# The downside to legalizing marijuana **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 17, 2015, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210 "2015-03-17T16:50:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/21 "2015-03-17T21:59:34Z")
Hopefully once it’s legal the companies producing/selling the stuff will find a way to make it smell better. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/22 "2015-03-17T22:01:57Z")
The downside to legalizing marijuana is that no state actually has the _authority_ to do so, because marijuana is illegal at the federal level. States trying to nullify federal drug law on their own is no different than southern states trying to defy the federal government on desegregation or Alabama trying to decree that federal rulings on gay marriage don’t apply to them. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/23 "2015-03-17T22:14:02Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The downside to legalizing marijuana is that no state actually has the _authority_ to do so, because marijuana is illegal at the federal level. > > States trying to nullify federal drug law on their own is no different than southern states trying to defy the federal government on desegregation or Alabama trying to decree that federal rulings on gay marriage don’t apply to them. You think the federal govt is getting ready to swoop into your state and exert control? Civil War II over weed coming up? For some reason, I don’t see that going well for CO and WA who are too “busy” to make it off the couch. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/24 "2015-03-17T22:19:40Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > States trying to nullify federal drug law on their own is no different than southern states trying to defy the federal government on desegregation or Alabama trying to decree that federal rulings on gay marriage don’t apply to them. Well superficially, on paper, I suppose. Kind of depends on whether your moral code can equate discrimination with self-abuse, though. Point being, some laws make life more equal for some people and are generally good, while others meddle in the private affairs of the citizenry and boil down to legislated morality of The Very Loud. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/25 "2015-03-17T22:23:30Z")
Since I didn’t address who was making it legal, I do not think a tangent about the federal government is even remotely relevant. Federally legal weed would still stink. ---
**Author:** ![racepug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@racepug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racepug)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/26 "2015-03-17T22:26:21Z")
Well, I live in one of the states that legalized marijuana and I can think of at least one reason why legalizing it wasn’t a good idea: people are still buying from non-state sanctioned shops which is undermining the very “business” that the state was hoping to generate from legalizing weed. That may change but right now the state I live in isn’t raking in the $$$ it was hoping to through the sale of marijuana especially since, at the same time the people of my state voted to legalize the sale of marijuana, they ALSO decided to take the sale of alcohol OUT of the hands of the state. I thought the former was an okay idea - I’m not so sure about that, now. But I was CERTAIN that the latter was NOT a good idea and unlike with the first one I don’t think I’m being proven wrong on _that_. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/27 "2015-03-17T22:26:28Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Well superficially, on paper, I suppose. Kind of depends on whether your moral code can equate discrimination with self-abuse, though. The issue here is federal supremacy. The states don’t have the right to countermand federal law, whether the law at question is racial equality or the legal status of a recreational drug. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/28 "2015-03-17T22:31:32Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The issue here is federal supremacy. The states don’t have the right to countermand federal law, whether the law at question is racial equality or the legal status of a recreational drug. The issue here is whether pot stinks. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/29 "2015-03-17T22:48:00Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > The issue here is whether pot stinks. I thought it was that your state legalized smoking weed while walking down the sidewalk and that you don’t like the smell? ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/30 "2015-03-17T22:48:14Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > The issue here is whether pot stinks. I use to smoke all the time and loved it. I am all for legalizing it. Yeah, it does stink though. Some hate the smell, some – stoners – love the smell. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/31 "2015-03-17T22:58:09Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I thought it was that your state legalized smoking weed while walking down the sidewalk and that you don’t like the smell? [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18214356&postcount=25](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=18214356&postcount=25) ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/32 "2015-03-17T23:08:35Z")
Thread title: The downside to legalizing marijuana Followed by: This morning I was trapped walking on the sidewalk behind someone stinking up the world with his skanky, skunky weed ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/33 "2015-03-17T23:23:28Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > The issue here is whether pot stinks. Yes it does. Pot stinks. End of story. The next issue is why this disturbs you so much in a state where it is legal that you must post to the SDMB family about the smell. A fart from someone I am walking behind would be far more unpleasant. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/34 "2015-03-17T23:29:13Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > The issue here is federal supremacy. The states don’t have the right to countermand federal law, whether the law at question is racial equality or the legal status of a recreational drug. Do not hijack this thread. I don’t think it would be too hard to find a thread dealing with the topic you seem to want to debate. GD is down the hall on the left. Any further hijack will lead to a warning. ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/35 "2015-03-17T23:29:26Z")
Dear **jsgoddess** , Just joshing with you even though this is The Pit. I hope you don’t mind… Regards, Cabin\_Fever ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/36 "2015-03-17T23:30:06Z")
> [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](#): > > I’m with jsgoddess. I loathe the smell of the nasty stuff. Way stinkier than back in the day it is. We had neighbors decide to have a gathering right below our open window one night. The smell doesn’t seem to dissipate very quickly. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/37 "2015-03-17T23:34:25Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > We had neighbors decide to have a gathering right below our open window one night. The smell doesn’t seem to dissipate very quickly. Light some patchouli incense to mask the smell. Works great! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cabin_fever_1/32/2908_2.png) [@Cabin\_Fever\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cabin_Fever_1)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/38 "2015-03-17T23:41:35Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > Federally legal weed would still stink. It still does, and with that I will bow out to any applause. Tip **jsgoddess** on her way out and wait before lighting up. BTW, I hate second-hand smoke even though I occasionally light up a cigarette myself. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/39 "2015-03-18T00:18:02Z")
> [@Cabin\_Fever](#): > > That aside… “medical” use for some people is just an excuse to get high. Is that the fault of the smoker? Or the half-assed laws that produce “medical” marijuana in the first place? > [@Frodo](#): > > Hopefully once it’s legal the companies producing/selling the stuff **will find a way to make it smell better**. Excuse me?? That’s one of the best parts of the experience, that wonderful smell. Both before it’s lit and while it’s being smoked. Perhaps it’s an acquired taste but I certainly hope they don’t fuck with the smell. Or at least keep the original stinky stuff available. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2015, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210/40 "2015-03-18T00:21:07Z")
> [@Cabin\_Fever](#): > > Yes it does. Pot stinks. End of story. A pox upon your house! Pot doesn’t stink; It’s pungent! There’s a difference. (And, in its raw, unsmoked form, it’s rather fragrant). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-downside-to-legalizing-marijuana/715210.md?page=3)