Why are recreational drugs such as cannabis illegal whereas alcohol is not and yet it causes more deaths?

Answer 1

I don't smoke...but...

I think pot will be illegal for one more generation, then probably become either 'controlled' or legal.

I think pot is illegal for the same reason we still have an economic embargo against Cuba. The 'memory' of it bothers people and is more worrisome than the 'it'. Pot was unknown and scary in the 60s....it was more than a drug, it took on its own life and became a representation of all that was being discussed: racism, the war, support of women's rights, sexual experimentation, environmentalism, Government responsibility and intrusion. Since pot represented all that...the legality of it was never even discussed. By keeping it illegal, it showed in a small way the refusal to budge or discuss or consider the bigger issues. I feel Cuba is in the same situation. Long ago it was a communist vestige of the Soviet Union. There was no way we were going to support or tolerate communism that close to our shoreline...and we detested Castro. Now that decades have gone by, and generations of politicians have turned over, I feel Cuba will be accepted by the US as soon as its last representation of communism dies...and that is Castro. He is weak and ineffective, the whole world vacations in Cuba...except the US. One more generation here in the states is necessary to examine how dangerous pot is...and then vote on it. And, even less time is probably required to pass before Castro dies.

Sometimes an issue has a life of its own. What it represents becomes even bigger than what it is. And I think pot is one of those issues.

Answer 2

I believe that each of us owns and is responsible for our bodies. If a person chooses to ingest alcohol or drugs, then that should be their right. For that matter, if a person chooses to engage in prostitution, then the same principle applies. That said, we are also responsible for the consequences of our decisions and behavior. So, for example, if you steal to pay for your drugs, then THAT activity is criminal. But if you pay for yoru drugs with money you earned at the Dairy Queen, then that should not be a problem. However, if you get drunk or high and then, for example, cause an accident, you should be held criminally and civilly liable. Now, to answer your question more directly: the reason why drugs are treated differently than alcohol is due to the Judeo-Christian ethic upon which this nation was founded. The people who make the laws feel that they have the right to control the choices that others make, because they see some choices as "right" and others as "wrong." In other words, they impose their personal beliefs on others because they have the power to do so. The solution to this problem is to get high and watch more television. Whatever you do, do not get a job - which would serve only to fund the power structure with your tax dollars. Whenever possible, where clothing made of hemp, ideally with a cannabis leaf on the front. Then, when people ask you questions, just give them a glazed-over look and ask where the Quickie-Mart is.

Answer 3

Diffucult question,

I will agree, that cannabis is less harmful than alcholol. i would like to point out that alcohol was made illegal for a period until more rational minds prevailed.

Cannibis as an illegal traffic is making millions for criminals, whereas states have declared that cannibis has medicnal purposes.

We can tax it, control it, and develope effective test for it, keeping it illegal is exactly like the bootleggers of the 30's.

On the moral issue, that is the most difficult as it involves feelings not logic.

On the health issue, the truth should be the best route

On the issue of personal safety and risk of accident, this is difficult because besides a health factor, most people will argue the accident factor, to that i can only say do not operate heavy machinery while using this product...and personal accountabilty.

Answer 4

Alcohol has been around for a long time, and is well known. Government can control its sale easier, and limit who buys it. There is nothing else other than Alcohol in this category. They also generate MONEY from taxes on it.

Drugs is another situation- they can't seem to get their act together and agree on pot being safer than any other type of drug- and the widely known image, that pot will lead to harder drugs- which, does seem to be the case if not Physically addicting, the type of people that use drugs, are PRONE to seeking ways of either escaping or enhancing their existence, and do tend to see higher highs. Pot is easier to conceal, and not as easy to control, so, there seems to be no good way to legalize it , without making it more accessible to children and teen agers.

Answer 5

I think the right to drink yourself silly or to death is right next to the right to own guns and shoot if you feel threatened!!!LOL Sorry!! I do realize you are serious.
After preaching for years against use of drugs how could they possible make them legal now. I have always felt the should legalize and tax, at the least pot, like they do alcohol. Probably safer than liquor is.

Answer 6

the first answer is correct.

Say they make weed legal. Well...everyone who was getting paid to stop it from entering the country, track down the people selling it, and arrest the people doing it...they're out of jobs. They don't get paid, the government doesn't get tax.

They make it legal, and I'll be growing it in my own home, smoking my own, not giving them a dime. Additionally, since I'm smoking that sweet sweet ninja, I won't be buying alcohol, cigarettes, anti-depressants, etc.

A happy population isn't a profitable population.

Answer 7

Yeah, it's all about money and control of the competition. Using the government or taxpayer to control the competition has always been a favorite tool for big business in America.

Answer 8

Beause it is too easy to reproduce by a layman, and the government cannot tax something that everyone else can produce. Moon shine is illegal because it is easy to make, but it is alcohol. The government runs you and I, Freedom? No communist.

Answer 9

As long as the government can regulate it - it will be legal. The government would have a hard time regulating marijuana and other drugs because people could grow it themselves. Therefore, the government would lose money.

Answer 10

Because people have very strong prejudices against any drug dubbed "illegal", even if they are consuming boxes of legal heavy drugs like Xanax and Prozac...