eleven

That's totally crazy, Nigee. Where do you come up with this ridiculous nonsense? It's eight!

Also, how many years until Texas legalizes it and gay marriage and all other "socialist policies" that are really just common sense at this point?

This 8/11 issue will rage on and on ad infinitum, failing that then quite a long time

Eh. I'm of two minds about weed.

First, it is already widely in use and prohibition was very ineffective against alcohol and other drugs. It isn't as serious as more heavy illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine. The tax revenue would help slightly, as would decreased cost of policing / enforcing drug laws.

On the other hand... in my own personal experience, weed users are lazy and obsessive. One of my flatmates is a heavy user, and he's lazy, inattentive, and gets horrible grades. Now he plans on transferring schools to Colorado because he "doesn't like the school" (Read: it's too hard for his pot-wrecked mind and work ethic).

Texas legalization of marijuana could realistically happen in the near future, as GOP leaders are starting to talk favorably about it. By "near future," I mean in the next ten years.

Texas legalization of gay marriage will not happen in the next 30 years, unless forced by courts.

I'm not sure what socialist policies you think are common sense, but it's a safe bet that most voting Texans realize they are not. By and large, Texas has no desire to join your state in insolvency.

But really, the story over the next 20 years will be driven by how hispanic Texans vote. They vote much more Republican than in the rest of the country right now, while still voting for Democrats. If the GOP can maintain and somewhat increase that percentage, then "never" may be the right answer; otherwise, 10-30 years.

common sense to one person is fighting (or shooting or hanging) talk to another

Good analysis by Chaqa, and I mostly agree. I see the arguments for legalization as compelling, and support it, but I can't work up any enthusiasm for it because of the social effects that the drug seems to have, or at least may have.

No, what I mean by "socialist policies" are just those policies they don't like that really aren't as extreme as some of the policies elsewhere.

9.5 states

Well, I don't really know what you mean, so I can't answer.

If you want people to become dumber and more unhealthy then this trend of legalized pot is wonderful.

"Eh. I'm of two minds about weed."
You would be .... it makes you that way, I think only two minds is a very mild symptom.
Now when you open the door and Jesus brought you pepperoni pizza on a scooter, that's when you know you got some bad shit .....

Actually, the valedictorian of my high school class is a recreational user. Probably one of the hardest working people I know. Most of the lazy people who are weed users are likely already lazy beforehand. I know many very talented and bright individuals who smoke as a way to relax from all the stress.

"On the other hand... in my own personal experience, weed users are lazy and obsessive"

If that's the best criticism you've got, it should be legal.

It will be legal thought the United States at some point. There is no stopping the movement. There are too many positives to the small amount of negatives.

Like I said, of two minds. On a political standpoint, go ahead and legalize it. On a personal standpoint, being a weed smoker will definitely make you lose my respect / trust.

"If that's the best criticism you've got, it should be legal. "

Yes and no, bo_sox. If it actually has that effect on people and usage became high, then our country would be completely screwed.

I've heard this argument increasingly lately, and it's by far the best argument I've heard for the illegalization of pot.

I too have known extremely hard-working people who were heavy users. Have there been studies done on this that attempt to control for the obvious things?

"If you want people to become dumber and more unhealthy then this trend of legalized pot is wonderful."
Putin you are such a fascist

I think The Economist Magazine said it best when talking about how Uruguay became the first country to completely legalize the production, sale and consumption of marijuana:
"Squeezing out the crooks and allowing the authorities to concentrate on graver crimes is a change so obviously sensible that no other country has made it. If others followed suit, and other narcotics were included, the damage such drugs wreak on the world would be drastically reduced."

<more popcorn>

"If it actually has that effect on people and usage became high, then our country would be completely screwed."

Uhh... no?

Suppose 25% of people become "heavy users" as you call them, and then suppose half of them are lazy bums, then you have 12.5% of people that are overweight couch potatoes. Please demonstrate to me that our country is not already 12.5% overweight couch potatoes...

That's one of he things I truly dislike about the arguments against pot: there are plenty of people who use it and are great contributors to society and are very bright and talented. Whatever your opinion is of Obama, he used weed recreationally before and you obviously have to be very smart to become president. And, I know people who are lazy and smoke pot, but they were lazy before, the weed just creates a perpetual loop of laziness in their lives.

Don't bring Obama into the conversation. For one, he's done nothing but hinder legalization by raiding legal medical marijuana facilities (until a few days ago when he decided he likes pot again because public opinion is shifting). Plus, he's a dick.

@fasces. You hit the nail on the head. The best byproduct to legalizing any drug, is the amount of resources that are needed to fight it are no longer needed and the criminal element of it deteriorates. Less people out there hustling to sell it, violent crime start to wane.

"Suppose 25% of people become "heavy users" as you call them, and then suppose half of them are lazy bums, then you have 12.5% of people that are overweight couch potatoes. Please demonstrate to me that our country is not already 12.5% overweight couch potatoes... "

You're just a high school student, so I'll leave this atrocious statistical reasoning alone, other than to tell you that it's atrocious, and you should now quit making statistical arguments until you have some understanding of quantitative reasoning.

" I know many very talented and bright individuals who smoke as a way to relax from all the stress."

Anecdotal.

Pot is linked to mental illness and crime and mixed with alcohol it is very dangerous. Look at the ER visits and the reasons for those visits. Marijuana ranks very high on the list. There is a reason why places which began the criminalization trend a long time ago (See: Alaska, Netherlands) have had second thoughts about it.

"Putin you are such a fascist"

That's how you know the potheads have no arguments.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xejr3CyhwRA

I've smoked pot and while my IQ might not be 950, I'm not a dumbfuck.

Obama really hasn't done anything but talk in regards to marijuana legalization. Barely action at all.