Why is marijuana illegal in United States?

[Felch]

Here's a bit of was Strangelove was talking about:

Because of these difficulties, epidemiological studies have also shown inconsistent effects, some finding decreased or no risk from driving while smoking marijuana, and others increased risk. Most studies are fraught with methodological problems that could lead to underreporting of drug use or misclassification of experimental subjects into or out of the marijuana-using category, confounding results.

In contrast, epidemiological studies on the relationship between alcohol consumption and accident have been clear-cut and consistent, demonstrating that the risk of a motor vehicle accident increases significantly with BAC > 0.05%.

In other words, while we know that drunk driving is dangerous, there is nothing conclusive proving that marijuana is dangerous. In the absence of conclusive evidence, a free society should err in favor of freedom. Prove that it's bad (which you haven't yet) or legalize it.

[MrFun]

In other words, while we know that drunk driving is dangerous, there is nothing conclusive proving that marijuana is dangerous. In the absence of conclusive evidence, a free society should err in favor of freedom. Prove that it's bad (which you haven't yet) or legalize it.

[Alexander's Horse]

The problem with hemp is the effect on young minds - the brain - it can bring out mental illness, underlying conditions or susceptibilities.

Four people I grew up with developed psychosis. They have never been able to work. I met a Mom recently who had two grown sons, her only sons, and they had never been able to hold down a job or marry. Her boys went to school with my brothers. That was really sad, especially when she saw what we had been able to do. We all had our families there. She was still supporting her sons on her pension. Her husband had left them years ago. We didn't know.

I lost friends because of weed. Once they became stoners they didn't want to do anything, lost interest in school, work, sports, everything. There was no point hanging around with them unless you wanted to smoke weed. So it's not harmless. I tell my sons to stay away from it. You never know what the individual effects will be.

[Felch]

I lost a friend because of weed laws. He's in the middle of a ten year federal sentence. The law didn't protect your friends, but changing the law could help my friend.

[Alexander's Horse]

I'm permissive on this, alcohol and tobacco are far worse than weed, but I do worry as a parent, in a way I didn't when I was a kid myself.

[DinoDoc]

Better off letting a friend drive you home doesn't mean that society is better off without you.

If you drive while intoxicated, society is better off without you for a while.

[Felch]

I disagree. People have this hard on for treating drunk drivers like they're all murderers. It looks like 1,600,000 miles are driven drunk for every drunk driving related fatality. Pulling this from here. 21 billion miles over 13,000 deaths.

Seems to me like the whole drunk driving thing is overblown. The numbers may have been higher back in the day, but the dangers of driving drunk have been exaggerated in the public mind.

[Alexander's Horse]

oh well that's okay then...

[notyoueither]

Yeah, you need to legalize all drugs.

(and regulate, tax and control their sale like alcohol, tobacco etc.)

Yes.

[Kidlicious]

Because the american people are stupid enough when they aren't stoned.

Seems to me like the whole drunk driving thing is overblown.

Case in point.

[Felch]

oh well that's okay then...

I don't mean to say that drunk driving is completely harmless. It's an unnecessary risk. It's just that people have this notion that drunk drivers are anti-social monsters who might as well be tossing grenades into kindergartens. Drunk drivers should face sanctions (fines, community service, etc.) but jail time is an excessive and expensive punishment.

Killing somebody while drunk driving is manslaughter, and should be treated as such.

[MikeH]

Fine + lose licence

[MikeH]

+ community service working with those crippled by drunk drivers. Yeah.

[regexcellent]

Getting a DUI is a lot scarier to me with the knowledge that I could go to jail than if I had to do some hours of community service.

What confuses me is, why do people drive drunk? How do you get into a situation where you wind up driving drunk in the first place? If you're going to be drinking, get a ride there. It's really that simple.

[Proteus_MST]

The problem with hemp is the effect on young minds - the brain - it can bring out mental illness, underlying conditions or susceptibilities.

Four people I grew up with developed psychosis. They have never been able to work. I met a Mom recently who had two grown sons, her only sons, and they had never been able to hold down a job or marry. Her boys went to school with my brothers. That was really sad, especially when she saw what we had been able to do. We all had our families there. She was still supporting her sons on her pension. Her husband had left them years ago. We didn't know.

I lost friends because of weed. Once they became stoners they didn't want to do anything, lost interest in school, work, sports, everything. There was no point hanging around with them unless you wanted to smoke weed. So it's not harmless. I tell my sons to stay away from it. You never know what the individual effects will be.

Do it like the netherlands ... purchase and consumption of Marijuana only in designated locations (coffee shops) and, of course, strict regulations with regards to minimum age of consumption. Also maybe harsh punishments (like prison) for anyone who knowingly sells weed to people below minimum age (and also, as it is now, punishment for sale of weed outside of coffee shops)