Weed Whackers The anti-marijuana forces, and why they're wrong

National Review ^ | 8/20/2001 | Rich Lowry

[biblewonk]

A lot of people who reflexively fight against weed are not thinking that those in favor of it care at all about underage weed usage. That usually isn't very clear on peoples posts but it is nice to hear that Freeper tokers are not so foolish as to think that it should be ok for people under (pick your favorite adult age).

[vin-one]

exactly my point. As I said ealier on this thread, my daughter has a good friend who Partied a lot in Highschool maintained above a 4.0 GPA and is going to UCLA,.

Her question to me is how can anyone say MJ is bad,

My resonse is uhhh, ummm,, MJ is bad mmmmkay......

Actualy my response is do whatever you want when you are 21 that is the law.

[tacticalogic]

My take is: BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!

Well, that pretty much the information that our marijuana policy was based on when it was first prohitibited in 1937, and that policy hasn't really changed any since then. The Drug Warriors who support the status quo say "Give me a good reason why it shouldn't be illegal". They don't want to talk about the "good reasons" that were given to make it illegal in the first place.

[vin-one]

Ask any highschool kid, today which is easier, to get, beer or pot.

I have asked my kids, and the answer is always pot.....

[tacticalogic]

Pretty heavy stuff. So what's the deal with swing? Was Benny Goodman a scientologist? If I play "Night Train" backwards will it summon demons?

[biblewonk]

Interesting, but I can't verify that. Personally, there are few good reasons why a person should be allowed to have a beer or french fries. But the issue is not what they think I should be able to do. It's what I have a right to do. The french fry argument is one end of the spectrum. Self destruction is the other end. I don't think society, either neighbors or gmt officials should sit back while people destroy themselves. Weed for adults is right there with beer on the spectrum.

[biblewonk]

Ask any highschool kid, today which is easier, to get, beer or pot. I have asked my kids, and the answer is always pot.....

That's what I suspect people might give as an answer, but my dad would have given me beer as a 16 year old any weekend of the year. I don't think the answer is correct.

[Dakmar]

I drank a bottle of "Night Train" once, and it summoned up something, but it wasn't demons.

[biblewonk]

Also, most teens don't like beer. I sure didn't. But everyone likes the smell of pot.

[caisson71]

If you legalize pot, it will be easier for kids to get hold of it. The BS line that pot is "harmless" will be reenforced by the argument that it is "legal". My experience - raising 4 kids, coaching - tells me that a lack of parental concern is the #1 cause of substance abuse among teens. Certainly, peer pressure, cultural influence, etc. plays a big part in rearing children, not the least of which is a good education.

[JediGirl]

My experience - raising 4 kids, coaching - tells me that a lack of parental concern is the #1 cause of substance abuse among teens

The use of marijuana (or any drug in fact) does not imply abuse.

[tacticalogic]

A lot of people who reflexively fight against weed are not thinking that those in favor of it care at all about underage weed usage. That usually isn't very clear on peoples posts but it is nice to hear that Freeper tokers are not so foolish as to think that it should be ok for people under (pick your favorite adult age).

The pre-frontal portion of your brain (the part that deals with judgement) continues to deveolop into your early 20's. I don't think it's reasonable to try and criminalize all recreational drug use. I do think it's reasonable to tell people not to do it until they are equipped to deal with it responsibly.

[Dakmar]

Ask your kids what would be easier to get - beer or pot.

[GSWarrior]

Exerpt from Americans for Purity

Thanks for the laugh. Funny site.

[leadpenny]

Bump for my son to read later....

He's a bartender and claims he's a pusher and I don't have a good argument (other than the legal one).

[WindMinstrel]

So you agree with us that it's not the legalization that'd be dangerous, but uninvolved parents. Good! Spread the word

[Jonathon Spectre]

. I don't think society, either neighbors or gmt officials should sit back while people destroy themselves.

Ah, society again. Biblewonk, locate society in three-dimensional physical space for me. Or, if you'd like, just go look at my replies to robertpaulsen.

[biblewonk]

If you legalize pot, it will be easier for kids to get hold of it. The BS line that pot is "harmless" will be reenforced by the argument that it is "legal". My experience - raising 4 kids, coaching - tells me that a lack of parental concern is the #1 cause of substance abuse among teens. Certainly, peer pressure, cultural influence, etc. plays a big part in rearing children, not the least of which is a good education.

I agree completely. Liberty is a funny thing. The bible talks about my liberty vs the next guys harm. A Christian is more likely to give up some of his own liberty to help his neighbor. That is the big issue here. Not very many people who like weed have anytime at all for that concept. But I don't want to give up my liberty to have a beer for my alcoholic neighbor either. Nor do I want to give up jumping my wifes bones for the sake of my children who are in puberty and full of hormones. Paul said he would never eat meat again if it would cause his brother to fall, but I think he also realized that people can claim to be falling just to take away your liberty.

[WindMinstrel]

Paul said he would never eat meat again if it would cause his brother to fall, but I think he also realized that people can claim to be falling just to take away your liberty.

Ooh, that's a good quote. Mind if I borrow it?

[Malcolm]

They're NOT wrong! Legalization means that kids will more easily get their hands on it than they do now. There should be a stigma about recreational drug use. After seeing what tobacco and alcohol can do, why add to the misery? Where would the Libertarian party stop? At crystal meth? crank? They believe that laws to protect and hinder use of these substances are wrong and evil. LOL! How would they know???