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What are the Best reasons/arguments to keep marijuana illegal?
National Review ^ | July 29, 2008 | me_a_republic

Posted on 07/29/2008 8:38:33 PM PDT by me_a_republican

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To: dmz
There are also undoubtedly several potheads in your professional circle that you know nothing about, who may be experiencing an enviable degree of professional success.

I don't respect potheads. I wouldn't knowingly hang around potheads. None of the potheads I know are successful.

101 posted on 07/30/2008 11:30:15 AM PDT by Soliton (Investigate, study, learn, then express an opinion)
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To: mysterio
You can't be seriously arguing that marijuana has a greater detrimental impact on health than alcohol does.

Do you work with the children of parents who used marijuana? Have you dealt with the impact this drug causes on these children's learning processes? Alcohol has an effect on the physical development of these children, as well as the mental development. So, because marijuana's effects are only related to mental development, and not physical development, we should legalize it? It's okay that children of these parents suffer significant learning disabilities since there are no physical effects? I'm not buying the argument. I'm also not entering into your "debate" on the merits of one detrimental substance over another one. This is like having an argument with a child who complains about being in trouble for an act that one of his/her friends got away with.

102 posted on 07/30/2008 11:38:41 AM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Soldier soon to be training other Army Soldiers)
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To: Soliton

I don’t respect potheads. I wouldn’t knowingly hang around potheads. None of the potheads I know are successful.
_________

OK. I take no issue with your personal opinions.

I’m simply stating that it is my belief that one or more of the people you do respect professionally may be consuming mj without your knowledge. Obviously, I am basing my statement purely on the law of averages.


103 posted on 07/30/2008 11:40:32 AM PDT by dmz
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To: Old Sarge; me_a_republican; darkwing104; Darksheare; darkangel; Lady Jag
He changed his mind.


104 posted on 07/30/2008 11:40:55 AM PDT by Lady Jag ( I dreamed I surfed all day in my monthly donor wonder bra - https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate)
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To: SoldierDad
The consequences of empowering the government to fight the "problem" are greater than the "problem" itself.

Not to mention that if we as a society have decided that adults can be free to consume alcohol or cigarettes, it is certainly logical that they should be trusted to make responsible decisions about marijuana. Especially considering that marijuana is far less harmful.

If you give people freedom, occasionally they won't make the best choices. But that's certainly better than having the government micromanaging what plants we can consume and which ones we can't.
105 posted on 07/30/2008 11:49:16 AM PDT by mysterio
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To: mysterio
The consequences of empowering the government to fight the "problem" are greater than the "problem" itself.

Who is the "government"?

Especially considering that marijuana is far less harmful.

Please research the effects of marijuana use before making false claims about it not being harmful.

If you give people freedom, occasionally they won't make the best choices. But that's certainly better than having the government micromanaging what plants we can consume and which ones we can't.

Most people do not commit murder, robbery, burlary, rape, assault, etc. Yet, we have laws against these acts. Why? If most people can be depended upoon to act rightly, then these laws are also not needed (based upon your ideology with respect to marijuana). Your argument can be used to apply to other harmful substances as well, such as heroin, cocaine, meth, and controlled legal drugs such as oxycontin and other pain medications. Do you want to go there as well? Again, I'm not buying this.

106 posted on 07/30/2008 12:00:17 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Soldier soon to be training other Army Soldiers)
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To: Mr. Blonde

As a general rule I only believe ‘studies’ when they confirm common sense. I can see how children who are introduced to alcohol with their parents would be less inclined to binge drink, but it makes no sense to me that legal and readily available marijuana would be less utilized. I understand the forbidden fruit argument...but I’ve never actually heard anyone, much less a pothead tell me that they smoked out because it was against the law, they do it because it’s fun getting high.


107 posted on 07/30/2008 12:04:15 PM PDT by americanophile
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To: SoldierDad
Who is the "government"?

The idiots who might someday kick down your door and shoot your dog because they meant to raid your neighbor's house but read the address wrong. And the idiots who instructed the aforementioned idiots to do so. All so our society can be free of people who feel silly because they ingested a plant. No thanks.

Please research the effects of marijuana use before making false claims about it not being harmful.

Deaths

And you are putting marijuana in the same analogy with murder and rape?

That's funny, I don't care who you are.
108 posted on 07/30/2008 12:10:10 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: dcwusmc
"And we, as individuals, do not have any legitimate authority to regulate or control one single, solitary thing that someone else does in the privacy of his own home which does not involve the involuntary participation of another."

As individuals no, but the states, as sovereigns can, and routinely do regulate private behavior. Understand, that I would prefer a more libertarian interpretation of the Consitution as well, but the Supreme Court and Congress have long ago embarked on a far more broadly defined scope of power for our state and federal governments.

109 posted on 07/30/2008 12:14:35 PM PDT by americanophile
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To: SoldierDad

Do you work with the children of parents who used marijuana? Have you dealt with the impact this drug causes on these children’s learning processes?
______

Can you fill us in on the research behind your comments? What work do you do with these children, and how do you know what their parents were doing at the time of conception?


