Should marijuana be legalized?

Topic:
Health Debates

26 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
85% of users

  • I completely agree.

    Arresting someone for the possesion of marijuana is just a waste of jail space. Even if it never becomes legal, its not like people will ever stop doing it any way. The people of this country will find a way to use it legal or not.

    Yes Anonymous

  • of all the pain meds we have created look at the side effects

    no one has ever had a serious side effect from smoking or eating marijuana. i have seen friends on it and only side effect was they ate alot of cheedos, sat around and made funny jokes. iv never seen someone turn violent or hatful from it. we take meds that need meds to counteract the meds we took. god is the best doc ever. a naturaly grown plant that helps pain, makes clothing,textiles and so on... stop putting people who smoke a tree in prison where murders , rapest,and pedafiles belong. its not what goes into a person that makes them who they are, its who they choose to be smoker or not. prison is for evil people to reflect on mistakes. not for people who enjoy their lives, hurtting no one.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Yes, there are worse legal things than marijuana.

    Alot of people already smoke marijuana with it being illegal and as there are more crimes. Marijuana is actually not bad for you and can in fact be good for you. Legal stuff like alcohol and cigarettes are actually way worse for you than marijuana and yet marijuana is illegal. I think people have the right to smoke marijuana if they want.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Yes, I agree that marijuana should be legalized because I feel it will save the US economy.

    Yes, I agree that marijuana should be legalized because I feel it will save the US economy. First off, so many people smoke it. Second, even though their are health repercussions, it is less harmful than alcohol because people relax and do nothing in general when they partake of marijuana. The nation could reap the economic benefits if it is legalized and taxed like cigarettes.

    Yes SecondNoel50

  • Id rather have all the freedom in the world and not be safe than to have all the safety in the world and not be free

    what people put into there own bodies is thier own business if you want to eat castor beans its your own business and to respond to the second opposing argument everything you just said can be from alcohol also,and i am not selfish because i believe in freedom for everyone no matter what thier drug of choice is and people driving high are no where near as dangerous as people driving drunk, alcohol also slows down your reflexes and im well aware of what im doing when im high, so your argument is pointless and how often do you see accidents where the user was high at the time, not very often, you hear more about drunk drivers. People that smoke pot aren't going to be showing up to work high everyday if pot was legal the same rules would apply as alcohol you would get fired if you came to work high. and making marijuana legal wouldn't make it more accessible to minors, if a minor walked up to a drug dealer right now and said can i buy some weed he's not going to say can i see your ID he going to sell the minor the drug and make an untaxed income for himself but if we put it in gas stations or something the minor would walk up to the cashier (not drug dealers with guns) and ask can i buy some weed and the cashier will say can i see your ID and the minor wont be able to buy it. but if someone of age bought some he would also pay taxes on it and the drug cartels won't be the ones profiting there will be companies like marlboro who grow and sell the product instead.

    Yes Anonymous

  • While marijuana is bad for one's health, the social benefits of legalizing it outweigh the drawbacks

    Legalizing marijuana can be very good and very bad. I believe the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Reaping the tax revenues would greatly benefit the government (especially California's). The substance would be subject to FDA regulations. Furthermore, it'd reduce organized crime and allow our officers to focus on bigger things. This isn't to say that I support the use of marijuana at all. It leads to quicker development of bullous lung disease, can lead to bronchial cells becoming pre-cancerous (meaning an increased risk of cancer), and has addictive properties (the fact that it is only mentally addictive doesn't mean jack. It is still a craving for an abnormal neurotransmitter). Also, its smoke is chemically nearly identical to tobacco smoke (so kids, if you have to use marijuana, make sure to be eating your brownies instead of smoking a joint).

    Yes Anonymous

  • Marijuana should be legalized because it will lose its luster and its effect on the drug trade.

    Marijuana should be legalized for two main reasons. First, there are those who benefit from the use of medical marijuana such as patients with glaucoma. These patients need access to the substance for their health and well-being. Second, making marijuana legal will take away its allure and allow law enforcement to focus on bigger drug issues such as methamphetamine.

    Yes WardGrad

  • People are doing it anyway; the government may as well get the benefits of taxing it.

