# Pot: Still Illegal in 10 Years? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 3, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710 "2002-10-03T17:35:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bongmaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Bongmaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bongmaster)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/1 "2002-10-03T17:35:49Z")
As I write this, posessing pot in most places on the planet is illegal. There are a number of states in the US considering making small amounts of pot legal to carry for personal use, but it seems unlikely that they will ever make it into law. To this day the DEA and other government organizations spread misinformation and downright lies about it. This is counterbalanced by many of the pro-pot groups doing the same, in favor of the drug. The one solid truth that I can sieze on is that it is, overall, less dangerous than our legal drug, alcohol. So why is it still illegal? In my opinion, because too many careers in law enforcement, politics, and even the underworld depend on it. Unfortunately this creates a nasty situation. Demand for the drug is very high and will not be going anywhere any time soon. “Stepping up” the war on drugs won’t work as long as the demand is there. The latest round of commericals on TV are placing the blame for violent deaths of innocents by drug cartels on the users of the drug, but I place it on the politicians creating the insane drug laws. Make the drug legal and allow decent people to sell it out inthe open and you completely destroy the market that the government has created. That is the only way to remove the violence connected to the drugs. So the question is, will it be legal in 10 years? I’m guessing no. Even though a massive portion of the population in the US use it regularly, there are no real signs of the current situation changing any time soon. Lets face it, for a politician seeking election taking a stand on pot use is an easy way to win votes. So many people take the misinformation they are fed by the government at face value that its an easy sell. Too many careers in law enforcement depend on it being illegal that they cry bloody murder every time someone proposes legalizing it, even when those people have been comissioned by the government to study the situation. What do they do? Ignore the bulk of the research and sieze upon the areas that lend credibility to the idea that it needs to stay illegal. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/2 "2002-10-03T20:15:06Z")
Well, you’ve sort of phrased this more like a GD, and it doesn’t have a definate, knowable answer (until 10 years have passed), so you might want to ask a mod to move it either to GD, or more likely to IMHO, since this is sort of a poll. To answer your question, I don’t really see widespread legalization of marajuana in the US within the next 10 years. Even though it’s a hot button issue to some people, most people don’t seem to feel strongly enough about the issue either way to spur motion on it. Putting aside small groups like NORML, I don’t think there’s an active enough movement to see legalization happen. I also don’t think that people in law enforcement are as anti-legalization as you think. Some are, of course, but I think there’s also a feeling among some cops that arresting people for small quantities of marajuana is a waste of time, ties up the court system and takes them away from doing other things. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ccd318/32.png) [@John\_Kentzel-Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Kentzel-Griffin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/3 "2002-10-03T20:36:22Z")
General Questions is for questions with factual answers. This is more an opinion/poll type question. Off to IMHO. **DrMatrix** - General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/4 "2002-10-03T21:40:38Z")
In Europe and Canada, no. In the U.S., yes. I think the reason for this is that, unfortunately, we have a strong Puritan streak in our culture. I think the underlying attitude is, even if pot isn’t that dangerous, why should we allow something whose primary motivation is pleasure seeking, and worse, will distract people–especially children–from constructive pursuit? I don’t agree with that ethic myself but I think that’s a big part of why pot is illegal. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/5 "2002-10-03T22:34:58Z")
Why not ask the people in S.C., California, just up the coast from me, I hear some people were giving out free pot the other day for medical use at city hall. Hmmm… Are you talking about non-medical use? ---
**Author:** ![domesticatedjunglefowl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@domesticatedjunglefowl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/domesticatedjunglefowl)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/6 "2002-10-03T23:30:01Z")
I personally think pot will be legal in the same way that sodomy is legal 10- 15 yrs from now. ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/7 "2002-10-04T01:49:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bongmaster \* > \*\* The one solid truth that I can sieze on is that it is, overall, less dangerous than our legal drug, alcohol. So why is it still illegal? > > A better question would be why is alcohol legal? > > Demand for the drug is very high and will not be going anywhere any time soon. > > Cite? What percent of US adults smokes pot at least once a week? 10 percent? 50 percent? 75 percent? > > Make the drug legal and allow decent people to sell it out in the open and you completely destroy the market that the government has created. That is the only way to remove the violence connected to the drugs. > > You are really kidding yourself. Do you believe that the thugs in the the drug trade from top to bottom will get out of the drug biz if drugs are legalized? Think again. They’re not going to walk away from a bazillion dollar business. They’ll sell higher purity for lower prices while introducing new drugs. > > Even though a massive portion of the population in the US use it regularly > > Cite? \*\* ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/8 "2002-10-04T03:27:08Z")
> [@](#): > > A better question would be why is alcohol legal? Well, they tried that from 1919 to 1935. It didn’t work. Should be covered in just about any history textbook. Look under “Prohibition”. > [@](#): > > Do you believe that the thugs in the the drug trade from top to bottom will get out of the drug biz if drugs are legalized? The Chicago Mob got out of the alcohol business after Prohibition was repealed. Why would marijuana be different? And by what standard do you consider pot dealers “thugs”? ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/9 "2002-10-04T03:38:21Z")
