Why is marijuana illegal?

Answer 1

Because people act like idiots when they are high.

Answer 2

After reading some of the other answers I'm going with this one.
How about the fact that hemp can be turned into a clean burning fuel. And that would cost the oil companies Billions!!! and the oil companies are the biggest contributors to campaign finance.
Also Hemp clothing is more durable then cotton and other materials that are used today, again costing major companies millions in revenue if Marijuana is made legal.

Answer 3

Marijuana is illegal because it has been determined to be a danger to the people, and because some people use it, sell it or possess it in spite of its dangers, laws were created by the legislature to prevent people from using, selling or possessing it and to punish people who violate the law. The United States also has a problem with free speech, and most people under the influence of weed, tend to speak their minds. (True fact)

Answer 4

Harry Anslinger made it Illegal in 1937 with the Marijuana tax Act even though he had never even tried it. The Act initially said that you had to have a tax stamp issued by the federal government to buy Marijuana because it could not technically be made illegal, and the government just never released any stamps, then they begin to prosecute people who broke the Act, and eventually in the 1960's it was finally catagorized with other drugs on a scale of 1-5 and made illegal based on its Hallucinogenic properties. some of anslingers quotes include...

"There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others."

"...the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races."

"Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death."

"Reefer makes darkies think they're as good as white men."

"Marihuana leads to pacifism and communist brainwashing"

"You smoke a joint and you're likely to kill your brother."

"Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind."

Answer 5

I would say its not a question of what harm it may or may not do to a person, but rather its source. Most big time growers are in Mexico, South America, some Mid-east countires also.
Then as the biggest growers they are not exactly businesses but rather gangs or terror groups. So most drugs are illegal because purchacing them, promoting them etc just funds these groups. Some of osamas biggest cashflow is supposedly the growth and sell of poppies.

Answer 6

It's actually based on racism.

Back in the 30s weed was very popular among ethnicities other then white and a lot of hype was spread about men raping white women because they were high.

Which is bull...so, they made it illegal and it's still something that is biased because mostly blacks & latinos get arrested for it..

Do keep in mind that several states have decriminalized it and there are states which allow medical use as well, but also keep in mind it's still federally illegal.

Also....we ARE a puritan based society, so that's why we have so many hang ups on sex, our bodies, drugs, etc.

Answer 7

Because people could grow it, and it would be hard for the Government to tax it. Therefore they make more money of fines and etc. by it being illegal.

Answer 8

think of tobacco; who earns from tobacco?
- tobacco farmers
- tobacco companies
- government

see? the government earns the most, why? becaues tobacco is semi-legal. government earns but, it's earning is "legal" so it becomes tax, and it is controlled.

how about marijuana and other narcotics? again government (who else can do this business if it's not cia and fbi?) does this business, but it is illegal so it's not controlled by the senate (and courts) because it's illegal, so this illegal earned money can be spent uncontrolled, as the government (cia, fbi) likes...

that's why it's illegal.

Answer 9

i've heard it's because the government can't tax it. whether that's true or not, im not sure. if it were legal though there would be a lot less crime i believe. but there would also be some cons to it. people would be more lazy and not care about ambition as much. thats my thought on the topic.

Answer 10

Because the government can't control it enough to slap a tax on it. It is just a depressant much like alcohol .Slap the same use age on it and the same laws that goes with alcohol and sale it at a store.

Answer 11

I like to think that the government can make more money off of it when it is illegal, Meaning tickets, fines, jail, bonds, and whatever else they can get away with when your busted with it!
I do know that when your busted with so much they will make you pay taxes on it..... My brother-in-law had to pay 7% on a pound.....