Should recreational marijuana use be legalized?

I do NOT think that MJ should be legal unless it is for medicinal use. People do not realize the relief from pain that smoking MJ has. NO we do not get stoned, nor do we wish to get stoned.

thanks

No! MJ use should NOT be legalized, so much effort trying to keep our youth clean and healthy to now take a huge leap back, unless it is proven that MJ does some kind of medical miracle and if it did still it should be strictly for medical use and MJ smokers do look stupid and act stupid so in no way would legalizing it for recreational use do any good because people would still get stoned.

Our elders used to tell us to smoke the weed to "cool the fire in our blood" many. Whites have always laughed at natives not being able to handle "firewater". Yet they can't seem to handle the weed that calms us. Maybe it should just be illegal for the whites that can't handle it. Let us have our back and you can keep yours.

I think that weed should be legalized, it will be a huge profit for people, bring in TONS money and we will stop spending money fighting against this drug.

legalizing marijuana would help the economy from its debts. also, the inmate jail population would benefit cause it would lower hence, helping the tax payers cause were not winning the war on drugs..its not marijuana that is killing people..its smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol and obesity..how else do we solve the deficit...........this is a billion dollar industry..use it to our benfit...you ever heard of anyone smoking pot and driving ..killing people?? i havent......with alcohol..yes..everyday....i say legalize it, tax it..benefit from it...whats the difference.....cigarettes are legal..alcohol is legal.....why not pot?? political bs..thats why...legalize it now..wake up government..wake up..we want it to be..we put you there..why cant we get what we want.......if its in my house behind closed doors..so what ..what i do...but over 21 only .....make it same as alcohol and cigarettes..ty have a good day..

It doesn't really matter what prohibitionists say. I'm 21 and my generation is just waiting for the old fossils to die off so we can finally legalize it. It's going to happen. There really isn't anyway to avoid it. Truth cant be suppressed forever.

Marijuana should be legalized. We live in a country where we are supposed to be able to do what we want. Why should the government be able to tell us we cant do something that has no effect on anyone but the user? Just tax MJ and make the billions of dollars back that the government wasted trying to stop it.

I think it should be legal, and now is the time. I know plenty of people who smoke pot, that are wall street bankers, computer programmers, teachers, deans, company CFO's and all are successful in what they do. It's not the pot, it's the person when it comes to motivation. But, if it was going to be legal, the government would have to make sure it is properly regulated (which is an alien thing with the government). If it was legal, people would smoke in their house's or backyard and NOT have to drive around putting people at risk. I myself am pretty successful in my life, and I do smoke once a week. People need to learn self control/moderation.

I love the comment by susana, about marijuana users looking stupid and acting stupid. Honey I bet you walk past a hundred pot smokers a day and never realize it, unless you live in a cave. The comment about if we legalize it people would still get stoned????? People with no clue should not make comments otherwise the just end up looking stupid and stoned!!!

21 and waiting for the "old fossils" to die off??give me a break..mary jane, pot, whatever you call it has been around for decades and really is less of a problem than alcohol..all it does is make you sleepy and hungry and generally non-aggressive..a lot of the "old fossils" as one person commented used pot in the 60's and 70's and became conservative as they aged..which by the way will probably happen to the 21 year old!!alcohol prohibition did not stop its use through the years either..

- please! lets' stop this insanity!! (remember prohibition?) and empty the jails!!
i've never wrecked my car, or had my head in a toilet bowl while smoking 'boo'...
pot does not HAVE to be super strong! (ie: 'light' and 'strong'l! cigarettes!!) -lets' give alcohol and cigarettes a chance to be 'the devil'!!!!!

I wish someone would do a story or study on who makes the profits from the drug war. The enforcement side as well as the dealer side which is probably more of a domestic profit than presented.
There has to be a reason those in power refuse to allow the voted will of the people to rule in California and insist on keeping a common weed priced in the range of gold by their actions.
I no longer believe they have forgotten the outcome of prohibition and have started to believe it's purely greed. It's rare to see someone give up their gravy train, even if it includes doing what most people would be arrested for.

I agree with Rod susana, dont you think drunks look and act stupid? Once its legalized its all about personal choice, and to try to help your kids make better choices. Its better for you than alcohol there have been plenty of tests done, look it up.

