What is Digg?554 Comments
- bagelpirate, on 10/10/2007, -9/+154I would love to buy pot if the taxes went to universal healthcare.
- MasterThief117, on 10/10/2007, -6/+136Doesn't it currently cost American taxpayers like 13-14 billion dollars annually to keep it illegal and keep the "bloodthirsty criminals" in jail?
I mean seriously, when I first tried marijuana, my first thought was, "Is that what the government is ***** bitching about?"
I am not going to say its completely harmless, but I will say it's safer than alcohol and tobacco. - deathbyspatula, on 10/10/2007, -4/+93Worst case scenario if pot was legalized: Doritos sales skyrocket
- z23rdhsuan, on 10/10/2007, -5/+94yes, an estimated tax revenue of 6 billion a year just in california.
check out LetUsPayTaxes.com
yeah they Want to pay taxes..?!.. think they'd pay mine?
http://digg.com/politics/Marijuana_Growers_Offer_Arnold_Schwarzenegger_One_Billion_Dollars - Hostile17, on 10/10/2007, -5/+82Marijuana cannot cause cancer.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/25/AR2006052501729_pf.html)
Marijuana has no "gateway" effect.
(http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/media/schaffer1.htm)
Marijuana does not cause psychosis.
(http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle_blog/2007/aug/01/new_study_marijuana_does_not_cau)
Marijuana has never killed anyone.
(http://www.jackherer.com/comparison.html)
Marijuana is not dangerous during pregnancy.
(http://www.marijuana.com/marijuana-myths/myth-07.php)
(http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/marijuana.html)
The lie of marijuana's "dangers" has been perpetuated for 70 years now. Give it up. The plant doesn't hurt anyone. Legalize it, tax it, smoke it in the streets. - alciadanet, on 10/10/2007, -6/+82Better title: "Should governments allow people to own their lifes?"
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -1/+64Not only that money,
what about the money we are paying to feed Pot prisoners in jail? - santaliqueur, on 10/10/2007, -4/+63I don't smoke pot, but I say legalize it. At the very least, decriminalize it. It's no more dangerous than some legal substances I know of, and all it makes you want to do is eat, sleep, and laugh.
- cococooky, on 10/10/2007, -9/+59I say legalize all drugs, only people inclined to do them will be the ones buying them anyway. That way the government has more revenue, and drug dealers have to get a real job.
- ChromaVita, on 10/10/2007, -7/+56Yes please.
- corvin, on 10/10/2007, -6/+55Or maybe we could cut back on military spending....
Just throwing it out there... - mikesbaker, on 10/10/2007, -8/+49I assume that was a rhetorical question.
- theskillwithin, on 10/10/2007, -5/+44majority wants to legalize it, and it isn't legal. What happened to America?
- acdcfanbill, on 10/10/2007, -2/+36...and the people paid to seek out, arrest and take care of these 'criminals.'
- TsuruchiBrian, on 10/10/2007, -1/+25It doesn't matter that most Americans want it legal or not. It should be a matter of personal freedom. People should be aloud to put whatever they want into their own bodies. It doesn't hurt anyone else but the user (and how much is arguable). It should not be the job of the government to prevent you from hurting yourself, only hurting others.
- Hananda, on 10/10/2007, -2/+26Agreed. The goals of the War on Drugs are simply impossible. Anyone who wants any drug has ready access to it. So long as there is a profit to be made, someone will find a way to smuggle it into the country, or manufacture it here. Keeping dangerous drugs out of the hands of children? I remember back in high school, the only drug that was ever difficult to get was alcohol. While I personally never went any farther than booze and the occasional cigar, I knew any number of people who experimented with heroin, peyote, etc, etc. Go to any small town in America, if it's a scheduled substance, someone is willing to sell it to you. Point is, dealers have no qualms about who they sell to, legitimate businessmen are forced to in order to continue doing business.
What's more, look at where all this money is going. Criminal cartels, destabilizing more or less every country south of us, killing at will, forcing growers into practical slavery, even waging their own wars. Say what you will about the federal government, they're a damn sight better than Pablo Escobar. - syroncoda, on 10/10/2007, -2/+23legalize it. make millions in tourism alone.
- CMaff24, on 10/10/2007, -5/+25Havent we established the answer is yes yet?
