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[Farbod Rajaei (Majet76)]

Empirically Derived Reasons for the Legalization of Marijuana: Philosophical and Pragmatic Perspectives

From what I know marijuana is just as and possibly less harmful than the cigarettes people smoke everyday. It’s been said that it’s not chemically addictive, only psychologically addictive. Assuming the above is true, I believe that marijuana should be legalized. Though, it should be a controlled substance. The reasons why I think marijuana should be legalized can be categorized into two categories; a transcendental-like philosophical approach and a logical approach.
Life to me is mostly about experiences as well as communication, sensitivity, and passion. I won’t bother going into detail about the latter three but mainly focus on the word experience. Life is full of experiences, and one of life’s purposes is to seek out and experience the myriad of experiences that are out there. To simply sum it up, one of life’s purposes is to live. One, though, can give bring up the argument that “you can experience killing a person or experience a harder drug such as cocaine, but that doesn’t make it ok.” I would then respond “Your right. Those are all experiences that someone can experience but that would result, in the case of killing someone, to essentially end your own life due to going to jail (most likely going on death row) and that would prevent him/her to experience other new experiences that life has to offer. Cocaine on the other hand is detrimental to one’s health and is very addictive. Again, to sum up my words, some experiences will prevent one from experiencing more experiences. It’s up to the person to choose wisely which experiences are worth experiencing and which will prevent them from experiencing other experiences. Marijuana, to put it simply, is one of life’s experiences waiting to be experienced. And because it doesn’t, as I have assumed in the beginning, have serious detrimental effects, it doesn’t prevent one’s quest for more of life’s experiences. Additionally, marijuana can enhance other experiences which can be as simple as listening to music.
Having someone tell you that you cannot experience marijuana is similar in a way to saying that you cannot ride a bike. Sure, by not riding a bike, there are no really obvious detrimental effects. It can actually argued that it’s healthier and safer if no one in America ever rode a bike because Americans have an innumerable number of accidents when riding bikes and, in many instances, bikes have played their role in bike-related deaths. The person taking away the bike from you would say, “You’re not missing out on much. It’s just a bike. Plus, in all likelihood, I’m saving you from injury and even your inevitable doom.” But to any ordinary person this proposition would seem to be absolutely ridiculous. It’s a joy to ride a bike. It’s an experience unto its own. Everyone should ride a bike. It’s one of life’s little experiences that make life worth living.
If marijuana were to be legalized, I envision that it would be distributed by the government or run by private licensed organizations that would be heavily controlled by government regulations. One HUGE reason why marijuana should be legalized is because of the advantageous economical reasons. The profit and taxes collected from marijuana would, in all likelihood, amount to an enormous amount. (Hey, guys, hate to break it to you but we need some creative solutions for paying off our insanely large amount of debt. I’m talking trillions of dollars folks.) These taxes could not only help pay off the national debt, but they can go into other "things"as well. In addition to the beneficial taxes produced, marijuana would produce more jobs and can greatly benefit farmers. I imagine marijuana only being distributed and consumed in certain buildings in designated locations. I imagine a restaurant type setting where one can come alone or with friends and experience it in either sectioned off private rooms or an open setting. One can quickly jump to the conclusion that it will be similar to a hookah bar. Even though there seem to be obvious similarities, there would be many important differences as well. There would be security personal and monitoring devices for safety. People will be screened at the door for other substances or potentially dangerous objects. Prior to entering their first time, they would have a “class” on proper usage of the marijuana and be informed of all pertinent information. They would have to go to “class” every six months after their initial “class.” During this class, they would also be issued an identification swipe card that will monitor how many times during a yet unspecified amount time they can enter the marijuana house. There would be also other regulations such as pregnant women cannot enter or only people over eighteen are allowed entrance and others that aren’t coming to me at this moment. There would be different choices of the consumption of marijuana such as joints, bongs, confections, etc. Though there are many solutions to the problem of stealing the leftover marijuana I’ll provide only one idea that is currently in my mind. The “waiters” also have the authority of watching over the consumer(s) to ensure there is no abuse of any kind. Or, the bong can be made in such a way that one cannot take out the weed without a key. These buildings will employ many people in order to provide the consumer with the best experience possible, and, as a result, this will lead to an increase in employment. There will also be legalized and controlled manufacturing of high quality bongs. This will also increase employment. Farmers who have relatively poor land may not need to worry as much as before and this may, in turn, help many struggling farmers. It can go without question, though, that security solutions would be provided. Another responsibility that the “waiters” or even another person will have is to make sure that prior to being released the person(s) who have consumed marijuana have completely been detoxified. This would therefore reduce the amount of incidents related to controlled substances dramatically. Life would be safer as we know it. Actually, the world, believe it or not, will become safer. Let me explain briefly in the next paragraph.
By legalizing marijuana and outlawing its use outside of these “marijuana houses” you would be making the world safer. Think of all the money that terrorists, mobs, thugs, and other criminals make from growing and selling marijuana. Now imagine that these “funds” from selling marijuana are virtually depleted because privately run organizations are competing with these terrorists and criminals. Now would you buy marijuana from a shady dealer off the street and know there is a chance that you will get jail time or would you go to a safe, legal environment that will in all likelihood provide cheaper, safer, one-hundred percent all natural, grade A, FDA approved marijuana, in which you would be supporting your country rather than terrorists?? I’m assuming that during the first year or two we can make the price of marijuana sooo ridiculously low that it will drive out all the wannabe Pablo Escobar’s out there and destroy whatever infrastructure that they have produced. I think that as a result of providing a place for marijuana consumption, we should increase the penalties of being caught with marijuana in order to detour people from getting their marijuana from other reliable yet illegal sources. This would encourage people to come to these houses.
So if you have completely blanked out on what I just wrote remember these three reasons on why marijuana should be legalized. People have a right to enjoy life and experience new experiences that will not prevent them from living life and enjoying other experiences. The economy of America will be greatly improved. America and the world will become a safer place to live in.

