Cannabis legalisation causing a clash between my libertarian and conservative sides

[TheOllam]

Glad people can express their opinions.

I'm with Milton Friedman on this.

Also, Cannabis is just one aspect of the Hemp plant. The plant itself is useful for many industrial grade products, from oils, to rope. Many of our founding fathers grew hemp.

Continuing prohibition on Marijuana represents more unnecessary government control over a plant that individuals should have free rights to.

Now the application of the plant, say to light it on fire and smoke it in front of a school. Ok yes, that should be against the law by local ordinance so the person can be arrested and removed from the grounds. Our communities have the legal framework to deal with it on the state and local level. But to allow an overarching, menacing federal drug policy controlling Marijuana is unacceptable for the many free, reasonable and responsible adults that would use it for their own means.

Here's a pic of some folks who think you are a bad person for having a glass of wine:

 

[heavy]

First off, to end the discussion, a libertarian is by definition for freedom when it comes to cannabis. Logically it's probably the most benign aspect of being libertarian, since weed is among the least harmful substance on the planet.

That pretty much ends the discussion.

I'll add to it...modern societies are the incredibly medicated, both in terms of numbers and potency of the medicines. Weed would pull us back away from our over-medicated status.

An example: My dad has recently had a bad flare up in back pain, so he's been taking some sort of opiod or opiate prescribed drug conservatively. During Christmas I asked him if he's ever tried or thought about trying weed for the pain. No. He hasn't. And I know he wouldn't. Why? Because it's weed, it's a drug he stopped doing when he was a teenager because it's "drugs".
So instead he's high on heroine.

 

[JackStraw]

Only cucks and statists support using government resources on the national criminalization of marijuana. Locking up peaceful people for smoking plants is absurd. It should be an issue for the states under the 10th Amendment.

 

[storm]

It's a hard topic to decide on.

There is the precious american concept of freedom on the one hand. As well as the success legalization has had in for example portugal.

On the other hand I am well aware that I am projecting when I think most people will be able to exercise moderation. People can't exercise moderation with TV. We have seen legalization drain the funds of the lower and lower-middle class in Colorado.

I've seen enough drunks and potheads to know that they'll always be around: the question is if the booze/pot causes it of if these people would be sniffing paint without it. I think it's a bit of both but would like to hear an expert's opinion.

 

[Rob Banks]

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the possibility of cannabis being legalised in the UK, and if I would support it or not. This has led to me contemplating several other views I once strongly believed in, and I can't decide between libertarianism and conservatism.

I don't get why the support of drug prohibition (i.e. locking people up for non-violent "crimes") is considered to be a "conservative" position. I thought conservatives favored smaller government, at least domestically.

 

[Rob Banks]

It's a hard topic to decide on.

There is the precious american concept of freedom on the one hand. As well as the success legalization has had in for example portugal.

On the other hand I am well aware that I am projecting when I think most people will be able to exercise moderation. People can't exercise moderation with TV. We have seen legalization drain the funds of the lower and lower-middle class in Colorado.

I've seen enough drunks and potheads to know that they'll always be around: the question is if the booze/pot causes it of if these people would be sniffing paint without it. I think it's a bit of both but would like to hear an expert's opinion.

So I assume you're also undecided about whether or not we should ban alcohol.

 

[britchard]

In case you hadn't already guessed by my posts in the 'Drug Policy' thread, my conservative side won over.

My argument is that in an ideal world, cannabis would be legalised. People would use it at their own risk with no big government to pay for their welfare benefits or 'treatment'. They would understand the risks and the damaging effects cannabis had, and would be morally guided to either not use it at all, or to limit their use so that it is sensible.

But this ideal world is never going to happen. Especially in the UK with our generous healthcare and welfare systems, I am not prepared to allow my money to go to these delinquents.

 

[Rob Banks]

In case you hadn't already guessed by my posts in the 'Drug Policy' thread, my conservative side won over.

My argument is that in an ideal world, cannabis would be legalised. People would use it at their own risk with no big government to pay for their welfare benefits or 'treatment'. They would understand the risks and the damaging effects cannabis had, and would be morally guided to either not use it at all, or to limit their use so that it is sensible.

But this ideal world is never going to happen. Especially in the UK with our generous healthcare and welfare systems, I am not prepared to allow my money to go to these delinquents.

And how exactly is throwing these people in jail going to prevent them from using the healthcare and welfare systems when they get out?

 

[heavy]

^^ No, by making it illegal, these delinquents won't receive be able to buy and use cannabis. So there won't be millions and billions of dollars being wasted on sending them to jail.

:tard:

Say NO to drugs!

We can have a drug free society!!