Marijuana decriminalization bill gaining support in Congress

**Maniacc** · 08-12-2008, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by DieselNuts

lol, you make me laugh. You try to make it a lose lose situation for me by writing that last sentence...nice try. You smoke cigs = you lose.
That is awesome! Maybe next time you're at the Three Legged Cowboy(A place located in midtown if you didn't know) you should tell your buddies about how cool you are because you refuse to smoke a cigarette. Oh and hey, after that tell him how fun it is for you to pound your mother in her ass while she's crying in tears and reading her bible. That'll give you GOD status for sure.

You got me. I'm 'FTL' because I choose to smoke. Sorry I can't make you happy, Sir. I'll try harder from now on. /Sarcasm. You act like you're in a level above me and can criticize me because of something I do. Not you, not your mother, not your friend, a complete stranger. Who you know nothing about. Continue living a wonderful life with clean lungs and I'll continue inhaling tobacco.

You're really showing me how much you don't care. Fantastic isn't it?

Originally Posted by Nissangeek

Actually, a real addiction is caused by your brain reacting to certain chemicals. Usually ones that cause the body to release endorphines(sp?) or dopamine, or that mimic the effects of them.

Addiction is a state in which the body relies on a substance for normal functioning and develops physical dependence. Endorphins(You almost spelled it right, not bad)are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in verebrates during strenuous exercise, excitement, and orgasm. They resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a sense of well-being. Endorphins work as 'natural fever relievers.'

And dopamine is something completely wrong which shouldn't have even been thrown in there.

**DieselNuts** · 08-13-2008, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by abandon

You got me. I'm 'FTL' because I choose to smoke. Sorry I can't make you happy, Sir. I'll try harder from now on. /Sarcasm. You act like you're in a level above me and can criticize me because of something I do. Not you, not your mother, not your friend, a complete stranger. Who you know nothing about. Continue living a wonderful life with clean lungs and I'll continue inhaling tobacco.

You're really showing me how much you don't care. Fantastic isn't it?

Awesome that you add bullshiit to my post

again, you are getting defensive because you said that you "can quit if you want to" and I said "I've heard that before". I dont see what your problem is.

**Deke** · 08-13-2008, 08:24 AM

Originally Posted by abandon

Addiction is a state in which the body relies on a substance for normal functioning and develops physical dependence. Endorphins(You almost spelled it right, not bad)are endogenous opioid polypeptide compounds. They are produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus in verebrates during strenuous exercise, excitement, and orgasm. They resemble the opiates in their abilities to produce analgesia and a sense of well-being. Endorphins work as 'natural fever relievers.'

And dopamine is something completely wrong which shouldn't have even been thrown in there.

I commend you for your dragon level wikipedia copy and paste skills.

Chill out, I promise you that no one on here (including DiesNuts) cares if you smoke tobacco or not. You just have to realize how ridiculous of a claim it is to say that you're not addicted yet have quit multiple times (hence restarted multiple times). That is all. Let it go.

As for the original topic, I'm kind of conflicted. Generally, yes, I do believe that it should be legalized. Like multiple people have posted, making it illegal has caused nothing but a black market to form (much like prohibition). Legalizing it, I believe, would reduce crime. As for hard drugs, they should stay illegal. The addictive properties and effects of cocaine and heroin for instance lead to irrational thinking. A junky will do anything to get their next fix. The difference between this and a hobo stealing for food (as someone mentioned earlier) is that someone who is hungry is still in their right mind. Someone who is going through heroin withdrawal is bat**** crazy. Sure a lot of money is spent fighting the flow of hard drugs in the US, but I feel that it's a noble battle.

When comparing alcohol to cannabis, I do agree that in the short term alcohol can be more damaging. Physical and sexual violence are defintiely linked with being drunk and definitely not with being stoned. Driving under the influence of either substance is absolutely retarded so that argument against drinking is null and void.

However, I'm a little worried about the societal and long term effects of legalization of weed. Smoking makes you absolutely worthless. This is something I wouldn't have really believed myself until visiting Amsterdam three weeks ago. I had smoked before on rare occasions, but never like that weekend. And I wouldn't be surprised if I never smoked again.

Both substances are bad. Personally if I'm planning on abusing a substance, I'd choose alcohol any day of the week. If I'm going to be retarded, I'd at least like to be social while I am and not sit around playing Wii all day. Ultimately, however, I don't believe either substance would be the downfall of society.

This got a little long, so cliffs:
-Abandon needs to cool it
-weed should be legalized (coming from someone who wouldn't smoke it)
-Hard drugs should stay illegal
-alcohol and weed are both bad, but not horrible

**Ran** · 08-13-2008, 08:29 AM

Why are people using the "black market" as an excuse to legalize something? That is the dumbest reasoning you could even come up with. There is a black market for ANYTHING that is illegal. Pot, cocaine, child pornography, stolen car parts, and anything else you can name.

So we should just legalize everything because there's going to be a black market for it anyway right? Yeah, that makes a load of sense.

Originally Posted by DieselNuts

I cant speak for the people in this thread, but I have friends that smoke wiid regularly that are very very intelligent. Saying that all potheads are stupid isn't an accurate statement at all. I myself have quit smoking pot just over a month ago, but I still have no problem with the people that do smoke it.

A person can be intelligent and still be f*cking stupid. A guy with a degree from Harvard can be intelligent as all hell but, if he becomes an alcoholic, then he's still f*cking stupid.

