Marijuana has more medical benefits than coffee.

To begin with, my opponent stated that she is able to debate even better while being high. While I agree that it is possible, many people "consume" is in such high amounts that they are rather dazed than energetic. I cannot tell how much my opponent smokes, and she cannot give ultimate evidence, which will not prove any side fully right. However, one of the negative effects of marijuana is short-term memory loss. In fact, I can demonstrate this easily. On many occasions, my opponent has contradicted herself in a very short span of time. This has happened more than to any other member I have seen post on the forums. Here is an example of a contradiction in the exact same post of hers, posted no longer than a few days ago: "In fact, the whole purpose of this thread was for you to prove that misunderstanding holy books IS a problem." "The whole purpose of this thread was for you to point out that many people did not understand Islam."[1] Clear difference in "whole purpose" and clear contradiction. Since my opponent implies hat she is high too many times, I presume she was high here, too, or not long before she wrote it. I can come with many other examples, but it does not matter. Therefore, my claim stands strong. But it was also a humorous claim, so we should move to the more important points. -- Rebuttals -- "While it's true that coffee, like other drugs, indeed have their benefits, they also have their harms. Just like with marijuana, we cannot negate the benefits of coffee simply because of the harms. Indeed this debate isn't about the harms of each drug but their benefits." Indeed, but if the harms outweighs the benefits, we need to mention it. In fact, my argument is stronger because my opponent can mention one study proving a good side of marijuana, and I can mention another site/source proving the contrary, so what will make any of our claims more true? Namely if the researchers themselves prove their own studies wrong with new, more authentic claims. As a matter of fact, I have mentioned Harvard researchers debunking their own studies on coffee and coming with new, positive studies that debunk their old, so that makes my argument more credible. Unless she explains why Dr.--- or Scientist --- has more valid studies than Dr.--- etc. that I mention, her argument is not very strong. "However, I'd like to point out for clarity that it's simply not true that coffee is not harmful." I never said that it is not harmful. Everything can be harmful when exaggerated. I argue for moderate consumption of coffee, which has been proven with thousands of studies to be much more healthy than harmful. Moving on, my opponent said that coffee dehydrates the body. This is absolutely not true. Professor Lawrence E. Armstrong has debunked this theory.[2] It is not true that it dehydrates the body. Moreover, coffee can have negative effects on the adrenal glands, but that is with very high consumptions, which is not needed to drink coffee for health benefits. A few cups once in a while is not bad. Moreover, regarding the bad effects on the digestive system and protein, this theory has also been debunked. It was (and still is by some) that coffee has negative effects on the digestive system. However, new studies show the exact opposite: namely that coffee is good for the digestive system, and sometimes even recommended by doctors.[3] Moving on, while coffee may increase heart rate temporarily, so can sex, and sex is indeed healthy for humankind. Does it make the consumption of coffee negative? Absolutely not. Neither does it increase blood pressure if consumed in moderate amounts.[4] This is another old and false theory. Furthermore, my opponent stated that it has not been disproved that coffee contributes to heart disease. This is extremely false. I can show tons of studies debunking that theory.[5][6][7] Moreover, my opponent mentions a few other "risks" of coffee consumption. I do not have the character space to debunk all of it in very detailed ways, so I will address a few with other sources. Aging the skin is not caused by coffee. My opponent agreed that coffee works as an antioxidant, so why is she saying that it ages the skin? It is illogical.[8] Studies show that coffee actually works as anti-aging, not the opposite. Also, does coffee cause pain? No, it does not. New studies debunk that theory, too.[9] Moreover, coffee in moderate amounts does not cause anxiety, but 'may' increase it if one already suffers from it. However, psychologists say that consumption of coffee/caffeine when feeling anxiety can actually help overcoming it.[10] As for insomnia, this is not caused by coffee. Caffeine works as a psychoactive drug, but if one consumes it several hours before sleep and in moderate amounts, he will definitely not suffer from insomnia.[11] Also, how can coffee decrease immunity when it has so many health benefits, including disease preventions? Even my opponent agrees with many of my claims, so how can she make this claim? It is a weak argument. See: [12] 1. Just because there are other anti-bacterial products, it means that coffee is not significant helpful? Why so, considering 80% of Americans drink it daily and 500 billion cups are consumed annually worldwide?And it does not lead to a worsened immune system. 2. My opponent argues that she has a problem with coffee being beneficial to mind/athletic performance, especially because only half a cup of coffee per day makes one addicted to caffeine. Who said that caffeine is bad? I say it is not. It is when exaggerated. However, she has no evidence that coffee is good with many cups a day. I have proven that several cups are actually beneficial. No more time or much space, so I will continue with rebuttals in the next round. -- References -- [1]http://www.debate.org... [2]http://www.divinecaroline.com... [3]http://www.healthyfellow.com... [4]http://www.ineedcoffee.com... [5]http://www.medicinenet.com... [6]http://health.learninginfo.org... [7]http://www.sciencenews.org... [8]http://beyondjane.com... [9]http://www.suite101.com... [10]http://www.medicinenet.com... [11]http://www.allbusiness.com... [12]http://www.greenherbalremedies.com...