Decriminalization vs. legalization

[Joshua30]

it seems to me that we have alot of people running around rallying for legalization of marijuana. I for one think this is not such a wise idea.
On one had if we leagalize this drug the Gov it would put the drug dealers out of business (for the most part) The Gov could tax the wazzoo out of it and it would help put money into other pojects.
But more than likely the money will go to unwanted an unneeded Gov project. A new Killing machine or something like that. Also the production would move into the hands or the cigerette manufacturers and I just will never beable to bring myself to buy a pack of Camel Light Joints. Who knows what additives and additional they will put in those.

A more likely and agreeable alternative is to decriminalize marijuana.
free the jails of casual users. it would stilll cut down on drug pushers. I would grow a plant or two myself for my own use and so could you. nothing bad ever came of learning how to garden.
I would like to know other oppinion on this topic
thanks
Josh

[daniel]

You could also grow your own tobacco.

[Luna]

I believe in legalization, I'm an anarchist, so basically I believe that no one has the right to tell you what you can and cannot do with your own body (although it's important to be educated so that you can make decisions based of truth and try and do the best for yourself...)

I agree that one problem with legalization would be the corporate perversion of the plant. I can just see them adding addictive chemicals and perverting the whole pot culture. The thing is my vision of legalization includes the right to grow your own supply. Basically this would undermine corporate attempts because everyone interested in smoking it at all would either grow thier own or know someone who grows and would be happy to share.

I don't think that corporations could really compete with the culture as long as the same values associated with it remained intact. (Which they most likely would.)

An argument against decriminalization is thus: Canada just decriminalized but where i'm from this will probably pan out much worse. Cops rarely bothered to do anything other than take pot away because taking them to court was a drain on the system. Now they can fine us, and since they always want money they will. I certainly am not interested in having to pay the cops $300 for having a few grams of cannabis on me.

Another thing is that now that we've decriminalized the populous thinks the issue is over, that it's going to go away but the fact still remains that no one has a right to prevent anyone else from filling thier system with whatever they so chose (especially if it's relatively safe, like cannabis is.) I can understand things like heroin and crack being illegal but there's no justification for pot or any other relatively safe substance (non-addictive, low/moderate toxicity) to be prohibited.

And as for tobacco, why the hell are we not allowed to grow our own? It woul most certainly be safer since we could grow organically and not have to consume hydrogen cyanide and other such lovely things. I think its illegal to grow your own tobacco as a favour to the ruling class, the corporations which profit on such restrictions. It's not based upon any realistic or fair concept.

[ July 14, 2003, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Luna ]

[dragonfly]

Originally posted by Luna:
And as for tobacco, why the hell are we not allowed to grow our own?I can't speak for Canada, but here in the U.S. we are allowed to grow our own, as long as it's for personal use.

This is from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' Web site at http://www.ttb.gov/tobacco/permit.htm

Permits or bonds are required for the following activities:

* Any person who manufactures cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipe tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco except for that person's own consumption or use.

* Any person who manufactures cigarette papers or tubes except for that person's own consumption or use.

* Any person who imports tobacco products as a business (as of 1/1/2000).

* Any person who operates an export warehouse for tobacco products or cigarette papers or tubes.

[sidecross]

"I believe in legalization, I'm an anarchist,…"

How can an anarchist believe in legalization? Where is the border line between anarchy and a legal system?

[Glaurung]

i believe in legalisation, the netherlands have shown that it is possible