Should marijuana be legalized?

^Textbook: So it would be lazy and stupid of me to not oppose to you. I think forbidding drugs and everything that isn't "good" for you including alcohol is what's genuinely dangerous. I don't believe in anarchy, but I'm certain that people need space and a feeling of freedom. Drugs, wine, beer is medication for all your selfish and shortsighted (of course I think you are one who's selfish and shortsighted) people. It exists, its a part of the history of mankind and good for a lot of things, as well as bad. Selfdestructive people will be selfdestructive with or without drugs, and that's their choice and responsibility. + we are mainly  talking about marijuana here. My grandmother uses a lot more harder, but legal drugs than that.

Obviously texbook doesn't understand the concept of Bipolar disorder. What if someone is generally a happier, less destructive person while on medication? what if, without medication, they are uncontrollably violent and ill, hateful and abrasive, and it's based on vast chemical imbalances?

Also, what if you aren't addicted to weed, it just calms you down and makes you feel good every once in a while. Everything is drugs, man. You're only happy because variations in the chemicals in your body, anyway.

DRUGS ARE BAD, DON'T DO DRUGS OR ANGELS GET STEEL ENEMAS

Negoba wrote: I always plug this book and it's a little dated but: http://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Sun-Moon-Dispatches-Consciousness/dp/0618479058   Yes it's that Andrew Weil, but this subject is actually what he studied academically. He talks about mind altering experiences from eating hot peppers to exotic plants in South America.   We all do things to alter our consciousness, though it's sometimes more or less subtle. I'm drinking my black tea which has been at virtually every meal in my family since I was a child. Other families have wine at every meal.   I personally think that if you haven't experienced some degree of alteration of consciousness, you haven't live your life to the fullest. I'm old enough now that I look for those alterations in more accepted places like meditation and exercise, etc. But that's me in this place at this time.   I have a friend who is a ultramarathoner. It's better than crack but it's basically an addiction to your own endogenous opiates.   Complex issue.

^ You cannot say pot is a non - habit forming drug. I knew many people that had to have their daily fix of THC

Textbook wrote: Rocktopus: Left to their own devices, people make the wrong choices. Call me cynical but they do. It's why anarchy doesn't work. They're selfish and shortsighted. Wanting to get high, thus creating an environment where their minds and bodies don't function properly, paving the way for any number and type of disasters, is part of that.

Alitare wrote: Sigh, anything can be habit forming, you've gotta differentiate between physiological dependence and psychological dependence. While Weed is honestly not very physiologically addictive, it could very well be psychologically addictive. Then again, most anything can be psychologically addicting.

Textbook wrote: But why is life necessarily better with them? What would be bad about people outgrowing them and living with a clear mind free of dependencies? Don't you find it alarming that you require medication to feel at ease and happy? Don't you concede that there will be deaths due to people being stoned or drunk during times of crisis or conflict? For example, if a house catches fire, and those inside are drunk or high, they are far less likely to respond appropriately.

The T wrote: Textbook wrote: Rocktopus: Left to their own devices, people make the wrong choices. Call me cynical but they do. It's why anarchy doesn't work. They're selfish and shortsighted. Wanting to get high, thus creating an environment where their minds and bodies don't function properly, paving the way for any number and type of disasters, is part of that. And YOU know which the "right" choices are because.... ?  "Left to their own devices".... So you prefer them to be directed and ordered by a superior power? What if said superior power (not a god since I know you don't believe) actually decides drugs are good for them? Would that make it ok? Who is then to decide?  That's why you need every person able of making their own choices... YOU are selfish and shortsighted when you want to impose your view on the rest...  (damn I sounded libertarian there......(just don't tell Shields..)  well, it fits: social libertarian + economical free-market socialist )

I think we may actually be have some impact on you, T. There's hope for you yet.

thellama73 wrote: The T wrote: Textbook wrote: Rocktopus: Left to their own devices, people make the wrong choices. Call me cynical but they do. It's why anarchy doesn't work. They're selfish and shortsighted. Wanting to get high, thus creating an environment where their minds and bodies don't function properly, paving the way for any number and type of disasters, is part of that. And YOU know which the "right" choices are because.... ?  "Left to their own devices".... So you prefer them to be directed and ordered by a superior power? What if said superior power (not a god since I know you don't believe) actually decides drugs are good for them? Would that make it ok? Who is then to decide?  That's why you need every person able of making their own choices... YOU are selfish and shortsighted when you want to impose your view on the rest...  (damn I sounded libertarian there......(just don't tell Shields..)  well, it fits: social libertarian + economical free-market socialist ) I think we may actually be have some impact on you, T. There's hope for you yet.

It's a pretty dumb intoxicant, but hell, it will be extra revenue and taxes I won't have to pay for