Opinions - Morality of Illegality

[moda00]

Originally Posted by x cynic x

Where is there any room for denial/rejection? This policy seems too reasonable if anything.

Perhaps I misunderstand you, but how so?? The policy he's suggesting is removing Federal Criminal penalties for small amounts of marijuana, with the underlying rhetoric being that penalties for a drug (such as jail time away from work/family/friends, large fines, criminal record, asset forfeiture) should NOT be more harmful than the drug itself (ie. with marijuana, not of the above are likely, therefore making such penalties irrational and cruel). I believe he is supporting making it a civil penalty, with a fine like say a traffic ticket is now in the U.S. Obviously if a person commits other crimes in conjunction w/ the marijuana possession- such as assault, theft, that would be punishable in a more traditional legal sense, but the marijuana would not be the cause of that punishment alone, which is likely the majority of simple possession arrests.

How is this "too reasonable?" Don't mean to attack, just not sure I understand the gist of one's post?

[x cynic x]

Originally Posted by moda00

Perhaps I misunderstand you, but how so?? The policy he's suggesting is removing Federal Criminal penalties for small amounts of marijuana, with the underlying rhetoric being that penalties for a drug (such as jail time away from work/family/friends, large fines, criminal record, asset forfeiture) should NOT be more harmful than tghe drug itself (ie. with marijuana, not of the above are likely, therefore making such penalties irrational and cruel). I believe he is supporting making it a civil penalty, with a fine like say a traffic ticket is now in the U.S. Obviously if a person commits other crimes in conjunction w/ the marijuana possession- such as assault, theft, that would be punishable in a more traditional legal sense, but the marijuana would not be the cause of that punishment alone, which is likely the majority of simple possession arrests.

How is this "too reasonable?" Don't mean to attack, just not sure I understand the gist of one's post?

I just think the only punishment for drug-use should be the side-effects of the drug that coexist with the sought effects. Maybe it isn't "too reasonable", but Carter's idea is just one step closer to achieving freedom in the personal lives of Americans. You have to realize that you can't just full-out legalize everything at once, because the harder drugs would be too heavily abused, and a lot of people would hurriedly attempt to do the biggest dosages of whatever they could get their hands on. Maybe this is a good thing if you're in favor of population control, but it would definitely be a burden on society as a whole. A logic approach is to slowly but surely convince society that "drugs" are only bad when misused, not like guns that always kill when used for their intended purpose. They must first be accepted before they become readily available. And Carter was proposing that people who use marijuana should not be criminals, which is the first step in a process that could only be gradual.

[Kymistry]

I think this topic should be merged with the legalization of all drugs. And the movement should start by you informing this to your local radio station morning talk show host. Like Tom Jorner,Micheal Basden or Kidd Kradik. This is a great topic and it kinda turns a light on in our peoples head. People will talk and people will relate. Because I'll bet the last buck in my pocket that either somebody in they're family, a friend, loved one or maybe even themselves have been to jail for something as stupid as possesion.

For sure the government knows about drug use. They contribute or allow others too. Like Philies,Swisher and Optimo cigars. Who in the hell really smokes these type cigars without weed? I mean I'll bet only 1% of all smokers roll they're own cigs. Why are there rolling papers in every quick stop? Some stores sell more Blunt wrapes,cigars,papers than they do ciggerittes and alcohol. And they know this.

[stoneinfocus]

this is a true statement and if I, who was a pot head years ago, rejected cannabis like the devil and turned to steroids, now sees, that I only did it to get rid of the habit, but now, as a chronic pain patient which swim is, he thinks very differently about cannabis and thinks it´s the best alternative to opioids, some which are really very bad but readily prescribed and some which are really good, but illegal, like heroin.

Swim was always a fan of speed and coke, because he did it seldomely and in moderation and still felt like getting the max without any of the sides the propagandas are telling you you would get.

And I think, the average Joe would be either too afraid to "use" a now legal "hard" drug ( those people will stay scared the rest of their lives), while within prohibition another population will be prosecuted for what they already had estabilshed as a valid alternative of culure and cultural drug-use along wiht all safety precautions and harm-reduction through experience and care, doing at least as good as any other population around.

It boils down to freeedom, knowledge and human culture and cultural experience, so with all the new drugs around that are legal and will do the same as heroine, benzos and even better than these, there´s still another culture or population using these drugs without ever getting caught, becuase the research drugs are until yet unknown and legal, while the other population will be in conflict with what they do and think what´s the best for them, and their lives using banned substances.

the trend goes to the mediocre mind fighting by law everything that seems to outdo the mediocre lifestyle, by means of restrictions by laws and government seats and intersocial mobbing.

Too sad, that a hallucinogene or some other drug would free the mediocre mind from this trail, as it will confront everyone with his own nature an ways of thought patterns and feel the problems and hardship for the weakest link in society and the necissity to act along with all means the world has to offer and can be used with an open mind and hard owned knowledge and work to fight useless suffering