Legalizing Marijuana Rating Options

[Kay-]

Yes, I think there's already a topic on this but those are from a really long time ago. As you all know Marc Emery (the prince of pot) ran for Mayor of Vancouver in 1996 and ever since he's been fighting for legalization for marajuana in Canada. And he owns his very own shop in Vancouver with a vapour lounge in it.
http://cannabisculture.com/articles/5310.html
The link above shows you that on Nov 15th 2008 Cannabis Activists are getting elected all across BC.
I live in Vancouver and I'm a huge supporter of Marc Emery. Im so glad that he is still fighting for legalization. I've been to his shop many times before and I've met Marc Emery himself there. He's a really nice guy and I think with time marajuana will be legal here.
What do you guys think of legalizing marajuana?

Reason for edit: It's "marijuana," not "marajuana."

[NoSex]

What are the benefits of legalizing marijuana? So who ever wants to can get high off their mind?

1. freedom is actualized:
we live in a country that proposes to be free. the contents of our minds are a primary aspect of personal freedom. if the government is telling us we cannot control the contents of our minds through the use of drugs, than we can't say we're a free country.
2. the black market is defeated:
the drug war has only made selling drugs more profitable, in an effect, this has added to the proliferation of drugs (making them more accessible to everyone). if we legalize drugs (especially harmless drugs like cannabis) we can eliminate a black market that supports organized crime all over this nation & supplies criminals with the power & money to operate. this will lower associated crime (remember, black market disputes can't be taken to court. if someone snags your scag, you shoot them).
3. innocent people are allowed to live:
over fifty percent of our prisons are full of non-violent drug offenders. these people don't deserve the sentences that they are given. further, they are a costly aspect of our policy; we pay to imprison them & everyone pays when they are torn form their work, their lives, & their families.
4. medicinal benefits:
medical weed already helps millions of people all over the world; we need to jump on the bandwagon already.
5. we end the drug war:
less needless spending & effort & time on a worthless (& offensive) war against the american people.
6. etc.:
you suck for not thinking of any of these.

IF EVOLUTION IS A CRIME ONLY CRIMINALS WILL EVOLVE!

[synatribe]

1. freedom is actualized:
we live in a country that proposes to be free. the contents of our minds are a primary aspect of personal freedom. if the government is telling us we cannot control the contents of our minds through the use of drugs, than we can't say we're a free country.
2. the black market is defeated:
the drug war has only made selling drugs more profitable, in an effect, this has added to the proliferation of drugs (making them more accessible to everyone). if we legalize drugs (especially harmless drugs like cannabis) we can eliminate a black market that supports organized crime all over this nation & supplies criminals with the power & money to operate. this will lower associated crime (remember, black market disputes can't be taken to court. if someone snags your scag, you shoot them).
3. innocent people are allowed to live:
over fifty percent of our prisons are full of non-violent drug offenders. these people don't deserve the sentences that they are given. further, they are a costly aspect of our policy; we pay to imprison them & everyone pays when they are torn form their work, their lives, & their families.
4. medicinal benefits:
medical weed already helps millions of people all over the world; we need to jump on the bandwagon already.
5. we end the drug war:
less needless spending & effort & time on a worthless (& offensive) war against the american people.
6. etc.:
you suck for not thinking of any of these.

IF EVOLUTION IS A CRIME ONLY CRIMINALS WILL EVOLVE!

1. If we actually lived in a country that was free, then why do we have any leglislation at all, we might as well say murder is beneficial, because we could be killing people who could have been a threat and that would be considered constitutional?

2. The black market is necessary. Mafias and black markets have always played a strategic role to the economy and private industries which is why this country's government hasnt put a stop to it. If we really wanted to destroy the black market, we would have, but they can be beneficial in other ways.

3. 50% is big number which, I do not agree with, but whether they were illegal drug offenders, or illegal computer hackers, there will always be innocent people who are offended of something. Legalizing Marijuana does not get rid of the fact of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, or simply having bad luck, its just reality.

4. I believe stem cell research will be more beneficial, so why was it vetoed?

5. this needless war actually will help stimulate jobs and will help preserve jobs.

6. Thank you for thinking besides just the techincalitites of this debate and rather looking at it as a whole, you make debating fun, not frustrating :]

[mipadi]

1. If we actually lived in a country that was free, then why do we have any leglislation at all, we might as well say murder is beneficial, because we could be killing people who could have been a threat and that would be considered constitutional?

Murder is different. If you murder someone, you are encroaching on their right to live. You don't have an inalienable right to unilaterally take away the rights of others. Murder could be beneficial, but we already allow murder in certain specific cases (e.g, self-defense).

2. The black market is necessary. Mafias and black markets have always played a strategic role to the economy and private industries which is why this country's government hasnt put a stop to it. If we really wanted to destroy the black market, we would have, but they can be beneficial in other ways.

Black markets obviously don't pay taxes, so how is this in any way beneficial? I suppose you could say that this market "creates jobs", but it's not like anyone really sees the benefits of such markets. Legalizing marijuana, on the other hand, would generate tax revenue and create jobs. I don't think the creation of jobs is necessarily a compelling reason to legalize marijuana, but claiming that the underground drug market is important for the economy isn't a compelling reason to keep marijuana illegal.

3. 50% is big number which, I do not agree with, but whether they were illegal drug offenders, or illegal computer hackers, there will always be innocent people who are offended of something. Legalizing Marijuana does not get rid of the fact of being at the wrong place at the wrong time, or simply having bad luck, its just reality.

You're missing the point: Most drug offenders are not violent. Most are not threats to society. They're just people who wanted to do something on their own private time, but the government stepped in and arbitrarily decided that they're not allowed to do something that's not harming anyone else. Therefore, we spend millions of dollars (maybe even more -- I don't have statistics handy) and a majority of prison space to imprison people who are no threat. Do we really want -- or need -- to be spending that kind of money to lock these people up? Furthermore, merely prosecuting these cases takes up time and money in the court system which could be better spent addressing "real" cases.

4. I believe stem cell research will be more beneficial, so why was it vetoed?

Fallacy of false dilemma: the choice isn't "either we legalize marijuana or we allow support cell research". We could easily do both. For the record, I think we should support stem cell research.

5. this needless war actually will help stimulate jobs and will help preserve jobs.

I don't think we need to infringe on the personal rights of Americans in order to create jobs. If jobs are important, legalize marijuana, then use the money saved from fighting it, and the money saved from incarcerating non-violent drug offenders, and use it to build dams or bridges or roads, or remodel schools, or develop alternative energy sources, or something else that will create jobs and be helpful to society.