Legalizing Marijuana in California (Proposition 19)

The weed's effect as a psychoactive drug is still a subject of debate, since it's effects can be changed by the user's perception to it. Back in the old days when it was first used, it was thought as a depressant, and so those who used it report feeling drowsy and slowed. Now, however, it is more often thought of as a stimulant, and more people reply feeling high from it. So until we understand more about what it actually does to the human body, we can't argue it's legalization based on medical terms.

But legalizing it is more than just looking at health issues. We're also looking at the overall impact it has on society. I'm sure there's plenty here who has seen or even know people that had their lives destroyed directly or indirectly by marijuana, and people who benefit from this destruction. But what allows for this to happen isn't so much the drug in question, but its users.

So this is more a question of responsibilities and control. Of course, people are going to respond differently to marijuana, but overall it does exert control over people with its addictiveness. However, the difference between those who use it recreationally and those who are addicts are the way they decide to use it. If they feel that the drug should not control their actions, then they won't allow it to. They'll limit their use and stop when they had enough. This difference in control is what makes marijuana a possible candidate for legalization, as other psychoactive drugs leaves their users with only one ending: hopeless addiction.

So legalization is questionable at this point, because we all know people aren't all perfectly responsible for their own actions, and so the freedom to use it can't not apply to them, much in the same way as children can't decide for themselves to have sex or use a gun: they can't handle the responsibilities over the possible destruction it can cause to themselves or others.

Of course, banned substances will have a niche market of the illegal variety, but that's something we'll have to deal with, as with all things illegal. Unbanning alcohol may have stopped the bootlegging, but it sure hasn't stopped the drinking. So you can't really say that the appeal of smoking joints will decrease due to legalization. If anything, they'll smoke more and can now do so in public.

@ Mr. Shag

Thank you for the interesting articles. It's nice to see a plan working for a change. However, I just want to draw your attention to a small detail from the article.

Notice how it is mentioned that the law is changed only for the users of the drug, but not for the dealers? This is an important distinction between Portugal's project and total legalization. In the manner they went about it, they're effectively treating the users as a victim, rather than accomplice of the dealers and makers. This is important, as the small fine, medical treatments, and education will discourage drug use, allowing for the users to break their addiction, or at the very least, keep them and others safe from dieases and crimes. It does not reward the dealers in any way and does not allow for the creation and distribution of the drugs. This meant that drug rings are still restricted in volume and sales, keeping the amount of banned substances low.

On the other hand, total legalization means that there will also be nothing to stop the dealers from making the drugs or selling them on the streets. No doubt that if legalization does occur there will be regulations controlling the making and selling of the drug, but that still means the drug will be freely available to do harm on the healthcare system. One thing that is good though, would be the lowered crime rate, due to freely available drugs that will be produced with oversight, rather than the meth laced shit people usually get. And legalizing a drug does not change it's addictiveness, so it can still destroy people's lives in much the same way it does to addicts now.

But hey, again, lower crime rate, which I'm sure is what the people pushing for legalization is after, right...? (cough)

I don't smoke it or want to, but go for it. I agree with most people here, there should be no issue with it. Besides just the fact that we have better shit to worry about (as far as lawmaking and bettering the country) ;)

Of course, I know it's not as simple as that. Something like this would change the country a lot, either for good or for bad (probably good). But still. Really? Pot?

Just do it, at least try out legalizing it. Then let's move on for now :)

Well I didn't care to read the other replys so sorry if I repeat XP Legalizing pot will have many benifits lol. Two of which I see will be certain. One thing would be a decrease in gang business associated with weed. Why deal weed when there's a pot store around the corner? Also the illegal imports from mexico will diminish. Why risk getting weed across the border when they're selling it in stores? You don't see people jumping the border with a crate full of beer do you? And lasty there will be a chill... Hip.... Loving California after words XP
Well that's all I got lol....