Police losing battle over pot, says prof

Owen Sound Sun Times (Canada) ^ | September 19, 2005

[Blood of Tyrants]

When the bible mentions "herb", I seriously doubt that it specifically means marijuana. But otherwise, I'm in favor of taking power away from politicians.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Does the consumption of alcohol not harm society? Homosexuality can be shown to harm society, should it be outlawed also?

Do you not believe there comes a point where the government's duty to protect society as a whole becomes oppressive and the harm it does outweighs the good?

In a effort to stop people from enjoying a bit of a naturally occuring weed, the government has created a HUGE black market which in turn causes criminal activity and causes thousands of deaths from violence every year.

Please point to the exact article and section in the Constitution that empowers the federal government to outlaw ANY drug.

[Edit35]

Really, how is it (smoking pot) any different than beer?

In my experience, pot destroys motivation.

It turns most users, especially teens, into naval gazers and gigglers as they morph into a cerebral state of intoxication.

Looking back, I wish I had not smoked so much pot as a teen, not because I think it is permanently harmful, but because it ruined my motivation and seemingly turned me against the so-called establishment.

The other thing pot does is ruin short term memory.

I feel like I missed out on numerous years of my life, mostly because I can't remember details of things I did even though people tell me ....

Most people I know end up hating pot as they get older because smoking it makes them extremely anxious and nervous, like everyone in the world can see that they are high.

It also makes people feel like they are being irresponsible and unable to do anything intricate or demanding.

[PaxMacian]

Herb: a plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic qualities.

It certainly qualifies as an herb. The particular herb in question contains the most complete and absorbable combination of amino acids required by the human body for sustenance of any plant or meat on the face of the Earth. I point this out becuase usually people find fault in the use clause of the quotation and 'food' or 'meat' makes more sense relative to this efficient protein source. In addition Strong's Concordance has the word translated as 'food" to be:

'oklah (ok-law');  Noun Feminine, Strong #: 402

1. food
   1. food, eating
   2. object of devouring, consuming
      1. by wild beasts (figurative)
      2. in fire
      3. of judgment (figurative)

KJV Word Usage and Count
meat	8
devour	3
fuel	3
eat	2
consume	1
food	1

[PaxMacian]

"Whoever thinks he understands divine scripture or any part of it, but whose interpretation does not build up the twofold love of God and neighbor, has not really understood it." St. Augustine

[PaxMacian]

"In my experience, pot destroys motivation."

The condition which you speak of is called "Amotivational syndrome," by the satanic psyche communities and is newspeak for "the sloth." It is in no way justification for imprisoning an individual for possession of a flower from the garden of God solely on the basis that it may alter the thoughts in that individual in a manner deemed inappropriate by corporate pawns seeking to maintain the efficiency of their chattel.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Furthermore, marijuana is a gateway drug

Bovine feces. Quit copying and pasting from the DEA website.

[PaxMacian]

"hey quickly got around to opressing everyone."

Unfortunately, statistics show the inequity of prosecution
contrasted with actual use to be still significantly racially
motivated.

[WoofDog123]

Nice to see I am not alone in my views on this.

[commonerX]

is not the same"

It is the same in that it is illegal, first of all, and it is harmful to society. Lawful behavior versus unlawful behavior is also a personal choice.

Laws are established to protect the freedom and rights of law abiding citizens. Illegal drug use harms the individual as well as the fabric which binds our society.

You and I obviously differ in our views on the harmful effects of marijuana. In this matter, we must agree to disagree.

Good night.


You can't generalize all illegal acts into a single group.

You equated smoking pot to child molesting and murder because they are all illegal.

Well so is jaywalking, so is putting your trash out a day early in some places, but I would be stupid enough to put them in the same group as child molesters because they both broke the law.

At one time it was illegal for a black man to be free.
It was illegal for women to vote at one time too. And of course alcohol was illegal as well. But over time we realize the mistake and corrected it accordingly.

The same can be true with marijuana.

By your argument then if it were voted to become legal you would change you stance on it.

[TKDietz]

I don't think young teens should ever be allowed to smoke marijuana. I think you are right about it having an effect on memory, and I think that smoking it all the time stunts mental and emotional growth. None of this justifies keeping it illegal for adults though, and it certainly doesn't justify putting people in jail and leaving them criminal records for possession small amounts of the stuff. I smoked pot when I was younger and like you don't look at that as good thing, but I still think it's crazy that marijuana is still illegal. I personally think that alcohol in many ways is worse, and I know that there are so many out there who smoke pot who do not allow it to interfere with their lives or cause them or anyone else any harm. People who smoke it morning noon and night and because of that never get much done and have little memory of there lives don't tend to do very well in lives pay for their "gluttony" and hedonism. They don't tend to be very successful at life and they miss out on fond memories that others will share. That serves them right. They should have used marijuana in moderation if they were going to use it all. But personally, I look at that as being their choice. It is not my place to make the choice whether some other guy is going to waste his life smoking pot morning noon and night. It is not your place to make that decision and I don't think it is the government's place to make that decision.

[TKDietz]

"People who smoke it morning noon and night and because of that never get much done and have little memory of there lives don't tend to do very well in lives pay for their "gluttony" and hedonism."

Should have said:

"People who smoke it morning noon and night and because of that never get much done and have little memory of their lives pay for their "gluttony" and hedonism."

[webstersII]

"I have a friend who is actually addicted to marijuana. You can tell when he is in desperate need of a hit. "

I used to work with a guy who was impossible to be around unless he had gotten lucky at the bar the night before. Then he was a great guy.

[Know your rights]

Legalize pot? "FAR OUT, MAN!"

No more "far out" than legalizing alcohol as we did by ending Prohibition.

[Know your rights]

You know I was a drug user and a alcoholic for almost twenty five years and all that i can say that drugs abuse in general including smoking weed is not good for anybody's mental or physical well being.

Since alcohol proved bad for you (and others), should it be banned for everyone?

[Know your rights]

Police are still fighting against child porn and they don't seem to be winning. I guess using this guys logic we should legalize child porn? While at it, why not pedophilia; lets legalize that too? We don’t seem to be winning that battle either.

Child porn and pedophilia violate rights; drug use does not.

[Know your rights]

makes it sound like some informed Professor has reached some conlcusion based on evidence. NO.

Sounds to me like he's marshalled his facts:

“Typically, they probably only get five to 10 per cent of the drugs that are coming into the country or being produced in the country,” said Oscapella [...]

Half of all high school students in Ontario have tried marijuana by the time they graduate, he said. [...]

Oscapella says the same thing has happened with the cultivation and sale of illegal marijuana as happened when alcohol was prohibited early last century.

“The use of the criminal law to prohibit the production and sale of drugs like marijuana creates a fantastically profitable black market.”

He says a bushel of marijuana costs little more than a bushel of tomatoes to produce. “By criminalizing it, by prohibiting it on the black market, we have made it worth more than its weight in gold in some cases.”

[Know your rights]

An individual can consume alcohol and never get drunk or even a buzz.

If one consumes a sufficiently small quantity, sure ... but exactly the same is true of any other drug (yes, alcohol is a drug), including marijuana.

[This Just In]

"including marijuana"

That is incorrect. I was an avid user in years past and can assure you that your statement is untrue.

[This Just In]

"You equated smoking pot to child molesting....."

Please refrain from free association and taking liberty in mispresenting my words. Be thorough in reading all of the discussions between myself and fellow FR's. This should answer your question.