the negative effects of marijuana are brain damage,mental illness,etc. but if used properly marijuana can be used for good.i think all marijuana charges should be misdemeanors not a felony.is marijuana a gateway drug to other more addictive drugs?does child neglect result from parents who smoke marijuana,can marijuana and other drugs be directly linked to child abuse?
2007-10-05 11:39:37 · 11 answers · asked by matthew h 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Parenting
My sister started with marijuana and went on to some scary stuff later. They give it to patients who are in pain, to take the pain away, but in my opinion, it isn't healthy. I haven't done research on it, which is why I say "in my opinion". It did my sister no good, believe me. I don't think you should legalize things that are harmful. Some say people do it anyway so why not just make it legal. Making it legal doesn't fix the problem, it just makes it more available. Smoking it can impair you and put innocent lives at risk, say if you get in the car and drive.
2007-10-05 11:47:02 · answer #1 · answered by nanners454 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Alcohol causes brain and liver damage, and is far more abused, is a gateway drug, but it is legal. And yes, alcohol can be linked to child abuse.
Tobacco causes cancer (lung, throat, mouth) and can lead to strokes (brain damage), is a gateway drug, but is legal.
Heck, caffiene is the most abused drug (very addictive), can cause some mental illnesses (anxiety, depression), but it is legal and often even added to some food products or medications!
Marijuana is no worse than the above, yet for some reason has harsh legal penalties. Prohibition didn't work for alcohol, so why keep marijuana illegal as well? (At least that way the government can reap in the sin taxes and regulate marijuana, much like it currently does with alcohol and tobacco.)
2007-10-05 12:20:32 · answer #2 · answered by mrvadeboncoeur 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it should be legal, for a few reasons:
1. Part of the reason why teens are appealed to it is because it's illegal. They feel cool about breaking the law.
2. Some people need it for medical reasons.
3. The cops spend so much time busting kids for smoking it, and they could be putting that time to better use.
However, I understand the health problems it can create for smokers, and the negative effect it can have on the environment. I also understand that criminals sell marijuana to finance criminal activity. I think that a good compromise is to treat it the same way that the birth control pill is treated-make it available by prescription only. And depending on the case, like if it's just a teenager who has no record is smoking it, make it a misdemeanor or just slap them with a small fine. But if someone is selling it to someone who doesn't need it, then there should be a stiffer penalty.
2007-10-05 12:04:36 · answer #3 · answered by Air Guitar Goddess 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. Marijuana does not cause brain damage nor is it a "gateway" drug - that is just DARE propaganda. Smoking, alcohol and yes caffeine inflict far greater harm on one's body then pot. But anything whether it's sugar or drugs used in excess can be harmful. Pot doesn't cause child neglect - bad parenting does. And if we really want to deal with drug abuse in this country then we need to look at our propensity of prescribing medication for every problem. Your child can concentrate - give then speed. Can't sleep - downers. In pain - how about some hillbilly heroin. The effects of the abuse of prescription drugs has a far greater negative impact on our society then illegal drug use. I'm sure if the insurance industry could find a way to make a profit off of pot it would be legal.
2007-10-05 12:26:38 · answer #4 · answered by phovisi 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
YES! Absolutely. If a drug were outlawed because it did harm, then alcohol should be outlawed, by FAR over marijuana. Because of the present laws against marijuana, research into the pain-killing derivative of that weed cannot be done.
Several of my family members who had cancer were greatly helped with their medical marijuana, when morphine, vicodin, and other pain killing substances no longer were effective.
As a young hippie back in the 1960s, I smoked a few doobies occassionally, and it never led to harder stuff for me - ever - well, with the exception of brownies and pizza (munchies). It is a myth that most people who smoke weed go onto harder stuff. I stopped smoking pot in the early 1970s, and never took anything stronger than coffee after that.
Attitudes about the weed - which is grown naturally , and is very organic - are shaped by relatively recent (in the history of man) POLITICAL laws. Here is a link with more info on that:
http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2003/12/22/whyIsMarijuanaIllegal.html
2007-10-05 11:59:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I personally think that Marijuana should be legal. I think that there are some definite medical pluses for smoking Marijuana. It helps with vision issues and easing pain and vomiting. My cousin passed away in 2003 from cancer. No prescription drugs -- morphine, and other heavy narcotics helped to ease his pain -- but smoking Marijuana did. He felt less pain and he had less vomiting.
All drugs -- legal or not -- have side effects. Do you ever see the commercials on TV for prescription drugs that give a never-ending list of side effects?
Smoking Marijuana may not help everyone, but even if it can help one person deal with health issues, then I say legalize it.
Despite what some people may say, I also do not believe that smoking Marijuana is going to lead to taking other drugs or becoming an addict.
2007-10-05 11:52:32 · answer #6 · answered by Vera C 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Nope. While I realize that marijuana is of help to those fighting the nausea from chemo and such, to legalize it will only allow the druggies get a hold of more, and they will believe that they aren't doing any harm to their bodies simply b/c it's legal.
Marijuana kills brain cells, not to mention all the other negative effects it has on the body. People who smoke it are just adding to the early demise of themselves.
2007-10-06 02:36:58 · answer #7 · answered by AV 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
are you nuts? yes it should be illegal. it is a drug. yes it is a gateway drug. most people who use it their bodies get use to it and they need more to get the same effect once they cant get the desired effect they'll try something else. and yes i know what I'm talking about. i have a younger bro on his way to prison because of this little drug. that's where it all started.
2007-10-05 12:18:09 · answer #8 · answered by crazeemama 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Marijuana should not be legal! but then alcohol and cigs are more addicting than marijuana.. personally, i am against it..
2007-10-05 11:44:08 · answer #9 · answered by megaherzfan 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
I would say No to legalization.
2007-10-05 12:26:06 · answer #10 · answered by ellen 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