Holland's economic footprint is a wee bit smaller than the US.

Size sets them apart, obviously.

Canada's even bigger and its lax marijuana laws are not turning it into hell.

Next.

But thats because nothing happens in Canada. Nothing. At all. Ever.

I, for one, completely agree with igotit4cheap. Maybe not with the way he presented his arguments, but if I get the essence of what he's saying, and I think I do, it goes something like this:

Marijuana is a drug with psychedelic properties, and it induces a different mindset which is mostly incompatible with the 'sober' mindset. Neither better nor worse, just different. But these differences create fractures, binaries in society, which erode our stability--look at the endless war between the right and the left, causing heated debates and discord in our country. If marijuana is legalized, the war between pot smokers and non-pot smokers would be just as divisive.

Most of the pro-legalization posters in this topic smoke weed, and obviously feel that it is a good idea. I do not, and though I think legalization is ultimately ideal, I think that it would only serve to create more fractures and binaries in society, and since pro/anti marijuana legalization does mostly run along the same poles as the right/left ones, it would create internal discord and conflict beyond what we are already facing in these contentious times.

Basically, marijuana legalization is not as simple as 'it has less health risks than alcohol,' and our country just is not ready for the political, ethical, and philosophical baggage that comes with its approval, not to mention the fallout that would ensue from the government admitting to decades of propaganda, lies, inprisonment, wasted tax dollars, wasted man-hours. Not to mention that marijuana impairs the ability to perform many work-related activities at a rate far beyond anything alcohol can provide, in regards to its lingering effects post-consumption. Not to mention that there is no easy way to create a line of demarcation for 'highness,' apply it to driving while intoxicated, and provide a means of measurement for police officers the nation over. Not to mention that marijuana is demotivating for many, running in opposition to the drive for excellence we hold as one of our national ideals. Not to mention that there is a false assumption made by most weed advocates, that the government is okay with the legality of alcohol, rather than that the prohibition of alcohol simply did not work in any way, while the prohibition of marijuana, while inefficient, is still working on a fundamental level. Not to mention that the majority of people want it to remain illegal, and that there is no reason for the government to attempt to sway them otherwise.

(if you want to smoke it, smoke it. you're safe in your own home, and alcohol consumption is banned in most public places, so it serves to reason that marijuana consumption would be as well, anyway. so what's the difference? you can't get high in bars? hop off.)

Here is something I found, thought it was interesting. I don't have much else to add to this.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291043,00.html

My main argument for anyone who believes in a God (as much of our government claims to): Marijuana is a plant that grows naturally; it has existed as long as human beings, likely longer. Do you honestly believe that we as humans have the wisdom, let alone the authority, to say that God was wrong in creating this plant? Marijuana was God's little "oops"?

If God existed and didn't want us to smoke it then we wouldn't be able to, cause how could you go against the will of an omnipotent being?

Free Will. God made us in his image because he loved us, but then one person fucks up, so now everybody spends the rest of their life living in a world full of awesome stuff that they're not allowed to do or they go to hell.

My main argument for anyone who believes in a God (as much of our government claims to): Marijuana is a plant that grows naturally; it has existed as long as human beings, likely longer. Do you honestly believe that we as humans have the wisdom, let alone the authority, to say that God was wrong in creating this plant? Marijuana was God's little "oops"?

That is something I truly believe in.

I love presenting that argument to my hardcore Christian friends and watch them fumble.

Really? The thing I would've said immediately is exactly what Paraphen did. Well, the first thing: free will. The rest I don't really agree with.

Just because God created something that doesn't mean we have to do it or make use of it. Hell, He created the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and gave us explicit instructions to leave it alone. If there weren't vices to tempt us being good wouldn't be anything special. Adam and Eve were sinless, until that point, but they were also basically just complacent children. I guess a bunch of potheads would probably take me saying that and try to claim that weed just wakes you up, mannnnnnnnnn.

But can you ever imagine yourself smoking a joint and then saying "Oh shit, we're naked, Eve. I had no idea. We'd better cover our genitals."?

Really? The thing I would've said immediately is exactly what Paraphen did. Well, the first thing: free will. The rest I don't really agree with.

Just because God created something that doesn't mean we have to do it or make use of it. Hell, He created the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and gave us explicit instructions to leave it alone. If there weren't vices to tempt us being good wouldn't be anything special. Adam and Eve were sinless, until that point, but they were also basically just complacent children. I guess a bunch of potheads would probably take me saying that and try to claim that weed just wakes you up, mannnnnnnnnn.

You. . . you do realize that I didn't really buy any of what I wrote there, right? I mean, I was playing devil's advocate I guess, in that that's how you'd explain it coming from that point of view, but I have a hard time understanding why any people are religious, at all, much less religious like that.

You. . . you do realize that I didn't really buy any of what I wrote there, right? I mean, I was playing devil's advocate I guess, in that that's how you'd explain it coming from that point of view, but I have a hard time understanding why any people are religious, at all, much less religious like that.

That if you do bad stuff you go to hell, and if you do good stuff you go to heaven. At least that's what I got out of it, but looking back you didn't say it explicitly.

That if you do bad stuff you go to hell, and if you do good stuff you go to heaven. At least that's what I got out of it, but looking back you didn't say it explicitly.

I...don't follow.

Marijuana's existence is natural, but that doesn't mean that it's natural for people to smoke it or eat it in large amounts.
I don't know that I've ever heard of smoking pot being a sin, though (not that I'm surprised to hear that some people call it one). I don't think it's a sin to do any drug, but if you're doing that and neglecting the shit you should be doing instead, that's sinful.