On the other hand, the DEA are people whose main mission in life is to stomp out, not just drugs, but patients rights, safe access to safe medicine, etcetera.
This government agency has balked consistantly, even after their administrative law judge told them to legalize it 20 years ago. They cant stand the 'medical culture'.
So, does anyone think the US will EVER legalize cannabis, given that the DEA would look like clowns, fighting it the whole time, only to get bitch-smacked.
Unless they cite "further research has led us to believe we were wrong, about the reefer"
Let me state, no disrespect to the misled men and women who work there, but the entity - the DEA- has their prioities a bit skewed
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
A few states will legalize very soon, and the feds don't typically prosecute anything under 100 plants or 100 KG of bud unless there are aggravating factors like crossing state lines is the main one, But I think it will be reclassified at least once states start legalizing it. The people want medical marijuana, and they are getting close to 50/50 on outright legalization, it IS coming
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
DEA employees must already overlook most drug users(eg users of prescribable meds, caffeine, alcohol, unregulated herbs) so I'm sure they'll just continue to look down upon cannabis users and be frustrated that they can't restrict the decisions and freedoms of those Americans. One less offense that they can punish people for without bringing any positive effects to society or freedom... Seriously how do these people justify their jobs or feel any satisfaction from their work considering the increasing drug rates, all the drug profits leaving the country, and the fact that there is so little rehab (just punishment) for the people they target?
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
Personally I think it's none of their damn business what any american does to their own bodies. My belief is that the states that legalize it will probably face more prosecution from the DEA. Look at California's medical marijuana...the DEA recently started cracking down hard on that.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
Well eventually there will be enough powerful people advocating for marijuana that representatives in the government will use this to gain popularity. Once that happens more members of Congress will feel safe supporting it and finally put the plant to good use. The blowhards at the DEA will then have to hop off and let us be, saving the government millions of dollars and bringing in even more from, yes, marijuana taxes.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
If research does show that there's more benefit to cannabis legalization enough to disregard the threats, they will surely co-exist.
Unfortunately, there's no effective system currently in place that can guarantee safe use of cannabis if ever it get's legalized. Will things be under control? If we end up spending too much money rehabilitating people, then prevention is better than cure.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SandyACL
If research does show that there's more benefit to cannabis legalization enough to disregard the threats, they will surely co-exist.
Unfortunately, there's no effective system currently in place that can guarantee safe use of cannabis if ever it get's legalized. Will things be under control? If we end up spending too much money rehabilitating people, then prevention is better than cure.
"Safe use of cannabis" - all cannabis use, as far as I was aware, is safe. Cannabis is NOT a physically addictive substance, the need to 'rehabilitate' people from cannabis use is minimal at best. Explain to me how there is a 'safe' system in place for people who drink alcohol? Alcohol rehabilitation costs millions every year and is an ever growing issue, more so than cannabis ever could become.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
I first managed to dream that at least MJ would be legal all the way back in the mid 90's when Clinton was President. And now, 20 years later, it's getting closer but still no cigar. So many of my contemporaries (I'm 46) who smoked like Rastamen back in the day, now have flipped and clutch Bibles and want to keep it illegal. 5 years goes by and another 5 and suddenly, I don't think I will see it legal in my lifetime. There is too much against and not enough for. Big Pharma, alcohol, tobacco, churches, cops, prisons, DEA - so many things owe their existence or a lot of their current success due to the illegality. Public sentiment has to get a LOT stronger than just opinion polls that show 51/49 pro vs con. Nobody wants to FIGHT for this, even though the opponents are fighting legalization with everything they have.
We are way too passive in this fight.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
hey Kradiant. not wanting to have a debate here but I don't think it's reasonable to allow something dangerous (cannabis) just because an another one was allowed (alcohol) - but hey I'm not saying that alcohol is all the way dangerous.
anyways, everything has pros and cons and the list could be endless.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SandyACL
hey Kradiant. not wanting to have a debate here but I don't think it's reasonable to allow something dangerous (cannabis) just because an another one was allowed (alcohol) - but hey I'm not saying that alcohol is all the way dangerous.
anyways, everything has pros and cons and the list could be endless.