Yeah, let's legalize pot, so our kids will have yet another way to ease their pain instead of dealing with problems head on. we don't need another medication; that's part of our problem we're overly self-medicated to the point of being a bunch of docile sheep being led to the slaughter!

Yes we should legalize this gift from god, and use it as Jesus Christ himself did during his time.

Not only is Obama proposing to cut Safe and Drug Free Schools money, there's now a renewal of the legalizing weed discussion to raise money for state governments. Anyone who supports this idea has never spent time in a classroom dealing with impacted students, their ignorant using parents who are in denial about their kid's drug habits, the violence that results from drug use and selling, increased law enforcement costs, the critics who say that schools are failing because kids aren't learning, or exploding special ed populations. Duh! On the other hand, Arne Duncan could point to the "failings of public schools" noted above and have a good reason to fire thousands of educators. Do we really want this to be our solution for raising money because the Bushies turned a blind eye to the Wall Sreet crooks?
I suggest that every person who wants to be a politician must be required to spend at least a year teaching in a K-12 position. Maybe they'd wake up to what is happening.

it is ignorant we are still having this conversation, only narrow minded, bible thumping pill popping hypocrytes would dispute the fact it has been wrongfully demonized for way too long! Get over it Rush Limbaugh! Whether you pop pills or stick a needle in your arm your still doing opiat and you know it. Hey soccor moms, would you prefer you little Johnny smoking a little pot or getting jacked up on herion? It only takes half a brain to figure that one out!

35 years ago while still in High School we always said when we take over and run the world, we all agreed it would be legalized. But like all other Government protectorate, for the sake of our health and so called wellbeing it will most likely never happen. In order for the government to allow marijuana to be legalized they would have to admit that all the years of arrest and conviction that have laid waste to so many lives on both sides were unncecessary. Somehow I just don't see it happening. Real Shame

for every one reason you find not to legalize marijuana we will give you ten good reasons why to legalize it. people are going to continue to get stoned regardless whether it is legal or not. it should be up to the individual to decide whether they can handle it or not. just listen to bob dylan - "everybody must get stoned!!"

Susana's comment...

No! MJ use should NOT be legalized, so much effort trying to keep our youth clean and healthy to now take a huge leap back, unless it is proven that MJ does some kind of medical miracle and if it did still it should be strictly for medical use and MJ smokers do look stupid and act stupid so in no way would legalizing it for recreational use do any good because people would still get stoned.

Wow, so then Alcohol should be made illegal again, because I see drunken people that do a lot more stupid things then stoners (watch cops). Also, you’re so called effort keeping kids clean. Is that the parent’s job to do or the Federal Governments Job? I think Susan is a Drunk, that’s just my opinion, doesn’t take it as fact. And disregard her comment. She is talking out her 3rd point of contact (for all you Airborne Personnel) The War on Drugs is a total waste. Check out the organization called Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, if you want to be educated on the subject

The positives of legalizing herb far out way the negatives, imagine all the money that a state could save by not have to incarcerate non-violent criminals and have them filling up the prisons. what about all the money we could produce by making different items out of hemp all the trees we could save. this is the nation as it is, its up to the people to decide!

This topic disgusts me. I grew up loving this country. Everybody has an equal say in what goes on in the country. We are a democracy. The thought of millions of people who are high being able to vote for something of such importance as who will be the next President makes me sick.

oxycodone is legal and that is terribly worse, you need a doctors prescription but so such pot.

Richard, if everybody has a say then I think marijuana advocates have a say aswell. Marijuana is a free choice, and nobody is going to force people to smoke/eat/ or drink it. Hemp can be used for medicine, paper, food, clothing, fuel, I can go on, yet it is illegal, and you can't even get high off of hemp! Think of the absurdity. If you fear for your childrens lives then tell your children the truth about marijuana, because let me tell you the truth is just a click away in today's generation. Marijuana will put the black market out of business, it will be regulated for only 21 and up, and it will help the sick and dieing. Legalize something that never killed a human being, please.

