Ron Paul and Marijuana

[kisstheclowns]

what about the 20% of the population that are addicted to "legal" drugs. Just because something is bad for you in massive quantities, doesn't give the government the right to make it illegal. Otherwise, they would have kept prohibition in play.

 

[ValidusCustodiae]

I'm for legalizing pot but not heroin. No one is going to break into my house and steal my TV so that they can get money for their next "pot fix". They might do it for heroin, though, so I don't want that shit too easy to come by on the street. Heroin ruins people's lives. Everyone knows that. When their lives fall apart, it eventually starts to affect mine and everyone else's. That is one area where I break with RP's stance.

Nobody would have to break into a house to steal it because it would be so incredibly cheap. The only reason there is any cost associated with illegal drugs is because of their illegality. Besides, the question here is about property rights. If you have the right to your property, and they should be held responsible for stealing it, then they should have the right to do whatever they want with their property. (Their body). In other words, heroin isn't robbing you. Pencils don't make spelling mistakes. Guns don't kill people.

 

[nuklbone]

Nobody would have to break into a house to steal it because it would be so incredibly cheap. The only reason there is any cost associated with illegal drugs is because of their illegality. Besides, the question here is about property rights. If you have the right to your property, and they should be held responsible for stealing it, then they should have the right to do whatever they want with their property. (Their body). In other words, heroin isn't robbing you. Pencils don't make spelling mistakes. Guns don't kill people.

You know, on paper that sounds great. But in reality, I just don't think it works out that way. Do you really think that if a super-addictive drug like heroin was cheap and easy to come by, that it would not create problem to society? If everyone lived in their own separate bubble, yeah, they can screw themselves up and it's their own problem. But that is not the real world. Everyone's lives affects those around them.

Marijuana is NOT the same as heroin. Marijuana is benign. Heroin is a serious problem.

 

[Roadrcr]

Its not that hes FOR drugs .. its that hes for the states consitiutional right to decide for themselfs.. The constitution states that the fed has no rights in the matter.

 

[humanic]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=88REf0tjZHo

Audience Member: Your solution on stopping drug trade is "give up." Give up the War on Drugs. I say zero tolerance. We use the military for aid, we stop it from getting into the country-- we cut it off at the source. Why, why give up [in the middle of the fight]?

Ron Paul: What we give up on is a tyrannical approach to a social/medical problem, and we endorse an idea of volunteerism and self-responsibility-- family, friends, and churches-- to solve the problem, rather than saying some monolithic government is gonna make you take care of yourself and be a better person. It's a preposterous notion, it never worked, and it never will! The government can't make you a better person. It can't make you follow good habits. Why don't they put you on a diet, you're a little overweight!

1988

 

[davidt!]

Personally, I don't agree with Pual on this issue but it isn't that big a deal to me. There are far bigger reasons why I support him

 

[homah]

Method 1 -- Find something they enjoy that is not considered mainstream (eating fatty foods will be a big one for many people). Ask if they are alright with the government banning such an activity. Assuming they say no, ask how it is different than banning people from doing drugs in the privacy of their own home.

Method 2 -- Tell them we should be free to do as we please in the comfort of our own home so long as no one else is effected by our actions. That is what freedom is all about. The government doesn't exist to protect us from ourselves. It exists to protect us from our enemies, both foreign and domestic. If they disagree with this argument, ask why and take it from there.

 

[Patriot0811]

I am not for legalization of all drugs but i believe Marijuana should be legalized:

A first time marijuana offender will receive more time than a person charged with aggravated assault or even molestation. The charge is not proportional to the offense. The millions of Americans arrested for using marijuana annually are also usually hard working people who pay taxes. This drug war is costing our government billions of dollars and yet today, more and more people are beginning to use Marijuana.

how is it that kids today can obtain marijuana easier than they can cigarettes or alcohol? I should know, im a high school student. When the stores sell them, there's no incentive for the dealers to deal them. You're not going to see a drug dealer selling alchol or cigarettes. It's simple: stores check ID, dealers do not.

Millions of US dollars are streaming into Mexico because of smugglers who are benefitting from our "drug war". Is this really helping us? This drug war has extended to us providing millions of dollars in aid to the Mexican government so they can battle their drug problem, why not provide anti-drug aid to every country in the world? The legalization of marijuana will also allow the taxation of marijuana which would bring in a small amount of income for the government.

Medical Marijuana patients in California(where medicinal marijuana is legal) have had their houses raided and their children taken away by the Drug Enforcement Agency. These are good people, they are not crazed drug addicts. How can we sit here and allow this federal agency to arrest people for lawfully using marijuana? Isn't this part of Ron Paul's message, that the states shall not have their sovereignty infringed?

Also, prisons that are becoming too overcrowded are releasing killers, rapists and other violent offenders to make room for NON-VIOLENT drug users. IS this not ridiculous?

Cigarettes are man made and contain hundred of poisons and chemicals added by the cigarette companies to get you addicted. Marijuana is a natural god made plant. Seriously, which sounds worse.

Tests show Marijuana Does NOT impair driving like alcohol does:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3zou4F00Ic

 

[Jagwarr]

I read an article about six months ago discussing a couple of studies going on that are looking into how MJ slows time perception in many smokers. What is interesting is that they say people who experience this slow time perception not only think they are able to accomplish more within a given time period but they do. Their minds perceive time to be slower but their physical bodies do not so they can physically do more within any given time frame while high.

