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Comment by nashashmi | Hacker News Reader

Marijuana was illegalized in part to racism and ignorance of those who consumed it. However, today, that prevents a large number of people from being able to access it. And that is a very good thing. The smell of the drug is abhorrent. And it hurts lots of minds.

I know the liberals are trying to free incarcerated blacks in prison due to drugs, but this is nowhere near a good solution nor does it create the same elements of jusitce the rul intended.

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We're doing pretty well with legalization up here in Canada, so, counterpoint, it actually is a good solution.

And a bunch of states in the US.

Cannabis is less harmful than alcohol and has some genuine medicinal use. It doesn't make sense for it to be illegal, never should have been, and is extremely counterproductive for a host of reasons.

It's only a matter of time until full legalization and they should just get it done already.

The potency of street level resin and leaf has increased to the point where people have very little opportunity to _use_ this drug recreationally; they're almost instantly _abusing_ it.

The war on this drug has caused much harm.

It should never have been a gateway drug.

That's utter rubbish. It has a distinctive scent and I'm sure many people would find it pleasant. Fine, don't make it legal to smoke it public places, just as cigarettes.

I take it you don’t live in a flat next to neighbours who smoke all day. The stench is unbearable and covers the whole building

Fair enough. You've my upvote. I live in Australia. While, it's not legal, it's pretty common here. Yes I don't live next to someone who smokes all day. I do know someone who smokes and bakes cookies. Their house smells pleasant though (from the butter I reckon). I could be wrong.

I'm pretty sure it smells great

The smell is pretty bad. That's why smoking is banned in many places, same with MJ

Marijuana is physically harmless and socially far less harmful than alcohol. Its illegality has long been a weapon used against minorities and the poor. It also moves what could be a legitimate business into the hands of criminals and gives them money and power.

It is way past time to legalize. You’ll get over the smell. Or don’t, I don’t care.

It's not totally harmless. Like any drug it can affect your personal life significantly. Marijuana when used often makes you a very passive and lame personality. Not good. It's always better to stay sober and not use any drugs. A regulated market could potentially be better I agree. But profit versus health could be a challenge (see tabaco) in a US like country. Most important thing is to educate people on the side effects.

> marijuana when used often makes you a very passive and lame personality. Not good. It's always better to stay sober and not use any drugs.

Source on any of this?

> Marijuana when used often makes you a very passive and lame personality.

I can tell youve been one sided on this for a really long time. Im also not sure 'lame personality' is a size effect of anything. Please dont spew garbage

I'm sure there are thousands of rock stars and musicians and artists, who have "lame personality" from marijuana usage. How do you even define "lame personality"? I personally know a few people who're extremely sharp and have very engaging personality. Some of them have master degrees in advanced engineering subjects. I don't understand this argument. Sure it's probably not totally harmless. It's still a lot less addictive and harmful than tobacco and alcohol.

there are certainly people who are successful and use drugs at the same time. There are much more people who don't have that success and whose life's are pretty sad. I am from the Netherlands. We have a regulated market. I totally support our system. But the system is not there to promote the use of it. It's to prevent criminal organisations selling to youth. It ensures a certain level of quality and service. Marijuana does not make you sharp. That's an illusion. Enough studies confirming this.

hey.. thanks for the comment. I didn't mean marijuana usage made my friend sharp. They just happen to be intelligent and interesting people. Yes, I do understand why it's better to decriminalise it. But, you're absolutely correct, it shouldn't be promoted either. As responsible adults whoever wishes to dabble in Marijuana, it's their business. It's just that, I don't use and I don't think I've the right to judge anyone who does it.

Eh, personally I try not to voice my concerns about marijuana legalisation, as I'm all for it (and decriminalisation of other drugs) but fuck the herb itself. I regret my years spent as a stoner, and cringe on how the stoner culture is cool now. Weed demands more respect than people seem to do, especially teenagers.

We all have stories about the friend who's a stoner and built a billion dollar business. Yet somehow the stoner that doesn't seem to do much with his life we attribute to a flaw of character, which I disagree with.

In any case, definitely stop ruining lives and incarcerating them because they choose to partake in it. It's still just a plant, and much less dangerous than other legal "highs".

Paracelsus: "All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; but the dose makes it clear that a thing is not a poison."

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