Why is it legal for a 21 year old to smoke cigarettes full of arsenic, tar and nicotine yet not marijuana?

Question

Like why not just ban all harmful drugs and instead of picking and choosing or REMOVE THE BAN ENTIRELY THE WAY I LOOK AT IT, ITS ILLEGAL FOR THEM TO SAY OH THIS IS LEGAL BUT THAT ISN'T!!!

Answer 1

Ermmm

Because it's illegal for anyone to smoke MJ

Answer 2

The reason why is very fundamental to the American way of life. A simple answer is that the federal government can't tax something that they can't control. Marijuana grows just about anywhere (hense the name weed). Unlike tobacco which only grows in specific climates whereby the gowing process can be monitored and policed, marijuana can grow both indoors and out, thoughout the entire united states (including Alaska). Every drug defined by the FDA (regardless of its dangerousness) that is sold has a federal tax stamp on it. This tax generates billions of dollars in revenue to the government. The government does not have the infrastructure nor the manpower to police the uncontrolled growth and sales of a low technology horticulture based industry. Sure they can find the massive fields growing in forests or in corn fields, but they can't do anything about the plants in individual back yards or artificially lit closets. Since they can't tax it, they make it illegal. This is the bottom line. In addition to this, there are hundreds of billions of dollars contributed to the economy in health care, commercials, and law enforcement caused by death producing drugs (alcohol, tobacco, etc). Quite frankly, people get rich off the death and distruction caused by legalized drugs (including the federal government). Isn't it ironic that an 18 year old (a legal adult) can go to war a die for their country but if they don't die in a fake war manufactured by Bush, when they come home they can't even get a beer without legal sanctions and reprisals. This is bullshit if you ask me.

Answer 3

Ethically speaking the reasons for banning substance use are…

They 'supposedly' keep citizens form meaningfully contributing to society…

Skipping over all the problems that banning substance use causes…

Cigarettes are called a “working mans drug”, because of the instant gratification, take a 10 minute smoke break and you enjoy that same ten minutes more then somebody who doesn’t have a cigarette…

Answer 4

I'm with the person above, it's 16 to legally smoke here in UK, and kids way younger than that smoke these days. Marijuana is legal here, IF, its for personal use, so if you get caught you can get away with it if its a small amount.

If we go off your argument, it would be way too hard to make smoking pot illegal, as it is pretty similar to normal cigarette smoke and they could never make smoking cigs illegal

Answer 5

I have been beating my head against that stone wall for years. It's no wonder kids today won't listen to adults on the subject of doing what's good for them vs. what can harm them for life. This is such an obvious disconnect with reality it makes no sense at all. But my biggest reason for wanting to legalize pot (and all other controlled substances) is that we never learned the lesson of Prohibition i nthis country. Making anything illegal when people want it, is just turning over a lucrative trade to the mob.

Answer 6

Because we have stupid laws in place that haven't been revised in years. We have these old f'ers in congress and in the supreme court who still live in the 40's, 50's or earlier who are set in their ways and don't have a clue what is really going on today. Then there are your bible thumpers, say no more. There are politicians getting kick backs from alcohol distributors to not vote to legalize m.j. I guess it would be competition for them. Hopefully one day it will be legalized, but who know they may just decide to keep on losing the war on drugs forever.

Answer 7

It is ALL about money --- the federal government makes NO revenue on marijuana or cocaine but rakes in MILLIONS of $$$$ on alcohol and tobacco

It is a no-brainer, If you feel SO strongly about it - than lobby your govt officials to change the laws

The problem with THAT is - you will actually have to DO something and most pot smokers have ZERO motivation so there you go............

Answer 8

because the federal government cannot control marijuana. the second they are on it legalizing it - it will become 90% taxes just like alcohol and cigarettes which will make the street value of one bag of marijuana about $300. and who is going to pay that ? no one ! everyone will grow their own. People dont want to have to make their own tobacco -its a lot of work and so is making your own alcohol. but marijuana is easy - you plant it and it grows !!!! the feds can't control that

Answer 9

probably because cigarettes dont destroy your ambition and turn you into lazy lifeless loser.

haha i like to smoke weed sometimes so i am sort of kidding

personally i dotn want it legal because id hate to see it get hugely mainstream and commercialized. i like how its kind of hidden and underground. it would be cool if it was decriminalized a bit so people who get busted with small amounts dont get into all kinds of trouble any more.

Answer 10

U.S. signed Anti-marijuana treaty back in the twenties!
Tabacco is still commercial and taxable product!