Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Weeds
After three episodes of the new Showtime series, Weeds, I finally decided to post about it. Bringing an issue like Marijuana use to the forefront is just the beginning. The show suggests that it is difficult for a middle-class person living in the suburbs of America to cope if tragedy strikes. The death of a husband, or a wife, has put hundreds of families in similar situations since the war began, and one wonders what their spouses have to do to make ends meet. Selling marijuana to the lawyers, accountants, and business owners of a community is certainly one way to go, especially if you want to maintain the lifestyle to which you have become accustomed. And another question arises: If no one believes that marijuana should be legalized and fewer people are doing it that we think, how are suburban moms and dads making a living off of growing and selling it? What benefits, if any, do you see from the legalization of marijuana, mushrooms, or peyote? What would be he societal changes involved? Given the looming meth crisis, and the fact that marijuana has been used to treat meth addicts, does marijuana really seem so bad?
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23 comments:
Well, you keep bringing up the legalization of marijuana. I know you're pro that, and I could remain silent, but I feel I need to repeat that it is as dangerous as it ever was. In fact, it is more dangerous because it is stronger than it was many years ago. It also is a 'gateway' drug, i.e. it is an introduction to illegal drugs that can lead to 'stronger' stuff. And, from a purely healthy perspective, the evidence still abounds that it is physically damaging.
All that being said, I would also add that if it is legalized, law enforcement will have less to do. So, I think they have more than just our health and well-being at stake, here.
I think law enforcement would have just as much to do. There are thousands of crimes being committed and criminals that are not in jail because of the time and resources spent on marijuana laws. Not all drug laws are bad, but I think if alcohol and cigarrettes are legal, marijuana should be, too. It's a little hypocritical for it not to be.
Polanco, a good point, but where do you draw the line? Who is to say that only marijuana should be legal then? What about meth, coke, etc.? Cigs aren't mood/mind altering. Alcohol IS. However, the precedent was set with alcohol hundreds of years ago, and it can be taken in moderation without being mood/mind altering.
I actually agree with you. Prostitution should be legal. Like I said, I believe people have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies. I would be a hypocrite if I thought prostitution should be illegal. I believe there should be regulations, as there should be if marijuana was legalized, but I think freedom means freedom of the mind, body, and spirit.
Ciggies are mood and mind altering. They're addictive.
I am beginning to think you are obsessed about pot. I could not agree less.
There are several issues I touch on again and again. Education, health care, the war, and social security are mentioned much more than marijuana. Why is it that you only feel I'm obsessed with this one issue?
I guess I wonder what you have to add after the last post. Has something changed?
Yes, a new program has been added to cable that brings this subject to the forefront. I think it's an interesting thing in pop culture that we can have TV shows about it, celebreties can talk about doing it, athletes practically do it in front of people, and yet it is still illegal. I think that's a very hypocritical part of our society right now, and I think hypocracy needs to be brought up wherever and whenever it exists. The fact that Weeds is getting the ratings it is says flat out how many people are using this drug and the society isn;t crumbling around us like the government led us to believe it would if we smoked pot.
Sorry, my position has not changed. I am against the legalization of pot. I don't care how many people are doing it illegally. I am not a member of the 'pop culture', but based on my observations, I think that much of our society is beginning to crumble around us. Most important to me is what has happened to our childrens world. As they try to navigate the ever increasing dangers we present (allow)today, I think that the message we give about pot (the gateway drug) should be clearly against it's use. Pot is not as benign as you have alluded to in your posts. Please, don't re-post your list of supporting documents. There are documents on both sides of this issue. My most conclusive evidence is anecdotal and from gut wrenching personal experience with the destruction caused by the not so innocent drug called weed. Thanks for the discussion. We will just have to agree to disagree. Peace.
Re: Legalized prostitution
People have the right to do whatever they like with their bodies? I see that people want the FREEDOM to whatever they want, but RIGHT?
A "right" implies that someone or something greater has given us access or made an allowance for us to do something. You and I have been over this topic. If you give yourself the right, then where do you draw the line as right-giver? What if the rights I give myself impinge in the rights of other right-givers? Which right-giver has the right? Do they duke it out? Do they have a shouting match to see who is the nastiest, or who has the best insults?
So, in the case of prostitution, if a married man feels he has to the right to get laid because his wife is not sexually intimate with him, does it matter? If a single guy wants it, will it matter eventually to his future mate? The larger question is not if one has the right, but if it is right!
I think we can argue that cigs and cigars aren't as mood altering or as addictive as pot. However, I'm ALL for making them illegal too. In fact, if they made alcohol illegal I wouldn't cry, but there's no way that will happen.
As for making prostitution legal, I see your point. However, we also have to ask what morals/standards we wish to have as a society (leaving out religious standards as a guideline). Do we wish to promote promiscuity? And if so, to what extent? Should we also legalize bestiality, etc?
I say legalize it all and put taxes on it. It's like prohibition and our Puritanical roots. If we take away the mystery and the "bad" personae we've given it, it won't be such a thrill to do. Does Amsterdam have drug problems? Is the AIDS epidemic a problem there? No! Everything's legal.
Carnealian, I've been to Denmark, where virtually everything is legalized. It's not a pretty sight. And no, I'm not saying that because they are doing things that I don't approve of. If you legalize everything there is no doubt that the crime rate goes down. But that doesn't mean that you've solved any ethical dilemmas.
For instance, why not legalize everything? Let's make murder legal, too. Let's let child molesters do their worst. What makes their crimes any different than the other ones? If we're going to discard all mores and morals, let's go for broke.
P.S. Polanco, you mentioned how some people sell weed to make ends meet. If it's ever legalized, they can kiss their little home-based enterprise good-bye. Then the market will take over and they'll be competing with WalMart. Good luck.
Also, controversial subjects generate more discussion.
I think here's a big difference between doing harm to others and doing harm to yourself. To compare marijuana use to molestation is absurd. They aren't even in the same ballpark.
I wasn't comparing marijuana use to molestation. I was comparing one sexual activity with another. And, if we are going to legalize everything it becomes a moot point anyway, doesn't it? And don't simply tell me that it's all about drawing a line between harming yourself and harming others. Doesn't drug use affect those family members and co-workers of the druggie? Doesn't alcoholism affect others too? Doesn't legalizing prostitution hurt the family unit by making it easier for spouses to stray?
"Also, controversial subjects generate more discussion."
you've inspired me, polanco. >mischievious grin<
also, i agree with carnealian about pot. currently, we are stuffing our jails and whatnot to the gills with drug-related crimes, not to mention ruining lots of young people's chances at career success with a criminal records.
you have to weigh the pros and cons. and if legalization doesn't work, then repeal it. everybody that wants to already smokes pot; just make it legal, restrict its use and tax it already!
Legalizing everything and legalizing what does physical harm to others is also different and not a good comparison. I didn't say we should leagalize everything. I said we should legalize certain drugs and the ability to do with your body what you wish. I don't think the prostitutes in Red Light disricts in Euope feel exploited. They're safe, clean, and making tons of money. And it's their choice.
Doesn't having alcohol legal effect the families of alcoholics? Doesn't having ciggarrettes legal effect the families of those who die of emphizema? Anyhing is bad if not used in moderation. Child abuse and spousal abuse laws still apply, and neglect is just as bad as beatings, so I think we've got that covered with existing laws.
Also, GUNS cause much more damage than pot ever could, and they are more than legal. Their use is protected by the Constitution.
I'll have to come back to this one when there is more time...
Lot's more time.
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