Legalize Cannabis

[GVC]

Alcohol maybe worse than cannabis, I may agree on that, but cannabis opens a door to the way way worse things

If you are already marginalized and/or a convicted felon, who comes in contact with dealers of ALL drugs, both soft and hard, you might find other options more available and more attractive.

Besides: https://stash.norml.org/bigbook/gateway-drugs.html

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

As I get older, I can of think "Damn, smoking weed is a waste of money and time. Still, it should be legalized.".

 

[GVC]

1. Once the drugs are on the adults hands? Isn't it the same situation?

2. I can speak for Netherlands only(don't know portugal)... In there, there are extreme efforts to reduce the drugs usage. And it improves and grows every single year more and more. Maybe it is the thing it cures?

1. Yes, but wouldn't you guess that the average adult user is less likely to sell to minors than a drug dealer is?

2. You can speak for the Netherlands? Really? Can you provide a link to anything?

 

[ema]

Again, the gateway theory has been debunked so many times it's not worth discussing anymore. Further, there are other side effects of the current policy- the marginalization of convicted felons (and other negative consequences of imprisonment, especially in light of the high rates of recidivism), the promotion of the black market and organized criminal activity in general (consider the negative consequences of alcohol prohibition in America in the 20s), the disintegration of the family (when non-violent offenders are imprisoned..this also relates to the problem of learned criminal activity in prison), possible adverse health effects (uncontrolled substances that will be used regardless are far more likely to be laced with other more serious and addictive drugs), and (again) potentially higher use among minors- that ought to be considered. This is ignoring entirely the cost of the current (international) policy, and the other, more effective and cheaper, methods of dealing with matters of public health, like addiction.

First of all, do not use a complex english like this against me(please), I don't even have a 7 years old boy's comprehensive abilities on english.

Then, the subject goes here to the prison and its benefits/losses etc which is an entirely different subject which even Dostoyevski couldn't work out of it.

And I completely agree on the deficits of the current policies, but just not convinced of 'lets make everything free' solution, would it really make a heaven out of the world?

 

[Saint Cy of JFC]

First of all, do not use a complex english like this against me(please), I don't even have a 7 years old boy's comprehensive abilities on english.

Then, the subject goes here to the prison and its benefits/losses etc which is an entirely different subject which even Dostoyevski couldn't work out of it.

And I completely agree on the deficits of the current policies, but just not convinced of 'lets make everything free' solution, would it really make a heaven out of the world?

You like 7 year old's though, don't you?

 

[GVC]

And I completely agree on the deficits of the current policies, but just not convinced of 'lets make everything free' solution, would it really make a heaven out of the world?

Of course not, but hopefully we're trying to get better. The current policy is expensive AND ineffective. There are far better options available, and some countries have been successful (thus far) implementing them. Is there an example of a country, state/province, city, etc. that has (recently) moved toward harm reduction strategies that has experienced worse outcomes? I know of none.

 

[ema]

1. Yes, but wouldn't you guess that the average adult user is less likely to sell to minors than a drug dealer is?

2. You can speak for the Netherlands? Really? Can you provide a link to anything?

1. So there will still be the guys who will sell it to the kids. Only they will be in more comfort, since it's legal to get it.

2. Is it really necessary to discuss whether the drugs usage reduced because of the education and all the campaigns with extreme efforts or it reduced simply because of they made them legal and free?

 

[ema]

You like 7 year old's though, don't you?

Because of I think different than you?

 

[GVC]

1. So there will still be the guys who will sell it to the kids. Only they will be in more comfort, since it's legal to get it.

2. Is it really necessary to discuss whether the drugs usage reduced because of the education and all the campaigns with extreme efforts or it reduced simply because of they made them legal and free?

1. Sale of cannabis to minors will still be illegal, and law enforcement will presumably be less busy tracking down recreational users (since their use would be legal). Currently, almost 90% of cannabis-related arrests in the US are for simple possession. I'm not selling to a kid if the penalties are stiff and they're only looking for me.

2. Of course it is. It's a hell of a lot cheaper to focus your efforts on the education and use reduction of minors than on arresting recreational users. I'd say arresting nearly a million people per year for marijuana-related offenses is pretty extreme. The cost and efficacy of the policy is relevant, no?

 

[colton]

So all those drugs combined equate to about 23% of pot smokers. Not much of a gateway IMO.

23% seems like a frighteningly large gateway to me. Different perspectives, I guess.

 

[colton]

It's not like alcohol? What's different about alcohol that makes it more justified to be legal?

For starters, what percent of alcohol users become serious addicts? I doubt it's anywhere near the 23% gateway you just quoted.

 

[GVC]

23% seems like a frighteningly large gateway to me. Different perspectives, I guess.

That's a devastatingly bad read of his post. If ALL those users of other drugs were only users because of their prior cannabis use, then I'd agree. Is there any evidence that the relaxation of cannabis laws has led to an increase in the abuse of "hard" drugs?