Decriminalisation is a far better option than outright legalising it.
While through legalisation, we can regulate and thus collect taxes and ensure that their is no shady mixing going on, there ARE health affects from smoking. Period.
Sure, alcohol isn't terribly better. However the difference is alcohol, like tobacco, is very imbedded in culture. Even knowing the health affects, they continue to be legal despite attempts to crack down on them.
With marijuana, we are still at the point where we can stop it from being mainstream and embedded deeply within culture. This however, requires people to acknowledge there are health affects and it is just as dangerous to be under the influence as alcohol when it comes from work/driving/etc.
English
-
You can ingest/vape marijuana. You dont [i]have[/i] to smoke it. Hash Brownies, mmmmm
-
Perhaps I should have been more specific. No matter the form you take in marijuana, there are still harmful effects that can be seen and result from being under the influence
-
[quote]No matter the form you take in marijuana, there are still harmful effects that can be seen and result from being under the influence[/quote]Like?
-
Thats a thin argument when you consider far worse is openly available, and Marijuana may take the place of some of those substances.
-
Did I ever say other substances should be made widely available? The unfortunate truth at this is a complex issue and there is no simple solution that resolves all problems and doesn't create more.
-
I didnt say that. I said they [i]are[/i] widely available.
-
Again, you miss the point. Stop trying to focus on a small aspect of a topic and take a step back and see the larger picture.
-
I am. Consider how decriminalization has worked in Portugal. Negative health impacts associated with intoxicants of all kinds are down significantly.
-
And yet we allow things like alcohol.
-
Did you read my post? I've already commented on that.
-
Yes, I read your post. However, people talking side effects are willing to allow WAY worse stuff to be legal. Prescription meds, caffeine, etc.
-
Edited by Vicex: 9/23/2017 3:20:13 PMPrescription meds serve a use. Caffeine, unless you manage to over consume in ridiculous amounts, does not interfere with life such as alcohol, or marijuana. Additionally, it has numerous benefits... sure- you can argue marijuana does as well, but the mind-altering effects are not required, as the usefulness comes from a different compound. Reread my first post, and you will see, again, I addressed your point- that being, the other legalised substances are unfortunately far to engrained in our culture. It took years to fight tobacco, and even now we haven't managed to outlaw it, and when attempting to regulate things like packaging to attempt to curb rates, countries are met with very expensive litigation by relevant companies
-
Prescription meds are also several times more addictive than MJ, and have significantly worse side effects. As to Caffeine, it interferes with most people's lives on a near-daily basis, seeing as how addictive it is. Also, marijuana is significantly more useful than caffeine, or really many medicines, and the "mind-altering" effects are no more significant than alcohol.
-
[quote] Also, [b]marijuana is significantly more useful tha[/b]n caffeine, [b]or really many medicines,[/b] [/quote] And at this point I've released you have no -blam!-ing clue what you are talking about.
-
Nope. Actually I have a lot of clues. Whereas you seem to not realize that it's a significantly useful substance, and not any more mind-altering than caffeine or alcohol. Thus, why it should be fully legalized
-