and not one person has given a good explanation as to why it's illegal and should remain that way. also, weed has never killed anyone. if someone smoking marijuana killed someone, i'm willing to bet you there's either something wrong with the person, or they're on a more violent drug, like PCP. weed itself has never caused someone to keel over and die.
So what? It impairs your ability to function normally. I wouldn't want people driving high just as much as I wouldn't want them driving drunk. There's no point in making it legal anyway. The government would tax the hell out of it and people would still but it from the streets anyway. So what's the point of making it legal? Tell me, what is the point?
I'm sorry to hear about your brother, but I have been smoking weed for about 3 years now and never once have I had the tempatation to try another drug. The only other drug I have done besides marijuana is Aderal and that was because I needed a kick to pull off an all nighter. But back to the subject, yes I think weed should be legalized. The government could make millions off it.
Let's see, why pot should be legal... - As has been stated, various things that are at least as dangerous are legal whereas pot isn't. At the very least, there's a flawed principle in place there. - Again as has already been stated, legalisation wouldn't be mutually exclusive from still having certain restrictions in place. If anything, that would make it easier to regulate. - As demonstrated here whenever the government has flip-flopped over its classification, the closer it is to being legal the less people attempt to go through the necessary channels to posess/use/buy it illegally. - A heck of a lot of money could be made from it. - With due respect to Luke, I'm pretty sure that in the majority of cases it isn't a gateway drug. I know one person who's gone on to have problems with harder drugs and, well, he was a fucking idiot anyway. It's not like the first time a spliff touched his lips he decided he was going to get hooked on heroin and drop out of school. He already had it within himself to become what he is now.
I can't find the figure that I wanted to use in my argument, but the amount of money that is spent annually on marijuana eradication is in the millions. The state of California has its own specialized police force that deals solely with finding large scale illegal grows and destroying them. Now, with as fucked up as our national economy is, that money could be better spent on much more important things, and if the government would pull their heads out of their collective asses and legalize and tax it, that's even more money that this country could have that would help to solve our economic crisis.
I wasn't being completely serious, good sir. Also: - It has numerous medicinal purposes. - Like Casey said, hemp is pretty much a wonder crop with a minimal environmental impact. - Double standards are horseshit (I know Dean already said that, but it bears repeating). - Arresting people for possessing small amounts of marijuana is a tremendous waste of time and resources. - Drug prohibition hasn't benefited society in any way, as far as I can see.
I'd be interested to see a trial run of it legalised and see what the positive and negative effects would be then. I'm guessing to the majority of people it isn't a gateway drug as people have argued here but we'd soon find out if it was legalised.
It's legal in Holland, they're a good "test" case, I'm sure. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_policy_of_the_Netherlands Quite interesting how there's no real connection between the amount of usage and whether it's legal or not. Also, legalizing the drug doesn't mean the government will spend less money on prevention, the opposite seems to be the case. However, growing it is still illegal and should be left to people abroad... so it's not like the "farmers" will benefit at all from legalization.
I'm completely and utterly done with this conversation, but on a closing note I'd like to urge everyone to watch "American Drug War: the Last White Hope". If you have movie channels in America, it's on Showtime. For nearly 2 hours I watched this documentary, and I laughed, cried, cursed at the tv... and thought of this thread the entire time. Find it on YouTube in parts, watch it on Showtime, buy the DVD, download it through a torrent, I don't care, but everyone that has commented in this thread needs to watch it, regardless of their stance on marijuana and other drugs. I now also have a craving for mushrooms. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CyuBuT_7I4
The strange thing about this is, my dad just this morning confessed to me that he once did acid and cocaine.. and I have no idea why. But he agreed the government could make money if they legalized Marijuana
Well I can see why to legalize it, and why not to legalize it. In my personal opinion I don't think it should be legalized, it has ruined way too many of my friends lives. Maybe I picked bad friends? Maybe they just let it control them. They've spent countless dollars.. Going oh well, the moneys for weed. Why should someone spend so much money on a plant that makes them happy for a little bit? Video games may be addicting, but at least your paying 20-60 dollars for something that lasts? Same goes for internet. I can't say a whole lot about cigs or drinking, as I don't really have an opinion over them, I do think there should be some restriction with the two though. Now for the other side. Weed should be legalized. To each their own, IF they're causing no others harm. If you wanna just smoke a doobie and relax, that's your decision. Honestly the government kinda owes us one, so why not legalize it? Some people could argue that "stress from the government" made them smoke, ya know? There's so many arguments supporting the legalization of weed, and so little against it. I'm positive the U.S. government will legalize it. I wouldn't be surprised if it also prohibited it again.
Im going to agree with the weed be legal it would save so much money and keep people out of jail i have a better arguement but i dont have the time to lol