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Double Standard: Pot For Adults Only


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Pardon this long and rambling post that questions why we are falling in line with maintaining pot restrictions and penalties, but only for minors?

 

Why so we allow a double standard in opinions and discussions that support limiting minors' access to pot? If pot is bad for youth and kids, as “they” say, why do we let minors use pot medically? Won't recreational or medical use of pot both cause whatever damage to youth that is claimed? If any “damage” to children using pot medically is offset by the benefits to these sick kids, is the damage of a non-medical minor being locked up for pot more damaging than any negative medical consequences of their using pot?

 

Why now that adults are getting legal access to both medical and recreational pot, those same adults are falling in line with “generally accepted wisdom” that pot is only safe for adults? Is continuing to agree that minors be prosecuted and locked up for pot “crimes” just an example of us embracing accepted standards that have been tarnished by, for example, years of pot being mis-scheduled as “having no medical use”? Why are we not as suspicious of claims that pot is bad for kids: so bad that there should be criminal sanctions for minors using or possessing pot? Aren't the penalties for minor in possession of pot going to be just as unfair and plain nutty as locking up adults for pot crimes?

 

Are adults being self-serving in only wanting pot legal for them, and not minors? Do even we “in the know” really think that continuing to lock up minors for pot will somehow keep pot out of minor's hands, simply because it's illegal for them: Are we just agreeing with those “in charge” that pot is bad for minors and that we believe research or whatever bull is being fed to us, even tho we disbelieve similar arguments when used against the idea that adults should not have access to pot?

 

Even the folks who drafted the language of the Mich Med MJ Act felt that denying felons from being caregivers is acceptable, or at least necessary to get the general population to go along with pot law reforms? Are we so self-serving that we will continue to let any group be left out of the benefits of full legalization? What are our motives: to just get pot legal for us even if it remains illegal for others?

 

That's a lot of rhetorical questions, and perhaps someone here can express my feelings better, without sounding sardonic. Or perhaps no one here will agree with me. Full legalization (with no legal restrictions on minors) might just sounds too radical even for us. Considering that the laws seem to be tipping in adults' favor, why rock the boat? What rights should minors have compared to adults who run things? What laws might be passed if minors, perhaps as young as 14 (an arbitrary age in reality) were given the right to vote, instead of just adults?

 

For example, if we don't like that signing a lease containing pot restrictions shouldn't suddenly make the renter liable for criminal charges and incarceration, with all that goes along with a criminal conviction, why do we feel that minors should continue to suffer legal sanctions for something adults have access to?

 

What is the rational and consequences of limiting minors' access to legal pot?

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  Key phrase that answers the question:

 

 "at least necessary to get the general population to go along with pot law reforms"

 

That is the reason. Once the public is on board with the relative harmlessness of marijuana, then the accepted uses can be expanded. The main thing is to get over the hurdle of public acceptance.

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Is continuing to agree that minors be prosecuted and locked up for pot “crimes” just an example of us embracing accepted standards that have been tarnished by, for example, years of pot being mis-scheduled as “having no medical use”?

when its truely decrim or legalized, the penalties for minors will be reduced. since it will no longer be a controlled substance. no longer be a felony.

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