DeletedUser
Guest
I would like to start by saying I am pro-legalize, but I am myself NOT a stoner and have not smoked in over a year. I would really like to hear peoples' reasoning to keep the "drug" illegal. I can't really see one good reason to keep it illegal that doesn't have a better one to legalize it. I do not want to hear ONLY people's opinions, but facts, economical theories, health concerns, and then maybe peoples' opinions based on those. I had watched one of the best documentaries I have ever seen called "The Union: The Business of Getting High". It has very compelling arguments for legalization that I will be summarizing. I highly recommend it to anyone who is at all interested in the subject for or against.
A quick summary of facts forming the basis of my pro-legalize stance:
-Since it's first recorded history there has not been one reported death due to the direct use of marijuana; less than Advil, coffee, and peanuts.
-The U.S. government spends millions every year fighting the war on drugs and keeps more than 600,000 citizens in prison on marijuana related charges.
-Without government regulation, and distribution gone underground, it is far easier for children to get there hands on it. Most dealers do not discriminate against age, whoever has the $$ gets the product.
-It's illegal status causes its price to inflate, making it highly valuable; providing income for many violent street gangs.
-It is the only known cure for glaucoma and has many other medicinal uses such as relief for cancer victims going through radiation treatment; stimulating appetite and suppressing depression.
-On top of expending large sums of money to suppress it, the U.S. government forgoes large tax revenues that could be put into more meaningful pursuits such as health care and infrastructure.
A quick summary of facts forming the basis of my pro-legalize stance:
-Since it's first recorded history there has not been one reported death due to the direct use of marijuana; less than Advil, coffee, and peanuts.
-The U.S. government spends millions every year fighting the war on drugs and keeps more than 600,000 citizens in prison on marijuana related charges.
-Without government regulation, and distribution gone underground, it is far easier for children to get there hands on it. Most dealers do not discriminate against age, whoever has the $$ gets the product.
-It's illegal status causes its price to inflate, making it highly valuable; providing income for many violent street gangs.
-It is the only known cure for glaucoma and has many other medicinal uses such as relief for cancer victims going through radiation treatment; stimulating appetite and suppressing depression.
-On top of expending large sums of money to suppress it, the U.S. government forgoes large tax revenues that could be put into more meaningful pursuits such as health care and infrastructure.