Legalising Cannabis

[Sinistra]

I was just wondering what everyone else take on this was. For or Against? Undecided?

[jsc]

As with any drug, cannabis should be controlled and taken out of the hands of the illegal drug dealers. With legalization comes the breaking of the back of those who sell illegally. Another reason I am for this is that it will reduce petty crime involving the users. Still another is the medical use. IF the drug is legalized they it can be regularized in product stregnth and saftey with testing as the USFD does with products under its scrutiny. Its use in the field of oncology has been proven. It does reduce many of the harmful side effects of chemotherapy and certain cancers as well as reduce the pain and pressures associated with certain types of glaucoma. California's citizens voted for the medical use of cannabis but the law as stricken down by the Higher Courts.

It is a drug and should be federally regulated. Not an illegal substance filled with heavens only what... catnip, weeds, and uncoltrolled and often banned pesticides.

[Sinistra]

Glad that somoene has a view on this. I asked because the goverment may pass a law in spring, taken cannabis down form a class 'B' drug to a class 'C' drug. This means that if a person is smoking it on the street, they cannot be arrested because they are using it for their own personal use. I'm totally for the legalising of it with respect to medicinal uses, but I still have to decide where I stand on this issue with respect to the recreational use of cannabis. Nicotine and Alcohol are dugs, which can lead to death, alcohol especially. Yet these are legal drugs. One viewpoint people have is 'if nicotine and alcohol are legal, then why isnt cannabis?' interesting, methinx.

[ysm]

Scientists believe that using cannubis can lead to harder drugs, heroine, cocaine, etc. That may be true, as I can't think of any other reasons to use cannubis except to get high. Then there are the effects of long-term smoking--dying brain cells, weight gain from all the munches, walking in a constant fog, .

But, I do believe it should be legalized to be used for medicinal purposes only.

[Aing-Tii]

I absolutely think it should be legalized. Keeping it illegal keeps crime rates high (no pun intended), puts lots of innocent people in jail, and wastes money and time particularly of law enforcement. It was originally made illegal for many dubious reasons, one of which was glaring racism. (In the U.S.)

The "war on drugs" is a farce when government officials are repeatedly indicted for bringing drugs into the U.S. I.E, Iran-Contra scandal, the heroin from Afghanistan and in the Vietnam war, etc. There are far too many lies, hypocrisies and deaths associated with this so called war.

jsc mentions valid reasons for its medicinal use. I would add: It is successfully used to help maintain appetite and weight in AIDS patients, in the treatment of glaucoma, some forms of depression including bipolar disorder, possibly in MS, in severe pain states and more. It is absolutely criminal that this amazing medicine is denied to so many whom it could benefit. And that it is classed as being worse than Heroin!

Also, because Marijuana is illegal, so is Hemp which is not psychoactive. Hemp's uses are multitudinous, including to make paper, clothing, fiber, diesel fuel, petroleum replacements and plastics. The amount of land and trees that could be spared, the amount of pesticides NOT needed and the amount of global warming reduced would all be vast with the use of industrial Hemp.

It is sinful to not use this amazing plant and all her gifts!

As far as addiction, yes I have seen addiction to this plant. It can be highly addictive, no doubt. There is a fine line between recreational, medicinal and addictive use. But keeping it illegal only puts people in jail who have no business being there. I am not saying I support addictive use, but I have known many people who smoked daily and were still very "productive citizens."

I wish I had a good answer to this dilemma. Sadly, I don't. But criminalization is just not the answer. It is wasteful and dangerous.

And legalization will not significantly change the rates of addiction. Marijuana is incredibly easy to obtain, even the "straightest" person in the world is no more than 3 people away from obtaining it. It would, however, quite possibly bring greater attention to addiction and hopefully greater help for people to heal their addictions.

And as far as marijuana being a gateway drug goes.... I have to heartily and respectfully disagree. By the time someone has gotten to cannabis, she/he has already been drugged by television, sugar, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol.

The statistics prove it, this fact is always overlooked and denied. Kids receive their first drug the first time refined sugar is consumed.

A fine book that covers marijuana and hemp at length is "The Emperor Wears No Clothes." I can't remember the author off-hand. Check it out along with Lester Grinspoon, M.D.'s works on the subject.

I think we need a balanced policy focused on preventing addiction, providing treatment for addiction rather than wasting human lives in imprisonment, utilizing cannabis' amazing medicinal properties to their fullest, allowing RESPONSIBLE recreational use and immediately utilizing Hemp to save our environment and lovely Planet!!!


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