Should they legalize marijuana due to its benefits?

I Was researching it in School..
Marijuana Is Actually very helpful plant.
The Oil From ONE SEED can Fuel a Car.
And It has been used for years in Medical Insituttions.
The Crime Rate Has also Shot Up Since They made the Drug Illegal.

Should they Legalize It In the States,Given You must be 18+?

yes they should

No they shouldn't. (unless it was only to legalize it for prescription only medicinal purposes)

We have enough problems with potheads... could you even imagine how it would be if it were legalized? No one would work!

'oil' for fuel does not come from a seed of hemp. You have to understand how ethanol fuel is produced. Yes marijuana can be used to make ethanol fuel but so can
sugar cane, bagasse, miscanthus, sugar beet, sorghum, grain sorghum, switchgrass, barley, kenaf, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava, sunflower, fruit, molasses, corn, stover, grain, wheat, straw, cotton, other biomass, as well as many types of cellulose waste and harvestings, whichever has the best well-to-wheel assessment. SO it's not exactly the only alternative to gasoline.

in my opinion, I think the question should be: is it detremental or beneficial to society as a whole ?

The drug laws do more harm than good. Our prisons are bursting at the seams because of the long mandatory sentences non-violent drug offenders receive. Prrsions are literally letting murderers and rapists out early to make room for drug offenders.

Drug laws keep the price of drugs so high that addicts have to turn to crime to support their habit. The high prices also mean high profits which attract some very unsavory characters to the trade.

As far as the non-drug uses of the hemp plant; yes this is a very useful plant. There are varieties of hemp that have been bread to be so low in THC that someone would have to smoke a whole field of it to cop a buz. We can make clothes, fuel, paper, oil, and other things from hemp plants. Regardless of drug laws our farmers should be able to grow these breeds of hemp since the plant is so useful and economical to grow; our current laws do not allow this though.

If recreational drugs were legal they could be taxed and when sold through legal chanels it would be more difficult for kids to get hold of them. Since all drug sales are illegal pushers make no distinction between selling to adults and minors.

I can see the both sides of the discussion...Marijuana will more than likely never be legalized though for the simple fact it is known as 'the gateway drug'. The point would be argued that if you legalized the drug that it would open people up to doing others.

LEGALIZE IT

Even at lower doses marijuana impairs attention and coordination and affects the way the mind processes information. Because of these effects marijuana use has contributed to automobile, household, and occupational accidents, resulting in harm to the user and to others. High doses of marijuana may result in image distortion, loss of personal identity, and hallucinations.

The abuse of marijuana also can cause serious physical and mental problems including frequent respiratory infections, impaired memory and learning ability, increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks. Individuals who regularly abuse the drug may experience the same problems as tobacco smokers including cough, phlegm, chronic bronchitis, and frequent chest colds. In addition, because marijuana contains toxins and carcinogens marijuana smokers increase their risk of cancer of the head, neck, lungs, and respiratory tract.

What You May Not Know

Some people may think that smoking a joint is just a 'mellow' way to relax. They don't realize that using marijuana can cause

memory problems
reduced concentration and coordination
increased appetite
decreased inhibitions
bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, and dry throat
lower testosterone levels and sperm counts in men
increased testosterone in women, which can cause acne and increased facial and body hair
paranoia
diminished or complete loss of sexual pleasure
psychological dependence so that over time, more of the drug is needed to get the same effect.
Damage

Marijuana smokers face the same cancer risks as tobacco smokers, even though they may smoke only a few joints a day compared to a pack or more of cigarettes. Damage from smoking pot includes

deteriorating performance at school or at work
experiencing a 'burn out' characterized by muddled thinking, acute frustration, depression, and isolation
impaired sexual development and fertility, including production of abnormal sperm and menstrual irregularities
damage to lungs and pulmonary system (one marijuana joint is equal to approximately 25 commercial cigarettes)
exposure to illegal drug culture.

NO!

NO!

Definately not. It is a mind alterning drug, and if it were to be used for medicine then only prescribed by a doctor. What good is a stoned nation???

