Marijuana's harm illusory

Rocky Mountain News ^ | January 7, 2003 | Paul Campos

[tacticalogic]

It has been proven to you, time after time, where the courts have ruled, unanimously, that the laws are constitutional.

"I write separately only to express my view that the very notion of a ‘substantial effects’ test under the Commerce Clause is inconsistent with the original understanding of Congress’ powers and with this Court’s early Commerce Clause cases. By continuing to apply this rootless and malleable standard, however circumscribed, the Court has encouraged the Federal Government to persist in its view that the Commerce Clause has virtually no limits. Until this Court replaces its existing Commerce Clause jurisprudence with a standard more consistent with the original understanding, we will continue to see Congress appropriating state police powers under the guise of regulating commerce." - Justice Clarence Thomas

Tell it to the judge.

[HELLRAISER II]

That would at least be a step in the right direction.

[chachacha]

What anti-drug zealots are incapable of acknowledging is that the same holds true for marijuana users.

Ok, As one who has been known to party and tip a few occasionally, I would like to here from you pot heads what the good effects are from inhaling the magic dragon?

[dirtboy]

If you don't want it legalized, that's cool. But try to use some realistic and detrimental reasons why.

That's the problem - they don't have any...

[MrLeRoy]

you don't have to legalize it to get what you want. Keep it illegal, with a fine for violations.

HR may also be concerned about the following effects of the War On Pot, none of which are addressed by your proposal:

• billions of tax dollars spent chasing sellers
• deaths of innocents in drug-turf wars
• enrichment of criminals
• corruption of the justice system by enriched criminals

[copycat]

That's why they obsess about it.

THEY'RE obsessing? Look in a mirror...that's obsession.

[MrLeRoy]

Ok, As one who has been known to party and tip a few occasionally, I would like to here from you pot heads what the good effects are from inhaling the magic dragon?

I suspect the author has in mind benefits like relaxation and enhanced conviviality.

[matthew_the_brain]

Is Free Republic full of potheads? I am begining to think so.

[HELLRAISER II]

This is the problem with the WOD, the buyers and the users get popped while the majority of the dealers/money men (and Politicians) get rich while the average Joe goes to prison.

[madfly]

No argument that recreational drugs such as MJ and alcohol should be used by mature adults. Even if there were no scientific findings to show the marijuana was harmful to teens, it makes no sense to allow children to fog up their minds when they are still learning and forming opinions.

In my opinion, recreational marijuana use by adults in the workforce is in many ways a harmless and victimless activity. It does not cause hangovers and missed work, it is not addictive, and it does not inflate health insurance premiums for replacment organs, such as healthy livers.

[MrLeRoy]

Is Free Republic full of potheads?

That's like noting FReepers' support of gun rights and asking, "Is Free Republic full of serial-killing snipers?"

[UKCajun]

Which can equally well be explained by the theory that the later psychiatric problems are already manifesting themselves in these teens and increasing their propensity to seek out marijuana.

That being the case, I doubt 1) it would have passed peer review muster for publication in the British Medical Journal and 2) other studies would confirm it.

[HELLRAISER II]

Your entitled to your opinion as is everyone here at Free Republic, but I say to you that just because you disagree with a subject or law does not mean your a pot head. Perhaps some here just think that it is unfair.

[HELLRAISER II]

Your entitled to your opinion as is everyone here at Free Republic, but I say to you that just because you disagree with a subject or law does not mean your a pot head. Perhaps some here just think that it is unfair.

[madfly]

Kinda shows how many recovering 60's liberals have been converted to conservatism here at FR. :)

[robertpaulsen]

So if marijuana were legal, where's your savings? Would the size of the police force be reduced? Would the State of Missouri then announce a tax cut? You think?

Hint: No.

[MrLeRoy]

Which can equally well be explained by the theory that the later psychiatric problems are already manifesting themselves in these teens and increasing their propensity to seek out marijuana.

That being the case, I doubt 1) it would have passed peer review muster for publication in the British Medical Journal and 2) other studies would confirm it.

Your arguments from authority do not trump simple logic. (And be aware that many scientists, while adequate number-crunchers or instrument-readers, are less than Einsteins when it comes to drawing conclusions from their results---especially when certain sorts of conclusions can get them a spot in the limelight.)

[matthew_the_brain]

Sorry to burst your bubble, Roy, but pot is illegal in the US.....ownership of guns is a constitutionaly protected right. Maybe you stoners have found the constitutional right to get high......

Think about that the next time you toke one off the bong, followed by a few gulps of cookie dough.

[MrLeRoy]

So if marijuana were legal, where's your savings? Would the size of the police force be reduced?

Either that, or the police would spend more time on real crimes, yielding savings through reduced victimization.

[MrLeRoy]

Maybe you stoners have found the constitutional right to get high......

See the Ninth and Tenth Amendments; the federal government has no Constitutional authority to regulate the intrastate making, distributing, selling, buying, or using of any drug.

Think about that the next time you toke one off the bong, followed by a few gulps of cookie dough.

I use no drugs---including the deadly addictive drugs alochol and tobacco.