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Who thinks it's time for TED to get behind the marijuana legalization movement?
Marijuana prohibition has been an utter failure. You know it, I know it, and I have to assume TED knows it. From a financial and social perspective, there isn't a better time to drop the 72 years of pointless social stigma attached to this plant and legalize it!
Perhaps a few talks from smart people demonstrating how insanely rational it is to end this war at a highly regarded conference such as TED would be enough to convince DC. Your thoughts?
Tim blackburn 30+
stephen dalton
I appreciate that some of the Marijuana of today is a stronger hybrid variety than it has been in the past, but for most casual or even regular smokers I know, they do it like others drink. If you want to go out and get drunk, you can do so with alcohol many times stronger than you would drink if you were having dinner with friends and a glass of wine. People develop drug problems in the same way people develop drink or gambling problems, but can we really say that to save the few that can't cope responsibly with it it must be stopped altogether? The US must know better than anyone the problems with prohibition, where organised crime steps in to fill the void and provide for those people that just want to get off.
We are financially screwed in the UK now, and the government will be taking more and more of our hard earned to pay for the mistakes and the theft of the banks and bankers. If the government were to relax it's laws and control the supply, like they do with tobacco and alcohol, the tax revenues alone would be enough to drag us out of the red, let alone the savings associated with not prosecuting and jailing people for their choice of mind altering substance.
The truth is that anyone who smokes that I know doesn't really care whether it's legal or not. Sure, I can't go and enjoy one in the park in the sun, which is a great shame, but other than that it's business as usual. Seeing as this is the case, surely it behooves a sensible government to cash in on it rather than waste money trying to eradicate it.
Michael Roche
So do we need another legal drug? Legalising it is almost certainly going to make it more easily available and therefore cheaper "An analysis of cannabis markets shows that low prices coincide with high levels of abuse, and vice versa" (the World Health Organisation 2011).
For those who keep saying its harmless (not you Nicholas) this is also from the WHO (nothing to do with Pete Townsend):
# selective impairment of cognitive functioning which include the organization and integration of complex information involving various mechanisms of attention and memory processes;
# prolonged use may lead to greater impairment, which may not recover with cessation of use, and which could affect daily life functions;
development of a cannabis dependence syndrome characterized by a loss of control over cannabis use is likely in chronic users;
#cannabis use can exacerbate schizophrenia in affected individuals;
(the WHO 2011)
Doug Heal
No one has ever died from the use of marijuana in its 10,000 year history.
Police do not go to domestic disputes because of marijuana.
When people like George Bush are against it, then we know the law is wrong.
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Darryl Brashier
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
No way can I argue.
I will add,
In addition with the companies that build prisons and those who supply materials for prisons (whom all have lobbies) there are also; alcohol lobbies, tobacco lobbies, a "war on drugs" (supplying many jobs), pharmaceutical lobbies, and police/security officers (more jobs). Legalizing marijuana will cut profit from all of these, do you think corporate America likes that idea?
Documentries: "The 1 Percent" "Capitalism: A love story"
Scenario: Those prisons could be used to house those who have no houses, maintenance would be a concern, perhaps the people staying in the housing as payment? Remember there are going to be a lot of people losing jobs, seems only fair give them a place to stay until they find something. Oh yeah, not too many jobs? We'll marijuana business is about to boom and I do not see a machine able to delicately handle marijuana cultivation as a person can, so... yeah there is going to be a huge job market open. Not just the plant, but clothes, medicines, and a lot of bio-safe/recyclable products (favorite example: paper [1 ton of trees = .5 ton of paper // Hemp grows in a few months and dies anyways, trees are good, trust me.]). Not the most profitable market though, too green... perhaps a reason for original legalizing or lack of legalization?
You know there is profit in waste.
Police situation should be reverted to volunteering programs, police have too much power as of now, they can get away with rape by giving up their badge (yes, it happened). Volunteer program: all the perks of being a cop, not nearly as many hours, maybe even semi-pay or pay based on location crime rates, scholarship programs, and the power of cops would be more distributed into communities. To volunteer would be the same criteria as a normal cop, except you can take a toke. Possibly less cops seeking the "rush". [opinionated].
