The arguments about legalizing medical marijuana rage on and, with such strength of feeling on both sides of the argument, it can be difficult to get a clear perspective. We believe that the only way to see the wood for the trees, or the weed for the smoke, is to be objective.
There is overwhelming evidence that cannabis relieves various medical conditions; unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, pain and spasm, as well as the side effects of some prescription medicines. It is fact: marijuana is less toxic to the system than many pharmaceuticals.
A fact that informs the opinion of much of the medical establishment is the paucity of good quality research on the use of medical marijuana. Doctors are trained to mistrust anything that hasn’t been fully researched but there is a glaring problem here: the cultivation and possession of marijuana is illegal. Legalize marijuana and the research becomes possible.
Then we come to the specter of addiction. One oft-quoted study (University of Arkansas 2001) found that withdrawal from marijuana in heavy users gave rise to symptoms similar to those of nicotine withdrawal? But how were the participants in that trial taking their cannabis? If, as is the norm, they were smoking it, then the chances are they were smoking it alongside tobacco. Is it any wonder that symptoms were similar to those of nicotine withdrawal?
Users of medical marijuana are rarely heavy users and they can avoid the nicotine syndrome by vaporizing their herb.
Many opponents to legalization of medical marijuana believe that to legalize marijuana will erode the drugs-are-dangerous message that we try to instill in our children, leading to widespread use of not only cannabis but truly dangerous drugs such as heroin. Yet there is overwhelming evidence to the contrary: in states where medical marijuana is legal, the figures for teen use of cannabis have either remained stable or have followed a downward trend.
Then, there are our human rights: why shouldn’t we legalize marijuana, surely we have the right to make choices for and about ourselves unless there is evidence that our preference will cause harm to others. There is no proof of third-party harm being caused by users of marijuana, yet third-party harm is caused by substances such as tobacco and alcohol, both of which are lawful.
Challengers are apt to counter that children are likely to suffer from their parents’ marijuana use. Any suffering caused to a child, whether from excessive drug-use or any other parental activity, comes under the heading of child neglect and, therefore, there is no need for a specific marijuana law to enable prosecution.
And, finally, there is the ‘prohibition doesn’t work’ argument. We know from our own history that prohibition may actually worsen the situation; disallowed activities become exciting, something that is allowed every day loses its thrill. When an activity becomes legal, it becomes regulated – alcohol is a legal drug but it is far more difficult for youngsters to obtain than marijuana, which is readily available to most high school students. Didn’t we learn our lesson with alcohol prohibition, which failed miserably and led to gang culture and black market operations? Legalize marijuana, regulate it and provide good quality, freely available education as to its use.
The knock-on effect of black market activity and the punishment of marijuana users is expense: it costs an immense amount of money to seek out and punish those who break the marijuana law. Legalizing marijuana would not only save thousands of dollars, it would also create another income stream for the government in terms of taxes.
It’s not rocket science, is it?
We’ll leave you with some thoughts from Abraham Lincoln:
“Prohibition…goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.”
December 8th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
marijuna is awsome
February 10th, 2011 at 11:39 am
My name is Clarence Sampson black male 31 years old live in San Antonio, TX where medical marijuana is not legal here because of the side effect it cause and other b-s reason to explain why I want medical marijuana here in Texas.
I’ve grown up in here in Texas lived in Texas my whole life but traveled w/ the U.S. Army and station in Korea and also Iraq. I’m currently unemployed and I’m trying my best w/ my diagnois of P.T.S.D. which I retain in the Army and marijuana is my choice of drug to ease the memory of a accident that happen while in the U.S. Army.
I’ve tried several tries to kick the habit being away from friends and family just to get away from the pain I’ve endure while in the Army been out the
Army for 5 years now and still everyone tell me to stop smoking marijuana. I’ve got an idea to make vehicle a source to the problem but i need some help on trying to get notice if you can please contact me on facebook or yahoo messenger skrewvillez@yahoo.com I really appreciate your time and enegry to create an project called Green H.O.P.E.
Project to make it work for all human kind. Thank you for your time and effort to listen to a veteran w/ helluva problem. Thanks a ton. Clarence Sampson.
February 19th, 2011 at 6:10 am
the biggest frustration is when ppl say that marijuana is addictive. science studies have proven that it is not addictive… sure some ppl become addicted to it because they create a psychological dependence on it. if its not marijuana itll be tv, or sex, or video games… the actual substance of addiction is arbitrary. ..its the persons psychological issues that need to be taken care of! check out Dr.Gabor Mate’s work on addiction.. he’s a best seller!
February 24th, 2011 at 10:57 am
legalization is the only logical action.
March 13th, 2011 at 1:35 am
Any crime that lacks a victim or an immediate danger to another human being should be repealed.
A big battle ground as of now along with marijuana is abortion, the argument politicians use is ” It’s the womans body she may do what she pleases” although im not in favor of abortion I will point out that these same politicians are against legalization. Is not there argument of ” It’s X body X can do what they please to it ” applicable to drug use or Cannabis use, logically speaking its undeniable.
