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Should marijuana be re-legalized? The
question should be: Should marijuana remain completely untaxed,
unregulated and controlled by criminals?

Because marijuana is now illegal, it is sold only by criminals
(criminals who often sell other, much more dangerous drugs like cocaine
and methamphetamine). And they often offer free samples of the more
dangerous drugs to their marijuana customers. Thus the so-called
“gateway effect.”

In a regulated market, this would not happen. Do the readers know of
anyone who has been offered a free bottle of whiskey, rum or vodka when
legally buying beer or wine? I don’t either.

If we regulate, control, and tax the sale and production of marijuana,
we close the gateway to hard drugs.

Criminals…? The only reason people who sell marijuana are criminals is because marijuana itself is illegal. You can’t stereotype marijuana sellers as people who are ALWAYS associated with crime and other “hard” drugs.. there are plenty of people out there who have smoked marijuana, but have never done a “hard” drug. Remarks like that are the EXACT reason why people have such a skewed view on drugs. Making marijuana legal will most definitely NOT “close the gateway to hard drugs..’, because no matter what, people will choose to make the decisions they do. You really think if marijuana is legalized people will stop doing all these so-called “hard” drugs? Very naive way of thinking.. The “gateway effect” won’t be eliminated by making another drug more available and decriminalized.. it will be eliminated by EDUCATION. The whole reason marijuana is still illegal rests strongly on that naive, uneducated way of thinking. I mean, marijuana is still classified as a ‘schedule 1’ drug.. how many medicinal benefits does it have now? (Helps with insomnia, anxiety, anorexia, pain relief..etc.)

I am all for the legalization of marijuana, and all of the medicinal, economical and decriminalized benefits. But don’t try and use it to form fallacies about how people use drugs, and how we should approach the understanding of these drugs.

And who are these drug dealers who are offering these “free samples” of “hard” drugs..? I would LOVE to hear where you did your research to come to that conclusion.

It’s people like you, Kirk, who make up these so-called “statistics”, and you just make yourself, and the group of people you represent, look ignorant. Do some real research.

P.S.- The “gateway effect” is not from people offering free drugs to people who use drugs. The gateway effect is derived from the USE of a drug, giving you the DESIRE to try other drugs. Once you try one, you want to try other types of drugs. Get your facts straight.

In society today adults have to make millions of important decisions, a lot of which can have a drastic effect on their lives, even death. We are responsible for our choices, and we suffer and prosper from our choices, it’s what makes each individual who they ultimately become. This is called freedom of choice, ownership of ones self. We are legally allowed to make these choices everyday, including many that can be instantly fatal such as riding recreational dirt bikes for the thrill of it, even though it could cost us our lives, its our choice to make.

By trying to force people into not consuming a natural plant we are effectively causing more harm than if we were to let each adult make their own choices and except the consequences for those choices. The harm prohibition has brought to not just our own country, but the vast majority of the world is on a remarkably large scale, and threatens our national security. By choosing to prohibit this substance, we have chosen to ignore it and to let it be controlled by the black market. This in turn has enriched criminal enterprises to the point they have the financial power to compete with their own governments on a military bases as seen in Mexico. This is a national security threat. Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, and the majority of citizens know this, this in turn creates disrespect for law enforcement thereby furthering the deterioration of our community as a whole. It is inhumane to lock a person in a cage and take away their belongings they worked for when they did nothing to harm any other individual or society. Current marijuana laws are a civil rights nightmare waiting to happen, and only makes marijuana readily available to anyone of any age. The laws are obviously bad, expensive and unyielding in accomplishments. We spend billions each year to try and stop marijuana consumption, and yet the DEA admits they would be surprised if they are even getting 1% of the drugs being transported. That’s a bad investment, and the majorities do not agree with it, and there is no justification for making marijuana illegal in the first place.

Prohibition is bad for our kids as they have complete access to it as long as its being controlled by the black market, what we need is control and regulation to minimize the exposure of drugs to young children. As long as it is illegal or decriminalized there will be a black market selling it at a marked up value because of risk, and all the harm will continue.

By legalizing marijuana we are effectively controlling its distribution, and can much better regulate its use by age limits.

Simply put, it’s a real no brainer and it will eventually happen, so if it’s not working now, and has the potential to be better why would we stay put?

Let’s not continue to turn regular tax paying citizens into tax burdens for the rest of us,
there comes a time when you have to realize a bad investment is a bad investment.

Please help us do the right thing, listen to the people of California who have bravely stood up for a positive change in our society, drugs may not bee good for us, but prohibition has proven far worse.

Yes, marijuana should be legalized immediately. The war on drugs leads to horrific oppressions on a daily basis. The fact that it has continued for so long demonstrates the corruption and tyranny of the United States government.

Yes marijuana should be legalized ASAP. With studies showing a large disparity of poor and African-American’s being arrested for marijuana possession, while the percentage of white people who are said to use drugs is almost double. It clearly indicates signs of deep-seeded social racism and at over 500,000 people jailed for marijuana every year, equates to oppression & slavery.

