legalization of marijuana

1.) My opponent has stated that legalizing marijuana will contribute to our economic position or the recession. He stated that marijuana profits going to the government and not to the drug lords will make a large difference than if we were to ban it. This might be true in some cases. Then again we need to consider what effects it will have on our society. Now put it in these terms. Like my opponent said, the US has about a total of 75 million smokers a day. Legalizing marijuana will only increase the number of consumers. That may seem good if the drug is charged 10 dollars a gram. When you do the math it comes out to look like a great idea. Then again it is a very risky plan to pursue. http://cyber.law.harvard.edu... http://www.nida.nih.gov... http://web4health.info... -Marijuana is known to cause disorientation, laziness, and lack of mental capability. If that 75 million were to increase to about between 100 to 150 million, think of how many people will be effected by it. Out of the people who are effected, many will go under the influence and simply turn to be degenerates of our society. That leads to unemployment. That means that more and more people will be unemployed not for the fact they do not posses the capability of getting a job, but for the simple fact they do not want to get one. Now consider out that 100 million, 90 million do not want to work. Out of a total of about 300 million people in the US, almost a third of the population will be employed. The drug money will not make even the slightest difference in the crisis the economy faces. 2.) Many people besides my opponent have stated the same situation that many marijuana consumers face today. The buyers face criminal charges and are put in prison. If those people were parents, that will put the children in a very unfortunate situation. Now if those people were to not face "unnecessary crimes", it will be more beneficial for the family. That to can be argued. What makes our people think that a child of a marijuana consumer would be anymore safe with the parent rather then being put in a foster home? Because of the lack of mental capability marijuana has to offer, that father or mother will highly expose even a 1 year old to the drug. That puts the child/infant in a very dangerous environment. Therefore the parents lack responsibility. 3.) In some countries around the world, they allow marijuana in certain parts of their cities. Like in Germany, they have "Red Light Districts" where they allow certain activities that they wouldn't normally allow in the open such as marijuana. Like my own father has stated, the US has considered that action of allowing the drug but to only be allowed in some parts of our cities. If the consumers are willing to break the law in order to buy the drug, what makes anyone think that they aren't going to do the same with that idea. I and many others have witnessed consumers in public like for instance. One day I was with my family at the mall. Now please keep in mind that I have a little sister around the age of 10. Just as I am walking outside one of the stores, we noticed two marijuana consumers walking about the mall. That just there put me and my family in a very dangerous situation due to the exposure of the drug. If they have the capability to break the law with consuming it, there is now question that they are going to do the same with the "Red Light District" idea. 4.) As many other of my colleagues have mentioned, just because it might be legal doesn't mean everybody is going to consume the product. For the people who already have a good idea what it can cause, just because the US makes it legal doesn't mean their idea will change. I do have a counter argument for that case. Now please who ever is to view this, ALL people have their own opinions and ALL people have different mind sets. Now, the people who are already against it, the chances of them turning to it maybe slim. Then again, people might only not consume marijuana just simply because the government makes it illegal. If the government were to make it a legal product, that person's mindset will change and they will consume the product. That is only an example of what can happen to somebody. But regardless, people definitely have their own opinions of things.