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"....t is based on my 15 years’ experience treating drug-troubled adolescents and young people - the majority of whom were in treatment because of marijuana use – that I categorically believe marijuana must not be legalized. Legalizing marijuana would undoubtedly lead to increased general use and, despite any well-intentioned age restrictions, increased use among our nation’s children.

A comparable example, where a law was changed to protect a minority at some inconvenience to the majority, is speed limits.

In 1973, national speed limit guidelines were significantly reduced from 75 mph to 55 mph. One year later, 4,000 fewer people died on the nation’s roads.

The point is this – many of us drive faster than stated speed limits, perhaps on a consistent basis. Huge numbers of otherwise law-abiding citizens break the law without harm, while many find pleasure in doing so. Why should we not raise the speed limits further? Four thousand more deaths vs. the pleasure and convenience of many.

Marijuana legalization follows a similar argument. Why inconvenience the majority of responsible adult users - just who this group is, I’m not sure - for the sake of a minority of irresponsible, young users?....."

http://www.odysseyhouseinc.org/news/bht1002.html

   

That was eloquently stated and you make a compelling argument. Trouble is, for me, the most important quality in a free society is the right to individual choice. Comparing pot use to dangerous driving is inappropriate. One is a victimless crime, one is not.

   

I think Philalawyer gets it right here.

   

Nice article Monkeyman.
While I agree with his stance on taxes that was never my argument for leagalization.
I do disagree with his gateway drug rant at the end though, it's unfounded and only coincidence that most junkies and people addicted to harder drugs tried pot first.
I can tell you I know some very professional people that smoke/smoked and have never moved on to harder stuff. Myself included.

   

I don't wanna sound rude but I think you need to re-read that bit - I believe that was his exact point!

   

Will do, not rude at all.

   

I think pot should be decriminalized too, there really is no reason for it to be illegal. I think the cops have bigger issues to deal with and decriminalizing pot would mean the cops can deal with the real drug dealers (crack and meth... you know real drugs). I have yet to actually hear a valid reason as to why we should keep pot illegal, I keep hearing the same "think of the children" tripe, do these same people think of the children when they smoke in front of them or when they get all boozed up in front of them? we allow tobacco and alcohol sales, which lead to about 90 different types of cancer and liver cirrhosis (not to mention drunk driving accidents, and spousal assault), but we ban pot why....? its not really a case of think of the children or the fact some (erroneously, I might add) think its a gateway drug, its because some study in the 1970's by Richard Nixon's administration to justify a prohibition on pot. I think need to stop being such sheep and allow a plant that is less harmful for a person then tobacco and alcohol to be decriminalized.

   

ABSO-FUCKING-LOOOOOOTLY!!!

Now before I begin I just wanna say I have not touched the shit since I was 18 (36 now).

Yes legalize it!!

- People that want to do it will do it anyhow.
- Tax the mofo!!!! Talk about millions of $'s
- Government controlled, you can grow it more pure and cleaner
- The Tax revenue on all the farms that will be able to grow it legally, let alone all of the employment you will create.
- Gambling, Alcohol & Cigarettes are considered "Medically Addictive" but yet still legal.
- Imagine the Tourism dollars that would pour into Canada from the US.
- How much would we be saving in court cases for the 18 year old University student that is now wasting all of our money and resources because he/she got caught with a joint or 6.

Now the "intoxicating factor" argument has 0 validity, I can go get wasted legally with alcohol. Its all about limits and knowing yours. When it comes to the drinking and driving, the pot should be treated the exact same way.

SMOKE EM IF YA GOT EM!!!!

   

Canada won't dare to legalize, or even decriminalize marijuana, until the United States gets on that boat first. The border is sticky enough as is, let's not give the Americans reason to delay even more cross-border traffic looking at Americans or Canadians heading south with joints in their socks.

Sorry pot-smokers, I say your best efforts are south of the border, not north.

   

Why is it that when we talk about legalizing drugs and gun control people say that as long as we are next to the US our laws must compliment theirs?

We are a sovereign country. If we want to legalize drugs or outlaw guns then they have no say in the matter. If they want to pull any border shenanigans then we can always slow down trade to them in response. They won't be so quick to pull such things if their people start loosing jobs and they start paying more for goods.

   

I agree with your point in principle, but I also believe the reality is that when you're next to the giant, you can't ignore its farts. I think a trade-war pissing match with people on both sides losing jobs over marijuana legalization is silly.

   

I'm not sure there would be though. I don't think it would be any worse then it is now. We have had Harper for 3 years now and he isn't trying to legalize drugs or making our own border security weaker yet the US has ramped up their border security. They can't do much worse without seeing an impact on their economy and why would they do that?

   

Personally, I'd think they'd do it because their response to marijuana is irrational with which to begin. Ours isn't much better, just historic. It would be wonderful if we lived in a world where nobody fucked themselves up with any chemical period, but we don't, and arguments of why marijuana is illegal versus why alcohol is illegal are hard to make without them being irrational. Pot really isn't addictive, alcohol is. I've never had a stoned relative ruin a family event like a drunk one has (well, I've never had a stoned relative, but I'm pretty sure a toked-up grandma would be worth seeing at least once...)

The bottom line is, your arguments for the legalization of marijuana are rational considering alcohol is legal. I don't want to see the government endorse another way people can fuck themselves up, but I'm just one voice and if Canada wants it, hey, Canada gets it. That's a democracy. But since marijuana is still illegal despite their being rational arguments to legalize it, or even decriminalize it, there must be irrational reasons keeping it illegal.

It's those irrational reasons I turn to when saying the Americans could get really silly at the border over legalized marijuana in Canada. They're tightening the border anyway and it's hurting trade and not a single terrorist has marched into their country from Canada. That's not rational either, but they're doing it.

So, I go back to the when the giant farts...

   

There are a few US States that always seem to be on the verge of decriminalizing or legalizing pot so I think we would be stupid to move before they did. This also has escalated because Canada now is smuggling harder and harder drugs into the US and these are not viewed as benign or harmless as pot.

   

I guess we will disagree on the US response then. Personally I think that we should lead the way rather then follow the US. We might even be the catalyst for US states to follow suit and legalize it. The idea that we can't decide such aspects of choice and freedom in our country because of what another country will think just rankles me no matter how gassy those farts may be.

   

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