Opinions?

[Mustanglvr]

I hear there are states that have legalized marijuana for medical purposes. What are some of your opinions on that subject?

 

[joedls]

I know I'll probably get blasted, but my opinion is that drugs should be decriminalized. All drugs. Criminaliztion hasn't worked for drugs, any more than it worked for alcohol during prohibition. You think we would have learned something from that.

 

[Midnight Special]

I know I'll probably get blasted, but my opinion is that drugs should be decriminalized. All drugs. Criminaliztion hasn't worked for drugs, any more than it worked for alcohol during prohibition. You think we would have learned something from that.

I agree w/ you in many ways Joe, but I'm just not sure I'm ready to cross the total legality line yet. Rhonda, it is legal here in CA and I know a few who do grow... This one woman who does, produces alot more than she needs and usually gives it away to her friends (and to some of mine ((not to me tho)). One never knows where or how much of that "residual" eventually reaches impressionable kids.

Personally, I have no use for drugs, but like "abortion", I don't feel I have the right to tell others what to do to that degree of passing more laws. Quality education re: cause & effect would be a great start tho...

 

[joedls]

I agree w/ you in many ways Joe, but I'm just not sure I'm ready to cross the total legality line yet. Rhonda, it is legal here in CA and I know a few who do grow... This one woman who does, produces alot more than she needs and usually gives it away to her friends (and to some of mine ((not to me tho)). One never knows where or how much of that "residual" eventually reaches impressionable kids.

Personally, I have no use for drugs, but like "abortion", I don't feel I have the right to tell others what to do to that degree of passing more laws. Quality education re: cause & effect would be a great start tho...

It's a scary thing to think about decriminalization. But the truth is that anyone who wants to use drugs now can get them. Criminalization has not made them less readily available. From my experience (and I have some experience with drug use), no one I ever knew that wanted to use was deterred by the law. Maybe their parents (when I was a kid), their religion, their beliefs, but never the legal aspect. All that did was drive it underground. I still believe we should have laws prohibiting usage by minors and very stiff penalties for supplying minors. But I think adults should be free to use if they so desire (they do anyway). I think alot of money can be diverted from the "war on drugs" to drug education and rehabilitation. Again this is only my opinion, but I believe criminalization of drugs has only created a huge community of criminals that, perhaps, would not otherwise exist.

 

[Midnight Special]

It's a scary thing to think about decriminalization. But the truth is that anyone who wants to use drugs now can get them. Criminalization has not made them less readily available. From my experience (and I have some experience with drug use), no one I ever knew that wanted to use was deterred by the law. Maybe their parents (when I was a kid), their religion, their beliefs, but never the legal aspect. All that did was drive it underground. I still believe we should have laws prohibiting usage by minors and very stiff penalties for supplying minors. But I think adults should be free to use if they so desire (they do anyway). I think alot of money can be diverted from the "war on drugs" to drug education and rehabilitation. Again this is only my opinion, but I believe criminalization of drugs has only created a huge community of criminals that, perhaps, would not otherwise exist.

...Well said Joe.

 

[Mustanglvr]

Thanks guys for your opinions. I completely agree with both of you.

 

[somethingspecial]

Every state and county has different guidelines concerning marijuana. Here in Ca. each county, 52 of them, has their own guidelines. Nevada County, for example, allows a person, with a recommendation from a medical Dr. can grow up to 10 plants, with a total of 2# of processed marijuana. As the plants mature, the grower must estimate how much yield they will produce and "thin" accordingly. I as a Law Enforcement officer, when I find a garden, must check the Script, and determine if the grower is in compliance to the guidelines. However, if the Federal DEA decides to get involved, they do not recognize the state or local guidelines, and confiscate all your dope, and you go directly to jail in Sacramento, Ca. as that is the nearest Federal holding facility, and await cultivation charges. GOTTA LOVE THE FEDS.
I know people, including family, who finds the only relief from pain is with the use of MJ. MY OPINION, if you use it like it is intended, and use it at home, and don't drive a vehicle, Knock yourself out. But I have a problem with the ones who have a script for dope, and when we bust them, they have 30# of processed, and have packaging materials, scales, and another acre and a half of killer bud.
These creeps are usually armed and using Meth to stay awake so noone steals their crop. (Go ahead punk, make my day). That is just MY OPINION. Mike

