why is weed illegal?

Answer 1

It's purely political. Alcohol and tobacco are legal and they kill hundreds of thousands of people a year. Weed is illegal and NOBODY has EVER died from it.

Answer 2

It became demonized in the 1930s by greedy corporate moguls such as Dupont & Hearst, who had a vested interest in the timber and paper industries. Hemp posed a considerable economic threat to these industries because it's a cheaper alternative to cutting down trees, and it's better for the environment (as we know many corporations aren't terribly environmentally-friendly).

Hence, these guys set out to make marijuana illegal, and then in 1939 or so, we had both "Reefer Madness" & the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous to separate the "sinners" from the pulp mills & moonshine stills. Back then, marijuana & jazz went hand in hand & anyone who imbibed in either was considered the spawn of Satan and a Communist. (Frank Buchman from the Oxford Group, the precursor to AA, once worshipped Hitler, who coincidentally also disdained jazz music).

Today it's probably the Big Pharms that want to keep weed illegal. Imagine if patients could grow their own medical cannabis (which has a very broad range of health benefits) - it could economically devastate the pharmaceutical industry, which as we all know cares more about its profit margin than actually helping sick folks.

Answer 3

It took 60 years to find out that tobacco causes cancer. How many years will it take to find out what's the worst thing weed can do? We already know that it does cause people to experience hallucinations, but there could be something worse. After all, weed has about 120 different chemicals, and some chemicals can have more than 1 side effect. THAT's why it's illegal.

Answer 4

Thank William Hearst and Jerome DuPont. In the 20's they had a drug that 100,000 americans were addicted to. It was called morphine. They found that weed was a in direct competition with it and talked the federal gov't into making it illegal.

Answer 5

Political purposes. Look at cigarettes and alcohol...how many people die each year from alcohol related illnesses and drunk driving? How many from lung cancer? But you know what - not one recorded case of someone expiring from an overdose of weed. Its impossible (Id know...I tried once - not to kill myself, but to smoke a whole ounce in one sitting....nothing but a massive headache and smoke inhalation poisoning...)

Reason is because WR Hearst (owner of the Examiner newspaper in SF BAy Area) had the weed demonized in the 1930s - because he saw his fortune disappearing. Hearst did whats known as horizontal and vertical buyouts - he owned not only the newpaper itself, but the factories that made the ink, the paper, the trains the shipped the papers and the outlets that sold them. When it was discovered that weed can produce four times the amount of paper in one acre as trees can - Hearst flipped out. And, oil can be made out of its seeds. And food can also be made of its seeds. And clothing can be made of its fibers. It a miracle plant - but it very very evil for anyone who owns shares in oil, cotton or paper mills. So it was demonized and remains so today.

Silly huh?

XPR - youre incorrect. Cigarettes have over 120 chemicals. Weed has been used for CENTURIES and no one has ever reported any long term issues wth it. The Egyptians used it to cure morning sickness.

Answer 6

I believe the government made it illegal because of it's spiritual benefits, if used for meditation and not profanely. Purely -it IS and HAS been used for medicinal purposes by the indigenous people all over the world. One should be able to reap the benefits of an enlightened state of mind! but one "can't" (according to the law)seem to do this by way of inhaling smoke anymore.

Answer 7

The Emperor Wears No Clothes is a great book about why it is really illegal. Did you know that anything made from fossil fuels can be made from hemp? Now wouldnt that upset the world balance of power....hmmmm. Because every one can grow that!

Answer 8

because it is considered a "controlled substance" and it alters people's reality. I think that not all vices should be considered a crime. If you are sitting at home.. smoking something..and not going out and hurting other people...they should just leave you alone. I personally don't smoke anymore because I had surgery and I am in recovery. I think it would be smarter to make it legal and tax it.. There was a time in my childhood when you could get sent to prison for YEARS just for having a seed. Ridiculous.

Answer 9

Because the government is perpetually confused about whether they're in the business of protecting you or not.

Examples:

Seat Belts are mandatory but liscense revocation for DUI is not.
Cigarrettes are legal but taxed for being a "sin"
Speed limits are set and virtually ignored.
Prostitution isn't against FEDERAL law, but it is in 49 states.

etc. etc. etc.

Answer 10

why isn't beer illegal?
Weed is a narcotic, it impairs your better judgement. No offense to ratboy, but I defy anyone to prove to me that no one has died from weed. This makes me wonder why alcohol is legal if weed isn't.