there's the slippery slope argument in a nutshell

works both ways there Locke, give people an inch to ban whatever it is they "deem" harmful/illegal/ or unnecessary and its immediately a subjective slippery slope argument

what may be unneeded, unhealthy or damaging to the "collective" is in the eyes of the beholder

the circular logic of illegality has been mentioned a few times too, many legal drugs have been taken off the market due to them being lethal LOL, and you can get quite stoned on prozac , lots of legal and dangerous drugs out there far stronger than marijuana

Kinda like taking nicotine pills huh?
Although, I've never been on prozac or any other "anti depressent" I have 3 sisters that have, they all said it made them more relaxed just like thcl.lol

Oh here we go again with the "slippery slope" argument--the one you falsely accused me of using a number of pages back. What's that called--the statement I made? It's called an expression... Good lord, there's no need to excessively analyze it and take it so literally, but suit yourself. No, what is unhealthy, damaging, etc. to the collective is in the eyes of society, my friend. This issue is within the context of society--a collectivist society, this government and society has a context with which they measure and weigh these issues--it is not "within the eyes of the beholder"--that's anarchy, that's when man decides these ultimate things for himself; that's illogical.

There are drugs that are potent out on the market, yes. But that's why they're prescription based, they have a purpose that is intended for medical reasons, they have a beneficial purpose that is intended for helping people. Recreational marijuana is selfish and it's unpleasant, unhealthy, and hazardous to those around the user--so there is no reason in the context of a collectivist society that recreational marijuana should be allowed freely. Criminals will always commit crimes, yes. That doesn't mean they should not face the consequences of their actions. You can't blame society for the choices of the drug dealers. You can blame the individuals--who are ironically closely associated with the drugs.

__________________
Political Diplomacy Game Map
Forum Diplomacy Game Discussion Thread
__________________
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
-John F. Kennedy

"Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him."
-John Locke

"What worries you, masters you."
-John Locke

No false accusation to it at all, your premise that drug or chemical X is harmful and therefore should be illegal or banned because it harms the collective and is unnecessary is indeed very much a slippery slope argument, that very same argument can be used to ban or make illegal a whole host of other behaviors or acts using the same damn logic, hence the slippery slope. Then there's the utterly useless legal circular logic argument, non starter by default as far as this whole thread is concerned, see the title LOL. Some drugs are legal, some are not, but it has little to do with their real dangers or effects. All societies and states make these choices, some make alcohol illegal, some don't, same with all the other drugs. Some countries are more realistic about what is illegal than others. Ultimately that is what this whole thread is about. If the US was a bit more pragmatic and less prone to knee jerk reaction type legislation and wanted to ban the really dangerous drugs it would probably start with alcohol and have many prescription drugs banned too, marijuana would be way way down on the list if banned at all. Then again, rarely does this nation actually make a whole lot of rational decisions at the federal level, even expecting it to factor in the "collective" or even considering it these days is expecting more than it can deliver

Evidently based on you posts thus far you have an axe to grind against marijuana(my perception), and that is your prerogative of course, but to those that have actually used some of these drugs being discussed in prior posts it's quite humorous. To someone with actual experience with the side effects, some of which don't even exist, you keep harping on are soooooooooo over the top it's mind boggling. But, hey, that is your right and your viewpoint, just don't expect everyone to buy it.

Also, ultimately it is in the eye of the beholder, illegality sure has not stopped demand or usage of much of anything, but have you ever wondered why people in this country haven't turned into this anarchistic society you are concerned about? They can easily do as many and as much of pretty much any drug available, illegal hasn't stopped me from using drugs before, doesn't seem to have stopped anyone else either. Have you ever considered most people are capable of handling their own selves and deciding what's best and desirable for them? I think you will find many people have tried lots of different drugs and have had no trouble at all deciding what is ok and what isn't. Have a little faith in fellow man, even collectively we aren't as dumb as perceived sometimes, even when the laws might disagree.

bottomline: pot can be legal if society decides so. there are societies that do and societies that dont.
in holland it also used to be illegal, but they decided to remove it from the penal code and society aproved. that shows that the what is to be in the best interest of the collective is not stale but can change due to political and social processes

Lets be forreal here, pot has one use and one use only IT GETS YOU HIGH all the b.s. about how good it is for medical purposes is bull. people just want to get high, they are not concerned about the benifits or no benifits they just want it legal so that they can get high. How the hell can inhaling smoke into your lungs be good for you is way beyond me. Weed does one thing gets you high and takes you to a fariy tale land and gives you a false sense of reality for a little while. So dont try and act like weed is good for mankind and for healing and all that b.s. you low minded people are suffering and so is intellegent people that they have to subject themselves to smoking weed.

SO?
Yeah pot gets you high,and inhaling smoke is very bad for your lungs.
So tell me any person that drinks a fith of Jim Bean what's that gonna do?
Thats right get you high and gives you a false sence of reality and you drink enough of these whiskey ain't exactly going to shake hands with your liver.
So how would making pot legal benifit America?
The answer two fold.
1 TAXES, WHICH WOULD HELP AMERICA PAY SOME OF THIS DEBT OFF.
2 WHY BUY FROM CRIMINALS A SMUGGLED PRODUCT WHEN YOU CAN BUY IT AT AN AMERICAN STORE.

Medical cannabis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

you could have searched yourself wether there are different ways of using marihuana, so dont call us the low minded ones..

Yeah and then the taxpayers have to pay the increased costs of health insurance and all other kinds of ridiculous expenses brought on by this wasteful drug--some of those expenses being the health insurance of the users' themselves. It'll even out in the end and the government knows that it's just not worth it. It's a stupid waste and a substance that individuals want (that has no collective societal benefit) that's unpleasant, unhealthy, and potentially risky to those around them just isn't worth the trouble of making it widely available. It's illogical and idiotic.

As for the alcohol double standard, take that up with the government, don't take it up with me. I think alcohol, cigarettes, and all these pointless wastes that have unpleasant, unhealthy, and potentially harmful effects on those around the user should be outlawed. It's a paradox to allow substances like that in any civilized society. People under the influence of/using those substances are infringing upon the rights of those around them to live their lives without unnecessary and unpleasant (potentially hazardous) disruption.

__________________
Political Diplomacy Game Map
Forum Diplomacy Game Discussion Thread
__________________
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
-John F. Kennedy

"Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him."
-John Locke

"What worries you, masters you."
-John Locke