I think that if it's not legalized, it will be decriminalized in more and more places. As a friend pointed out to me, the case of Michael Phelps should shed light on the "dangers" of marijuana.

The fact that one of the greatest athletes who has ever lived smokes pot says more about the drug than it does about Phelps. How bad can it be?

I have had mixed feelings about this for a while, but I think that legalizing and taxing it is a good idea. If that doesn't happen, I at least hope there will be a revamping of the medical marijuana/cannabis card system. It should be distributed through pharmacies just like other controlled prescription drugs.

I wish they would, but I don't see it happening.

I think legalizing it and taxing the sh*t out of it seems like a good plan

LaurenG22-> amen to that!

it will never ever happen.

They have been talking about this for YEARS! I don't think it will ever happen.

it SHOULD happen, but I agree that 'decriminalized' is probably the best we'll do nationally, and state-by-state they can make their own laws. the whole 'war on drugs' focuses too much on Mexico, when really that is just a stop to get into America from Columbia and Peru. but now the drug war is tied in with 'national defense' and homeland security and immigration..... I probably shouldn't get started on this rant!!! medical usage should be universal and decriminalization may happen.

This is a decision by the states right? So if one particular state was super liberal they could legalize it couldn't they?

They SHOULD legalize pot. It has not been show to cause deaths in people, unlike alcohol which kills via alcohol poisoning and a lot of teenage stupidity. Contrary to what some believe pot doesn't automatically make a person want to go out and do Heroin either. It's not all that likely to directly cause someone to go and get into hardcore drugs. Furthermore, weed is NATURAL, grown naturally in many, many places. It is not like some hardcore drugs which are completely man made. Aside from that, if we legalized pot and taxed it -- the US economy would definitely be better because of all the "extra" money. In case Obama isn't aware from his pot smoking days, pot does not cause you to go on a f*cking rampage like with crack, it basically causes you to feel like a dumbass, slow, and hungry. How is THAT going to kill teens or other people more than drunk driving does? It will not. It doesn't work in the same way.

I say, if it's legalized...there ya go. People may be happy enough and stop using crack because they have a drug that can make them feel good without killing them in their sleep.

NOTTA!!!!

how can it not help the economy to a) stop wasting tons of money keeping potheads in prison, and b) add the potentially huge tax revenue? it hate that people assume marijuana's bad for you because it is illegal but alcohol is ok because it's allowed even though they were both prohibited at the same time by the same people, it's total nonsense. cigarettes hurt you so much more but the government has no problem letting people kill themselves because they profit so much from it. why is pot different?

but whatevs, laws haven't stopped me so far lol...
HAPPY 420 EVERYBUDDY! Meet me in the salty snack aisle

I think people are not going to legalize but decriminalize it. The morality war is starting to fuel up again and I believe that it will deter legalization. I could care less either way.

I wonder if this is why Ben & Jerry's is giving away free cones tomorrow instead of today?

LOL fuzzies, hilarious. Either way, I don't do it, but if they legalized it they better tax it. I don't think it will happen... They also would need laws like with Alcohol, age limit and 'can't drive under the influence' things.... thats about it though... I just really hate the smell and I like being in my natural- unaltered- state. But whatever... almost every one I know does it daily.... stinky.

I think it'll get decriminalized, at least mostly. But not legalized....maybe it should go the way of alcohol or cigarettes - restrict who gets to use it legally, I suppose.

I don't know. I know a lot of people who will be celebrating at their best today, but since I have no stake in the issue...I don't really care. As long as they don't cause more car accidents or anything...

i don't think it'll get legalize but we will see

Fuzzles, hahaha, I was thinking that same thing.
I think it should be legal, I just dont think it's going to happen. There's still this huge stigma attached to pot (even if it is utter b.s.)... and I doubt that's going to change anytime in the near or even far future.

It really should be legal. Make it illegal to drive with it in your system, like alcohol, but adults should really be able to do as they please as long as they aren't hurting anyone else. Also, if we're going to legalize it, you might as well regulate it- make it so people have to be licensed to grow and sell it, which will be a great fundraiser for the government!

They will, in my lifetime. But it's not going to be anytime soon.

Personally I am pro-legalization for many reasons.

they should just criminalize cigarettes at the same time they legalize marijuana. good compromise

I don't smoke it, and I'm actually not against making it legal but controlled (the same way they legalize alcohol but you have laws to protect yourself against drunk-driving, and find a device to see if they're 'over the limit' or can be considered as 'too stoned to drive').

Happy 4-20! Legalize it!

I guess I am one of the only anti-pot people here.

I read one article that made me cringe. One joint has the equivelant effect on your lungs as and entire pack of cigarettes. I would have to say that these effects are much worse on your body than say a glass of wine a day, which has been proven to actually have positive effects on your body.

It has also been proven that it will kill brain cells, increase appetite, and decrease motivation - none of which sounds healthy to me.

I say keep it illegal, and continue to punish those that are selling it, esp. to children.

You know, I am not a pothead. I don't even drink alcohol, and I have no real dog in this fight. But, our war on drugs accomplishes nothing. We have more people incarcerated per capita than any other developed nation on earth. There's just no reason to continue a policy that accomplishes nothing as creates so much suffering.

I totally think it's time to decriminalize marijuana.

ella any substance used too much (pot, alcohol) will cause side effects. "brain cells, increase appetite, and decrease motivation" is exactly what alcohol does to me, funny since it is your profile picture. This is not an attack on you, just so you know. As for the children, I think alcohol is far more damaging to them yet easier to get a hold of.

Well actually I just liked the martini glasses.. that' why it's my pic. I might have 2 maybe 3 drinks a WEEK and I agree, that everything in moderation. But one single joint a day is equivelant to a pack a day cigarette habit. Sounds pretty scary for causing lung cancer.
It is also habit forming, and for most people, alcohol is not.
Just my opinions.

in response to post 27, i'm curious as to where you got that information about the joints? Anyway if pot was legal plenty of people would be eating it rather than smoking. It's a lot of work to make pot food, but if you could buy it pre-made, it would be easier and cheaper. You could always use a vaporizer to bring down the harm of the smoke too. There are countless ways to consume marijuana, some of which are more harmful than others. Also, marijuana may be habit forming to some, but no more so than alcohol. It is not addictive at all, but yes to some it may be habit forming.

Some say that that study is flawed and the fact that it is so harmful could;d also be attributed to the method of absorption more than the actual drug. Most papers that are used for joints are chemically treated the same way that cigarette paper is, mainly because that is the intended use. A vaporizer is a much safer way to go to inhale marijuana smoke and has been proven as such.

You know, I'm not sure. I read a lot of websites.
I am attaching a link to another article quoting that.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,326309,00.html

You'll have to copy paste in your browser, not sure how to make it a link???

As far as eating it, I have no data on that. I just know that I don't like the feeling of being intoxicated, so I wouldn't want to walk around like that all day. And to think that half of the world would be walking around like that. And drunk driving is bad enough as it is, I can't imagine if half the people out there were stoned... I don't know, doesn't seem like a good idea to me. Just seems dangerous.

I don't mean to offend, just my personal opionons.

Cigarettes have so many chemicals in them and here in PA they have added something else so the cigarette will snuff itself out if you leave it burn…too much chemicals in your body.
Now marijuana in from a seed that grows and I don’t recall ever hear of adding “stuff” to it.