Letter of the week, 2/9/09: Legalize marijuana?

[David]

Marijuana
Editor:

The Record-Journal's story on marijuana decriminalization ("Move to challenge pot laws gathers steam," 2/7) included repeated references to marijuana as a "gateway drug," but failed to note that the gateway theory has been debunked by every independent scientific body that has examined it.

For example, the Institute of Medicine, in its 1999 White House-commissioned report on marijuana, stated that marijuana "does not appear to be a gateway drug to the extent that is the cause or even the most significant predictor of serious drug abuse. ... There is no evidence that marijuana serves as a stepping stone on the basis of its particular physiological effect."

More recently, a RAND Corp. study for the British parliament came to the same conclusion, stating, "The gateway theory has little evidence to support it despite copious research."

The fact that opponents of marijuana decriminalization drag out this old wives' tale and pretend it's a serious argument says much more about the quality of their case than it does about marijuana.

BRUCE MIRKEN, SAN FRANCISCO, CA

[Jim N]

Marijuana
Editor:

The Record-Journal's story on marijuana decriminalization ("Move to challenge pot laws gathers steam," 2/7) included repeated references to marijuana as a "gateway drug," but failed to note that the gateway theory has been debunked by every independent scientific body that has examined it.

For example, the Institute of Medicine, in its 1999 White House-commissioned report on marijuana, stated that marijuana "does not appear to be a gateway drug to the extent that is the cause or even the most significant predictor of serious drug abuse. ... There is no evidence that marijuana serves as a stepping stone on the basis of its particular physiological effect."

More recently, a RAND Corp. study for the British parliament came to the same conclusion, stating, "The gateway theory has little evidence to support it despite copious research."

The fact that opponents of marijuana decriminalization drag out this old wives' tale and pretend it's a serious argument says much more about the quality of their case than it does about marijuana.

BRUCE MIRKEN, SAN FRANCISCO, CA
Gateway to crime maybe. In an extremely simplified example; You buy marijuana from a drug dealer who probably deals in other stronger and addictive drugs, since you already feel like a criminal an there is a mystique to it you say to yourself I broke the law with the pot why not something else. Now you may end up addicted to something. Where if it was legal in a package store you wouldn't be encouraged or enticed to try stronger drugs.
Say you get busted for it now you're a criminal, certain jobs are closed to you. What difference does it make what you do now. Again if it was legal no stigma you are still a viable member of society.
I've never known anyone who mugged or robbed someone to get money to buy a joint. To do stupid things while stoned yes, but that's the same as booze.
I'm more worried about doctors and their prescription pads.
Legalize it, then tax it more money into the state. Less money going out on worthless legal bills for prosecutors and legal aid lawyers both on the taxpayers dime. Big savings there.
Oh and while your at it make it retroactive that anyone with a simple possession charge in their past gets it expunged from their record. Just think millions of Americans with clean records. Win Win situation more money for the state citizens getting clean records.
For the record I don't like pot and haven't smoked it since I was a teenager when an oz was $15-20 and a 1/4 oz was a nickel for $5.

[flatrat]

With money so tight, can we really afford to keep it illegal? Shouldnt we prioritize?

You can use drugs and still aspire to the highest office in the country. Just ask Clinton, Bush and Obama. And Nixon must have been high on something.

[gilligan]

marijuana is the least of any humans' worries. If we could keep it out of adolescent hands it would be better. Did anyone see the Judge on TV? Alcohol is a much bigger threat. You won't do anything nearly as stupid as that while puffing. Soo many people use marijuana while it is illegal, that should tell the government it does not matter if it is legal or not so just decriminalize it. Good Pot is a good thing.

[Modica]

marijuana is the least of any humans' worries. If we could keep it out of adolescent hands it would be better. Did anyone see the Judge on TV? Alcohol is a much bigger threat. You won't do anything nearly as stupid as that while puffing. Soo many people use marijuana while it is illegal, that should tell the government it does not matter if it is legal or not so just decriminalize it. Good Pot is a good thing.
Can't keep Americans in fear and in line when everyone is lighting up. Have to have control of the masses and the more potheads the less they can control us.

[Chriss P]

Legalize it but treat it like alcohol.

I don't want the pilot of the plane Im on stoned on pot.

I dont want to be a passenger with a pot head behinde the wheel stoned like I had to last season.
The freakin guy called me up to scuba dive for his expensive glass pot pipe he lost in the lake after treating me like crap because I was a hard worker and this guy was a goof off. What a nerve of some people.

I dont want to have head on collison with a stoned driver.

I dont want a stoned nurse or doctor aiding me or titrating medicen in my arm.

I dont want a stoned bank clerk handling my financial documents.

The people I depend on in this society, I would frown upon then being potheads.

