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Yes. This debates been made alot of times. It would help the economy, help regulate and tax it, keep it off the streets and safer to use, easier to keep from minors and it would lose its appeal of being illegal, it would free up alot of space in prisons and by extent lower taxes for that reason, give cops something better to do, ect ect ect...
Marijuana compared to LEGAL substances such as tobacco and alcohol is like water. It's NOTHING. Im not saying its good for you. There are harmfull effects. It kills braincells if used too often before the age of eighteen which in turn lowers IQ. Though, i dont know if thats true because i know like 3 major stoners who are Nat Honor Society kids with straight As. But thats what studies say.
As for what it can do when youre impared by it, again, nothing compared to tobacco and alcohol. Being high generally makes you happy or relaxed so is really shouldnt cause confrontation where as alcohol often leads to fighting, arguing, ect. and an irritable tobacco user who hasnt gotten his or her nicottene in a while will also be bitter.
Marijuana increases mental focus nine times out of ten. It affects every person differently but generally they all share this trait of hieghtened senses. This would mean driving while high still a hazard but not nearly as bad as driving while intoxicated.
If it was legalized they would of course set age restrictions and a limit to how much THC (the drug in Pot that gets you high by triggering the "feel good" hormone in your brain called Dopeamine) you could have in your blood. There might even be laws saying you cant drive while high which would be understandable.
Take a look at other countries that have it legal for recreational use like Canada. They have low crime rates, and ive never heard anything about pot being a major issue anywhere.
Theres also Norway which is the most peacefull and economically stable country in the world today and im pretty sure that pot is legal there too.
Actually Russia has the highest suicide rate at 31.70 people per 100,000. Compared to Norway's: 11.40 per 100K. Norway is close to the USA with 11.10.
Flat out wrong.
France is the most "depressed" nation with 21% prevalence of depression. Norway didnt even make the list but the last one on the list was China with 6.5%. Soooo Norway's probably less than that by a lot.
We are looking at Marijuana alone. NOT in context with other substances. Marijuana is harmful, and its risks outweigh its benefits. Additionally, Marijuana is NOT legal for recreational use in Canada. I should know, I live there.
Okay marijuana alone. Benefits: Taxation= money, regulation, fights drug war, public enjoyment, new industry = jobs, reduction of appeal, medicinal reasons, and decreased police necessity/prison costs & populations.
Disadvantages:
Minor health risks (fixed through regulation), social disadvanteges from side effects, and thaaats pretty much it.
I see your point more clearly now; however, I have a personal connection to this story. I remember when I was in school, I got on to the bus and there were these two fellows that reeked of marijuana. Additionally, I overheard one of them saying, ''When I got up this morning I was still high.'' This left an indefinite impression on me, and to this day I still think that marijuana does more harm than good in the wrong hands (when not for medicinal use.)
I can understand that, and yes there are gonna be bums who smoke every day but odds are that wasnt caused by doing marijuana but rather, that marijuana use was a side effect of their lifestyle and personalities. That's just who they are, and they're gonna be losers whether they use marijuana or alcohol or if theyre entirely clean and sober.
I use marijuana very conservatively. I never possess it or purchase it for myself. I only use it at the ocassional party or special event that it is present at. That being said i suffer from zero side effects from it. It hasnt hindered my performance in sports activities and academically in any way. I still get straight As and Bs in honors level classes.
It's just a fun thing that should be done every so often with good friends, just like drinking, and nothing more. I dont promote the stoner lifestyle at all. Its another thing humanity can and should indulge in for pleasure, however, it should also be respected as a privlege and treated as such.
I recommend you at least try it once just to get a feel for it. It's harmless in controlled moderation and alot of fun every once in a while. It's not something to be feared, trust me. It seems like a big deal before you do it. Then you realize it's really nothing.
AAAND you corrected my grammar as to not putting in an apostrophie on shouldn't. I spelled the word correctly. So therefore youre a grammar nazi, not a spelling spetsnaz!
This argument has no logic because there are plenty of harmful products that are legal. In addition, the so-called-harmful affects from marijuana use are pretty mild. However, there is not a lot of real science to back up how neutral, harmful, or truly beneficial ganja can be.
That is exactly my point, marijuana really is not all that harmful. There is a lot of false information that has been given about this substance. There are claims that a marijuana cigarette contains 3x the amount of carcinogens than a standard cigarette. When I hear that, I get rather angry, because it is false. Out of tabacco, alcohol, and synthetic cannabis, actual cannabis is the least harmful of them all.