The FDA has approved drugs that cause far worse side effects than Marijuana. Various scientific studies consistently rank Alcohol and Tobacco above Marijuana in terms of health hazards. The fact that these drugs are are allowed to be distributed legally, yet so much controversy exists over the legalization of Marijuana is not only ironic, but depicts a sad case of ignorance about these substances

It has been proven time and time again that Marijuana was made illegal, repeatedly, strictly for political reasons. Not medical reasons, not for the good of society. Be it to further the profits of the timber industry, or to try to force migrant workers out of the South West during the depression, or to try to "scare" votes out of family-minded voters. We should not ask ourselves "why should we make this legal?" We should ask ourselves "Why was it made illegal in the first place?"

The only reason why marijuana could be considered a "gateway drug" is because, due to the unjust restrictions on it, users are forced to go to drug dealers to get it. If they could buy the stuff at the corner store, worst-case scenario is they come out with over-priced junk food.

Anyone who takes an hour to do some research on the history of marijuana laws, and reads the clinical studies about the true dangers (or rather lack of dangers) associated with marijuana use would be outraged that people are being locked up, all because no one wants to be "that guy" that starts asking the question "Why?" I have so much respect for Schwarzenegger for finally asking the questions. I only hope others follow in his footsteps.

The amount of resources wasted busting people who's only crime is smoking marijuana is staggering. Rapists, murderers, and REAL drug dealers (selling crack, heroine, etc.) could be better dealt with, were police not wasting their time on marijuana. Not to mention, if it was legal, the government could actually make taxes on the sales and use that money to fund the police, schools, and dealing with our debt. It's not like people don't do it anyway, might as well make money off it...

fuck you all i love mj we should leglize it think of how much money we would save think about it... so ya we sould do it ya go weed I love weed who ever thinks you should not leglize it is retarted and gay so fuck you all who disagree ya i love pot Ya

Its about time they leagleize pot i mean pot is safer than coke,meth,pills,booze,even ur medicine cabnet. plus we can make alot of money as a nation people weill buy it like ciggs or beer

“Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth & protection of the country.” -Thomas Jefferson

“If people let government decide which foods they eat and medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny.”
- Thomas Jefferson

“Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded” -Abraham Lincoln

All prohibition is doing is feeding organized crime, just as it did in the 1920's with alcohol.

Legalize marijuana, tax it, and regulate it. Sell it at licensed liquor stores just like alcohol.

It's funny how underage people, when scientifically surveyed, say its easier to buy marijuana than it is to buy alcohol. Alcohol is legal, but tightly regulated. Economically speaking, this makes alcohol too cheap to create a black market around it, so the only place to buy it is from legal alcohol distribution channels which enforce the regulations, such as a minimum age for purchase.

By the way, the marijuana sellers in the illegal channels have every economic incentive to "up sell" their customer to hard drugs, which are more profitable for them and easier to smuggle than bulky marijuana. This "up sell" tactic doesn't happen in legal, regulated channels.

The reason for the resistance in legalizing marijuana is not the voters or science; it's the military and industrial complex that has grown around keeping it illegal.

There are a lot of entrenched and very powerful interests that are making a lot of money off this substance being illegal. Believe it or not, the DEA and the drug lords are on the same side lobbying against legalization because they both have the most to lose from a taxation and legalization policy.

The drug war "complex" has gone out of its way to entrench itself in every aspect of society. Most of all, it has become heresy to look critically at their costs.

I noticed that CNN ratcheted up the Reefer Madness hysteria just as the Partnership For A Drug Free America bought a considerable amount of airtime. The "more powerful marijuana" story a few days ago was pure propeganda; this story has been pushed by the drug warriors for 30 years. In fairness to CNN, the government pushes many of these stories on mass media outlets in return for "dispensations" to giving away free "public service" airtime.

I wonder if the media realizes how dangerous it is to simply parrot "government approved" news without any real investigation into the facts. This crosses the line, in my opinion, into state controlled journalism. I don't see much of a difference in effect from a "state approved" story being broadcast, as "news", for cash or at the point of a gun. It's corrosive to a stable, functioning democracy. Any way you look at it, it's still a case of the state abusing its soverign power to force the media to release only the government side of the story and surpress any dissidents.

I had a hard core, Cold War era economics professor who once said to my class in college, "Capitalists tax things, Communists ban things." Communism failed miserably and so has Prohibition.

