The product's producers couldn't have bought or paid for the advertising provided by this article. Only thing missing is the "Good-Housekeeping" stamp of approval.

there are many things you can smoke that dont hurt you at all. Things like salvia are alot like pot, but they don't harm your lungs when smoked. your an uninformed idiot.

Shift, there are other ways of enjoying marijuana other than smoking it

I agree. that's why you cook pot brownies instead. What i found disturbing is that they are considering making simple possession a felony. now that's terrible. i can't hardly believe they prosecute possession, of the real deal, as a felony. you can drive drunk on the wrong side of the road and get away with a misdemeanor.

Drug laws make your kids and their friends sick. Illegal means unregulated. Is your child smoking pot or paraquat? Is it laced with PCP or heroin?

Illegal = Unregulated!

Tobacco kills a quarter million Americans each year. Alcohol kills a few thousand directly and thousands more as victims of the violent drunk and drunk drivers of course.

Pot kills NO ONE. Not one American has ever died because of pot use. NONE!

Meanwhile, your son or daughter is getting friendly with a criminal who does not care if the pot is pure. Your kids fabricate pipes from toxic and hazardous substances because in most cities safe drug pipes are outlawed!

Save your kids: Legalize marijuahna!

F these dam Rednecks... They would rather drink and get drunk, and do stupid harmful sheet, and get all rowdy and break up stuff, and fight all the time, and drive drunk, just like a typical politician...

Shift lock (for the manually impaired) sounds like a child on a tirade!
Missouri has a seven year imprisonment for reefer! They make me sick! No wonder they are at the leading edge of some synthetic of unknown long term effect. They are protecting the youth from themselves. Bullsh1t!

Just what we need more synthetics! Enough already legalize Marijuana! Stop the spread of something that may end up being another crack or meth! Some part of our society will always want to get high whether it is alcohol, tobacco, pot or some synthetic crap! Legalize pot we know the effects are minimal!

Beside it is a 50 billion dollar a year industry! Tax it like Alcohol and Cigs help solve the deficit!

People who smoke ANYTHING are total idiots. PERIOD.

People who smoke are a lot less destructive than people who drink. And who's asking you to smoke pot or cigarettes anyway?

I don't like the idea of smoking pot, real or fake, average or medical, and I would never try pot, but if other people want to do it I won't stop them. So long as they don't smoke it in my house, it's cool.

Smoking anything is VERY harmful...

Did you know that marijuana was used for medicinal purposes back in the old days? Go do some research, you might actually learn something.

""A 10-year-old child could walk into a head shop and buy it," said West Plains Detective Shawn Rhoads."

What kinda statement was that??? Good call since if a 10-year-old was in a head shop it would be illegal anyhow so the shop owner obviously would not sell to it. Those are your tax dollars at work!!!!

Shift Lock..... Do you think smoking pot has anything to do with linguistics?

What they (U.S. Government) really need to do is pull their heads out of their @sses and come to the realisation that any competent 5 year old would arrive at in about 10 minutes or less. And accept that the "war on drugs" is - always has been - and always will be, a total miserable failure that does nothing but cost the Federal Government well over a billion dollars a year.

Legalize everything, and tax it.

Doing this is NOT going to make everyone a raving drug addict. It is only going to provide the Federal Government with possibly a billion dollars or more in taxes, and save it MORE than a billion dollars a year in incarceration, court, police, and DEA expenses. This would give Obama even more money to totally waste on something probably quite stupid.

Not to mention the fact that it will take away billions of dollars in funding to all the street gangs and local hoodlums that every even small city suffers from in this country. It would relegate almost all of them back to the worthless little street punks that most of them really are .

And it would also keep uninformed people from smoking something that is "sprayed with a chemical" (?) to make it similar to marijuana, with who knows what effects that will show up 5,10, or 20 years down the line.

Shift...

Eating hamburgers cooked on the grill causes cancer...so what's your point? And I'll bet a few puffs of weed is better for you than breathing the air in LA...I'll take the puffs, thank you! Take your self-righteous self somewhere else...that's why you were collapsed...twice!

You also need to read data produced by NIH. No evidence pot causes cancer. As a matter of fact, heavy pot users who smoke cigarettes also have a less chance of getting cancer than just cigarette smokers...took 'em 2 years to let that info out...hmmmmm, wonder why?

""A 10-year-old child could walk into a head shop and buy it," said West Plains Detective Shawn Rhoads."

Yeah that statement seems a little fishy. I am 22 and still have to show my ID at the headshop

Mark, I was going to comment, but you said what I was going to post word-for-word. Voted up.

At 40 to 100 bucks a quarter I will stick to the real thing thank you very much.

Steve Papa: I believe the big draw this stuff has, is that you don't have to go to prison (NOT jail) for a year or more if Barney Fyfe catches you with half a joint.

Gary,

I believe the big draw this stuff has, is that you don't have to go to prison (NOT jail) for a year or more if Barney Fyfe catches you with half a joint.

At least not yet...but they are working very hard on it!

