Marijuana should be legalized

I suppose, as a bud smoker, my being so late to post an argument doesn't exactly shine on my support of the topic! lol The Gate WayMarijuana is the substance subject to either a lot of love or a lot of hate. I personally can't figure out why such a thing would even draw so much negative attention when it is less harmful then your average American diet.Before I submerge into the more juicy topics, I want to set in place a new perspective on marijuana, and attempt to sway most of my opponents and audiences predetermined moral difference with marijuana use and distribution.One of the most common objections to marijuana's legal and social acceptance, is that it leads to other more serious drugs. This may seem plausible at first glance, and is almost completely accepted by the majority of US citizens who've never had the substance in or around their lives. Unfortunately, this is isn't even statistically relevant or proved.1999 - The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences wrote: Patterns in progression of drug use from adolescence to adulthood are strikingly regular. Because it is the most widely used illicit drug, marijuana is predictably the first illicit drug most people encounter. Not surprisingly, most users of other illicit drugs have used marijuana first. In fact, most drug users begin with alcohol and nicotine before marijuana — usually before they are of legal age. In the sense that marijuana use typically precedes rather than follows initiation of other illicit drug use, it is indeed a “gateway” drug. But because underage smoking and alcohol use typically precede marijuana use, marijuana is not the most common, and is rarely the first, “gateway” to illicit drug use. There is no conclusive evidence that the drug effects of marijuana are causally linked to the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs. Read more: http://healthland.time.com... As we can see in this very plain and apparent summary of the studies performed, there is no real reason to believe that because X is likely to precede Y, that X is the cause of Y.A similar correlation would be to say: since kissing will almost always precede a person becoming a serial rapist, so kissing is a gateway to being a rapist! Health hazard or Miracle medicine!?I say neither. You can ask a million different people, and they will most likely give you very different descriptions of there uses of marijuana, and how the feeling contributes to they symptoms. The studies show that marijuana will ultimately alleviate most pain, and in some cases, reduce the growth of tumors and activity of certain diseases[1]. This is tried, tested, and is almost certainly proved. There have never been any terminal, or chronic(no pun intended) health issues, ever attributed to marijuana use; Daily or social. I will not argue that marijuana is harmless, because there is almost nothing in this world that is not to some extent. However, the problem one encounters when trying to present that argument, is that the health risks are so minimal and in most cases the overall negative effects merely last the duration of it's primary effects.[2][3][4] Smoking marijuana is a choice, any and all people, of age, should be able to make for themselves, without having to acquire a prescription, and without government involvement. When was the last time you needed a doctors note to buy a 6-pack of beer or a pack of cigarettes?This is obvious proof of the most important benefits of marijuana use, but I am still dissatisfied with the terminally ill being the only persons qualified! The list of potential uses is limitless, and exceed far beyond medicinal use. There is no need to justify substances like alcohol and tobacco when health is ever mentioned, and it is almost always portrayed as a luxury or past-time which will kill you eventually! Instead of being subject to the same standard marijuana is unjustly held too, both are given a pass by the state and federal governments! This debate is not about whether alcohol or tobacco is moral or ought to be banned, so I hope my opponent will stay away from making that a point of his argument. Since the 2 are legal, sold, and taxed they can only serve as a reference of likeness to marijuana use, and my argument. Why do I need a prescription?As I mentioned a bit before, marijuana is far to common and relevantly harmless, to only be granted when you have a very serious or terminal sickness. Though people suffering from such illnesses undoubtedly gain relief from it's usage, they should not be the only ones allowed to consume it!Marijuana is a very safe and subtle way to become more social. That's not to say I believe anyone should rely on marijuana as a way to make friends, or overcome every dull aspect of their life, BUT, I believe and assert, that marijuana simply needs to have an age and tax requirement. To make this a little lighter of a discussion I'd like to describe a few things about marijuana, bud, weed, dodi, sensi, kush, pot(hate that name), that bring me to such a strong resolve.I am a frequent marijuana user(daily), and i function absolutely fine. I will grant, most important things, that require a lot of concentration, or explanation, cannot usually be accomplished when you are 2-3 bowls deep at 10 AM... But I almost always enjoy a few rips from my sneak-a-toke on the way to work or on lunch during the day. I work 9-10 hrs a day (bust my a$$) and come home to relax and play with my kids, so what if i wanna enjoy a blunt?Nothing to irregular about that, right?I have my medical license here in CA, I've had it for a few years, and it's awesome! I can walk into a dispensary, check out a menu while i wait, and inspect all of their selection. I get it in a sealed bag marked with a compliance sticker, and I am good to go. Smoking before eating(the munchies) is the probably the most popular effect people will describe when talking about weed smoke, however that really varies person to person. i, for example, don't feel any more hungry before or after i smoke. I can carry on any conversation, play BF:3, or help my daughter with her homework.Why do people care if I choose to smoke it in the comfort of my own home or designated location?Wrapping it upI expect to have to go into further detail next round in regards to the specific benefits of marijuana use vs. the negative effects, and i am prepared to do so, but i have soundly explained my position and why i believe it to be so.1) Marijuana does not have serious side-effects2) Marijuana has proved health benefits3) Marijuana is less harmful then the correct substances fully legal4) Marijuana is nothing more then a preference and luxuryThank you for your patience CON, and i await your argument.Sources: [1] http://www.benefitsofmarijuana.com... [2] http://alcoholism.about.com... [3] http://en.wikipedia.org... [4] http://www.drugabuse.gov...