Please do not insult me like this. It indicates you have poor character. My logic is infallible on this topic. We are debating Marijuana and its effects, not other substances. Marijuana is harmful; you cannot deny it.
Technically, the debate is about legalizing marijuana; not about its affects. I am not insulting you. I am simply stating that your logic is not sound. I will agree with you by saying ABUSING marijuana is harmful to one's health. There is no science to back up your claim that marijuana USE is completely and utterly harmful. On the contrary, there is some science and a long history of people USING marijuana with little to no health affects to prove that responsible use is not harmful to one's health.
For one moment, let's pretend marijuana is harmful to one's health. By your logic anything deemed harmful should be illegal because people cannot be held accountable to maintain their own health. To continue with that logic... then refined sugars, refined flours, trans fats, unhealthy foods, pesticides, sharp knives, stinging bugs, prescription medication with too many side affects, driving over 20mph, etc. should be illegal too.
Something should not be banned just because it is harmful. Please value freedom over baby-proofing the world.
People do need to take responsibility for their own well-being, but there is a reason that some drugs are banned. It is because they are addictive and harmful. Some people get roped into taking drugs. I have some interesting reading for you on Marijuana's harmful effects. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
Note, this is an official government source, not Wikipedia.
Also, it does not really matter to me what people do with their health, but when they become a danger to others , that worries me. I do not want people on the roads high on Pot. MADD seems to agree with me from what I gather from their commercials.
I'm not aware of any harmful effects of marijuana that are not caused by inhaling smoke from the burned plant matter. Are you aware of any harmful effects from taking it in the form of vapor, cooked into foods, in a pill capsule, or as a preparation of sublingual or topical oil?
Smoking pot is bad for you because smoking is bad for you, not because pot is bad for you.
Preposterous statement. What about the ability for DXM containing substances to be abused? i.e. cough syrup. Let us ban cough syrup because that is harmful for people. Let us also ban tobacco, and alcohol, because those substances are harmful. All these things I named, are actually MORE harmful than marijuana. Synthetic marijuana is much much more harmful than actual marijuana as well. I would rather see real cannabis be sold than fake cannabis.
I am not starting this again. I can list mountains of proof as to why Marijuana is harmful and should be illegal. Please respect that. Read the information in the link provided above.
Legalize drugs to restore freedom and put the responsibility back into the hands of the people. Legalizing drugs would greatly reduce the black market and as such the violence associated with the black market would decrease. After, the resources being used to "fight" the drug black market could be funneled into education and research.
If you think drugs should remain illegal then you do not appreciate or value freedom enough.
Edit: typo. original text: "If you think drugs should remain legal then..."
YES IT SHOULD FOR SEVERAL REASONS . I USED IT MANY YEARS BUT QUIT BECAUSE IT IS AGAINST THE LAW BUT IT IS STILL USED BY MANY SO THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T STOPPED ITS USAGE . IF LEAGAL IT WOULD BE ONE LESS THING THE DEA WOULD HAVE TO FIGHT AND ALOT LESS PEOPLE IN PRISON FOR IT . THEY COULD GET A TAX FROM IT LIKE ANY OTHER SIN TAX ITEM AND THEN THE MEXICAN DRUG WAR WOULD LOSE SOME OF ITS POWER .
Yes, but the federal government should have no role in legalizing it. It is not a listed federal power, so it belongs to the state government. In trying to outlaw marijuna, the federal government has oversteped the limitations of it's power.
Whether you smoke Marijuana or not is a personal health issue, not a criminal justice issue. Treating people who smoke like criminals is just ridiculous!
Depends which country. Nah I'm just kidding! I think so, does less damage than alcohol and smoking, plus it's something we can all enjoy :) Oh, and not forgetting Brian Griffin likes it...
I would argue that the Federal government has no authority, under the constitution, to prohibit Marijuana. It claims the authority on the grounds that MJ grown in one place is indistinguishable from that grown elsewhere, and MAY have crossed state lines (interstate commerce).
The relevant case for the "interstate commerce" argument is Wickard v. Filburn, in which a man was fined for growing wheat, on his own property, for his chickens' consumption. The rationale was that since he grew wheat, instead of buying it on the interstate market, he altered the market price, therefore it fell under the federal power to "regulate interstate commerce".
