I can't think of anything other than what's already been said. If the fact that pot contains dangerous and poisonous substances in it does not convince you then I cannot convince you.

Perhaps you should explain why anything with dangerous and poisonous substances in it (heroin, beer, most medicines, etc) should be illegal?

(Sorry, I can't get into the right frame of mind to do this.)

Because it is a plant based substance, and all plant based substances are inherently evil. Do you know how many innocent bugs already die by Venus Flytrap. It has to end somewhere.

But seriously, although I personally don't partake and will continue to suggest to my kids that it will lead to eternal damnation and tongue warts, I'm not sure I could make a case regarding the (il)legality of pot. However, I would recommend that criminal charges when operating motor vehicles whilst under the influence of said pot should mimic those of alcohol related ones (albeit sometimes those are quite ridiculous).

@ StevenC. (continuation of previous comment):

H'm, that response of mine sounds kind of facetious; I'm not *trying* to argue the other side. I mean it as a sincere suggestion; and if (as I expect) you don't believe that all of those examples should also be illegal, then try to explain the difference.

OTOH, if you already did this in the other thread, then presumably you're not the person that DJ is asking for here. I am, but as I said, I can't do it, at least not now. (As you can see, I slip into sarcastically arguing for the side that I really believe even when trying to be neutral!)

Wow, a bunch of people no imagination or debate skills. You seriously have never tried taking the opposite side of an issue you believe in? It does wonders for trying to be prepared to counter arguments to your real view.

A lot of the cases for the legalization of pot are economic, especially when it comes to California. I'm personally not into putting the economy before people's lives.

*case*(typo)

But isn't the economy helped in its own way by the criminalisation of marijuana? It keeps certain people off the streets, and out of certain jobs, meaning that those jobs are open to those without a history of drug (ab)use. At the same time, it ensures that the prison system is continuously running, so that the government can continue to employ and expand the police force.

@ dbj
I completely agree with your statement regarding taking the opposite side of your personal viewpoints. It really does better prepare you when engaging in dialogue about many topics. I shall see if I can get enough time to gather some data and formulate some kind of presuasive argument against legalization.

emmm good question Dingle. I would like to support the motion that marijuana should remain an illegal drug because, we all like to rebel and using marijuana lets people rebel safely rather than taking more nasty substances.

@StevenC are you seriously suggesting Marijuana is life threatening? *BITCH SLAP

I can't believe you just said that! Really? Not life threatening? Are you kidding?

But in all seriousness, the drug isn't as safe as everyone would like to believe. Not everyone is affected by it in the same way. I know that that is true for a lot of other drugs, but why should we allow another unknown variable become readily accepted?

@StevenC... You better be spewing sarcasm or I'll be saddened by your narrow view on the subject.

@Onar you are full of shit. First of all most people don't think it's safe the argument for years, many years, is that it isn't as dangerous as it's portrayed and most of the arguments on either side take everything out of context. I don't discuss it with anyone because most people are so uneducated on either side it's pointless. (I don't discuss via text because in a linguistic sense written communication isn't a language and a waste of time because proper communication isn't possible.

Leave my constipation out of this. If most people are uneducated on both sides, then why not enlighten this uneducated mass, rather than being a part of the problem?

I'm part of a different fight, one cannot spread out too thin.

How in any way am I being a part of the problem? You are perpetuating half truths and all I'm saying is it is a pointless endeavor.

Sayjo, did you realize the topic of this thread?

If I'm perpetuating half-truths, and you know the part that I do not, then you can stop me from continuing. Like a civillian who doesn't stop a criminal when he has the chance.

What aspect of marijuana? Use, possession, importation, ...? There are a lot of components to this that I think are best treated separately.

a sophistry thread?

DJ I said I couldn't partake in the opposition but you can't have someone arguing it if you don't have another promoting it. The only point an opponent has made is it is life threatening there is nothing to say to that other that... lol

Onar, do you drink? (Common argument for a reason)

*other than

Actually, I don't drink. Not often, and not well, that is. Don't have a taste for it.

That's good neither do I. The point commonly is that there are plenty of legal things that are more detrimental to ones health.

Consume 4 Tablespoons of Nutmeg and I'm sure your liver will hate you but you'll have lucid visions/auditory that will astound you.

Well, that was the point I was making earlier: We have enough legal things that cause trouble. Do we really NEED another?

There is little need for anything we have. It's a freedom that is being needlessly restricted who are you or anyone else to control a person's right to consume what they wish. Eat enough apple seeds and you'll die, shit let's ban apples, there are plenty of things that provide anti-oxidants we don't need another.

I just did the nutmeg as Sayjo stated and now I cannot get all the dancing bears out of the house because they're afraid of the vampire rabbits that are in my backyard.

Sayjo,
I disagree with your premise. The counterpoint is NOT actually needed. I wanted to hear people's arguments for keeping use illegal. People are going to state things they don't necessarily agree with, they certainly don't need you disagreeing with them, since they could make that argument for themselves. They can poke the holes in it themselves.

As an aside, I find it sad you can't participate in an intellectual pursuit like this.

Apples have worms, which remind me of caterpillars, which turn into butterflies, which can fly into spider webs, and I'm afraid of spiders. Damn apples.