A few notes about the points raised in this thread:
Marijuana as a gateway drug:
The statistics definitely show that users of hard drugs have used marijuana previously. What if you apply this same logic to cigarettes? To alcohol? To fast food? It's easy to see that this theory hinges on the cum hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy.
Driving under the influence:
Drinking and driving is illegal. Driving dangerously without intoxication is illegal. Of course driving while intoxicated would be illegal if marijuana wasn't. People still drink and drive despite extremely strict laws prohibiting it, this isn't an issue any legislation will change.
Drug Prohibition in general:
I can't for the life of me understand how someone can justify the legalization of marijuana, alcohol and tobacco products and then turn around and try to say "harder" drugs shouldn't also be legalized. It's painfully obvious that drug prohibition doesn't work. Heroin is currently illegal and there are millions of people using it on a regular basis. In addition to prohibition not stopping people from using it, it's also promoting illegal trade and a violent drug cartels. Whiskey could be considered a dangerous addictive substance, but you don't see street-dealers selling whiskey and having turf wars over Jack Daniels. You don't see oppressive regimes profitting in 3rd world countries from whiskey plantations.
Prohibition doesn't work.
Marijuana as a gateway drug:
The statistics definitely show that users of hard drugs have used marijuana previously. What if you apply this same logic to cigarettes? To alcohol? To fast food? It's easy to see that this theory hinges on the cum hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy.
Driving under the influence:
Drinking and driving is illegal. Driving dangerously without intoxication is illegal. Of course driving while intoxicated would be illegal if marijuana wasn't. People still drink and drive despite extremely strict laws prohibiting it, this isn't an issue any legislation will change.
Drug Prohibition in general:
I can't for the life of me understand how someone can justify the legalization of marijuana, alcohol and tobacco products and then turn around and try to say "harder" drugs shouldn't also be legalized. It's painfully obvious that drug prohibition doesn't work. Heroin is currently illegal and there are millions of people using it on a regular basis. In addition to prohibition not stopping people from using it, it's also promoting illegal trade and a violent drug cartels. Whiskey could be considered a dangerous addictive substance, but you don't see street-dealers selling whiskey and having turf wars over Jack Daniels. You don't see oppressive regimes profitting in 3rd world countries from whiskey plantations.
Prohibition doesn't work.
- Meatball
