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Is legalizing marijuana good for society?

Apocalypse said:
Does one need an academic peer reviewed study to have an opinion?
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Does every one have a belly button?

The point being is you can have an opinion but you should be able to support the opinion.
 
Apocalypse said:
Does one need an academic peer reviewed study to have an opinion?
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No, but it sure does help with the validity and strength of the said opinion. Besides, cannabis use does not have adverse effects on populations. The real problem is prescription pain medication, and certain anxiety/anti-psychotics that are very much legal, and ever so deadly.

The number one drug responsible for overdose is......... drum roll please......... Methadone!!!! Originally created and marketed to reduce the effects of addiction. Imagine that; a businessman found a way to become a legal heroin dealer, and have the state pay for it!

Us Americans are ****ing resourceful. :lol:
 
Apocalypse said:
Dismiss?
No, one may take opinions as there are no clear-cutting evidence for either side.
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Binary Digit has provided a substantial amount of evidence in the way of scientific research - research you’ve summarily dismissed without reason.
 
Apocalypse said:
Are you trying to suggest that simulation-studies are always correct?

2. Ignore it, my bad, use the word study instead.
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When 12 different independent studies all arrive at the same conclusion, I tend to find that pretty compelling. Maybe that's just me.

Apocalypse said:
Drug Watch International's position on the legalization of Drugs:
Against Legalization of Drugs
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Again, virtually all the support for keeping drug prohibition in place assumes that legalization would lead to an increase in drug use:

"[FONT=&quot]Legalization would decrease price and increase availability. Availability is a leading factor associated with increased drug use."

"[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Drug laws deter people from using drugs. Surveys indicate that the fear of getting in trouble with the law constitutes a major reason not to use drugs."

"[/FONT][FONT=&quot]A study of international drug policy and its effects on countries has shown that countries with lax drug law enforcement have had an increase in drug addiction and crime. Conversely, those with strong drug policies have reduced drug use and enjoy low crime rates."
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A study of international drug policy? So they found one study huh? I wonder exactly which study they're referring to, and why it directly contradicts the 12 other studies from post #2. That article lists a slew of references at the bottom, but unfortunately none of the specific claims are footnoted so there's no easy way to verify them. But I see that one of their references is the DEA, which is notorious for lying about the effects of marijuana, and that makes me question the veracity of their other references just the same.[/FONT]
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Then they have the typical appeals to emotion over how dangerous drug use can be, all the while assuming that prohibition actually does something to address these problems:

"[/FONT][FONT=&quot]The use of illicit drugs is illegal because of their intoxicating effects on the brain, damaging impact on the body, adverse impact on behavior, and potential for abuse. Their use threatens the health, welfare, and safety of all people, of users and non-users alike."

"[/FONT][FONT=&quot]Many drug users commit murder, child and spouse abuse, rape, property damage, assault and other violent crimes under the influence of drugs. Drug users, many of whom are unable to hold jobs, commit robberies not only to obtain drugs, but also to purchase food, shelter, clothing and other goods and services. Increased violent crime and increased numbers of criminals will result in even larger prison populations."

The only thing even remotely compelling in that article is the reference to some mysterious "study" of international drug policy that somehow found a link between drug laws and the rate of drug use. I wish it was specific about which study it's referring to so I could take a look at it.
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winston53660 said:
Does every one have a belly button?

The point being is you can have an opinion but you should be able to support the opinion.
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I have brought the Drug Watch organization's opinion on the issue in support of my argument.
I also used common sense to point out that prison must deter at least some people from taking drugs.
 
Goldenboy219 said:
The real problem is prescription pain medication,:
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I got addicted to that stuff after a severe motorcycle accident. Guess what got me off? Pot did the trick. After staying up for a week I smoked two hits off a joint and fell asleep. The next day I woke up and felt great.
 
Apocalypse said:
I have brought the Drug Watch organization's opinion on the issue in support of my argument.
I also used common sense to point out that prison must deter at least some people from taking drugs.
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It is bad form to use an opinion to support an opinion. That is an authoritative fallacy.
 
Binary_Digit said:
When 12 different independent studies all arrive at the same conclusion, I tend to find that pretty compelling. Maybe that's just me.
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No, apparently it's not just you, but it's not me.
 
Apocalypse said:
Do you mean to common sense or to the global organization, Drugs Watch International?
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Both really, but only the bold is an appeal to authority.
 
