Why do you think marijuana should be legalized?
I'm writing a paper and am collecting data and stats from both sides of this argument. To those who believe marijuana should be legalized, why do you think that is? What would be your counter-argument against someone arguing that marijuana should be kept illegal in the States?
Do you think Marijuana should be legalized?
I have never used marijuana, or any other illegal drug, in fact, I don't use alcohol. I think that people who use these substances set themselves up for failure. No one becomes an alcoholic or drug addict if they avoid these substances. In my mine, neither alcohol nor recreational drugs have any socially redeeming value. That said, making a substance illegal DOES NOT stop people from getting it and using it. The Prohibition Law pretty much proved that. If convicts can get illegal drugs in maximum security prisons, what type of draconian measure would actually end drug use? Since no law can prohibit people from getting something they want, there are two factors to consider. First, the phony "War on Drugs" has empowered government to spy on us, and to justify the creation of armed gangs to break into people's homes in the name of "law enforcement". The fact that these drugs are illegal means that people will commit crimes in order to get the money to purchase them. It also escalates violence by drug cartels and pushers. Does anyone think that we are better of with the current situation? Laws that make drugs illegal, which create a climate of violence, both by drug sources and counter-drug enforcement, and still fail to prevent drug usage need to be repealed. I think government needs to go after demand, not supply. People only gravitate toward drugs because drugs have been advertised for decades in pop culture. I think anyone who glamorizes drugs, or makes them look desireable or sophisticated needs to go to jail. The only way to reduce drug useage is to go after demand. I really believe that our politicians couldn't care less about drug use. They are using the drug problem to increase their power. The phony "War on Terrorism" is another example of this. The terrorism is a result of our intrusive foreign policy, of intervening in foreign wars. It is our foreign policy that is the DEMAND for terrorism. Our politicians tell us they are going to stop the supply by eliminating our civil rights.
Why should Marijuana be legalized?
If marijuana is illegal, it is more likely to get into the hands of children and teenagers. So, if you are worried about children, then you should want it to be legal, where it can be taxed and regulated. Drug dealers don’t care about who they sell too because their activity is already illegal. Compare that to someone that owns a liquor store. If they sell alcohol to minors, they will have their liquor license revoke, perhaps lose their business, and may be sued, or go to jail. Which is why it is much more difficult for high schoolers to get alcohol than marijuana. And there is no data that exists that shows prohibition limits availability or reduces access.The fact it is illegal means profits go into the coffers of criminal organizations, cartels or gangs. Cartels and gangs do not pay taxes. In Colorado where marijuana is legal, legitimate businesses do pay taxes and hire people. And in Colorado, drug cartels are not making money from selling marijuana but private businesses are. Plus, licensed businesses have incentives to make their product safer. Illegal organizations do not. They often cut products with other things, making them less safe, and often deadly. You can’t sue a drug dealer for tainted products, but you can a business if it does the same.If you allow black markets and criminal organization to operate the drug trade you give them power. You also increase the chances for violence related to drugs. For instance, during prohibition various gangs controlled major sections of cities and engaged in violence. They engaged in violence because that wanted monopoly control of an area. Rival gangs were constantly killing each other in the streets. Once prohibition ended, so too did violence related to bootlegging and the sale of alcohol. This is the reason you don't see Dos Equis employees shooting up employees of Anheuser-Busch. But this happened all the time in Chicago with Al Capone and other gangs during prohibition. The idea that prohibition works is a complete and utter fantasy.
Why do people think marijuana is disgusting?
I always preferred marijuana over alcohol. As far as I'm concerned, they could make alcohol illegal and legalize pot and that would be just fine with me. I smoked for 17 years and had to quit in 2006 to get a job that drug tested. I will say that overnight I went from making 10 bucks an hour to 20 bucks an hour just for quitting. It's been worth it. I love pot but I love money more. I'm not saying you can't smoke pot and still make a good living, but I couldn't. My options were limited for the field of work I'm in. When I retire in 30 years and nobody cares what I do anymore, I plan on growing my own and vaporizing. I lived in Rota, Spain for 7 months in '97 and I'd love to make some good hash like I used to get over there. As for people that treat pot smokers like they have some kind of disease, I've met people that have lost loved ones to drug abuse and they tend to treat pot the same way as " hard" drugs like meth or heroin. They were so angry and hurt over their loss, they hated drugs and anyone that used them no matter what the individual circumstances were. And older people like my parents grew up being told that pot was for " hippies" and made you stupid. You'll never convince folks from that generation otherwise. Also, it's trendy now to speak out against pot use. When I was in school everyone knew not to use drugs like coke and acid but most of the time they just glossed over marijuana. There used to be more of a tolerance if that was all you got caught doing, but now it seems like people are making it a big deal again. I used to get caught with pot in my car all the time and the cops would just dump it out. Now there's so much money in fines they write it up even if you've never been in trouble before. I'm from the Midwest so I'm sure it's better on the West Coast, at least for now. L.A. recently passed laws to start shutting down the dispensaries. They say they want to " start over" but that's probably not going to happen. Eventually they'll get them all closed and that will be the end of it. I guess things were pretty good out there for a while but too many people abused the whole system and the country was watching to see how it went. I think we'll start seeing Medical Laws going away before too long. I hope not, we'll see.
