Why is marijuanna illegal?

Question

I would like a legitimate answer to a legitimate question. I'm not comparing it to another drug as to how harmful it is or anything of the kind. It's illegal and there is a reason for it, I'd like to know why? My guess is because it can't be controlled like other substances and its ease of production would not make it a very profitable venture. Just want to know what others think?

Wow Im shocked on some of those answers. See a lot of you have never actually used any type of drug because you sound like your reading straight from the D.A.R.E handbook. It's a true shame not because you havent done drugs but that the society you live in that is so free wont allow you to make your own decisions. I agree though my dad always said dope is for dopes, but really only when he was drunk :-)

me and jim r think on the same level. I just cant believe there are people out there that think it is such a mind altering drug. one beer does affect some people I know one shot of 151 and Im lit, probably more then one joint. dont compare the weakest alcohol to marijuanna if we're comparing the two on the subject of legalization then the strongest booze is an example you should use because the government deems it fit.

any of the chicks on here pro pot single haha

Tim C I like your style but for the driving your car on hemp, well thats not gonna happen. The only way we can take care of the oil problem is to switch to nuclear power. They've done research and find that if we did switch to a crop fuel like ethanol and the likes we dont have enough square feet on the earth to grow enough plants to power all the cars, its a nice thought though, your thinking I like that :)

its something i kee on reading, marijuanna is legal for medical use, no its not what ever the state deems federal law supercedes and federal law is that medical marijuanna is illegal.

Answer 1

it kills.

Answer 2

Oh, man, from some of these answers I think whatever they are taking should be illegal!

Really, I don't claim to know for sure, but my guess is that the "powers that be" just don't want to, or rather can't, give in. They did it with prohibition (although in some areas of Texas you wouldn't think so on Sunday) mostly because they couldn't control the bootleggers and the crime element was worse than letting people buy the stuff legally - and then there are the taxes to be gathered....greedy, greedy.

My personal opinion - and ain't it great to have this forum where we can freely express it no matter how stupid it is... - is that once they refused to make it legal, the only people willing to sell it were also selling other usually much more dangerous drugs. This is one thing that makes it rather difficult to back out of the political position on legalizing mj I think.

As for those of you that think it makes you crazy or insane, I think you have poor the poor old herb mixed up with Meth or one of the other wonderful-world-of-car-trunk- chemistry drugs. As long as you don't "lace" the marijuana with another drug, you can pretty safely say that if someone goes "insane-crazy" it wasn't the marijuana.

I'm all for legalizing marijuana and making liquor illegal again if it would only work. I've never seen a "pot head" beat up his wife or decide to go kill an old homeless man for the fun of it. Much more likely to run the mini mart out of the last ten bags of Fritos. At least that isn't a crime - yet. Unfortunately it's just too hard for the people in politics to say "I was wrong".....

Answer 3

There are so many answers to this question and i don't have the patience to read them all. But here goes my opinion...

Marijuana is a drug and drugs are used to heal the body. And the interesting fact is that heroin and cocaine users started with marijuana.

Alcoholic drinks has many uses too. Red wine, if taken in small quantities, is actually good for your heart. And most people drink beer nowadays. But when you drink it in excess, your mind gets clouded and you can't think straight and some people do bad things when they are intoxicated. Plus, if you drink it in excess everyday, you better go to an AA clinic.

So why is marijuana illegal? Well, it is not illegal for those taking it for medical purposes. It is illegal because it is addictive just like alcohol and smoking. But the big problem with marijuana is its effects when the person is addicted. He just doesn't stay in marijuana but, given some time, he will start using the more dangerous drugs (which we know is not only bad for the illegal drug user but worse for the people around him). Imagine a world full of illegal drug users....

How about for smoking and drinking alcohol? Smoking mainly affects the person who is using it and therefore causes little harm to others. It is their choice. For alcohol, the risk is much greater. We have alcoholics hitting other people when they're drunk. Hitting includes hitting in a car or using the hands to hurt other people. That's why we have laws that tells us not to drink too much when we are driving, etc.

And that's why we have laws that people who should use marijuana when they need it for medical purposes. The risk is much GREATER and it not only affects the adults but also our 13-year children, or our 15-year old sister or brother or anyone else. Do we really want our children or any member of our family going to school and so high with marijuana? They'd be lucky if they can control it and not use cocaine or heroin in the long run. Would they be able to answer the difficult questions in school when they are "high?"

Think about it.