There are strong medical publications about the side effects of pot and it needs to be used moderately, discretly, and not condoned.

Can anyone here say they can dome something productive and precise better while smoking pot on a regular basis? Inquiry minds would like to know.

[Meridenborn]

Can't keep Americans in fear and in line when everyone is lighting up. Have to have control of the masses and the more potheads the less they can control us.

Pot should be legalized and free brownies provided to Republican Party members. That way they might be more mellow and open instead of being such self-righteous blows. Imagine Senator Mitch McConnell laughing his ultra-right head off and woofing down Mexican food? RC toking on a fatty could make him more enlightened. On second thought.....it wouldn't work on him.

[okgoagain]

such a lovely day today- wouldn't it be civalized to be able to run down toa your local coffee shop and get a small bag of legal weed to have a little puff on a sunday afternoon? and pay a hefty tax to have that right? California is moving towards this now- hopefully the administration is busy enough with all our woes that little george's anti- pot policies will not be enforced.

[okgoagain]

Legalize it but treat it like alcohol.

I don't want the pilot of the plane Im on stoned on pot.

I dont want to be a passenger with a pot head behinde the wheel stoned like I had to last season.
The freakin guy called me up to scuba dive for his expensive glass pot pipe he lost in the lake after treating me like crap because I was a hard worker and this guy was a goof off. What a nerve of some people.

I dont want to have head on collison with a stoned driver.

I dont want a stoned nurse or doctor aiding me or titrating medicen in my arm.

I dont want a stoned bank clerk handling my financial documents.

The people I depend on in this society, I would frown upon then being potheads.

There are strong medical publications about the side effects of pot and it needs to be used moderately, discretly, and not condoned.

Can anyone here say they can dome something productive and precise better while smoking pot on a regular basis? Inquiry minds would like to know.

do you drink?

[Chriss P]

YEA I like a light beer or too but nothing hard. And definitly not in the day when Im tasking. Our society is becoming degenerate enough as it is an Pot doesn't help it be less degenerate.

Im starting to just now see the little colorful baggies littering the trail at Guiffrida. Seeing what these people do to the park doesn't bode well for legalizing drugs. Lets get high and destroy a park bench or start the woods on fire or draw vulgar drug grafitti all over the park so kids can read it and learn some new words; lets destroy the trail shelter and restroom so no one else can use it. You want some pictures as proof?

Do you smoke pot okgoagain?

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

how can you legalize a drug and at the same time drug test and supend or fire someone who uses a legal drug....bus driver, police, airline pilots, truck drivers, cab drivers, limo drivers, firemen,,,,,,can see it now....dispatcher.......company one respond to a fire on east main street, company one responds.....ok man well get on it.....what did you say....dispatcher.....fire on east main street, respond now....company one sure man...what did you say.....you get the point.....

[Chriss P]

how can you legalize a drug and at the same time drug test and supend or fire someone who uses a legal drug....bus driver, police, airline pilots, truck drivers, cab drivers, limo drivers, firemen,,,,,,can see it now....dispatcher.......company one respond to a fire on east main street, company one responds.....ok man well get on it.....what did you say....dispatcher.....fire on east main street, respond now....company one sure man...what did you say.....you get the point.....


Well said and understood.

[Modica]

As long as the pilot or fireman can still have that stiff drink or two or three before working, I guess all is OK with the world.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

As long as the pilot or fireman can still have that stiff drink or two or three before working, I guess all is OK with the world.

not quite a valid point. Alcohol is legal and has been legal and excepted in our society for many many many years……legalizing pot on the other hand comes with many issues…..besides the tax revenue it would raise how do you control its use by people you count on….like I explained in my last post…police, firemen, truck drivers, school bus drivers, doctors, …once legal how do you tell these people that they can’t use it….it’s legal..…picture being at the bank and the teller all of a sudden see jefferson coming at them……I can picture it now….the teller throws the money at the customer trying to escape from jefferson.......or being at the home depot, their help are not the brightest now, picture them on pot…..or picture being at the grocery store and the clerk scanning your products likes the beep of the scanner and just keeps scanning the same item over and over and over and over…..now that I think of these things it could be fun to watch…..i tried pot many years ago…did nothing for me other then I was told I ate like 5 bags of chips……give me a beer any day over pot…..I am for legalizing pot, but what do you do once its legal….how do you tell people that it’s legal but you cannot use it…..don’t have the answer for that one……big inhale…..hold it, hold it, exhale…….aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh……what are we talking about…..

