200 cities rally to end pot prohibition

i support it just for medical use. seeing how when ur in pain the only side effects is some lazyness and the munches.

Pot prohibition exists to criminalize lower class and minority individuals. They may not be the only ones who smoke, but they are the ones most frequently punished for it. It should be repealed, however it likely will not be for just those reasons.

the only reason it was banned in the first place was to stop the "illegal mexicans" from coming over.

Yea that really worked!

It was banned originally as a nice little addition to the drug war, now we waste resources criminalizing potheads that we could use shutting down meth labs. The concern seems to lie in quantity of criminals, not in actually punishing those who should be off the streets.

it amazing

there is absolutely no good reason that marijuana is illegal. I used to thing marijuana-legalization was a 'stoner argument', but it's actually just rational on every level. I'm 20 and I feel confident that marijuana will be legal in my lifetime, especially since my generation seems much more open to the idea.

ok. weed is bad for you, we get that.
so are cigarettes and liquor. so are guns (sometimes) and so many other things. that spiderman quote about responsibility sounds a bit cliche, but its true. if people stop being irresponsible, maybe, just maybe, the world would be a much better place

Haroscarfel, currently there are an abundance of people who smoke pot and almost all of them do it in the privacy of their homes because of the legality issue. I think that it's very likely that even if it is legalized that a large number of people will continue this because of habit, because of the connotations that will certainly be associated with it by the section of the populous that does smoke pot, or because of how cumbersome some smoking devices are,
If pot is legalized, there will probably be more cigarette smokers than pot smokers on the street, and you already have those to deal with.

Pot should just be HEAVILY Taxed. Make it legal and pound those fools in the wallet.

That's a great solution until you consider what they could begin to tax to deter your usage of it. As soon as the people not only approve, but suggest heavy taxes as a means of controlling these substances it will spread to other things that you will not appreciate as much.

I agree with StuntBunny. If we tax the ever-living crap out of marijuana sales and transport and whatever, the money could be used to crack down on heavier drugs, provide more effective rehab, etc. As well, if you're worried about the youth, the de-criminalization will take away the bad-ass factor of lighting it up, especially if they know the tax on it would support The Man.

If marijuana was legal, I would support "The Man". I don't really think that's a factor. I do agree that it will be legal in my lifetime.

Haroscarfel, go blow it out your asshole. This article has nothing to do with stoners imposing their recreation on you...it's about medical cannabis. You are imposing your pretentious, ignorant bullshit on my mind by posting an out of place comment in this section. And whoever is chugging that beer while you are walking down the street is probably going to get in their car right after and drunkenly run over your stupid ass.

http://www.jackherer.com/

I read the book in the early 90's from cover to cover. It was full of facts I had not heard before. The complete book is available to read on the internet. Facts hidden from sight, but facts none the less. If the facts contained in the book, "The Emperor Wears No Clothes" are correct, we are doing a terrible disservice to the world by not discussing it.

I read this challenge roughly 17 years ago and have yet to hear anyone accepting the challenge. If the challenge cannot be proven wrong, it appears to be fact. It's time we stop letting corporate America and pharmaceutical companies dictate our conversations.

******************************************************************************************************************

$100,000 Challenge to Prove Us Wrong!

If all fossil fuels and their derivatives, as well as trees for paper and construction, were banned in order to save the planet, reverse the Greenhouse Effect and stop deforestation;

then there is only one known annually renewable natural resource that is capable of providing the overall majority of the world's paper and textiles; meet all of the world's transportation, industrial and home energy needs, while simultaneously reducing pollution, rebuilding the soil and cleaning the atmosphere all at the same time...

Lapedro, no need to get aggravated though I agree with you.
Haroscarfel, not for nothing but if somebody is walking down the street with a j and you are walking behind them you can easily move yourself away from the smoker. Also, if you are stuck behind a smoker you're not participating in their recreation by any means, so don't worry about that.

Anyhoo...the whole debate on the prohibition should have been over years ago. It's sad to see the same parties fighting the same battle over and over. We know those who are in power wield the war on drugs against the lower classes and we know it's a colossal waste of taxpayers money. Marijuana does little to "degrade society" (whatever that means) and should be legalized and then taxed...like everything else. If people want to light up a J after a hard day living in his/her middle class toil, why the hell not?