$40-$100 per quarter oz? Geez, I never pay more than $30 anymore. Maybe you only smoke hydro. When I started smoking, over 25 years ago, I was paying $35 - $45. With inflation taken into account, it`s a lot cheaper these days, at least in the midwest. I would much prefer to grow it next to my tomatoes, however.

The article shows what is wrong with the government and the parasites running it. Lets make something else illegal. Then lets lie and obfuscate why we are making it illegal. According to Detective Shawn Rhoads, 10 year old kids can walk into the headshop and buy it. Never mind that 10 year old kids aren't allowed in headshops.

Robin: Give those kitties a pet for me! Hey and don't worry, $50 a quarter is usual in my area too. FecalPeanutz must be in a heavily weeded area...lucky. We should all follow his lead and grow our own!

Gary Cooper (1.14):

And accept that the "war on drugs" is - always has been - and always will be, a total miserable failure that does nothing but cost the Federal Government well over a billion dollars a year.

I must disagree on this one point - it costs the TAXPAYERS well over a billion dollars a year. Otherwise, you are bang on.

Smoke whatever you want. Just don't endanger anyone else when you do it and don't expect me to foot the bill if you get yourself sick on it.

That is sad since the states to the south of Missouri (Arkansas and Mississippi) have been in the process of decriminalizing pot possesion. I guess if people want the government out of their lives, then the government should take the good with the bad.

The only problem with taxing this or real pot is that then ACORN and SEIU will have to pay taxes.

FP, the article said the fake stuff was 20 to 50 bucks for 2 or 3 grams, thats where I got that figure. Too rich for my blood I agree :)

Well I was going to post a comment to Shift Lock, but he or she will not see it for awhile. I hate to tell you breathing Air is bad for you. Not by pollutants in the AIR, but what air does to your Cells. It lets them age, so in a manner of speaking air is what gives you life, because without it you would be dead in 5 minutes without it, but because it keeps your cells moving, it what ages you too. So it is life and death for ya...So speaking on a CELLULAR LEVEL it will kill you in the long run.

You can stamp it out. Just execute them and then it will not be a problem no more.

They won't legalize anything that can be grown by anyone and they won't jeopardize the taxes they get from liquor, hell our country is already at the point of collapse anymore losses in tax revenue we really will be screwed ...

Bibol-

Are you being facetious? You're talking about killing 25% of America, maybe more. I bet you, dollars to donuts, that someone you love smokes pot. You might not know it, but would you see them dead also? I guarentee you the world would be worse off.

Besides, why would you want to get rid of it?

Glen in Dallas: The Federal Government is the entity that is spending all of this money. The taxpayers are just the source of the money that the Federal Government has, and decides how to spend.

Otherwise what you are suggesting is that it doesn't cost you anything to go to the grocery store and buy a loaf of bread. But it cost your employer for you to do that, because your employer is where you get your money from.

You are the one that decides what you do with the money your employer gives you. And the Federal Government is the one that decides what to do with the money the taxpayers give them.

It is the Federal Government that is spending over a billion dollars a year on the war on drugs, not you and I, or any of the taxpayers.

I recommend smoking the real thing as it is natural. Europe has already banned this fake pot.

Let's legalize marijuana. It's a plant. It's natural. It is not addictive.

Chemicals like meth are dangerous which is why I would never use this fake pot. God only knows what it will do to one's body.

The major issue in regards to legalization of Marijuana are quite simple. Money and control. Just think of the lost revenue the Phamacutical Companies will lose out on...and the tax base that goes along with it. Without the astronomical profits these companies acquire, they cannot fund the lobbiest...thus they lose control of the 565 that pander to the needs of big business over the needs of their constituates.

The control aspect goes even further, as they cannot eradicate each and every seed that is produced from a plant. As such, they cannot corner the market and cannot derive huge profits from Marijuana.

Another thing to think about is how difficult it will be for those in power to admit to the lies and propaganda they have born against Marijuana. For many years they have said that they haven't done any studies in regards to Marijuana, yet they have also produced a synthetic form of THC known as Marinol. I have a difficult time believing them, as it takes research to develop something that mimics something that can be grown naturally.

I don't know about anyone else, but I am so tired of the lies bestowed upon those of us that are not afraid to use our own minds. Give me the entire story, good and bad and I will make up my own mind. Otherwise, your credibility is lost trying to force me to believe what you want me to believe through deception and half truths.

I for one, have had personal experience with Missouri laws - draconian sub-structured ignorant laws spawned by lawmakers who's parents were direct descendants of sub-19th century hillbilly inbred control freaks. With that said, I find our youth continually falling out of the pledges of allegiance to their country as they refuse to be controlled by those who have never offered an ounce of respect towards individual freedoms of choice where the pursuit of happiness should reign.

Did you know that marijuana was used for medicinal purposes back in the old days?

Auteur...just wondering;....when you mention the "Old Days" ;are you referring to pre-1930's America when there were no laws restricting the use of Cannabis??.....this plant has been used by Humans for thousands of years for Medicinal;Religious;Spiritual and Recreational purposes...early Humans were much more civilized than the current Knucledraggar's in Missouri and Kansas

look how the self-righteous and the control freaks are responding here.