I can't believe the fines and jail time given out to people in most states in the US. There are more people in jail for MJ use/dealing than murder. How about making it legal, selling it out of stores, use the tax money collected to give ALL Americans free health care as we enjoy in Canada. Kids are going to get into drugs and booze, but as parents we must educate them about the problems that come along with booze and drug abuse! It's time to get up to date with culture, MJ use will always be around, make it safe buy controlling who manufactures it, what's in it and who sells it. Alot of money could then be diverted from drug enforcement of MJ to the real drugs that are killing Ameriacns and Canadians. Lets all put pressure on our goverments as we ALL have a stake in the future of or countries and the health and well being of our familes!

Lets legalize it and put all those 16 and 18 year old dealers out of business! By keeping this illegal it makes anyone, especially those under 21, into a possible dealer. Alcohol on the other hand is harder to get for kids because it requires a 21 year old to get it in the first place.

Lets stop sticking our heads in the sand and pretending this will go away. Lets take control and regulate this industry!

Hum,
What is the name of the test that is required by the employer prior to being hired? DRUG TEST!!! I work in the aviation job market, it requires continuous attention-to-detail or else many people get hurt or killed. Random screenings are always monitored. Most if not all technical professions require that you use sound judgment. We will be dumbing down as a society. The people claim that it will bring in tons of cash from revenues. Do we really need the money that bad? Check the reports that compares our education against other countries, we have everything as a country but listed at the bottom of the pile. Questions, would you or your family sleep safely in your home or apartments if you knew that there are over 1000 airplanes in the sky of the US at anytime? or as you or your friends are walking along the road and get side swiped by a car? or when you go to the doctor for surgery, you get flawed treatment? If MJ is legalized, what job professions would these people hold? I hope it isn't anything that requires using your brain.

Looking in to the future; can you read the headlines: Airplane crashes and kills 2000 people due to drug (marijuana) usage. All at fault include: Pilot, air-traffic controller, mechanics, airport support crews, law enforcement agency, fire fighting agency, FAA, department of transportation. Common thread is THC in the blood stream.

@mj, marijuana does not make one stupid. People "choose" to not better themselves with education whether they use marijuana or not. Carl Sagan is one man who loved marijuana, was he an anti-education idiot?

@ Ricahrd, you are very afraid of your imagination, and seemingly stuck in it. Too bad it's wrong. 1) we DO NOT have an equal say in what happens in the US. More money = more say. 2) It was not made illegal due to majority vote, it was made illegal due to racist, fear-mongering, and lies, out of the mouths of a vocal minority.

@ Lawrence Gaceta, your fears are mostly unfounded. 1) most people are not engaged in such jobs. 2) those who are, know when to smoke and when not to, and are skilled at beating those tests. Surely this makes sense to you, pilots drink and take medications, they know when to and when not to. It is erroneous to assume that marijuana is any different. Marijuana is not like a full moon on a werewolf; i.e. you don't loose control and go out of your mind, neither while you are on it, nor afterwards.

@ susana, given the state of our nation, your real beef is with the TV set, the advertisers, those who spend more on marketing than their product/service, and the overly-processed food producers. Marijuana does not make one "dirty."

@ Sandra in Canada, you do not wish to use marijuana, fine. Don't; it's that simple. I dislike refined sugar, white flours, and am not interested in cocaine, heroin, meth, etc… Why should anyone force them on me? And if they tried, I'd say, "no thank you." You take care of you, I'll try to take care of me, and let others do the same please. But I'm not cold, if you need a hand, ask.

@ ginny, kids take their cues from their parents. If the parents overmedicate, then chances are the kids will. What is needed is to learn how to respect, and be responsible with the THOUSANDS of drugs we have at our finger tips, to READ LABELS, etc… As with susana, your beef is with the advertisers and their constant "Nirvana" they push on us.

All of these stereotype above are not helpful. Truth is stronger than lies. Did you know that—at least some—police, before they use a taser on someone, are tased themselves? Did you know that before—at least some—use pepper spray on someone, they use it on themselves? I do not train police, but I have seen this, so I am not sure how many departments do this. But it sure would make sense if some of you people who are so afraid of marijuana joined Michael Phelps/Barack in a bong hit or two and saw what it was like. Caffeine in soda/coffee is more addictive and gives you headaches when you taper off using it. Not so with marijuana.

Prohibition itself is the cause for most of the panic and problems, not the drugs themselves. I know this is a tough pill to swallow given the hysteria you've been fed. Please go visit http://LEAP.cc/ Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, read their site, watch their multimedia.