    No doubt marijuana is not good for you. But neither are alcohol and cigarettes and as long as they are allowed to be legal, why not marijuana? Legalizing it would free up law enforcement for more serious offenses. Also the government could tax and regulate the selling of it and help decrease our crushing national deficit.

    Yes NettN355

  • Marijuana should be legalized in order to regulate it.

    Currently marijuana is consumed by a wide variety of people and the stigma associated with it leads to uninformed consumers. Legal marijuana could be controlled for content, monitored for use and distribution, and taxed for revenue. Different levels of the drug could be created to further benefit different niches. Also industry officials would become responsible for educating consumers on the dangers of the drug much like cigarette manufactures are required to do.

    Yes Ment0n3

  • I am in favor of the legalization of marijuana because it will create important tax benefits for the country

    I'm in favor of legalizing marijuana, which will allow the government to tax it's production and sale. California is currently in financial crisis, and the tax benefits of legalized marijuana would be good for the state. Taxing luxury items is beneficial as the government attempts to create incentives to revive the economy. In addition, alcohol is legal, and it's more destructive than marijuana.

    Yes 5h4bbyByron

  • Yes, marijuana should be legalized because it is less harmful than tobacco and would bring in tax revenue for the government.

    Yes, marijuana should be legalized because it is less harmful than tobacco according to many studies and the government could tax it and bring in needed revenue to pay down the national debt. It would also ease the overcrowding problems in our prisons.

    Yes MycCra2ii

  • I believe marijuana should be legalized as it is less dangerous than alcohol.

    I believe marijuana does less damage to individuals and society as a whole than does the legal drug alcohol. Thousands of people die each year in the U.S. from alcohol related accidents; the same cannot be said for marijuana. Alcohol is accepted, while marijuana is not, which is very odd and leads to dangerous decision making.

    Yes balathea

  • Marijuana should be legalized for its health benefits and because it can be used responsibly.

    Marijuana has been used for many years for making hemp products. Cannabis is used for its health benefits as opposed to tobacco which doesn't have a single benefit for usage. Marijuana treats glaucoma, eating disorders, anxiety, and depression. Everyone can be a responsible user of marijuana and not someone who sits around on it and does nothing constructive.

    Yes waffletime

  • Marijuana should be legalized as an additional revenue source for our country.

    With the economy currently downhill, legalizing and taxing marijuana could provide additional income to the government. It would also create jobs, as there would have to be people growing, processing, and distributing it. There would also be a need for specialty stores to sell the product. Marijuana is not a hard drug and in some other countries, has been decriminalized. Even California decided marijuana is not so evil, and may have some benefits. Oakland took it a step further by becoming the first city to tax medical marijuana, and is leading the way for legalization.

    Yes G3l0Life

  • Marijuana should be legalized, taxed and controlled in distribution to ensure quality.

    The failed "war on drugs" is a silly waste of time and law enforcement resources, especially the time and money spent on enforcing marijuana laws. Keeping it illegal has only encouraged organized criminal activity which is ultimately more dangerous than the drug itself. Making it legal would allow it to be taxed and distributed safely rather than risking dealing with criminals and shady characters to obtain. In the general scheme of problems facing this country, marijuana seems relatively harmless and of little interest. It is not a gateway drug but seeking it out from criminals may lead dealers to introduce the "customer" to drugs that are.

    Yes vempyrik 66

  • I believe no harm would come from legalization of marijuana.

    Unless there is evidence that I have not seen, marijuana is less dangerous to the body than alcohol or cigarettes. These are both legal. Our police officers and court systems are wasting too much of their time fight these petty criminals when they could be solving murder and rape cases. Legalization would also give the government a chance to tax substances, which would greatly increase revenue for state and federal budget.

    Yes EIIioChatty

  • I think Marijuana should Marijuana be legalized due to the sheer number of people that are doing it.

    Unfortunately, far to many people use or have used Marijuana at some point in their life. Due to this fact society is faced with a problem much like it faced with alcohol during Prohibition. Not only would legalizing it reduce the strain on our over burdened court and prison systems and make room for the more violent offenders, but it could also eliminate some of the money that is going in to the pockets of drug dealers.

    Yes N4th4Kenka

  • Marijuana should be legalized for the greater good of society.