Vote green x2.
nik walser
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
I agree, cigarettes are 8.50 in N.J and 12.00 in NY a pack.
I think they can get away with that same crime with marijuana.
Elizabeth Levesque
A couple of decades back I would have agreed with you; unfortunately, marijuana has been hybridized in order to hold a much higher THC level than the marijuana plants we smoked in the 70's and 80's. There are ever increasing numbers of young people becoming psychotic from the potency of marijuana today. This is not documented enough. It is no longer the pleasant laugh a minute drug it once was. It is a mind altering drug with unfortunate effects on the mind, especially with young people.
Tim blackburn 30+
Michael Roche
Tim blackburn 30+
Michael Roche
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
today weed is more of a drug than ever before.
THC levels are fives time there original natural levels today.
HOWEVER the medical uses, the green products, the good it has done, the good it can do, and it's potential far outweigh the problems in which is can produce.
I already when over how it would be much better to just legalize it so the government would get the money and not some low life drug dealer. Who would not just sell pot but guns, hard drugs, and even fake drugs that can harm people.
Moderation is key but so should communal/family influence.
I don't deny weed having long term damages, however they are mild compared to long term damages of legal and other illegal drugs. Alcohol is the most dangerous drug in the world and I challenge anyone to prove me wrong, because while it may not hurt your memory it still damages your brain, nay your whole system.
I know the argument isn't great but the fact weed is the less evil of all drugs with its benefits surpassing the others for medical usage. The fact is illegal says alcohol and cigarette lobbies don't want to share the wealth nor does our leaders want us to be free in thought.
Scott Armstrong 50+
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
A lot of psychology studies are saying "the more intelligent = the more drugs"
Seriously depression only effects 2 percent of the world yet it is still claimed to be a serious issue. But that is only because Americans are the most depressed people, lol how does that make sense?
Well when you live life you are reflective to those who surround you even they are strangers. If you go on a bus and everyone is sad, quiet, and/or unexcited that will it difficult for you to not be one of those three. Now imagine all the office workers, teachers, and other average joe jobs that make our lives in America go. Must suck to be on a running wheel feeling life is circling in on you.
http://www.ted.com/conversations/2308/how_do_we_overcome_the_tendenc.html
Pot would solve all depression no question. I put depression with ADD and ADHD as a crappy excuse sickness to avoid what really is the problem. There is no depth in our culture. No one thinks beyond what they need to on average in society. That goes for a lot of places. (opinion)
This is why art is so important also, everyone loves music yet puts down what inspires the musicians. Art is a tool of self expression if that is not a practice of everyone they become trapped by themselves with no outlet for self expression besides conversations.
Drugs = good (but somehow they have to kill your liver for them to be legal)
stephen dalton
'Drugs' are such a polarising subject that there can never be sensible debate about it in my opinion. And the sad thing is that people are routinely denied the benefits of many excellent substances in favour of less effective, more lucrative pharmaceuticals.
I defy anyone to look at the effects of Ibogaine for example, a synthesised version of Iboga and tell me that it has no medical benefit, and yet it is classed an hallucinogen and legislated against as such. We spend millions of pounds poorly treating addiction with expensive licensed drugs, while denying people in real need what appears to be a magic bullet.
Sadly, I think that cannabis would go a long way to treating depression effectively, but they wouldn't sell much prozac, and that is what I suspect is at the root of this argument.
Tim blackburn 30+
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Keeping it in perspective still makes it just as good.
Tim blackburn 30+
Scott Lessans
evidence. PLEASE?
Doug Heal
Daniel Vineberg 10+
Those who want illegal substances can get them anyway -- in the case of underaged kids, even easier than alcohol.
The argument that legalization promotes more users is flawed. The stats speak against it -- both Holland and Portugal have seen significant decreases in marijuana usage since decriminalization.
Legalization would start investing income in your own government and stop supporting terrorists in Columbia or Afghanistan. Legalize it all and bankrupt the illegal drug trade.
Michael Roche
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
I already suggest legalizing it would solve problems. The Cartels wouldn't be killing, enslaving, and terrorizing Mexicans as often as they do. They make billions a year, and we spend millions not winning the "war on drugs". Legalize the planet dude, vote green.
