Marijuana should be legalized

1. Marijuana is still a schedule 1 drug despite overwhelming evidence that it has no place being listed that way. According to the DEA, the definition of a schedule 1 drug is as follows: Schedule I Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Some examples of Schedule I drugs are: heroin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), marijuana (cannabis), 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (ecstasy), methaqualone, and peyote (1) The DEA has made the claim that marijuana is as dangerous a drug as heroin and LSD without providing any proof whatsoever that it should be listed as a schedule 1 drug. 25 states have legalized medical marijuana which is a direct contradiction to the definition of schedule 1 drugs. These states have recognized that marijuana does indeed have legitimate medical use (2) 4 states have went so far as to legalize it for recreational use. When you look at the drugs in the schedule 1 category it is true that 99% of them have no legitimate medical use as of right now. This is simply not the case for marijuana. According to WEBMD, It is used to treat conditions such as: Muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis Nausea from cancer chemotherapy Poor appetite and weight loss caused by chronic illness, such as HIV, or nerve pain Seizure disorders Crohn's disease (3) Cancer is becoming one of the more common diseases in which patients are being prescribed marijuana. There has been little to no evidence to support the claim that marijuana is anywhere near as dangerous as drugs like heroin or even alcohol which is completely legal. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism nearly 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes whether it be from drunk drivers, diseases, or from alcohol poisoning. (4) "Alcohol-Related Deaths: Nearly 88,0009 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women9) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the fourth leading preventable cause of death in the United States.10 In 2014, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities accounted for 9,967 deaths (31 percent of overall driving fatalities).11" I challenge Con to provide some reliable evidence that marijuana has claimed anywhere near as many lives. Despite the devastating loss of life directly linked to alcohol consumption it is still legal in every state. Alcohol was once prohibited in the 1920's but it was quickly legalized again due to the devastating failure of the prohibition. In 1920 the 18th amendment was ratified to the US constitution that banned the manufacture, sale, and consumption of alcohol until Congress adopted the 21st amendment to counter it (5). 2. Prohibition does not work: The prohibition was a complete failure and only managed to push the demand for alcohol underground. Bootleggars became the only suppliers and they made enormous profits from their illegal operations. Today they would be drug dealers, supplying an overwhelming demand for something deemed too dangerous for the public by the government. It is simply impossible to keep marijuana out of the hands of the public when the demand is so high. This is a plant that can be grown very efficiently in nearly any environment and many people now take their nurseries indoors. This makes detecting these people extremely difficult which becomes a burden on the taxpayers. Marijuana is far easier to grow than alcohol was to produce. According to NORML.org: Marijuana remains the third most popular recreational drug of choice in the United States despite 60 years of criminal prohibition. According to government figures, nearly 70 million Americans have smoked marijuana at some time in their lives. Of these, 18 million have smoked marijuana within the last year, and ten million are regular marijuana smokers. The vast majority of these individuals are otherwise law-abiding citizens who work hard, raise families, and contribute to their communities. They are not part of the crime problem and should not be treated as criminals. (6) The fact of the matter is when something is prohibited, those that wish to obtain it will find a way to do so. The prohibition has done far more harm than good. It's created tens of thousands of criminals whom would otherwise be law-abiding citizens. This in turn creates a burden on law enforcement, the legal system, the prison system, and especially the taxpayers. It is becoming more and more common to see members of law enforcement speaking out against the prohibition of marijuana because it simply does not work. Furthermore it only helps to create the dangerous criminal element that aims to make a profit. Many of these dealers will defend their operation violently. Many people that are opposed to legalization state concerns about marijuana being easier for children to obtain were it legal. Lets look at this concern from a logical position. How many dealers sell alcohol? The answer is none but why is that? It's because dealers are not going to sell something that is perfectly legal and sold in every gas station and liquor store in the country. They would not make any profit from selling a legal substance and they would also likely be arrested for selling without a license. So they would not make a profit and they would go to jail. It would make virtually no sense at all to sell alcohol illegally. Any teen can travel within 5 miles of their residence to obtain marijuana, it is the most common illegal drug today. What's more, drug dealers do sell marijuana because it is illegal. There is an underground market for it and I can assure you that drug dealers are not going to card a 16 year old trying to purchase pot.