# Marijuana legalization **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2011, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477 "2011-04-07T00:51:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/41 "2011-04-08T03:07:13Z")
I have a solution that is win - win. I say we give the First Nations the ordained right to raise weed, as a birthright. The catch is, they have to pay the tax on it. Lucrative cash stream into a segment of society victimized by poverty, plus, (and here’s the genius part), you get the thin edge of the wedge into taxation within the First Nations. When you think about it, it’s kind of a no brainer, 'cause for true, I promise you most Canadian’s have, at some time, bought weed from a native. And it’s decriminalized, make that, win - win - win! ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/42 "2011-04-08T03:17:39Z")
I’m a recovering addict. Been clean more than 20 years. I still think all drugs should be 100% legal. Wouldn’t use them if they were, though. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/43 "2011-04-08T03:32:08Z")
Used it all my adult life, not as frequently now as I used to. I used to support decriminalization over outright legalization because I was opposed to taxing it. I’ve since come around to promoting full legalization and a reasonable level of taxation. SS ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/44 "2011-04-08T03:38:14Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I say we give the First Nations the ordained right to raise weed, as a birthright. See. This is how we catch you as a traitor. We don’t use the term “First Nations” in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/45 "2011-04-08T03:39:49Z")
I support full legalization with appropriate regulations. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/46 "2011-04-08T04:09:54Z")
I now work at a cannabis evaluation center, where we certify people to use it, so I support it, if only because it gives me a job. But also because I think it should be legal. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/47 "2011-04-08T11:31:04Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > I support full legalization with appropriate regulations. One might interpret “full legalization” and “with appropriate regulations” as being mutually exclusive. Just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/48 "2011-04-08T11:43:06Z")
I am a small time activist in my state [so i am very careful about having nothing in my home, I go elsewhere to self medicate. I am terrified of being raided as a retaliation act.] I have a small very polite letter writing campaign going. One of the things I have done is work out what I think is a very reasonably practice: All medical weed patients must go to one of X number of pain clinics for certification. Each pain clinic is allowed to work with 2 or 3 different dispensaries, so there is essentially a personal connection between offices. This is mainly for a trust issue, so they feel comfortable working with each other. Each dispensary is allowed to carry X patients, this I think would make supply and demand a bit more controllable. There are a certain number of certified growers in state that deal with a specific dispensary. Perhaps 2 or 3 growers per dispensary - however many is needed to produce quality weed in sufficient amounts. They can also supply a company that makes edibles, tinctures, extracts, hash oils - some people prefer not to smoke weed or process it into edibles themselves. This would also allow for inspections on production quality practices. There needs to be a lab certifying that batches are not contaminated with mold, chemical residue or other contaminates. [there are some dispensaries in CA that go through a lab like this] People need to be able to grow their own if they do not want to go through a dispensary. They do not need a caretaker to grow for them, the caretaker [if they can not leave their house regularly for resupplying] can be licensed to go purchase and transport weed for them. Seeds need to be made available at the dispensaries, along with a general how to class, as also a class on how to smoke/vape/make edibles. Also education in general to the general public on proper use and other aspects. Parental education would be nice [how to explain to kids that weed is not like heroin, meth, mdma and other still illegal recreational pharmacuticals, but they still need to hold off on using weed as there are detrimental effects in the still developing brain.] And there needs to be the acknowledgement that weed can be used medically with minors under proper supervision. Kids get sick too. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/49 "2011-04-08T14:04:18Z")
Just as long as we don’t _have_ to smoke it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/50 "2011-04-08T15:54:04Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > I made it public because I wanted to see who voted for what. If you don’t want your name associated with your dubious (or dooby-ous) past, then you don’t have to vote. (Or post.) > In middle school we had a big public indoor swimming pool and would do a brief rotation of swimming for gym class each year. My favorite activity was to grab the weights and sink down to the bottom and hold my breath there for a couple minutes, while idly staring up. Once in a while it really freaked someone out. > > It was very peaceful and quiet and soothing. Though I imagine it would stop being so enjoyable once it came time to breathe again. Dude. You’ve been here long enough to know that the default position on any poll is anonymous. You know you should have said something in your OP. Especially considering the sensitive nature of the topic. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/51 "2011-04-08T16:15:49Z")
> [@\_mostly\_Harmless](#): > > I tried it a few times but it makes me nauseous. I’m gonna be quite honest and say that the only reason I’m against legalizing it is to say “fuck y’all” to those who can enjoy it. I know it’s neither rational nor mature but here we are. Yeah, I’m against fair trials because I get a kick out of people being wrongfully imprisoned. :mad: Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/52 "2011-04-08T17:16:41Z")