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

As long as the pilot or fireman can still have that stiff drink or two or three before working, I guess all is OK with the world.

not quite a valid point. Alcohol is legal and has been legal and excepted in our society for many many many years……legalizing pot on the other hand comes with many issues…..besides the tax revenue it would raise how do you control its use by people you count on….like I explained in my last post…police, firemen, truck drivers, school bus drivers, doctors, …once legal how do you tell these people that they can’t use it….it’s legal..…picture being at the bank and the teller all of a sudden see jefferson coming at them……I can picture it now….the teller throws the money at the customer trying to escape from jefferson.......or being at the home depot, their help are not the brightest now, picture them on pot…..or picture being at the grocery store and the clerk scanning your products likes the beep of the scanner and just keeps scanning the same item over and over and over and over…..now that I think of these things it could be fun to watch…..i tried pot many years ago…did nothing for me other then I was told I ate like 5 bags of chips……give me a beer any day over pot…..I am for legalizing pot, but what do you do once its legal….how do you tell people that it’s legal but you cannot use it…..don’t have the answer for that one……big inhale…..hold it, hold it, exhale…….aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh……what are we talking about…..:D

[okgoagain]

YEA I like a light beer or too but nothing hard. And definitly not in the day when Im tasking. Our society is becoming degenerate enough as it is an Pot doesn't help it be less degenerate.

Im starting to just now see the little colorful baggies littering the trail at Guiffrida. Seeing what these people do to the park doesn't bode well for legalizing drugs. Lets get high and destroy a park bench or start the woods on fire or draw vulgar drug grafitti all over the park so kids can read it and learn some new words; lets destroy the trail shelter and restroom so no one else can use it. You want some pictures as proof?

Do you smoke pot okgoagain?


as with most people my age, I have certainly enjoyed the pleasure of pot. and you? maybe your mind is weak enough that having that lite beer cannot be done while doing anything else. walk and chew gum much?

I, for another, can do my job, drive and volunteer at civic events without my buzz interfering with the job at hand. Some of us are just not that agile, mentaly- and sorry to say, Chris P.... you seem to be one of those.
It should be a choice- like booze- with penalties for mis-use. and taxed.

[jma]

You do really believe that there aren't police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, etc. going to work stoned or intoxicated now? If so, think again. Drug or alcohol addiction isn't limited to certain professions.

I don't understand why some people think that the minute pot becomes legal, society will be overrun with potheads. Okgoagain is correct. Legalize it, manage it, and penalize people for misuse. Simple.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

You do really believe that there aren't police officers, firefighters, dispatchers, etc. going to work stoned or intoxicated now? If so, think again. Drug or alcohol addiction isn't limited to certain professions.

I don't understand why some people think that the minute pot becomes legal, society will be overrun with potheads. Okgoagain is correct. Legalize it, manage it, and penalize people for misuse. Simple.


ok so you legalize it.....now there are laws on the book that say a truck driver who fails a drug test is disqualified from driving a truck....but pot is legal so now what do you do with a truck driver who has failed a drug test....airline pilots are in the same position, school bus drivers and bus drivers in general....what do you do with all these people.......and i do think once pot is legal the use will increase 100 fold......because ITS LEGAL.....how do you legalize something and tell some that they canot use it or they loose their job..........

[Born&raised]

My reason for legalization

The billions it costs tax payers to fund law enforcement to go after the potheads and the cost to incarcerate drug dealers and potheads.

My reason for keeping it illegal

The billions it will cost tax payers for lost productivity in our society and the healthcare costs associated with chronic overuse.

[okgoagain]

ok so you legalize it.....now there are laws on the book that say a truck driver who fails a drug test is disqualified from driving a truck....but pot is legal so now what do you do with a truck driver who has failed a drug test....airline pilots are in the same position, school bus drivers and bus drivers in general....what do you do with all these people.......and i do think once pot is legal the use will increase 100 fold......because ITS LEGAL.....how do you legalize something and tell some that they canot use it or they loose their job..........


people with certain truck licenses already have to be drug free. Legal drugs like booze included. So, they either change jobs if pot is so special- or stay off it.

[robotchef]

Upon signing the amendment to repeal prohibition, Roosevelt made his famous remark; "I think this would be a good time for a beer."

With todays Obama reversal on the ban of embryonic stem cell research, let's hope Barrack is one day heard saying "I think this would be a good time to smoke a joint."

[Meridenborn]

marijuana is the least of any humans' worries. If we could keep it out of adolescent hands it would be better. Did anyone see the Judge on TV? Alcohol is a much bigger threat. You won't do anything nearly as stupid as that while puffing. Soo many people use marijuana while it is illegal, that should tell the government it does not matter if it is legal or not so just decriminalize it. Good Pot is a good thing.

Your'e right. Just decriminalize it. Getting wasted on booze does much more damage to society.

[okgoagain]

Upon signing the amendment to repeal prohibition, Roosevelt made his famous remark; "I think this would be a good time for a beer."

With todays Obama reversal on the ban of embryonic stem cell research, let's hope Barrack is one day heard saying "I think this would be a good time to smoke a joint."


this poster is right on the money.

