# Pot-free, support marijuana legalization - anyone else in this boat? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 24, 2009, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420 "2009-12-24T05:24:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/61 "2009-12-26T10:34:14Z")
I’ve never smoked pot and doubt I ever will, and totally support legalization. Given a choice between hanging out with stoners or drunks, I’ll take the stoners every time. I’ve never seen two potheads get into a knock-down drag-out fight, or had one vomit all over my bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![Uzi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/91b2a8/32.png) [@Uzi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uzi)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/62 "2009-12-26T12:38:57Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > …I’ll take the stoners every time. I’ve never seen two potheads get into a knock-down drag-out fight, or had one vomit all over my bathroom. Shhsssssshhh! You have no idea the can of worms you’re opening! The people who drink on this board are all responsible drinkers (don’t even make the suggestion otherwise:eek:). They think those of us who have observed such (not uncommon, imho) actions should only look at them as aberrations from the norm. They are very sensitive when questioned on it. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/63 "2009-12-27T23:27:33Z")
> [@Uzi](#): > > Shhsssssshhh! You have no idea the can of worms you’re opening! The people who drink on this board are all responsible drinkers (don’t even make the suggestion otherwise:eek:). They think those of us who have observed such (not uncommon, imho) actions should only look at them as aberrations from the norm. They are very sensitive when questioned on it. Too damn bad. Drunks are a pain in the ass. I have no patience for them. And, yes, I realize this was a joke, but \*\*gaffa \*\*was spot on about drunks being a bigger PITA than stoners–though stoners can be aggrevating, too. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/64 "2009-12-28T00:19:03Z")
I’m not a pot smoker, I’ve tried it plenty of times but I’m one of the large percentage of people who react badly to it. Plus I find stoners to be generally a tedious bunch, and pot evangelists to be unbearable. However, I believe that drug laws in general are completely insane and do a _lot_ of damage to society for zero benefit. ---
**Author:** ![Hanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b3f665/32.png) [@Hanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hanna)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/65 "2009-12-28T00:23:14Z")
I have smoked, but really didn’t care much for the feeling. I’m behind legalization. I don’t really care for smoking, but in the privacy of your own home? Sure! ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/66 "2009-12-28T01:18:03Z")
I’ve never done any drugs, but like others in this thread, I think they should (generally) be legal. Put 'em under the same controls tobacco is, now. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/67 "2009-12-28T01:25:39Z")
Another one in your boat. Smoke is bad for anyone, but theres no reason alcohol should be legal and pot not. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/68 "2009-12-28T01:49:45Z")
I think…but I’m not sure (heh)…that I put myself thru college growing and selling it. What’s the statute of limitations on that, now? But I haven’t used or possessed any for decades. I’d support complete legalization now as I did then. Where do I sign? ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/69 "2009-12-28T05:47:33Z")
I smoked it in decades past. I don’t care for it, to put it mildly. But I support it’s full legalization. ---
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/70 "2009-12-28T06:35:29Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > Never touched the stuff, not even in college where it was effectively legal (a Cambridge cop told us they wouldn’t ever arrest anyone for pot unless they were selling to minors or growing it in a window overlooking the cop shop) and am not interested. But I’m for legalization. > > Not just for civil liberties. A story on NPR on the Mexican drug cartels last night said that they get a lot of their money from selling marijuana to the US. Smoking anything now that you haven’t grown yourself or know got grown by a non-bastard grower seems unethical. Legalization would shut off this source of money, and save lives. You took the words right out of my mouth. I think all illicit drugs should be legal and if raised for sale should be highly taxed. The US economy would get a nice boost from the legal sales of homegrown. Legalizing drugs would do more to eliminate the power of the drug cartels than the war on drugs ever did or will do. Oh, I smoked pot (giggle weed mostly) with friends in high school, and a few other drugs in college, but haven’t had any in 25 years. Every once in awhile I think, “Man, this day would go alot smoother with a pinch-hit”, but no-one I know does that stuff any more and I don’t think I could buy any because people who sell it think I look like a cop. ---
