degeneracy play a role in non-legalisation?

I started this thread to hear some opinions. Do you think the degeneracy involved with pot culture is playing a role in the stunting of it's legalization? When I say degeneracy, I mean things like, slang terms (which are viewed as non-professional and degenerate by a lot of people) over use and etc. The whole pot culture looks pretty silly on the outside looking in. With all the fancy little kids bongs, glass girly pipes and what not. (mind you this is only my opinion please don't hate me for practicing free opinion and speech) Generally (at least in my area) if you walk into a head shop the characters working there are "cool" dudes, or young people with tattoos, piercings. I think this might be a problem for us folk who just want to be happy and smoke a little grass now and then. Marijuana is not being taken very seriously, and I think we really only have ourselves to blame.
Then again a lot of people like that it's illegal, it actually isn't that difficult to hide, but there are still people who are meek, people who like to live free, and not worry.

Any thoughts?

You make good points.

The Hip Hop scene def aint helping as far as image is concerned.
hippies and metal heads kinda give bad image to the general public as well probably.

I agree with you. I myself am usually wearing long hair and a beard. Which doesn't help my own image either I guess. I think though the reason hippies/metal heads/hip hoppers etc. are the people that mainly do it, is because they are generally the people who are able to deviate beyond the set rules. I was always a metal head/hippie and the freedom to make my own decisions is something I have always been both proud of and thankful for. Looking back now I'm glad I grew up a poor immigrant! It's just too bad that with that comes a lot of actual degeneracy. I remember me and my friends would always be getting into trouble. The cops would show up at our place at least once or twice a week.

I'm pretty stuck on the reason being that old, bias prudent people work in office. We need to elect people who either stay up to date on all CURRENT times or someone who isn't from the Civil War era. Not some stubborn bias turd who helped fund Reefer Madness.

But most of the bongs and pieces are gorgeous pieces of art. I've seen plenty of people who don't smoke still appreciate fine pieces of glasswork.

imho

I also appreciate good artwork. However in my opinion the pipes/bongs out there aren't really that great. I have a cousin who went to school for glass blowing, she does some really amazing stuff. She did a large dolphin once, now if I could turn that into a pipe that would be great.

As for the old cranks in office. You are exactly right. Hopefully they'll all die off soon and in another hundred years it will be filled with old cranks from out era ha.

The typical stoner image certainly doesn't help, but corporate lobbyist and all the old people in power are the major obstacles. The people making the rules are too far out of touch with everyone except the people buying them $1000 dinners and sending them to conferences at exclusive resorts and making major campaign contributions.