Why can't Americans embrace marijuana like other countries?

Question

Why does America see pot as such an evil thing? Cigarrettes and alchohol kill more than any drug known but they are still legal. I guess it's only okay if the government can tax the sh*t out of it.

Answer 1

Cause they don't want me to enjoy the bowl I'm going to have immediately after this question, acutlly - during - you didn't notice the pause while reading but it was there.

The Netherlands has great drug laws, and the lowest rate of addiction.

I wish these folks would wise up too.

Answer 2

Here, Here!! I don't even smoke and never will, but I think weed ain't such a bad thing. Honestly, there are way worse things out there. If Marijuanna was legalized than the cops could focus on the really addictive and killing drugs like crack, heroine, and cocainne. Weed is also a calming drug, this hectic world could use more calmness. There would be a smaller crime rate and less people would be murdered. There are bad sides to weed, but theres a bad side to everything in life. Alcohol has bad sides too and it's legal!

Weed proboably won't ever be legal though, it would be hard for the evil money worshipping government to tax.

Answer 3

Because it would make too much sense.

Because a large segment of voters, mainly older Conservative working class, have always been told it is bad and refuse to accept it. A lot of people exaggerate the health risks (see Sunnie above) based on biased scientific data.

The National Academy of Science debunked most of the myths in a report done in the 90s. They found that, while heavy use may cause lung and reactionary problems, heavy use of alcohol is much more harmful to your job, family, and health than marijuana ever could be.

As far as the "gateway" drug theory, marijuana is far less likely to introduce people to harder drugs than either tobacco or alcohol. Alcohol is in fact the NUMBER ONE gateway drug. Tobacco and alcohol, no matter what companies say, is targeted at younger people so they can be addicted.

The well-researched study also shows that MARIJUANA IS NOT EVEN CLOSE to being as addictive as cigarettes or alcohol.

Of course, I am preaching to the choir probably.

Bottom line:
It's just the scientific ignorance and self-rightousness that I have come to see from Conservatives and the ultra-protective force of Liberals that prevents it from being legal. There is simply no legitimate governmental interest to keep it illegal. Prohibition onlys creates crime and a black market which keeps the "bad guys" in charge. Of course, harder more harmful drugs should not be legal because there is measurable harm from even moderate use of those drugs.

EDIT: Pizza guy is a self-righteous close-minded idiot. I am not saying that because alcohol is legal marijuana should be. I am saying there is no legitimate governmental interest to keep it illegal. The "alcohol" argument just supports the fact that the government has no clue what is best for the people and only listens to alcohol and tobacco lobbies instead of the truth. As far as "patently" harmful you don't know what the hell you are talking about.

Answer 4

The drug laws are not about safety.

There are about money, power and preservation.

Their is more profit in illegal markets. A lb of pot that costs about 10 dollars to produce can easily sell upwards of a thousand dollars, a 10000% profit. Not only that, it gives the government a reason to have more federal commissions and law enforcement.

More federal law enforcement means more federal power unchecked by the people. More commissions means bigger pay checks for congress and the senate employees.

It also allows them to essentially make anyone criminal and a suspect of a federal crime, which makes it very easy to get a warrant and to discriminate against people. Which is essentially a nice loop hole used to violate the constitution.

It's not only pot that should be completely legal, but all drugs.

Answer 5

Okay...yes cigarettes and alcohol do kill many ppl per year, and are highly addictive. BUT do we need to add another to the list? Marijuana is highly addictive, and yes it is a drug, so if America was to legalize this...then what is next? cocaine? ice? meth? coke? acid? shrooms? Ecstasy? COME ON!! Be rational, if it were to get legalized, marijuana that is, the pot heads would be content for a while, until the "high" wore off, then next it would be another drug...DO you people NOT see that it just keeps going? i think cigarettes and alcohol should be illegal, but we cant go back now, so lets get a hold on what we can control, and that is not legalizing any more addictive drugs. thanks, bye

Answer 6

Ironically it is a hang over from earlier in American History when we last tackled Immigration Issues. The way we handle Immigration then opened the door to making it illegal. Also,
the US Government authorized NY to test Marijuana to see if it had all the ill effects propaganda from Southwestern States had claimed. The study found that it was in fact not harmful to the public. Federal Government over ruled the State. So much for State's Rights huh, it's gone now as well.

