How is marijuana different than other banned drugs?

Why should it be legalized but not others?

NOTE: I am NOT advocating the legalization of any drugs.

RULE: Please do NOT admit to using banned substances. As m0zart informed me (and I totally agree), if this topic devolves into that kind of discussion, it WILL BE LOCKED!

EDIT: Sorry, forgot to add medicinal purposes only to the poll. How do I add it? >_>

I'm fine with it being used for medical purposes. Otherwise I don't see why it should be legalized.

Meh...

It has nowhere near the addictive qualities of other banned drugs (heroin, cocaine)...

It heavily impairs your judgement/motor skills, however...much like alcohol.

I doubt it will ever be legalized. (In the states, at least)

I guess one reason is that we spend so much time and money trying to get rid of it, when if it were legalized, we may profit. I don't really care however, because Canada's laws against it are minimal.metallica_fan42

I disagree.

Only certain parts of certain cities will you have an easy time smoking weed in Canada.

Many people will still look at you in disgust if they see you smoking a joint...and most cops will not look the other way.

There are medical benefits - from treating those with anxiety disorder to acting as a simple pain reliever, it can have some good effects on the body when used in the right circumstance. There's also some other medical benefits but you're better off searching for them on google than having me list them here (I'm lazy :P).

Then there's the lesser evil argument. Cigarettes are legal. They harm your body. 480,000+ people die every year from tobacco-related illness. Zero die every year from smoking marijuana.

Take into account the sheer amount of money that the government puts into restricting the substance when it's not that harmful (people getting arrested for it, etc.), and you can also see why many people want it legalized.

There's a few other arguments out there but you can read them online or the more knowledgable users here can help inform you.

its not legal yet?!

Not a user nor will I ever be. But, I'll propose this argument for its legalization:

How many peoplehave youheard that have died or killed someonewhile driving drunk? How many people have you heard that have died or killed someone while driving high?

It supposedly has benefits for people who suffer from injuries. People who use medical marijuana are not smoking it to get high or to feel cool-- they use it for relief. I don't think it should be legalized for recreational purposes, but I would say that it's a good thing if the drug is used for medical purposes.

Marijuana doesn't seem that bad in my opinion. I would never use it but my friend who do use it are pretty functional peope. Alcohol seems worse to me.

because it's not addicting, doesn't eat holes in your brain, doesn't make you lose your teeth/hair, has medicinal benefits

I think pretty much all drugs should be legalized or at least decriminalized.

Not a user nor will I ever be. But, I'll propose this argument for its legalization:

How many peoplehave youheard that have died or killed someonewhile driving drunk? How many people have you heard that have died or killed someone while driving high?

Ultimas_Blade

Legalize it. I already live in a state where its legal for medical purposes. Cali has it on the ballot this November to legalize it fully and I hope it passes. I live in Nevada and am only 5 minutes from the border so I will be making trips to Cali nonstop if that happens :) Anyways legalize it already and all you people in Cali please vote yes on Prop 19

how is it different?

not addictive

its a plant. no altering it or mixing or dangerous chemicals.

not a single harmful chemical in the plant.

a better question is why is it illegal?

another better question is when will it be legal, not will it be legal. it will be legal eventually.

Well for one, it won't kill you.SmittyPeppers

I've smoked plenty and I voted no. The main reason being it causes schitzophrenia in some people.Fried_Shrimp

tobacco causes cancer and a lot more complications. and its legal. :P

[QUOTE="SmittyPeppers"]Well for one, it won't kill you.Santesyu

lol so does red bull.

vodka slows down ur heart.

not a health concern in the long run.

Not a user nor will I ever be. But, I'll propose this argument for its legalization:

How many peoplehave youheard that have died or killed someonewhile driving drunk? How many people have you heard that have died or killed someone while driving high?

Ultimas_Blade

Well if you legalise pot wouldn't there be more pot related incidents due to increases in users?

I'm fine with it being used for medical purposes. Otherwise I don't see why it should be legalized.

DJ-Lafleur

[QUOTE="Ultimas_Blade"]

Not a user nor will I ever be. But, I'll propose this argument for its legalization:

How many peoplehave youheard that have died or killed someonewhile driving drunk? How many people have you heard that have died or killed someone while driving high?

Espada12

Well if you legalise pot wouldn't there be more pot related incidents due to increases in users?

[QUOTE="Ultimas_Blade"]

Not a user nor will I ever be. But, I'll propose this argument for its legalization:

How many peoplehave youheard that have died or killed someonewhile driving drunk? How many people have you heard that have died or killed someone while driving high?

Espada12

Well if you legalise pot wouldn't there be more pot related incidents due to increases in users?

People who are high tend to drive slow. But if everyone was driving slow then maybe something would happen..There are lots of pros and cons to legalizing this.