To any thinking human being, this is a logical contortion, and a gross perversion of the spirit and letter of the constitution. It was (and remains) a jewel in the progressive crown, being the basis of nearly all the ruinous progressive policies for the past 85 years ( including the debate over obamacare, before the SCOTUS found the interstate commerce clause insufficient to support the mandate).
The proof is, all the people with legitable arguments are for (that being the majority) and all the prudes like Brad (Rocky Horror Show) are saying " Oh but I have seen those public health videos, saying it's worse than Hitler. Along with vitamins, paper and wood..." Nothings 100% good for you in life. You take too much of something good it turns out bad. Apart from sex.
It was a typo, I meant to say, "apart from happiness :)"
(Nah, I still meant sex, but the sex kills you not because you've had too much of it, even if you had never had sex before, you could do it once, and then bop, heart attack. You don't get worse the more sex you have, granted it can still kill you ( one of my top 10 ways to go (but not number one (That's for another debate...))))
No, if you mean that the federal government should make it legalized then no. That seems more like a state's decision and I think it should only be up to them
Well, the federal government currently says its illegal, so if a state makes it legal since its still illegal on a federal level is is still illegal, so in other words, until the government stops taking a stance on the issue it won't be up to states.
No! We are Americans, we run of caffeine, high fructose corn syrup, prescribed amphetamine and anti-depressants! We do not take naps in the middle of a work day, no siestas. Product, we all need to be of some use, we cannot prote un-productiveness!
I am a Lion from the Libertarian party, so honestly I have to say; let them have their pot, but give businesses the right not to hire people who smoke pot and for the love of Buddha, don't let them drive, make them smoke it in a bar or at home, like alcohol.
I personally think it's a bad idea to legalize such a drug, since it impairs people. And knowing people, they would be getting high at the worst times, especially when driving. I just don't want that pandora's box being opened, especially not with pot.
Legalize it for all the reasons opposite of your argument. People should have the chance to prove that they can be responsible. Then once they are not responsible they should be punished through the legal system (similar as it is with drinking and driving).
Taking away freedom is taking away responsibility.
You are quite right in that following the law is being responsible. However, over-reaching laws restrict freedom. So, if you must argue technicalities... When a law criminalizes an act, one is no longer able to do that act without facing a potential legal consequence (loss of freedom and the opportunity to be responsible with said freedom). When that act is legal, one is free to responsibly do that act without legal consequence.
Responsiblity with freedom: The laws related to drug use should be geared towards irresponsiblity. Punishment should be dealt to those who take the freedom away from others because they were irresponsible. The laws should not be as they currently are for drug use and possession.
No, Marijuana would cause people to be intoxicated slowing down production. Additionally, it is quite bad for you, and our citizens health must be a priority.
You argument has no merit. If health was a higher priority than freedom then there should be a lot of things made illegal such as food items with low- to no-nutritional value Your argument also does not have merit because not all people who use marijuana lose productivity.
As an occasional recreational user, I can confirm that it makes me highly productive, and very creative. Granted, given a laborious task I would struggle, but when creativity is key, such as writing a novel or composing music, Marijuana is a brilliant light in the gloom.
No, Marijuana would cause people to be intoxicated slowing down production.
You're not supposed to smoke a joint as you head off to work, it something you do every few weeks with some friends. Its for recreation not production.
Additionally, it is quite bad for you, and our citizens health must be a priority.
Two things:
1. The only thing that is bad for your health about Cannabis is the smoke, not because of anything in the plant, but because of properties of smoke. So you could just bake a marijuana brownie or tea and it would not be bad for you at all.
2. Someone's health is their business. If I want to smoke and you think its bad for me, to bad, its my choice not yours, mind your own business.
It does not matter what people are supposed to do, it's what they do. And they will be smoking Pot all day long. Plus, this Marijuana IS bad for you, and you're right, I do not care what you do with your health, but when your habits affect my health, that's when I have a problem. I do not want second hand marijuana smoke, or people being high on the roads.
It does not matter what people are supposed to do, it's what they do. And they will be smoking Pot all day long.
They don't just sit around smoking pot all day long, that's like calling saying that the working men who have a beer after work just sit around and get wasted.
Plus, this Marijuana IS bad for you, and you're right, I do not care what you do with your health, but when your habits affect my health, that's when I have a problem.
