I think the health and social effects of legal marijuana on society would be much like cigarettes and alcohol–some people would abuse it, some people would have health issues, but most would use it occasionally in appropriate situations. There’d be some negative aspects, but I think they’d pale in comparison to the negatives we have today with it being illegal–drug wars, smuggling, unregulated production, users considered criminals, etc. Given that it’s here and not going away, I feel it would be best for everyone if it was made legal.
In the interest of full disclosure, I have tried it a few times about 30 years ago in high school. I have not done it since, but I would certainly do it if it were legal.
So what are some ways a regular citizen can help make it legal? It seems whenever there’s a marijuana support demonstration around here it’s made up of folks who call themselves names like “Dr. Pot” who look and act exactly as you would expect. I don’t think that’s the best way to get politicians to change the laws. What are some realistic ways a regular person can help get the laws changed?
This is a really good question, but as a cannabis advocate and user, I’m afraid the answer may be that the average person can do nothing productive about marijuana reform. I suppose you could join NORML or something, but the problem is that the same arguments have been around for years already. Most people who don’t use weed (especially older people) seem to believe what the government/media has told them about cannabis (this group will instinctively vote it down without question) or simply don’t care whether it is legal or not.
I think we’re just going to have to wait until a certain segment of the population dies off.
What I find so interesting is this: why do you care so much? Are you so into this drug that you are willing to put in hours per week toward a legalization effort? And if so, doesn’t that imply you care a bit too much for something that is in essence, a complete waste of time?
Anyway it’s practically legal now, for God’s sake. What’s the difference?
I don’t mean to be hostile to you stoners out there, do what you want. But if I were to get my back up over something , it would be for something that really matters, not a recreational drug with no real redeeming qualities (please don’t cite all the medical marijuana arguements, the studies are just not very good).
Well PharmBoy it sort of is a problem for non-smokers too. Lots of people feel that jails are unnecessarily crowded with people who have been convicted on marijuana-related charges and that police resources are wasted busting people for pot. So it actually could be a civic good for marijuana to become legal.
As I stated, I am not a stoner. I haven’t smoked in over 30 years and even then it was just a few times. What I object to is the huge amount of resources dedicated to fighting it. I don’t believe marijuana use is going away, so I think we’re faced with these situations:
Status quo – Continue funding DEA and police agencies to fight it. Pay to put users in jail. Drug lords continue to get rich and fight bloody drug turf wars.
Legalization – Regulated much like tobacco and alcohol. Increased revenue from taxes. Effect on society much like tobacco and alcohol.
It seems that right now there is a huge negative effect on society by keeping it illegal. Making it legal would have some negative effects, but no where near what we have today. The health risks are nowhere near as severe as the harder drugs like heroin, crack, etc.
And, the effect of marijuana is quite pleasant, from what I remember. I could see it replacing the “beer after a hard day’s work” as a way to relax.
I don’t have a dog in that particular fight, I wouldn’t use it if it were legal. I do see my tax dollars being wasted fighting it and housing people in jails who were busted with a few ounces.
Tell you what, everyone send me ten bucks to fund a project to find out if a roll of toilet paper will completely burn up before hitting the ground after being lit and tossed out of an airplane.
That’s the level of idiocy I see in spending my money fighting marijuana.
Sign up for a free internet email account. Tell your senators, congressmen, state senators, and city councilmen about how you feel that marijuana use law enforcement is a waste of precious law enforcement resources. Write clearly and eloquently to dispel notions that you are a lazy illiterate stoner. I’m paranoid, so I would use an alias or freely admit that I am using a pseudonym due to potential negative consequences. I’ve been told that real snail mail letters are taken more seriously than email, so I’d toss out copies to those same parties. Put your unidentifiable email address on the physical letters just to see if you get a response.
Here in California, a state senator has proposed legalizing and taxing marijuana, and we are also discussing releasing over 50,000 prisoners, some of whom are non-violent drug offenders. I’d say now is the time to make your opinion heard.
How is it practically legal? You can still get in serious trouble most places in the US.
What confuses me is the 60’s kids. They are the old farts now, and you’d think they’d be okay with the happy weed. Peace, love, flower power and all that. When this comes up for a vote it turns out people are suddenly a lot more conservative then you’d think. When I was a teenager in the 70’s I remember my friend’s parents being all, “pot? Who cares? I used to smoke it.” But now all those oldsters are against it again.
Tongue in cheek, but maybe we just need to leave pot brownies on every door step so the oldsters remember what the 60’s were apparently about.