REEFER MADNESS!!!!!!

[Doktor Howl]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

I agree with that in theory.  The problem is that kids don't get to choose their parents nor do they get to decide whether or not they have responsible and responsive parents.  I personally am not comfortable with them twisting in the wind.  Some may be, and that's fine, everyone is obviously welcome to their opinions.  It's just not how I roll and it's why I do what I do.  

No argument with the notion that there are plenty of irresponsible parents.

However, limiting the freedom of individuals because some are irresponsible is not an option, as far as I am concerned.

[Doktor Howl]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

Wins topic. Everyone can go home now.

Won't help.  This bad boy is going 100 pages+.

[Cuddlefish]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

Wins topic. Everyone can go home now.

Won't help.  This bad boy is going 100 pages+.

If this reaches 100 pages, I'll eat my hat.

[AFK]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

I agree with that in theory.  The problem is that kids don't get to choose their parents nor do they get to decide whether or not they have responsible and responsive parents.  I personally am not comfortable with them twisting in the wind.  Some may be, and that's fine, everyone is obviously welcome to their opinions.  It's just not how I roll and it's why I do what I do.  

No argument with the notion that there are plenty of irresponsible parents.

However, limiting the freedom of individuals because some are irresponsible is not an option, as far as I am concerned.

And so what is to be done with their children?  

[Doktor Howl]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

I agree with that in theory.  The problem is that kids don't get to choose their parents nor do they get to decide whether or not they have responsible and responsive parents.  I personally am not comfortable with them twisting in the wind.  Some may be, and that's fine, everyone is obviously welcome to their opinions.  It's just not how I roll and it's why I do what I do.  

No argument with the notion that there are plenty of irresponsible parents.

However, limiting the freedom of individuals because some are irresponsible is not an option, as far as I am concerned.

And so what is to be done with their children?  

I'd say that's where people like you come in.  I'm all about prevention and treatment, RWHN.  I'm not about prohibition, both on grounds of principle, and also because it doesn't work.

[Doktor Howl]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

Wins topic. Everyone can go home now.

Won't help.  This bad boy is going 100 pages+.

If this reaches 100 pages, I'll eat my hat.

Get the paprika ready.

[Cuddlefish]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

I agree with that in theory.  The problem is that kids don't get to choose their parents nor do they get to decide whether or not they have responsible and responsive parents.  I personally am not comfortable with them twisting in the wind.  Some may be, and that's fine, everyone is obviously welcome to their opinions.  It's just not how I roll and it's why I do what I do.  

No argument with the notion that there are plenty of irresponsible parents.

However, limiting the freedom of individuals because some are irresponsible is not an option, as far as I am concerned.

And so what is to be done with their children?  

They'll find their own way, or not. That's life, man. It's not the weed, it's the person smoking it. If they want to use it as an excuse as to why they are so lazy, stupid and unmotivated, then that's their bad, not weeds.

[Cuddlefish]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

Wins topic. Everyone can go home now.

Won't help.  This bad boy is going 100 pages+.

If this reaches 100 pages, I'll eat my hat.

Get the paprika ready.

Oh shit, man, did I really say that? Sry, dude, I must have been too high to realize what I was typing.

[Doktor Howl]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

Wins topic. Everyone can go home now.

Won't help.  This bad boy is going 100 pages+.

If this reaches 100 pages, I'll eat my hat.

Get the paprika ready.

Oh shit, man, did I really say that? Sry, dude, I must have been too high to realize what I was typing.

Friends don't let Guineas type stoned.

[AFK]

I think this is a very simple topic, personally.  I don't think anyone has the right to tell another adult that they can't put something in their own body.  I don't buy the "Think about the children" argument, because raising my kids is my responsibility and nobody else's.

I agree with that in theory.  The problem is that kids don't get to choose their parents nor do they get to decide whether or not they have responsible and responsive parents.  I personally am not comfortable with them twisting in the wind.  Some may be, and that's fine, everyone is obviously welcome to their opinions.  It's just not how I roll and it's why I do what I do.  

No argument with the notion that there are plenty of irresponsible parents.

However, limiting the freedom of individuals because some are irresponsible is not an option, as far as I am concerned.

And so what is to be done with their children?  

I'd say that's where people like you come in.  I'm all about prevention and treatment, RWHN.  I'm not about prohibition, both on grounds of principle, and also because it doesn't work.

