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If we legalized pot...

If we legalized pot, how would that affect usage?

  • Way more people would use it.

    Votes: 11 21.2%

  • More people would use it, but it would not be a significant increase

    Votes: 32 61.5%

  • About the same number of people, but they'd all smoke a lot more

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No change at all

    Votes: 5 9.6%

  • Usage would actually decrease.

    Votes: 4 7.7%
  • Total voters
    52
MrWonka

MrWonka

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If we legalized weed, pot, marijuana... whatever you want to call it... How do you think it would affect the usage of it? Would a lot more people use it? A lot fewer? About the same? Would they use more?
 
I just heard Colorado's governor commenting on this and he stated most studies indicated usage remained the same.
 
MrWonka said:
If we legalized weed, pot, marijuana... whatever you want to call it... How do you think it would affect the usage of it? Would a lot more people use it? A lot fewer? About the same? Would they use more?
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I said way more people will use it. With the stigma removed, you'd see a lot more people trying it, recreationally, but especially medicinally. I think you'd have a lot more people be honest about whether or not they use it, if it was legal, so I expect that would cause numbers to jump as well - I realize that's not exactly what you're asking, but that would be responsible for part of a statistical uptick as well.
 
GDViking said:
I just heard Colorado's governor commenting on this and he stated most studies indicated usage remained the same.
Click to expand...

How strict was enforcement in Colorado before?
 
MrWonka said:
If we legalized weed, pot, marijuana... whatever you want to call it... How do you think it would affect the usage of it? Would a lot more people use it? A lot fewer? About the same? Would they use more?
Click to expand...


Yes, I think so. It certainly happened in Colorado following the legalization of cannabis consumption. When any drug or substance is not merely decriminalized, but legalized (i.e., allowing for people to openly advertise the sale and use of these drugs) I think more people will be subject to the pressure of their peers to engage in its use as a rite of passage, to fit in, and of course for simple curiosity as well as for the sheer pleasure of consuming the drug. And now young people who would otherwise be ambivalent about using the drug but do not want to be on the outs with their peers will not even have the excuse "I don't think so; I don't want to get in trouble" to lean on. It is the same with alcohol, in that young men and women are pressured by their peers (and sometimes their families) to engage in its consumption as their rite of passage into adulthood.

That is just speculation on my part, but I think there is some evidence to support it. When any drug is legalized and companies can advertise heavily to the public, whether it is alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs, its use will almost certainly increase.
 
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Felis Leo said:
Yes, I think so. It certainly happened in Colorado following the legalization of cannabis consumption. When any drug or substance is not merely decriminalized, but legalized (i.e., allowing for people to openly advertise the sale and use of these drugs) I think more people will be subject to the pressure of their peers to engage in its use as a rite of passage, to fit in, and of course for simple curiosity as well as for the sheer pleasure of consuming the drug. And now young people who would otherwise be ambivalent about using the drug but do not want to be on the outs with their peers will not even have the excuse "I don't think so; I don't want to get in trouble" to lean on. It is the same with alcohol, in that young men and women are pressured by their peers (and sometimes their families) to engage in its consumption as their rite of passage into adulthood.

That is just speculation on my part, but I think there is some evidence to support it.
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The thing is, though, pot prohibition hasn't really proved to be that great of a deterrent...if it were, no one would be talking about legalizing it....especially among kids, where every intoxicant is prohibited for them. I can't speak to how it is now, but when I was in school (I'm 40, so let's say 25 years ago, roughly) pot was actually preferred to alcohol, because it was easier to get. As was acid, mushrooms, etc... That's why legalization is better than decriminalization...it is a more controlled distribution that, when done right, drastically cuts back on what the black market is able to do....so long as distributors don't try to charge prohibition prices.

Kids will be kids, and they will get high and / or drunk....every generation has found a way, and they likely always will. But I think your chances are better when you control the substance, vs. some black market retailer, who couldn't care less.
 
People who want to use drugs already do.
 
My guess is there would be a bit of an increase but not huge. Most people who want to use weed now are using weed now. I think you would also see a corresponding decrease in alcohol consumption.
 
OlNate said:
The thing is, though, pot prohibition hasn't really proved to be that great of a deterrent...if it were, no one would be talking about legalizing it....especially among kids, where every intoxicant is prohibited for them. I can't speak to how it is now, but when I was in school (I'm 40, so let's say 25 years ago, roughly) pot was actually preferred to alcohol, because it was easier to get. As was acid, mushrooms, etc... That's why legalization is better than decriminalization...it is a more controlled distribution that, when done right, drastically cuts back on what the black market is able to do....so long as distributors don't try to charge prohibition prices.

