of the globalization we all (most of us) promoted.....
BUT! the cost of research is not the only reason for the high cost...... it is the very high (over priced)
complicated certification process cost that is caused by governments! and there are more resons for
the high cost.... but that is a political / Governmental issue....!!!


I am very grateful to the pharma industry...... I have Zomig nasal (treptan), lithium, Verapamill
Bon Viva......  and with all that I can, and do, have a very high quality of life......

Micahel

I do not say that all the substances you have listed are ok or not….. I don’t know, will have to look it up..... which I will do later.....
All I say is that Canabis is a drug!!! and cannabis has psychoactive and physiological effects when consumed. The minimum amount of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol the main psychoactive substance found in the Cannabis) required to have a perceptible psychoactive effect is about 10 micrograms per kilogram of body weight. Aside from a subjective change in perception, the most common short-term physical and neurological effects include increased heart rate, lowered blood pressure, impairment of psychomotor coordination, concentration, and short-term episodic and working memory. Long-term effects are less clear.
And with all the attributes listed, cannabis is a drug, and should not be legalized..... unless as I said before..... used as medical substance subject to prescription, and then it will not be inexpensive..... it will be rather expensive.... due to all the reasons that other drugs are expensive...... and I gave a few reasons in my previous post.....

Micahel

Michael,

You're fears of rampant abuse are unfounded.  In countries where pot is legalized (semi-legalized) none of these problems have surfaced.  In fact, usage among teens has dropped, not increased.

Alcohol is far more dangerous, addictive, and deadly.  It is literally impossible to overdose on marijuana.  We see students die every year from alcohol poisoning or drunk driving.

Here in California, we have 'medical' marijauna.  The system is a joke as anybody can get a prescription.  I haven't heard or seen of any rampant increase in abuse.  Some cities are getting $millions in new tax revenue from it.

I have witnessed people in my life be completely destroyed by alcohol and prescription drugs.  I have never seen someone whose life was ruined by abusing pot.

I would argue that it has the ability to enhance performance in some areas.  I smoked a lot back in the day when I was a computer programmer.  I have won several awards based on ideas that only came to me when I was stoned.  I have made computers 'do the impossible', and found it greatly enhanced my problem solving ability.  I invented products that changed industry.  One of my product lines just sold for almost $300M (not to me, sadly)

I would advocate legalization as long as it fell under the same kinds of rules we have for alcohol.  Keep it away from kids, restrict where it can be used, tax the hell out of it, and everybody wins.  Except the pharmaceuticals...

-Shawn

wildhaus wrote on Jun 18^th, 2009 at 2:49pm:


have you ever tried it?

Shawn wrote on Jun 18^th, 2009 at 3:24pm:



LOL, is that your conservative approach? 

Those damn liberals got you talkin just like them, Bro.

No! I did not use cannabis!!!

I don’t believe that trying and experiencing is the only way to know or learn.....
I rather believe in: “Who is a wise man? He who learns of all men.” (Talmud)
I take the experience of others and try to educate my self..... I have seen
and heard about abuse, or just casual use of cannabis...... and I have made an
educated evaluation..... and formed my believes.....

one can trivialize and belittle the use, and most likely along the way abuse of cannabis, one can try and propitiate, to seek excuses…… it does not validate or facilitate the fact  that cannabis is  not a drug, that can, and does cause harm…. effects ones judgment, and therefore is a potential risk…. be it on the road, or in other situations that might harm the surroundings……

it was suggested to create stores, such as liquor stores to market cannabis…. do controlled sales at liquor stores prevent alcoholism?……  or drunk driving?…..

It is an illusion to advocate the use of cannabis, stating that marketing cannabis in controlled stores can, and will prevent abuse.....

Cannabis in the USA (as in Switzerland) is very widely used.... the “war” in Mexico proves that cannabis is a “commodity” that is much desired and very demanded.....

We as a society do not need one more legalized substance that brings with it misery
in most cases....
or believe that by legalizing the use and trade of cannabis will reduce the abuse....
or reduce the price....
It will only validate and facilitate the trading of a harmful substance.....

Cannabis for medical use..... yes! as a prescription drug, as any other drug on the market.... but the price will not be cheep...  so what did we achieve.....  one more medical substance highly priced by the Pharma industry…. high price dictated by over regulation and greed!

Since the late 1960s, consumption of hard and soft drugs is a much discussed topic. The most widespread is the use of cannabis.
In a global comparison, Switzerland is among the countries with the highest cannabis use, together with Britain and the United States.

Approximately one fifth of 15 to 64-year-olds have at least once in their life smoked hemp and about a quarter of whom were regular cannabis users. This corresponds to between 500,000 and 600,000 people annually about one hundred tons of hashish and marijuana use.

The consumption of soft drugs among Swiss youngsters’ 11 to 15 years, however, according to a survey by the Federal Office of Public Health in 2006, after a peak in 2002. The 15-year-old gave 34% of boys and 27% of the girls at least once to have smoked cannabis. Four years earlier, there were still 26% or 37% of the alleged, at least once in their lives, to have smoked cannabis a deference of 1%, but still about
1/3 of the youngsters are familiar with the drug.....  and that is worrisome.....

The increased awareness of the authorities working on the long-term consequences of cannabis use, more stringent checks at schools and the closing of many Hanfläden (cannabis shops) helped.......


Michael

-johnny- wrote on Jun 20^th, 2009 at 1:47pm:

-johnny- wrote on Jun 20^th, 2009 at 1:47pm:


Not taking sides here but there are many things a human can do that I haven't tried. I'm reasonably certain I wouldn't like those things. Reasonably certain is enough for many people. Many times being absolutely certain comes with more baggage than an individual wants to carry.

B

Racer1_NC wrote on Jun 20^th, 2009 at 2:48pm:


thats a good point but whether you choose to do it or not should be your choice because its your body. the advocates to keep it illegal would lose profits. think about it. why is  anheuser busch spending millions of $$$ in advertisements and lobbying to keep it illegal. its hypocritical at best.   anheuser busch, dupont, and pharmaceutical companies don't care if you get hooked on pot. there objective is to maximize profits at the expence of our personal freedoms.

How can you justify taxing tobacco and alcohol but not marijuana?