Legalise the herb

[Jackrat]

Somebody bought this subject up on an American hunting site I'm on.
It caused such a shit fight I thought it would go down well here.
So how do we all feel about the idea of legalising weed??
I think it's a foolish idea because we have enough problems with Drugs ect now.The pro group on this other site wasted a lot of time compering it to Alcohol and Tabacco.Personaly I can't see the connection.
Just because two bad for ya' drugs are legal,that's reason to legalise another one???
Just in case you wondered I don't care if adults have the odd smoke at home but I do have an issue with all the problems that come from growers and dealers making a living from the stuff.

[Slim]

Just in case you wondered I don't care if adults have the odd smoke at home but I do have an issue with all the problems that come from growers and dealers making a living from the stuff.

I'm sure the government would legalise it ..... if they could figure out how to tax it!

If it was legalised, then the growers & dealers hopefully wouldn't be the problem that they are today, and, possibly, it wouldn't be as expensive to buy either.


The obvious inbetween step to full legalisation is to follow the Netherlands example & make small amounts for personal use legal.

I'd fully support it, even though I have never had anything to do with the stuff.

[Ms Piggy]

It's kinda one of those situations where I'm not quite sure. I'm not a smoker of it myself but don't judge those that do.

I'm not so sure about legalising it but maybe decriminalising it?

I mean I think once anything is more freely available people who didn't try it before will. Look at what lowering the drinking age did.

My (limited) understanding is it mellows people out but I've also got friends who have become a bit paranoid & aggressive from smoking it.

I really dunno but I'm curious to hear arguments for and against.

[wkid_one]

Yeah - in some areas of the states it is okay to grow for personal supply - but where do you draw the line.

Theoretically, an Adult has the option to smoke, knowing full well the consequences (usually) - however this doesn't always apply to younger folk whereby peer pressure, pop culture etc all influence the decision.

I don't think that they should legalise it - I do think that they should lighten up on the laws surrounding possession for personal use - just a fine etc.....as the legal expense is hardly worth the reward. However - at the end of the day, if you 'condone' personal use, you therefore support the suppliers - catch 22.

I don't think making something illegal is the best way to deal with it tho - there is little if any mainstream education occuring around the (mis)use of drugs in NZ. Most of our education around this is reactionary - when someone has been identified with a problem. When seem to see documentary after documentary about the ill effects of drugs (esp P) - yet little actual informative and educational material about it at the same time.

[SPman]

...possibly, it wouldn't be as expensive to buy either.
.

Never had to buy any in m life. If I had to, I wouldnt!....

Ohh...I dont ...

Well, there you go....

Now, where was I...?

[wkid_one]

If it was legalised, then the growers & dealers hopefully wouldn't be the problem that they are today, and, possibly, it wouldn't be as expensive to buy either.

It isn;t that expensive??



Is it? I wouldn't know.....

[Skyryder]

There is a big difference between legalising and decriminalizing 'the weed.'
So I will answer the question as it is. No, I am not in favour of legalising 'the weed.' However decriminalization is another story.

At present I can be prosecuted under the crimes act for having a 'smoke' on my own property. As can anyone on this board. The only person who I am harming is myself. I can do exactlly the same thing useing tobbaco and again the only person I am harming is myself. One smoke and I am a criminal the other I am a law abiding citizen. The Crimes Act deals with offences that can be coverd in three catorgories, life: you just can not go and kill someone, limb: covers assaults, battery etc. and property; theft, fraud embezzelment etc. or what I call the three D's. Death, damage and done. There is another area under the crimes act and that deals with potential areas, ie drunk driving, conspiracy etc. that come under the the three D's ie manslaughter as in the case of a drunk driver or planing a bank robbery etc. In all crime someone has been put to a disadvantage oneway or another. Not so in the case of drugs. These are self induced, all or them, as is tobacco. Now before anyone goes off on the passive smoking bit I am a non smoker and get more than pissed off when someone lights up in front of me especially at a resturant. In fact I have been known to ask the managment to see that the ciggeratte is put out. If not I walk and do not pay for the meal but that's another issue. The issue of drug taking is one of choice. And yes there are some drugs out there that are cause for concern. I would not advocate the decriminaliastion of 'the weed' where there is potential of injury as in driving under the influence etc. But where there is a case, for what is more commonly known as recreational use, yes I would advocate decriminalization in this area on the grounds that the smoking of 'the weed' does not in anyway come under the three D's.

Skyryder

[spudchucka]

I've seen too many kids at the lowest end of society suffering because of pot to ever support legalising it. On the other hand the time and effort that goes into prosecutions for simple possession is crazy and the penalties are pathetic so I would support decriminalisation for small quantities, (bullets) where perhaps an instant fine might be more appropriate. However if this were to happen I believe the minimum penalties for growing for supply should be stepped right up.

[wkid_one]

I've seen too many kids at the lowest end of society suffering because of pot to ever support legalising it. On the other hand the time and effort that goes into prosecutions for simple possession is crazy and the penalties are pathetic so I would support decriminalisation for small quantities, (bullets) where perhaps an instant fine might be more appropriate. However if this were to happen I believe the minimum penalties for growing for supply should be stepped right up.

Yup that was the gist I was getting to.....

Problem is 'monkey see monkey do' - so while parents sit at home toking, kids follow suit.

[spudchucka]

At present I can be prosecuted under the crimes act for having a 'smoke' on my own property.

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 might be more appropriate.

[What?]

It caused such a shit fight I thought it would go down well here.

[Skyryder]

The Misuse of Drugs Act 1975 might be more appropriate.

Point taken

Skyryder

[riffer]

When I was younger I tried a lot of drugs - now I'm in my late 30s I guess I've either grown up or grown out of it.

15 years ago I would have been saying that there's no problems with dope, that you could smoke as much as you like, blah blah blah.

I don't quite understand the current problem with P - when I was younger we called it crystal meth and it was hard to get, so I guess we could never afford to get addicted to it. Dope was always easy to get, and we tended to use that a lot more. It seemed a lot more innocent then.

Now, I look at my kids and wonder how I am going to feel when they try drugs (which they will, of course). My parents never told me anything about drugs so I had to try as many as I could. Why should my kids be any different? So I will try and educate my kids about drugs as much as possible and hope that they will make a responsible decision about them.

I don't agree with criminalising people for possession of dope - it should be a misdemenour (sp) offence. People who try and make money out of other people by trading in drugs in a bad thing and should be treated as such.

Maybe the Netherlands has the right idea of how to approach the dope problem, but they also have a major problem with hard drugs too.

I'm just glad they aren't making single malt illegal. Then I'd have to go rogue

[Skyryder]

The pro group on this other site wasted a lot of time compering it to Alcohol and Tabacco.Personaly I can't see the connection.

Alcohol, tobbacco, 'the weed.' All three are drugs.

Skyryder

[mangell6]

Alcohol, tobbacco, 'the weed.' All three are drugs.

Skyryder

And that is also the order that causes the most damage. Alcohol causes far more problems in our society than any other substance that is in use today, period.

I've seen too many kids at the lowest end of society suffering because of pot to ever support legalising it.

"How do we escape?"

One other item that is missing from the discussion is the "association" factor. Which is why Alcoholics Anonymous exists.

Personally it should be available for personal use and medical reasons, like it was previously, many years ago.