Oh, and I suppose I should answer the question posed in the OP. As I see it, legalization will come in ten to twenty years in the US. Within that time, the War on Americans Who Use Drugs will require the arrest and detention of uncomfortably large numbers of middle-class white people, and will become politically difficult to support. To quote Charles Whitebread in his history of marijuana laws: > [@](#): > > And a prohibition is absolutely done for when it does what? Comes back and bothers US. If, at any time, in any way, that prohibition comes back and bothers us, we will get rid of it for sure, every doggone time. Look at the alcohol prohibition if you want a quick example. As long as it is only THEM — you know, them criminals, them crazy people, them young people, them minority group members — we are fine. But any prohibition that comes back and bothers US is done for. > Let’s just try the marijuana prohibition as a quick one. Who do you think was arrested 650,000 strong two years ago for violation of the marijuana laws? Do you think it was all minority group members? Nope. It was not. It was some very identifiable children of US – children of the middle class. You don’t have to answer my opinion. No prohibition will stand – ever-- when it comes back and penalizes our children – the children of US who enacted it. And in fact, do you have any real doubt about that? Do you know what a fabulous sociological study we will be if we become the first society in the history of the world to penalize the sons and daughters of the wealthy class? Unheard of. [http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/whiteb1.htm](http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/whiteb1.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/10 "2002-10-04T12:40:26Z")
I just read a very amusing and interesting book called _Pot Planet_. The author traveled around the world examining local practices with regard to marijuana use and law enforcement. The book deals with a lot of the issues that you touch on. I don’t see recreational pot use being legal within 10 years. “Drugs” is such an easy scapegoat. It is possible that possession of small amounts will no longer be prosecuted though. Hemp production will probably be legal–there’s money in it! Medical marijuana will probably be either legalized or decriminalized. I think a key element will be for non-users to support legalization. I do. ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/11 "2002-10-04T12:53:02Z")
Yes, it will still be illegal in 10 years, in the US as well as in Europe. Even down here in Holland, where it is condoned, it is still illegal and there aren’t any plan to make it legal. The thing is that most people see Cannabis as drugs, and drugs are bad…m’kay ?!? The first country to legalize it will get in deep trouble with it’s neighbouring countries as drug-tourism will grow rampant. No politician will want to burn their fingers on this one. I think the best we can hope for is that within a few years it will be condoned in most (Western) countries and states. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/12 "2002-10-04T13:10:53Z")
Not to be flip but, why, exactly is it illegal? I mean, I can see the reationale behind “manufactured” drugs being illegal but, we’re talking about something’s as natural as a tree. If someone figured out that rolling and smoking regular Kentucky Blue grass gave you a head rush, would they then declare that all lawns must be dug up? It really is a little weird. Not a smoker myself but, it sure does seem contradictory. I guess it would be just a little strange to legalize it. I mean, I’m sure there are people who think, “They should legalize it and then it can be taxed and the goverment would be pulling money hand over fist”. The problem with that is, if it were legalized, why buy it? Just grow it in your back yard and that’s that. You can sit in your arm chair and pound down drink after drink until you throw up on yourself. That’s ok. Just don’t drive. I really don’t see a difference in being able to sit there in your chair chain smoking joints. Just don’t drive. ---
**Author:** ![Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dfb087/32.png) [@Scoundrel\_Swanswater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoundrel_Swanswater)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/13 "2002-10-04T13:24:07Z")
I totally agree with you, **Omnipresent** but I think it has to do with history. Since alcohol had been legal for quite awhile, it was impossible to make it illegal. If they make pot legal now, they will never be able to undo that. The same goes for a lot of other drugs, which aren’t half as addictive as they would want you to believe. (Except for some people who have an addictive personality). They will just maintain the status quo and maybe allow people to smoke pot at home, but they will never allow for it to become a legitimate business. ---
**Author:** ![PhiloVance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@PhiloVance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhiloVance)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/14 "2002-10-04T22:11:43Z")
Maybe in ten years [this kinda thing](http://www.thestranger.com/2002-05-16/feature.html) won’t happen, but I doubt if it will be legalized. Drugs, _any_ drugs are a hot button issue. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/15 "2002-10-04T22:46:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omnipresent \* > \*\*The problem with that is, if it were legalized, why buy it? Just grow it in your back yard and that’s that. \*\* Do you buy beer? 'Cause it’s easy enough to make, you know. Anybody can make their own, if they want to, but very few people bother because it’s too much trouble. Much easier to pop over to the grocery store and buy a six pack. I’m sure the same situation would apply with pot. I don’t smoke anymore, but if I did, and it were legal, I know for sure that I’d be buying my joints at the store rather than going to all the trouble of growing my own. It takes a lot of work to produce high-quality pot. ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/16 "2002-10-05T02:58:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lorenzo \* > **Cite? What percent of US adults smokes pot at least once a week? 10 percent? 50 percent? 75 percent?** Well, from PhiloVance’s [link](http://www.thestranger.com/2002-05-16/feature-2.html): > [@](#): > > According to the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 20 million Americans use marijuana at least once a year; 6 million use it at least once a week, and 3 million Americans smoke marijuana daily. The NHSDA puts current national consumption of marijuana at 7 to 10 million joints per day, or 1,200 to 1,800 metric tons per year. These figures may be low, since most researchers believe the NHSDA underestimated actual drug use. Smoking pot annually is about as popular as [horseback riding](http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/trends/sfsc2.ppt) (PowerPoint link). According to [this site](http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n1191/a04.html) (quoting a Pew Research Center study), 46% of Americans favor decriminalization of marijuana. ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/17 "2002-10-05T16:41:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Not to be flip but, why, exactly is it illegal? Read the link in my last post for a detailed history of marijuana laws. The original reasons for prohibiting marijuana seem to come down to anti-Mexican racisism and stories of “reefer madness”. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/18 "2002-10-05T19:34:52Z")
I’ve never smoked dope, but I say it should be legalized. Even most anti-drug people will admit that pot isn’t really any worse than alcohol or tobacco. Only the extreme fringe put it in the same league as drugs like cocaine or LSD. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pot-still-illegal-in-10-years/130710/19 "2002-10-05T19:40:49Z")
Just to clarify: I have no desire to use marijuana, even if it becomes legal, and I don’t use any other drugs except alcohol.