I used to smoke it a lot, but haven't been a regular smoker since 2006. These days I smoke it maybe once every 2-3 months, and thats always a quick social toke. I don't smoke tobacco, but I do drink.
I am in favour of legalised marijuana, with similar controls to those placed on alcohol in my country - Drinking age is 18 (some bars have higher age limits), and you're free to brew whatever you want at home, though hardly anyone does - its cheap enough to buy it. Making your own liquor here is more of a hobbyist thing.
My reasons for supporting legalisation include the following. They are somewhat interrelated, and this list should by no means be taken as an exhaustive list of of my reasons for wanting marijuana laws to be changed.
1.PRICE & ECONOMICS
Once legalised, the price of marijuana will drop. This will be for a variety of reasons;
- Reduced risks associated with production; you won't get arrested, nor will your crop be raided
- Reduced risks associated with distribution; no more dodgy dealers
- Reduced risk will lead to increased production, both on personal and commercial levels. Increased supply means lower price.
2.CRIME
- People won't get locked up for selling/growing/using weed (duh)
- Because the police won't have to chase potheads, they will be able to spend more time chasing kiddyfiddlers and murderers.
- Criminal gangs and organisations will make less money from the sale of weed.
- Criminal gangs and organisations will make less money from the sale of other drugs; people won't be exposed to their networks so easily.
- Those who steal to buy weed won't have to; the price will drop, and their dollar will go further. They will also be able to grow their own.
- Theft will fall, due to the above reason.
3.MISCELLANEOUS
- Less violence; due to fewer alcohol-fuelled assaults, and because users of marijuana are more chilled than boozers.
- Usage of marijuana will, in the long term, drop, due in part to the novelty factor.
- Those countries who have liberalised laws concerning marijuana and other drugs have seen nothing but positive effects as a result.
- Increased tax take through direct taxation, and increased tourism.
- Increased availability of easy pain-relief medication.
Reasons not to
use drugs, and reasons not to
legalise drugs aren't one and the same. The are similar, but not the same, and many reasons not to use drugs simply do not apply to the legalisation debate.
Last edited by Pubic (2009-07-23 01:41:52)