The issue I see is our key leaders in the US government are from a generation raised with lies, the film ” Reefer Madness ” deemed a comedy by most Cannabis smokers was what there parents watched, after years of your head being filled with mis truths regarding cannabis you essentially become brainwashed and for these politicians to rewire there brains at the old age of 60+ cannot be asked for, therefore it is up to the younger generations to take a stand now and be able to pass laws regarding cannabis legalization.
However, once our current generation of politicians is passed I personally expect a large swing in our favor when it comes to the views of Cannabis recreational and medicinal use.
March 16th, 2011 at 5:40 pm
I feel that those that choose to smoke marijuana should not be punished for it, for one thing it grows naturally they call it herb.
Have you heard of someone dying or killing someone due to driving under the influence of marijuana, Most people who smoke do it to relax and chill out It is also used for medical purposes if you are against it you should try it you may find out that it relaxes you and there are no idiots around like there are when you drink alcohol lol have a great day.
March 16th, 2011 at 7:36 pm
i have been diagnosed with PTSD, Manic – Depression w/ psychcotic features, and Multiple Personaities.
i smoke marijuana every day and i know it is medicinal. i have less anxiety, no depression, which i suffered w/ for years. i had some psychological problems though i don’t anymore, marijuiana was what got me through those hard years. i smoke now because i know it is medicinal for me. i have no doubt.
i use to beieve it was a sin, because that is what everyone said. now i know that they didn’t know what they were talking about. I am a very Spiritual person and i sincerely do not believe it is wrong. I smoke for pleasure and medicinally.
May 25th, 2011 at 4:11 pm
This statement “in states where medical marijuana is legal, the figures for teen use of cannabis have either remained stable or have followed a downward trend.” is false. When marijuana was legalized in an Alaska usage among teens nearly tripled.
June 14th, 2011 at 11:14 pm
Marijuana… Its a plant, created by God.. It can cure some of the most ill people on the planet. It is not a drug, it is a plant. It was created by God, not by 2 men in a lab.. It should be legal
June 26th, 2011 at 1:06 am
“This statement “in states where medical marijuana is legal, the figures for teen use of cannabis have either remained stable or have followed a downward trend.” is false. When marijuana was legalized in an Alaska usage among teens nearly tripled.”
What about California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, the Netherlands, Spain, and a good handful of other countries with de facto legalization?
August 21st, 2011 at 5:54 am
Medicinal marijuana is legale in CO, however, this year, Colorado announced it is going to write a bill to legalize marijuana in 2012. It will be catorgorized the same as alcohol so there is an age limit, but i thought it was kinda funny becuase most people thought California would be the first to legalize but its Colorado haha.
September 6th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
I read this page for people’s viewpoints for my high school’s debate team. But, I also partake in the smoking of Marijuana. I smoke it because I suffer from P.T.S.D and I know it is medicinal. I also smoke it just for the feeling of being relaxed. I have terrible anxiety and depression. When I smoke, I feel relaxed and happy. So, I think it should be legalized.
September 29th, 2011 at 2:30 am
Alcohol is far more intoxicating, far more addictive, and far more poisonous to the body than any amount of cannabis can be.
Vaporizing or eating cannabis in the right way is absolutely not poisonous at all. If we want to be an intelligent and understanding society, we need to decriminalize and legalize cannabis. We need to stop arresting the nice, hard-working Americans that choose to partake or grow this plant. The legal consequences are literally ruining our lives…not the cannabis plant. Arrests, incarcerations, criminal records are absolutely disgusting for being involved with this beautfiul plant.
Also, do you realize how much it costs to enforce these policies? Do you realize how much tax revenue we could gain if legalized and regulated in a manner similar to alcohol? America needs to lead the way in this issue regardless of its history. The longer we continue this illogical path the more ridiculous we will look in hindsight…the more Americans will suffer.
September 30th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
everyone thinks marijuana is such a bad thing. it really isn’t! i mean really…you could get into a car accident if you took some pain medication and it made you drowsy. Every single thing can be bad..You can get high off of sharpies and aerosoles and scented lotion. This world is never going to be safe.. The least you can do is make it legal to take away the pain. Marijuana actually helps people. people just need to stop having such biast and prejudiced views of things they know nothing about..sio pahhleaseeee do us all a favor and just shut up america!
October 8th, 2011 at 10:35 pm
Here we have 14 people that are Pro-marijuana and can give many reasons why it should be legal. However, just like most other pro-mj sites, there are no proactive ways to actually get the laws changed. How do WE make pot legal? Its as though we are all just sitting back, waiting for someone else to change the laws when the fact is, WE, the people, can do it. WE hired (elected) the idiots that make the anti-pot laws, WE can elect someone else.
