[Yossarian]

Rare, limited use of MJ = no problem. Lovers have fun in fields. People take a break from their worldly troubles.

Regular use of MJ = big problem. Lovers turn into garden gnomes. People lose their drive, their sharpness. Society runs downhill fast.

Do I have a solution that makes useful legal distinction of the former from the latter? No. But I’ll point out that “mother nature’s plants” can really do a number on you and society, and many libertarians here want to ignore that.

[Osage Orange]

Good post........

[bassmaner]

But I’ll point out that “mother nature’s plants” can really do a number on you and society, and many libertarians here want to ignore that.

And the mailed fist of government can do a number on you and society as well ... it is quite ridiculous that people could potentially face prison simply for the possession of a certain plant. Maybe that's why the 'Rats can talk so cavalierly about jailing people for not buying health insurance under their socialized medicine scheme.

[varyouga]

From extremely close personal experience, the drug war has done a greater number on society than any drug ever could. Drug addiction should be dealt in the same way food, sex and booze addiction is treated - with counseling and medicine. Not incarceration or giving people permanent records so they have nothing to live for.

I won't even start on the loss of our freedoms and expansion of a federal police state in the name of fighting an imaginary war.

Got more than $5000 cash with no receipt? It's Uncle Sam's unless YOU can prove you didn't do something illegal. This is sickening and the same was done in the USSR.

[SatinDoll]

Yep. Dr. Daniel Amen has published a book titled - Change Your Brain, Change Your Life - which has many brain scans within its pages. One is of a long time user of marijuana. The holes in that person’s brain, and by holes I mean there is no longer synapse activity, is no different than an alchoholic’s brain.

Don’t just take my word for it, varyouga; go look in the book for yourself.

[driftless2]

"do a number"

Strong use of mj destructive? Oh no, that just can't be. Because according to all the pot apologists here, unlike every other drug known to mankind, mj has no pernicious effects no matter how much is used. (smirk) By the way, I'm for easing most of the laws on pot use. Just don't tell me that heavy use cannot be destructive.

[bamahead]

But I’ll point out that “mother nature’s plants” can really do a number on you and society.

So can "The Devil's Nectar"...which it did to a very high degree in the early 19th century, according to a minority.

Eventually it reached a point where that miniority was able to get it prohibited. Yet society slid even further into crime and corruption during that era.

So, explain how the alternative of prohibition of alcohol was better for society? And how the continued prohibition of MJ will make any difference to those who use on a limited basis vs. those regulars.

Answer - it won't.

But like a lot of the policies of liberalism, the objective for many for it's continuation isn't the betterment of socieity...it's the gratification of self, in knowing that you did it "for the children".

[timm22]

Do I have a solution that makes useful legal distinction of the former from the latter? No. But I’ll point out that “mother nature’s plants” can really do a number on you and society, and many libertarians here want to ignore that.

It's not that libertarians are blind to the effects marijuana can have on an individual or on society, it's just that they don't believe in using government force to address those effects.

If someone chooses to take the risk of becoming a dimwitted, unmotivated stoner, by what right can you force them to do otherwise? It's not the responsibility of the government to make sure we are all bustling with productive activity.

In the context of a welfare state rampant pot use could be problematic since that means more tax dollars extracted from the sober minded (assuming that pot use actually would become rampant if legalized). But that problem could and should be addressed by rolling back the welfare state and requiring drug testing of anyone receiving public assistance.