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Originally posted by rito:
but how can programs like D.A.R.E go around saying "Marijuana melts your brain! Everyone who uses it uses it to escape and you can never escape!" if it isn't true? I'm just wondering, please enlighten me.

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The war on drugs is what keeps cops in business.

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Please post a source. Id like you to prove that marijuana is a addictive, and 2nd prove it causes brain damage.

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This isn't an argument for or against legalizing marijuana, because frankly as long as you don't do anything stupid or hurt anyone while you're under the influence I don't care if you are under the influence, but how can programs like D.A.R.E go around saying "Marijuana melts your brain! Everyone who uses it uses it to escape and you can never escape!" if it isn't true? I'm just wondering, please enlighten me.

Half the risks of marijuana are lies one joint does NOT equal 5 cigs in fact the worst thing that can happen is you getting arrested its still illegal because of prejudice against mexicans in the 1930s because their soilders smoked it marijuana by itself has never given anyone lung cancer and it dosent cause brain damage it does "push" a brain cells buttons but unlike other drugs it dosent wear them out

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like quoting other people's posts RELENTLESSLY right Yogore?!?!?!

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Quoting other people and responding is how you debate. You should get used to it or leave. When you quote and respond, you are being clear about what you are responding to. If you look at posts by almost anyone you will see them quoting and responding.

Okay I have replied candidly to this thread but let me say how I really feel about this.

The war on drugs is a bad thing. The people that make the most money on drugs use it to bribe government officials, pay attorneys, and/or flee the country when they do get caught, while the recreational user suffers harsh penalties like mandatory sentencing, rehabilitation, and public humiliation for doing something that sometimes is less harmful than getting drunk or smoking cigarettes.

Meanwhile, the war on drugs accounts for an estimated 1 Million jobs or more in our country due to increased law enforcement, lab work, surveillance, attorneys, judges, correctional facility workers and contractors, rehabilitation specialists, and special government groups. Many of these jobs would disappear if marijuana, one of the most benign drugs, were legalized. What does this mean for those of us that support Marijuana legislation? It means that things are not going to change any time in the near future. What does it mean to drug dealers? Hooray, you will continue making lots of money under the table since the government is ignorant.
What does it mean to drug users? Sorry, you get the short end of the stick, it's illegal for you to buy or use these drugs, and you are more than likely the one that will be caught with them rather than a drug lord. Also your stoner friends will eat all the food in your house every time you get high with them, so be prepared for ever-increasing grocery bills.

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Lots of things are emotionally addictiv

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like quoting other people's posts RELENTLESSLY right Yogore?!?!?!

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it has been proven to be emotionally addictiv

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Lots of things are emotionally addicitve.

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Smoking out of a pipe places heated smoke directly in the mouth which can wear down tooth enamel and burn the mouth and throat. Discoloration of teeth is also a common problem in heavy marijuana smokers.

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Same with ciggaretts, and those are legal.

Marijuana is not addictive in a physical sense like cocaine or heroin, but it has been proven to be emotionally addictive, people can become dependent on it to escape stress or cope with difficult emotions. Taking pot away from people that develop this addiction can result in depression and extreme emotions.
Marijuana does not cause permanent brain damage or memory loss. What happens is the marijuana actually coats memory cells temporarily which makes it more difficult for impulses to reach them, resulting in short term memory loss. Quitting, even in heavy smokers, should show an increase in short term memory within weeks at most. Amotivational syndrome is a common problem in heavy marijuana smokers. This occurs when the stoner is so relaxed and happy that they don't really care to get up and go to work, go outside, etc.
The most dangerous thing about marijuana is the smoke inhalation. A standard joint without a filter is about equal to smoking 5 cigarettes in terms of tar and carbon dioxide inhaled, minus the weird chemicals that the cigarette companies add. Smoking out of a pipe places heated smoke directly in the mouth which can wear down tooth enamel and burn the mouth and throat. Discoloration of teeth is also a common problem in heavy marijuana smokers.
Also of importance is the habit of marijuana addicts to raid your cupboards eating all of your cheetos and gatorades.

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Originally posted by Antinus:
I do not think marijuana should be legalized because although it is the less harmful of drugs it still IS harmful. An adiction to marijuana can cause permanent brain damage. If it should be legalized (as in the netherlands) I think it should be sold in small doses and to a very high price.

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Please post a source. Id like you to prove that marijuana is a addictive, and 2nd prove it causes brain damage.


I'll save you the time. You wont be able to find a source because both of those statements are false.

I'm for legalization for the following reasons:

1) Punishing people for using drugs based on the idea that you can't allow people to hurt themselves is weird. It's like "You hurt yourself!! Damn you!! Now I'll hurt you MORE!!"

2) Drug charges can theoretically ruin people's lives because they are criminal charges. Even though smoking marijuana doesn't make you a danger to other people or society at large, it doesn't mean you have no morals or that you have nothing worthy to offer to other people. Criminal charges give that impression.

3)Making marijuana illegal creates demand for an illegal market and puts out money into organized crime that may have connections to violent crime. It creates a lot of jobs for police and those who work in jails, but there are better things for police to do than chase down stoners (and potheads are not known for violence) and no shortage of criminals who pose a risk to others that could fill those jail cells and give work to those wardens.

4) People looking for a way to rebel with find it in marijuana. If marijuana is acceptable, that doesn't happen.

5) More realistic than the rebel argument is this: if you send an inflexible message of "DRUGS ARE BAD-DON'T TOUCH EVER OR YOUR HAIR WILL TURN PURPLE AND YOUR EYES WILL FALL OUT!!" you sound like a raving, extremist lunatic because the world is generally not black and white (and there are benefits to marijuana use as well as risks) and many people will not listen to you, even if what you're saying is true or possible. (btw the brain damage thing hasn't been proven conclusively).

6) People who like to think that they are in control of their bodies usually do not take kindly to the advice of people who are ordering them to not use drugs; saying they aren't allowed that power and responsibility. That tendency can make it difficult for people to listen to those who give them warnings (usually the same people outlawing use all together), making it difficult for them to feel they have any respected sources of information-leading to fewer informed decisions, way less responsible/safer use. Prohibition doesn't encourage dialogue and dialogue is imperative for harm reduction.

7) Cigarettes are more harmful than marijuana, and they are legal.

8) If marijuana were legalized and regulated, it might also be easier for users to know they were getting clean drugs, because pot laced with things like PCP and crack would still be sold on the street, but presumably not from anyone who conformed to regulations. Marijuana laced with PCP is way more dangerous than marijuana by itself, because it can cause central nervous system failure.

I do not think marijuana should be legalized because although it is the less harmful of drugs it still IS harmful. An adiction to marijuana can cause permanent brain damage. If it should be legalized (as in the netherlands) I think it should be sold in small doses and to a very high price.

I think it should be legalized but have it's limits... I don't know, if I could choose only legalize it or not, I'd choose to not. I'm not fond of drugs.

I'm against it because marijuana is an evil drug, people are always overdosing on it and eating all my cookies and frozen burritos. It should be banned.