Kids will be kids, and they will get high and / or drunk....every generation has found a way, and they likely always will. But I think your chances are better when you control the substance, vs. some black market retailer, who couldn't care less.
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Without getting into the morality or dangers of allowing the use of more mind-altering substances into the public sphere, I am not so sure legalization is better than decriminalization, in that legalization allows for the marketing of a substance, while decriminalization does not. Further, it allows the product to be everywhere more easily. But I do not think it is too far a stretch for me to say that when a product (any product) is allowed to be marketed and advertised for, its use increases dramatically. It is kind of why marketing exists. :shrug:
 
Felis Leo said:
Without getting into the morality or dangers of allowing the use of more mind-altering substances into the public sphere, I am not so sure legalization is better than decriminalization, in that legalization allows for the marketing of a substance, while decriminalization does not. Further, it allows the product to be everywhere more easily. But I do not think it is too far a stretch for me to say that when a product (any product) is allowed to be marketed and advertised for, its use increases dramatically. It is kind of why marketing exists. :shrug:
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I guess it depends on what model you choose. In Canada we are severely restricting what marketing can be done, in the same manner we have severely restricted cigarette advertising. None of this is really new...there are approaches that can be used to manage all risks, primarily because we have already legalized far more dangerous substances (cigarettes and alcohol).

The other thing legalization allows the government to do is publish "Responsible Usage" material to help people limit their risks. You can't do that with an "illegal" substance. Since people are clearly using it anyway, this is a positive.

As for the "moral" implications...mainly irrelevant, unless the rule is that everyone MUST smoke pot...hehe... What is moral for you is only important to you.
 
I just wish the kids vaped or used bongs. Since it went legal in my state the smell of blunt smoke permeates the halls of my apt building. I don't think people are smoking more but they're certainly more public about it.
 
Felis Leo said:
Without getting into the morality or dangers of allowing the use of more mind-altering substances into the public sphere, I am not so sure legalization is better than decriminalization, in that legalization allows for the marketing of a substance, while decriminalization does not. Further, it allows the product to be everywhere more easily. But I do not think it is too far a stretch for me to say that when a product (any product) is allowed to be marketed and advertised for, its use increases dramatically. It is kind of why marketing exists. :shrug:
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Legalization allows regulation (selling only to adults and in controlled/labeled dosage/purity) and taxation (at least enough to cover the regulation costs). Decriminalization allows selling who knows what (quality/purity) to whoever without regulation/taxation. One must remember that we are talking about an easily grown plant here (yet CO makes it illegal to sell your home grown crop).
 
ttwtt78640 said:
Legalization allows regulation (selling only to adults and in controlled/labeled dosage/purity) and taxation (at least enough to cover the regulation costs). Decriminalization allows selling who knows what (quality/purity) to whoever without regulation/taxation. One must remember that we are talking about an easily grown plant here (yet CO makes it illegal to sell your home grown crop).
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True. But those advertisements and that marketing that is geared towards increasing the desirability and acceptability of the product is seen by everyone, no matter what their age. If it was illegal to advertise beer in any way whatsoever, except to note its harmful effects (Showing the effects of drunk driving, showing people suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, etc.), I believe the incidences of alcohol consumption would decrease markedly as it did for cigarettes.
 
Felis Leo said:
True. But those advertisements and that marketing that is geared towards increasing the desirability and acceptability of the product is seen by everyone, no matter what their age. If it was illegal to advertise beer in any way whatsoever, except to note its harmful effects (Showing the effects of drunk driving, showing people suffering from cirrhosis of the liver, etc.), I believe the incidences of alcohol consumption would decrease markedly as it did for cigarettes.
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Yep, 15% will not try anything new, 15% will try anything new and the rest is determined by advertising/marketing. I still think that legalizing X is better than decriminalizing X when it comes to recreational drugs.
 
MrWonka said:
If we legalized weed, pot, marijuana... whatever you want to call it... How do you think it would affect the usage of it? Would a lot more people use it? A lot fewer? About the same? Would they use more?
Click to expand...

It's hard to say. I think for sure more people would use it. I do think that CBD usage stands to increase the most, however. I think it's becoming quite obvious that CBD in particular has many health benefits.
 
Felis Leo said:
Without getting into the morality or dangers of allowing the use of more mind-altering substances into the public sphere, I am not so sure legalization is better than decriminalization, in that legalization allows for the marketing of a substance, while decriminalization does not. Further, it allows the product to be everywhere more easily. But I do not think it is too far a stretch for me to say that when a product (any product) is allowed to be marketed and advertised for, its use increases dramatically. It is kind of why marketing exists. :shrug:
Click to expand...

So impose substantial restrictions on marketing like Canada is doing per OlNate; what's the problem?
 