If you don't want to smoke or allow your children to smoke that is your right but that right don't include controlling the rest of us.

Re-read the constitution and you will see a part which imparts the rights to life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness is in there

I'm for pot smokers going to the tea parties. Aren't they for less government?

Smoking a Chemical laced substance... ha?

Sounds like Crack, Speed, Cocaine, GHB, PCP, Heroin, etc...

Does not sound like weed... But anyways... I think if you are willing to smoke a variety of such substances (Pot ABUSE included, abuse capitalized for a reason, don't get panties in knot please), it just demonstrates one's mental capacity. No justification or redundant elaboration will make it good for you. There may be some values to certain things as a medical remedy, but beyond that, I have to agree with the surgeon general: smoking is quite bad for your health in the short AND in the long run...

Josh, I'd pay a quarter to see THAT...while "munching" on one of FecalPeanutz big, fat juicy "tomatoes"!

smoking is quite bad for your health in the short AND in the long run...

If it is then why was, and is, pot used for medicinal purposes?

Medicinal purposes is just a ploy to make it available to potheads. It's a sham concocted by the dope industry.

the dope industry? what the hell are you talking about?

I'm more than sure many cancer and aids patients would very much disagree with you.

Hell, for that matter ask Montel.

stop spreading lies

Will anyone disagree that its very difficult to drive while high ? Well it is for me. And why legalize something that makes people stupider than they already are ?

Shift Lock: Legalize violence towards idiots... make the world a better place.

Yea u would not be here then!

Do not know about this stuff - if it is synthesized probably not the best thing for you. Do not take a chance legalize the natural thing and save on taxes. Do need near as many cops or jails. Cops and government are the new big business just no check and balances. Be afraid very afraid BIG BROTHER is watching.

Those genetic genii that are currently researching how to do gene splicing on vegetables, should concentrate on how to splice the THC gene from cannabis indica into tomatoes, or the like..........

Now that could put some real " vroom vroom " in your V8 juice..............

Then whatthehell is DEA and fed-gov gonna do ?? outlaw food ???

I can see it now.............THC in................strawberries..... :) :) :)

Give a whole new twist to.............." Strawberry Fields Forever"

This is ridiculous now they want to outlaw flowers because they might have something that acts like THC on it? Ok doesn´t the drug war already cost us enough instead of worrying about something that causes a reaction similar to medical marijuana which is a shorter high than pot is...leave them alone and stop trying to regulate everything a person puts in their body....making it illegal won´t stop them from using it..they will just go back to pot...

Anyone who smokes anything for pleasure is engaging in very harmful behavior

You are severely over exaggerating the danger. That will get you nowhere. But, it is ok to eat it or vaporize it?

@!$%# you for calling me an idiot.

Maybe you ought to try some weed Shift. Bake it in a double fudge brownie and take a big bite, it will loosen you up. That or go to a brothel and get laid with a couple of nice ladies.

Anyone who smokes anything for pleasure is engaging in very harmful behavior.

If they drive while they're high they'll be engaging in harmful behavior.

Shift,

Every one knows that smoking something is not the greatest thing for you. However, couldn't the same argument be made about Alcohol, fast food, Soda or even burning fossil fuels. Where do we draw the line! Shouldn't American Adults be aloud to make that choice for themselves. Obviously within reason, but we are talking about marijuana here. How is it we allow adults to smoke tobacco a drug that is proven to be extremely addictive and harmful. Yet marijuana a drug that has research has show has very little addictive qualities and has far less health consequences is illegal. It makes no sense!

Shirt lock...shove it up your narrow minded ass. You have called everyone idiots, told them how they should live,, yelled at us (used all caps) used very offensive language, and you have the audacity get offended when someone calls you out? You are a dick. Period.

Hey @!$%# lock, quit trolling. It's obvious you're a troll because no one is as stupid as you appear to be.

Looks like the druggie losers are out in force today. In one case the other day somebody in person said "I think marijuana should be legalized." Guy has not held a full time job for very long. The last job he held. He was a maintenance man and when the boss was gone away on business. He would leave early smoke pot and drink beer. Then show up latter on the job at quiting time.

I'm pretty sure your friend would be a poor employee even if he had never found the evil weed, some people don't need help to suck. I have a full time job, always have, I pay my bills and taxes, my kids are not in jail or strung out on drugs and living in alleys. I smoke most nights but never at or before work. I have lots of friends who do the same and not one of them has turned into a heroin addict due to the influence of the "gateway drug" pot, none of them have stolen to feed their habit. I think to generalize pot smokers as losers is unfair to the thousands who use it responsibly and in privacy.

Right on Steve. Excellent reply.

Bibol,

Wow, your friend is a straight scumbag huh! So you think if weed wasn't around this guy would be sneaking off for beers probably. Does that mean we should make alcohol illegal for every other American Adult? I am thinking NO! We will always have those in our society who do the wrong thing, there are 300 million of us for Gods sakes. Why don't we be a little more rational and legalize the drugs that have far fewer side effects than the rest, sounds rational, yes! #1 on the list Marijuana!

I think ShiftLock's break at the Cinnabun is over.