[Chriss P]

aSome of us are just not that agile, mentaly- and sorry to say, Chris P.... you seem to be one of those.
.

You are absolutely right!!!! Im sure you would make a good airforce pilot. I can see you flying a Me-262.

[okgoagain]

You are absolutely right!!!! Im sure you would make a good airforce pilot. I can see you flying a Me-262.


never would want to be in airforce-army, marines or navy either. beat that draft.

AND I'd trust apothead before a service person anyday-potheads seldom kill civilians

[Eagle]

When did this country lose it's common sense? It's not marijuana we need to focus on and "decriminalize". What we REALLY need to de-legalize our society! What happened to live and let live? Why have ALL these laws? Do we really need all these laws to live decent lives? Isn't that where MORALS come into play?

Just because something is ILLEGAL, doesn't make it WRONG. And just because something LEGAL doesn't make it right!

Let your own moral compass guide you. But don't expect those around you to subscribe to your beliefs. When your compass leads you to harm others, then justice is in order. Otherwise, live your life as you like. Enjoy it and stop trying to force your opinion on others; especially when there is NO HARM from their actions.

"Decriminalize and tax" is complete nonsense! It's time for LESS taxes and LESS laws that infringe on freedom of individual choice. The government spending is completely out of control, and you want to give them MORE TAX MONEY!!?!!?!! Are you insane!?

It's like treating arsenic poisoning with MORE ARSENIC!!!!!!!! Good idea Einstien!

We need to decriminalize common sense!!!!!

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

so you want to decriminalize and expect the decriminalize ones to use common sense.......sure about that.....common sense would tell you not to smoke pot on the job....common sense would tell you that its ok to smoke pot in your home.....common sense got your fired because you failed a drug test for your job.....but you used common sense and did not smoke the pot on the job....so how does common sense play a role......

[Meridenborn]

When did this country lose it's common sense? It's not marijuana we need to focus on and "decriminalize". What we REALLY need to de-legalize our society! What happened to live and let live? Why have ALL these laws? Do we really need all these laws to live decent lives? Isn't that where MORALS come into play?

Just because something is ILLEGAL, doesn't make it WRONG. And just because something LEGAL doesn't make it right!

Let your own moral compass guide you. But don't expect those around you to subscribe to your beliefs. When your compass leads you to harm others, then justice is in order. Otherwise, live your life as you like. Enjoy it and stop trying to force your opinion on others; especially when there is NO HARM from their actions.

"Decriminalize and tax" is complete nonsense! It's time for LESS taxes and LESS laws that infringe on freedom of individual choice. The government spending is completely out of control, and you want to give them MORE TAX MONEY!!?!!?!! Are you insane!?

It's like treating arsenic poisoning with MORE ARSENIC!!!!!!!! Good idea Einstien!

We need to decriminalize common sense!!!!!

Ok, ok Eagle. Calm down. You don't need to scream.

[Modica]

Ok, ok Eagle. Calm down. You don't need to scream.
Damn that Eagle is angry. He needs a valium or something.

[okgoagain]

Damn that Eagle is angry. He needs a valium or something.


just make sure he pays the tax on that

[Meridenborn]

Damn that Eagle is angry. He needs a valium or something.

The game warden needs to use a trank dart on him to get him to stop squawking. The only trouble... that would be big gov't interference in his right to screech.

[RC12L4]

When did this country lose it's common sense? It's not marijuana we need to focus on and "decriminalize". What we REALLY need to de-legalize our society! What happened to live and let live? Why have ALL these laws? Do we really need all these laws to live decent lives? Isn't that where MORALS come into play?

Just because something is ILLEGAL, doesn't make it WRONG. And just because something LEGAL doesn't make it right!

Let your own moral compass guide you. But don't expect those around you to subscribe to your beliefs. When your compass leads you to harm others, then justice is in order. Otherwise, live your life as you like. Enjoy it and stop trying to force your opinion on others; especially when there is NO HARM from their actions.

"Decriminalize and tax" is complete nonsense! It's time for LESS taxes and LESS laws that infringe on freedom of individual choice. The government spending is completely out of control, and you want to give them MORE TAX MONEY!!?!!?!! Are you insane!?

It's like treating arsenic poisoning with MORE ARSENIC!!!!!!!! Good idea Einstien!

We need to decriminalize common sense!!!!!

If there's one person that needs a hit from the bong it's this guy.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

but its not legal......maybe eagle need a beer

[Meridenborn]

If there's one person that needs a hit from the bong it's this guy.

You got that right! For some reason though I can't picture a mellow eagle.
I say trank first, then put him in a glass cage and pump pot smoke into him for about 24 hours. That'll fix 'em. Turn him into a seagull at McDonald's parking lot looking for munchies.