Truly I say all drugs, because again the legal ones kill far more people than the illegal ones.
Jáfia Câmara 50+
I am for legalization, if we can make sure that people will not be getting hurt. Would the coffee shops like the ones they have in the Netherlands be an option here in the USA? I am not sure how well that works for them. I need to do a little more research on this subject.
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Meth is not an easy drug to move around on, let alone drive.
With legalization would come education of products with those nice warning stickers on them people tend to ignore anyways. The cigarette ones are really accurate.
Tim blackburn 30+
stephen dalton
Tim blackburn 30+
Michael Roche
Darryl Brashier
I would offer the suggestion that while you may find facts on drug policy there, you won't find an unbiased look at drug use and its impact on society. Facts without proper context mean nothing.
Doug Heal
barles noteworth
Tim blackburn 30+
David Owens
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Michael Roche
Now I don't want to pursue the line of a logical fallacy-- that pot is a lesser evil, therefore we should legalise it. That's a topic for debate, to say the least. I also dispute that its OK because it is NATURAL, opium is natural too, and while opium is obviously much more dangerous, I think nobody would even dream about legalising it. Gold-top mushrooms are natural too...have you ever spoken to a "mushroom casualty"?
I said earlier that there probably no link between pot and schizophrenia, however a former very heavy smoker I spoke to a few days ago corrected me. He says he knows of people in his circle who have become schizophrenic as a result of smoking excess pot. Personally I can't comment, but if we even begin to accept what he says, then, that's another factor that needs to be considered in the debate.
Tim blackburn 30+
stephen dalton
And these casualties you speak about - anyone that goes unprepared into a psychadelic experience is in for a rough time. This lack of understanding is what contributes to paranoia - usually rooted in the feeling that this is never going to end.
The law doesn't change the way these things act on the brain, so seeing as they are freely available - they do grow out of the ground after all - wouldn't it be better to give proper education about them so people can reap the benefits?
In the mountains of Northern India, marijuana plants grow literally like weeds. Through the cracks in the pavements, at the side of the road. Everywhere. You can slap peoples wrists as many times as you like, but you can't get rid of it, so we had better all wise up and learn how to use it for beneficial needs.
A great example, in the UK we had a lot of very poor quality, dangerous doctored cannabis. Crystal removed and replaced with ground glass and such. The government refused to put out a public warning about it, denying safety to those people that were using it, because it couldn't acknowledge that it was happening and couldn't involve itself by condoning what is a criminal act. Does this sound like a sensible approach to a problem?
mateusz rybinski
What is the most proactive time in your life, the time the government earns the most money? It the time between school and the time you take pension. Before and after that time you are more or less an expense to the government. To clarify, I taking about the average person and not about a TEDster.
So in other words, you would be the most profitable citizen for the government if you died on your last day as a worker. In Sweden there I live you go into pension by the age of 65. After that you are a huge expense, but the government can’t kill you right, but they can offer you alcohol and cigarettes that’s dramatically lower your life expectancy. Even of cancer and other bad things cost money you can’t really compeer to the cost of 20 or more years with pension.
If you legalisms cannabis you will offer a drug that do not lower your life expectancy and offer an alternative to alcohol and cigarettes. The implications of such policy are too great and that’s why I am ageist making cannabis legal. You need to fix the depths problems before you try to make cannabis legal. The raise the pension level to that extent you need to do will not win any votes and the massive negative opinion of the masses can do real harm to the country, lock at Greece.
Michael Roche
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
If you want to restrict personal choices that are damaging, okay, make being obese a crime (another top 5 cause of death in the states) leads to over 16 diseases. Make gambling a crime, it is one of the most addictive non-substances out there. There are PLENTY of worse things in the word to be concerned about than pot. A natural plant ..."that just goes like that and if you so happen to set fire to it.... there are some side effects" - Kat Williams
Anything that should be MY choice should not be a crime, legalizing it would give the profit to the nation and not to the drug dealers who also sell harder drugs, guns, and unsafe drugs. So I say legalize it and screw the criminals who kill over drugs, take profit away from them.
