Why is tobacco & alcohol is legal, but marijuana is medically healthier than both? Isn't that backwards?

Answer 1

Marijuana has a historical prejudice against it because of racial sentiments against mexican laborers from early in the 20th Century who were fond of smoking it. Plus the tobacco and alcohol lobbyists made sure their pet Congressmen would outlaw a cheap and popular form of competition! I debate whether burning it is healthy however. I would think it is best to cook it in butter and use the butter in food. You will get the benefits without putting anything into your lungs. I don't use it myself so maybe there is something I'm not as current on however.

Answer 2

Marijuana was outlawed for two major reasons. The first was because "All Mexicans are crazy and marijuana is what makes them crazy." The second was the fear that heroin addiction would lead to the use of marijuana -- exactly the opposite of the modern "gateway" myth.

The modern explanation for the laws is the "gateway" myth -- the idea that marijuana leads to harder drugs. However, this argument is so patently ridiculous that even top government officials are coming to admit that it has no basis in fact.

You can find references for the above at http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/Library/mj_outlawed.htm and
http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/History/whiteb1.htm and
http://druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/gateway_myth.htm

There are two major reasons why it remains illegal, even in the face of so much evidence to the contrary.

1) Cannabis prohibition has become a big business with both government agencies and numbers of commercial companies that depend on it. Examples are drug testing firms, companies that make toys for cops, prison building, etc.

2) It is driven by people who are really zealots and don't want to know the truth. For them, it is closer to religious belief than anything rational. If you point them to the major research they will flatly refuse to read it. Then they will tell you that whatever researched you have referenced is biased -- even though they can't even name the titles or tell you the first thing about what it says.

Alcohol is legal because we tried making it illegal and found out that it was a disaster. See http://druglibrary.org/prohibitionresults.htm

Tobacco is legal largely because they claimed for decades that smoking tobacco was actually healthy. They used to feature doctors and nurses in their ads. Also because there are huge economic interests behind tobacco including several states that depended on the tobacco crop.

You can find the full text the major government commissions reports on the subject over the last 100 years at http://druglibrary.org/schaffer under Major Studies of Drugs and Drug Policy.

Answer 3

Marijuana is NOT healthier!
Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers do, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illnesses, a heightened risk of lung infections, and a greater tendency toward obstructed airways. Cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs may also be promoted by marijuana smoke. Marijuana has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because marijuana smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke.

Marijuana's damage to short-term memory seems to occur because THC alters the way in which information is processed by the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation. In one study, researchers compared marijuana smoking and nonsmoking 12th-graders' scores on standardized tests of verbal and mathematical skills. Although all of the students had scored equally well in 4th grade, those who were heavy marijuana smokers, i.e., those who used marijuana seven or more times per week, scored significantly lower in 12th grade than nonsmokers. Another study of 129 college students found that among heavy users of marijuana critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning were significantly impaired, even after they had not used the drug for at least 24 hours

It gives you "the stupids" & it causes cancer with as much or even greater frequency than tobacco.
If you want to stay healthy, avoid alcohol, tobacco & marijuana.

Answer 4

Actually marijuana causes the same adverse side effects to your health as tobacco. Marijuana is also a mood altering drug, just like alcohol, and can lead to addiction. However, if the governments ever figure out a way to licence and profit from the sale of marijuana I'm sure they'll leap at the opportunity to regulate it like they do alcohol and tobacco

Answer 5

I think it is because the Marijuana impares your judgement a lot and so you could be a danger to yourself or someone else in an accident or something.

Answer 6

From what I've heard, one marijuana cigarette is the equivalent of about ten tobacco ones to the lungs.

Answer 7

It is.
Only with alcohol prohibition the USA have already made a bad experience, and marijuana is usually mixed with tobacco.
No one should suffer from any drug abuse of others.
Therefore smoking of whatever should be prohibited in public rooms, and I support all efforts made against drunk driving. (that goes also for driving after the consumation of marijuana or cocaine!)

Answer 8

By any chance was the person who told you that smoking a double sized hand rolled funny smelling cigarette at the time.................

Answer 9

All three will kill you. Fast!

http://www.handlethetruth.net

Answer 10

yeah, I'm with you girl!