smoking marijuana has never killed anyone! It's time to legalize it.

yes

Yes.

The last time I heard a conversation about legalizing "pot", I wanted to throw something at them. So what if the "pot" is a natural herb. It obviously kills too. Today's newspaper said enough with the death of the construction worker on Laurent. Explain to that family if it was legal to smoke "pot" why their family member is gone. And since it's not legal, the punishment should be even stricter. Yeah, I know, alcohol kills too. But you knwo what, you can call a cab, call a friend, call your mother and I'm sure they would prefer picking up your drunk behind vs. planning a funeral. Besides, if you can't drink sensibly, then maybe you should reconsider drinking.

NO! "POT" should not be legalized in my opinion.

The secert life of a MJ user/Doper;
You go buy your first bag of dope, the reason I use the word "DOPE" is because of the high THC content in MJ. I have read all of the post on the use of MJ, I have heard all of those stories for 27 yrs. All have a valiad point if you are a doper. You do not live in the real world. Illegal narcotics is a world of it's own. Here is one for you. A vehicle is travling east bound I-30 just east of Dallas headed to Greenville Texas, this vehicle has no A/C, male & female in the car with a small child. On this day it's really hot outside 100 plus, police makes a stop on this vehicle does a plain veiw search of the vehicle then finds a little MJ left over in the ashtray. So now the officer ask for a consent to search the vehicle, does his thing finds a pound of weed, smoke what ever you want call it, then continues his search finds 1/8oz of speed/meth/crank/stuff etc., parents go to jail child goes to CPS. Now the child, she didn't deserves this, she has no control over anything. After a follow up investigation mommy & daddy are on welfare can't afford to buy cloths for the child, but they found money for dope. Daddy ends up in TDC prior drug convictions, mommy gets off with probation, grandparents gets the child. Now you will say let's legalize dope, yeah right.. Do me and the taxpayer a favor don't become a ward of the state because of your stupidity.

Speaking of pro marijuana May 2 & 9 is the worldwide marijuana march in over 300 cities around the world with at least four in texas I know of,Austin(of course),San Antonio(wow),Houston, and Dallas. The website is www.worldwidemarijuanamarch.org

i agree legalize it ,the prisons are too filled up with with drug users. there are more drunk driver fatalities than marjuana fatalities. i am a strong advocate for all drug users to get out of prison and into rehab,
why is it that dwi get a few months in jail and have to go to aa but the drug addict gets 10 years and never any rehabilitation?now unless they have commited a crime like a violent crime or thief but not just for being an addict. the prison system does not rehabilitate the inmates in any shape or form.
just locking the inmates up does not teach them any kind of positive behavior, when they get out they do the same thing they got in there for because it is the only thing they know how to do.
enough on the prison system i could go on for days on this subject.
but pot sould be legalized, expecially for medical, my mother, god rest her soul, never touched a drug in her life, got cancer three years ago and that was the only way she could get an appitite was after smoking marjuana.
i never asked how she got her hands on it but now it makes me wonder?

Hicktoria, medical marijuana is legal and taxed in california. So the government can make money off it. A lot of people make home-brewed beer. Marijuana does not have to be smoked either it can be ingested in food or vaporized which does not have any of the bad side effect. Marijuana always gets a bad rap. Nobody is saying to legalize it for children. Many politicians,law-enforcement officers and judges think marijuana should be legalize.

You go Zerro. couldn't have said it better myself. Just like guns don't kill people ,people kill people

mimi,

First, the Einstein quote had nothing to do with drugs when he said it. If it has been co-opted by AA then they borrowed and misapplied it for their own use.

The rest of your post reads and sounds like story telling. Stoy telling has been the hallmark of the opponets to drugs and alcohol for ages. Telling stories, and re-telling them over and over does not trump science, facts, and knowledge. Story telling merely muddies the water. The reason people use story telling instead of facts is because the facts don't support their views.

People are prone to making many bad decisions that wreck their lives. Reckless driving, marrying the wrong person, going into debt.... The list is long indeed and we simply can't codify and ban all the things that will ruin someones life. I really believe someone intent on ruining their live will do so regarless of any laws on the books.

Mimi, you cite drugs as the cause of problems. I don't think drugs are the cause of problems, drugs are the excuse some people use for their problems. It's nice to have something as an excuse for doing something stupid. That relives the person of the responsibility of their actions. If I get drunk and kill someone, it's my fault. It not Jack Daniel's fault! I can't blame him.

It should be legal. However, the government will never allow this to happen for one simple reason.

They can not make money off of it like beer/alcohol because it can be grown too easily.

