[garjog]

“There was no widespread plague of kids doping out to this degree before the marijuana bans.”

So, you are arguing for legalization?

While I would prefer to be libertarian and let people choose to mess up their lives if they want, I think that Marijuana has a more serious effect on the brain than most people realize, especially on teens and people in early twenties — who are making decisions that affect their whole lives and impact the nature of our culture and economy.

Pot consumption should not be endorsed by government.

When you legalize anything, you encourage it’s use. When advertisers start pushing it usage will double.

“Hey, want to smoke some pot? It’s legal so it can’t be that bad, right?”

[HiTech RedNeck]

Legalization takes a product into the sunshine, out of the underworld. There, scrutiny is more honest, less laden with lies that render it unbelievable — and more importantly it takes the financial incentive away from pushers. Pushers got to be called pushers for a reason — not servers, not providers, but pushers.

[Mariner]

"While I would prefer to be libertarian and let people choose to mess up their lives if they want, I think that Marijuana has a more serious effect on the brain than most people realize, especially on teens and people in early twenties — who are making decisions that affect their whole lives and impact the nature of our culture and economy."

First, your statement is conflicted and contradictory.

That aside, I get it. You are opposed for what you perceive would be the effect it would have on society.

You care what happens to other people. So do most of us other humans.

But you can't fix stupid and you are not your brothers keeper.

The prohibition of alcohol and it's ill effects on society were worse than the "demon alcohol" itself. Same with pot.

[fr_freak]

Pot consumption should not be endorsed by government.

When you legalize anything, you encourage it’s use.

Good God, do you even realize what you're saying? You're putting government in the position of being the all-knowing god of what is and is not good for you. If the government says it's ok, then it must be ok? Who, but a subservient sheep, would believe such a thing? All things that are not to be encouraged should be illegal? That is the most tyrannical attitude regarding the role of government I have seen in a long, long time. You must be a big fan of the "Anything that is not forbidden is mandatory" school of governmental thought.

I'm beginning to think that what some others have said is true: that the true battle is not between Left and Right, it is between statists and free men.

Anyone recall this meme that went around the 'net a while ago?

If a conservative doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a liberal doesn't like guns, he wants them made illegal.

If a conservative doesn't like a talk radio host, he doesn't listen to him.
If a liberal doesn't like a talk radio host, he wants him banned.

Etc. etc. etc.

Now fill in the blanks:

If a free man doesn't like to smoke pot, he doesn't _____.
If a statist doesn't like to smoke pot, he wants _______.