Why is marijuana illegal?

[GamerPhate]

its illegal yet cigarettes and alcohol kill alot more than marijuana does.

Especially since it's non lethal, as in there's no way to overdoes on pot. And you can overdose on cigarettes and beer for sure.

As to why it is illegal, from my understanding from research I did in college for a paper I wrote, and got an A+ on the subject there are a few reasons. I don't have the paper anywhere I can locate at the moment, so forgive me I am quoting off old memory, and I am sure someone will correct me if I misquote something or what not. But evidently, back in the good old days when it was legal, things were much different but not too different it seems. In southern Texas and other border towns with Mexico, the locals were not to keen on the idea of all the Mexicans that were wandering over the borders into America. It wasn't illegal for a Mexican to come over the border, but they frequently brought marijuana with them when they would cross over. So they started to press for laws to make it illegal to give them a reason to arrest them when they would cross.

But this isn't the only reason. Another stems from I think it was Dupont and a guy named Hurst that owned vast lumber tracts all across the land. The problem for them was that hemp could also be used to make paper and other various things. Hemp has the ability to be harvested every 3 to 4 months. Where a tree takes about 10 years to get to a good chopping maturity. The cotton industry was threatened as well as hemp last much longer than cotton when made into fabric. Evidently these two lobbied to get legislation to make it illegal. And once the ball was rolling with all the money behind the legislation and you had support from Americans that weren't pleased with the border traffic. So ultimately it passed. And when it did pass, we went around the world and pretty much forced all the other countries to do the same thing. Although there was always been those few bastions of freedom countries that have some legislation to allow for its use.

But long story short, it was made illegal due to racism and greed. <-- Cliff Notes for the Lazy or too high to read

 

[GamerPhate]

double post .. Sorry first didn't show up .

 

[Dominic Burchnall]

As far as I can see, marijuana SHOULD be legalised. The reasons are;

1. Public safety. Whilst this stuff is being grown by the criminal gangs, they're doing all sorts of stuff to add wieght and get more money back from it. One inspection in the UK found the growers had been sprinkling ground glass over the developing buds to increase the wieght.
2. Government control. If actual government backed research is done into the different strains of marijuana, rather than just the potential side effects from excessive overuse, then strains could be developed to minimalise the risks to smokers, new pharmeceuticals could be made from closer scrutiny of the active chemicals and refined into appropriate doses which is taboo under the current laws, the government could start taking a tax cut of the profits from the production of legal weed.
3. Criminal control. Despite various stickers and posters I've seen around my university of cannabis being a "victimless crime", the fact remains that almost all weed growers are linked to part of a greater criminal enterprise. Police raids have found several illegal immigrants who have been forced to work in unacceptable conditions, as live-in keepers for marijuana crops. If the government were to take control of marijuana manufacture in this country (I'm English by the way), they would eliminate the human rights abuses and drive out the organised crime elements away, as well as freeing up hundreds of police man-hours and funding.

If anyone wants to argue any points, add anything I've missed, please feel free.

 

[Navvan]

Snip

It is physically addictive, at least from observing my brother who quit smoking for 2 weeks earlier this summer. What I mean by this is he developed headaches, lost his appetite to the point that he actually could not eat even though he knew he should, and had bouts of nausea.

The only solid pro-weed argument is the same as to use any other drug. Freedom, and to cut revenue from criminal organizations. That is not to say it shouldn't be regulated whether it is pot or heroin or there shouldn't be designated areas to perform them (heavy drugs like heroin/acid/ect).

However absolute freedom is a lie. That truth comes with the territory of being in a society, and that is why we're in the situation we are. In an ideal world (Freedom for all so long as it doesn't harm/impede freedom for others and such) drugs should be legalized (all of them) and drug clinics established. Anti-drug education would be re-modeled to actually accurately describe drugs and their consequences. We don't live in an ideal world; get use to it or actually work to change it. "Work" amounts to fund raising your cause, lobbying government and spreading solid 100% unbiased factual information; not half-ass protests and attempts where people will clearly only think "They wants the drugs".

This is coming from someone who has never intentionally broken a law in there life. That includes both underage drinking and drug use. Unintentional law breaking was never caught and was traffic related.

The thing that really pisses me off is the biased information they teach in anti-drug programs. Not because I don't believe in the cause (to reduce drug use) but because I think it does a level of harm, and I am against any biased information.

 

[Blatherscythe]

The government can't tax or control it, otherwise it would be legal.

 

[p3t3r]

OT: Now that I've kinda gotten those points out of the way, believe it or not, I am actually a supporter of weed. Hell, I'm about to buy some tomorrow (legally of course, cough cough).I just like to point out the flaws in some of these peoples arguments so that they stay away from them and search for more logical ones.

