Legalization of Marijauna

1. Who said it has to be smoked? There are several means of using marijuana: eating, vaporizing, brewing into drinks, and capsulizing the crystalized resins. "...Among these people, 1,421 cases of cancer were found, but marijuana use—defined as taking the drug on six or more occasions—appeared to increase only the risk of prostate cancer in men who did not smoke tobacco. No association was found between marijuana use and any other type of cancer, including cancers normally linked to tobacco smoking." * Marijuana and Medicine: The Science Beyond the Controversy, page 42 When consumed by means other than combustion (a.k.a "smoking" it) these toxins that have you so paranoid are not a factor. Vaporization, which is the process of heating up the matter enough to release the active ingredients without combusting it, allows people to achieve the quick results without sacrificing their health or smoking habit. Either way it should be their choice whether they smoke or not. The person knows why they smoke and whether it is worth it for them to keep doing it. Some people don't want to smoke, or don't like it, and that's perfectly fine. I just ask that you don't discriminate against those who do, whether recreationally or religiously. 2. That answer sounds like the garbage you hear from your sunday school teacher. It has good intentions behind it, but that statement is rather ignorant of reality. School kids today find that it is much easier to obtain marijuana than alcohol or cigarettes. I don't believe kids should smoke, and agree they are not mature enough to make that choice, but having marijuana criminalized doesn't make it harder to get. Legalization, just like with alcohol, can come with an age requirement ( and even mandatory classes in order to get an endorsement on your license). Honestly the temptation to get involved in criminal activity is what draws many kids to smoke weed. Once they smoke it, and like it, they will start to feel like their "tough", because they're doing something illegal. I know that sounds ridiculous, but that's about as complex as some children's thoughts get. Having it legalized actually reduces some of the appeal. 3. When marijuana is legalized smokers will grow their own weed. There is no money in taxing marijauna, or at least it's not easily enforceable, but you would save many local officer's time from the reduction in arrests (many of which are non-violent offenders). Tobacco companies would have competition, and those who want to manufacture high grade marijauna will sell it in the same manner as tobacco. Age limit, competing price with tobacco, in places tobacco is usually found. It is not unreasonable to ask that adults wishing to buy marijuana or grow it go through an informative class first before they get an endorsement to buy marijuana on their license. That will allow the public to make sure everyone is informed of the dangers so that each person, as a perfectly capable human being, can make their OWN DECISION about whether they smoke or not. 4. How can you say that the well-being of the economy is an excuse to take away a person's right to make their own choices? Legalization, as I have already pointed out, would spark heavy smokers to grow their own supply. They wouldn't spend a penny beyond growing costs (practically free outside) and would have more than they could ever smoke through. Right now people spend all their money on drugs because it costs so much per unit. The black market status of marijuana keeps the prices high, and this keeps marijuana smokers from saving as much money. 5. Are you insane? Crime is necessary for society? I can't believe I'M the one viewed as the head case. 6. Well those cops are people, and i don't see how their job makes them so much more important than those of us who work other jobs. When it is legal, they can grow their own too, just like everyone else. 700k people annually get arrested for cannibis violations. Obviously many americans (just the ones getting caught) don't agree with the current marijuana laws. 7. You really are foolish. That statement is a perfect example of how your blind ignorance is keeping you oppressed. It's when you're too foolish to even realize you're getting taken advantage of that you realize, you're crazy. Reason 1: Everyone knows that america is a land where you can practice your religion freely. There are some religions that use marijuana as a means to develop spiritually. Because marijuana smoking has become taboo these people are being discriminated against. Reason 2: The constitution says that it was written to protect a person's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Let me break this down for you. *Life There are many people in this world who are terminally ill. I'm sure you're well aware of the medical marijuana dispute. Well, with all medical evidence showing the benefits of marijuana aside, who the hell are you to take away their medicine when they are ALREADY DYING! You've described the dangers of marijuana vividly, but who cares when the patient (who is in pain, the very reason they are being RECOMMENDED THE DRUG BY A DOCTOR) is already dying from a degenerative illness. Again though, for things like glaucoma, vaporization would effectively eliminate your argument against medical marijuana. The prohibition on medical marijuana is a cruel way of torturing many of our terminally ill citizens of america. Many of these people fought for us in war. Liberty: I know you're going to laugh when I associate marijuana with liberty. But in this case you need to look at this a little more broadly. The marijuana issue is merely an example of how your ability to choose for yourself is being taken away. Too much power is given to the federal government, and locally the people are going unheard. If you cannot choose for yourself, then effectively you're letting someone else run your life for you. And you wonder why you're never truly happy america.. Pursuit of Happiness: This right guarantees that nobody will stop you from finding happiness. Now, don't even think about saying "Well what if happiness was killing people?!?!" or something along those lines. That is wrong, and that is wrong because it infringes on the rights of other people. Anything that does not violate the rights of others should be your right to pursue. It doesn't matter if you approve of jmarijuana or not, as it is not your happiness that it brings. If it disgusts you, if it makes you angry, then don't do it. Don't smoke. Don't think about it. It's not your problem, it's ours. We can do nothing to harm ANYONE if we smoke at home and don't drive. Problem solved. 7. Cigarettes are very well known as cancer sticks. Essentially it is considered a stick of death, since it's going to "kill you eventually." Yet that remains legal, while the drug that actually has desirable effects is made illegal. This really begs the question... Is it okay for it to kill you, as long as it doesn't make you happy? The general thought of it makes me sick. Really you and those who agree with you should be ashamed of yourselves. Alcohol related deaths alone account for 6 times the deaths of all illicit drugs every year. You can not over dose on marijuana. Driving while intoxicated (which is wrong, dangerous, infringes on other people's rights, etc...) is already illegal. Even though I said "it makes you drive better" what it was meant to prove is that those who use marijuana know that they are "effed up" and take precautions to make sure they stay out of trouble. I don't support driving intoxicated. She said "he's just copying and pasting from drugwarfacts.org". That website cites all of it's source. It is merely for YOUR convenience. I've read many scientific reports on marijuana's effects and many law related sources. I know you're too lazy so I helped YOU