Actually the answer to this question isn't a simple yes or no. For myself I feel that we should allow the products made from Marijuana to be sold.While the drug aspect of the plant to remain illegal. There is so much good that can come from the plant, and to not use it just doesn't make much sense. After all, we manufacture many helpful drugs from the coca plant. The same is true for opium.

It should be partially legalized.

Good point Goran.

it really is a lot better for you than lets say drinking or smoking ciggarettes.

I agree with jello. I think that marijuana should be legalized, and I would go as far as saying alcohol should have never been taken out of prohibition. If you put the pros and cons of these two drugs side by side you will see a huge disparity. The number of deaths alone that alcohol causes per year outweighs almost every con of marijuana. There are going to be irresponsible people in this world that abuse anything they can, but the worst that can happen from abusing marijuana is possibly passing out. If you look in any neighborhood in the U.S. you will find an alcoholic that has done harmful things to society because of their legal high. It seems hypocritical to have a terrible drug like alcohol not only legal but even personified as cool and at the same time have another like marijuana illegal and synonymous with being a lazy loser.

I used meth for 3 years and smoking mary jane wasn't nearly as bad. I have a lot of friends that say weed came from god because it's on the earth and he put if here. meth is a manmade drug so it's not okay. Here's what I think...if we are getting into the whole God put in on the earth thing then that's wrong too becasue actually God and Satin put things on the earth...flys..satin...mean people...satin...etc...I'm going to try to say I don't like weed...I'm actually 2 years clean from it now. But a drug is a drug is a drug and if it impairs your ability to think then it's a drug.

maybe decriminalize it or even legalize like they do in holland. not such a radical step but in the right direction
as with the tax on cigaretes and tobacco tthe revenue would be a great incentive
I for one am wary of walking through town when nightclubs or pubs are closing but the people that I know smoke cannabis are quite docile.
alcohol causes more problems in terms of violence and anti-social behaviour, maybe even medically with liver didease but im not an expert

Good point Joanne223, really the only thing it should be used for is medical use because I've seen it help many patients; on the other hand, if your just a dumb kid smoking it all the time, sleeping, eating, missing appointments, school, driving stoned; I did them all, and you know what, I'm glad I don't anymore because it's not only dangerous when your driving on it, but it's such a waste of time and a waste of the wonderful life everyone is blessed with.

I think marijuana should be legalized because it has many different reasons for helping people not only in terminally ill cases but for everyday use. My study has revealed that marijuana can slow down cancer causing cells by 35 percent to 45 percent...yes it has down falls like short term memory loss ect... Now if it were to be legalized the govenment would save more than $100 billion a year in court processions and inprsionment.. we could focus that money on helping our country out, starting with the many homless people on the streets, we could get those homless people some help for their addiction wether it is alcohol or drugs..as of right now the governmet spends $100billion of out taxes for drug related crimes their are many other options we can spend that money on..the opinion of where we should spend the money on is up to you...so im for legaliztion of marijuana and marijuana only

Mind altering?? True, but doesn't Alcohol do the same??
Both can make you not want to work, or do anything, both impaires your ability to drive, but I dont think I KNOW pot should be legal. It's helps me see better, helped my mom relax during Chemo when she was scared to death about getting it, Helped my depression, Increases blood flow (that's why when you smoke it, your eyes get red and squinty), and it's a natural herb. In the bible it says we are suppose to eat every natural herb. My mom argued and said 'God put poison ivy on earth, does that mean we can eat it' no, but it's not a herb. Atleast, I dont think it is. Who knows, you might could eat it, but I wouldn't. Now, as far as Meth/Coke and other hardcore drugs go, I'm not for it. I've experienced just so I could say what I think about it. And I dont believe that Ice and coke are drugs that should be legalized. Especially when coke makes you numb for no more than 15 mins and that's really all it's suppose to do. It's stupid in my opinion. Anyways, sorry I got off track, Legalize Mary and this pot head will be happy.

To legalize bud would bring a new 'stereotype' of pot heads and would be nationally and globally accepted in the future years to come. Also lets just say nobody then wants to be doctors, but I'm sure just as many would, they would take time to realize what is important for them in their life. There would be no dulling of the person's expertise or desire to learn or love of wisdom, which vary amongst each individual, it would still be present. The detailed measure of this aspect will only be fine-tuned and we will stray less from what is capitalism and more to what is necessary. If more people are lethargic and doing the least they can do, they will be enjoying themselves more and come to realization of self-enlightenment. When this is reached your means of relative importance become accustomed to dealing with problems in a more sense-able fashion. You will soon see.