Like I said above, I have a dad who is probably going to one of the guys put in charge of legalizing it in the US, and legalization has made some headway these past few years. It's going to happen. Let's just try to keep some liberals in office.

sorry but i am a but sceptical of some person on the interet saying his dad is knows some people and it is gonna happen. not that i don't want to believe you or anything i would very much like it to be legal. i have tried both pot and alcohol and would say i enjoy pot alot more, and would much rather have it be legal.

as far as i can tell the only reason it is illegal is because some political shit went down in the 30's and it takes a long time to change laws like that

 

[nklshaz]

The fact that it directly kills brain cells is the main reason. And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

Then why not ban alcohol and cigarettes, too? They're far more dangerous to the people that live around the smoker/drinker (i.e. drunk driving, physical abuse, secondhand smoke, etc.); the worse marijuana ever does to adults is make them lazy and unmotivated. The worst it could do to a child (secondhand) is perhaps impede brain development...but then I would question that parent's abilities to even be responsible for another human life. Marijuana is a drug that really only affects the consumer; laws against habits that don't hurt anyone outside of the "habit-doer" are stupid and unnecessary.

And then there's the lobbyists who keep spreading the bad rep about weed; I can't stand corporate lobbyism in general. I think it undermines a politician's integrity and common sense; it forces them down roads of moral extremism. This practice is easy to abuse by the greedy, and I feel it's poisoning Humanity's advancement in numerous scientific fields. Lobbyism should be banned, and any violators should be charged with treason (it isn't that extreme a punishment, when you consider the ethics).

Politicians should be forced to stick to a tight campaign budget, and not waste it on stupid-ass smear campaigns and propaganda on what should be moot topics.

I'm not saying that cigarettes and are good, but the American economy would completely be shot to hell if they banned cigarettes and alcohol. (Which is sad. I think we'd be better off without it) And yes while marijuana only affects the user most of the time, someone hallucinating from the effects of marijuana is driving, then that is a potentially dangerous situation. I'm all for freedom of choice, but I guess what I'm not understanding is why people want it so bad. I understand that hemp is useful and economical, but I just don't understand why people want to smoke it. It seems like I'd be sacrificing a lot of my self control while under it's effects for a hallucination I probably won't even remember. I'd like to understand both sides of this argument, so could you please explain to me why people want it so bad.

It seems a few people are taking my first sentence about alcohol and cigarettes seriously. I'm not suggesting that we do ban those, too; I was just pointing out the double standard.

By the way, hallucinations from weed are rare, and really only happen if you overdose; moderation is the key. If you don't have a high enough tolerance for even small doses, then those people should be smart enough to stay the hell away from it. Naysayers keep clinging to rare side effects like these and blow them out of proportion.

Economically, it makes sense to legalize marijuana. Products can be held to high government standards (regarding health risks). Plus, it's a great new source of revenue to help fill that huge-ass gap in our deficit, and I doubt it would stop smokers and drinkers from, well, smoking and drinking. Even if it does, breweries and the tobacco company either need to adapt or go bankrupt. It's their fucking problem, and frankly it's hypocritical to preach less government regulation on big businesses, but it's okay for big businesses to run Big Brother to their agenda (you didn't say that, nklshaz; it's just a common problem). What about Blockbuster and Borders? They lost to online streaming and PDF books, and the aforementioned lobbyist groups are afraid of that happening to them. Well, I say: Tough shit!!

Good points. I think people have been taking me too seriously too. I honestly don't feel too strongly either way on the subject. I'd rather it didn't become legal, but I'm not committed to stopping it. It really won't affect me too much either way, since I don't plan on using it. (I'm really paranoid about losing self control. I'm afraid I'd do something stupid) A big reason that I don't plan on using it is that the studies just seem so inconclusive. Guess it just makes me a little paranoid about using it. Like I said, I don't feel too strongly either way, so good luck with your cause. Hopefully these differences haven't brought about any hard feelings.

 

[Zing]

The fact that it directly kills brain cells is the main reason. And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

Hahahah, Oh wow. How misinformed can people be??

You don't hallucinate from marijuana.(you still shouldn't drive high, but people do it and they get booked same as drink driving)
It doesn't kill brain cells.
Marijuana has beneficial aspects, such as pain relief.

 

[chach_face]

B/C there isn't a system in place to regulate and tax the stuff.
Essentially, the gov would have a though time getting their cut.
And I'm the junkie

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

It was banned for a stupid reason and remains banned because it does do real damage like all drugs. Hell once they are old enough if you want to damage yourself with toxins that is fine by me. So yes I would legalize it but more to put a dent in drug lords pockets.

