Marijuana should be legalized for both Medicinal and Recreational use

I see eye to eye on some of those points but as stated they're some fundamental differences in both of our arguments. 1. This is in relation to your argument in which you state "laws should be changed to punish high drivers in the same way that drunk drivers are punished. " I disagree heavily with this statement, while I recognize that driving while under the influence of Marijuana poses some danger compared to someone who is sober, comparing the punishment of Driving while high on Marijuana to driving while intoxicated on Alcohol is a lot worse. Numerous studies from different organisation that the effects on driving while intoxicated from Marijuana are relatively benign. A study from researchers based at Hartford Hospital reveals that marijuana has little effect on the group's simulated driving skills, but did find drivers were more easily distracted under the influence. This is significant in which it is not the effects of Marijuana it self that poses the most risk while under the influence, rather the actions of those while driving, now why make the penalty just as severe for someone driving under the influence for something they might do that causes them to be distracted. If this is the case than shouldn't the drivers who get distracted by the radio, or putting make up on be penalized on the same level? My point being, while driving under the influence is as safe as driving sober obviously; the penalty should not be up there with Driving under the influence of Alcohol. The test included "Volunteers responded to various simulated events, which were associated with automobile crash risk. Those risks included a driver who was entering an intersection illegally, deciding to stop or go through a changing traffic light, responding to a presence of emergency vehicles, avoiding a collision with a dog who entered into traffic and maintaining safe driving during an in-the-car distraction. " Reference; . http://www.wfsb.com... 2. "If legalized, marijuana would being to be mass-produced and large companies would soon dominate the market. " Marijuana is already mass produced in mass quantities, in fact studies find that Marijuana cultivation in the United States alone is valued at approximately $35 Billion, which far surpasses our other major cash crops such as Corn which is valued at approximately just $23 Billion. I agree with you that a major threat to the legalization is marketing from companies interested in making money, but that is not necessarily the case. Marijuana is a different case other than Tobacco. Tobacco companies must put in all those chemicals in their product because Tobacco itself in raw form is very harsh and practically nobody would smoke it, Marijuana is also very special as it can be easily cultivated by an individual also each plant may yield large quantities of Marijuana for the consumer; eliminating the need to buy from Tobacco-like companies marketing Marijuana. Government and Regulation is the key in safe Marijuana, Such as the medicinal Marijuana today in states across the United States that are tested for potency, quality, ect. The mass public is not going to buy a product with the same qualities similar to cigarettes in terms of Addiction, Harmfulness. Companies money would best be spent selling clean, potent Marijuana to stores instead of adding in harmful chemicals. Clean Marijuana would be available everywhere you go anyways so the only way big name Marijuana companies could survive is if they combine Convenience with Potency and Cleanliness, Marijuana is fine to smoke right off the plant after Drying and curing which eliminates the need to add harmful materials into it, it would just be wasted profit at the money they would already be making. 3. 4. "marijuana is by no means the only drug these black market cartels are responsible for. While legalizing marijuana would certainly decrease gang activity dealing with that particular drug, it would simply shift their focus to other drugs or illicit activities. " To a point I agree, then to a point I disagree. on October 18 when the Mexican Army and police seized 134 tons of marijuana, wrapped and ready to be smuggled from Tijuana across the border. This was estimated worth of $338 Million. While it is true that the Drug cartels would try to import heavier amounts of different narcotics such as Cocaine and Heroin, the drug market isn't as available as it is with Marijuana. Thus in turn severely crippling drug Cartels. As referenced on this link . http://www.druglibrary.org... which states that " 8,000,000 and 12,000,000 Americans had smoked marijuana at least once. " "25 percent (2,000,000 to 3,000,000 smokers) were "social users, smoking marijuana on occasion when it is available, usually in a group context. " and "The remaining 10 percent or less (800,000 to 1,200,000 marijuana smokers) "can be considered chronic users who devote significant portions of their time to obtaining and using the drug. " and as referenced in this article . http://www.thecyn.com... states "A 1997 study found that nearly 1.5 million people regularly abuse cocaine" While that study is outdated I recognize, one of the main reasons Marijuana is not smoked regularly by many Americans is the fact its illegal, legalization would bring more people to Smoke Marijuana thus increasing the amount of money the drug cartels lose compared to the margin they would be making on heavier drugs such as Cocaine and Heroin. Marijuana would make a very big dent in drug Cartel industry. 4. " The fact that alcohol is legal means it is generally permitted, and endorsing yet another intoxicant does not seem productive. " I generally agree with most of your argument in this section except the quote I just listed. Your statement is correct by logic, but you also are not thinking broader. They're many cannabis users who smoke/ingest Marijuana to genially enhance their senses, let them look at things in a different light, and also to have a good time. Most alcoholics tend to act rationally when under the influence and tend to do drastic things they wouldn't normally do, these side effects can be again enhanced with the use of many Medications to provide sometimes deadly results. I'm not going to turn this into a "Alcohol is legal so Marijuana should be too debate" I'm just stating that they're some people who use it for productive activities or to calm an illness they may have, but in many cases the legalization of Cannabis can cause a safer alternative for those who go to drinking as an alternative to breaking the law. But like I said I pretty much agree with most of what my opponent said their I was just making my view clear. All the points I did not hit are because I have very similar beliefs to you.