Not sure what bur I put up your butt, but since you singled me out, I'll try to respond, without the indignation.
This debate makes me laugh. It's so comically stupid that Marijuana is illegal and tobacco and Alcohol are not. Yes it SHOULD be legalized for several fairly simple reasons. The prohibition aspects which are an entire discussion alone, the revenue and tax wealth that can be generated from an industry that is not in any way being curbed by law enforcement is well into the billions. It would also create a new source for cash crops and give us the ability to replace the pulp paper industry with hemp paper as well as textiles and many other things that hemp can be made into. It can also give a huge boost to the farming industry. Hemp used to be America's #1 cash crop...but Reefer madness changed that...that's just intellectual incompetence on a massive national level.
First, I agree that it's "comically stupid that Marijuana is illegal and tobacco and Alcohol are not". I guess where we differ, is that all three are worthless, unnecessary, unhealthy, human indulgences. None should be legal. Two being so, is no more justification for legalizing the 3rd than the man on the moon. Which addresses the first of your "several simple reasons". You don't have to agree.
The possible gains in revenue are certainly intriguing. No way to guarantee what the numbers would be. Or, to foresee what possible trade offs in terms of costs, brought on by doing so. The possibilities are too numerous to try and list. But it doesn't take a very vivid imagination to come up with some.
I agree that hemp farming, and it's many uses, would be a good thing to do. But, since the hemp you grow for paper/textiles, etc... doesn't have to be of the variety that gets you high, it's irrelevant to this discussion.
The elimination of a huge international drug trade, elimination of a LOT of crime, a lot of non violent, otherwise harmless criminals would never see a jail cell and could be contributing members of society instead of financial drains in the prison system & regulation of a huge industry that at this stage has none.
Elimination of a huge international drug trade? Not on your life. A curb/restructuring? Maybe.
Finding alternatives to non violent criminal incarceration doesn't have to include legalization. But it is a subject indeed worthy of greater attention.
Whatever contributions they MAY make, could just as easily be offset by drains on society. Just because someone doesn't go to jail for smoking pot, doesn't mean they won't go for something else. Or wind up otherwise costing taxpayers. It's an impossible, immeasurable prediction to make.
I don't care if you smoked for two decades or still burn it, if you're making the argument that the ONLY reason anyone could POSSIBLY be arguing FOR legalization is so they can have unfettered stoner sessions you've got zero credibility in this debate. NONE AX. I am a HUGE proponent of legalization for political reasons and it's more than a little insulting when I hear that jackass argument.
I assume this statement...
Ax said:
Most excuses, and that's what the overwhelming majority of them are, excuses, for condoning marijuana use, are manufactured by users to justify getting high.
...is what you are referring to. I see the words "overwhelming majority", and "most". I don't see "ONLY reason anyone could POSSIBLY".
But I'll ask, what good reason, other than maybe medical, is there to get high?
It's more of that painting with a broad brush and speaking for a huge group of people that you have no basis for doing so. Your experience means two things when discussing what goes on in other's minds...jack and squat.
I only mention my own pot use to say I do have a working knowledge of it's use, and effects. It also helped me learn how unnecessary it's use is. And to learn all the BS excuses to use it. I've employed them all. So, you don't have to agree with me, but there's no need to get all puffy. I'm not impressed by it.
By that logic everyone who ever has or has enjoyed a drink is a raging alcoholic. No chance someone could be FOR the personal liberty that allows them to regulate what goes into their body (instead of the GOV) and not be a heavy consumer huh?
No, not at all. But the mentality that using these things, are the only way to achieve, whatever, is the best, and only way, is a truckload of BS. that's all. And when someone can put something in their body that might affect me adversely, it at least makes me part of the discussion. Mind altering substances deserve closer scrutiny, IMO. But I'm not jumping up an down screaming about it.
As for the NFL, it's whether it's legal or not that's the issue. If it's legal then not much they can really say unless someone proves to have a problem, but until it's legal on federal level I don't see how that's gonna fly. Federal laws still prohibit it and the DEA could technically still come after ya even if your state doesn't. No if I was running things in the NFL it'l stay banned until it's legal federally.
Mostly agree here. Though I think, that even if legalized, businesses, including the NFL, should be allowed to disqualify users as potential employees.