It may cause certain mental problems but we need to look into that as most stuff that it "causes" also start to set in when a lot of people start to use the stuff eg schizophrenia. On the gateway drug thing yes it can be as some drug dealers do dip low grade soap bar in stuff such as heroine so in that way it can be a gateway drug.

 

[nklshaz]

The fact that it directly kills brain cells is the main reason. And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

Hahahah, Oh wow. How misinformed can people be??

You don't hallucinate from marijuana.(you still shouldn't drive high, but people do it and they get booked same as drink driving)
It doesn't kill brain cells.
Marijuana has beneficial aspects, such as pain relief.

I've been informed of these things already, and have referenced a few of them in different posts. Try not to take my views on it seriously, because I honestly don't feel too strongly either way. The fact that studies seem to be so damn inconclusive is what makes me a little apprehensive about it. There's the gateway drug theory. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but I'd rather not risk it. Like I said, I don't care much either way, so good luck with your cause. I hope these differences haven't cause any hard feelings.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

The fact that it directly kills brain cells is the main reason. And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

Hahahah, Oh wow. How misinformed can people be??

You don't hallucinate from marijuana.(you still shouldn't drive high, but people do it and they get booked same as drink driving)
It doesn't kill brain cells.
Marijuana has beneficial aspects, such as pain relief.

I've been informed of these things already, and have referenced a few of them in different posts. Try not to take my views on it seriously, because I honestly don't feel too strongly either way. The fact that studies seem to be so damn inconclusive is what makes me a little apprehensive about it. There's the gateway drug theory. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but I'd rather not risk it. Like I said, I don't care much either way, so good luck with your cause. I hope these differences haven't cause any hard feelings.

Well as I said in my above post soap bar is where marijuana becomes a gateway drug as they do lace it with many other random substances.

 

[Zing]

There are a couple of things that I think should be addressed before you have legalized marijuana---like people who drive under the influence. With alcohol, you can blow a breathalyzer, but there really isn't a way for an officer to decide on the spot if you might be driving under the influence of THC. Little things like that are small additional road blocks.

Sure there is. They do roadside saliva tests in Australia, and obviously driving under the influence of THC is illegal.

Sure, it isn't quite as easy to tell a high person compared to a drunk person. Stoned people can often just look tired.

 

[Uszi]

Sure there is. They do roadside saliva tests in Australia, and obviously driving under the influence of THC is illegal.

Sure, it isn't quite as easy to tell a high person compared to a drunk person. Stoned people can often just look tired.

I will admit, that I am ignorant of any reliable, quick methods of testing for THC intoxication. If you say one exists, then I withdraw that criticism.

You still need to convince a bunch of social conservatives that truckloads of cannabis heading to the corner store isn't a threat to society.

 

[Zing]

I've been informed of these things already, and have referenced a few of them in different posts. Try not to take my views on it seriously, because I honestly don't feel too strongly either way. The fact that studies seem to be so damn inconclusive is what makes me a little apprehensive about it. There's the gateway drug theory. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but I'd rather not risk it. Like I said, I don't care much either way, so good luck with your cause. I hope these differences haven't cause any hard feelings.

no hard feelings..the thread is pretty long so I didn't go through it all.

The gateway drug theory is a negative effect sure, but arguably cigarettes and alcohol can lead to harder stuff if the participant is so intent on impairing them self for fun.

Sure there is. They do roadside saliva tests in Australia, and obviously driving under the influence of THC is illegal.

Sure, it isn't quite as easy to tell a high person compared to a drunk person. Stoned people can often just look tired.

I will admit, that I am ignorant of any reliable, quick methods of testing for THC intoxication. If you say one exists, then I withdraw that criticism.

You still need to convince a bunch of social conservatives that truckloads of cannabis heading to the corner store isn't a threat to society.

Australian politics is pretty much one of the most conservative in existence, so I've resided myself to not buying marijuana legally in my life time.

 

[nklshaz]

The fact that it directly kills brain cells is the main reason. And legalizing it would increase the risk of people driving while hallucinating. While the effects may not be perceived as being "as bad" as cigarettes or alcohol, it still is bad for you, and we're probably better off without it.

please leave. go on your xbox or ps3 or whatever you have, and go on netflix. look up The Union. watch. reread your post and see how much of a dumbass you are.

Please read my other posts on this thread. All of them. Think of it as a treasure hunt ;P
P.S. It seems a little unfair to judge the entirety of my intelligence based on one post from one topic, considering that it's a topic that I don't feel very strongly about. And since I don't feel very strongly about it, I won't be spending my time on Netflix watching a movie about marijuana, when I could be watching "Dude, Where's My Car" . . . wait a minute. ;P