Honestly, I don't know if it should be legalized or not. See, it would be easier for people who smoke pot to do it without worrying so much about police, but on the other hand, the government would definitely want a piece of the profits, so they would add taxes to the already high prices and make it illegal for anyone else to sell it. In my opinion, while it would be simpler in some ways, the government would ruin it. It's one of those things that's better in the hands of normal people, because they're all competing to grow and market the best type or strain, etc.1
Of course, when you think that alcohol is legal, it's pretty unfair. Alcohol can make people violent, rude, sick, and cause a lot of bad situations. I've never seen a pothead pick a fight with someone for walking by and accidentally bumping their shoulder, which is something I can't say about drunks.2
Ultimately, I think the laws against using marijuana should be lifted, within reason (it only makes sense not to drive or do anything else that could be dangerous to others while intoxicated in Any way). I think pot should remain the peoples' product, because that way it stays competitive, and people stay happy, as opposed to the government taking over and monopolizing (because everyone knows even if they legalize it, people will get in trouble for selling it) to get rid of their competitors. So yeah, in the long run, I'd probably say no to legalizing.3
On a smaller scale, a lot of people act like legalizing pot would lead to an epidemic of unmotivated, unemployed pot addicts. Seriously? Pot has almost no physical addiction, so even if that did happen, it would just be a bunch of people looking for an escape from boring life, which already happens everyday - what do you think bars and booze are for? Still, the only benefit I see to legalizing is that pot-smokers wouldn't have to hide that they smoke, which wouldn't be much consolation once marijuana became the next corporate sellout project. 4
So basically, legalizing pot would make it 'safer' to smoke away from one's home, but in the end, it probably wouldn't be very different. It's not like they'd let us smoke joints in bars, or give pot-smokers any other rights extended to alcohol-drinkers, so all legalizing would do is make pot more expensive (think taxing, inflation), less potent (less growers = less competition), but stoners get the consolation of being allowed to smoke in some public places. Long story short: Not worth it.
A contest entry
- Marijuana Legalization: Yea or Nay? by WritersEffigy.
420 points, ended October 22, 13 entries
• next story in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
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Regulations would very likely ruin it. There would probably be limits on how potent it could be and other such stuff.
Good entry.
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Hmm. Just a thought, but you mention 'people getting in trouble selling it' if it was legalised. That is kinda a moot point, because they get in trouble anyway. For them, it being legal would be more beneficial. More people would be willing to buy because it's not illegal, so more sales, and people would still go to them rather than 'legal vendors' because it'd be so much cheaper.
Just a point.
FYI: I love playing devils advocate. -
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True, but not how I meant it either lol. I meant that either way people will still get in trouble for trying to sell it, so the only real difference to me in legalizing is that the government becomes a competitor in the pot market - one with a big legal advantage over the others. Plus, those people you mention who would be more willing to buy since it's legal, would probably stick with buying it somewhere legal too. Most people who claim they dislike pot use the reason that it's illegal as their entire reasoning for avoiding it, so it follows to reason that they would avoid illegal dealers too (unless they're total hypocrites lol).
Sorry, I enjoy the devil's advocate as well haha.
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Oh a completely different look at it! This was interesting to read, and so was your final decision, because it seemed you were swinging the other way for most of it. But it's good to look at both perspectives.
Good luck in the contest!
~VW
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I agree with you thoughts on the government and honestly never really thought of it that way
And you are SOOO right about drunks...i would take sitting by a pot smoking hippie any day
Great Entry !
Good luck !
Rian
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