"In one case the other day somebody in person said "I think marijuana should be legalized." Guy has not held a full time job for very long"~ qoute from bibol

My father was an executive, making our childhood *very* comfortable indeed with the private school education, and providing everything we ever needed & more, and oh, yeah, unknown to him, I knew/figured out he smoked pot, and he was the EXACT opposite of what you are describing. Not everyone is a sterotype, as propaganda would lead people to believe..

that's "stereotype"...ha ha caught my own typo ;)

bibol: Yeah you keep stereotypingpot smokers all you want, it isn't going to make it anymore true. Just as all people who drink are not drunks and not all people who smoke pot are unemployed. There are people who are just plain lazy to begin with even before being introduced to demon weed.

My father, husband, and I (just to name a few) have never been unemployed for over 2 weeks. I have worked since 13 and my husband since 15. We both have college degrees and own our home... I am 22 years old.

You have no idea how ridiculous you sound when I have seen first hand people I love, friends, family, and co-workers be responsible hard working citizens while still enjoying ganja or even alcohol.

Maybe if you drop your obvious hatred towards the herb and those who smoke it more people will come out and admit their usage to you so you can see the truth. But most successful people will keep it hidden from people like you. Thats all they need, someone like you ruining their productive lives because they choose to enjoy something safer than alcohol.

god, Bibol- you hang out with losers. So do your friends.

Most 7th graders (Most I said) will not sit out in front of school and pound 151 rum before school on Monday morning.... tons of 7th and 8th graders do stand where ever they can and smoke pot and its new...copy dope... Look, I am not saying pot is the devil. I am not saying its any worse than tequila or 151 rum. But, I was a pot smoking South Florida Kid. I know the difference in what most kids will and will not do. If a kid is going to drink alcohol before or during school, it is going to be so detectable by teachers and staff it will not last. That I know from personal experience is not true with pot. I also know from personal experience that Marijuana's use will cause a number of side effects for young people that would be the LAST thing we need to add to. Bad memory, lazy mindedness, poor choice making.... you gonna try and tell me its easier to learn the multiplication table while stone to the baJesus on the chronic???? Right.

Once again.... I am not on a mission...I get it... But I also know making Marijuana legal because its the EASY thing to do... does not make it the BEST thing to do. Our kids are dumb enough for Gods sake...sorry... but its true...why make it worse...If you are an adult and want to stay stoned... by all means... don't let me stop you... but don't talk about legalizing it like you care about tax money or bla bla bla... if you did you would not add to the burden of law enforcement to begin with. Just smoke up and leave it alone... don't take any more kids down your road and my old road of stupidity and worse drug use with you... that's right... its a gate way drug even if you hold your breath... kick and scream like babies and swear its not... I'll line up 100 people from my life who will tell people the truth... Just get high and don't worry about the important stuff... let the lucid folks take care of that...Okay?

It's not because it's the EASY thing to do. It's because it's the most common sense thing to do. The effects (and deaths caused because) of alcohol are much worse, AND alcohol is the big kahuna of 'Gateway' drugs.

Legalizing it with restrictions on driving a motor vehicle is the most sensible route. Plus taxing it. It's certainly less harmful than a pack of Marlboros. When you look at it realistically, those that want it now don't have any trouble getting it.

It's a victimless crime, just like prostitution. Which quite frankly IS legal, they just call it by another name: Dinner and a movie.

drainbannage, were you one of those hollering shooter drunks in college? Seems like some people almost or eventually kill themselves with 151, others with salt, and most by eating too much bacon and grease. Ever heard of moderation? It actually works! Much like common sense!

Derek you provided a good argument FOR legalization. Drug dealers don't card. They also try to push harder drugs on kids to guarantee their return. No one is advocating marijuana for minors, only responsible adults

That I know from personal experience is not true with pot.

The smell and red eyes don't give it away?

but don't talk about legalizing it like you care about tax money or bla bla bla...

I do care about the tax money and I am ready to pay my fair share.

if you did you would not add to the burden of law enforcement to begin with

What burden are we adding? We are taking the burden away so they can focus on more serious crimes. We want the jails to have room for real criminals and not pot smokers.

that's right... its a gate way drug even if you hold your breath

Because the illegal dealers will push harder things on you! If anything is a gateway drug it is alcohol or cigarettes. Never met a pot smoker who didn't try at least one of those.

kick and scream like babies and swear its not

kick and scream like a baby and swear it is...it isn't going to make it anymore true.

I'll line up 100 people from my life who will tell people the truth

I'll line up 100 people from my life who will tell YOU the truth.

Just get high and don't worry about the important stuff... let the lucid folks take care of that...Okay?

LMAO yeah because everyone who smokes pot is a loser pot head just like everyone who drinks is a staggering drunk. I get it now.

You may not know it, but you gave so many good reason for legalization in your post it isn't even funny!

Right on Lana, if there ever was a reason to legalize it would be to regulate the availabilty. If it's legal who are you going to sell too, the kids, I doubt it, too small a market with too big a price tag. Most kids have to work at getting alchohol, why, cause its regulated, can they get it yeah, but illegal drugs are easier.

