Marijuana for everyone!

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  1. Should marijuana be legal?

    • 48
      It should be illegal/criminal
    • 136
      only legal for medicinal use
    • 286
      should be legal (and taxable)

470 members have participated

What is your take on the issue of legalizing marijuana?

Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
My bottom line is that we already have a huge problem with the legal substance called alcohol so why add to the misery with legalizing pot?

I ask the same thing.

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Specializes in Critical Care.

With hundreds of posts on this subject, my thoughts have probably already been said, and I haven't looked back to check . . .

We tried outlawing alcohol and it didn't work: the genie was already out of the bottle.

Maybe the same is true for MJ in practice (the genie is out of the bottle), but in law, it's still reasonable to keep it illegal. The problem with MJ is that it's a 'gateway' drug that leads to harder abuse: it's the introduction to a 'culture'.

And the problem with making it legal is that, once legal, there is no turning back.

The thing about alcohol vs. MJ is that I can do a quick test and tell if you've intoxicated yourself with ETOH before coming to work: it clears your system more or less in line with clearing your mentation. The same cannot be said for MJ in that I could smoke it and test postitive a week later.

Other than that, there is no usefulness in comparing the 'legality' of ETOH vs. MJ: they are both similar risks; we've just decided that ETOH cannot reasonably be outlawed, whereas, MJ can. It's a judgement call.

I'm not an advocate of MJ being legal, although I'd have to admit, if it were, I'd be tempted to harken back to my h.s. days . . . So it's best left illegal, probably. . .

~faith,

Timothy.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, L&D, OR.

But do people who smoke weed deserve the same punishments as the worse druggie type, cocaine, crack, heroin just for simple posession do marijuana smokers deserve jail time.

I say legalize marijuana, but draft even stiffer laws against Driving while intoxicated for whatever flavor they use. That includes people who drive while under the influence of prescription meds that are mind altering.

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Specializes in Long Term Care.

Well the thing I have against MJ is that EVERYONE I have met that uses (abuses) it (meaning I have met no one yet on MJ for medicinal reasons ) has a very messed up life. From selling your self for it and other drugs to not feeding kids so that there is money for it. I am tired of seeing people talk about it not being a gateway drug. Who said in that last few posts that it is a gateway to a culture. EXACTLY the pot smoker himself may not go on to other drugs but it puts the other people they are around in the lifestyle of drugs. I may not use drugs. But I know how to find it who to call what to say what not to say. I could be a top notch drug user or dealer. I choose not to because I have two beautiful children that I want to know sober. I want to know what life is like with my family with out being tore up on day wreckers. Even if it were leagal I wouldn't use it or let it come into my house.

Legalize pot and what is next legalize meth. or huffers or cocaine? Maybe there is a market out there for crack pipes already loaded and ready to burn. Maybe they could be placed right beside the pop rocks and lik-m-aid. Maybe a baggy already full of paint. with a mouth piece and slogan on it, guaranteeing that you wont spill the paint on your shoes or hit a bump and suck the whole dang bag up your nose. I hate it to know that in our society you are only cool if you are high or smoke or shoot up. and I say that from watching what is on tv. From something as innocent as the food network. On Emeril when is it that the audience gets all worked up besides when he yells bam! bam! bam! It is when he puts some kind of liquer or wine in a dish.. and then he splashes just a bit more in the dish. and says 'yah baby' the crowd goes wild Why?

Sue

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Specializes in Home Health Care.
But do people who smoke weed deserve the same punishments as the worse druggie type, cocaine, crack, heroin just for simple posession do marijuana smokers deserve jail time.

I say legalize marijuana, but draft even stiffer laws against Driving while intoxicated for whatever flavor they use. That includes people who drive while under the influence of prescription meds that are mind altering.

Exactly! You took the words from my thoughts!

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
But do people who smoke weed deserve the same punishments as the worse druggie type, cocaine, crack, heroin just for simple posession do marijuana smokers deserve jail time.

Illegal substance, so, yes.

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I was thinking about you, trauma, while driving to the grocery store and the Brad Paisley song "Alcohol" came on and I had to laugh . . . . .

So, here ya go. Watch the video titled "Alcohol".

http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/paisley_brad/artist.jhtml#

steph

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Specializes in Intermediate Care.
Illegal substance, so, yes.

Sodomy is illegal in many states. Should we lock up everyone who commits sodomy in the privacy of their own home?

Make it legal and we won't have to lock up smot pokers and there will be plenty of room for child molesters for their prison "rehabilitation."

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Specializes in Critical Care.

I have a friend that used to work Narc Task Force.

I doubt there is anybody going to jail these days for 'recreational' possession of MJ. You have to have a whole bunch of the stuff in your possession (i.e. dealer status) to merit a jail sentence for MJ alone.

My friend said the only time they make an arrest for MJ is if somebody files a complaint that if they find it on somebody, they normally just toss it.

AND, if somebody files a complaint, it's a misdemeanor (sp?) that usually just requires a 200 bond and a Court date - a municipal Court date that normally ends in community service and fine.

~faith,

Timothy

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But do people who smoke weed deserve the same punishments as the worse druggie type, cocaine, crack, heroin just for simple posession do marijuana smokers deserve jail time.

I say legalize marijuana, but draft even stiffer laws against Driving while intoxicated for whatever flavor they use. That includes people who drive while under the influence of prescription meds that are mind altering.

The penalties are not the same for the worst kind of druggie already.

steph

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The penalties are not the same for the worst kind of druggie already.

steph

Oh, I see Tim beat me to it . . . . :)

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I doubt there is anybody going to jail these days for 'recreational' possession of MJ. You have to have a whole bunch of the stuff in your possession (i.e. dealer status) to merit a jail sentence for MJ alone.

IMHO this is a good and a bad thing. Good because throwing a drug user in jail is a waste of taxpayers money. They have an ample, readily available supply in the jail/prison, and so in effect we've given drug users a place to live off of society with 3 hots and a cot, full medical, dental, vision benefits, and a supply of drug(s) of choice to live the high life while giving nothing back. And are they likely to stop using as a result of their incarceration? I think the statistics have shown not.

On the bad side we've allowed a drug user/abuser go about their daily business of usin' and abusin' so what has been accomplished? Put these people who need help in a long term environment where they can get the help they need by the medical professionals who have the ability to help; not back in the cells and back on the street.

That's my soabox and I'm stickin' to it.

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