This is exactly the kind of misinformation that DF.com I believe is here to quell.
Why do you believe that cannabis is a dangerous substance? Why do you think it is more dangerous than alcohol? Everything is dangerous in excess. Hell if you drink too much water in one sitting you will die from flooding your body's cells, but that isn't grounds to make something illegal. Cannabis does less damage to the body than alcohol, is not physically addictive (unlike alcohol) and cannabis smokers are FAR less likely to engage in violent or anti-social behaviour than alcohol users.
It's illegality is not down to its dangerous nature, its due mainly to the fact that world governments have been hating on it irrationally for the last few decades due to its unregulated nature and now that the truth has come back to the surface about the reality of cannabis they look ridiculous just turning back on their word. Especially after spending literally billions of taxpayers money worldwide to combat the 'problem'.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
Yeah, I think it will be legal soon. Within a few years hopefully.
Quote:
How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
the same way that alcohol does; Lots of taxes and regulation. No sale to minors and special taxes of course...The whole reason hemp was made illegal in the first place is because a paper company knew it was going to get taken out of business so they had their representatives make it illegal. But now hemp is legal and the DEA doesn't want to look like a bunch of liars and just give up their failed war. They are very stubborn...
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
The DEA will simply re-focus/crack down in another area/s, as well as dredge up new phantom demons to control in order to justify their continued existence. Personally, even if all drugs were legalized and taxed/regulated, I'm sure they'd survive. They'd simply re-name themselves, or get absorbed into another alphabet agency as a specialized enforcement wing. But my money is on re-naming. Too many ego's at stake, and already present bloated, budget allocations to keep intact and flowing.
Anyways, as far as pot is concerned, that's penny ante stuff. They'll still do well, as they're already focusing now on pain patients and already controlled drugs, along with their doctors. Those boys will never run out of other peoples' pants to sniff.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
@Kradiant: re your question "Why do you believe that cannabis is a dangerous substance?", I'd say smoking just one joint increases the possibility of mental illness by more than 40% - and who knows what other things might follow whenever the mind is altered (but yeah, alcohol does alter the mind as well). And yes, everything is dangerous - depends on how you use it.
I understand the call to legalize cannabis and am also aware of the medical benefits. But you said it yourself that even alcohol problems cost the world millions for rehab and the like (well that makes it another problem).
This is just my opinion but, in the end, the government takes the responsibility for finding a solution to any problem there is at hand. If they would allow something, I'd expect them to counter the problem with efficiency and all (or I'd really be dissatisfied!). So if they're saying they can't allow cannabis, I'd think that it's because they can't handle the possible drawbacks if things go out of control - fair enough.
The alcohol issue is different. It would be wrong for me to say that alcohol is less dangerous (although honestly I feel that it is). So far I've been drunk many times and I'm still perfectly well (I hope so) so I'm thinking it's not as dangerous.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SandyACL
@Kradiant: re your question "Why do you believe that cannabis is a dangerous substance?", I'd say smoking just one joint increases the possibility of mental illness by more than 40% - and who knows what other things might follow whenever the mind is altered (but yeah, alcohol does alter the mind as well). And yes, everything is dangerous - depends on how you use it.
I understand the call to legalize cannabis and am also aware of the medical benefits. But you said it yourself that even alcohol problems cost the world millions for rehab and the like (well that makes it another problem).
This is just my opinion but, in the end, the government takes the responsibility for finding a solution to any problem there is at hand. If they would allow something, I'd expect them to counter the problem with efficiency and all (or I'd really be dissatisfied!). So if they're saying they can't allow cannabis, I'd think that it's because they can't handle the possible drawbacks if things go out of control - fair enough.
The alcohol issue is different. It would be wrong for me to say that alcohol is less dangerous (although honestly I feel that it is). So far I've been drunk many times and I'm still perfectly well (I hope so) so I'm thinking it's not as dangerous.