- Hananda, on 10/10/2007, -4/+23The article makes a lot of good points, but at this point, I think it's clear that reason and logic will never get marijuana legalized on their own. No, it's going to take a massive shift in public perception of marijuana and marijuana users. So long as the various stoner stereotypes and marijuana (thanks for those, lazy sitcom writers, governmental propagandists and in some cases marijuana proponents themselves) exist, the general public will continue to accept them as reason enough to vote against marijuana legalization, even medical marijuana legislation.
- c0yote, on 10/10/2007, -5/+24No, YOU don't want it to happen. Over 40% of Americans have smoked by their senior year in high school. People just need to dispel the myths and propaganda and it could happen quickly. Heck, if someone influential threw some money at it, we could probably have repealed federal laws in 2009 when the Democrats take over.
- jesuswuzanalien, on 10/10/2007, -2/+21Uncle Sam.. Parliament.. wtfmate?
- 35263526, on 10/10/2007, -2/+21Making booze is pretty simple as well, at least once you've got the initial system setup (which really isn't that hard given the number of guides on the internet), but I don't see many stills in my neighborhood. Hell, the same thing goes for food; you can 'just grow' your vegetables, but people mostly patronize supermarkets.
The lesson? Never underestimate the laziness of humanity. - mikesbaker, on 10/10/2007, -4/+23I dugg you comment for pointing out the elephant in the room about UHC(who is going to pay for it) and offering a solution all at once.
- nipterink, on 10/10/2007, -1/+19yeah, get rid of all those addictive drugs and ignore nicotine. yay consistency!
- arbulus, on 10/10/2007, -3/+21I think that pot should be legalized. But if it does become legal, then everyone that is in prision for posession of pot must be released. If not, then they are political prisoners with no basis for their imprisionment.
- damusic2me, on 10/10/2007, -1/+18Her in holland we have a practical reason for our aproach:
By selling it in a 'coffeeshop' there can be an age check to the buyers, we don't pay taxes over the marrihuana itself, however, the seller is paying his normal taxes like any business.
A coffeeshop will be closed instantly if it is cought selling to a minor, a bit like bars in the US.
Also, it keeps prices reasonable, quality ok, and you don't get weird stuff through the marihuana u buy, like hairspray, or other chemicals.
Added: there's a difference between legalising something, and actively using it yourself.
It is also legal to lick your car window f.i. but that doesn't mean you have, or want to do it.
If people are allowed to buy and smoke it, then treat it like alcohol and tabacco.
Ofcourse you will get a fine when you drive in your car while being stoned.
You're a part of traffic, endangering yourself, and others. The same rules apply to alcohol.
And just like smoking: it is discouraged, even illegal to sell to children, but like tabacco: just because it is legal, doesn't mean you have to do it. And smoking in a restaurant f.i is really 'not done'
But personally, i see no problem with someone smoking at night, instead of drinking a few. - chogie, on 10/10/2007, -3/+20Not feeding a pothead is torture
- TsuruchiBrian, on 10/10/2007, -1/+16I also feel like I should point out that the only drug I take on a regular basis is caffeine in my sodas and tea, and an occasional cocktail at a party. However I feel it should be my right to take any drugs if I decide that is what I want to do. Or shouldn't start banning everything that is bad for people, like alcohol, caffeine, hot dogs, carbs, and lets just throw in freedom as well.
- dankoni, on 10/10/2007, -3/+18A common misconception. I no longer smoke pot, but was a daily smoker for years. People who are "stupid, lazy potheads" would be stupid and lazy regardless of the pot. On average, daily smokers are far more informed and intelligent than daily drinkers. I am very tired of hearing this old argument from people who have never smoked on a regular basis. Show me some articles where ex-potheads state the massive dangers of daily smoking, and I will kindly return the favor with the same opinions from ex-alcoholics.
- laserblazer, on 10/10/2007, -10/+25Criminalize religion and decriminalize marijuana. Instant justice.
- therilesyouknow, on 10/10/2007, -3/+18look to Canada - we're closer - when we finally get around it, the states may follow!
- adamruth, on 10/10/2007, -2/+17"I think some drugs should be legalized like weed and possibly LSD, but the highly addicting drugs like cocaine, crack, meth, heroin, etc should remain illegal just because they are so addicting."
Whatever happened to people taking responsibility for their own damn actions? - Maddjonesy, on 10/10/2007, -2/+17Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol.....FACT.