Where we would see a great increase is in underage usage. The biggest problem with legalizing pot is determining driver impairment. With alcohol there is a field administered breathalyzer test and a standard of .08, so it is fairly easy to determine a legal limit and if someone is over that limit. How do you set a "legal limit" on pot impairment? How do you measure it in the field? How do you set insurance rates? Accident criminal liability?

If you legalize pot and it's use becomes widespread, who pays for rehab when someone becomes addicted, even psychologically, and wants or needs to quit? I would ask these same questions about legalizing all drugs.

If legalizing pot or even all drugs wouldn't effect me as a taxpayer or as a driver who must share the road, then I wouldn't care what was legal. I think it's bad enough that I have to pay in so many ways for people who abuse alcohol. But at least with alcohol we have some way to set legal limits and liability.

I might add that legalization will not eliminate the illegal sellers. They can easily undersell the legal market, as is the case in most things.
 
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MrWonka said:
If we legalized weed, pot, marijuana... whatever you want to call it... How do you think it would affect the usage of it? Would a lot more people use it? A lot fewer? About the same? Would they use more?
Click to expand...

Why not just check with the stats in the states where it is legal?
 
Felis Leo said:
Yes, I think so. It certainly happened in Colorado following the legalization of cannabis consumption. When any drug or substance is not merely decriminalized, but legalized (i.e., allowing for people to openly advertise the sale and use of these drugs) I think more people will be subject to the pressure of their peers to engage in its use as a rite of passage, to fit in, and of course for simple curiosity as well as for the sheer pleasure of consuming the drug. And now young people who would otherwise be ambivalent about using the drug but do not want to be on the outs with their peers will not even have the excuse "I don't think so; I don't want to get in trouble" to lean on. It is the same with alcohol, in that young men and women are pressured by their peers (and sometimes their families) to engage in its consumption as their rite of passage into adulthood.

That is just speculation on my part, but I think there is some evidence to support it. When any drug is legalized and companies can advertise heavily to the public, whether it is alcohol, cigarettes or other drugs, its use will almost certainly increase.
Click to expand...

And it's also more available for them to try...like acupuncture or chiropractic treatment, for examples...as an alternative for pain or other health issues.

And since it's proven to work pretty well for a variety of things...I can see it being adopted by those in need, besides those that just want to use it to relax.
 
MrWonka said:
If we legalized weed, pot, marijuana... whatever you want to call it... How do you think it would affect the usage of it? Would a lot more people use it? A lot fewer? About the same? Would they use more?
Click to expand...
Not sure.

Certainly more people would be able to use it for medical reasons, without getting arrested or other such bull****.

Probably more would give it a try, but I'm not sure it would be a significant increase.
 
Spartacus FPV said:
I just wish the kids vaped or used bongs. Since it went legal in my state the smell of blunt smoke permeates the halls of my apt building. I don't think people are smoking more but they're certainly more public about it.
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It’s better than cooking smells, isn’t it? At least you can get a contact.....

What’s the difference between bong smoke and “blunt” smoke?
 
Felis Leo said:
Without getting into the morality or dangers of allowing the use of more mind-altering substances into the public sphere, I am not so sure legalization is better than decriminalization, in that legalization allows for the marketing of a substance, while decriminalization does not. Further, it allows the product to be everywhere more easily. But I do not think it is too far a stretch for me to say that when a product (any product) is allowed to be marketed and advertised for, its use increases dramatically. It is kind of why marketing exists. :shrug:
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Wow...check into the marketing and actual products out there. There's a ton of products out there that are much more highly rated for their CBD content than the THC. It's very specific and they have the percentages on the packaging. The CBD has little to no mind-altering affects.

They're offering CBD-based products for dogs and horses too...who's going to ride a horse if it cant be relied on?
 
Waddy said:
Where we would see a great increase is in underage usage. The biggest problem with legalizing pot is determining driver impairment. With alcohol there is a field administered breathalyzer test and a standard of .08, so it is fairly easy to determine a legal limit and if someone is over that limit. How do you set a "legal limit" on pot impairment? How do you measure it in the field? How do you set insurance rates? Accident criminal liability?
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That's not prevention. That only occurs/could occur after the fact.

And the fact is that fewer people are pulled over for driving recklessly or charged for causing accidents on pot. Because the influence of pot is different.

Of course it can contribute to sleepiness but no more than lots of other meds that people are on.

People use pot for pain relief, seizures, etc like other meds.

And those that use it to relax are, just IMO, staying home to relax and enjoy it.
 
Rexedgar said:
It’s better than cooking smells, isn’t it? At least you can get a contact.....
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I disagree with the former and am uninterested in the latter.

Rexedgar said:
What’s the difference between bong smoke and “blunt” smoke?
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Less pungent, no burnt tobacco leaf smell.
 
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