What do you think about states legalizing marijuana?

Della said:
I think the title of this thread should be changed to, "What good things do you think about states legalizing marijuana?" Otherwise you'd better have documented sources for your opinion. Where are all the sources saying it never does anything but make people mellow?
Click to expand...
20 documented health benefits for using cannabis
https://www.healtheuropa.eu/health-benefits-of-cannabis/92499/
 

SeaBreeze said:
I'm in favor of it, it is legal in Colorado and some other states already. States can benefit financially from legalization, and it's one way not to support the street dealers who sell it illegally and may have product that is laced with other harmful chemicals. It should be legalized federally across the nation, long overdue. Also, it has many health benefits for those in severe pain, much better alternative than harmful opiates which are strongly addictive with harmful side effects. I'd much rather be around someone who is high on cannabis, than drunk on liquor.
Click to expand...
I strongly agree.
 
I'd much rather be around someone who is high on cannabis, than drunk on liquor, too, but I think what we're headed for is both. It's not like people are going to quit using alcohol just because marijuana is legal.
 
JimBob1952 said:
Over the last 56 years (since I was about 12) I've watched people get fatter, more sedentary, more slovenly, more tattooed, less literate, ruder and more self-indulgent. Pot is just another step on that road. Sure, toke up, who cares? Order a stuffed crust pizza and a bag of donut holes while you're at it.
Click to expand...
I agree. IMO, I would add, any drugs, legal or illegal,are dangerous in the formation of young minds. Our laws and leaders are just a reflection of the ignorances of our society. Apathy is seen in our dress, our education system, our speech; so many aspects of our "Don't care anymore" lives.
 
Della said:
I'd much rather be around someone who is high on cannabis, than drunk on liquor, too, but I think what we're headed for is both. It's not like people are going to quit using alcohol just because marijuana is legal.
Click to expand...
No, but having marijuana legalized, regulating it and having the states benefit from the businesses financially is a big plus. Having legal cannabis available to those who want or need to use it is much safer than buying it off the street from a dealer, that in itself may be dangerous and the product may be laced with other drugs or chemicals. The war on drugs is a failure, illegal drugs come into the country all the time, legalization will be a benefit in many areas, and it will stop supporting the illegal street dealers.
 
.
It doesn’t matter how smart teenagers are, good judgment isn’t something they can excel in, at least not yet.The rational part of a teenager's brain isn’t fully developed and won’t be until age 25 or so. In teens' brains, the connections between the emotional part of the brain and the decision-making center are still developing…and not always at the same rate. They are indeed the most vulnerable where marijuana is concerned.

People with marijuana use disorders, often also suffer from other mental issues.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency reports that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States, according to results from the 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. An estimated 43.5 million individuals reported using marijuana during the past year. Marijuana use is widespread among young people.

A gun in the hands of a young person whose brain is befuddled by constant use of marijuana…is this the sort of society these states are heading for? Add freely available marijuana to a teenager’s life and you are sending their life to hell in a hand basket.

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Monitoring the Future Study: Trends in Prevalence of Various Drugs.

National institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). Marijuana.

National institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). How does marijuana produce its effects?

National institute on Drug Abuse. (2019). What are marijuana’s long-term effects on the brain?

Squeglia, L.M., Jacobus, J., & Tapert, S.F. (2009). The influence of substance use on adolescent brain development. Clinical EEG and Neuroscience, 40(1), 31-8.

Scott, J.C., Slomiak, S.T., Jones, J.D., Rosen, A.F., Moore, T.M., & Gur, R.C. (2018). Association of Cannabis With Cognitive Functioning in Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry, 75(6), 585-595.

Meier, M.H., Caspi, A., Ambler, A., Harrington, H., Houts, R., Keefe, R.S., …& Moffitt, T.E. (2012). Persistent cannabis users show neuropsychological decline from childhood to midlife. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(40), 2657-2664.