"Many times" is very much open to interpretation, since you didn't provide your personal definition.
The difference between your "thinking it's not as dangerous" and "knowing", is a doctor who can check liver function, blood pressure, kidney function, subtle heartbeat abnormalities, et al., on a regular basis if you keep the "many times" "still 'acomin". All this notwithstading the assertion that cannabis is more dangerous. But I'm serious, regular liver checks are good for someone who regularly drinks
Come back and tell me you're "perfectly well" physically and mentally in ten years after being drunk "many times". This coming from an ex major drinker (I still do on occasion) who was very much harmed by excessive booze in every way listed, who now is pretty damn healthy and happy now that I take cannabis and stick to small-moderate alcohol. Also consider, the cost of all alcohol related accidents, deaths, ruined marriages, death due to alcoholism, domestic violence, alcohol poisoning, broken families, many physical ailments up to and including premature death, tallied next to marijuana, which is full of psychoactive cannabinoids, of which our brains have cannabinoid receptors. You can't fatally OD on pot it, doesn't make you violent, it works harmoniously with you to help you, as opposed to poisoning you. And there's alcohol, which gets you intoxicated and drunk/high by *being* a poison and thereby int*toxic*ating you and your poor liver.
I'm sorry if this has come off as preaching, but it's more an attempt to get you to actually study something critically before you make such a serious indictment such as that. I can assume you vote, yes? It behooves you to really try and know your facts and circumstances regarding an issue before you vote. I hope you do...
Take it easy
Last edited by VagabondWraith; 29-03-2012 at 13:11.
Reason: spelling
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
Cool it off guys At least I'm neutralizing this thread and thus encouraging all types of healthy opinions (don't scare away those who may be against your beliefs). Anyways, I'm sure everyone's entitled to their own opinions.
@VagabondWraith: Points are taken. I don't drink a lot now (just beer but even that is very seldom). Excessive alcohol is certainly dangerous.
@al-k-mist: No misinformation intended. You can check this out for the 40% issue: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...llness-40.html. And no, I'm not trying to get a reaction. I'm simply responding to your thread (shouldn't you be thankful? ). As to the government, let's "do our best" to respect the authorities that govern us.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
Quote:
Originally Posted by SandyACL
@al-k-mist: No misinformation intended. You can check this out for the 40% issue: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...llness-40.html. And no, I'm not trying to get a reaction. I'm simply responding to your thread (shouldn't you be thankful? ). As to the government, let's "do our best" to respect the authorities that govern us.
I see you are from Australia, and so understand that you are probably unaware of 'the daily mail' or 'the daily hate' as it is better known by many in the UK.
The Daily mail is not responsible, fact based journalism, its is a grubby tabloid, that spouts lies and tries to manipulate opinions in a shameless disregard for anything other than it's own profits.
If the daily hate had its way we would reinstate hanging, steralize all people on social security, re-criminalize homosexuals, ban anyone who wasnt born in the uk, or whose parents or grandparents werent born in the UK, (including Australians) and stand drug users against the wall and shot them. While all daily mail readers would get a free pass to drink, smoke and spread their bigotry at will.
There is no evidence to say that smoking 1 joint will increase the chance of mental illness by 40%, and a statisic in the daily mail is not evidence to me, and I guess, judging by the replies, I'm not alone.
Re: How can cannabis legalization and the DEA coexist?
@Anna Thema: Thanks for the insight - just shows that we need to watch out for credible resources. I'm actually (physically) not from Australia although my online activities are all AU-related (working for an AU company)... which is a bit of an advantage because I'm open to all sources of info.
The 40% issue is actually supported by other studies and publications (not just DailyMail). It just so happened that it was Google's top result during my search. I never would trust the info if DailyMail is the only one that claims it. Anyways, that's actually just one of the many dangers out there. And - I'm sure there are also tons of benefits.
As I've always said, I'm not against cannabis for medical purposes. But if the law says hands-off, I'm sure nobody wants to face drug charges.
