# An interesting predicament **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 30, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720 "2006-06-30T03:47:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720/61 "2006-07-03T10:40:47Z")
[QUOTE=DiosaBellissima] Bolding mine. And yet another part of living in civilized society is abiding by the laws set out by our government. Laws voted on by the citizens and/or by the politicians we elect. Go figure. [/QUOTE] [http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group\_ID=4420](http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4420) > [@](#): > > A solid majority of the American public now agree with NORML that responsible marijuana smokers should not be treated like criminals. Eight out of ten Americans support the medical use of marijuana, and nearly 3 out of 4 Americans support a fine-only (no jail) for recreational smokers. And while a majority of Americans continue to oppose the legalization of marijuana, 40% now support legalizing small amounts. Overall, this is the highest level of public support we have ever experienced, and our challenge now is to convert this public support into public policy. > > A review of the polling data appears below. > > 2002 CNN/Time Magazine Poll > NORML’s Candidate Questionnaire > Favorable Medical Marijuana Polls > Zogby Polls > ACLU National Poll on Public Opinion Regarding Marijuana (1995) Surely you’re heard of peaceful dissent. And surely you know that many communities have already decriminalized marijuana use. “Because it’s the law” is a tired excuse. Most people recognize that this is a victimless crime. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720/62 "2006-07-03T10:47:05Z")
[QUOTE=appleciders] That’s a fallacy- the approval of the majority does not make a law moral. The election of Hitler and the German people’s approval of his policies did not make them moral. I’m not in any way, shape, or form equating pot-smoking with genocide, just pointing out that what a majority believes may not be true. That said, I’m not sure where **Kalhoun** is coming from; the OP seems very reasonable and eager to work this out without contacting authorities, be they legal or merely the superintendent. **LunaV** , I’d be a little more direct with the neighbor- if he’s the stereotypical potsmoker type, he’ll be pleased to know that you don’t have a problem with it and are willing to keep his secret, and will probably take some steps to help. [/QUOTE] Hey…I think it’s great that she wants to “work with them”. I wouldn’t personally take it that far, but it’s her choice. But if they don’t want to work with her, or if the solutions (such as the dryer sheets) don’t solve the problem, I’d let it go. Period. The option of going to the police would never be exercised by me in any situation I considered to be “no big deal.” I wouldn’t consider having them arrested, fined, miss work, come up with bail money, hire attorneys, lose their jobs, etc. over “no big deal.” I reserve police action for “BIG DEALS.” ---
**Author:** ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720/63 "2006-07-03T12:08:06Z")
**Kal** , I’m utterly convinced you are my non-existant long-lost-sister. Living two (?) states away. You’re in WA, no? I’ve told you before I love you, but _damn_ I see more and more of _me_ as time passes. Are you blonde, blue-eyed and short? Pic? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720/64 "2006-07-03T12:25:56Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] [http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group\_ID=4420](http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=4420) Surely you’re heard of peaceful dissent. And surely you know that many communities have already decriminalized marijuana use. “Because it’s the law” is a tired excuse. Most people recognize that this is a victimless crime. [/QUOTE] Yet by your own cite, most people don’t favor decriminalizing it. Most people agree that it’s a crime worthy of at least a fine. While you, persoanlly, disagree with this, surely you can see that someone that did want to make an issue of it would not be acting _objectively_ unreasonably - yes? ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720/65 "2006-07-03T13:06:17Z")
[QUOTE=RSSchen] **Kal** , I’m utterly convinced you are my non-existant long-lost-sister. Living two (?) states away. You’re in WA, no? I’ve told you before I love you, but _damn_ I see more and more of _me_ as time passes. Are you blonde, blue-eyed and short? Pic? [/QUOTE] I’m in the Chicago 'burbs, Sis. 🙂 I’m blonde, green-eyed and short (and 50…sigh). [http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/karlen1956/album?.dir=/4147re2&urlhint=actn,del%3As,1%3Af,0](http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/karlen1956/album?.dir=/4147re2&urlhint=actn,del%3as,1%3af,0) Goofy pics…I don’t photograph well. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2006, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720/66 "2006-07-03T13:12:56Z")
[QUOTE=Bricker] Yet by your own cite, most people don’t favor decriminalizing it. Most people agree that it’s a crime worthy of at least a fine. While you, persoanlly, disagree with this, surely you can see that someone that did want to make an issue of it would not be acting _objectively_ unreasonably - yes? [/QUOTE] I will say that a person has every legal right to act unreasonably. If they feel a burning need to follow the law even though they don’t have feelings one way or the other about it, that’s their choice. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2006, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720/67 "2006-07-04T16:00:09Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] If you can’t smoke pot in your own house, where \*can \* you smoke it? [/QUOTE] One place is Holland, where it is LEGAL. Or, one’s own _house_, rather than an apartment. In any apartment, an apartment dweller has a right not to be subject to offensive smells of an illegal substance. However, more to the point, next time they fire one up, go to the vent and bellow something about smelling pot. Hopefully, they will hear it and take note. May be the easiest route for all concerned. hh [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/an-interesting-predicament/362720.md?page=3)