Marijuana should have similar legal restrictions to alcohol (or less legal restrictions).

On the Con side of this debate, I will be arguing that Marijuana should not have fewer legal restrictions, in particular, that Marijuana should not be subject to similar laws as alcohol. In order to win, my opponent must prove that the United States has a moral incentive to loosen restrictions on Marijuana, and not an economic, political, or other non-ethical obligation. Now I will move into my contentions. FIRST, Marijuana poses a dangerous threat to our nation's security and status as a global superpower. Despite its reputation as a mild, less addictive drug, Marijuana influences behavior, personality, and makes it impossible for abusers to succeed outside their drug-clouded fantasies. David Sims, security consultant and a member of the Dangerous Substances Abuse Panel of the Maryland Governor's Executive Advisory, goes into more detail, reporting that, "Students who smoke marijuana regularly … lose interest in their studies and are not motivated to do their schoolwork. Marijuana can interfere with learning by impairing thinking, reading comprehension, and verbal and mathematical skills. It can impair or reduce short-term memory [and] alter sense of time." {1} This has ramifications beyond individual failures. It is clear that legalizing the drug in question would be highly counterproductive in an era when the United States needs all the bright thinkers and young scientists it needs to succeed in a more and more competitive global economy. With the rise of China, India, and Japan (among other nations) as economic and technological superpowers, we cannot afford to let future generations go to waste amidst the pernicious smoke of Marijuana addiction. SECOND, Marijuana would physically harm American citizens. Increased Marijuana use would cause an increase in crime and injury because addicts are often unable to control their actions. This directly causes physical harm to themselves and those around them. David Sims goes on to say that, "…drug abuse results in automobile accidents that cause death and serious injury to innocent victims…" He then cites a specific case: "…the railroad engineer from Baltimore whose use of marijuana resulted in his conviction for the death of 16 passengers in January 1987…" {2} There have been a plethora of similar cases to this one, each producing tragic results. In fact, the department of Justice reports that each year, there are 6 times as many homicides, 4 times as many assaults, and around 1.5 times as many robberies under the influence of drugs as there are in order to get money to buy drugs. {3} By legalizing marijuana, we would only be creating a threat to our nation's security. THIRD, Legalization of Marijuana threatens American values. Whereas this resolution states that the United States has a moral obligation to legalize Marijuana, we in fact have an ethical responsibility to keep all drugs illegal. As dictated by the social contract, the purpose of government is to protect the people. The most important value upheld in the United States Constitution is freedom; to allow Americans to become addicted to Marijuana is to reject this principle and throw away the ideas of the founding fathers. In addition to protecting citizens from increased crime and accidents, this nation must also protect its citizens from themselves. To quote philosopher John Stuart Mill, "The principle of freedom cannot require that one should be free not to be free. It is not freedom to be allowed to alienate one's freedom." {4} Drug addiction is a loss of freedom. Addiction restricts the substance abuser financially and personally, as drug purchase requires continued investments and drug use changes the personality and alters the actions of the user. Because it would be unethical to legalize Marijuana, we cannot affirm. FOURTH, it follows from my previous contentions that it would be unconstitutional to legalize Marijuana. In the preamble to America's highest law, the founding fathers stated that their document was designed to promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty in the United States. By legalizing Marijuana, we would be casting away these goals. Because it negatively influences Americans emotionally, financially, and physically. If liberty is a blessing, then the government has no right to allow its citizens to eradicate this blessing through drug use. In addition, the government would lose much of its credibility of it truly defied the constitution by legalizing drugs. So, in order to uphold our nations constitution and allow our government's credibility to endure, we must reject legalization of marijuana. IN CONCLUSION, because legalizing marijuana will hamper our nation's ability to compete, hurt American citizens physically, undermine the ethical values upheld in our nation, and specifically those in the constitution, we must negate and keep our country safe. Thank you, and I eagerly await my opponents response. SOURCES: {1} http://www.thefreelibrary.com... {2} See previous note {3} US Department of Justice, quoted in: Joseph A. Califano [Drug researcher at Columbia University]. "Legalization of Narcotics: Myths and Reality," March 1997. {4} John Stuart Mill [philosopher]. "On Liberty," 1859. Online at http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au....