LookingForAnswers Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Seeker Followers: 0 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,033 Content Per Day: 0.27 Reputation: 67 Days Won: 2 Joined: 12/26/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted January 6, 2014 http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/it-is-immoral-to-cage-humans-for-smoking-marijuana/282830/ Under the law in 48 states, here's what can happen when an adult is thought to possess marijuana: Men with guns can go to his home, kick down his door, force him to lay face down on the floor, restrain him with handcuffs, drive him to a police station, and lock him in a cage. If he is then convicted of possessing marijuana, a judge can order that he be locked in a different cage, perhaps for years. There are times when locking human beings in cages is morally defensible. If, for example, a person commits murder, rape, or assault, transgressing against the rights of others, then forcibly removing him from society is the most just course of action. In contrast, it is immoral to lock people in cages for possessing or ingesting a plant that is smoked by millions every year with no significant harm done, especially when the vast majority of any harm actually done is borne by the smoker. That there are racial disparities in who is sent to prison on marijuana charges is an added injustice that deserves attention. But if blacks and whites were sent to prison on marijuana charges in equal proportion, jail for marijuana would still be immoral. If blacks and whites were sent to prison on marijuana charges in equal proportion, jail for marijuana would still be immoral. America has used marijuana charges to cage people for so long that it seems unremarkable. The time has come to see the status quo for what it is. A draconian punishment for a victimless crime has been institutionalized and normalized, so much so that even proponents of the policy are blind to its consequences. Commentators are criticizing marijuana policy in Washington and Colorado, where the drug was recently legalized. These commentators aren't willing to put their names on an article stating that human beings who possess or smoke marijuana should be locked in cages among child molesters, gang members, and muggers. Yet they reserve their criticism for states that don't do that. Present the American people at large with an individual who admits to having used marijuana and they are more likely to elect him president or to send him to Congress than to suggest that he ought to have been arrested and jailed for his crimes. But a majority of voters in most states, and even a majority of elected officials who've smoked marijuana, continue supporting laws that permit locking various marijuana users in prison among perpetrators of hate crimes and elder abuse. In his recent column on marijuana policy, David Brooks wrote that "many people these days shy away from talk about the moral status of drug use because that would imply that one sort of life you might choose is better than another sort of life." I submit that a more urgent problem is Americans who shy away from talk about the dubious moral status of marijuana prohibition. It is, at its core, an exercise in using people as means to an end. The end is maintaining a stigma against marijuana use. And the means is locking humans in cages with dangerous people. One day, we will look back at that tradeoff in moral horror. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,994 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,692 Content Per Day: 11.74 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted January 6, 2014 When I was in high school their was talk about a girl who had marijuana in her locker.I said "What is marijuana?".Well,we have come a long way back,like the commericial said.Many states want it legalized.It is legal in my State of Washington.Yes,I smell it all over the place.Their are red glaring eyes where ever you go.Many come from the state of Oregon just to get in on this now legal activity.Their has been alot of debate about this subject already on Worthy.Some say it is the gateway to more damaging drugs.I think it will soon be as legal as cigarettes and alcohol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LookingForAnswers Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Seeker Followers: 0 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,033 Content Per Day: 0.27 Reputation: 67 Days Won: 2 Joined: 12/26/2013 Status: Offline Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 How long has it be legal in your state? I felt this opinion piece gave a different point of view on the subject, one that is not often talked about. For people who have a propensity towards such things, it is a gateway drug, then again is tobacco and alcohol. It is like the one out of a million people that watch a movie or play a game and then try and act it out. The problem is not with the movie or the game, but with the individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,994 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,692 Content Per Day: 11.74 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted January 6, 2014 How long has it be legal in your state? I felt this opinion piece gave a different point of view on the subject, one that is not often talked about. For people who have a propensity towards such things, it is a gateway drug, then again is tobacco and alcohol. It is like the one out of a million people that watch a movie or play a game and then try and act it out. The problem is not with the movie or the game, but with the individual. It has been legal for about a year.Here are some effects of marijuana from Harvard if you want to read it: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/evidence99/marijuana/Health_1.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneLight Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 22 Topic Count: 1,294 Topics Per Day: 0.21 Content Count: 31,762 Content Per Day: 5.21 Reputation: 9,763 Days Won: 115 Joined: 09/14/2007 Status: Offline Share Posted January 6, 2014 What is missing in this is how it affects the persons relationship with Jesus. Pot was around then, yet He never used or mentioned it. Why shoudl we even enter into a discussion about pot when our goal is to be like Christ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LookingForAnswers Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Seeker Followers: 0 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,033 Content Per Day: 0.27 Reputation: 67 Days Won: 2 Joined: 12/26/2013 Status: Offline Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 How long has it be legal in your state? I felt this opinion piece gave a different point of view on the subject, one that is not often talked about. For people who have a propensity towards such things, it is a gateway drug, then again is tobacco and alcohol. It is like the one out of a million people that watch a movie or play a game and then try and act it out. The problem is not with the movie or the game, but with the individual. It has been legal for about a year.Here are some effects of marijuana from Harvard if you want to read it: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/evidence99/marijuana/Health_1.html Has there been a large up turn in DWI/DUI of stoned people? Or crimes where people were stealing money to buy the legal stuff? Thanks, for the link. I am not saying it is safe or not, just that we as a country have no place to ban it when we allow other equally dangerous things to be sold daily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LookingForAnswers Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Seeker Followers: 0 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1,033 Content Per Day: 0.27 Reputation: 67 Days Won: 2 Joined: 12/26/2013 Status: Offline Author Share Posted January 6, 2014 What is missing in this is how it affects the persons relationship with Jesus. Pot was around then, yet He never used or mentioned it. Why shoudl we even enter into a discussion about pot when our goal is to be like Christ? I am not saying I want to use it personally, just that we should not stop other people from doing so because we want to be more like Christ. I am pretty sure we do not base our laws off of what allows people to be like Christ. We should worry about our own relationship with Jesus and not force our values on everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missmuffet Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Royal Member Followers: 34 Topic Count: 1,994 Topics Per Day: 0.48 Content Count: 48,692 Content Per Day: 11.74 Reputation: 30,343 Days Won: 226 Joined: 01/11/2013 Status: Offline Share Posted January 6, 2014 What is missing in this is how it affects the persons relationship with Jesus. Pot was around then, yet He never used or mentioned it. Why shoudl we even enter into a discussion about pot when our goal is to be like Christ? Good point Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angels4u Posted January 6, 2014 Group: Worthy Ministers Followers: 55 Topic Count: 1,664 Topics Per Day: 0.20 Content Count: 19,764 Content Per Day: 2.38 Reputation: 12,164 Days Won: 28 Joined: 08/22/2001 Status: Offline Share Posted January 6, 2014 What is missing in this is how it affects the persons relationship with Jesus. Pot was around then, yet He never used or mentioned it. Why shoudl we even enter into a discussion about pot when our goal is to be like Christ? Amen brother ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest man Posted January 7, 2014 Share Posted January 7, 2014 What is missing in this is how it affects the persons relationship with Jesus. Pot was around then, yet He never used or mentioned it. Why shoudl we even enter into a discussion about pot when our goal is to be like Christ? Amen brother ! 1 Timothy 5 23 No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities. Marijuana does have medicinal properties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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