GB Survey: Should Marijuana be Legalized?
Posted August 12, 2009, 9:38 am in Living
Most popular arguments against legalization:
- Marijuana use often leads to stronger drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.
- Driving under the influence will lead to more highway deaths and injuries.
- Heavy marijuana smoking will cause serious physical as well as psychological damage to its users.
- Legalization would increase the chance of the drug becoming available to minors.
- Secondhand smoke will harm to innocent bystanders.
- Arresting marijuana users keeps those most likely to commit more serious crimes off the streets.
- If used in moderation, marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol or tobacco.
- If marijuana is legalized, the FDA or other state agencies could regulate its quality and safety.
- Drug dealers would lose a big slice of their business.
- Legalization will reduce crime by freeing up law enforcement resources up for more serious crimes.
- Limiting its use intrudes on personal freedom.
- Unlike tobacco and alcohol, there are many documented positive medical benefits associated with marijuana use.
- Legalization can lead to taxation as well as other economic benefits.
What Do You Think?
Add your comments below.
Add your comments below.
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Posted 5:03am May 18th, 2010The effects of marijuana are called a 'high', similar to being drunk after drinking. However, the effects of being high are generally superior to being drunk as you do not lose coordination, become violent etc.
The effects include: tired/laziness (often known as chilling, monging or simply relaxing), munchies (extreme desire to eat, can be ignored but food tastes much better whilst high), happiness (sense of well being and fulfilment). Unfortunately it can also cause minor paranoia (although i have never experienced it myself and do not believe it can possibly be long term).
The effects vary from person to person and you should not take the above affects as a given im afraid.
Therefore it must not legalized. It can break families.
____
"The earlier to quit the better stop smoking benefits."
Laura...THT's
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Posted 12:11am September 20th, 2009Please stop all these drugs! Stop ! I grew up with the smell and the ways marijunia ruines some of my family members life. No It should not be legalized!
Dinah
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Posted 4:57am September 4th, 2009Yes, it should be, for all the reasons given already, but especially because its medicinal benefits are incomparable, amazing and natural.
Newlight
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Posted 11:18pm August 26th, 2009YES! Either legalize it or prohibit all the other, far more dangerous drugs, like alcohol and sugar.
Noreen B
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Posted 9:26pm August 26th, 2009Absolutely not! There are enough drunks, dopers and criminals out there now; why add to it with potheads? BTW, if adults don’t take responsibility (and that CANNOT if they are high), how can we expect today’s youth to follow suit? Think of all the crimes that will be committed while they are high. Do we really need to add to the staggering list already being committed every day?
pilotlance
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Posted 7:08pm August 23rd, 2009I think legalization long overdue. We are spending literally billions of dollars on capturing and holding people who grow, buy, sell and use marijuana. One of the many excuses is that it leads to harder drugs. Well, does consuming beer lead to consuming scotch, rye, bourbon, and vodka. I would have to say yes, for a small percentage of people. They are however, in the minority. I feel it would be the same with marijuana (MJ). I know many people who are in their 60's and 70's who still smoke only MJ. There are those who over do it but they are in the minority. Another idea would be to tax it, and use the taxes exclusively for health insurance, if taxed like cigarettes, wine, beer and liquor, we could pay for all healthcare. We would have to hold politicians to not including it in the General Fund and use it only for healthcare. Or as with all other dedicated taxes, it would find its way into the GF and into pork. How much revenue would be generated, just look to California, where many years ago they included it in the agricultural estimates, because it is so large, the numbers for agriculture would be highly inaccurate without it.
NaplesMan
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Posted 3:59pm August 21st, 2009lynnechimes
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Posted 7:03am August 20th, 2009Yes. Tax it as you do cigarettes and alcohol.
I personally have never seen a car accident while someone was smoking marijuana, never heard of a murder or multiple killings related to smoking marijuana, etc.
I have seen how marijuana has helped people who are ill and have no appetite because of chemo, AIDS, etc, regain their appetite and though it does not "cure" their illnesses, it sure gives them quality of life.
Biggest problem, here, as I see it, is that the govn't would have problems controlling the people who would market it. Hmmm, maybe that is why it is not legal yet??
sps
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Posted 1:53pm August 19th, 2009No. I do not think it should be legalized.
There is enough trouble with the already legal drugs out there-cigarettes and alcohol. Just look at the cost of those drug to tax payers and our citizens lives. To say that we should legalize it in order to gain tax money and put police to better use etc., is a false hope and not at all a reality.
Legalizing another drug in this country would only cause greater expense on the other end. You still have to spend millions to regulate it, stop the criminals who would abuse it, cost of government programs to regulate it. You still would have to police the idiots who would be driving under the influence or selling on the black market, and still have to protect minors against exposure to it, etc. The only ones gaining monetary benefit would be the politicians, the lawyers, and people the government would hire to regulate it and -oh yea- the manufactureres- what a gold mine for them!!
Then there is the medical cost, and law suites for those who would get some kind of cancer or brain disease or birth defects, from smoking it or second hand smoke and then the government would be paying the medical costs of that. And how about the lawsuites from the people who would sue the manufacturers of the product for making it and the government for making it legal. Guess the lawyers would benefit also from our tax dollars would go to defending the government for "acting stupidly"(to use Obamas words) and legalizing yet another drug. I could go on but am out of time.