As far the "driving while high" fears go, make a zero tolerance policy and habitually stoned drivers will be taken off the roads.

Haroscarfel, you need to understand where the anger comes from. People have been thrown in jail for mere possession. People who would be helped by cannabis have been denied a plant made by God, because people who stand to gain financially have the power of the press and the strong arm of the law to keep them from a God made plant that does ease their pain and suffering.

Children is always what is used for the AWE factor. We have to protect the children. We have to deny adults who choose to use cannabis over a pharmaceutical substance that has unmentionable side effects? It just doesn't make sense? Children need parenting, more than a sick person denied medicine because people aren't parenting? That's a smoke screen.

Industrial Hemp is an issue that should be discussed today. Medical Cannabis is a subject that should be discussed today. If not, why not? For the children? Get real the world is in such terrible shape and a God made seed may hold the answer to many ills, both physical and environmental.

Problem is 'They can't patten God's Plant'! They can just stiffel the conversation with distorted facts and throw people in jail. Which scares others enough not to talk. Fear factor has been used for years to silence people who know the facts.

It would be a great cash crop.

methadone legal . marijuana not legal . smart.

This is no negative effect on marijuana use, and the only reason it is illegal is because the government cannot gain a profit from it. If the government would take the resources they put in fighting marijuana use and put it in hardcore drug use cases it would be better off. I don't smoke or use marijuana but my research shows it is not harmful.

well lindaann, I have done extensive research and I an assure you that's it's not harmful

How funny. I saw this in Chicago while waiting for the bus except the rally only had about forty people. Hilarious, I did not know it actually was all over the states.

Adumbration, why tax the ever-living crap out of a plant? ‘Bad-ass factor’ doesn’t come from cannabis, it comes from an unruly youth that needs to learn respect. That ‘bad ass factor’ would be in the youth lighting up, or whatever means he chooses to be a ‘bad ass’. Back in the 60’s and early 70’s they sniffed glue.

Haroscarfel, many of your posts are not of fact, they are opinion. People who support medical cannabis and industrial hemp bring facts, not spin. You are doing the same thing mainstream media does, you are injecting spin (distorted facts) Your posts were argumentative because you were not using facts, you were using spin. Many people are tired of spin and seeking facts instead.
Why should cannabis be put in pill form? Why pay a pharmaceutical company to process something that works quite well in it’s natural form. Some people, cancer for one, can’t keep anything down. Vomiting is a side effect of the treatment.

No one is naïve enough to insinuate that people won’t consume it on the street, but why punish the ones who aren’t? As far as you smelling cannabis, that’s irrelevant, it’s a smell. Walk away, why throw people in jail because you get your nose out of joint? Joking! oops

I think it’s a shame that ‘the few’ want to take away treatment that could help ‘the many’. Everyone is not trying to use an angle. Some are trying to use facts. I think it is you who used the angles instead of fact. How much of what you posted can be backed up with fact?

I doubt this will get too far. If they let marijuana slide then the rest of the drugs that have been criminalized will begin to bubble up for question. I'm against drug laws, but I just don't see it happening.

As someone who grew up with potheads for parents and was subjected to countless pot parties where we were always put in a room with a TV and puppies or kitties if we were lucky, legalization of pot is not on my top priority of things to fight for or care about. I think the world offers us a buffet of causes to fight for that would be considered more noble than this.

The proof is in the pudding, everyone I know or knew who smokes pot are not very motivated to do much of anything. They usually have big ideas or scheme to make money, but never follow through. People who do smoke it and are making something of their lives, I just imagine how much more they could be doing if they were not smoking pot.

How about donating that money to a charity?

We have a heck of a lot of folks in jail today..and some for possesion of a very tiny amount of Marijuana.

I think as things get worse..overcrowding etc... what might occur is that these folks go free..I hope.

And I would sincerely hope that we would not throw someone in jail just for a bit of marijuana but...

We also have too many, far too many folks that are addicted and we should really be focusing on helping them over their addiction too.

Marijuana was criminalized in order to expand the narcotic department, thus increasing their budget - dramatically. The war on drugs is impossible to win. Give it up. Let people do to them selves what they see fit in this "free" country.

