Should recreational use marijuana be made legal in the United States?

Topic:
U.S. Political Debates

23 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
70% of users

  • Recreational use should be legal...

    In college, I was required to write a research paper on marijuana and I was quite surprised at the results that I was able to come with. It has been scientifically proven that marijuana is NOT a gateway drug and has very minor addictive properties (LESS addictive than sugar and caffeine). Its nowhere near as harmful as tobacco and alcohol and it has been proven to actually increase the appetite and relieve pain for cancer patients. So, in my opinion it is unfair to allow the sale of alcohol and tobacco, which has been PROVEN to have more harmful effects on the human body. If you are willing to give up tobacco and alcohol then by all means vote no, but if you believe American deserve a choice and its well within our rights considering current policy, then vote yes... This new cash crop could provide thousands of jobs, practically eliminate the existence of marijuana violent crimes and the millions of dollars spent each year could be piped back in to the economy to reduce debt... WIN WIN... I don't necessarily agree with all of the hatred or negative comments but this America and everyone is entitled to be heard... Your words have more meaning and produce better results when you are mindful of others...

    Yes Anonymous

  • it should be legal

    People need to stop saying that it impairs your judgment while alcohol is way worse TomCutie are you stupid first of all the economy is based off people buying and do you honestley think a person incharge of a company would allow someone to come to work high? Go back to the drawing board and think of a bettter excuse. Danoneeo okay good point we should also make alcohol and tabacco illegal because they are potentally lethal or get rid of casinos because gambling is addictive Oh and MariaR hardcore is one word and you know what else is? Dictionary, maybe you should use one =)

    Yes Anonymous

  • YES

    the united states spends 46 billion a year on pot. that comes to 460 billion ever ten years. if we made pot legal and put a tax on it i can see our national debt cut in half in 10 years. also, alcohol kills 70,000 people each year but its still legal why???? Its just a PLANT and if you happen to smoke it has side effects. there has not been one death that could link pot to the cause of death. ALCOHOL KILLS< NOT POT!!!!!!!!!!! make it legal tax it and spend 46 billion a year on something more important rather then on a natural growing plant. Why do you think its called weed???

    Yes Anonymous

  • Marijuana should be legal

    I agree that Marijuana should be legal in the United States, Because it can help those patients that are in very bad pain. If we were to provide marijuana to these patients then that would stop pain from flowing in there system. The patients would be able to see there family's (if they have any)in not some much pain. Let's give it a chance,let's see if it will work here in the united states. If we an sell Tobacco all day Why not Marijuana?

    Yes Anonymous

  • If you don't know the answer to this, i want what you're smoking!

    Seriously though. Marijuana is the antithesis of a bad drug. It’s non toxic, you can ingest it all day long and nothing, absolutely nothing bad can happen to you. 0 deaths attributed to marijuana. Aspirin and banana peels should be illegal over marijuana. What a joke to even ask this question. Not to mention the agricultural side of it. We really have crazy insane lunatics running this place!

    Yes Anonymous

  • Marijuana Doesn't Ruin Lives, Laws Prohibiting Marijuana Do!

    Marijuana should be legalized because there is nothing wrong with it. Marijuana has no negative effects on the body or mind, and it has serious medicinal benefits. There has never been anyone ever who has overdosed on THC. Marijuana is perceived as a gateway drug because either people WANT to do harder drugs in the first place and just use marijuana as a stepping stone, or people use marijuana and realize that there is nothing wrong with it, question why it is illegal and become curious as to what else the government has banned that is good and thus experiment with other illegal drugs. As ALBERT EINTEIN said: "The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this." Legalizing weed would do wonders for the economy, because marijuana IS ALREADY THE BIGGEST CASH CROP IN THE UNITED STATES, and the government could tax it and make massive profit. Not to mention that the government spends an average of $15.7 BILLION on the war on drugs and IN ADDITION state and local government spend $16 BILLION MORE every year to enforce drug laws, and marijuana prohibition enforcement costs American taxpayers between $7.5 and $10 BILLION annually. The illegality of marijuana is PREPOSTEROUS and POINTLESS. As the United States Supreme Court says, "It is not the function of our Government to keep the citizen from falling into error; it is the function of the citizen to keep the Government from falling into error." The hemp plant is also one of the most useful plants on Earth. Hemp is unparalleled in it's paper products and textiles, and can also be used for medicines, essential oils, nutritional supplements, livestock feed, and is a renewable source of FUEL. Not to mention the fact that it ENRICHES THE SOIL THAT IT GROWS IN. Look in to the facts. It's time to end marijuana prohibition.