Bytheway, I have to let it be known that I have never smoked marijuana ever. I don’t even know what it smells like since I’ve never been around it. Oh and if anyone finds mistakes where my sentences make no sense I can care less since this hasn’t been proofread. I’m tired. I’ll do it later…maybe.

[Farbod Rajaei (Majet76)]

It's a win-win situation. Everybody wins!!

[Ron Searl (footbag_rox)]

wow that is so long... who is acctually going to take the time to read a post like that lol

[Danny Smith (PirateMan)]

I read it. No comment though.

[Eric Marsh (ShazamTheMan)]

(just saying)The government can't get to much money off of it with taxes because people can grow it on there own. and if it was legalized here people from other nations (where it might be illegal) will see that its legal here and see the other great things that we have that are mostly taken advantage of and come here. makeing it overcrouded and what not. and it will also put a 'Bad Name/title' on the nation for having it legal.
also the use of marijuana would loose its 'greatness' and people would be looking for a drug that will give them an even higher high makeing the drug use of other drugs higher. because of that more gang stuff might take place. (not so sure about that)
Also if some one started they would have to stay on it because when you quit your memory completely dies. but if you stay on it your memory isn't as bad as when you aren't. that will also lead to very poor memory as you get older (the alstimer (what ever thats call... the thing where you just forget everything in just 5 minutes) will come to people faster and stronger.) this nation would stay together but fall apart with the buisness and other areas because of people making stupid mistakes, even government areas would.

Time will also just repeat itself on why cocain should be legalized and other drugs.

But i am just a kid (15 almost 16) and i didn't spend much time writing this. so no need to read the stuff i ranted on about. take chances if you want to have all your experiences. chances is another part of life. i think you forgot that one. lol. sounds like a good plan though.

[Colin Kennedy (ckennedy)]

I'm sorry Eric, but that has to be the least informed post I've ever read about anything. You're paying too much attention in health class, and not enough attention to the facts.

I'll try to be brief.

Nobody would grow their own pot if they could go to the store and buy an ounce for, say, forty bucks, which would be and EASY price to maintain and make a huge profit from if grow-ops were legal and large. It wouldn't be worth the hassle. It's true that lots of people grow their own now, but that's because it's easier and cheaper than dealing with buying illegal goods. Have you ever heard a smoker say that if the tax on smokes goes up another dollar then they're gonna start growing their own tobacco?

Your country (and every other) has immigration laws, and besides, nobody from Canada or Mexico would be drawn by relaxed pot laws, as they both have relatively relaxed laws already. Anyone in Europe who has pot as such a priority would already live in Holland, where it's legal. And for the record, you'd have to be brain-dead to want to move from Holland to the US.