Morin, J.G., Afzali , M.H., Bourque , J., Stewart , S.H., Séguin , J.R., O’Leary-Barrett , M., &. Conrod, P.J.. (2018). A Population-Based Analysis of the Relationship Between Substance Use and Adolescent Cognitive Development. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 176(2), 98-106.

Galli, J.A., Sawaya, R.A., & Friedenberg, F.K. (2012). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. Current Drug Abuse Reviews, 4(4), 241-249.

PS: Studies and credible research have strongly suggested: messing with the brain with drugs such as marijuana, can also add to the onset of dementia.
 
Last edited:
Prescription drugs use for pain (mostly opioids) and prescription drugs used for PTSD or depression, can be very harmful to patients both mentally, physically and emotionally. Many who commit violent crimes are under the influence of such drugs, especially those used to anxiety or depression. They are known to cause homicidal and suicidal tendencies. Both adults and children are put on these drugs.

Cannabis is a much more natural alternative to such chemical prescription drugs, healthier for the mind and body, less addictive and less dangerous, in my opinion. I'm just giving my opinion and not trying to change anyone's mind, I know, especially at our age, once someone's mind is set against drugs like cannabis, it won't be changed. Funny though how most of those people are all for the dangerous prescription drugs which have severe side effects, up to and including death. Just watch the commercials on TV, it's frightening. ☠️
 
I believe it should be legal for these reasons:
1. People of color have faced more severe punishment for using MJ, also crack than Whites have for using cocaine (in powdered form).
2. MJ usually does not cause violent behavior unlike alcohol (sometimes) and some mind altering drugs. My husband and I had said this many times although he was not pro drug use at all.
3. I believe records would show there are more traffic accidents by people who were drinking alcohol than were high on MJ.
4. It would probably be easier for people who need it for medical reasons to get it.

New Jersey just legalized marijuana for recreational use in February. Our state will deal with prior penalties in the following manner:
"One of the new laws reforms penalties for low-level marijuana offenses. It "prevents low-level distribution and possession offenses from being used in pretrial release, probation, and parole decisions and provides certain protections against discrimination in employment, housing, and places of public accommodation," according to the governor's office.

Another piece of the approved legislation will enforce penalties for selling marijuana to those under 21."
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/jersey-legalizes-recreational-marijuana/story?id=76049798
 
SeaBreeze said:
No, but having marijuana legalized, regulating it and having the states benefit from the businesses financially is a big plus. Having legal cannabis available to those who want or need to use it is much safer than buying it off the street from a dealer, that in itself may be dangerous and the product may be laced with other drugs or chemicals. The war on drugs is a failure, illegal drugs come into the country all the time, legalization will be a benefit in many areas, and it will stop supporting the illegal street dealers.
Click to expand...
The same can be said for all illegal drugs. If meth, heroin, cocaine, etc. were legal people wouldn't have to buy it off the street and support drug dealers, but all these drugs were made illegal for a reason -- they are harmful.

Medical marijuana is a different thing and already legal in most states. Prescription drugs do have side effects but they are used to treat diseases that the patient may die of without those "chemicals." They aren't taking cancer drugs or insulin just to get high they are trying to stay alive so the risks are worth it.

I'm not that excited about the states benefitting financially from the sales if it harms people.

My mind isn't set against it because I'm old. I'm set against it because I've personally seen young lives ruined by schizophrenia, directly caused by marijuana.
 
A Stoner or pothead are words usually reserved for young people who have not learned how to be responsible cannabis consumers. They may have poor impulse control and spend all day being stoned. But some never grow out of it.

I know a ‘stoner’, a married 43 year old husband and father who can’t get through the day without cannabis. At social gatherings he will suddenly disappear from the group with some excuse and return later on. At home, he'd go into the garage to smoke but when his wife discovered just how addicted he really was, she left with the kids.
 
Della said:
The same can be said for all illegal drugs. If meth, heroin, cocaine, etc. were legal people wouldn't have to buy it off the street and support drug dealers, but all these drugs were made illegal for a reason -- they are harmful.