    Yes Anonymous

  • yes tax dollars are being wasted

    14 billion is being spent on the war against weed andif we tax it we will be making almost double back. also its no worst than beer because any drug an be abused. this is probabl the safest because no one has ever over doesed from it.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Recreational marijuana is akin to cigarettes and alcohol and should be legal to possess and use.

    The criminalization of marijuana costs the United States billions of dollars in court costs, criminal trials and law enforcement. The drug trade is directly influencing the drug wars in Mexico that have led to tens of thousands of murders. 60% of all US prisoners are in jail for drug offenses, most of those marijuana possession. This is an undue strain on society. Also, if marijuana was legal, it could be taxed as an added revenue stream.

    Yes SlyHymie

  • Medical benefits. Tax benefits.

    People who want to smoke weed... WILL smoke weed. Legal or not. It has been proven over and over... the "doorway" drug theory is bogus. Look everyone... our government owes its creditors over $60,000 for each LEGAL citizen (since MOST illegals do not pay TAXES they are completely worthless in this consideration). The FED GOV needs all the help they can get.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Let me address the arguments against it.

    Let me address some of the more prevalent arguments against marijuana: (1) Peoples judgement, (2) Lazy, (3) Corrupt children. (1) Peoples judgement will be impaired. I would argue that marijuana is more similar to alcohol than it is to cocaine. And if its regulated in a similar way, then its consequences will be similar. For decades, Americans have consumed alcohol responsibly. Alcohol hasn't turned society into this raging monster that only vaguely resembles who we used to be. Instead, most Americans enjoy alcohol responsibly. Perhaps a glass of wine with dinner? (2) Marijuana will make people lazy. I would argue again that marijuana will make people lazy to the same extent that alcohol makes people lazy. Just because marijuana is legal doesn't mean that everyone will just get high all the time and lose all their drive. People that are driven in life are that way for a reason. They didn't let anyone or anything get in the way of accomplishing their goal. Legalizing marijuana isn't going to change that. (3) Legalizing marijuana will corrupt our children. That is a ridiculous argument because laws will NOT legalize marijuana for children, only for ADULTS. It will be regulated in exactly the same way alcohol is with exactly the same consequences. You will not be allowed to drive a car while under the influence and you can still get a ticket for disorderly conduct if youre high in public. Lastly, if marijuana is legalized and all my arguments turn out to be wrong, we can always re-criminilize it. Very similar to alcohol's legal, then illegal, then legal history.

    Yes Anonymous

  • Yes. Stop the violence against the weed and relegalize hemp too.

    Why have war against the peace pipe ? Why is a plant that can feed, clothe and shelter a person against the law ? Hemp is a schedule one drug mistaken for marijuana by congress. All hemp products are imported. Hemp is the only crop successfully out-lawed, while, "Proud Mary Keeps on Burning".

    Yes Anonymous

  • Marijuana is a useful herb, it's less dangerous than cigarettes, and no one has ever died from and overdose of marijuana,

    First of all, if marijuana was legalized, it could be taxed (which the federal government would like). No one has ever died from overdosing on marijuana as they have with hard drugs. Tobacco is a much more dangerous crop, both for the user and those around him, yet millions of pounds of tobacco are grown legally each year. Marijuana can be used to ease pain in certain medical conditions, and it's much less harmful than traditional painkillers. For all these reasons and more, I think marijuana should be legalized.

    Yes jaayfarley

  • Marijuana should be made legal in the United States for its medicinal properties.

    I agree that marijuana should be legal in the United States particularly because it has powerful medicinal properties for people with medical problems or those in pain. I also think that legalizing marijuana would help counter act gang violence within the illegal drug trade. It could also help stimulate some local economies if it were taxed like tobacco.

    Yes tadaoantonio

  • I think marijuana should be legalized in the United States because it is a live, growing plant, not a man-made substance.