1. Marijuana is not bad for you, this is common knowledge, I suggest you look deeper into that matter than the Don't Do Drugs seminar you had.
2. ME smoking does not effect YOU. Unless I'm blowing the smoke in your face, it really has no effect on you.
I do not want second hand marijuana smoke, or people being high on the roads.
Then don't run up to smokers and inhale deeply. People are not allowed to drive under any kind of intoxication, at the moment drugs are still very easy to get (seriously, just because its illegal doesn't mean it doesn't exist, you can find a dealer in almost any neighborhood) if we were going to see a ton of people driving blazed, we would see it now.
It does not matter what people are supposed to do, it's what they do. And they will be smoking Pot all day long.
They don't just sit around smoking pot all day long, that's like calling saying that the working men who have a beer after work just sit around and get wasted.
Plus, this Marijuana IS bad for you, and you're right, I do not care what you do with your health, but when your habits affect my health, that's when I have a problem.
1. Marijuana is not bad for you, this is common knowledge, I suggest you look deeper into that matter than the Don't Do Drugs seminar you had.
2. ME smoking does not effect YOU. Unless I'm blowing the smoke in your face, it really has no effect on you.
I do not want second hand marijuana smoke, or people being high on the roads.
Then don't run up to smokers and inhale deeply. People are not allowed to drive under any kind of intoxication, at the moment drugs are still very easy to get (seriously, just because its illegal doesn't mean it doesn't exist, you can find a dealer in almost any neighborhood) if we were going to see a ton of people driving blazed, we would see it now.
And if people do, look what we do with drug drivers, we crack down on them.
Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke. One major research study reported that a single cannabis joint could cause as much damage to the lungs as up to five regular cigarettes smoked one after another.
Also Heavy marijuana use causes brain abnormalities. Fact after fact after fact. Concussion: MARIJUANA IS BAD FOR YOU. Look anywhere, you cannot hide from the truth.
Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke.
Two things:
1. Marijuana smokers smoke considerably less, a bowl or two a week as compared to a few cigs a day.
2. The only thing harmful about Marijuana is the smoke because it is simply smoke, if you baked weed brownies and tea, you would be fine.
Also Heavy marijuana use causes brain abnormalities. Fact after fact after fact. Concussion: MARIJUANA IS BAD FOR YOU. Look anywhere, you cannot hide from the truth.
The truth? Haha, go back to watching Reefer Madness.
You cannot argue with the truth in this article. It contains facts about the harm non-smoke Marijuana causes. Also, all these lovely claims you make, care to back them up?
A government website, how cute. You understand that if a government keeps a substance illegal they have to come up with reasons right? Most of these reasons are made, and Cannabis use does not cause psychological disorders, it can just make the disorder more intense if you already have it. Saying that it causes these disorders just because they found a pot smoker who had these symptoms is like finding fat person who listens to rock and then concluding "rock music makes you fat." This isn't 1920, wake up.
Why do you fail to see that there is a major difference between drugs and murder. If you kill someone you ended their life and have obviously effected theres. IF you smoke a joint after work you are not going to effect anyone's life.
When someone takes a drag of a cigarette they are directly inhaling it into their lungs, when you get a wif of second hand smoke it is completely different. Besides, if you don't want Marijuana to be legalized over second hand smoke, here are some options for you:
1. If someone is smoking near you, move away.
2. If someone is smoking near you, ask them to move away.
3. Stay out of areas that allow smoking.
Seriously, if THIS is your problem with pot, then its not all that legitimate.
Once again, I do not care about what people do with their own health, but I have a problem with peoples' habits impacting the health of others. Have you ever seen the Mothers Against Drunk Driving adds telling people to not smoke marijuana. And on your sources, most of them are biased and not based on true facts, or are highly opinionated.
I assume you are incredibly unfamiliar with Marijuana. When you smoke pot you generally do not jump in your car and speed down the highway, thats cocaine. When you smoke pot you generally just chill out, maybe party for a bit or go on a walk.
If someone is driving while drunk or high you arrest them and punish them for putting someones life in danger, you don't cry out to the government to take away other people's liberties, who had absolutely nothing to do with the situation.
This is an interesting article that I believe that you should read. You will like it because it is not from the government and takes a critical stance on this issue.
"It's wrong to get high. For in doing so you reject the counsel of the God who made you."