Answer 4

It is partially legal... I have a perscription for it... some of my friend and I know it's the government... I found a page once about the true reason... then they deleted the page and others like it.... mostly it talked about the other things marijuana and/or hemp could be used for, paper, clothes and fuel... back in the 40's I think, the man that was using it for these things tried to patten the ingredients and the government said "you can't, becuase it's a 'natural' product"... then they out lawed it, also I think they will make it fully legal one day after they figure out how to tax it.

Answer 5

Hey, pot smokers are easy to catch, and rarely hostile.

When big pressure was put on law inforcement for the "war on drugs" it was an easy win for them.

Additionally, the Neo Cons are in control, and they are against anything that might give the middle class and the poor relief from the constant barrage by the born again Boobs.

This is more of an opinion than an answer.

Excellent question though, keep asking.

Answer 6

That seatbelt comment makes me want to dry heave. -- "for our protection"...? Who is the US Government to determine what is and is not safe for each individual person? Also, why is it their business, beyond issues dealing with force and fraud, what the hell I do with my body?

It ISNT.

If I wanna toke up all day long while listening to White Snake and Enya AT THE SAME TIME while playing Halo2 and drinking my weight in Jagermeister, it isn't any of their business. Now, subjectively, one could deem me a ridiculous alcoholic loser, and they would probably be right (subjectively), but again, it would be my right to be a loser. My rights should end only where the rights of others begin. (it may be sad/pathetic, but it is everyone's right to be sad/pathetic)

The illegality of pot, I personally think, is based upon the slippery slope, logically falacious idea that if we legalize it, "the whole country will just go nuts freebasing and speedballing and shooting up left and right and everyone will go to hell and get STDs and ALL OUR KIDS WILL BE GAY!!!!" Logical Falacy, Shut up.

I am by no means necessarily advocating the use of marijuana, or, NOT advocating its use. I'm saying, as long as an indivual is doing no harm to anyone else or infringing upon others rights, it is up to THEM what they do. If they want to 'waste their life' being a burnout, if they want to smoke recreationally, if they want to snort pixie sticks all day, if they want to creepily collect knives or japanese throwing stars, if they want to be a stripper, or EVEN if they think that lenolium flooring is a good choice, ever, then, from a Libertarian perspective, it is their right to do so. Screw the governemnt forcing it's conception of our safety/morality upon us. It's everyone's choice to throw their life away, or conversely be the most virtuous individual alive.

Either way, it should be my choice. Or yours, or whatever.

Cheers, etc

Answer 7

Its just a paradigm that Marijuanna kills, infact unlike alchol marijuanna have a very calming effect on the consumer and this belief have started to take grounds as Marijuanna is legal in europe and in U.K. they have increased the limit of possession of marijuanna to upto 1200 joints for private consumption only. There is being talk in media to legalise marijuanna as its have neglegence side effects unlike alchol which kills 10 million people every year and death related to marijuanna is negligble in front of that. The reason why governements are reluctant to legalise is that its very hard to control the market unlike liquor. In holland u can find legalised Marijuanna Bars.

Answer 8

Ok I will explain the rationale to you.

Marijuana is illegal because even when used in moderation it is harmful and mind altering. It is that simple. Moderation is the key word.

I will compare to alcohol only to explain completely, ok.

In layman's terms, one beer does not have any affect on the mind or body while one toke off of a joint alters the mind and harms the body. See?

Answer 9

I believe it was made illegal back during the prohibition days along with other drugs and only alcohol was removed from prohibtion because the mob made too much money and too much trouble for everyone selling bootlegg whiskey. All the other drugs stayed basically under prohibition.

Answer 10

1) It is because a tax structure has not been formed.
2)The alcohol lobby is one of the most powerful in the nation.
A great amount of people would rather smoke a bit instead of
drink alcohol.This would cut into sales of alcohol.

Please consider how large the infrastructure of alcohol
industry is: manufacture,bulk sales,export,import,bars,advertising
rehab,liver treatment meds,DUI revenue,AA classes,etc.,etc.,etc.
There is a" vast "amount of money at stake.
The public,if allowed to "smoke",could just grow their own in many cases.To easy compared to making beer or wine at home.

Answer 11

That's like asking "Why do cars have seat belts?"....to protect us. marijuana messes with the mind and puts yourself and others in harms way. So not only is it not profitable, but it would mess up the economy with car wrecks and shootings (people can get crazy) happening all the time. The insurance companies would not be happy.