Everyone talks about the revenue, but does anyone realize how many tens of thousands of jobs would be lost if law enforcement officials no longer had to stop people from trafficking this stuff?

Just some food for thought from those in Sin City:

 

"We believe laws prohibiting marijuana sends the message to our youth that it is a dangerous drug. Legalization of marijuana for adults will increase use by minors. When Alaska permitted the private use of marijuana, use among children rose rapidly reaching

 

twice the national average. A Canadian study found that the country’s liberal marijuana policies have resulted in Canadian youth topping all other nations for frequent use of marijuana. The lead researcher attributes the increased use to affordability, availability and acceptability.

 

After marijuana became legal and sold in smoke shops in the Netherlands, consumption nearly tripled among 18 to 20 year olds. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Managers Supervisors Association, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association Metro and the Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association, believe criminals profiting from illegal drug sales won’t be out of business, they will likely increase efforts to expand the number of underage users. Nationwide, Marijuana was involved in more than 215,000 emergency department visits impacting an already burdened emergency care system.

 

Smoking a marijuana cigarette deposits about three to five times more tar into the lungs than one filtered cigarette. Smoking three to four joints per day causes as much harm to the respiratory system as smoking a full pack of cigarettes a day. Marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.

 

Subject to certain exceptions, doctors, teachers, bus drivers, police, firefighters, and others over the age of 21 would be “exempt from arrest, civil penalty” and CANNOT face “discipline by any state or local licensing board” for “possession, transfer or use of one ounce or less of marijuana” if Question 7 passes. Marijuana users have 55% more industrial accidents than non-users and have been shown to have a 78% increase in absenteeism over non-users. Workers who tested positive for marijuana use had disciplinary problems at work 64% more often than workers who test negative for marijuana. Accident records from one study showed that up to 12% of non-fatally injured drivers and up to 16% of fatally injured drivers had marijuana in their bloodstream."

I'm interested to hear that many argue for legalization because of increased revenue. There are many, many things we could legalize to increase revenue. Just off the top of my head, wouldn't legalizing prostitution help to 'regulate the industry" and give the government a piece of the pie? Less STD's, closer monitoring, no underground market......hmmm this sounds just like the argument for marijuana. Why doesn't anyone argue for that? Simple. We have a responsibilty as human beings to look out for the "greater good" of society. IMO many of the arguments presented are on a slippery slope at best. How can people be so vehemently opposed to smoking tobacco in public places, yet argue FOR legalizing a substance that is much more cancerous than tobacco? What is the most common perception of "potheads"? Laziness and apathy. There is a reason for that perception. How many people do you know that skipped a class, work, forgot about an important event, or generally had a lack of motivation to do something important to their life because of the use of marijuana? And we want to make this more readily accessible?

That I know. But I think if it were made legal, the tables would simply turn. People are trying to make a push for legality right now...and if it becomes legal, I think several groups would form to "reverse the process." Which to me solves nothing.

 

In this case however, I think the positives far outweight the negatives of marijuana usage/regulation.

I agree. Although, I do think that if it were made legal that many groups would be protesting it but that would subdue in time, just like it has with alcohol and would no longer be a problem.

 

We're not talking the world, we're talking the U.S. And most companies I have dealt with would fire you if you showed up to work drunk and you were caught.. Intoxication of any kind is one of the leading causes of accidents at work.

How about that it would reduce the prison population to a manageable level. Tobacco farmers could switch from tobacco to hemp and cannabis. We could also keep all the really stupid people out of the work force because they would be at home getting high.

:thumb: Exactly. Alcohol is legal yet you can get fired form being drunk on the job and it would be the same for pot. My question is, would an employer still be allowed to not hire a person based on a marijuana drug test prior to employment... I would guess not.

 

What you are describing is an addictive personality and not a substance addiction...

Exactly.

 

Marijuana leads to other drugs and it is highly addictive to young people. And it ruins lives. And teenagers don't want to hear the hypocracy that it is okay for an adult but not for them. How many times have we hear the argument, you can die for your country but not drink a beer.

This is just not true. Pot does not lead to other drugs whatsoever. People have the choice to do what they want to, there is no such thing as a gateway drug. It's also not addictive. People have addictive personalities which lead to them looking for new things. People hang out with the wrong crowds which leads to trying new things. Nobody has ever said 'hey, getting high was fun, I guess I have to try acid or heroin now...'

For the record I am for the legalization of it but as far as the "tax the heck out of it" strategy goes that is a terrible idea. It would obviously have to be taxed but not to the extreme or it would just boost the black market for it again. It's the same thing as the war on drugs. Drugs became harder to get for a while thus causing a decrease in the market but when they became harder to get that raised the price creating a larger amount of people wanting to get into the dealing business completely defeating the entire process. It's really basic economics.

Just some food for thought from those in Sin City:

 

"We believe laws prohibiting marijuana sends the message to our youth that it is a dangerous drug. Legalization of marijuana for adults will increase use by minors. When Alaska permitted the private use of marijuana, use among children rose rapidly reaching twice the national average. A Canadian study found that the country’s liberal marijuana policies have resulted in Canadian youth topping all other nations for frequent use of marijuana. The lead researcher attributes the increased use to affordability, availability and acceptability.

