Marijuana should be legalized for recreational use

Thank you for your response. As this debate comes nearly to a close, I would like to urge all those following it to strongly consider both points of view - your thought is important. However, I also invite you to keep in mind the value of each and every person's life - this is an issue that impacts all Americans, whether they are direct users of the drug or not. Now, to the rebuttals. The information you provide is interesting, yet given your data you mention that over-the-counter drugs cause more fatalities than some more highly lethal drugs, such as amphetamines. However, your data statistic proceeds to show that prescription drugs provoke more deaths than the listed street drugs. While this may contradict your first statement, I would also like to emphasize that medical marijuana itself, where legalized, is utilized as a prescription drug. If it were to comply with your data, this would make the drug more likely to cause death due to abuse than the listed illicit amphetamines. In compliance with the central focus of this debate, however, I move onto my next rebuttal. You indicate in your argument that marijuana, when legalized and has a tax imposed upon it, would make revenue for the government nonetheless (in spite of your theoretical example). However, it's well-known that some of us as Americans at times aren't particularly fond of taxes. Consider the fact that, in the states that have currently legalized the recreational use of marijuana, the black markets are still currently thriving. In order to evade the tax imposed by legal sales, many drug dealers are continuing their business behind the backs of the laws. I invite you to read the following article, featured in the Colorado Springs-based Gazette: http://gazette.com... Should these unauthorized sales continue, the legal economic foundation for recreational marijuana could topple, thus wasting efforts to secure and sell marijuana lawfully. As I have discussed in each of my previous arguments, there are far more feasible and fail-safe ways to ensure taxation, limit the breaking of law, and increase our government revenue - including those ways which are not harmful to our citizens. I would also like to highlight a note from your argument that I found to be deeply concerning. It seems that from your stance the ability to pay completely for drug rehabilitation is of more importance than the prevention of people's needing of rehabilitation. As you noted yourself, marijuana use can absolutely lead to the need for drug rehabilitation. But if the main concern is not preventing the need, but paying for it, what has America come to in valuing the lives of its citizens? This, precisely, is another reason why our government has not legalized cannabis on a national scale. Not only has the U.S. Food and Drug Administration not approved of marijuana as a safe substance, but given the undeniable consequences this drug has the potential to cause (which extend far beyond the user - think of their families, their friends, and all those who would be devastated by the injury, derangement, or death of a user), America has its right to take a stand to protect its citizens. Indeed, our country was founded on the basis of freedom; however, let us not forget that the creation of our first laws put the care and well-being of our citizens first. What would we be as a country if we did not watch out for one another? Do we want to risk everything that is at stake? As I have made clear, this issue affects people beyond the user in ways more than physical, and therefore the prohibition of legalizing this drug shows that our country cares about the lives and futures of our citizens, no matter who decides or how many people choose to use this drug. In backing this statement, I would also like to present to you this article, discussing the vulnerability of what you may refer to as "innocent bystanders"... young children who have no way of controlling the actions of their elders and therefore what they are exposed to. http://www.dare.org... These children are the next generation of our incredible society. When no choice is presented to them over what they are exposed to and therefore endangered by, this calls into serious question again whether marijuana influences only those who make the choice to use it. On a closing note, I would also like to pinpoint one particular statement made in your final paragraph: "Making marijuana legal for recreational use will NOT INFLUENCE the statistics of the drug as they are right now." I would have to argue against this statement by bringing up the point that increased accessibility to the drug will in turn lead to more users getting their hands on it; with this increase comes the chance that more users will become addicted, thus influencing not only the statistic but also the amount of unfortunate repercussions that result on the population - both users and non-users, whether physically, mentally, spiritually, or in any afflictive way. As I understand that in your set guidelines this debate is to consist of four rounds, I would like to rest my case with thanks to the Debate.org community for their listening ears (or reading eyes!) and to my opponent for an intriguing debate. I once again would like to say that I respect all opinions and have no personal bias on this matter - it is my goal, however, to educate the people on the true and often hidden negative outcomes that result from illicit drug use. For some people, they may seem "cool" to use or give you "a good time" - but there is so much more to life than wasting it away. Thank you! Citations (including the earlier presented articles): https://www.whitehouse.gov... http://www.fda.gov... http://www.businessinsider.com... http://gazette.com... http://www.dare.org...