We need more funding for that to happen.  We are under-funded as it is, with a Democratic President.  I would say, nationally, we really don't have the capacity to do justice to the problem that exists today.  I mean, we have managed to make progress with the peanuts we have but we could do more.  I just fear that legalizing marijuana will tip the balance and we'll lose the progress we've made, and then some.  Ethically, I can't condone taking that leap of faith.  

[Doktor Howl]

We need more funding for that to happen.  We are under-funded as it is, with a Democratic President.  I would say, nationally, we really don't have the capacity to do justice to the problem that exists today.  I mean, we have managed to make progress with the peanuts we have but we could do more.  I just fear that legalizing marijuana will tip the balance and we'll lose the progress we've made, and then some.  Ethically, I can't condone taking that leap of faith.  

1.  I'm reasonably certain that everyone who WILL smoke shit IS smoking shit, based on 4 decades of observation.

2.  Eliminate the DEA, give funding to you guys.  You get funding, the kids get counseling, etc, instead of going to prison for 7 years or so, and coming out ruined.

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

We need more funding for that to happen.  We are under-funded as it is, with a Democratic President.  I would say, nationally, we really don't have the capacity to do justice to the problem that exists today.  I mean, we have managed to make progress with the peanuts we have but we could do more.  I just fear that legalizing marijuana will tip the balance and we'll lose the progress we've made, and then some.  Ethically, I can't condone taking that leap of faith.  

1.  I'm reasonably certain that everyone who WILL smoke shit IS smoking shit, based on 4 decades of observation.

2.  Eliminate the DEA, give funding to you guys.  You get funding, the kids get counseling, etc, instead of going to prison for 7 years or so, and coming out ruined.

This would be the smart, compassionate, effective way of dealing with it.

But our government isn't really into "effective". Let alone "smart" or "compassionate".

[Cramulus]

I'm coming in a bit late, but---

I think it's unfair to say that RHWN can't fairly discuss this topic, even though its his professional field, because the data he's using came from cops instead of drug dealers/users. I also think it's weak to dismiss him based on vague perceptions about him or his discussion style, rather than disagreeing with actual specific things he's said.

He works in youth prevention - if you don't think that kids drug use should influence drug law or you don't think that he should get data from law enforcement, you're obviously not going to see eye to eye with him. But don't act like he's debating unfairly or just not capable of understanding - the dude debates more rationally and substantively than most people on this board.

[AFK]

We need more funding for that to happen.  We are under-funded as it is, with a Democratic President.  I would say, nationally, we really don't have the capacity to do justice to the problem that exists today.  I mean, we have managed to make progress with the peanuts we have but we could do more.  I just fear that legalizing marijuana will tip the balance and we'll lose the progress we've made, and then some.  Ethically, I can't condone taking that leap of faith.  

1.  I'm reasonably certain that everyone who WILL smoke shit IS smoking shit, based on 4 decades of observation.

2.  Eliminate the DEA, give funding to you guys.  You get funding, the kids get counseling, etc, instead of going to prison for 7 years or so, and coming out ruined.

Even if you legalize marijuana you still need the DEA.  Even if you legalized all drugs you'd still need the DEA.  Just the operation to combat prescription drug diversion and counterfeit prescription drugs is a mountain of work that someone needs to do.  It's not a good thing for people to be getting fake VIOXX and Lipitor. 

[Doktor Howl]

We need more funding for that to happen.  We are under-funded as it is, with a Democratic President.  I would say, nationally, we really don't have the capacity to do justice to the problem that exists today.  I mean, we have managed to make progress with the peanuts we have but we could do more.  I just fear that legalizing marijuana will tip the balance and we'll lose the progress we've made, and then some.  Ethically, I can't condone taking that leap of faith.  

1.  I'm reasonably certain that everyone who WILL smoke shit IS smoking shit, based on 4 decades of observation.

2.  Eliminate the DEA, give funding to you guys.  You get funding, the kids get counseling, etc, instead of going to prison for 7 years or so, and coming out ruined.

Even if you legalize marijuana you still need the DEA.  Even if you legalized all drugs you'd still need the DEA.  Just the operation to combat prescription drug diversion and counterfeit prescription drugs is a mountain of work that someone needs to do.  It's not a good thing for people to be getting fake VIOXX and Lipitor. 

This is a very good point.  However, what percentage of the DEA is used to handle fake prescription drugs?