Shame on anyone who thinks we should legalize another drug in this country. That's just what we need more people driving around stoned and texting. Can't you jsut see the problems coming with legalization of more drugs. I could go on and on. There is no upside to this.
Please think responsibly!!!
Susan Y
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Posted 2:33pm August 17th, 2009Yes, marijuana should be legalized, although it does have harmful side effects to one's body (I tend to think when used to excess) ~ refer previously presented arguments for alcohol, tobacco, etc. I think the attempt at prohibition demonstrated that you cannot legislate morality.
tim
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Posted 11:41am August 17th, 2009NO We have enough problem with alcoholics and their death causing accidents. All we need is a bunch of potheads driving the same way.
Clif
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Posted 11:26am August 17th, 2009While I have had mixed feelings about this issue, and understand the arguments on both sides, as a practicing Jew I must say that G_d would not condone it, therefore should we? I am so tempted to use the rather selfish argument that legalization would lead to tax income thereby reducing my burden, or more importantly that legalization would take away money from drug dealers which is true--but to what effect and at what price? Has America gone so far from its Judeo-Christian roots that we totally forget, or completely reject and fail to acknowledge that G_d Himself disdains that which would so harm ourselves, or more importantly others? We must stand firm in the face of evil, and not bend to the temptations of expedience. It is true that the war against drugs is failing, but not because that war is unjust--a war that declares America's resolve to cast away people that would erode our moral resolve; a war that is declared on all drugs whose primary purpose is to make us feel "high" and gives us the escape from the reality we must face if we are to succeed as individuals.
Yes, my argument is based on my belief in G_d--isn't that the way we are supposed to make our decisions, based on moral principle and not secular and amoral dilusion?
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Posted 7:34am August 16th, 2009All of the "Side Effects" of marijuana sound exactly like those of alcohol and many prescription and even over the counter drugs. One major difference is, I have never heard of anyone being high on marijuana and getting into a bar fight, beating their spouses and children, or becoming violent at all. That sounds pretty benign to me.
The resources wasted on fighting the "Killer Weed" could be better spent on education and rehabilitation of those engaged in more dangerous drug activities, like tobacco.
Taxing it won't work because then as now, people will go for the cheaper "bootleg" alternatives as they do now with DVD's music, and yes, tobacco. We've already created a wealthy criminal class with our drug policies, why perpetuate it?
GG Giddens
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Posted 10:20pm August 15th, 2009Yes
bessersue
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Posted 7:35am August 15th, 2009No way should marijuana be legalized. It is the fortunate minority who get away with few side-effects. I have been around many, many pot smokers in my life, the vast majority of whom have been adversely affected by smoking weed.
It frays concentration (or removes it completely), causes forgetfulness, increases apathy, paranoia, slows down reaction times, and generally leaves a major footprint on your personality. I'm one of the folk who was around in the 60s and can still remember it !
Just because alcohol and tobacco are major political toys and therefore have not been prohibited is no argument.
It isn't so much that the government should or should not tell us what to do, as the fact that the after-effects of smoking dope impacts on other people and the public purse just as badly as tobacco and alcohol.
Three wrongs do not make a right. ( And I believe in having a damn good time - this is not a rehearsal)
Matilda
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Posted 10:20am August 14th, 2009I am opposed to legalizing marijuana. Addiction is a national problem! Why would we, as a nation, support legalizing marijuana while we are recognizing the negative impact of nicotine and restricting its use?
libra29
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Posted 10:57pm August 13th, 2009This is really a no brainer! It should be legalized...just treat it like cigarette smoking - that's not illegal yet it is prohibited almost everyplace!!! Plus, we would make all kinds of money saved. And, like another said, liquor isn't illegal, but most of us don't go crazy with it! Yes, yes, yes, make it legal. I'm sure we won't though because there's got to be all kinds of "higher ups" who make money on it and won't allow it!
Judles
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Posted 10:40pm August 13th, 2009Absolutely. I don't think the government or YOU should tell me what I can or not do recreationally. It is my choice. Look what happened when we tried to criminalize liquor. I don't think the government should be in my house.
One week of legalization and the national debt would be paid off totally.
The foolish laws which make criminals out of users and demand so much money and attention from our police could be definitely put to better use.
It's time the self=righteous people who are so quick to point fingers, realize that three point back to themselves. It's time for people to MYOB.
Perhaps if we stop being distracted by what "other" people are doing we could pay more attention to the things that are more important like managing our money, our business and what's important in our world.
Just my 2 cents worth
tricialou
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Posted 7:43pm August 13th, 2009Yes, it should be legalized! Take the profit from the illegal dealers. This would reduce drug related crimes & keep a select few from getting rich
DON'T give control to the Government! They have managed to royally SCREW things up as it is.
GrittyGranny1
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Posted 7:19pm August 13th, 2009Recreational drug use is not acceptable behavior. Use for medicinal purposes could be allowed.
Carol Shriver
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Posted 5:48pm August 13th, 2009There are several liquor stores in my neighborhood. I could walk into any of them, buy a big bottle of vodka, and drink myself into oblivion, but I have never done this, and never would.