1. According to advocates, marijuana was made illegal in 1937 thanks to a wide-ranging conspiracy involving the manufacturers of paper, textiles, plastic and racism, all of which they say would be put out of business if hemp was made legal. Some opinions remind one of the old time prohibition excuses when many of these same fears were circulating.

2. Despite the prohibition, more than 40 percent of Americans over age 12 have tried marijuana and were subsequently willing to say so on a survey.

3. In light of the recent economic collapse, many are asking if the legalization and taxation of marijuana can save the economy, though critics claim this campaign is driven by corporate lobbyists for Taco Bell and Frito-Lay.However the majority of the marijuna supporters are thinking beyond the old fables and are pushing for an economic salvation which quit possibly will come.

4. President Barack Obama took a question about marijuana legalization during a townhall meeting in 2009, but implied that the Internet in fact does not care about bolstering tax revenue, but only wants to openly light up their bong on the sidewalk outside Chipotle. Thus, many pro-Obama Internet commenters have now switched their support back to Ron Paul.
 

Libertarians may be switching their support to Ron Paul, but not me. He's bad news.

You can expect the Ron Paulers to put their energy behind Gary E. Johnson next time.  It won't change the fact that they are backing a quack that would probably like the idea of a soma addicted populace.

 According to advocates, marijuana was made illegal in 1937 thanks to a wide-ranging conspiracy involving the manufacturers of paper, textiles, plastic and racism, all of which they say would be put out of business if hemp was made legal. Some opinions remind one of the old time prohibition excuses when many of these same fears were circulating.

Good point Sioux.

Obviously, the nation didn't fall apart during the 161 years when hemp was legal. I'd say that was a successful long term experiment on the health and social ramifications of legal hemp use.

" 4. President Barack Obama took a question about marijuana legalization during a townhall meeting in 2009, but implied that the Internet in fact does not care about bolstering tax revenue, but only wants to openly light up their bong on the sidewalk outside Chipotle."

If this is what he said, for once I agree with Obama.  I even capitalized his name in honor of this momentous occasion.

We had part of this discussion at breakfast this morning and Mark (a former pot smoker) agreed that most of the people wanting legalization are potheads. 

Sioux respectfully.  We agree on almost everything.  Legalizing pot is one of the very few things we don't see eye to eye on.  Surprise, we on the right actually do think for ourselves and are NOT in lockstep as some like to claim.

 Nancy,

" We had part of this discussion at breakfast this morning and Mark (a former pot smoker) agreed that most of the people wanting legalization are potheads. "

If this is true, it should not bother you .

Why should it bother you? In fact, this is what I heard, those who want to make marijuana illegal again  are wanting to do so because they are either severely misinformed about it's harmful effects, or they have an existing interest in maintaining marijuana's prohibition.

What's a pot head any way? You guys act like a bunch of scared rabbits over this marijuana's legalization thing ( chuckles)

--virgil

Not scared rabbits virgil.  I live in the real world.  Methodical, rational, logical thinking.  Unclouded by pot.

Also honest about my motives..unlike some.

You didn't answer my questio, what's a pot head ?

Gimme break, Nancy. The only reason anyone has died from marijuana is related to its prohibition. It's silly to keep doing it and you know it.

--virgil

Don't be silly virgil.

Who said anyone died?  You don't have to die to have brain cells damaged.

Marijuana don't do that. Wine does,  though.

It's been proved in both cases.

--virgil

Wrong virgil.  Long term marijuana use damages and kills off brain cells. 

Now, we're not going to get into another debate of marijuana.  It's takes two and I'm not one of them.    There's nothing left for me to say since I'm not changing my mind.

um ,

 "Long term marijuana use damages and kills off brain cells. "

No it don't.

If you insist, Nancy, I'm gonna ask for a reference.

--virgil

nancy Sioux respectfully.  We agree on almost everything.  Legalizing pot is one of the very few things we don't see eye to eye on.  Surprise, we on the right actually do think for ourselves and are NOT in lockstep as some like to claim.

I agree everyone is an individual..well republicans are anyway *grin*

I dunno why nancy..best reason is an ancestrial thing..indians used hemp and peyote in religous ceremonys and generally when the white man wasnt involved they lived one with mother nature in a peacful way...not saying peyote should be lealized..it takes a strong mind to deal with that on a regular basis..the older you get the less likely you can handle it..