@ DerekV. We're saying it should legal. We're not saying it shoul dbe legal for kids. It's the same as liquor. It's legal, but kids can't buy or consume it. Do the same thing with weed. We're out of the national debt in 25 years. Now there's something that IS good for the kids.

Oh yeah. And yes, marijuana was a gteway drug for me. Because the person I bought my marijuana from, guess what else he had? Coke, acid, shrooms, ecstasy, and a whole assortment of other drugs. If it were legal, I would have bought it from a dispensary. and you know what they don't have? Come on, lets hear it from you Derek. You know the answer.

Once agin... too stoned to read my post correctly...huh?

I told you... VERY CLEARLY.... Smoke it till ya drop..... I could care less...

If you place Marijuana in a "PEZ DISPENSER".... kids will have better access to it. Are you so damned selfish that you cannot just allow something to remain as out of reach as possible for some?

Or, are you so mentally addicted to the idea and ritual of getting high you cream over the idea of buying it like a Marlboro. Rehabs are full of people who will start their life addiction story like this..."I was 11 years old when I smoked my first joint"... "Within a few years it was coke and acid".... "Now I am kicking Roxy's and heading to the methadone clinic"....

Smoke all you wish.... I don't care........ have the balls to tell the younger people around you how stupid of an idea it is and to not get involved with drugs.... Or, has the first thing already occurred that always occurs with drug users... it becomes all about YOU and what YOU want.... it is a self propitiating problem... and one day when you grow up you will realize what I mean.

One day... When your daughter comes home with some guy who she has been burning and screwing all day with instead of going to school like she should... perhaps it will hit you in the face like a puff or chronic smoke...

I do not believe people who get busted with pot belong or should go to jail... I feel it should carry no more a penalty then a parking ticket. And I believe that if a person wants to sit in their home and waste there life on dope and video games... that is their right.... but making marijuana legal is a bad idea.... and will lead kids to being JUST LIKE YOU!

Do as you please.... try not to be so @!$%#ing selfish doing it....

Once agin... too stoned to read my post correctly...huh?

I was thinking that of you since you continue with the same arguments I already addressed, especially the kid stuff.

If you place Marijuana in a "PEZ DISPENSER".... kids will have better access to it.

Ok...who suggested doing that?

Are you so damned selfish that you cannot just allow something to remain as out of reach as possible for some?

That is right back at you. To keep it out of reach we must regulate it. DRUG DEALERS DO NOT CARD. It is easier for them to score a dime bag than a 12 pack.

Or, are you so mentally addicted to the idea and ritual of getting high you cream over the idea of buying it like a Marlboro.

LMAO Yeah knowing what strain you are getting, what quality it is, what kind of high it produces, and how much you are actually getting is so unreasonable and unthinkable. How could I ever want that?

Rehabs are full of people who will start their life addiction story like this..."I was 11 years old when I smoked my first joint"... "Within a few years it was coke and acid".... "Now I am kicking Roxy's and heading to the methadone clinic"....

Oh I wonder why the dealer sold the 11 year old weed? Oh yeah because they don't care or card. I wonder where the kid got the coke and meth? Certainly not from the same honest dealer who sold the former 11 year old the weed. Aw 11 year old couldn't get anyone to buy him beer so he bought some weed from the black market.

Smoke all you wish.... I don't care........ have the balls to tell the younger people around you how stupid of an idea it is and to not get involved with drugs

I would never encourage any minor to use drugs but I am also not going to lie to them only for them to find out my "Reefer Madness" was smoke and mirrors and encourage them to find out what other drugs I lied about.

One day... When your daughter comes home with some guy who she has been burning and screwing all day with instead of going to school like she should... perhaps it will hit you in the face like a puff or chronic smoke...

Oh trust me, if that happens it isn't the weeds fault. That is YOUR fault for being a bad parent. I have smoked since 16 and have been with my husband since 15. We both have college degrees, our own home, jobs, and internships. My parents taught me school first and it always was, weed didn't change anything.

but making marijuana legal is a bad idea.... and will lead kids to being JUST LIKE YOU!

Yep having successful kids is the last thing we want.

I'm really sorry you're so angry Derek. I don't think that most here are ignorant of the facts of weed, and it would behoove you to have some respect for that fact. However, maybe that's the whole problem.

Did you ever consider that maybe your problems weren't CAUSED by drugs? Perhaps your real problems were caused by the same flaw in you that lets you transfer the hatred of your own life situations to strangers. Drug use was a symptom of that flaw.

You can point the "selfish" finger at others all day, but until you take a good long look at your anger issues, the REAL cause of them, and what THEY do, you have no room to talk. 'Cause right now, dude, you are toxic.

BTW, I don't smoke pot, but I do work in a drug rehab center. I will tell you this: it takes thought and reason to overcome drug problems, not anger. Anger is your quickest ticket back to where you came from, if you're not already there.

Best of luck.

Alise42-

I just wanted to say thank you for your efforts. Your work in the Rehab center is commendable and I'm sure there are several people out there who would credit you with their lives. Thank you for caring about complete strangers and trying to help them. Keep up the great work.

