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Well, I'm in favour of legalization myself. Having seen plenty of people stoned and plenty of people drunk, I know which group of people I'd rather meet on a Saturday night.
Plus the number one argument levelled at cannabis is that it 'leads on to harder drugs'. Well, the main avenue for that to happen would be having to go to a drug dealer to get your cannabis because it's illegal. It's in his interests to say 'well, you like this, so how about you try this?'.
If one could buy Cannabis in a high-street store the criminal element is completely removed from that purchase. When you can enjoy cannabis completely legally, why would you venture to a drug dealer at all and risk your career etc?
Sure, there will always be some who go on to further drugs, but I would argue that they would have done so regardless of any legalization and therefore shouldn't affect our judgements.
The government gets the chance to tax it and make some money, and can also impose standards on the industry so that people know what they're smoking. I just can't see a problem with it - it's not a 'slippery slope' or anything in my opinion, just a long overdue reclassifcation based upon a rational assesment of the risks to our health rather than tabloid hysteria.
Clarifying edit: When I said 'I know which group I'd rather see' I was referring to it being the lesser of two evils and in no way condoning its use. Drugs are bad, mmmkay.
[ 11-01-2004, 10:41 AM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]
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