Should Marijuana be legalized?
Colorado, Washington, and Oregon have already passed laws legalizing marijuana use. However, this directly contradicts federal law, which classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug under the Control Substances Act of 1970. Federal authorities and state officials are already at odds in California and the 16 other states and District of Columbia where medical marijuana use is legal. Even as the Obama administration has vowed not to crack down on medicinal marijuana use in states where legal, its Justice Department has stepped in to close dispensaries that they say do not comply with state regulations. The initiatives in Colorado, Washington, and Oregon legalize marijuana for recreational use—not just medicinal—and the role of federal authorities in enforcing federal laws would also have to be navigated.
The initiatives have gained wide public support, particularly in Washington where even local law enforcement officials have endorsed it. Supporters say regulating and taxing marijuana will bring in much-needed revenue to state coffers. They insist that marijuana use is no more dangerous than alcohol use, and might be less so. However, critics of the proposals say that legalizing marijuana would increase its usage, particularly among young people. Opponents worry about users driving impaired by the drug: The Washington proposal includes a restriction on driving while under the influence of marijuana, while Oregon's and Colorado's propositions do not. Critics have also expressed concern about federal prosecution of users, as well as how the such proposals would affect the tourism industry of their states.
Like, yeah man!
Side Score: 14
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Absolutely not!
Side Score: 5
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There comes a time when something is so commonplace in society that it becomes normalised. When that happens the best we can do is to make sure we control the quality, manufacture, sale and ultimately the health of those involved. There are variable qualities of marijuana and its synthetic form that need to be removed from marketplace because they are known to have adverse health effects. However, providing legal amounts of a monitored quality product through a registered dealer should be the way to go. Everyone benefits, the grower, seller, user and the government. Side: Like, yeah man!
Big ideal and even bigger assumption. I worked with the Alcohol and Other Drugs Service helping people who had personal, domestic, social and legal issues with a range of drugs. Acting with responsibility is a pipe dream for many users so there have to be controls put in place for those who simply cannot control their use and behaviour . The incidence alcohol and drugs in domestic violence is very high and so police are now calling for it to be criminalised Side: Like, yeah man!
Oh. I am all for banning of alcohol, cigarettes, and other drugs. I was just playing devil's advocate. Alcohol related deaths is still the number one cause for Americans from the age of 5-34. People just seem to hate cigarettes and marijuana a lot more. Alcohol = party! Cigarettes = cancer! Marijuana = underachieving stoner! The discrepancy in realistic connotations is ridiculous. The problem still comes down to individual freedom. Even if everything was banned, people would still find a way unless if enforcement goes to police state levels. Side: Like, yeah man!
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I agree that some people have a problem with substance abuse. But wouldn't be much better if we treated them like the sick people they are instead of incarcerating them. The war on drugs has caused unmitigated harm to our society. It has created gangs, drug lords, and millions of incarcerated victims, if we took 1\100th of the money spent on the war on drugs we could open free rehabilitation hospitals in every city. we have fought this war for 50 years and there are more dugs now then ever before and please think of this if there were no war on drugs would meth have even been invented. I have seen nothing but pain and suffering from our war on drugs. We have create crime in our streets, gangs, drug lords, crystal meth, when will we realize that the billions we spend could be used in much better ways. Side: Absolutely not!
In your work, though, did you notice that criminalization helped anyone dealing with the issues associated with substance abuse? My understanding is that it is far easier to support people in recovery when they are not criminalized on top of the complications of addiction. Side: Like, yeah man!
So essentially you're saying just because Alchohol and tobacco, two substances that play major roles in the cause of preventable death (which is still an enormous issue in 2015) should give "you" the right to smoke marijuana freely? Horrible decision/statement, why would you legalize or introduce a substance to people who can't even use their own discretion to not drive while intoxicated. You can't just think about yourself or in the moment understand that there will be that one imbecilic person who decides to smoke and drive, so while they are in that altered state they can simply loose control and end someone's life, now is that fair to kill someone off because you wanted to feel that instant high? Also, once it's legalized you do understand it will come along with certain rules/laws. (i.e.) certain amount you can consume or buy, specific areas you can smoke, age restrictions, etc etc. it's not just as simple as "okay let's legalize marijuana" you have to look at the pros and cons and if you can't even do that then you aren't ready to even handle the responsibility that comes along with marijuana. Side: Absolutely not!
I'd rather be around someone stoned than drunk. I don't drink or use marijuana, but I know plenty people who do. Colorado is rolling the money they have made taxing the stuff. Why can't we do that. Tax and regulate it, make it legal for adults. Break the backs of the cartels. I know how to grow the stuff. I could make enough money to live a little better. Marijuana is harmless. Side: Like, yeah man!
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What do you mean like really make understand of yourself marijuana is not illegal period if you notice marijuana kills people it makes them lose there eye sight and sometimes it makes you blind or sometimes flabs your face so that stuff your saying make sense of it pole dancers really Side: Like, yeah man!
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Marijuana is extremely harmful to the body. And even those who don't use it will have increased risk because of its legalization. Marijuana severely diminishes the safety of driving, and if someone who was high drives into someone who is not, the non drug person will not be any less dead. So it is not a case of: "If a person is willing to take the risk then it is there body," as those who do not intend to take the risk may also be hurt. Side: Absolutely not!
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Marijuana is extremely harmful to the body. That is a factually false statement. No long-term harm has been proven from consumption of marijuana, only from some methods of consumption (which are not unique to pot). And even those who don't use it will have increased risk because of its legalization. So? So long as they are adults, who are you to say what they consume? Marijuana severely diminishes the safety of driving, and if someone who was high drives into someone who is not, the non drug person will not be any less dead Which is why you would make driving while impaired illegal, like it already is under a wide variety of circumstances. That argument falls flat, unless you also wish to outlaw alcohol because of drunk drivers. So it is not a case of: "If a person is willing to take the risk then it is there body," as those who do not intend to take the risk may also be hurt. Not particularly true. If a person is willing to "take the risk" of putting other people in danger, than they should be punished. Simply consuming marijuana does not put another person in danger, the same way that taking many over-the-counter medications doesn't. But, like said medication, if you mix it with certain activities like driving, issues can arise. This is why we have laws against driving while impaired. Side: Like, yeah man!
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