If Marijuana Is Legal, Will Addiction Rise?

The New York Times ^ | July 20, 2009 | The Editors

[cryptical]

A New York Times article on Sunday discussed the debate over whether more and more potent types of cannabis affect the levels of addiction to the drug. This particular issue has become part of the larger debate over whether marijuana should be legalized or decriminalized.

Antidrug activists say that if the drug is legalized, more people will use it and addiction levels, made worse by the increased potency, will rise too. Legalization advocates note that pot addiction is not nearly as destructive as, say, abuse of alcohol. What would be the effect of legalization or decriminalization on marijuana abuse and addiction?

[sr4402]

Ever hear of Corruption, NYT?

[RC2]

If legalized, I think you would see stronger marijuana come out to get people really addicted to it. It’s also called a gateway drug for a reason.

[stuartcr]

How would anyone know if someone was addicted to marijuana?

[SMARTY]

Can’t wait, they will be talking on the phone, driving AND high! So much fun with these idiots out there

[SIDENET]

Trinkies^TM and Doritos^TM sales will rise to historic levels.

[jessduntno]

Then we won’t have TV as the opiate of the masses, we can actually have opiates for the masses! Saying we should legalize this shit now is for one thing only - tax revenues. Why not all drugs? Prostitution? WTF...think of the taxes we will be able to raise to give to the ruling class...what we needd is less of this shit, not more...

[TSgt]

Fine, legalize it with this condition. Employers reserve the right to require drug tests and can legally refuse to employ those that use drugs.

[Cementjungle]

If they legalize beer/wine then everyone would graduate to vodka and become alcoholics.

[Boiling Pots]

Marijuana is not psysiologically addicting, so whether it is more potent or not is irrelevant.

[stuartcr]

Would that include tobacco and alcohol?

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

If you get caught growing a couple plants for your own use here in California it’s no big deal. If they “legalize” it they will crush you. This is about money,nothing else.

[qwicwted]

I think it is kind of hypocritical in the fact that Smoking can be hazardous to your health and the government taxes smoking in order to supposedly offset healthcare costs to smokers - when in fact the government now wants to legalize Pot so that they can tap into a new revenue source. What bothers me is that Pot smoke is more harmful to a person's health - why would they promote that when they have been trying to eliminate smoking cigarettes? Won't the ramifications of pot smoking be more prevalent with the legalization?

[qwicwted]

I think it is kind of hypocritical in the fact that Smoking can be hazardous to your health and the government taxes smoking in order to supposedly offset healthcare costs to smokers - when in fact the government now wants to legalize Pot so that they can tap into a new revenue source. What bothers me is that Pot smoke is more harmful to a person's health - why would they promote that when they have been trying to eliminate smoking cigarettes? Won't the ramifications of pot smoking be more prevalent with the legalization?

[jakerobins]

Sales of Cheeto’s, Cap’n Cruch Cereal, and Taco Bell will go thru the roof!!! LOL...

If should be Legalized and our tax funds should be used to get rid of truely dangerous drugs like Meth. Not saying Pot is harm less but it’s like spending tons of money to treat the common cold when there are much worse sicknesses out there. Control Pot Tax it Sell it only in very small quanities in special stores....Then Down size gov’t Law enforcement Bureaucracy...

Start by downsizing The DEA or combining agencies. Would also open up space in over crowded jails....Maybe save a couple of bucks so Barry could tax us elsewhere I guess....LOL

[DouglasKC]

Is the pope Catholic?

[jessduntno]

“How would anyone know if someone was addicted to marijuana?”

They would be unemployed and living in your basement.

[TSgt]

It should include anything.

My point is that if we are to give one group a “choice” we should not take away the choice of another.

Age, race, gender and in some cases disability are the only legally protected groups.

Ex. I should reserve the right not to hire those that eat celery on Fridays.

[humblegunner]

Marijuana is not physically addictive.

[Colvin]

“How would anyone know if someone was addicted to marijuana?”
Because they lay about all day, ignore life, act dumb, have no memory, smell like pot...

Because the vote for Obama if they can figure out how to make it to the poles.