Derek,

Wow, you are one angry guy aren't you! LanaD has now schooled you twice, maybe you should wrap it up! Everyone with an ounce of sense can see our prohibition on Marijuana is not in the best interest of our society. We need to start becoming a bit more rational with our drug laws.

I wonder what you real problem is here Derek. It obviously isn't the idea of legalizing marijuana. Every one of your arguments have been multiple times answered and shown to be wrong. And yet you continue. Here are some simple realities for you AGAIN.

Marijuana is NOT a gateway drug. In reality there is really no such thing. The term was created by the same people that had the foolish idea of making marijuana possession a felony offense. It is nothing more than unsubstantiated fear tactics. You claim that you were at one time a marijuana user that eventually started using other illegal drugs. So is your idea that if you never used marijuana, you would never have used any other drug in our life? Did you ever take even one drink of something with alcohol in it before you bought your first bag of marijuana? Did you ever smoke a cigarette before you bought your first bag of marijuana? Did you ever drink anything with caffeine before you bought your first bag of marijuana. How far do you want to go with this before you are willing to open your eyes and mind to really think about what you are suggesting.

Do you have any idea of how many people smoke marijuana, and then NEVER use cocaine, heroin, or any other of you horrible "boogie man" drugs? If your ideas were true, then close to half of the population of the U.S. that is between the ages of 45 and 17 would be either in rehab, or suffering from cocaine and or heroin addiction. Or both. It is not the drug that is a gateway anything. It is the personality that is the gateway.

Maybe you should contact the DEA and tell them that all they need to do is use 100% of their resources to eradicate marijuana in this country, and all other drug use will disappear in about 30 years, because no one will be able to go through your mythical "gateway"

Pez dispencers? Really? How many braincells did you burn out during your life? Do you got a daddy named Forrest too?

Can you not correlate the fact that alcohol is harder for under age individuals to acquire than marijuana? And then take the next extremely difficult step of logic (for you anyways it would seem) to realise that if you legalize marijuana, that just like alcohol, you would be VERY hard pressed to find someone that would sell it to you on a street corner, or from their apartment? It would immediately become just like alcohol and would virtually disappear from the street sales.

And keeping marijuana illegal DOES have a huge negative impact on our society. Because it is NOT a victimless crime. Drug sales in this country provides street gangs, and local punks in even small towns with billions (yes that is plural) of dollars in funding. It is true that if you take away this source of income for them, some of them will find other illegal activities to replace some of that loss. But it will be much less for them, and most of them will simply go out of business. They will have no source of huge wads of cash in their pockets and flashy cars to seduce young people to join their gangs any more. Most of them will just disappear, and maybe go to school instead of hanging around the "cool" dudes from the hood that have all the money and girls and cars.

Or we could do what you suggest and keep things as they are with absolutley no hope at all of ever saving this country from the road to failure it is set on.

Anyone who smokes anything for pleasure is engaging in very harmful behavior. The short term pleasure pales in comparison to the long term price paid by such an individual.

No further comment or redundant elaboration warranted once this fact is taken into consideration...

Derek's actually got some great ideas. Marijuana PEZ despencer!?!?!? HOLY @!$%# THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.

Seriously though Derek, you need to relax and smoke a joint. You are way too tense :P

and cane toads in Central America will kill you.

The cane toad 'bufo marinus' will only kill you or a fish or crocodile or your dog if the critter is EATEN whole (rrraw and wrrriggling)! But when you 'just lick it' ( in moderation ) the cane toad will get you high!!!

believe that if you want smeagol, but that white milk that it squirts is poison..it is the same poison that indians used on spears to kill people with. You know what causes that euphoria is you have poisoned yourself...of course it causes euphoria and it just might kill you.

As the cane toad excretes bufotenin in small amounts, and other toxins in relatively large quantities, toad licking could result in serious illness or death.

No doubt you are onto something. I must confess I owned toads of that species for many years and never bothered to explore...

But as to the toxic arrows you describe, those poisons come from distant, TINIER cousins... various species of the family dentrobatidae ! So toxic, that skin contact can kill, and older Indians volunteer to gather the poison to minimize the exposure (long-term effects) to to the younger in the tribe...

I just know that everyone here in Honduras says they are poisonous and to stay away from them..if you have to get them out of a garage(they like garages) to not touch them, but to remove them with a broom and then wash the floor with bleach, washing soap and water afterwards. We had one such encounter and the booger was as big as a cat.

Come to Arizona - I hear the frogs here will get you buzzed.

The French are in Arizona? I thought they were all in Louisiana.

Besides aren't the Frogs really into wine! Never mind those Louisiana swamp frogs will drink and smoke just about anything!

happy; you don't sound so happy - is it because being high on life causes you to not have the ability to form a proper sentence? What is that Bible line about judging others? Personally I like the "7 deadly sins" - to bad they didn't make the bible text.

happy, when you watch your mother die from small cell lung cancer in just 9 months everything changes about what you think about THC.

I get high on life all the time! And marijuana just happens to be part of my life. A small part at night to relive the stress from being high on life all day.