Why is Canada legalizing marijuana?
Canada elected a new Liberal government in October 2015. One of their notable promises during the campaign was their effort to legalize marijuana — as well as tax it, and regulate it.They reinforced this promise last spring that they were to begin their legislative efforts in the succeeding spring. It is expected that this is when the marijuana issue will come to light.Although Canada is not for sure legalizing it, we can assume that it may happen, as the incumbent government says so.There are various motives for wanting to legalize marijuana, and various interests have different reasons. Some of the come reasons go as follows:The war on drugs, specifically marijuana, is ineffective. Drug use since the war on drugs emerged has not decreased as a result of it, and millions are being poured into this useless propaganda and prison machine.Former Prime Minister Stephen Harper claimed that “marijuana is infinitely worse than tobacco”, a great contrast from the attitudes of the successive government. But not only that — it is a flat out lie. Marijuana is certainly not worse than tobacco, that much is for sure.There is very little to no evidence that marijuana has long term harmful effects on one’s body and mentality. Why is a drug which does not cause harm being kept illegal?Marijuana has potential beneficial effects. Marijuana is known to have been successful with people with certain physical illnesses, to reduce the pain and otherwise. Marijuana is also commonly used for mental purposes, such as a stress reliever.The government can generate huge revenues off of it. If marijuana is legalized, the government will definitely be able to indulge in the industry, taxing and regulating.There is a general trend growing of a more positive outlook on marijuana. It is about time this absurd war on drugs ends, and we start embracing the cannabis culture. The social and economic possibilities are endless.
Do you think marijuana should be legal in Canada?
If the questioner has not seen the short film ‘Reefer Madness’ I highly recommend they do, it is hysterical. Mind you I mean hysterically funny but it is also hysteric in it’s fear mongering propaganda which the questioner may still buy into. It was done in the 30s or 40s I believe.What is funny today about the fear mongering around legalizing pot is how off base it is along with unscientific. Does alcohol lead to harder drugs? It may be a first step for individuals but there is nothing to say it’s a cause. Legality also is not likely to be a cause. There is lots of fear out there about what to do about people driving stoned. Well what have we done about all the people driving stoned for the last few decades? Fact is controlling pot will allow for more tools to control driving stoned.WHO WILL SPEAK FOR THE CHILDREN!? Again controlling it will offer more opportunity to keep it out of the hands of minors. What about harder drugs like say the crack smoking the questioner is trying to connect here? Well if the supplier of weed (gov’t regulated) is no longer also in the business of supplying crack chances of one leading to the other are greatly diminished NOT increased.Fear is so seldom thought through well. I know, I’m afraid of heights and when it comes to it fear paralyzes much of my rational thought. It’s just the way it is I guess.
Do people think cannabis should be legalized and regulated in Europe or do you see it as a bad drug?
First off, this is something that will have to be done on a country by country basis. The EU dosn't have the power to do something like that across the board. I have mixed feelings to be honest. I've seen too many career stoners fritter away their lives to think that Cannabis is a 'safe' drug. However I would prefer to see the profits of the drug going towards fueling the heath and education system, than fueling the drugs wars.
Why do people want to legalize cannabis ?
In a word....... JUSTICE. For years I've been a productive member of society ,taxpayer, community volunteer, PTA dad , scoutmaster etc.. and I'm a guy who preferred to come home to pipefull of my herb instead of a beer but I was in danger of arrest and losing my job for that choice. I had to hide it from my kids and neighbors. Look at the damage the War on Drugs has done to the relationship between the police and the community they serve. When I was ten, I believed the policeman was there to help me. A few years later, my hair was longer and I was being stopped and frisked (we called it rousted ) by the cops looking for a joint in my pocket. Years later I had a burglary at my house called the cops and the investigator was more interested in my State legal medical marijuana grow than they were in recovering the laptop , camera and jewelry that were stolen Legalize cannabis and let the police mend their community relationships and spend their time on real crimes!