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strongleader vs One_Pink_Elephant

Face Offs: 5
Wins: 2
Losses: 3
Ties: 0
No City, XX
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Votes

Face Offs: 1
Wins: 0
Losses: 1
Ties: 0
No City, XX
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Votes

Marijuana

strongleader said 05/18, 04:06 PM
I believe it should be legalized. Firstly, the health risks are far greater if you smoke tobacco instead of marijuana.

In the legalization of marijuana, there would be less drug raids, less of tax payers money o the DEA. Also illegal acts to obtain money would lessen. Since marijuana is illegal, the supply is low, thus causing higher prices for marijuana.

People would attempt to gain money if hey don't have it in order to buy marijuana, thus they would cause crimes ranging from a house robbing to maybe even murder to obtain the money, so this would in effect be lessened if legalization of marijuana occurs.

So why not legalize it?

One_Pink_Elephant said 05/18, 08:51 PM
Marijuana should remain illegal and I'll explain why.

You begin by saying health risks for tobacco are far greater than those of marijuana usage. I feel that is a bit presumptuous since the data relevant to smoking marijuana is not conclusive. Now, what studies are out there are not good. Long-term marijuana usage is said to cause great psychiatric problems that include dementia and depression.

Second, you go after the practicality of legalizing marijuana. Yes, there would be less drug raids if in fact marijuana was legal. That's a no-brainer. When's the last time the DEA busted a house selling pounds of twinkees? As far as the price of marijuana goes, that's actually pretty interesting. Since it's illegal, it actually functions on a level of pure capitalism. There's no outside government interference except for those drug raids you've spoken of. But legalizing it won't make marijuana cheaper. In fact, legalizing marijuana will make it subject to taxes.

Your last argument is flawed because you're still basing it on a belief that legalizing marijuana will make it cheaper. Like I said before, there will be taxes. Also, you'll have R.J. Renyolds ready to take advantage of that.

strongleader said 05/19, 05:26 PM
Actually, all illegal drugs are higher in price because the production, transportation, and sale of the drugs carry heavy risks.

Allow me to present you an organized list of reasons why marijuana should be legalized, simply ask me any which confuses you and I will most gladly explain :)

The drug generally isn't more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in moderation.

Limiting the use of the drug intrudes on personal freedom.

Legalization would mean a lower price; thus, related crimes (like theft) would be reduced.

There are medical benefits such as the those for cancer patients.

Street justice related to drug disputes would be reduced.

It could be a source of additional tax revenues.

Police and court resources would be freed up for more serious crimes.

Drug dealers (including some terrorists) would lose most or all of their business.

The FDA or others could regulate the quality and safety of drugs.

Like sex, alcohol, or cigarettes, marijuana is one of life's little pleasures for some people.

Drug busts often trap young people in a flawed system that turns them into lifelong criminals.

One_Pink_Elephant said 05/19, 06:51 PM
I don't think you can say all illegal drugs are more expensive because they're illegal. Again, because they're illegal they function on a purely capitalistic model. With legalization comes red tape and taxes. Thusly, until marijuana is legal in the United States, you can't make the assumption it'll be cheaper because the odds are more than against that. You even admit that marijuana will be a source of tax revenue, so I think you're actually agreeing with me.

Yes, keeping marijuana legal does limit personal freedom. Making murder illegal also limits your personal freedom, should we legalize that for freedom's sake?

And again you're using the argument that the court system and DEA would have better things to focus on. That's quite obvious because if marijuana isn't illegal, the DEA won't be focusing on it. But yes, you're right, the FDA will become focused on the drug. But unlike cocaine and ecstasy, marijuana isn't a drug that is really tampered with. You can't really cut marijuana with something that'll kill you (although oregano will give you a headache).

Also, I'm sure incest is one of life's little pleasures for those FLDS nuts in Utah, but I'm not sure that makes it ok. :p

strongleader said 05/19, 07:16 PM
You don't understand, lol. Look at tabacco and compare that with marijuana, it is MUCH cheaper than marijuana. The fact is the high risk and low supply bestows upon it a higher price. This is the laws of economics not the laws of illegal drugs.

People have a basic right to make choices for themselves as long as their actions do not harm others.
Responsible individuals in a free society should be allowed to choose whether or not they use marijuana. Individual liberty is a fundamental value.

The government is wasting our time and money by prohibiting marijuana.
Taxpayers are forced to pay billions of dollars to persecute, prosecute, and incarcerate people for having marijuana. If marijuana were legal and regulated (like alcohol and tobacco) this money, plus tax revenues from marijuana sales, could be used for other purposes such as education and health care.

Prohibition is not an effective solution to the problems associated with marijuana use.
Marijuana, like tobacco and alcohol, can be abused. But prohibition is expensive and ineffective; education and regulation are better solutions.

One_Pink_Elephant said 05/21, 05:19 PM
Tobacco isn't a good example. 1st, when has it been illegal in this country? 2nd, tobacco prices continue to jump at almost a dollar at a time as state legislatures continue to tack on excise taxes on them. You could expect the same with of marijuana.

Liberty is important. It's a tenet that built the foundation on which our government was made. But that liberty doesn't mean you have a right to smoke marijuana. Our ancestors fought and died to free this country from oppression, not so we could smoke pot.

I will concede the deadhorse of "its expensive to fight the war on drugs." It's also expensive to support social security. We're not any closer to solving the crisis of social security, so it should it simply be halted? The "benefit" of revenues would have to be weighed against the domestic indignation that would become the immediate afterbirth of legalization. The Swiss took steps toward decriminalization, with the intention of legalization, in the early 90s. The government shortly back-peddled after drug paraphernalia and other refuse filled the parks. Crime spiked because addicts still committed drug-related crimes. Nothing changed. Don't take my word for it, ask any Swiss.

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I agree with pink elephant, but your argument sucks. I wanted to vote for you, but our points aren't valid, and you can't get off your flawed 'capitalistic model' theory. In the end, I was forced to vote for strongleader on this one.

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Marijuana

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