So let’s see we should do away with beer, scotch (my favorite), pot and any other form of drug or relaxant, all hold hands, go to church on Sundays and Thank God we live in the land of the free. Sounds pretty boring to me. And of course we don’t want anyone driving who has been smoking,drinking,or older then dirt, has their abilities are inparied. Do you really believe that, that is not going on now. Happens everyday. If pot was legal there would be the same rules on it as beer about drinking ,smoking and driving. There would still be public intoxication laws. And we wouldn’t be putting people(kids) in prison for years for some stupid law that at best is outdated and at worst unreasonable. Pot is here! It has been here for eons and will remain here,legal or illegial . In the words of John whathisname on 20/20. Give me a break.

It's either legal to alter your consciousness or it isn't....

It is hypocritical to for the govt to legislate HOW a person can get an altered state.

WTH? You can get drunk but not high? You can smoke cigarettes but not weed? You can buy mini-thins but not speed?

Buncha BS - either get rid of all mind-altering substances or legalize them and treat people who need addiction treatment. We already have to treat them or put them in jail, right?

Besides, more treatment facilities would stimulate the economy....

another point - marijuana is NOT the "gateway drug" - ALCOHOL is and even before they get their hands on alcohol, it is CIGARETTES.

Surprise! 2 legal drugs are the so-called "gateway drugs".

Call them what they are - caffeine, alcohol, nicotine are all DRUGS!

So why doesn't the War on Drugs include those harmful drugs?

NO---NADA-NEIN--H----NO! DEFINITELY NOT.

NOT FOR MEDICINAL, RECREATIONAL, OR FOR PROFIT!

That's all-----------------------------------------------------------------!

Zorro, the Albert Einstien quote you just posted, is one that is often used in AA.

It is irresponsible and ignorant to state that by legalizing mariajuanna and other illegal narcotics, we will win the war on drugs and rid the world of the scurge known as the Drug Cartell.

I guess, Zorro, you are relatively young, and therefore still believe that you are invincible to addiction of any kind. Lucky you. For you've probably not had to attend your father's funeral after he was killed by a kid who had been smoking weed at a party and got behind the wheel of a car ---- And lucky you, that you've never watched your best friend being given CPR after a night of drinking and pot smoking, when she decides to go swimming in the lake and doesn't come back up..... And lucky you, you've never had to beat your spouse to the bank to take out all the cash before he/she takes it all and spends it on meth. Lucky you, you've never had to get that call about someone close to you who was found dead from an overdose. Lucky you that you've never gone to the ER late one night to find your daughter huddling on a gurney, surrounded by police officers, --- sexually assaulted after being given the date-rape drug on prom night.

But yeah, I can see where prohibiting marijuanna and other illegal substances can cause REAL problems. Prohibition leads to ORGANIZED Criminal activities.....

RUKIDDINGME, absolutely correct. I, for one, wouldn't want anyone who smokes pot driving around while high.

We put restrictions on alcohol, so why can't we put the same on marijuana? Put the same laws and penalties on weed that the government puts on alcohol.

I can agree with any argument, but it all comes down to being fair and government restrictions. Marijuana is a mind-altering drug, and it has a bad rap. The truth is, alcohol accounts for more deaths than weed. You cannot die from smoking dope (well you can if you smoke and drive, like an idiot).

I have never used drugs. I, like alot of people, drank alcohol at some point in my life. Now I choose not to. There's no appeal to me anymore, but I'm not going to tell anyone what they can and can't do.

Argh, I can't think anymore. Wasn't there a blog on this same subject a while back?

I wish it were possible to debate this issue on the facts and science. Clearly, this topic brings out the worst in people's ignorance and fears. Albert Einstein said "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

Let's see long term pot usage makes you lazy and long term alcohol usage causes cancer and liver damage and more. Though I don't want to smoke it, I think the effects are not as devastating as alcohol's. I've never heard of anyone smoking themselves into a pot induced coma or having a POT black-out. Pot (as the only substance) related driving accidents? How? A pedestrian could outrun a vehicle driven by someone who is stoned. He's driving 10 miles an hour, giggling, with cheeto crumbs on his chin, always imagining the cops right behind him. He'll sit at a stop sign for 15 minutes not sure if he's come to a complete stop. We have restrictions and limits on alcohol consumption and of course there should be limits on pot usage too. hmmmmm Who wants to be a part of the study that determines the legal limit? As with anything, even french fries and romance novels, moderation is the key. (Can we get a grammar and punctuation check now that we have a spell check?)

Did you happen to hear NPR's "All Things Considered" hypothetical scenario "What if marijuana were legal" on April 20? If not give it a read/listen here http://www.npr.org/templates/story/st...

I don't know anymore about legalizing pot. I used to be in favor but I'm older now. Maybe I'm just more paranoid now. There was a time I thought I could not live without it, of course I used to smoke cigarettes too. I quit that as well. I do think decriminalization should definitely be considered.

Ok, I predicted that I'd be in the minority on my opinion.... and I was right!