 

[joedls]

IBut I have a problem with the ones who have a script for dope, and when we bust them, they have 30# of processed, and have packaging materials, scales, and another acre and a half of killer bud.
These creeps are usually armed and using Meth to stay awake so noone steals their crop. (Go ahead punk, make my day). That is just MY OPINION. Mike

I agree that these guys are creeps. But if we decriminalized it, the price would go down. Once the price goes down, no more incentive for these criminals to grow it. You could have honest farmers growing it.

 

[Perkchiro]

It seems that some of you think the use of drugs is a victim-less crime. Legalization just means it would decriminalize it's use. Our jails would thin out and those drug dealers and abusers would be out in the streets full force. They would be dependents of the state and guess who pays for that? Typical liberal thought process is to legalize something you can't fight or don't want to fight. Just do your own thing, as long as it doesn't affect me. Well, I'm telling you that legalizing drugs would affect you. I don't see a problem with medical usage of marijuana within the parameters of the law. There are far worse effects with abusing scripted narcotics. If drugs were legal, addicts still have to find a way to pay for them. That means criminal action of stealing from you and me. Don't be fooled by that line of thinking. Keep drugs illegal or society will pay a bigger price for it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[joedls]

If drugs were legal, addicts still have to find a way to pay for them. That means criminal action of stealing from you and me.

How many alcoholics do you know that are stealing to pay for booze? Not many because it is legal and cheap. I believe the cost of drugs would greatly decrease if legalized, therefore removing the need to steal.

And just to clarify, my thinking is more along the lines of libertarian thinking than liberal thinking. I don't believe the government has the right or the obligation to legislate this. Now, the "criminal actions" that affect others (such as driving while under the influence, stealing, violence) should be punished. Just not drug use.

 

[Perkchiro]

So the core problem of drug use is okay, but the resultant activity related to it should be punished. Wow, let the boozer drink legally, let the drug user shoot up legally and then give them a license to drive and kill your son or daughter. Great line of thinking. By the way, it wouldn't hurt my feelings at all if alcohol were prohibited. It seems that there are too many out there who can't control themselves. My God, I hope it doesn't happen to you, but you might change your mind when it hits home.

 

[Mustanglvr]

I think if marijuana is prescribed its ok, but they need to lighten up about what they prescribe it for. They say it`s a depressant. Um, no its a "Happy drug". If more people that are depressed and/or suicidal smoked it, they would`nt feel the way they do, believe me. It is a safe, natural drug and I think if it was legalized, the people who choose to drive while under the influence of THC (marijuana), will have a minimal amount of accidents compared to alcohol related accidents. I think we could save alot of our loved ones.

 

[Perkchiro]

Let's work for the civil rights of Drug Users. Yeah, great idea. They are discriminated against and that's wrong. Let's lobby congress for protection of drug users and all drugs. After all, they have rights too you know. They have a right to prostitute for money and take from you and me because they can't work while they are high. They have a right to have rotten teeth from meth use. They have a right to AIDS from shared needles. They have a right to pickle their brains so they can't think straight, so they can make poor decisions and cloud their thinking. So lets get them health care, food stamps and a monthly check from the government so they can live free to do drugs. And when they plow their car into your kid while in a drunken, drugged stupor, it won't be their fault. After all they used drugs legally and it's not their fault. Drugs are addictive and they aren't responsible.

Does that sound right to anyone who has an ounce of sense?

 

[Mustanglvr]

What about the people, people maybe where you work, maybe you, that are blitzed on prescribed tylenol 3`s with codeine, oxycontin, vicodin, demoral, darvocet, oxycodone, morphine, etc. for pain just so they can function? Do you want to take that away too? Are they drug addicts? Don`t you worry about them killing our loved ones? There are many, many people in this world that are on mind altering drugs and you would never know it. Most of them just do it LEGALLY. Should we take away Ritalin (amphetamines) from our now functioning ADHD and ADD children? They may be drug addicts you know.
I`m just saying marijuana should be legal to help the people that need it. It can be monitored. Alcohol should`nt even exist. There is no instance where alcohol was needed or helped anyone in any way.