To legalize bud would bring a new 'stereotype' of pot heads and would be nationally and globally accepted in the future years to come. Also lets just say nobody then wants to be doctors, but I'm sure just as many would, they would take time to realize what is important for them in their life. There would be no dulling of the person's expertise or desire to learn or love of wisdom, which vary amongst each individual, it would still be present. The detailed measure of this aspect will only be fine-tuned and we will stray less from what is capitalism and more to what is necessary. If more people are lethargic and doing the least they can do, they will be enjoying themselves more and come to realization of self-enlightenment. When this is reached your means of relative importance become accustomed to dealing with problems in a more sense-able fashion. You will soon see.

Marijuana makes certain cells hyper-active and more prone to experienced pleasure through less activity. Which over-time makes you dependent on the rate of pleasure. This can lead to burn-out. However, this is all reverse-able harm, not damage, to cells. Over the course of 3 years your memory, and cognitive control/function will be as what it should/used to be.

I cannot delete my double post?

I think it should be legilized, the cons some people are talkin bout would not be cons, you dont drink and drive so why do you think you could smoke and drive? if it was legalized I think its safe to say that peolple would still fulfil their ambitions, when drunk you lose all inabitions but most people still go to college and uni, yes you can get paranoid but if it was legal the social pressure to smoke would not be there so you wouldnt smoke it. it should be legalized with same restrictions as alchol, that would prevent most of the so-called cons.

First off, yes, I think it should be legal. I just want to say a few things. The argument that pot is a 'gateway' drug is ridiculous. I don't know anyone that smoked a joint before they ever drank a beer or smoked a cig. I don't remember the exact statistics but I know that MILLIONS more people smoke pot than do cocaine or heroin. What? How can that be? Shouldn't all of those pot smokers be shooting or snorting up? Ridiculous...

The argument over causing cancer like cigs is no longer valid either. Many people now use vaporizers which release the thc w/o the carcinogens that are released while smoking.

'We have enough problems with potheads... could you even imagine how it would be if it were legalized? No one would work!' What problems? Cheeto shortage? No one would work? I've been smoking pot for 25 years, I'm a software engineer that always has more days of vacation and sick days left at the end of the year than what I have taken. Am I a great, productive employee? My managers have always thought so and let me know it.

Yeah because if they don't they might as well take away alcohol and other prescription pills from people who need them becuase those are drugs too. and when pills can kill you marijuana doesn't, 4 times less then a cigarette.

I dont think they should leagalize pot now hold on

I belive that they should decriminalize it though they could tax the the thing and make it illegal to drive on it because I dont care what you say it dose impare you and you can only have so much at a time and hey to keep it away from kids put a puchess age because I dont know bout you but when I was younger pot was easyer to get than cigarttes becuse a dealer dose not know or care what age you are

oh im 18 and been smokin for 7 years come on 85% of americans smoke on a average basis lets rise up

wow people need to reasearch their facts before they talk. Why do people with closed minds open their mouths?

1) Marijuana Is A 'Gateway' Drug It Leads To Hard Drugs myth

This is one of the more persistent myths. A real world example of what happens when marijuana is readily available can be found in Holland.

The Dutch partially legalized marijuana in the 1970s. Since then, hard drug use, heroin and cocaine, have DECLINED substantially.

If marijuana really were a gateway drug, one would have expected use of hard drugs to have gone up, not down.

This apparent 'negative gateway' effect has also been observed in the United States.

Studies done in the early 1970s showed a negative correlation between use of marijuana and use of alcohol.

A 1993 Rand Corporation study that compared drug use in states that had decriminalized marijuana versus those that had not, found that where marijuana was more available, the states that had decriminalized, hard drug abuse as measured by emergency room episodes decreased.

In short, what science and actual experience tell us is that marijuana tends to substitute for the much more dangerous hard drugs like alcohol, cocaine, and heroin.