If you don’t vote, start. Find a candidate that will help end these stupid anti-pot laws forever. Educate, comment on news articles about pot, talk to your friends, argue with your teachers, explain it to your children and parents that pot is not the evil that cops make it out to be. In order to win, we must fight an intellectual battle in Congress to change the Federal Laws and then the State Laws. It is up to us people. We can do it, we just have to start and be active and not sit around waiting for someone else to do it.
October 25th, 2011 at 6:46 pm
Most teens are not thinking about the medical side of it when they smoke it’s there excuse, however, the also eat apples not because of its nutritional value, but because their hungry. Marijuana has no addictive substances, it does have medical purposes that nobody can deny, and its a very taxable substance. To not legalize it would be absurd. There is countless people sitting in jail cells right now wondering why they are there. Alcohol remains legal even though it’s destroyed countless lives even lives of people who have no part in this substance. Why is this legal? There was a big push for it during the prohibition of course, much like today in a lot of states. Get behind the wheel drunk and you will see the result, most of the time nothing, however, there has been tons of cases where this trip ended up fatal. A stoner gets behind the wheel, you know what happens, he can’t remember how to put it into drive. Just kidding. However, on a serious note, it makes you more cautious and your brain is functioning on a higher level. Yes, it’s been proven to increase brain functioning not reduce. Honestly, the only problem I see pertaining to marijuana is the laws against it
November 1st, 2011 at 6:47 pm
marijuana should not be legalized. it causes health problems and does not do anything good for you. just because it is not \as\ bad as other drugs does not mean that it is good. I understand the money issue, and it would probably increase tax revenues, but what is more important? the money or the safety and well being of people ?
November 11th, 2011 at 11:13 pm
i honestly dont know why marijuana isnt legal already. the facts are staring us right in the face. money is to be made in revenue. its not very addictive. it has positive medical effects. it doesnt cause serious long term damage to the smoker and presents little to no third-party risks either. and for those saying that usage rates have increased in states where its been legalized… SO WHAT?! what harm is it causing?! sorry for making your population happy and your state money. and for those still skeptical, check out this website, http://www.marijuana.com/myths/ i can also tell you from experience that decriminalization would work. yes, at the start there would be an increase in usage, again, WHO CARES?! but in the long term, rates would start declining. the only reason i smoke is because its exciting knowing each time you buy or use, you could be arrested. but once that excitement is taken away, what reason will i have to continue smoking? none. im not addicted, im not dependent on it in any way, and there wont be the thrill of defying authority. and im smart enough not to do other harder drugs. i just dont get it.
December 20th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
The Bible clearly states to not get drunk with wine, although Jesus drinks it. This is because God does not want you controlled by any kind of substance. Only the Holy Spirit is to control you, not drugs or alcohol. That is what the bible says. If you are getting high in any way, it is a sin because there is something other than the Holy Spirit that is controlling you.
January 2nd, 2012 at 4:15 pm
I am laughing at the posts about how it’s a sin. Wake up call, that’s not a legit argument, because not everybody believes in god. Are you going to send me to jail for that? Just because you think it’s a sin doesn’t mean it has to be illegal. Just don’t smoke it, enough said. Nobody is making you smoke, and nobody is bashing you for your beliefs. It’s a matter of choice, if you think drinking alcohol is a sin then you don’t drink it, am I wrong? What’s the difference with pot? If you feel that strongly that it’s a sin, then when it’s legal you still won’t smoke it, right? So why does it matter, it’s the classic “I don’t feel that it’s right so nobody should be able to do it”. Well not everybody feels the same way as you do. And if we all followed something just because a group of people said so that kinda defeats the purpose of the original intent of this country. That’s what was supposed to be the beauty of the U.S. is the diversity of it’s people. Not everybody smokes cigs, or drinks just because it’s legal, and nobody is asking you to smoke weed either. It’s a matter of choice, so if it becomes legal, you will still go to heaven or whatever because you stand your ground on your beliefs. So keep your nose ou t of MY life because I don’t believe in sins or god just right and wrong. MY determination of right and wrong NOT yours. I don’t treat you any differently because you believe in god, yet religous followers continue to judge and bash over and over, gays, pot smokers, other religions then theirs, drinking, you name it. I live in a “free” country where I can belive in whatever I want to, and I don’t hate you because you believe in god so stop trying to control my life becausee it’s not like yours, just embrace the fact that you are an indiividual and you think differently than me. because from my point of view religious people like you seem to be the problem but you don’t see me asking to criminalize religion.
January 10th, 2012 at 10:27 am
If you really want to legalize pot the first thing you need to do is find out who are your congressional and state representives. Write a letter to their offices or better yet send
an E-mail. Tell them why you think marijuana should be legalized. I personally believe
that our society has much larger problems to be concerned about than criminalizing
marijuana users. Methamphedimine use is destroying peoples lives all across the country.
That is one dangerous drug that really scares the hell out of me. I think pot should be made
legal. Sell it at the liquer stores and tax it. Law enforcement could then use the revenue to go
after the ones who are dealing in the dangerous drugs.