Happy:

The last thing drug cartels want is for MJ to be legalized - legalization = no market

soon they don't know the difference of being high and being sober.
I think Happy speaks from personal experience, good thing the rest of us don't share his confusion.

LanaD,

Both posts of yours, are sensible, non-inflammatory and point out the TRUTHS that are obvious to most educated, functional people. The History Channel take on "Illegal drugs and how they got that Way", gives testimony to the hidden agendas behind drug laws. The episode on marijuana, shows that most Americans in the 40's thought it was ridiculous to "outlaw a weed, to quote the man who was tasked with enforcement on a national basis. He wouldn't allow his name to be placed upon the statute. The law was used to speed repatriation to Mexico, of the "bracero" workers who helped us feed our nation during wartime.

Bravo to YOu!! Most of the successful closet smokers, live in fear of the dreaded U.I. and wouldn't dare admit anything in any forum. A sad state of affairs, when smart dedicated and responsible adults are judged as impaired or damaged because of weed usage.

Like you said, all those who use alcohol are drunks and I'll add wifebeaters. I tended bar in the Air Force, and saw first hand of the destruction of lives from the legal, party drug. Yet my father had a beer nearly every day of his life, and I never once saw him drunk, and he managed to maintain his top secret nuclear weapons clearance and the love and devotion from my mother and my five siblings until the day he died. How did he manage to use a drug daily, and still be an outstanding human being? Don't all drugs take over your mind, curve your spine, and lose the war for the Allies? YOu said it better and in much fewer words, thank you.

Thank you C for the nice compliments =) Your comment was very sensible and spoke the truth as well!

The History Channel take on "Illegal drugs and how they got that Way", gives testimony to the hidden agendas behind drug laws.

I am quite familiar with that series especially the Marijuana episode. The history channel is one of my husbands and I's favorite stations. I wish more people would watch it. Maybe they would learn something.

Most of the successful closet smokers, live in fear of the dreaded U.I. and wouldn't dare admit anything in any forum.

Luckily, I live in state that has decriminalized marijuana. It is like getting a parking ticket. The successful pot smokers in my town need not fear the police. Its the kids and people who live in bad areas the cops seem to target. Still, you are not allowed to just smoke it in on your porch or sell amounts larger than 2oz.

A sad state of affairs, when smart dedicated and responsible adults are judged as impaired or damaged because of weed usage.

I agree 100%. It seems only those who don't smoke do the judging, or those who try to hide their use and say things like that to please the non-smokers.

Loved your story about your dad! That story summed up common sense at its finest.

:)

Lana, I do not use any drugs, but I can say this..if I had to go through what my mother did I am sure that I would learn...anything is better than injecting morphine into your body and not being able to eat from nausea.

I don't want to be Happy, he sounds miserable.

The government has to much tied up in fighting petty stuff - they wouldn't know where to start in legalizing reefer. They dug a hole and left no way out.

In the beginning God covered the earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, with green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.

Then using God's bountiful gifts, Satan created Dairy Ice Cream and Magnums.
And Satan said, 'You want hot fudge with that?
And Man said, 'Yes!' And Woman said, 'I'll have one too with chocolate chips'.
And lo they gained 10 pounds.

And God created the healthy yogurt that woman might keep the figure that man found so fair.

And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat and sugar from the cane and combined them.
And Woman went from size 8 to size 14.

So God said, 'Try my fresh green salad'.
And Satan presented Blue Cheese dressing and garlic croutons on the side.
And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.

God then said 'I have sent you healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them'.

And Satan brought forth deep fried coconut king prawns, butter-dipped lobster chunks and chicken fried steak, so big it needed its own platter, and Man's cholesterol went through the roof..

Then God brought forth the potato; naturally low in fat and brimming with potassium and good nutrition.

Then Satan peeled off the healthy skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them in animal fats adding copious quantities of salt.
And Man put on more pounds.
God then brought forth running shoes so that his Children might lose those extra pounds.

And Satan came forth with a cable TV with remote control so Man would
not have to toil changing the channels.
And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering light and started wearing stretch jogging suits.

Then God gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite.

And Satan created McDonalds and the $0.99 double cheeseburger.
Then Satan said 'You want fries with that?' and Man replied, 'Yes, and super size 'em'.
And Satan said, 'It is good.'
And Man and Woman went into cardiac arrest.

God sighed ......... and created quadruple by-pass surgery.

And then ............. Satan chuckled and created the National Health Service.

....and the War Of Whatever continues.

wap-

moderation in all.

I eat everything you talk about, and I got a 31 inch waist and a 32 inch inseam.

ps: this chat room is about k2, ya hippie

LOL...my dealer is pretty cool, but I know what you're getting at. It's a pain in the butt for sure. They always want you to stay and hang out with them after you get your stuff too. Poor lonely bastards.

LMAO I used to hate the dealers until one of my best friends became my hookup. Well actually, I do still hate those old dealers and sometimes still have to deal with them when my friend is dry.

I wish I could pick up my herb at the store or gas station =(

They always want you to stay and hang out with them after you get your stuff too.

LOL its even worse when they are at YOUR house.

Well.