I laughed when I read that part.
"And by intoxication you lose what should be a full control of your mental and moral faculties."
If you have 10 shots or everclear(95% alcohol), then go home and beat your wife, that is YOUR fault, everyone else who just casually enjoys a beer or two on Friday night should not have their liberties taken away
"that routine pot use leads to serious mental health issues."
Yeah like what? The munchies?
"And marijuana can act as a cancer-causing carcinogen and damaging DNA for pot smoke contains higher levels of certain toxins than tobacco, which is why pot smokers face rapid lung destruction, with the impact on lungs from one joint equaling up to five cigarettes."
The difference between a tobacco smoker and a pot smoker is that pot smokers use a considerably less about of their herb. Most tobacco user have a few cigs a day, sometimes even a full pack where as most pot smokers will just have a joint on the weekend.
"And pot makes folks paranoid (as I've seen firsthand even aside from criminality)"
Well no shit! If you're smoking and have to worry about the government kicking down your door and throwing you in prison over smoking some bud, of course you will be a bit paranoid.
"And pot's quick intoxicating effect will weaken a man's moral compass and then, as the Bible warns of drunkenness, increase his lust for other women."
Oh the Bible says it? Must be 100% accurate and should be written into law!
"pot use should not be normalized and the marijuana drug should be illegal."
Even if all of this garbage about how bad pot is for you was true (which it isn't) it would still be the smokers choice, not yours.
We can continue sending each other articles about what Marijuana will and will not do, and we will come to the same conclusion. Marijuana is just one big headache and neither side can win.
Once again, I do not care about what people do with their own health, but I have a problem with peoples' habits impacting the health of others. Have you ever seen the Mothers Against Drunk Driving adds telling people to not smoke marijuana. And on your sources, most of them are biased and not based on true facts, or are highly opinionated.
Actually that is a myth that marijuna causes cancer. We learned it in school, and i found a article in the Washington post that supports this. The article even says that marijuna possibly can provide some prevention to cancer.
It does say what you claim. However, the accuracy of this study has been disputed. Additionally, there is approximately a 10:1 ration of studies that prove marijuana is harmful to studies which claim the converse.
Isreal is the forerunner on the effects on health by marijuna, it was they who found the key chemical in marijuna THC. They have found a number of benefits to prescribing medicinal marijuna.
Here is another recent link by the huffington post that says that marijuna is useful in the prevention of cancer.
I saw that article too, but it was just one among many that said differently. Plus, i am not sure how reliable it is because that about.com article does not go into much detail about the evidence. I tried to check it's citations, but it the further reading links just led to other articles
There are a lot more studies with more clear references that state that marijuna does not cause cancer.
There is no conclusive evidence Marijuana prevents cancer. So, for arguments sake, I will use logic alone. Breathing black smoke into my lungs will not be healthy.
Driving under the influence of an intoxicant is already illegal, and is prosecuted.
Additionally, I see no difference between a careless (sober) driver causing mayhem, and a high, or drunk driver causing equivalent mayhem. Both are equally guilty and should be punished accordingly.
Charge intoxicated drivers with attempted 2nd degree murder. It won't take too many convictions for word to get around that you DO NOT want to drive impaired.
I would go for First degree (they made a conscious decision to put themselves in a position to drive that way) but IIRC 1st requires a specific victim in mind, and pre-meditation of killing. :/
Your right, your health is your business. But when your health inflicts ours, that's when we get involved. The fact is, second hand smoke is a problem. Not to mention, people who will smoke it and drive, or work, etc, etc.
Your right, your health is your business. But when your health inflicts ours, that's when we get involved. The fact is, second hand smoke is a problem.
No its not, unless you are inhaling everything the smoker blows out, you're not going to get any effect. That's like filling a cup with beer, pouring the beer out then filling it with water and then saying "can't be near that cup, I might drunk and have health problems"
People shouldn't be denied the right to use a recreational drug because you are paranoid that they will run up to you, breathe it in your face and force you to inhale.
Not to mention, people who will smoke it and drive, or work, etc, etc.
Marijuana is currently the easiest drug to get and is easier to get than tobacco or alcohol for people under 21. Still, even though there are almost as many weed smokers as there are tobacco smokers, we still don't have a problem with high driving, if we do get a problem, treat it like drunk driving and people start to stop doing this.