    Marijuana should be legalized most simply because of the tax revenue it could produce in easing the strains on the national economy. The cost associated with the criminal justice system to police and prosecute individuals for minor Marijuana violations is outrageous in comparison to any minor peripheral negative implications of use.

    Yes ThegaXen

  • Marijuana should be legalized because it is a natural product and harmless.

    Marijuana is milder than alcohol and hasn't ever killed anyone just from smoking it. What kills is the stupidity exhibited while using it, like driving under the influence. Also, because it is natural, there are other components within it that suppress any harmful effects, which is that case for all natural products if used without processing. Synthetic medicines are much more dangerous because one element has been removed from the plant therefore the natural antidotes to the harmful effects are no longer present.

    Yes Nik0Interior

  • It should be legalized to make it safer, to curb drug trafficking.

    I think legalizing marijuana would be acceptable since there are so many users and there have been no studies to indicate that it is harmful in the long run. However, if it was legal, more intensive studies could be done to see if it is a carcinogenic when you smoke it. It could be made safer to use, and it would cut down on the illegal drug trafficking in this country too.

    Yes PinkMych

  • At this point, the criminalization of marijuana is causing more problems than its use.

    Fifty years or so into the war on drugs, one would think that we could tolerate a cost/benefit analysis of our current policies. Clearly society continues to advance and prosper despite a certain percentage (perhaps in the single digits) of regular marijuana users. Although it is probably true that some percentage of marijuana users do end up using more serious drugs that cause more harm to others in society, it should also be deemed clear by now that marijuana use does not lead to the ruin of society. But the costs of conducting the war against drugs, particularly the current lawlessness along the Mexican border, does seem to be a direct result of our policies. So it is time to try another policy path.

    Yes SweetieSkipp

  • Marijuana absolutely should be legalized.

    The benefits of Marijuana are endless, especially for medicinal purpose. Legalization and taxation would add billions of dollars to our suffering economy, and help those who have chronic illnesses. Also, i have used marijuana in the past and found it can cure a hangover 100% of the time, a trait that would be worth billions if marketed correctly.

    Yes esmond10
Voice Your Opinion
No
15% of users

  • bad mental and physical health problems!

    Marijuana can lead to misusage of it and it can lead to using bigger and harder drugs.If we do legalize it for the ill than it could cause terrible side affects for them. The drug can also cause schizophrenia, and depression.

    No Anonymous

  • It's bad for your health.

    If you want to smoke marijuana you are a pot head and you want to smoke it up all day and not get in trouble. You are an outlaw and want it to be right to do something stupid and get high. You are probably an outlaw running from the law and don't want to get caught.

    No Anonymous

  • No the legalizing of pot will not help anyone in our society.

    Most people on this debate say yes. They must be selfish indiviuals and only say yes because they use it. I do not know if pot actually helps ill folks, maybe it does. But there are many pain releivers already on the market. Why choose pot ? If I was an employer and my employees show up high they would be out of there. I have already seen this happen recently at a car factory. Is this why we have so mnay damn recalls ? You think I want to be on the road driving and some one high on pot is out there driving ? Pot slows down your reflexes and you are not aware of what the hell is going on. You want other folks killed on the roads ? I think not. You want an air trafiic controller keeping watch over planes in the sky ? You want the workforce to be high all the time while TRYING TO DO THEIR JOB ? A lot of jobs require a lot of concentration. One thing overlooked in whatever job it is you are doing coudl be a disaster for others, quality control, etc. Think about it. How bout engineers designing a big building, they pick the wrong grade steel and years later the building fails and collaps. There are so many things out there that could be affected. Use you head and think about it.

    No Anonymous

  • I oppose the legalization of marijuana because it should remain a drug that is not easily obtainable.

    Many argue that marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes, but having had much physical pain in my life, I offer that there are more than enough drugs on the market to alleviate any pain. Many of these pain killers already have traces of cocaine. There is no need to add any drug to the list. Also, there is no need to make it easier for our youth to purchase it. Eventually, they will want something more potent.

    No TTrujillo13
Voice Your Opinion

Related Debates

Debate Topics

 
 
Should marijuana be legalized?
Top of Page
© 2010 Juggle, LLC
All Rights Reserved
Encyclopedia & Reference Resource