There's no need for the US to worry about its reputation - it's already the most hated and feared nation on earth.

'Gateway' arguments about pot are not only amazingly false, but also increadibly frustrating to argue with, so I won't bother unless you push it. Probably not even then.

I don't know who fed you the info on pot vs memory, but where it's not flat out wrong, it's been blown way out of proportion. Pot isn't nearly as bad for your memory or general brain functions as McD's is for your heart and general bodily functions. As for Alzheimer's specifically, do a google search for "marijuana alzheimer's" - I dare ya. Then shake your fist at whoever educated you.

As for people 'making stupid mistakes' and the nation falling apart, well, that's just silly. Nobody's saying that we should all get stoned before we go to work as air traffic cnotrollers. Pot is an intoxicant, like alcohol, and should of course be used responsibly.

[Eric Marsh (ShazamTheMan)]

yeah. i don't know all the laws and what not of the other nations so this is prett much just my thoughts on how other nations and people would react. but i the heath teacher person never talked about marijuana alzheimer's that i know of... that was my class to sleep in since i had it 1st. but i searched the 'marijuana alzheimer's' thing and it says it can help it. lol. but yeah. like i said at the ending of the thing 'no need to read the stuff i ranted on about.' i dunno though. well i'm outta this post now.

[Ron Searl (footbag_rox)]

In my opinion drugs are gay and anyhow they would reduce your reaction speed and coordination. So why would you want to take anything that will just reduce your abiltiy to shred and stuff. I need all the help i can get as it is... this is just my opinion not like i'm informed or anything.

[Farbod Rajaei (Majet76)]

I agree with the first part of Colin Kennedy's reply.

Eric Marsh. It's people like you that make other people, such as myself, afraid of reading long posts or any post for that matter because, not to offend you or anything, I honestly feel stupider after reading posts such as yours. Just by glancing over a post or reply I can estimate the chances that there is a simpleton behind the keyboard, so to speak, by the number of lol’s, general lack of proper punctuation/grammar, and by the number of …’s. I still read on though, when there’s a high likelihood that I’ll be losing some brain cells. I do this in the hopes that the replier, in fact, didn’t have time to worry about correct grammar, but, yet, has contained within the reply a relevant idea, message, opinion, or thought that possess an iota of intelligence. Most of the time, though, I get a general feeling of nausea. Do everyone a favor next time. Print out your post using Microsoft Word and ask your English teacher how to improve upon it before you actually post. Seriously. It will help you out more than you know, and I’m sure my chances of acquiring ulcers will dramatically decrease. Do this and tell me how it turns out. Better yet, make it into a new topic. ::sigh::

Ron Searl. You should seriously consider informing yourself rather than barfing up your contiguously useless opinions on the topic at hand, as well as the general forum. I’m going to assume that you haven’t read my first post since I’m sure that my logic would have caused you to respond with critical questions as well as possible agreements with my ideas. Oh, and by the way, you do need all the help you can get “as it is,” but I’m not talking about footbag. You should follow what I told Eric in the paragraph above.

[Ron Searl (footbag_rox)]

lmao thats one pretty harsh post why do I care about grammer or anything else you have said because you seem pretty mean spirited...

[Joel Szymczyk (jszymczyk)]

hmm, and I thought folks were genuinely interested in changing the "stoner image" of footbag.

[Jon Nagela (crazylegs)]

How about instead of trying to change the "stoner image" of footbag, we (stoners) do our best in all walks of life to improve the image of stoners.

[Joel Szymczyk (jszymczyk)]

no disrespect intended, but how 'bout just stop being a stoner?

[James McDonald (GumbiesAssasin)]

i dont do it but i believe that it should be legal world wide. just because its harmfull to you is no reason to outlaw it. i dont believe that the government should have the right to outlaw a "drug" that is grown by nature. man made drugs are different, those containe too many chemicals that are harmfull to the environment. but marijuana is grown by grown by good old mother earth. contradict me or agree with me i dont see a problem with it as long as you dont cause harm to others wile doing it.

[Justin Constantino (jcc123)]

Before I begin my argument I'll wait for a reply to question...

How is maurijuana good for you? Not you as in everyone in general, but you as in the one who is reading this right now. How is maurijuana good for you? ..now take a second to think about it and answer it with all sincerity........