Legalize it!

You'd be irresponsible and a disappointment as a parent if you condoned anything illegal.

Would you ever let your child drink any form of alcoholic beverage before they reach 21 (e.g., at a wedding, family function, X-mas, etc.)? Because if every parent who has ever condoned an illegal act is a bad parent, I'd say that 99.9% of all parents are bad ones.

I think regarding kids they need to be educated and not hid or sheltered from drugs.

Whether we like it or not, kids are going to be curious and want to experiment no matter how great their home life is.

I'd personally feel alot better if I were open and honest with my kids rather than trying to pull the wool over their eyes with propoganda and that 'just say no' crap I was fed in the 80's.

But as a parent you have to recognize your role, you can educate, but you have to draw the line at allowing anything illegal to take place. You have to teach them that there are rules and consequences, and that breaking the laws means there will be consequences. If you catch them drinking underage and you don't issue a punishment, you've essentially sent the message that the behavior is acceptable.

Whether you think underage drinking is acceptable or not is completely irrelevant. In the eyes of the law, it's unacceptable. As a parent, you have to make your kids accountable to the laws of the land, or you're failing them.

I do agree that it's important to educate them on the damaging effects of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. so they can make their own decisions. This builds their confidence as you show faith in their ability to make sound decisions on their own. But ultimately you have to hold your children accountable when they do break the law, or they will grow up with depreciated respect for authority, thinking the laws don't apply to them.

This thread looks like it's headed towards hostility, I think we all need to smoke a joint and chill. ;)

I used to smoke weed all the time, but i don't think that it shouuld be legalized. Just like anything else it will get abused if it is legalized and for some reason people feel that if something is legalized then it is okay to use it. Also i don't understand the concept that if alcohol is worse than weed then weed should be legalized. Yeah, alcohol causes more problems than weed but that doesn't mean it should be legalized. Weed was a fun time for me, but all it did was make me fatter and lazier

But as a parent you have to recognize your role, you can educate, but you have to draw the line at allowing anything illegal to take place. You have to teach them that there are rules and consequences, and that breaking the laws means there will be consequences. If you catch them drinking underage and you don't issue a punishment, you've essentially sent the message that the behavior is acceptable.

Whether you think underage drinking is acceptable or not is completely irrelevant. In the eyes of the law, it's unacceptable. As a parent, you have to make your kids accountable to the laws of the land, or you're failing them.

I do agree that it's important to educate them on the damaging effects of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. so they can make their own decisions. This builds their confidence as you show faith in their ability to make sound decisions on their own. But ultimately you have to hold your children accountable when they do break the law, or they will grow up with depreciated respect for authority, thinking the laws don't apply to them.

You sound like you're going to be or are a good parent. I don't necessary adhere to the same philosophy as I think there are exceptions, but good post.

medically yes, recreational no. leads to bigger and worse things

Marijuana also has many documented health benefits.

So I guess you're in favor of moderation? That can be done just the same with pot vs. booze.

I'm not hearing much of an objective argument from you on this.

The objective part of the argument is that while tobacco is terrible even in tiny amounts, and while booze is terrible in excess, at least the government profits from their sale, meaning they have more funds to put to use. People act like the government taxing these things is wrong; that makes no sense. If you are going to use substances that destroy your health, or in a manner that destroys your health, or negatively affects society around you, then you should have to pay for it.

So my argument is keep marijuana banned, unless the US and/or states can figure out a way to profit from it. We could use more schools, roadway enhancement, lower health insurance for those of us who lead healthy lifestyles, etcetera. If marijuana tax helps pay for it, then OK, I'll live with it. I'll have all the losers to thank for improved government services.

Just curious Schneed, but are you a bible thumper? No disrespect, but the people that only see the black and white of the marijuana issue are usually very religious or military.

No I'm atheist/agnostic.

I understand your arguments that: (1) marijuana should be illegal because of its ill effects on people and society; (2) that parents should not condone illegal behavior; and (3) that marijuana should be taxed if it is legalized. But I don't understand why people who smoke weed are loser idiots. You can kill brain cells in a lot of different ways and marijuana use is just one of them. Moreover, only people who use it to excess suffer from its ill effects. Smoking a joint once a month isn't going to do much of anything to you, other than make you hungry.

Would you ever let your child drink any form of alcoholic beverage before they reach 21 (e.g., at a wedding, family function, X-mas, etc.)? Because if every parent who has ever condoned an illegal act is a bad parent, I'd say that 99.9% of all parents are bad ones.

No I wouldn't allow that.

And I think the reason that a lot of parents have is because when they were kids the drinking age was 18. Not many parents are letting their kids drink at 16, I would hope we all agree that would be extremely irresponsible. Many allow it at 19 or 20 though. I think it's based on how they were brought up.

And there's a fine line here with parenting. You might think it's OK for your 19 year old to booze up, and that's your opinion, and that's fine. If you want to let it happen, you have to look the other way, and make sure your child doesn't know that you're looking the other way. They have to see you as an enforcer of the laws of the land (federal, state, and local laws, as well as the household's rules). If they realize that you're allowing it to go on, you're sending them the wrong message.