Apocalypse said:
Studies are only a part of the research, I am allowed to challenge its results at any part until it is accepted as an evidence.
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Of course you're allowed to challenge the conclusions of a study - no one is suggesting otherwise - what you continually fail to comprehend is that simply disagreeing with the conclusions of a scientific study does not constitute a valid rebuttal.
 
Ethereal said:
Of course you're allowed to challenge the conclusions of a study - no one is suggesting otherwise - what you continually fail to comprehend is that simply disagreeing with the conclusions of a scientific study does not constitute a valid rebuttal.
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I don't simply disagree, I claim that it's not making any sense.
I do not need to bring evidence to counter it, as there is no evidence to both sides.
I would have conducted my own research but of course we don't have time for this do we?
 
Apocalypse said:
I don't simply disagree, I claim that it's not making any sense.
I do not need to bring evidence to counter it, as there is no evidence to both sides.
I would have conducted my own research but of course we don't have time for this do we?
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If you make a claim you should be able to support it like binary digit has already done. I have to say this now:

"put up or shut up"
 
winston53660 said:
If you make a claim you should be able to support it like binary digit has already done. I have to say this now:

"put up or shut up"
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Do you know the difference between making a claim and making an opinion?
Why are you being rude?
 
Apocalypse said:
Do you also agree with me that by legalizing drugs you increase its usage among the people in the society?

Think about it carefully before answering.
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Binary_Digit said:
No, absolutely not. Didn't you read post #2? The number 1 most important fact surrounding this issue is that there is no known correlation between drug laws and the rate of drug use. The world's foremost experts on the subject all say that the legal status of a drug is not a predictor of the use of that drug. In countries all across the world, they see the same trend over and over again: harsher penalties do not deter use and lighter penalties do not encourage use. When people choose not to use drugs, it's not because of the laws, it's because of health hazards and social stigmas. The laws only determine where drugs are used, not whether they are used.
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This is what I mean by false information.


The legalization of marijuana use WILL lead to an increase in its use.

But this isn't a reason to keep it illegal.
 
Apocalypse said:
Do you know the difference between making a claim and making an opinion?
Why are you being rude?
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Oh maybe because you are refusing to support your position:confused:

And also maybe your position could at the very least could get me fined and at the worst put me in jail for taking a couple of tokes.
 
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Caine said:
The legalization of marijuana use WILL lead to an increase in its use.
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Then why haven't the world's foremost experts on the subject been able to find this link that you're so certain exists?
 
winston53660 said:
Oh maybe because you are refusing to support your position:confused:
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My position is an opinion, and hence, is not required to be 'supported' in order to exist.
What you're talking about is a 'claim'.

And also maybe your position could at the very least get me fined and at the worst put me in jail for taking a couple of tokes.
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That wouldn't be my position's fault, that would be entirely your fault.
 
Apocalypse said:
Those studies are wrong in my opinion, and drugs should never be legalized.
That's simply allowing the people to kill themselves.
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Why should people not have the freedom to kill themselves? Do they own their own lives and bodies, or does the state?
 
Coronado said:
Why should people not have the freedom to kill themselves? Do they own their own lives and bodies, or does the state?
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Name one person that has ever died from marijuana use.
 
Apocalypse said:
I don't simply disagree, I claim that it's not making any sense.
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So what? I can claim that general relativity doesn't "make sense" too, does that mean I've refuted the theory? This is basic logic you are failing at.

I do not need to bring evidence to counter it, as there is no evidence to both sides.
I would have conducted my own research but of course we don't have time for this do we?
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There are mountains of evidence. Your inability to comprehend the conclusions which were extrapolated from that evidence is not sufficient cause to ignore the studies.
 
winston53660 said:
Name one person that has ever died from marijuana use.
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Well, since Cheech and Chong are still living, I would assume that to be an impossibility.
 
Coronado said:
Why should people not have the freedom to kill themselves? Do they own their own lives and bodies, or does the state?
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Because we are assuming that sometimes humans don't know what's good for them, and sometimes humans are not in their full senses when they kill themselves, and do not really wish to die.
 
Caine said:
This is what I mean by false information.


The legalization of marijuana use WILL lead to an increase in its use.
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That's right. Just ignore all the evidence which indicates otherwise...
 
Ethereal said:
So what? I can claim that general relativity doesn't "make sense" too, does that mean I've refuted the theory? This is basic logic you are failing at.



There are mountains of evidence. Your inability to comprehend the conclusions which were extrapolated from that evidence is not sufficient cause to ignore the studies.
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I do not ignore or dismiss the studies, I doubt them.
 
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