Maryland will NOT be legalizing Marijuana (kids, development, drugs)

[LamarsCorner]

Originally Posted by InvaderBryce

Weed has NO benefits. I don't know where you heard that a drug actually helps people.

So Medical Marijuana is a scam? Maybe it is maybe it isnt.. but what fact do you have that suggest that it is?

[InvaderBryce]

Originally Posted by LamarsCorner

So Medical Marijuana is a scam? Maybe it is maybe it isnt.. but what fact do you have that suggest that it is?

I cite that weed offers no TANGIBLE benefits aside from making people feel less pain.

[LamarsCorner]

I will agree with one thing though. Legalizing weed in CO will obviously make the gang trade of the drug useless and dead. That would be one less thing that contributes to growth of gang activity.

[InvaderBryce]

Originally Posted by LamarsCorner

I will agree with one thing though. Legalizing weed in CO will obviously make the gang trade of the drug useless and dead. That would be one less thing that contributes to growth of gang activity.

Please! If people want something "free" they'll still get it "free". Gang activity will still use drugs.

[LamarsCorner]

Originally Posted by InvaderBryce

Please! If people want something "free" they'll still get it "free". Gang activity will still use drugs.

I'm not talking about gangs getting weed free. I am speaking of regular folk having to BUY from gang or drug outlets because regular folk can now get it from the stores. Its just like back when the prohibition act was in place. People bought liquor from gangsters ONLY BECAUSE they couldn't get it anywhere else. Now that liquor is legal and sold in stores, who wants to buy it from some gang member or drug dealer?

At first those guys will still be in business, but slowly but shortly people will buy all their weed from store outlets.

[InvaderBryce]

Originally Posted by LamarsCorner

I'm not talking about gangs getting weed free. I am speaking of regular folk having to BUY from gang or drug outlets because regular folk can now get it from the stores. Its just like back when the prohibition act was in place. People bought liquor from gangsters ONLY BECAUSE they couldn't get it anywhere else. Now that liquor is legal and sold in stores, who wants to buy it from some gang member or drug dealer?

At first those guys will still be in business, but slowly but shortly people will buy all their weed from store outlets.

Have proof of that because you can't compare this to prohibition.

[LamarsCorner]

Originally Posted by InvaderBryce

Have proof of that because you can't compare this to prohibition.

Why not? Alcohol is sold at stores; hence, the majority of people buy them from stores and not a dealer.

Dealers do occasionally sell products even if they are sold in stores (electronics, shoes); however, even when they do sell these products the majority of people still buy their electronics from the store or from Footlocker.

Because weed is illegal it can only be bought from illegal "outputters". If weed were to become legal, this will open up a NEW option for buyers to get their weed from. After all, you can't always trust what some guy has put in the weed, but at least with a store you can SUE them if they sell you faulty merchandise.

Prohibition was a great and relevant example for this seeing as how alcohol is ALSO A DRUG (no matter what justifications someone tries to come up with). Do you see gangsters or dealers selling alcohol around the corner?

Of course not. It's better business for dealers to sell something that is illegal LIKE crack or meth. If weed becomes legal, the prices will probably be cut in half compared to what dealers sell today. People can also grow it themselves.

[pjg66]

Sorry InvaderBryce, but eventually (perhaps not in your lifetime or my lifetime, but eventually) marijuana will be as legal and available as alcohol. And it will be as controlled, regulated and taxed as alcohol.

And believe it or not, the sky will not fall. Our society will not crumble away and the Mexican and Columbian drug lords will not take over the land. In fact, it is likely that the huge amounts of cash they currently illegally get out of our country will be significantly diminished.

The majority votes to legalize possession of marijuana for recreational use in Colorado and Washington are just the first small steps in what will be a growing trend.

And the production of marijuana in the U.S. is already a major industry. By doing a Google search I was able to find some statistics for 2006. From 1981 to 2006, marijuana production in this country increased ten fold to an estimated value of $35.8 billion, more than corn and wheat combined. Pot is America's largest and most lucrative cash crop. All of this despite the government's drug war. The feds are far from in control of the situation.

Lest you brand me as some "degenerate pothead", I do not use pot. It's just like many others, I see the wave of the future here.

[InvaderBryce]

Originally Posted by pjg66

Sorry InvaderBryce, but eventually (perhaps not in your lifetime or my lifetime, but eventually) marijuana will be as legal and available as alcohol. And it will be as controlled, regulated and taxed as alcohol.

And believe it or not, the sky will not fall. Our society will not crumble away and the Mexican and Columbian drug lords will not take over the land. In fact, it is likely that the huge amounts of cash they currently illegally get out of our country will be significantly diminished.

The majority votes to legalize possession of marijuana for recreational use in Colorado and Washington are just the first small steps in what will be a growing trend.

And the production of marijuana in the U.S. is already a major industry. By doing a Google search I was able to find some statistics for 2006. From 1981 to 2006, marijuana production in this country increased ten fold to an estimated value of $35.8 billion, more than corn and wheat combined. Pot is America's largest and most lucrative cash crop. All of this despite the government's drug war. The feds are far from in control of the situation.

Lest you brand me as some "degenerate pothead", I do not use pot. It's just like many others, I see the wave of the future here.

And you're an idiot for believing that. The Gov't is in FULL control of the situation and the WoD is a necessary war which has helped keep drugs off the streets and out the schools. And as I've said before, the value of Pot is grossly overvalued.

Come correct with some better facts next time because I've heard this argument before.

[Merlander]

Legalizing pot (aside from medical use) will result in three things:

1. Less $$$ in the pockets of dealers/cartels/gangs.
2. More tax $$$ for the state.
3. More widespread use by kids (due to lesser stigma). It may become as common as alcohol usage.

Since pot use impairs cognitive, intellectual and emotional development in kids, Governor O'Malley is correct in opposing its legalization. The downside of #3 outweighs the upside of #1/#2.