Legality of Marijuana in the US

Adam, Thank you for your arguments as well as your concern for my friend, I greatly appreciate it. I will answer your talking points in this round. In the next round, I will expand on my contention that our resources are better spent in treating the demand for drugs such as opiates, instead of trying to control the supply of marijuana. My purpose in round two was to make one significant point, and that was to argue passionately the differences between pot smokers and heroin users. In your first round you stated in talking point one "Marijuana is a little less potent than opium," If I could achieve only one point in round two it was to dispute the notion that the two drugs occupy the same universe. I am happy that you replied "I would like to say that I am very aware that Cannabis and Marijuana are not even in the ballpark of Opiates". I do wish to make one additional point on debating, you stated in the last round, "your talking point, which is moving, but not very valid because it is an argument from personal experience,". Adam, I would argue that a individuals personal experience, when genuine and compelling are far better then any debater quoting yet another source like Wikipedia, or any other source. Obviously, a good debate can involve both, but do not discount personal experiences in debates, otherwise debates simply become exercises in "my source is better then your source". While, I have previously addressed your overall theme that "Marijuana is a little less potent than opium," . Let me address some specifics of your particular talking points. 1. Cannabis is bad for diplomacy, here is why: Since you are libertarian, I would assume that you want to minimize the gov't and gov't spending as much as possible. Legalizing Cannabis will actually INCREASE the scope of gov't. The gov't will have two choices diplomatically when they legalize cannabis (If you come up with an alternative option, you may tell me what it is). A. Don't enforce the exportation of it to other countries that have it banned (Terrible for diplomacy, allowing your country to bring illegal substances in to another country is always bad for diplomacy) B. INCREASE border enforcement (Costs more $$$), and crack down on all illegal Cannabis&Narcotics exports. Both of these will have extremely negative effects on our country, or any other country. Adam, it appears you are arguing apples and oranges. First, this debate is about marijuana only, so with respect, your references to narcotics are not applicable to this debate. Secondly, if we legalize marijuana for use in the United States, and appropriately outlaw exportation to Countries that ban it, there is not a bit of difference with how it is today. Currently, it is illegal to export marijuana, if it legalized for use in the States but exports are outlawed, then as far as exports go, nothing has changed. In any event, the U.S. is primarily an importer of marijuana, legalizing it to be grown in the States, eliminates the market for illegal importation, this frees up border agents to focus on larger issues, such as opiates. 2. China and Opium I will not go on an extended argument for this, I will copy and paste my original argument on an old DDO post I made: "Is taking the situation in China where the British introduced opium to the Chinese a good historical example of why we shouldn't have marijuana? Marijuana is a little less potent than opium, but both boil down to virtually the same thing. My argument can cite various sources of why opium/marijuana substance is dangerous.My sources fairly explain why Opium destroyed China's economy, society and resulted in multiple devastating wars." I quote my friend Adam, "Opium destroyed China's economy, society and resulted in multiple devastating wars.". Well put, it was opium, not Chinese people smoking a joint everyday at 4:20. 3. Functioning and non-functioning Drug Users Some people justify the usage of Marijuana and Cannabis by claiming that there are functioning and non-functioning drug users. The sources I have found claim that this is highly untrue. They also say that Cannabis and Marijuana may not be lethal, but they kill brain cells much faster than alcohol, and Cannabis acts as a gateway drugs to other lethal, more harmful drugs. I am not advocating the health benefits of recreational marijuana use. There are of course legitimate health benefits, from medical use, such as with increasing appetites of cancer patients. You stated above, "They also say that Cannabis and Marijuana may not be lethal." My main argument remains that we should focus on the drugs that are lethal. 4. Your rights only extend out to the point that they don't affect others As stated in the constitution, your rights can not get in the way of other people's rights. Marijuana, due to it's addictive qualities (my sources cite that Marijuana is, indeed addictive), can cause people who can not afford the substance they are addicted to, to do things they are not proud of. These things could include stealing from family members, or other people, abusing or hurting others due to their anger at withdrawal, and more.Adam, if someone steals, that is illegal, if they physically hurt someone, that is illegal. To criminalize marijuana because it may lead to bad behavior, is like banning cars because someone may cause a wreck. 5. The taxation argument While my opponent may not agree with this, it does not take logic or even proof to back this simplistic, but true statement. People who sell Marijuana & Cannabis already have no regard to the law, why would they when it comes to allowing their weed to be taxed? The arguments I have stated above should outweigh the little bit of revenue we would gain from the minority who would tax their weed. People might still buy from the people who don't tax their substance because it will be cheaper, since they won't have to put their prices up from product taxation. You could crack down on those who don't tax their substance physically, but this would once again be detrimental to your libertarian argument, because it would cost money to enforce the taxation of marijuana! Adam, when illegal we get no tax revenue from the selling of marijuana. New dispensaries will pay licensing fees and be among the most regulated industries in the Country. Back to you Adam.