I’m for legalizing possession, but keeping commerce in marijuana illegal. I’m all for people smoking if they want to, but I’m not keen on the idea of large commercial entities selling people on smoking more, because large commercial entities are really quite good at getting people to buy and use more of their products, whether or not it’s good for them. If, after several years of legal possession and illegal commerce, people who wanted to smoke dope were still having a hard time laying their hands on any (I have a hard time believing that, given that you can grow it in your backyard, in the closet under a grow-light, or out in the woods or fields somewhere), it would be easy to legalize the purchase and sale of dope. But going the other way would be hard. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/53 "2011-04-08T17:23:18Z")
> [@\_mostly\_Harmless](#): > > I tried it a few times but it makes me nauseous. I’m gonna be quite honest and say that the only reason I’m against legalizing it is to say “fuck y’all” to those who can enjoy it. I know it’s neither rational nor mature but here we are. Sadly, this attitude is the major obstacle toward legalization and will probably remain so for some time: I don’t use it, therefore nobody else should. The State of Georgia is close (or as close as I’ve seen, in my lifetime) to legalizing sales of alcohol on Sunday, being one of only three holdout U.S. to keep Sunday blue laws on the books. (You can actually drink on Sunday in most places, you just have to do it in a restaurant/bar and drive home afterward. Yeah, exactly.) “Legalizing” is really overstating it: the new law would merely remove the state-wide prohibition and let each county/municipality decide for themselves whether to legalize Sunday sales. Polling consistently shows overwhelming support for a local vote, but the same tiny minority of Bible-banging dick-fisters have managed to keep it from happening, in part due to the (now ex-, fortunately) Governor being among their ranks. If it does pass, the same troop of “let me decide what’s best for you” religious morons will shift their focus to preventing county and local elections. All to prevent legal adults from purchasing a legal product that is available every other day of the week\*, for the express purpose of (and they don’t even attempt to hide this) “preserving the Lord’s day.” Baptize yourselves in my 100-proof urine stream, jackholes. - One of the frequent anti-Sunday-sales “arguments” is “what do you care, you can just buy it on Saturday! What, you’re such an alcoholic that you can’t even take ONE DAY A WEEK off from buying your precious booze?” ---
**Author:** ![\_mostly\_Harmless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/9d8465/32.png) [@\_mostly\_Harmless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_mostly_Harmless)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/54 "2011-04-09T04:14:28Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Sadly, this attitude is the major obstacle toward legalization and will probably remain so for some time: I don’t use it, therefore nobody else should. One of the most frustrating things about democracy is voter apathy. I can’t smoke marijuana so I really don’t care if it’s legal for you. I’m not gonna judge you for doing it (like you’d even care if I did) and I’m not gonna call the cops on you but I’m also not gonna go out of my way (ie: exerting the energy of punching one little ballot hole) to make it legal for you. So lots of luck in your endeavors. I’ll be sitting off to the side watching unconcernedly. > [@VinylTurnip](#): > > … > > If it does pass, the same troop of “let me decide what’s best for you” religious morons will shift their focus to preventing county and local elections. All to prevent legal adults from purchasing a legal product that is available every other day of the week\*, for the express purpose of (and they don’t even attempt to hide this) “preserving the Lord’s day.” > > … I’m a christian and I think this is dumb. Now before you jump on my case and call me inconsistent I will qualify by saying that I don’t think alcohol and marijuana are in the same class. So I hope they repeal the blue law. > [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > Yeah, I’m against fair trials because I get a kick out of people being wrongfully imprisoned. :mad: Seriously, what the hell is wrong with you? Lots. You have no idea. Also I really don’t see wrongful imprisonment as being on the same moral level as not allowing people to get high. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/55 "2011-04-09T19:05:08Z")
(mostly) Harmless, I was using hyperbole to illustrate that Schadenfreude is a bad thing to base your political opinions on. And since you brought it up, it is certainly not a very Christian way of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477/56 "2011-04-11T17:54:17Z")
Marijuana has been demonized for so long, with such an ugly stigma and stereotypes attached to it, I’m afraid it’ll be another generation or two before weed has any chance for all out legalization on par with alcohol. This sucks, because for myself, pot’s got more benefits over risks going for it than almost any other drug out there. I realize it’s not for everyone; psychoactive drugs affect people differently. Weed’s effects can be intense, but I don’t think any more debilitating than alcohol. When I’ve toked, it seems to mellow me out, focus more, and even enhances (subjectively) just about anything… music, movies, hanging with friends, food, creativity (I’m an artist), and even abstract thought (though, not necessarily always useful 😛 ). The negative side-effects are there (sleepiness, munchies, dry mouth, lethargy. paranoia), but not too hard to overcome. Better than a hangover! Plus no real physiological addiction, and little, if any, withdrawals. And what’s more, as far as I know, it’s typically fine (health-risk wise) to use it in conjunction with other medication. But, certain mixtures can be uncomfortable (e.g. I don’t like the effects of alcohol and marijuana at the same time). This is a compound that seems almost too good to be true. I can’t believe the social stigma it has over alcohol. And as always, moderation is key. P.S. So many people smoke weed, it’s ridiculous. Chances are you’ve already bumped into someone who’s stoned over the last day, and you didn’t even notice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marijuana-legalization/577477.md?page=2)