What is it exactly that makes you think that I like the little Ali Babba guy I buy my beer from?

Harry Ball - LOL...my dealer is pretty cool, but I know what you're getting at. It's a pain in the butt for sure. They always want you to stay and hang out with them after you get your stuff too. Poor lonely bastards.

A friend told me that the reason why they want you to hang around is because they don't want people getting suspicious of them having people in and out like a grocery store. ;)

It's something people are very passionate about. I think it stems from the ridiculousness of having the government dictate your personal choices.

And the cost would be unaffordable unless you had a good health plan.

I don't understand how the government can tell you that you can't grow a PLANT and smoke it. I don't even know how they have the authority to tell me I can't make my own booze. I don't think the founding fathers of this country meant the government to be Big Brother or have any of the power they have gained over the last 100 years that reach into peoples private lives. I do vote Democrat, I think if people need help the government should provide it to keep the economy strong. But I am a centerist, and believe in the classic Republican ideas of a small conservative (<-- not religious) government that lets people live their lives as they see fit. Modern Democrats and Republicans have no clue where their party came from or what it really represents.

and cost 10 times as much

drugs, in one form or another, have been a part of our countries culture and every other nations cultures since the beginning of time

get over yourself

Illegal immigration and the flow of illegal drugs from Central/South America do not necessarily go hand in hand. However, illegal immigration and immigration attorneys that would give away citizenship for free to thousands just to make a name for themselves would. Look that one up- it'll make you sick.

The decay in society is escalating and the best we can do is observe it.
I'll just bet your fun at dinner! Do you bring your own soapbox?

explorerdog hehe, I'll take your feedback as constructive criticism. Thanks for the feedback.

That depends on your perspective of the evolution of our culture and society. Mike 2010 is right, there is mention of Cannabis in 2000 year old Chinese texts, Cannabis has been found in Egyptian Tombs and was an important agricultural commodity for the first American Colonists. Do some reading, Cannabis wasn't known as "Marihuana" until it was demonized in the early thirties as part of a response to the influx of cheap Hispanic labor. The crusade against Cannabis began because of racial bias against Blacks and Hispanics. That and a lot of lobbying by Hearst's Paper factories and lumber yards, as well as DuPont.

Very well said Mike,

I can only go back to my late father's wisdom: " Every drug was legal when I was young, you just had to be smart enough to realize that being high or drunk might get you put out on the street by your family. Out on the street in the 30's was a bad place to be." In the 70's, we had to find that out for ourselves, could've been a lot smarter then. Marijuana should have never been criminalized, that has become a huge waste of time and resources. "Imitation, synthetic marijuana? you've got to be **itting me right? Alcohol should be illegal before weed. Toxic, addictive substance that kills tens of thousands each year. If we want to legislate responsibility (which is ridiculous), start with that.

Ah! The irony! I hadn't caught that, thanks

Will anyone disagree that its very difficult to drive while high ? Well it is for me. And why legalize something that makes people stupider than they already are ?

Will anyone disagree that its very difficult to drive while high ? Well it is for me. And why legalize something that makes people stupider than they already are ?

You're unbelievably selfish for questioning my natural born freedom. A) I can drive fine while high, there were actually studies done by the DoT (Department of Transportation) that said smoking a massive amount of weed (about 5 grams) within an hour is only equivalent to about a .05 BAC - UNDER the legal limit. But that doesn't even matter, what matters is freedom of choice and not enslaving people in the criminal system for deciding to enjoy a natural plant you can grow in your own back yard. It's not like we're cooking meth here.. This is a NATURAL, HARMLESS, WONDERFUL plant. And no, it doesn't make me stupid at all - it makes me creative, easy-going, relaxed and happy. Unlike alcohol and other legal drugs that are addictive and will kill you.

Put THAT in your pipe and smoke it!

Your statement needs so many corrections that I have no idea where to begin.

Chris, I am sorry if this offends you, but if you had a point, it was lost in your poor grammer and spelling.

I like to hug trees, and I'm fine with the old-fashioned stuff...other than that I don't know what to say to this!

huh?

No, even if you fix the grammar and spelling, Chris's post still makes little sense. Here it is "fixed":

To all tree huggers...if you think booze is any better for you than pot, then think again. Pot may hurt your lungs, but booze kills your liver! Wake up! Furthermore, if you think you're any better meeting someone while you're high or drunk on the road, wake up as well. (Or the last sentence could be: And if you think you're any better meeting someone who is high or drunk on the road, wake up as well.)

I think Chris is trying to point out that alcohol is just as bad as marijuana. However, I have no idea how "tree huggers" fit in. Hmmmm...

,

Legalize rape = millions of dollars saved on incarceration.

Charge rapists to rape women = millions of dollars of revenue.

Your logic works with any crime. Try it.

Tim you are comparing apples to oranges. Marijuana is safe and doesn´t harm others....it is also a verified medical treatment of symptoms..yet Rape only harms and has victims. No one has a right to tell you what to do with your own body..rape is harming someone else´s body..and marijuana you put in your own..and it is arguable about the harm...we allow cigarettes, but we don´t allow marijuana? how ridiculous.