Medical marijuana is a different thing and already legal in most states. Prescription drugs do have side effects but they are used to treat diseases that the patient may die of without those "chemicals." They aren't taking cancer drugs or insulin just to get high they are trying to stay alive so the risks are worth it.

I'm not that excited about the states benefitting financially from the sales if it harms people.

My mind isn't set against it because I'm old. I'm set against it because I've personally seen young lives ruined by schizophrenia, directly caused by marijuana.
Click to expand...
Me too Della
 
SeaBreeze said:
Prescription drugs use for pain (mostly opioids) and prescription drugs used for PTSD or depression, can be very harmful to patients both mentally, physically and emotionally. Many who commit violent crimes are under the influence of such drugs, especially those used to anxiety or depression. They are known to cause homicidal and suicidal tendencies. Both adults and children are put on these drugs.

Cannabis is a much more natural alternative to such chemical prescription drugs, healthier for the mind and body, less addictive and less dangerous, in my opinion. I'm just giving my opinion and not trying to change anyone's mind, I know, especially at our age, once someone's mind is set against drugs like cannabis, it won't be changed. Funny though how most of those people are all for the dangerous prescription drugs which have severe side effects, up to and including death. Just watch the commercials on TV, it's frightening. ☠️
Click to expand...

I take your point SeaBreeze..however...my opinion does not result from an age thing...it arises from years of study. There were two paths open to me when I studied at University..Psychiatry and Psychology. The research I did on both of these fields was monumental.

Finally, I decided to go with psychology because I feel it is better to try therapy rather than fillng patients up with drugs. Having said that, neither field is foolproof and although initially, a patient presenting with a mental problem may need regulated drug administration to function for a while, I (together with a multitude of psychologists) feel that patients should be weaned off drugs and be replaced with therapy.

Therapy is time consuming and costly and I firmly believe it is in the best financial interests of some governments to dish out drugs, which can be a lot cheaper in the long run
 
Dana said:
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency reports that marijuana is the most commonly used illicit substance in the United States,
Click to expand...
I'd bet that alcohol is more commonly used, but doesn't fall into this category because it isn't illicit.

Della said:
I'm not that excited about the states benefitting financially from the sales if it harms people.
Click to expand...
I agree with that, Della. However, governments benefit mightily from "sin taxes." Decades ago science proved the health disaster that is tobacco, but it's still for sale and brings in plenty of tax revenue. Alcohol does far more harm than good, but that's likewise a big source of revenue. Legalized gambling has destroyed many lives, but that continues apace for the same reason.

As for legalized marijuana eliminating crime, I'm sorry to say that's a naive thought. Ask a police officer who works gang or vice detail. Legalizing MJ doesn't eliminate or even reduce illegal activity, it merely changes the product line. MS-13 and others move marijuana, meth and whatever else is highly profitable at that moment.
 
Last edited:
Getting high changes how you perceive things. It makes you more aware. Music is completely different when you're stoned; you can appreciate it and get into a trance-like state listening, which is a pleasurable feeling and causes you to listen more and to different types of music than non-smokers. Granted, I'm speaking from the pre-digital age when music had soul. I don't know if you can get into today's music like that.
 
I have taken CBD ( no THC ) cream, ointment and sub-lingual drops. All of them had various positive effects but it's overrated imo. I have never smoked pot but people should not be locked up for smoking it.
 
In PA they legalized some gambling all in the interest of taxing it and selling permits for the sake of raising revenue. Marijuana will eventually be the same. The only sin tax left would be prostitution. A girl has to work, doesn't she?
 
What do you think about states legalizing marijuana?
Click to expand...
Cannabis have more benefits and far less negative health impact than alcohol. Smoking weed can lead to similar respiratory ailments as using tobacco. Other means of ingesting Cannabis have no health threats.

Why not collect sales tax on Cannabis for the state's income, instead of spending billions of $$ in enforcement and incarceration.

Not to mention: a felony on one's criminal record is like a scarlett letter branded on that person's forehead....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top