    Marijuana is smoked by millions of people everyday. So is tobacco. Marijuana is planted and harvested and grows wild in some places. Tobacco is planted and harvested. Marijuana crops provide income and a means of supporting a family. Tobacco crops provide income and a means of supporting a family. No doubt if marijuana could be regulated by the United States government like tobacco, it would be fine to possess it!

    Yes TristaE

  • Yes, recreational use of marijuana should be legalized because people will use it anyway.

    Besides the fact that alcohol is so much worse (health and mentality wise) than marijuana, legalizing marijuana has very few negative effects. There will be a lot less drug trafficking and since it won't be as taboo, children are less likely to do it. Children like to do it because it is rebellious. If it is legal, it loses a lot of it's appeal.

    Yes I33Horray

  • I think marijuana should be made legal in the United States because currently the punishment does not fit the crime.

    Making marijuana illegal just ensures that our limited law enforcement resources are diverted away from fighting far more serious crimes. Marijuana is nearly harmless as a drug (similar to tobacco or alcohol) and too many resources are being used to combat it, at the expense of other, more serious crimes.

    Yes g0000ga
Voice Your Opinion
No
30% of users

  • Marijuana is the gateway drug whether people want to believe it or not.

    Recreational use of marijuana will only lead to a greater degree of drug addiction in the United States. Once we legalize recreational use of marijuana it is a slippery slope towards the legalization of other illegal drugs that are more hard core. The reason for this is that the high of marijuana will only satisfy the recreational user for so long before they look for something harder to continue that increasing need for a better fix. Once this happens people will begin pushing for legalization of these harder drugs to satisfy these needs.

    No MariaR

  • Nothing at all

    I have nothing to support my opinion, except Americans' constitutional rights in thy country whereas thy shall honor thy neighbor within the premises of the counter-productivity of the essential diabolic creatures of the sad sun, within the privileged republic of Nigeria. Thanks for reading, and hereby respecting my opinion and all that it implies. Viva los ducks!

    No Anonymous

  • Marijuana should not be made legal for recreational use because it will have drastic negative effects on the U.S. economy.

    Persons who are under the influence of narcotics like marijuana are not able to function in a manner that allows them to perform daily tasks needed for a job. Thus, this would be one reason why no one would want to hire them. Many people don't smoke the drug, or do less of it, because it is illegal and they are afraid of getting busted. But take away the fear, and you will see an increase in its use. That will make unemployment soar, and put the nation in horrible debt that has never been seen before. Taxes would not help either, as the cost to pay for the damage that will be inflicted would far exceed any amount that could possibly be raised by taxes from such a product.

    No TomCutie

  • No, recreational marijuana should not be legalized in the United States.

    In general, marijuana turns people into lazy, out-of-touch people. Marijuana impairs your ability to properly function as a member of society. Marijuana is a gateway drug; once marijuana is legalized, drug users will just move on to harder and more serious drugs. I do not think marijuana should be legalized under any circumstance.

    No OIi0IymPic

  • People have enough excuses to act stupid already!

    You cannot drive down any street in America without at least half the other drivers on cell phones. A certain percent of drivers have been drinking, some are sleep deprived, others are touching up their mascara-should we add smoking pot to the list of reasons these drivers are killing people?

    No MarsBIue

  • No, marijuana has too big of an effect on people's judgement.

    Marijuana seriously impairs peoples judgment. It makes their reflexes slower, and it alters their thinking. These are dangerous effects, especially when it comes to driving, taking care of dependents and performing important tasks. Smoking marijuana can even impairs someone's ability to walk and talk. It effects memory and perception. It would not be a good idea to give individuals the ok to walk around, in society with other individuals, high on marijuana.

    No MohaI0v35

  • Recreational use of marijuana should not be made legal as it is a narcotic and will ruin lives, especially those of impressionable and experimental youngsters.

    Marijuana is a narcotic which is just as addictive and potentially lethal as any other narcotic like heroin or cocaine. It can ruin lives of those who may get addicted to it and hence should not be made legal.

    No danoneeno
Voice Your Opinion

Related Debates

Debate Topics

 
 
Should recreational use marijuana be made legal in the United States?
Top of Page
© 2010 Juggle, LLC
All Rights Reserved
Encyclopedia & Reference Resource