I was for pot for medicinal reasons *only* for along time..then the economy went in the tank and the thought came to me that its not any worse and probably less harmful than alcohol..youve heard the rest of the story..and like i always say if it blows up in our face we can always make it illegal again..actually they should probably make alcohol illegal and keep pot for 50 years and see what happens..

the argument it can be manufctured at home is a bit weak because you can do the same with alcohol..but who wants  too if you can jump down and buy pot at the store..most people are too lazy to keep a tomato plant going

I cant do either Valley fever took half a lung and im a bit partial to the rest..booze took my liver to a point i had to stop or die ..besides ma said if i did she wouldnt let me outta my chores anyway so whats the point?..

for what it is I just think its been abusing our reserves to hunt it down and destroy it etc for too many years..why keep dumping funds down the toilet? wouldnt it be better to start making a few bucks and relieve the states money woes instead?   why make the kids and unemployed suffer just because you dont want to give a grown person the choice of smoking or not smoking...we could use the excess funds to create a few jobs..whats wrong with that??

as far as Mark..i respect the hell out of your son.. hes a very intelligent and down to earth man...but calling everyone a pot head that might enjoy an occasional smoke is like calling an occasional margarita drinker an alcoholic

http://www.drugpolicy.org/m...

I don't smoke it. Ibelieve non medical users of marijuana to be fooling themselves, but let's look at some facts that are backed up with solid references.

What I don't get is why the person who started this is so anti marijuana.

Could you please expalin your position>

Sioux, when he said pot head he was referring to "pot heads" not the occasional smoker.

Elgin, interesting that you would use a link to a pro legalization site fo prove a point.  I could link you to a website connecting with CAADAC which would conflict with your website.  It all depends on your point of view.  We could sit here all night and exchange links but that would be pointless.  Just as it's always been on here. 

One last blurb then I'm outta here for now.  So you get marijuana legalized.  What then?   Will the people who prefer stimulants start a campaign to get THEIR drug of choice legalized?  Where do you draw the line?  Opium was once legal too.  Would you like to see that classification repealed?

Sioux.  One of the things mentioned at breakfast was that a person might enjoy a cold beer on a hot day and that's it.  No buzz.  There's only one reason people smoke pot and that is for the effect..and they WILL get high..as opposed to not getting high off one or two beers.  And no..I'm not advocating alcohol either.

That's it.   Moving on to a different discussion.  If there are any.

 "Opium was once legal too.  Would you like to see that classification repealed?"

Close to a million people a year are not incarcerated for heroin possession. Close to a million people are incarcerated for marijuana possession.

And I don't think we should be so interested in  legislating the appropriate drug of choice for anyone.  That's exactly what we do.

--virgil

It's un-American,  Nancy.

--virgil

 Well, it's kind of un-American .

It's changing, though.

--virgil

Elginfelps,

 " Ibelieve non medical users of marijuana to be fooling themselves, ... "

You should'nt always believe what you think .

In the end, what difference does it make to you anyway ?

--virgil

 It's Marijuana !

That's all it is you guys ( unless you want to consider the huge cash cow that comes from marijuana surveillance and everything that follows ).

--virgil

I can't wait to support my local economy when buying Marijuana legally. 

Sorry to bust your bubble but Marijuana will never be legal.imho!

And by the way Marijuana eventually does kill brian cells and does cause memory loss so all you pot heads keep on smoking go ahead, by the time you reach your 50's you won't even be able to remember your own birthday.

USUALLY WHAT IVE SEEN AND HEARD IN THE PAST   WE HAVE MORE OPPOSITION FROM BEER AND WHISKEY DRINKERS  THAN ANY OTHERS JUST CRACKS ME UP . I WISH THEY  WOULD  JUST MAKE  ALCOHOL ILLEGAL THIS IS THE WORST DRUG BY FAR(DRUG)

 "Sorry to bust your bubble but Marijuana will never be legal.imho"

Marijuana is legal already and it has nothing to  do with your imho.

--virgil

I know it must be causing some anixety, but it's True !

--virgil

Actually,   It Don't .

"And by the way Marijuana eventually does kill brian cells and does cause memory loss ..."

Studies are showing the opposite .

Again, that fact is not affected by your imho.

--virgil

That's funny Virgil, I think my opinion does count because this is a blog you know and i can put down my opinion any time i want to as long as it doesn't break the ground rules.

Studies are showing the opposite.

That's not true Virgil i know for a fact because I've been reading about the studies as well and even scientists say that it does KILL BRIAN CELLS, and it does cause MEMORY LOSS, so i think the fact is affected by my opinion ok, so stop trying to act like you know everything cuz you don't. And your opinion doesn't matter to me.

And i think your wrong, Marijuana is not legal already and nothing you say will convince me otherwise.