[QUOTE="Espada12"]

[QUOTE="Ultimas_Blade"]

Not a user nor will I ever be. But, I'll propose this argument for its legalization:

How many peoplehave youheard that have died or killed someonewhile driving drunk? How many people have you heard that have died or killed someone while driving high?

testfactor888

Well if you legalise pot wouldn't there be more pot related incidents due to increases in users?

Not really... if I said more cars on the road will = to more road accidents would that be speculation? Didn't drunk driving accidents increase after it became legal in the US?

Cannabis = Hemp = One of the most useful plants in the world.

Additionally, we wouldn't have to waste money on the drug war and we'd gain money from taxing it. There'd be less drug dealers on the streets and less gang-related activity surrounding the plant.

Legalizing weed is probably the smartest thing America could do at the moment.

[QUOTE="testfactor888"][QUOTE="Espada12"]

Well if you legalise pot wouldn't there be more pot related incidents due to increases in users?

Espada12

Not really... if I said more cars on the road will = to more road accidents would that be speculation? Didn't drunk driving accidents increase after it became legal in the US?

Cars and Alcohol have near nothing to do with the argument at hand. Alcohol only has a correlation because its another item that is legalized to get people their own personal high. Unfortunately alcohol has alot worse side effects and also leads to alot more problems than marijuana ever has.

edit - I do wonder though what you mean by incidents since marijuana has never led to a death. If you have proof otherwise that marijuana has killed someone I would definetely be interested in seeing it

how? you don't get OD'd on pot,duh

[QUOTE="Fried_Shrimp"][QUOTE="savebattery"] Correlation does not imply causation. There is no evidence whatsoever that marijuana can cause schizophrenia. It's far more reasonable to think that schizophrenics are just more likely to use marijuana.savebattery

I would think he's actually right, but only in the sense that an individual predisposed to develop schizophrenia has a greater chance of developing it if they smoke weed (and probably fairly regularly). I can't provide any evidence as we're harking back many a year when I studied psychology, but even if it was the case I don't think it's an argument against weed really. That would be like taking the miniscule number of people having adverse affects from aspirin as a reason to criminalize it.

how? you don't get OD'd on pot,duh

VaguelyTagged

Well you can, but you just tend to spin out and throw up :P

You don't tend to OD on certain downers either e.g. Valium...

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"]

how? you don't get OD'd on pot,duh

poptart

Well you can, but you just tend to spin out and throw up :P

You don't tend to OD on certain downers either e.g. Valium...

[QUOTE="poptart"]

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"]

how? you don't get OD'd on pot,duh

testfactor888

Well you can, but you just tend to spin out and throw up :P

You don't tend to OD on certain downers either e.g. Valium...

As far as Ive seen, for the most part it IS NOT addictive though it CAN BE addictive. I say can be, because I knew someone who smoked it nearly every single day for 3 years straight and they seemed as if they couldnt stop just like that, even though they claimed they could.
I also have known people who have actually quit after a long time of use, though not as constant as my aforementioned friend.
They were rather strong at mind though.

I think it can't be worse then alcohol in any case(My fathers an alcoholic. Once had a seizure when he didnt drink for about a week)
and in my opinion the government should legalize it.
If sold, it could pull in massive tax revenue.
Just slap on the same laws that alcohol has, and everything should be fine for the most part and it would be no different.

[QUOTE="poptart"]

[QUOTE="VaguelyTagged"]

how? you don't get OD'd on pot,duh

testfactor888

Well you can, but you just tend to spin out and throw up :P

You don't tend to OD on certain downers either e.g. Valium...

Ah that's what I meant as well - you don't really die from an OD on Valium either... unless you stumble in front of a car or fall out of a window or summat

[QUOTE="testfactor888"][QUOTE="poptart"]

Well you can, but you just tend to spin out and throw up :P

You don't tend to OD on certain downers either e.g. Valium...

poptart

Ah that's what I meant as well - you don't really die from an OD on Valium either... unless you stumble in front of a car or fall out of a window or summat

Marijuana in the United States is listed as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is considered in the USA as being on par with other drugs such as heroine and GHB. What everyone has to understand though is that it does not just major "dangerousness" it is also measured by amount of people using amongst other categories.

Marijuana is different because the effects it has compared to other drugs is not as severe. Supporters argue that it's less addicting than cigarettes with fewer health concerns, and safer than alcohol.

People against the drug argue that there's not THAT much long term research to know exactly the effects of marijuana. But a lot of illegal drugs that are extremely dangerous also have medical purposes. MDMA (pure ecstacy), Heroine, Cocaine, all have medicinal purposes as so does marijuana.

But hopefully that helps.

edit - I do wonder though what you mean by incidents since marijuana has never led to a death. If you have proof otherwise that marijuana has killed someone I would definetely be interested in seeing it

testfactor888

Incidents means that you do stupid crap while you are high and it ends up in someone else dead. Much like drunk driving causes...or drunkness in general.

Follow Portugal, all their drug problems are decreased.