 

[Perkchiro]

Uh, there's a difference between pain control and getting high for recreational use. Let's be real here. If my co-worker or employees were "blitzed" as you say, it is very apparent. They would be sent home, in a cab. That's why there's random drug testing in use today. I would lose my license to practice if I came to work drunk, blitzed or on drugs. Would you like your doctor to work on you that way? How about a machanic who works on the brakes on your car, or the guy that prepares your lunch at that restaurant you like. And yes, Ritalin is WAY over prescribed. Don't get me started on that one!

 

[Mustanglvr]

What? Do you think its against the law to work or drive under the influence of prescribed medication? Its not where I live. The only warning these drugs have, is to make sure you know what the drug does to you before driving or operating machinary. How do you know your co-workers are`nt on these drugs? Someone with chronic pain can feel better and able to function on mind altering prescribed medicine and can perform their job even better. Their minds are`nt clouded with pain and are finally able to think like a normal person. They do build up a tolerence to these drugs, but believe me, the drugs I mentioned are worse then marijuana anyday.

 

[joedls]

So the core problem of drug use is okay, but the resultant activity related to it should be punished. Wow, let the boozer drink legally, let the drug user shoot up legally and then give them a license to drive and kill your son or daughter. Great line of thinking. By the way, it wouldn't hurt my feelings at all if alcohol were prohibited. It seems that there are too many out there who can't control themselves. My God, I hope it doesn't happen to you, but you might change your mind when it hits home.

It's the activity that infringes on your and my rights that should be prohibited, not the use of drugs or alcohol. You say that it's OK with you if alcohol were prohibited. My point was that Prohibition didn't work. It didn't keep anyone from using alcohol. It just drove it underground. Just as the "war on drugs" isn't working. Perhaps we should try something different.

I have seen more than my share of devastation caused by drug abuse. I have caused some of it myself. I know the evils of drugs firsthand. None of that changes the fact that criminalization of drugs doesn't work.

If I were to follow your logic, and legislate control for those who can't control themselves, we would have government in every facet of our lives. That isn't what I want. And I don't really think it's what you want either.

 

[CALIF GIRL]

What? Do you think its against the law to work or drive under the influence of prescribed medication? .

It is illegal California to drive under the influence of prescribed medication. It is commonly called Drunk Driving. It does not matter if it is alcohol, illegal drugs or prescribed drugs, impaired is impaired. And yes people do get arrested for it.

 

[Perkchiro]

What? Do you think its against the law to work or drive under the influence of prescribed medication? Its not where I live. The only warning these drugs have, is to make sure you know what the drug does to you before driving or operating machinary. How do you know your co-workers are`nt on these drugs? Someone with chronic pain can feel better and able to function on mind altering prescribed medicine and can perform their job even better. Their minds are`nt clouded with pain and are finally able to think like a normal person. They do build up a tolerence to these drugs, but believe me, the drugs I mentioned are worse then marijuana anyday.

Yes Rhonda, I believe it would be illegal to drive under the influence of prescribed drugs if it impairs your mental and physical functions to do so. If the drug is taken as prescibed, it would give indications of what limitations were required such as operation of machinery or driving a car. If they are taking scripted drugs and they are impaired, it's illegal, plain and simple.

I agree with you, most of these legal drugs have the potential to be worse than Marijuana. Don't you think that mind altering drugs of all types lead to the "dumbing" of our society?

 

[Mustanglvr]

Yes Rhonda, I believe it would be illegal to drive under the influence of prescribed drugs if it impairs your mental and physical functions to do so. If the drug is taken as prescibed, it would give indications of what limitations were required such as operation of machinery or driving a car. If they are taking scripted drugs and they are impaired, it's illegal, plain and simple.

I agree with you, most of these legal drugs have the potential to be worse than Marijuana. Don't you think that mind altering drugs of all types lead to the "dumbing" of our society?

Yes, I agree it does lead to the "dumbing" of society, but there are people who require it to function.

Its not illegal to drive and be on prescribed medicine. Just because you`re on it, does`nt mean you`re impaired.