**Deke** · 08-13-2008, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by Ran

Why are people using the "black market" as an excuse to legalize something? That is the dumbest reasoning you could even come up with. There is a black market for ANYTHING that is illegal. Pot, cocaine, child pornography, stolen car parts, and anything else you can name.

So we should just legalize everything because there's going to be a black market for it anyway right? Yeah, that makes a load of sense.

You're absolutely right, of course that logic makes no sense. I just think it's a little silly (lol, "silly") to force a black market to emerge around something that isn't a serious threat to unwilling individuals or society (pot).

A person can be intelligent and still be f*cking stupid. A guy with a degree from Harvard can be intelligent as all hell but, if he becomes an alchoholic, then he's still f*cking stupid.

Haha, agreed.

**Ran** · 08-13-2008, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by Deke

You're absolutely right, of course that logic makes no sense. I just think it's a little silly (lol, "silly") to force a black market to emerge around something that isn't a serious threat to unwilling individuals or society (pot).

That comes down to perspective and stance on what is bad and what isn't. Anyone can defend anything if they research and gain the proper knowledge. However, one thing being "less bad" than the rest doesn't automatically make it "not bad". I personally feel that weed is a stupid substance and should be controlled. I'm glad that the law agrees with me. I feel the same way about alcohol to be honest. I may have a drink every now and then to be social but, if it were to become illegal, I would stop drinking completely and then take great pleasure in watching alcoholics get busted.

**DieselNuts** · 08-13-2008, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by Ran

A person can be intelligent and still be f*cking stupid. A guy with a degree from Harvard can be intelligent as all hell but, if he becomes an alchoholic, then he's still f*cking stupid.

good point

**BanginJimmy** · 08-13-2008, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Ran

Why are people using the "black market" as an excuse to legalize something? That is the dumbest reasoning you could even come up with. There is a black market for ANYTHING that is illegal. Pot, cocaine, child pornography, stolen car parts, and anything else you can name.

So we should just legalize everything because there's going to be a black market for it anyway right? Yeah, that makes a load of sense.

I said the same thing earlier. It seems that some people think that just because something is readily available anyways it should be legal for the govt to tax it.

Alcohol and marijuana are 2 very different things. A bootlegger isnt going to be able to get bud light cans to package his illegal alcohol, but someone making their money off illegal weed would be able to package it as if it is a legal substance and sell it at a far lower price. For example, pack of marlboro's over in japan cost about about $1.25 when I was there, they were costing over $3.00 on base. As a result, the PX didnt sell many cigs, as the smokers would walk off base to get their cigs at less than half the price.

requirements for this new industry:
a. New regulatory body under the fed govt
b. increase the budget of the ATF for smugglers
c. increased costs of healthcare as marijuana has 10x the tar as a cig

**Deke** · 08-13-2008, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by BanginJimmy

Alcohol and marijuana are 2 very different things. A bootlegger isnt going to be able to get bud light cans to package his illegal alcohol, but someone making their money off illegal weed would be able to package it as if it is a legal substance and sell it at a far lower price. For example, pack of marlboro's over in japan cost about about $1.25 when I was there, they were costing over $3.00 on base. As a result, the PX didnt sell many cigs, as the smokers would walk off base to get their cigs at less than half the price.

Sure, the average joe couldn't bootleg cans, but bottles certainly aren't hard (coming from someone who's dabbled in home brewing), and kegs wouldn't be either. And yet, I don't see any of that going on in the US. I also don't see bootleg tobacco in the US for that matter, and it's taxed out the ass.

I'm sure there still would be some black market contingency if pot was legalized, but the fact of the matter is that it would be a lot less. The majority of people wouldn't run the the added risk of buying something illegally when they can get a product they can trust for a few dollars more. To reference Amsterdam again, no one was selling weed on the street. They wouldn't make any money because you could buy quality stuff in any coffee shop.

PS I appreciate the intelligent debate

**The12lber** · 08-13-2008, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by Ran

Why are people using the "black market" as an excuse to legalize something? That is the dumbest reasoning you could even come up with. There is a black market for ANYTHING that is illegal. Pot, cocaine, child pornography, stolen car parts, and anything else you can name.

Are you seriously comparing marijuana to chop shops and people taking pictures of kids naked?

So we should just legalize everything because there's going to be a black market for it anyway right? Yeah, that makes a load of sense.

If they're going to do it anyway, and its not really a big deal, yeah?
Maybe prostitution should be legal so that way prostitutes don't get beaten up by pimps and forced by organized crime into white slavery. But wait, you're one of those smart people who would make something illegal solely on principle I'm sure.

A person can be intelligent and still be f*cking stupid. A guy with a degree from Harvard can be intelligent as all hell but, if he becomes an alcoholic, then he's still f*cking stupid.

Alright big guy, we'll make alcohol illegal for you, too. That worked out well last time.

Get over your narrow minded virtues and accept it. MARIJUANA IS NOT A BIG DEAL. More bad consequences find origin in its illicit nature than the consumption of the drug. A lot more. Conversely, kiddy porn and theft are just inherently bad. Not a good comparison on your part. Oh, and lets not forget the constant civil war our illegal drug money funds in Colombia.

Oh, and the reason its illegal? Because they (Congress) lumped in hemp along with Marijuana when they made it illegal, it was a threat to their friends in the emerging synthetic textile market.

As a side note, Cocaine is illegal because the Congress was afraid of "cocainized *******" raping white women and generally behaving poorly.

**Ran** · 08-13-2008, 02:55 PM

EDIT: Actually, I'm bored so I'll elaborate a little more.