Sounds wierd but that's what they are investigating.

 

[Mauiboy86]

 

[tomveil]

I read an article about six months ago discussing a couple of studies going on that are looking into how MJ slows time perception in many smokers. What is interesting is that they say people who experience this slow time perception not only think they are able to accomplish more within a given time period but they do. Their minds perceive time to be slower but their physical bodies do not so they can physically do more within any given time frame while high.

Sounds wierd but that's what they are investigating.

*nods*

There's times where I'll swear that I've spent hours finishing a project only to find that only an hour has passed. As long as you have the MOTIVATION (a big problem with pot), you'll be more focused and get things done. (Also, have much more fun doing it, since it feels like an adventure)

 

[nikolai]

I think RP fundamentally believes the federal government doesn't have the right to tell you what to do with your body. Now whether he honestly wants to legalize all drugs completely or just let the states handle the issue, I'm not clear about. That's what I'd really like to know.

And I think that it's funny that when people express that its a bad idea to legalize drugs, people start throwing out arguments about how good (or not bad...however you wanna word it) marijuana is for you and how alcohol and caffeine are legal. The thing is that marijuana, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, etc aren't the same thing as crack and heroine. I want someone to give me an argument that says people will just use heroine recreationally and they'll never infringe on the rights of others. You can't honestly believe that.

I, for one, think that big tobacco would LOVE to legalize marijuana. They'd be the first to sell it. And I'm sure they'd add all the same addictive substances to MJ cigarettes to get you addicted to them. Then everyone will be lighting up marijuana cigarettes on their way home instead of tobacco cigarettes.

 

[phree]

You know, on paper that sounds great. But in reality, I just don't think it works out that way. Do you really think that if a super-addictive drug like heroin was cheap and easy to come by, that it would not create problem to society?

Drugs being illegal makes them a problem for society because I'm more likely to be robbed by an addict, and much more likely to be robbed by the federal government to pay for wasteful programs that treat people with health problems as if they are criminals. If drugs were made legal people would be more likely to seek treatment if they needed it without fear of going to jail.

I wonder if alcohol became more of a problem after the prohibition was lifted. It certainly is a big problem now. I think it's possible that so many people abuse alcohol because it's legal. Maybe if other drugs were legal some of the people who are addicted to alcohol would choose other drugs leaving the total number of addicts (drugs and alcohol) roughly the same.

Just some random thoughts....

 

[Patriot0811]

I think RP fundamentally believes the federal government doesn't have the right to tell you what to do with your body. Now whether he honestly wants to legalize all drugs completely or just let the states handle the issue, I'm not clear about. That's what I'd really like to know.

And I think that it's funny that when people express that its a bad idea to legalize drugs, people start throwing out arguments about how good (or not bad...however you wanna word it) marijuana is for you and how alcohol and caffeine are legal. The thing is that marijuana, alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, etc aren't the same thing as crack and heroine. I want someone to give me an argument that says people will just use heroine recreationally and they'll never infringe on the rights of others. You can't honestly believe that.

I, for one, think that big tobacco would LOVE to legalize marijuana. They'd be the first to sell it. And I'm sure they'd add all the same addictive substances to MJ cigarettes to get you addicted to them. Then everyone will be lighting up marijuana cigarettes on their way home instead of tobacco cigarettes.

you're right the big tobacco companies would love to put addicting substances in marijuana, but that's why people will grow their own.

 

[phree]

I want someone to give me an argument that says people will just use heroine recreationally and they'll never infringe on the rights of others. You can't honestly believe that.

How would they infringe on others rights? I'm not sure I follow.

 

[KMA-NWO]

THC is fat soluble. You could theoretically create a lethal does by taking giant hail bays of the drug and cooking it in butter, then eating a massive quantity of the tainted butter.

That's not entirely accurate.

It requires ingesting more than the amount you get from smoking 100 pounds/hr.

Let's just say you'll pass out first

 

[nikolai]

you're right the big tobacco companies would love to put addicting substances in marijuana, but that's why people will grow their own.

Just like people grow their own tobacco? Heck I dont know anyone that rolls their own. People only grow their own marijuana cause they can't buy it prepackaged in a store.

 

[phree]

That's not entirely accurate.

It requires ingesting more than the amount you get from smoking 100 pounds/hr.

Let's just say you'll pass out first

Yes, but what if a bale of marijuana fell on you?

 

[Gustogus]

The best way is to push it back to a State/Community issue.

Remind them of how siimilar the war on drugs is to the prohibition of the past, black markets and funding of the mafia (terrorists).

Talk about how if you feel they should be illegal, it can still happen on the community level, just like "Dry Counties" and alcohol.

Play up the State/Community enforcement and just the removal from federal jurisdiction.

 

[nikolai]

How would they infringe on others rights? I'm not sure I follow.

People that are addicted to drugs like this only "steal tvs" (as it was worded earlier in this thread) once they have expended or been denied the resources and support of those closest to them.

The thing that scares me the most is that experimentation with drugs like this that are immediately addictive will be much more likely if they are legal. It's as if the government is saying they are ok. A parent can experiment with marijuana or have a drink or two every once in a while, but experimenting with powerful drugs like this will have undeniable consequences for the future of their children. And it will be a pattern that propagates down through the generations.