This thread hurt my head, Yes it should be legal, people need to let people do what they want, to much government control, most people I know partake occasionally, its not addictive unless you are a weak willed person, out of the 20 or so people I know only 1 was weak minded enough for this to happen to, he is also addicted to other things so its kinda silly to assume it has addictive properties.

Now, onto the other point, people are saying crap like "Its not a drug", oh yes it is, so is coffee/tea/aspirin/etc...all things we use to enhance our normal everyday's. Drug doesn't = Bad. Drugs can be bad or good, depends on the drug, weed is a drug, it effects both the mind and body, helps with pain, relieves stress, relaxes people, has the potential to make things more funny, gives you more of a an appetite, helps concentration etc...

I know 50 year old's that own successful businesses, have steady jobs, nice houses, well behaved kids that smoke a couple times a week or even daily after a long day of work, think of it like having a beer after a hard days work. There is a reason its legal in multiple states now and rapidly becoming legal in others(Vermont's next I think and Oregon?).

truth is both Alcohol and Cigarettes do more damage, live and let live. Know what the real crime is? Putting people in jail for 5+ years for possession, ruining life over something as harmless as weed. If it was so dangerous to the body they would not give it to aids/cancer patients....people already afflicted and trying to stay healthy.

Honestly, if people are gonna be doing it anyway... I'd much rather people legally able to get pot rather than bath salts.

Alcohol and tobacco are legal. I don't think weed is much different then those two, as such i think i it should be legalized.

Frankly, this is a political discussion and according to the FAQ, second point under the Chat Room, Forum, and Site Etiquette section:

"Please avoid creating topics for political discussion."

Also, has anyone even pointed out the REAL reason behind making it illegal in the US? Personally, no, I do not think kids should be doing ANYTHING that they shouldn't. I went to school in a conservative state. Their policy on stuff: scare kids and maybe they won't do it. Drug education: emphasized they hell out of "don't do weed" and a little on crack, and almost never touched on the REALLY nasty harmful drugs. Sex ed: didn't exist, at least not GOOD sex ed that actually taught you about contraceptive and how things REALLY worked with the body; it was "Let's bring in an HIV+ person and scare the shit out of them" (Yes....my high school actually did that; the guest speaker was someone who supposedly had HIV). Teenagers are stereotyped as rebellious for a reason. You tell them not to do something and harp on it enough, they are going to say fuck you and go do it to either spite you or because it is "the forbidden fruit" factor or because their friends are doing it too and make it seem like the thing to do. (Drugs, alcohol, parties, sex, etc...) Youth need to be properly educated on this shit, but most aren't. When you become mature enough to make somewhat better choices and decisions, fine, do whatever. I have no issues with weed itself. In some cases, it is beneficial to certain people, helping them cope with pain, disorders, and other things. BUT that is with moderate use, not taking a goddamn toke every half hr to hour. Smoke (cigarette, weed, fire, others) are NOT good for your lungs. Smoke has residue and chemicals and particles that stick to the inside of your lungs; shit that should not be there. Used properly and responsibly, marijuana gives an option to some people who can't take conventional medication for whatever reasons (that is just as harmful, btw, because ALL drugs, be they OTC, prescription, or illegal, have chemicals that are harmful in some aspect or another. Ex: most painkillers damage the liver.)

This is a topic though, that has too many points to properly and fully discuss. It is a political one at that, which always leads to shit in public forums. So there is reason the admin have in the rules "No political based discussions"

For some, like me, it should be mandatory. ;)-~

thats not a question,ofc it should be

being illegal creates black market

its legal in my state <- Colorado
of the 100 million dollars in revenue ~ 40 million went to schools, the rest went to reinvestment in the enforcement of pot regulations, all in all id say its a good deal, plus it cuts down on "crime"

I hate the smell of both marijuana and tobacco. Since tobacco is already legal, but practically illegal to smoke in public, I'm okay with marijuana being the same.

Many people claim to have been cured of cancer because of weed. Because of this they never will legalize weed. Diseases make pharmaceutical industry rich and healthy people is not good for business.

It's a plant, it's simply a plant, and its oil can cure a shitload of health issues and diseases, it's overall positive, but i don't know why it's illegal, looks alot like religions to me, if you think weed is disgusting, you were brainwashed like religious people.

Yes.

Aside from the argument, I just think it's plain stupid people would spend so much money on any drug, cigarette, and alcohol simply to get a 'fix' or feel good. It urks me more when these people are the ones complaining about not having enough money. Think people, get happy doing something else. If you're stinking rich, go ahead, just please don't do it around me!

Short answer? Yes.

I don't smoke weed, I've never tried it and never wanted to, but I still think it should be legalized... Nobody under 21, though. Recent studies indicate it may cause certain problems with memory that are more severe in people that are still growing, so to speak. Of course, you just know the tobacco companies would start pushing it like crazy. What would be interesting is if the government stepped in and made it so those companies aren't allowed to advertise on TV, radio, newspaper, magazines... nothing. No manipulative ads of any kind.

Bloodsuckers would probably cry. God, I hate cigarettes.

Anyway, there are way too many possible medical applications of marijuana and its various components to keep saying "no" to it, just because of the perception of it being there just to get stoned on. They still use cocaine for eye surgeries and no one says "boo" about that. Hopefully legalization would cause the medical research to increase significantly.

Yes.

Tax it and regulate it like alcohol or cigarettes. Have the same laws (specific places, age restrictions, control boards, health warnings, etc).

It is here :)

l e g a l i z e !

amsterdam's doing just fine, so why not? i bet people would rather smoke weed 2-3 times a week, than smoke a pack of cigarettes PER DAY.

No.

It should be legal for adults over 21, just like alcohol

Nope.

I honestly think every drug should be legal and as cheap as possible (tobacco, alcohol, tea and coffe included) but it should be law for people to wear some kind of brands clearly stating what drug they use. We teadrinkers could stay clear of rest of filth thanks to this :P

iam smoking weed everyday for 15 years and can confirm there is no addiction to it

No. Drugs suck.