Wouldn't the benefit be a healthier (theoretically) and longer lived population?

But by your philosphy, no drugs should be illegal. Not just marijuana, but we must then legalize crack, lsd, meth, etc. since outlawing those would also be a "basic violation of people's rights."

To go even further, then you must legalize anything that doesn't directly harm another person, therefore speeding (or any traffic violation for that matter that doesn't result in an accident), public indecency, statutory rape, public intoxication, along with countless other taboo practices should also be legalized to protect people's most basic rights.

There are plenty of people who start making their own decisions well before the age of 18. Plenty more people over the age of 18 are considered to be adults but are just as infantile if not more so than many people under the age of 18.

Its only unjust if that which the law outlaws produces justifiably more good than it prevents bad. In your personal opinion, do you think the legalization of marijuana would do more net gppd by granting infantile "adults" the ability to make a poor decision for the sake of freedom, or would it do more net bad by becoming a potetnial health risk for said people? (note* for clarity sake, not everyone who smokes marijuana is infantile and incapable of making good decisions).

Please. The exact reason I made a thread about this instead of bringing it up in the previous drug thread is to escape this ridiculous tirade. I firmly believe that it is the responsibility of good citizens to review and test the laws they are responsible for (and act as champions of). Nothing you can say will ever change that (or change the fact that such a responsibility is WELL EXPRESSED in American history, law, and precedent). STOP BRINGING IT UP.

So just because I take medicine, I can't enjoy it? You don't even have a fucking clue what my prescription is to say I'm "abusing" it. Marijuana is a PROPHYLACTIC for a great many conditions, several of which I am greatly (and currently) susceptible to. I'm not going to discuss the specifics of my medical needs as codified with my doctor, but suffice to say i COULD REASONABLY(within the confines of medical precedence, expediency, etc) be prescribed smoking 2-4 grams a day.

Now you turn around and say that just because I happen to enjoy my medication, that it actually ADDS to my day unilaterally, that I am necessarily "abusing my prescription"? Fucking bullshit man, either get a fucking clue or shut the fuck up. I actually smoke LESS a day than I "should" according to my doctor, so your moral crusade should be getting on my case for not taking all of my meds. Stick that in your pipe and smoke it.

A) personal choice. what you as an individual do has no bearing on how right or wrong what I do is.
B) I could be prosecuted by the DEA, but not any California (state or local) DA. Even me being prosecuted on the federal level is a HUGE debate over state's rights(yeah, the feds SAY that THEY have the most power . . . the states SAY that THEY do. the only reason the feds ever (and the reason why they always will, contrary to their original purpose) have more power in that area is because they always have the last word. Its a flaw in the system, don't get on my case about it). I could also go to jail for 10 years for owning a hydroponic's store and NEVER doing anything illegal, whats your point?
C) I find nearly every thing preventing me from recreationally "abusing" marijuana highly unethical. So we have opinions, whats your point?

I would also like to clarify that I'm REALLY not abusing the system . . . If i just wanted to smoke pot I wouldn't spend the money getting a recommendation . . . gee, penalty for possession of up to an ounce is a $100 fine max(and they have to catch you)? getting a recommendation costs at least that much, and you have to renew it every year.

MAYBE I actually DO care about myself . . . maybe I'm not just some little self-destructive low-life who you need to look after and enslave.

I fail to see where it is ethical to decide that YOU (or anyone else) know ultimately, objectively and without fail what is best for another person.

NOW GTF back on topic. If everyone behaves I'll post again later when I have time. If you guys aren't mature enough to respect another person then we'll see, but I won't be pushed around by incorrect powerless assholes, so theres no point in trying any funny business . Thothie or your pinkness, if you aren't comfortable with this I'll respect that, but I really see no reason for concern (and its not like there was anything "wrong" with the other drug thread, which, by the way, talked about more illegal things than this very grey area).

There’s no benefit to a longer lived population that is not allowed to make its own decisions.

You are comparing acts that only have a potential to harm ones self with acts that are almost guaranteed to harm others, are tantamount to putting people in direct danger, or cause irreparable psychological damage to others. The argument is false.

I’m all for the DUI laws and such, although I don’t think the punishment should be any different, regardless of what the influence was.

18 is the cut-off age of this society. We have no elaborate rites of passage in our national culture, so yeah, that’s where you assume full responsibility for your decisions. If you are never allowed that freedom, you never truly become an adult. It’s not a matter of maturity, it’s a matter of responsibility. An unsuccessful adult, is still an adult, but a person who never is allowed to make his own decisions, never can be.

Gee, I go to school, work, study, learn, socialize, formulate potential advancements in science, psychology, and sociology, actively contribute to the molding and actual structure of society, and above all enjoy myself. What are you contributing to society?

But there is a benefit of unleashing what would be an epidemic of unrestricted drug use amongst the population? Also, there are plenty of decisions to be made, you make it seem as if the decision to put substances in your body is the most important decision anyone will ever make in their life.

Why should anyone other than the user make that choice? We're supposed to live in a "free" country. To hold to that ideal and to block usage of a substance that affects only the user is hippocrasy.

Am I the only one who believes the future preservation of freedom and democracy in America doesn't depend on the legalization of marijuana?

What ever happened to all powers not expressly delegated to the federal government are reserved by the state?

Isn't it possible that I don't take these arguments personally and I just enjoy a good intelligent conversation?

On a small scale I disagree with you here, I fail to see how removing my right to legally purchase substances that will have a negative effect on my body effects any of my other freedoms. On a large scale, you make it seem like we are living in a totalitatarian society. It's a democracy, the government doesn't just constantly outlaw things without reason.

i've gotten pre-orgasmic(repeatedly, not just once) muscle spasms by sitting down and not moving . . . its bliss.