**Author:** ![Dusty\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@Dusty\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dusty_Rose)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/71 "2009-12-28T18:49:26Z")
I haven’t smoked in years and years, but I think it should be legalized. I’m glad to see there are so many others who believe that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/72 "2009-12-28T19:18:57Z")
I’ve smoked it about five times, but never really cared for it. I think it should be legal, at least as long as alcohol and tobacco are. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/73 "2009-12-28T21:37:11Z")
> [@The\_Bith\_Shuffle](#): > > And I completely support marijuana legalization. It just does not make sense for recreational marijuana use - marijuana use _just for fun_ - to be illegal. It’s legal to drink just for fun, but it’s illegal to use marijuana just for fun. Make sense? Absolutely not. Well just to be argumentative, your argument hold water, so to speak. The reason marijana is not legal is the potential for all the problems it could cause. Now just because it’s legal to drink does that mean that there are no problems cause by alcohol? Of course not, think of all the lives ruined by alcohol. Even non-alcoholics getting stoned, just once and doing things they regret. If anything I would say, we aleady have one drug, alcohol, that is legal for recreational use, WHY add another to it? That said, if you could add marijuan why not valium. How’s popping a low level dose of say 2mg of Valium any worse than a drink or a joint? Supposing I run a red light and the guy in front of me and the guy in back of me also run the same red light, but the cop stops ME. Is it OK to say, “Well the others broke the law and didn’t get a ticket so why should I?” The cop can’t stop all three. Did you not break the law? Just because you’re getting punished and the others aren’t does that mean you should go free? In this case it’s bad luck. Using that example, again, you simply can’t say, marijuna is no worse than alcohol why not legalize it? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Krebbs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@Mr.Krebbs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Krebbs)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2009, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/74 "2009-12-28T23:56:34Z")
See, **Markxxx** , the “problem” with freedom (not to imply that we have anything approaching freedom in the US to begin with) is that it is necessary to accept that some people will be irresponsible with it. That’s when you get to punish them; not prior to the irresponsible act. If you can prove that any and all uses of marijuana, alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, et al are irresponsible, go ahead - but most of us already know that you cannot. I am a regular marijuana user when I have the luxury; currently I have an upcoming interview with a company that will give me a piss test. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/75 "2009-12-29T03:19:47Z")
I’m only pot-free because of random drug testing at work. I’ve toked before, and I’ll definitely toke again if and when it becomes legal, but yeah, I’m all for legalization. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/76 "2009-12-29T04:10:58Z")
I’d rather we didn’t invoke alcohol as a reason to legalize pot, because then we’re basically saying two wrongs make a right. That’s not a very convincing argument. Alcohol is increasingly seen as a bad thing, but we tolerate it. Why tolerate pot too? Well, IMHO, pot and alcohol aren’t really comparable. Alcohol is a poison, and it will damage your tissues. You can easily kill yourself with booze. You can sit there and eat pot all day and it’s as harmful as iceberg lettuce. Well, you’ll be stoned as hell, but it can’t really hurt you. Pot isn’t another “bad” thing we’re trying to legalize. It’s a harmless thing that doesn’t deserve to be on the same lists as booze, tobacco and heroin. Never mind its medical uses. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/77 "2009-12-29T06:36:28Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > You can sit there and eat pot all day and it’s as harmful as iceberg lettuce. Well, you’ll be stoned as hell, but it can’t really hurt you. . The jury is still out on long term heavy pot usage. No decent studies. Certainly we have seen no obvious serious bad effects, afaik. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/78 "2009-12-29T16:24:13Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > I think…but I’m not sure (heh)…that I put myself thru college growing and selling it. What’s the statute of limitations on that, now? But I haven’t used or possessed any for decades. I’d support complete legalization now as I did then. Where do I sign? That would make an interesting “ask the…” thread. Not sure if the mods would let it pass, though. ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/79 "2009-12-29T16:42:28Z")
Me, um… (tries to account for multiple posts, hijacks and **one!!** (?) dissenting opinion…) about 57? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2009, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420/80 "2009-12-29T16:48:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The jury is still out on long term heavy pot usage. . . .and they’re now requesting the bailiff bring fudge ripple ice cream to help further their deliberations. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-free-support-marijuana-legalization-anyone-else-in-this-boat/522420.md?page=5)