110 posted on 07/30/2008 12:16:15 PM PDT by dmz
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To: dmz
Can you fill us in on the research behind your comments?

I've, through the course of study in my Master of Arts program and through continuing education requirements, researched this issue at length. All the information you need to learn about the harmful effects of marijuana can be found on the internet, as well as going to your local college and perusing periodicals on childhood development, as well as medical journals.

What work do you do with these children, and how do you know what their parents were doing at the time of conception?

As a matter of course, in my job, I collect background information from parents which includes pre-pregnancy and prenatal behaviors. You might be surprised at the number of parents who are completely honest about what they did prior to and during pregnancy.

111 posted on 07/30/2008 12:25:54 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Soldier soon to be training other Army Soldiers)
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To: mysterio
The idiots who might someday kick down your door and shoot your dog because they meant to raid your neighbor's house but read the address wrong. And the idiots who instructed the aforementioned idiots to do so.

And, your stats on the number of times this unfortunate mix-up happens in this country?

And you are putting marijuana in the same analogy with murder and rape?

I just attempted to place your ludicrious claims into perspective.

112 posted on 07/30/2008 12:28:47 PM PDT by SoldierDad (Proud Dad of a U.S. Army Soldier soon to be training other Army Soldiers)
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To: SoldierDad
You are making a lot of claims about the harms of marijuana that just aren't supported by science or what we can observe out in the real world. I used to smoke marijuana, as did my wife, and both of our children are healthy and well adjusted and both are in the gifted and talented programs at their schools. Most people I grew up with smoked marijuana and their children are fine. You've heard some reefer madness hype and bought into it hook, line, and sinker. There is no good evidence that marijuana use damages chromosomes and harms reproductive systems and causes messed up children. I'm not saying it's a healthy habit and I certainly don't think people should use it when they are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. But smoking a little pot is not going to make you have deformed children with mental deficiencies. That's just bull.
113 posted on 07/30/2008 12:35:12 PM PDT by TKDietz
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To: SoldierDad
Botched raid map

I just attempted to place your ludicrious claims into perspective.

Well, you certainly win the ludicrous claim contest. That's almost as good as the lies that the propagandists made up in the mid 20th century to get the plant banned.
114 posted on 07/30/2008 12:35:34 PM PDT by mysterio
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To: americanophile

Certainly it is fun getting high, but some of that fun is in the fact that you are being rebellious. Taking the mystique out of something does make it less likely to be used. I think that is common sense.


115 posted on 07/30/2008 12:52:05 PM PDT by Mr. Blonde (You ever thought about being weird for a living?)
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To: SoldierDad

I’ve, through the course of study in my Master of Arts program and through continuing education requirements, researched this issue at length. All the information you need to learn about the harmful effects of marijuana can be found on the internet
_______

And by the same token, the same internet provides access to hundreds of links that are 180 degrees opposite from your thesis.

How many of those folks who admit to marijuana usage used absolutely no other substances (other drugs, alcohol, tobacco, prescription meds)?

When faced with contradictory information, as we plainly have in the mj debate, I turn back to my own anecdotal experience, my 3 kids, and the children of those I’ve known for a long time whose parents partook (partake) of the evil weed. I see a bunch of successful college graduates, taking their place in the workforce as pretty decent citizens. Scientific? Hell no, but enough to make me concerned about personal biases appearing in the scientific literature on the topic.


116 posted on 07/30/2008 1:01:37 PM PDT by dmz
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To: Soliton
I don't respect potheads. I wouldn't knowingly hang around potheads.

You must be a blast at parties.

None of the potheads I know are successful.

See post 90 and try to quit being so close-minded every time you post something on this site.

117 posted on 07/30/2008 1:09:27 PM PDT by jmc813 (Scattered, smothered, covered, diced, chunked)
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To: SoldierDad
I'm also not entering into your "debate" on the merits of one detrimental substance over another one.

So you can't logically argue your point so you run away. Typical for the few anti-pot freepers left here.

118 posted on 07/30/2008 1:11:35 PM PDT by jmc813 (Scattered, smothered, covered, diced, chunked)
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To: me_a_republican; newgeezer
It would take the worst element in my neighborhood out of their luxury cars and force them to get real jobs.

It would redirect money to American weed growers with a bit for Uncle Sugar.

It would reduce the 2 million people in our prisons.

119 posted on 07/30/2008 1:14:54 PM PDT by DungeonMaster ("You can't take $100,000,000,000 to Vegas" speculators.)
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To: SoldierDad
As a matter of course, in my job, I collect background information from parents which includes pre-pregnancy and prenatal behaviors.

If this is not too personal of a question, does any part of your salary come from government funding?

120 posted on 07/30/2008 1:15:32 PM PDT by jmc813 (Scattered, smothered, covered, diced, chunked)
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