Pilot, I loved your comment!

No, I haven't changed my mind or my opinion on the issue. I want to add a few comments though.

I don't believe that the War on Drugs has been lost, and I don't believe that legalizing Pot in the U.S. will cause the Drug Cartels to disappear. Weed is only one teeny tiny little subsidary of their business.

Smoking a joint isn't just a harmless way to "get high" and relax.... it's going into your lungs and has just as great of risk of causing cancer and other lung disease as regular tobacco. Plus, it is impairing your motor skills, vision, thought processes and judgement.

Remember a year or so ago, the YouTube video of the teenage boys giving Weed to a toddler? Suppose that was YOUR child? I guess if weed was legal, you would think that was ok?

Those who are crying and whining about how much of their tax dollars are going to the TANF, Food Stamp/WIC Recipients will be doubly upset if Pot was legal, because as Pilot stated, it is an un-motivator. People wouldn't care if they had a job or not, just as long as they had weed. But they'd still need to support their kids and their "baby Momma".

I guess all of you who are unopposed to legalizing marijuana do or have in the past, indulged in a toke or two... And I am guessing that most of you are at least the age of 18. ... So consider this: would you sit down after dinner with your spouse and your kids and light up a joint? Knowing that your kid could get a "contact high?" And it's ok, because it's legal? Or how about you younger, single smokers? Want to go smoke a pipe with grandpa, who's been secretly toking for years?

For arguments sake lets say that smoking weed is no more dangerous than drinking a beer. . . . and it's legal. So now we have people openly getting high just because they can. ... would you put your kids life in the hands of the school bus driver who's been smoking weed? You going to trust your children's education to the teachers who are toking?

Food for thought.

unfortunately not many agree with you darlins64!

It should be legal. Our prisons are already to overcrowded and they don't need to put people in there for possesion of marijuana. I live in California where you can get a card for medical marijuana with a recomendation from a doctor. Then you can go to a medical marijuana club and purchase it. It's taxed and brings a lot of money into California(we need it). Personally I think anyone that can legally buy a beer should be able to buy marijuana. I even think someone should be able to grow their own use. There have been talks recently of legalizing it for adults and taxing it here.

darlins64..."Beer needs to go too!"

Uhhh, darlin...didja EVER hear of prohibition? Yeah, THAT worked.

Gabe...Yes, pot should be legalized. Get it out of the mix of the so-called "War on Drugs." There are many more important things law enforcement should be doing than locking up pot smokers. Make laws against driving/operating machinery under the influence, just like alcohol, but for cryin' out loud, stop spending so much money and resources busting those who smoke it.

I neither use, nor have any interest in using, illegal drugs, including marijuana. With that said, it seems to me that most thinking people have reached the conclusion that the current war on drugs is an abysmal failure. Not only has it failed in its stated purpose of stopping the flow of drugs into this country, it is a primary contributor to the undermining of many governments in Latin America. I am open to anyone who can propose a better approach to the problem. There has to be a better and more effective way to address the issue.

I don't have anything more than an opinion here, but I believe the War on Drugs has been lost and to deny that fact is living in denial. Significant percentages of people all over the world have decided they want to ingest substances that government's have deemed illegal. I don't see how anyone can't see the parallel between the Prohibition Era with alcohol and illegal drugs today. Both gave rise to organized crime. If marijuana and other substances were made legal, surely it would mean the end to the cartels, huge savings in law enforcement and incarceration, and significant new tax sources. The War on Drugs is a big business all over the world. Those in law enforcement, who benefit the most financially from enforcing drug laws, are the ones most opposed to changing our drug policy. Alcohol is legal for adults and yet virtually not a problem with children. Poll the public and see if attitudes are ahead of the laws. Drugs and gambling are not the demons they are made out to be by those who oppose them. You would probably be really surprised if you knew who does both. Let loose the bondage of hypocrisy. People's lives are being ruined by enforcing the current drug laws.

It should be considered because of the potential source of tax revenue. This would take much of the smuggeling out of it and hopefully let legitimate business's produce and regulate a much cleaner product. I don't think the health risks are any more than cigaretts or alcohol.

Gabe,
I am probably in the minority on this one, but I think pot should NOT be legalized, except for medicinal use only. I also think that the penalties should be tougher for getting caught with ANY usable amount.

Some will argue that smoking week is no worse than drinking a beer and you don't get a hang over. Actually, pot stays in your system for many days. And your judgement and ability to operate equipment or a vehicle will be impaired long after you've had your last toke.

People on this forum have complained about the foul smell from regular cigarette smokers --- been around someone who smokes weed? Their clothes reek, as does their hair and skin.

This is just my opinion, but Pot needs to be banned except for medicinal purposes, and the growth of such, heavily regulated.

Beer needs to go too!