MassiveTruck is a joke. He mentions poisonous plants and things like guns that can kill you. Yes. All true. But Cannabis can not kill you. It is IMPOSSIBLE. There have been no recorded DIRECT deaths as a DIRECT result of the ingestion of the drug. The drug which is administered through the smoking of the buds of the CANNABIS PLANT. There is no such thing as a hemp plant you can create a Cannabis drug from. Call it a hemp plant, call it a dope plant, call it what you will, IT'S THE SAME THING, I KNOW PEOPLE WHO GROW THE THING AND I HAVE SMOKED IT ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS.
Your using the fact that not all natural things are good for you and some can kill you as an end unto itself. Cannabis is not great for your body, nothing smoked is, but what about your mind? The things about Cannabis people dont measure? How many people know the risks of smoking yet still make the decision to smoke Cannabis because it helps them relax? Good for them. They are here for a good life, not a long life. And as long as they are sticking to their couches, eating doritos and not getting agressive, what has it got to do with me? Nothing. Alcohol abusers on the other hand often create trouble. The biggest trouble in my area comes from gangs trafficking poor quality weed. If we could buy Cannabis in a pharmacy or other places of retail PEOPLE WOULD NOT GO TO DEALERS. Why would they? Even if they did not like tax they could just GROW THEIR OWN! No more poor quality weed. No more gangs making money from Cannabis. It would also be harder to get. Not sure has MassiveTruck noticed, but not a lot of dealers ask for ID.
As for the ''some can kill you'' part, nobody has ever overdosed on Cannabis. You may smoke too much and pass out, but toxicologicaly speaking, you cant OD on it. And im not sure on the figures, but contray to popular belief, most stoners dont get high to go out and play in traffic. In fact, you are more likely to stay in home or play it extra safe crossing roads.
In comparison to the other 'main' recreational drugs in the world Cannabis is by far the safest. This is a fact. Glass tinged bud and hash laced with adhesive are all by products of it's illegality. This is a fact. Mental illness catalysing super strenght Cannabis grown in artificial conditions could be controlled and even stopped if it were not for it's illegality. This is a fact.
Correct me if I am going a *teeny* bit overboard here, but anybody who sprouts the line ''Guns are legal - and they still kill.'' in a debate about CANNABIS probably needs there OWN mental health re evaluated. Quickly.
Glass bud, laced hash, the cost of the war on drugs to the government, and the cost, both emotional and financial, of seperating tens of thousands of innocent pot smokers from there familys, as well as the PROVEN medicinal benefits of the plant all OUTWEIGH any possible negative concequences the drug could POSSIBLY EVER have.
That is a FACT. If you cant do the simple guesstimate figures on prison system clogging, contamination, gangland trade and medicinal benefits versus stoners getting lazy and a few people having there mental illness aggrevated through abuse of the drug you really are a ****ing dope.
MOST PEOPLE smoke away with no problems. Just like most people drink with no problems. Governments are meant to CATER TO THE MAJORITY. If you think this is a health argument, go to jail, do not pass go and do not collect. It's simply spawned from racist agendas and oil/alcohol/tobacco lobbies, and very few governments have been brave enough to tackle it since.
If you think Cannabis was outlawed for your safety, your a ****ing idiot. Another fact. Nobody even knew the full risks versus rewards at the time of it's banning. It was a snap decision in the states based purely on culture phobia.
Here are three more inescapable, unarguable facts :
1. Prohibition did not work with Alcohol.
2. The war on drugs, which Cannabis plays a big part in, will never be won. People have free will. People want to smoke.
3. Decriminalization in Portugal WORKED. Check it out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvUgJEhQ5cY
Watch. It's not bias. It's not made up. It's not taking sides. It quotes exact reasons for Cannabis' illegality at different points in American history. And it is plain for all with an open mind who watch it to see that the drug/plant's prohibition has been a joke that has COST US MORE MONEY AND MORE INNOCENT PEOPLE IN JAIL THAN CAN EVER, EVER, EVER BE HARMED.
And once again, if you cant guesstimate the simple figures on that one, I worry for you.
Now kindly, with a cherry on the top, p**s off and let people smoke there buds.
Oh, you want another one? One broadcast on cable TV from two guy's who dont even like pot? Sure, here you go!...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_ZOw...x=0&playnext=1