# If you want to argue for legalizing pot, this isn't the way to go about it... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 4, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-want-to-argue-for-legalizing-pot-this-isnt-the-way-to-go-about-it/498654 "2009-06-04T01:40:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ChrisBooth12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@ChrisBooth12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChrisBooth12)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-want-to-argue-for-legalizing-pot-this-isnt-the-way-to-go-about-it/498654/41 "2009-06-05T16:55:07Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I just dropped in to say that today, while walking home, I stopped a few blocks away at an independent convenience store. They were offering a selection of several small, brightly colored plastic bongs, standing proud on one side of the counter. > > I was rather astonished! And, to be honest, initially rather pleased to see it, considering I’m pro-legalization. OTOH I’m not pro-legalization as far as kids are concerned, and therefore, on reconsideration, I don’t think it’s appropriate to display or offer bongs that way. I should probably report the store, but all I want is for them to not offer the bongs right on the counter. I don’t want the owner-operator of the store to be fined some ungodly sum, or worse. Report the store for what? They are not doing anything wrong. You must be 18 to buy any type of bong or other “tobacco smoking product” anyways. Kids aren’t able to buy them. Any person who has had to smoke from an apple or soda can knows this ---
**Author:** ![Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/13edae/32.png) [@Interconnected\_Series\_of\_Tubes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interconnected_Series_of_Tubes)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-want-to-argue-for-legalizing-pot-this-isnt-the-way-to-go-about-it/498654/42 "2009-06-05T17:54:00Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Civil resistance is meant to provoke the state into reacting. I suspect it will react quite strongly. In Washington? Nah. Pot’s on a pretty steady decriminalization trend up here in the Northwest - simple possession of reasonable amounts merely gets you a ticket nowadays. He’s definitely gone permanently from that school, though - no way they’re going to let him back in. Unfortunately there’s very little actual power in the legalization camp and since it’s politically untouchable he won’t be getting any help from the powers that be. Stupid move, but admirably stupid. ETA: **Spectre of Pithecanthropus** , headshops are perfectly legitimate. Provided, of course, you ask to purchase a high quality water-percolated tobacco pipe instead of a bong. Until you employ the paraphernalia for its _cough, cough_ intended use, you’re clean. ---
**Author:** ![whole\_bean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@whole\_bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whole_bean)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-want-to-argue-for-legalizing-pot-this-isnt-the-way-to-go-about-it/498654/43 "2009-06-05T21:44:29Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > I’m sure you remember that old phrase, “possession is 9/10 of the law”? It’s because they need to seize it from you in order to have evidence to present in court - it’s too flimsy to make a case that at some point in the past, the defendant may have used an illegal drug, and try to back that up with witnesses, video, or drug test evidence. All of these types of evidence are highly contestable and/or unreliable in such a case and just wouldn’t be worth going through the hassle. This phrase has nothing to do with criminal possesion. The phrase conerns the laws of ownership, specifically with respect to claims of adverse possesion. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-want-to-argue-for-legalizing-pot-this-isnt-the-way-to-go-about-it/498654/44 "2009-06-07T05:58:41Z")
There’s an activist in Philadelphia whose whole shtick is smoking pot in public. He announces the time and place, makes a speech, hands out pamphlets ands tokes up. His plan is to be arrested and argue jury nullification. As the cops don’t want to risk this, they don’t arrest him. ---
**Author:** ![Weston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8797f3/32.png) [@Weston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weston)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-want-to-argue-for-legalizing-pot-this-isnt-the-way-to-go-about-it/498654/45 "2009-06-07T11:29:16Z")
> [@Thudlow Boink](#): > > “The old trick, eh? Eat the telly before I get a chance to nick you!” “It’s a toaster!” ---
**Author:** ![bufftabby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bufftabby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bufftabby)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2009, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-want-to-argue-for-legalizing-pot-this-isnt-the-way-to-go-about-it/498654/46 "2009-06-07T14:29:19Z")
If the kid did it for activist reasons, he was pretty smart to do it when he was still a juvenile. Also, do you realize how _totally laid_ by stoner chicks this is going to get him? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-want-to-argue-for-legalizing-pot-this-isnt-the-way-to-go-about-it/498654.md?page=2)