 

After marijuana became legal and sold in smoke shops in the Netherlands, consumption nearly tripled among 18 to 20 year olds. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Managers Supervisors Association, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association Metro and the Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ Association, believe criminals profiting from illegal drug sales won’t be out of business, they will likely increase efforts to expand the number of underage users. Nationwide, Marijuana was involved in more than 215,000 emergency department visits impacting an already burdened emergency care system.

 

Smoking a marijuana cigarette deposits about three to five times more tar into the lungs than one filtered cigarette. Smoking three to four joints per day causes as much harm to the respiratory system as smoking a full pack of cigarettes a day. Marijuana smoke contains 50 to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than tobacco smoke.

 

Subject to certain exceptions, doctors, teachers, bus drivers, police, firefighters, and others over the age of 21 would be “exempt from arrest, civil penalty” and CANNOT face “discipline by any state or local licensing board” for “possession, transfer or use of one ounce or less of marijuana” if Question 7 passes. Marijuana users have 55% more industrial accidents than non-users and have been shown to have a 78% increase in absenteeism over non-users. Workers who tested positive for marijuana use had disciplinary problems at work 64% more often than workers who test negative for marijuana. Accident records from one study showed that up to 12% of non-fatally injured drivers and up to 16% of fatally injured drivers had marijuana in their bloodstream."

Good information. Thanks Lights.

 

Kinda shoots some big holes in the theories being presented on here for legalizing it.

 

How did children smoking pot double the national average when it is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much more difficult to get. And that law thing has never prevented someone underage to get cigarettes.

 

And what do you think all of the criminals who now make their living selling pot are going to do? Miraculously wake up and say, "Well, guess I got go out and get a job now." No, one of their paths might be selling pot to the youth. Promoting more to the youth since the youth cannot get it at stores. And the youth are not going to believe that it is bad for them because adults are allowed to do it.

This is just not true. Pot does not lead to other drugs whatsoever. People have the choice to do what they want to, there is no such thing as a gateway drug. It's also not addictive. People have addictive personalities which lead to them looking for new things. People hang out with the wrong crowds which leads to trying new things. Nobody has ever said 'hey, getting high was fun, I guess I have to try acid or heroin now...'

 

I will go back to the families that I have dealt with and tell them that what they experienced in their lives was not true. Thanks for clearing that up.:thumb:

Personally, I wish it was legal for limited use, especially for medical purposes. As a nurse, I have seen many cancer patients who use it and say it works wonders for nausea and relaxation.

 

I also know a lot of psychiactric patients who smoke pot to control racing thoughts. Of course, you cant have all psyc patients running around smoking pot, but some kind of theraputic, controlled doses might well be helpful. So many of the other drugs they have to take have such bad side effects they wont take them.

 

I dont think it would be good to be legal for everyone. We already have enough substance abuse with not nearly enough help available for those who need it.

Everyone talks about the revenue, but does anyone realize how many tens of thousands of jobs would be lost if law enforcement officials no longer had to stop people from trafficking this stuff?

 

Which is the real reason it will not be legalized...

A lot of people in this thread have forgotten our Rule #9. No discussion of ANY criminal behavior (charged or uncharged) in the high school forums. Discussion of adult criminal behavior is permitted in all non-high school forums. However, discussion of criminal behavior by juveniles (anyone under 18) is never permitted anywhere on BGP.

A lot of people in this thread have forgotten our Rule #9. No discussion of ANY criminal behavior (charged or uncharged) in the high school forums. Discussion of adult criminal behavior is permitted in all non-high school forums. However, discussion of criminal behavior by juveniles (anyone under 18) is never permitted anywhere on BGP.

 

Thought that was if directed at a specific juvenile. My fault...

Thought that was if directed at a specific juvenile. My fault...

Best to just avoid it all together.

People have been talking about marijuana and people being addicted to it. Any addiction to marijuana is MENTAL, and in no way physical...

People have been talking about marijuana and people being addicted to it. Any addiction to marijuana is MENTAL, and in no way physical...

 

Exactly...:thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb::thumb: :thumb:

 

By the way, all this "info." we, including me, are posting, is coming from sites that are either totally against legalizing it or totally for legalizing it. I would love to see a site that was legitimately dishing out FACTS that have been proven.

People have been talking about marijuana and people being addicted to it. Any addiction to marijuana is MENTAL, and in no way physical...

Recent scientific research provides overwhelming evidence that not only does drug addiction interfere with normal brain functioning, creating powerful feelings of pleasure; but they also have long-term effects on brain metabolism and activity. At some point, changes occur in the brain that can turn drug abuse into addiction, a chronic, relapsing illness. Those people with a drug addiction suffer from a compulsive drug craving and usage and cannot quit by themselves. Treatment for drug addiction is necessary to end this compulsive behavior.