Michael Roche
That said, I am not North American, I am Australian, and in certain territories (Canberrra & the Northern Territory) they have allowed people to grow it for personal use (don't get me wrong, if you get caught with a back yard full of it, you get sent to jail). I think you're limited to 5 plants (?), and it is still illegal to smoke it outside your home. i don't really think its a good idea, but no, I must admit these places have not collapsed into civil disorder as a result.
I assume proposition 19 was there to legalise marijuana? Interesting, because a relative I had who worked in the tobacco industry told me that they were ready to cash in (at least here) the moment marijuana became legal. Thing is, do we really need to have another legal drug? Alcohol and cigarettes do plenty of damage already.
So you make a distinction between grass and weed based on their THC content? Yes, that's another point. What the hippies in the 70s smoked, and the nasty horrible s*** that they grow now is an excellent point you made, but I think it strengthens my argument, not yours!
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Marijuana if it was so dangerous, why has no one ever died from it? EVER!
Alcohol and cigarettes are made drugs that are legal marijuana is a grown drug that isn't, there is a problem here. (also in the top 5 leading causes of death in the world)
there are little studies because no one wants to fund drug testing unless it isn't on the list of unapproved drugs.
Now in America they are selling synthetic marijuana substitutes that have NO study on what they do in the long wrong, but are legal because they do not contain THC but a THC-like based chemical. It is ignorance on a staggering level my friend. Please support the legalization of a plant not chemicals as a drug!
Michael Roche
They were weed-dependent, either physically or psychologically, it doesn't matter. Their evening conversations were frequently lachrymose or paranoid ramblings, they had no motivation to do anything around the house, they seemed to eat nothing but desserts, and they smoked hundreds of dollars worth of weed. So no, I don't think it should be made legal.
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Any abuse of any substance and even non-substance is dangerous. Gambling, video games, sex, working out, anything without moderation is dangerous. However pot is by far the least damaging substance that exist.
Abuse of marijuana may make you sleepy, lazy, hungry, stupid, and unmotivated. Now do me a favor and look up what alcohol and cigarettes does to you in the long run, and they are completely legal as being a choice of self destruction. I consider mental damage far more better than body damage. Without any thought you can still clean up a school at night, be a cashier, farm, and the list goes on. Without a body, you can't do S***.
What about the green products that come from hemp? (A lot) Or the medicinal advantages (just now been proven to half cancer cells)? Seriously, look past what you see and do research before you declare what shouldn't be allowed on a personal choice level.
Michael Roche
Yes alcohol and cigarettes damage you too, but I wasn't talking about them (just because they're legal, doesn't make them good, right? do we really need another recreational drug?). I was just, once again, making the the point that pot is not as harmless as some would lead you to believe.
Green hemp products, yes I agree they are fantastic. However, I'd like to point out that industrial hemp is very different to say, class A skunk. It is bred for the strength of its fibres, not for its THC content. It is so low in THC the amount you would have to smoke is ridiculous ( a kilo or something stupid).
You also mention that I need to read more research. Fair enough, but it all depends on who did the research, doesn't it? I've read scientifically credible sources that state that marijuana smoke is highly carcinogenic, even more so than tobacco.
I also think that it is a bit harsh to say artists and suits don't benefit society, they do. Anyone who works and pays tax, (arguably I might add) does that. Commercial dope growers and the criminal syndicates that employ them do not. That said, if it becomes legal then these crooks will have to pay tax, and will probably have to run the risk of going broke like everyone else running a business.
Nicholas, what do you think of the old "pot may cause schizophrenia/depression" argument?
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Tobacco isn't the problem, that is also natural the problem would be cigarettes which are created using chemicals not just tobacco. Tobacco may cause less carcinogenic than weed but not cigarettes that is a huge misconception.
If weed was legal the government could regulated it and tax it and make a huge profit and take it away from gang families like the Cartels.
"what do you think of the old "pot may cause schizophrenia/depression" argument?"
I don't know I am no doctor or have really done research in it, however building off of my prior argument. You can fix a thought processes, it is vastly more difficult to fix a body. The mind if attuned correctly can conquer anything, a body cannot come back from terrible damages like smoking 2 packs a day for 10 years. The damage is done.
