Julie
maplesyrup, the reasons for which I might end up deciding in favor very much reflect TanDL’s point, that legalization and regulation could make control actually easier, and end up reducing the use of this drug. I’m also interested in this argument: by legalizing the production of marijuana in the NW, we might be able to supplant the flow of illegal marijuana from Mexico to the US, even to states where it remains illegal–and cut the profits of the Mexican cartels, which I think would be an overall plus.
Also, I find it frustrating that it’s difficult to get good research information on marijuana as a medical drug, because it’s difficult to do the research legally. This makes it difficult to evaluate the claims of medical use for the drug. I think people who have conditions for which marijuana is popularly suggested would benefit from having this thoroughly and independently researched.
Which brings me to DBP’s point. Most of the research I’m finding (but see my point about limited validated research) actually indicates that marijuana is less addicting than alcohol (and far less addicting than tobacco, another legal recreational drug). Another approach to this problem might be to keep all of them legal but control them as drugs–that is, require prescriptions to buy wine or cigarettes. I don’t think that one is very likely. I’m not even sure how well it would work. And it’s not just the addictiveness that makes these drugs problematic. Plenty of drunk drivers are not alcoholics.
Lastly, as an aside, I take issue with maplesyrup’s “bit of smoke that dissipates in a few seconds”. That’s what people say about tobacco smoke in parks, but it really doesn’t dissipate as quickly as you might think. It hangs around. And if there’s a person smoking walking ahead of you on the sidewalk (happens all the time at Lincoln Park and the Junction), well… it’s just a constant stream back into your face. So you speed up to get past them, and there’s another one ahead of them. If I could stop people smoking tobacco in outdoor public places in exchange for people smoking pot in outdoor public places, I’d take it as a step forward–but having to put up with both–ugh!