Brandyx,

I concur...and while I didn't grow up with it I was exposed to it walking down the halls on Saturday morning in my dorm...

I didn't smoke it then and never started either.

And I tend to agree that it just mellows one out so much that they don't accomplish anything either.

There are much better causes to be concerned about:)

I think too often one looks to substances themselves as the main contributer to the ills of society rather than looking to the ills of man. Focus should be shifted to moderation, (something people have a hard time getting a grip on) education, and personal responsibility.

first of all Haroscarfel, as any pot smoker can tell you, marijuana smells great. second, i would be much more worried about the pollution, toxicities in groundwater, chemicals in cleaners, radiation, etc. that exists in public than about weed smoke. obviously i have no right telling you what to be worried about, but i care about you, a lot.

maybe the line for drug illegalization should be preparation time. if it takes more than say 42.0 minutes to prepare from the plant to your mouth/lungs than it should be completely illegal.

Weed does not make you lazy. Procastination makes you lazy. Sometimes I can focus better on one specific thing better after I have been smoking. Seriously, that's at least 12 million Americans you said were lazy. They can't ALL be lazy potheads, can they?

Also, some of the people who are just tossing out opinions, please check some medical studies and find out some statistics on cannibis testing. Not only for this topic, but more importantly to know it for yourself so your opinion is more informed.

Let's remember that the perscription pills in your cabinet can kill you, but you can't overdose from marijuana. That in itself should say a lot about how dangerous it is. You can overdose from mustard, sugar, even water but not weed.

I still don't think ordinary Americans get it? Discussion of lazy and procrastination, has nothing to do with sick people who could be helped by a plant. Discussion of lazy and procrastination, has nothing to do with the possible industrial and environmental uses of hemp.

People will be lazy and procrastinate no matter what they choose to help them get there. If they weren't using cannabis, they would be using something else. Children who use cannabis would be choosing another substance to get high. It's not cannabis that causes their problems with drugs. Blaming cannabis for the flaws of youth is easy. Addressing their personal issues is much more difficult.

Back to the subject. Cannabis/Hemp is far more than peoples drug of choice. Many people want to throw around accusations when people choose try to discuss the benefits to humanity and the environment of cannabis/hemp. They use spin and opinion. Opinions have no place in the discussion. Far too many people could be helped 'if only' we could stop the spinning for a moment and discuss facts.

Of course marijuana can cause negative effects. No more than alcohol or overeating can. Most things (especially consumable) are harmful if overindulged. Take everything with a dose of humanity, responsibility, respect and decency, and always in moderation.

There's no way people should be locking up other people and ruining their lives (refusing treatment, too!) because one person with better access to resources assumes that it is corrupt.

We've screwed ourselves so bad a society deeming certain people or things as evil and drawing big bold lines about everything. This crazy with us or against us stream of thought is eroding at our brains and our cultures.

It's just a plant. People can light it on fire and inhale combustion if they want to. It's up to individuals to decide. No one is pushing their recreation on you. Your pure little bubble is burst every time you get in a car, or walk on the street or cook or eat processed food. Don't complain about chemicals like THC when you have mutant chemicals racing around inside you.

Walking past someone with a spliff won't put nearly as many chemicals in your system as standing next to a car starting.

People just need to start worrying about themselves and their own place in the world before they try (en)forcing others to do or not do things that will never have any effect on them.

Alright I am not going to keep arguing after this, because it is not YOUTUBE. HAROSCARFEL, if you actually read what I said to you, I told you that a drunk driver probably would "run over your stupid ass." Implying that it wouldn't be the stoner, but the drunk who would impose their recreation on your body. I did not wish physical harm upon you; I have never even met you. In fact, you made the comment that you would not mind if that law got involved in my life. What?! Sounds like something my friend's mom would tell me if she caught me getting high or something. Sure is an awkward comment.

What about this one? "And more than likely would express little remorse and deny any responsibility for your actions."

Because I'm stoned, correct? I sure can't speak for everyone, but I'm pretty compassionate. I would probably leave a note with my name and address on your body. Seems like you've been fed Reefer Madness by your grandma too many times.