Answer 7

Sunniej1977 has the most thoughtful and well researched response.

For those of you who dislike facts and figures, and abhor political correctness, here's my answer.

To drug addicts and hippies, this is the only issue that needs to be discussed. As long as they have their drugs and abortion, the only thing that they will complain about is war. Nevermind unemployment, crime, corruption, taxation, national security...

The only thing that matters is to make sure there is uninterrupted sex and drugs for everyone. War is an unwanted distraction from the endless debauchery, and politics requires too much thought. Free condoms, abortions, and government subsidized pot for everyone!

And of course: kumbaya, give peace a chance.

Answer 8

The only reason tobacco and alcohol aren't illegal is because you can't stop someone from growing grain and making it into alcohol, grain makes up a huge percentage of the food in America. Marijuana should be under the same principal, taxed heavily and regulated.

Answer 9

Read the following information... Personally I cant stand drugs of any kind and the people who talk about embracing this need a serious reality check on what this can do to you...




Marijuana


Usually smoked as a cigarette or joint, or in a pipe or bong, marijuana has appeared in "blunts" in recent years. These are cigars that have been emptied of tobacco and re-filled with marijuana, sometimes in combination with another drug, such as crack. Some users also mix marijuana into foods or use it to brew tea.

The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Short-term effects of marijuana use include problems with memory and learning; distorted perception; difficulty in thinking and problem-solving; loss of coordination; and increased heart rate, anxiety, and panic attacks.

Health Hazards

Effects of Marijuana on the Brain. Researchers have found that THC changes the way in which sensory information gets into and is acted on by the hippocampus. This is a component of the brain's limbic system that is crucial for learning, memory, and the integration of sensory experiences with emotions and motivations. Investigations have shown that THC suppresses neurons in the information-processing system of the hippocampus. In addition, researchers have discovered that learned behaviors, which depend on the hippocampus, also deteriorate. Read More>>

Effects on the Lungs. Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers have. These individuals may have daily cough and phlegm, symptoms of chronic bronchitis, and more frequent chest colds. Continuing to smoke marijuana can lead to abnormal functioning of lung tissue injured or destroyed by marijuana smoke.

Regardless of the THC content, the amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers. This may be due to marijuana users inhaling more deeply and holding the smoke in the lungs.

Effects of Heavy Marijuana Use on Learning and Social Behavior. A study of college students has shown that critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning are impaired among people who use marijuana heavily, even after discontinuing its use for at least 24 hours. Researchers compared 65 "heavy users," who had smoked marijuana a median of 29 of the past 30 days, and 64 "light users," who had smoked a median of 1 of the past 30 days. After a closely monitored 19- to 24-hour period of abstinence from marijuana and other illicit drugs and alcohol, the undergraduates were given several standard tests measuring aspects of attention, memory, and learning. Compared to the light users, heavy marijuana users made more errors and had more difficulty sustaining attention, shifting attention to meet the demands of changes in the environment, and in registering, processing, and using information. The findings suggest that the greater impairment among heavy users is likely due to an alteration of brain activity produced by marijuana.


Longitudinal research on marijuana use among young people below college age indicates those who used have lower achievement than the non-users, more acceptance of deviant behavior, more delinquent behavior and aggression, greater rebelliousness, poorer relationships with parents, and more associations with delinquent and drug-using friends.

Answer 10

oh we, americans do embrace marijuana....just not legally. it makes it so much cooler...i mean the only thing cooler than having an intimate talk with your book shelves is that its illegal if you smoked pot. they should make alcohol and cigarettes illegal too. drinkers and smokers would get sooo much cooler.