To deny weed is to deny a freedom, not just a drug, I think all drugs should be legal than they all could be cleaner, safer, and education upon better. instead of ignorant scare tactics.
Proposition 19 in California would have done WONDERS for this nation, but you know what... Big alcohol and tobacco lobbies payed for commercials the entire two weeks before the vote would take place. It is all about money. Pot isn't bad for you dude, some people cannot handle it, fine, moderate drinking and still join the party. Marijuana is a natural plant, today because of it's rebellion roots it has become a drug because instead of 5 percent THC its like 25 30 percent. But that is because it was the symbol of a rebellion for ages, if it was legal not nearly as many people today would be a pothead. The drug of the rebel would probably be acid still as it was in the 50's and 60's. Weed is the longest runner of the position. Which is far more risky than smoking grass dude.
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
This is a website where people record their experiences with drugs. What they took, how much they took and their experience are recorded. Pick the drug(s) you are interested in to study, for curiosity, or before you experiment, this website will help you shed light on what drugs really do to the human mind.
Remember education and awareness of reality can only help build your actuality. This site is for the experiences of drugs beyond the users opinion of them. Don't claim something is bad before you experience it or know fully what it is you are claiming bad.
Adriana Mackay
You cannot put marijuana in the same category as any man made drug (alcohol, heroin, lsd, etc), it just doesn't match up. It is a plant that was found to have many benefits that help people, and with most things in life, if you are over excessive you are going to have to deal with the consequences. People need to learn self control and look at themselves before they start to blame substance's of ruining society in some way or another.
Mary Lynn Mathre
Comment deleted
Tim blackburn 30+
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Tim blackburn 30+
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Tim blackburn 30+
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Harald Jezek 50+
That said, although I'm not a marihuana consumer, I think it would be in the public interest to legalize it. Especially, since there are already lots of positive experiences from European countries that legalized it already years ago.
When the alcohol prohibition was lifted, a whole crime industry related to it went down with it (although some diversified into other areas).
However, I would draw the line at marihuana and actually increase penalties for possession and trade of heavier drugs.
Tim blackburn 30+
Al De
Marijuana prohibition has spurred drug lords and related deaths, and has caused division between youths and adults for decades in America. There is just no good reason for it to be illegal. Yes, there are reasons for it to be illegal, but they are not good reasons, they don't hold up. Illegality is not an effective deterrent and its clogging up the jails with non-violent otherwise law-abiding good people. Anyone who is not advocating for its liberation is just a coward in my opinion... afraid to do what's right for fear of reputation or judgment. Humans would never evolve if cowards always got their way.
If you are a cowardly American just please move to one of the hundreds of countries where you can blindly follow everyone else and never stand up for what's right. This is one of the few places on earth where you shouldn't be able to stand by and do nothing.
Comment deleted
Tim blackburn 30+
this year AT LEAST $23.44 billion will be spent on the war. but we rather cut education and medicare first. lol
Tim blackburn 30+
Scott Armstrong 50+
10/10 doctors recommend drugs - Me.
marcel marshall
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
To make a non-violent act that only affects oneself illegal is immoral, it limits your options.
With legalization comes restrictions to making the drugs, which will make them all cleaner, safer, and overall better. Also with legalization there comes education about drugs. Like alcohol and how their are lectures about consumption levels, the same can go for any drug.
However if marijuana was legal I can see the need for many other drugs (well beside psychedelics) to not be as popular. Especially alcohol, which is by far more of a drug than pot.
The movement for marijuana is in place, just need people to keep pushing, "Refer Madness" is NOT a reference just a scare tactic by our lovely government to inflict their views on the public. Like Donald Duck selling war bonds.
Love would be easier to spread if everyone was high, because than we could laugh together at how small down our older thoughts were!
Jimmy Strobl 30+
Colin MacAskill
Also, I don't believe legalization and social acceptance have to go hand in hand. Unfortunately that is the case with alcohol, which is why our television and billboards are flooded with alcohol ads telling you to drink. And people wonder why our society has an alcohol problem! Legal or not, no drug - alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or whatever - should be advertised.. at least not as aggressively as most goods.
And well said Nick, I agree.