My brother started using pot in JR. High School and it was all down hill from there. The crowd he enjoyed pot with introduced him to a lot more than pot. By the time he died, at 40, he was a full blown drug addict and an ex-con. I asked one recovering addict if pot was a gateway to other drugs and he said, "pot is a gateway to all drugs". He should know. One lady I know is dealing with a young nephew that is addicted to pot. He is now a hermit and only wants to get high all day. He has , no job, no car, because he crashed it while driving high, and no prospects. My friend told me the pot sold today is much stronger and addictive than the stuff she smoked in the 60s. She is now against pot use.

MJ wrote:
"Anyone who supports this idea has never spent time in a classroom dealing with impacted students, their ignorant using parents who are in denial about their kid's drug habits"

I totally agree. You can add supporters should experience having to deal with a loved one with an addiction. It is tragic watching a loved one commit a slow suicide. The pot users can ignore, insult, ridicule, and even call us bible thumping pill popping liars, but you can't change our truth. Pot is harmless because it is natural? Tobacco, arsenic, anthrax, and poison mushrooms are all natural. Sick that in your pipe and smoke it.

Thanks John, you posted the most intelligent thoughts on the Drug War. The Drug War is a war on the citizens of America and it is WELFARE FOR DEA types and assorted COPS/THUGS. Everyone that wants to use pot already does so. Legalization would would have very little effect on how many people use pot. Legalization would vastly REDUCE violence, overcrowded prisons and tax evasion. Conversely, COPS and other DRUG ENFORCEMENT TYPES would have to get real jobs. Legalization would also keep jobs and Billions of dollars in America. And remember, marijuana is not a drug. It is a naturally occuring, God given herb that requires no distilling or brewing or packaging that damages the environment.

No don't do it because it's going to make things worst. I'll admit that I have nothing against smokin' weed. I DO NOT smoke it. It's just that keeping it illeagal is sort of a moral thing. This could blow up in our faces if it's leagalized.

1. How would employers adjust to this. You know and I know people are going to be trying to operate machinery on that weed.

2. If I'm out at dinner, I don't want see 60 people around me all with red eyes at one time. That's scary.

3. Teen pregnancy and maybe even Adult pregnancy may go up tramendously.
Population will grow rapidly.

4. No more fresh air. You'll smell weed everywhere. (CONTACT!)

5. There'll be more than enough weed songs again.

MJ should be legalized for adult consumption! Too much money has been wasted trying to combat what GOD has left for us naturally on this earth. People are in jail for trying to relax and relieve pain. Enough is enough. For you people that are against "SMOKING" - there are many ways to consume pot other than damaging your lungs. Get educated and get real!

I was an engineer for a company for about 20 years. I had a gpa of 3.8 when I left college. I smoked and most of my engineering and technician friends smoke. I managed our IT department - complete communications group including phone systems and servers. I supported our test and controls group, designing automation and laser control systems. I 'lived' at work and was often called upon by other facilities for information on how we solved problems.

I was hit from the left side ( t-boned ) by a drunken driver while I was coming home from work after 2 years at that company. I was on a motorcycle at the time and left my body print on the front of a 4x4 truck. I was on prescription medication for a few years and finally had enough of the pills and used pot for my pain medication then on.

Now, drug testing keeps me from finding another job...(automotive - our plant shutdown and moved assembly lines to mexico, korea, china). I've tried to get back into the 'prescribed medications' but nothing else seems to relieve the pains I still suffer.

I'd like every cop, lawyer, judge, elected official to have mandatory drug tests. Then the bigots would change the laws.

Mj, in my opinion should be legal, be regulated for many reasons, i have seen maby people abuse this gift of earth...this is wrong, but i now realise after much research that Mj has many POSITIVE thing about it...not to mention all the good it would do to society (no more wasted money on drug war, a lot more money due for gov due to taxes[if made legal], and many more) and i know i dont speak for only myself when i say that Mj should be legalized....its crazy that it was outlawed in the first place (expecially for the reason it was outlawed).

IT COMES FROM THE EARTH! it is a natural thing. To say that alcohol is any less destructive than marijuana is rediculous. Alcohol creates violence, breaks up families... since when have you ever heard of somebody running into the street and attempting to hurt people because they were "high." No, they were sitting on their couch eating munchies and watching the discovery channel.