The discussion on drugs and the effects they have on our culture, I am one who thinks that most drugs need to remain illegal. Though I am an opponent for the industry that has been built on the oppression of people, (which is the racket) that prevails on the enforcement and prosecution of offenders, I feel it is such a big industry and is mainly only funded to keep the legal side of the issue in the money or business. As the dollars to fight the drug war increase every year, it only benefits the people that enforce the regulations. If more money could go to the victims (in re-education) or to view the problem as health issues, the problem could diminish. Robert Meir and Gilbert Geis tell of the first obstacle, they define what a drug is, with its many variations of the definition. It’s varied definition shows the scope of its interpretation as important. Drugs are substances that cause addiction, can be a healing chemical when prescribed by doctors, a recreational substance for social settings, a source of high income and substantial prestige, or legal food as coffee, cola drinks, and cigarettes. (pg.63) This definition shows the range of the understanding of the word and shows why the war on drugs has prejudice. I feel that if all drugs were made legal, there would still be abuse and it would still corrupt society. This war on drugs seems to be directed at social economic classes of people: the result, of the way this class (the poor) tend to live life. It seems that the only sanctuary that these poor people have is in turning their heads ( not to agree) on the enforcement of the problem. Though some people see parts of their community engaged in some types of drug related behaviors, they are limited on what they can do to bring about a better community because the limits that they are subject to include corrupt police officers which profile people of color, people of economic disposition, and people who are not educated. I feel that it is just a small percentage of communities that are not effected by drugs or its policies. As the book points out, most people who are arrested test positive for recent drug use, (pg.76) shows that this enterprise or system is overloaded with the same reoccurring statistics. The alcohol and drugs that are consumed have no demographic boundaries which show that they can come from all parts of society. I feel that if all drugs were legal like alcohol, it would only increase the number of incidents of crime. The policies we have in place could seem like a form of oppression. The mandatory minimum sentences that are used are only placed on some drugs, not all drugs because of the racial profiling. The example of “crack cocaine” carries mandatory sentences which are prosecuted on the majority of inner city communities, while “powder cocaine” crimes have lighter sentences which are found in more affluent communities. Marijuana and its legalization in some states have been stepped on by federal law, which shows that the federal judicial system is not on the same page as state judicial systems. Change it, so people that voted in favor of it and passed the law to have it can be safe, or change it so that the people who enforce the law can fairly administer the law. If more money would be spent on the issue (as a health problem) and viewed that way, people would personalize the problem and decide for themselves that drugs are not healthy, therefore they are not good for you. Instead we have a war which discriminates against culture, economics and beliefs. The Nancy Reagan crusade of “Just Say No” tells of the decline of drug use in its campaign, yet it fails to tell of the lost jobs, broken families, instability to get jobs because of criminal records, and the under culture that exists which we are all surrounded by. “Just Say No”, may educate the non users, but it is a nightmare for the millions who can’t say no. As the demand for drugs increase every year, it shows that the fabric of our communities are torn by the failure of the war and its causalities. If our country keeps investing in prisons and more laws to correct drug use, everyone would be effected by some arm of this issue and its failed war. Drugs should be a health issue and action needs to be directed to have any type of success or decline. Until the majority of people in our country change the laws about drugs, it will remain as an oppression for the people. I am not for legalizing illegal drugs, but am in favor of controlling them like most pharmaceuticals. If we put all drugs in a pharmacy it would remain in the hands of the right people, who could control it and who would use it for medications that way it would not just be a way to get high from them.

Right on. The only rational dissent against the legalization of marijuana that I know of is that legalization of marijuana = skyrocketing violent/theft crime rates in places where it was sold illegaly. Not because pot makes people more likely to commit crimes, but because the former dealers are out of work, and resort to robbery and even violent crime. This could be solved by job training for said dealers at the time of legalization. Just a point that is usually skipped over.

Paul,

use the tab key, baby. split it into paragraphs.

“Gov. Johnson has been speaking out on this issue for a long time, ever since he was the sitting governor of New Mexico.”

SSDP spokesman Win Hansen said his organization favors decriminalization of marijuana as a way to reduce the harm suffered by drug users in America.”

The “HARM” is to families of drug heads and society who has to pay for treatment. The loss in lives, is unbelievable for those of you that read much today. Prohibition has never worked….look at the liquor…legal or illegal it was around.
So it seems as though no matter what…drugs will be here. Should we legalize it? GOOD DAMN QUESTION…will WE still pay for abusers, flakes and bums who take the easy way out? I’m afraid we will….so what does it matter ? At this point, it is almost a rhetorical question only !!

The only thing I can think about is, “What the world would be like if everyone was laid-back”?