You just made a mess of you're argument by mentioning it. - x414353, on 10/10/2007, -2/+17And your source is... ?
- matador3, on 10/10/2007, -1/+15It's not like it's hard to get any of those things today. The fact that it's illegal makes it more attractive to some kids that are in the rebellion stage. I think if the money spent on the drug war was used to educate and take care of addicts there would be much less of a problem.
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -5/+19can someone show me any evidence that marijuana is bad for you?
- Aaronthethird, on 10/10/2007, -3/+17Yeah, I thought the same thing, it was like, "are you kidding me? They are trying to keep people from using this?" I mean, its pretty damn tame unless you smoke just a huge pile of it, and even then its definitely no worse than alcohol. Do we really need to be spending all that time and money to keep people from giggling a little?
- overtoke, on 10/10/2007, -2/+16right now there's also no government in the us gov't
- LMaxey, on 10/10/2007, -6/+19At the same time if we could legally buy marijuana there would be a lot fewer health care claims.
- Stratochief66, on 10/10/2007, -1/+14The law, and anyone's reasonable moral code.
- sv650touring, on 10/10/2007, -2/+15Don't forget the taxes that these "criminlas" aren't paying because they are in jail, or can't get a job because they have a pot bust on their record?
And what about the fewer people drinking (and possibly driving) thereby reducing the expense of that on society?
What about all the logical arguments in the world? Sorry, they all get trumped by (alohol, tobacco) lobbyist dollars and years of illogical emotional campaigns against weed. - slonrgjon, on 10/10/2007, -4/+16I am willing to pay a 60% marijuana tax. Its still better than cigarette tax.
- Detritus, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14You remember some obscure Seinfeld character's name and you expect us to believe you're not smoking pot?
- 15charmaxwtf, on 10/10/2007, -1/+12So how would making it legal mean people would get high? The people who want to get high are high already.
- ddxChrist, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14I doubt it. If legalizing drugs would cause people to buy them in droves, then that's the sign of a far greater problem and possible flaws in current health education.
Additionally, I don't like how you lumped all illicit drugs together like that - it's meaningless. It isn't as if they're all pharmacologically similar. The potential harms of LSD aren't fatal; whereas, those of cocaine most certainly are. Physically, LSD isn't very harmful. Cocaine, on the other hand, introduces potential harms within the first 24 hours (it can raise the risk of cardiac arrest dramatically depending on dose purity, amount, and susceptibility). After that, cocaine isn't really associated with cardiac risks (this risk revolves around the circumstances during an active session), and will likely just lead to destroyed nasal membranes.
I'm no advocate of drugs; however, people will want to do them, and it's better that the facts are known and medical attention is available. The costs for maintaining the war on drugs are magnitudes greater than those for maintaining proper medical attention of drug mishaps. - c0yote, on 10/10/2007, -3/+14There is plenty of evidence that marijuana is "bad for you". It's all a matter of how bad. Water, Lettuce and Potatoes can all be deadly. The real question is "Given what the REAL risks are (as opposed to the wild lies that still exist), should it be illegal?".
Most people will cite the harms of tobacco and/or alcohol and determine that since cannibus is less harmful than these, then it should be legal. - LoudNoise, on 10/10/2007, -2/+12He didn't say that, did he?
He said "...and the people paid to seek out, arrest and take care of these 'criminals.'" Way to much money is spent on this when it could be spent on other aspects of law enforcement. - kinerry, on 10/10/2007, -2/+12It got close to passing in nevada with a 44/56 loss. The only demographic against was the 65+, and they aren't going to live much longer.
aka it WILL happen within the next ten years - hobonetweaver, on 10/10/2007, -1/+11We could still let them out... you know... they're people, they have lives waiting for them outside... there's no good reason to keep the incarcerated... it's just costing taxpayers money to feed and house them. I say, let them go, the law has been infringing on personal freedom for 70 years. Let's not be pricks just because we can.
- z23rdhsuan, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12i don't even smoke pot, nor do i like being around people who do smoke it, but All of the reasons for it being illegal are complete bull. if you want to use your own money for a personal crusade against stupid behavior, fine. don't use my tax dollars. see thats why its about money. its about a fiscally irresponsible and oppressive government crusading against stupid but harmless behavior. if a pot smoker were to lets say fall off their couch and cause bodily harm to another. the crime is the causing harm not the intoxication.
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