The police officer on their smoke break?
The doctor on their smoke break?
The president on their smoke break?

you can Start your career by earning a degree in Crime Scene Investigation check http://bit.ly/3fyWG4

One need not travel to China to find indigenous cultures lacking human rights or to Cuba for political prisoners. America leads the world in percentile behind bars, thanks to ongoing persecution of hippies, radicals, and non-whites under prosecution of the war on drugs. If we’re all about spreading liberty abroad, then why mix the message at home? Peace on the home front would enhance global credibility.

The drug czar’s Rx for prison fodder costs dearly, as life is flushed down expensive tubes. My shaman’s second opinion is that psychoactive plants are God’s gift. Behold, it’s all good. When Eve ate the apple, she knew a good apple, and an evil prohibition. Canadian Marc Emery is being extradited to prison for selling seeds that American farmers use to reduce U. S. demand for Mexican pot.

Only on the authority of a clause about interstate commerce does the CSA (Controlled Substances Act of 1970) reincarnate Al Capone, endanger homeland security, and throw good money after bad. Administration fiscal policy burns tax dollars to root out the number-one cash crop in the land, instead of taxing sales. Society rejected the plague of prohibition, but it mutated. Apparently, SWAT teams don’t need no stinking amendment.

Nixon passed the CSA on the false assurance that the Schafer Commission would later justify criminalizing his enemies. No amendments can assure due process under an anti-science law without due process itself. Psychology hailed the breakthrough potential of LSD, until the CSA shut down research, and pronounced that marijuana has no medical use, period. Drug juries exclude bleeding hearts.

The RFRA (Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993) allows Native American Church members to eat peyote, which functions like LSD. Americans shouldn’t need a specific church membership or an act of Congress to obtain their birthright freedom of religion. John Doe’s free exercise of religious liberty may include entheogen sacraments to mediate communion with his maker.

Freedom of speech presupposes freedom of thought. The Constitution doesn’t enumerate any governmental power to embargo diverse states of mind. How and when did government usurp this power to coerce conformity? The Mayflower sailed to escape coerced conformity. Legislators who would limit cognitive liberty lack jurisdiction.

Common-law must hold that adults are the legal owners of their own bodies. The Founding Fathers undersigned that the right to the pursuit of happiness is inalienable. Socrates said to know your self. Mortal lawmakers should not presume to thwart the intelligent design that molecular keys unlock spiritual doors. Persons who appreciate their own free choice of path in life should tolerate seekers’ self-exploration.

Valid medicinal value, it’s a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit…Need I say more?

Woodstock Universe supports legalization of Marijuana.

We will giveaway a Woodstock Universe Prize Package to the best member blog on “Why we should legalize marijuana?”

Prize package includes Woodstock Universe T-shirt and magnet, WDST decal, Radio Woodstock Live in Woodstock CD and Woodstock 3 days of peace and music Director’s Cut DVD.

Join Woodstock Universe to blog.
Add your vote in our poll about legalization at http://www.woodstockuniverse.com.

Current poll results…97% for legalization, 3% against.

Peace, love, music, one world,
RFWoodstock

Great to see Governor Johnson reigniting this issue. He did a lot for this state that the liberal bleeding hearts have mitigated and not given him credit for doing. Too bad he was skewered by the media, both locally and nationwide, about his progressive stance on drugs. The War on Drugs is a joke, and it’s time that the nation’s lawmakers wake up from their stupor so that this country can benefit from “sin taxes” and possible benefits from regulating the drug trade.

Found the audio of his speech

http://tinyurl.com/y8rl6rq

Uh oh the druggies have put down their bongs to come make a ruckus…it seems Governor Johnson misses his “free love” hippie days where responsibility took a back seat to rational, clear headed thinking. News flash- being drugged up 24/7 like these posters would oh so enjoy would cause society to come grinding to a halt. But as we know with weed, once they get their hit they will want something stronger and turn to the streets for other drugs like cocaine and meth. Legalize weed now and in ten years these same clowns will be preaching for the legalization of coke and ice, no doubt using the same arguments they use for their beloved weed.

OH yeah I love the arguments about how dealing with weed smoking criminals is too expensive…under that same logic we should just let the murders and rapists run wild because it would cost too much to bring them to justice.

Chadwick has been watching too much Reefer Madness.
“under that same logic we should just let the murders and rapists run wild because it would cost too much to bring them to justice.” Only if you consider those crimes to be on par with using drugs. A very rare opinion, even among those who would keep marijuana illegal.

Legalize Tax, Regulate= Stimulate. It’s as simple as that.How about some action an a little less talk??

“marijuana” is a herb ,not a ‘drug’. (webster’s dictionary).
the bible ,which we are required to ‘sware’ on in a court of law ,states (in several places where the LORD is speaking directly) , states “unto you I give every green herb growing in the field. to you it shall be for meat {food.ie consumption}.

when will the government strike down their law against a GOD given right. those who ‘abuse’ herb should be punished , but do not deny those who ‘use’ herb for relief of pain and improvement of personal medical , psylogical , etc. conditions.

genman