A Logical Arguement For The Legalization Of Marijuana

Lots of people I know support the idea of legalized marijuana, however many fail to give a logical argument for it.

I don't support or oppose it per se. But I will provide an argument for it. I want to first state that I am not a spectator to the effects of marijuana; my sisters have both been addicted to it and one has really been f**ked up economically due to it. My Father has been plagued with drug abuse and alcoholism and I've been addicted to pills before; so I know the effects of these drugs on over all society. I'm not a Politician looking from the outside in. I've lived in the Drug Lord ruled neighborhoods and seen people get shot, when I was little I lived at the heart of the early 90s gang wars that swept Texas, I'm still traumatized from it and I can see how my behavior is effected even years later.

A large amount of crime in America is due to illegal drug use. Be it theft (used to support the addiction financially), violent crimes (as punishment/gang relations), prostitution (same reasons as theft), money laundering and other offenses. In parts of the US; Texas and New Mexico in particular, Marijuana is the main drug fueling this. Marijuana is the one I shall speak about, its the only illicit drug that can possibly be solved by legalization, as the effects of others (speed, heroin, cocaine, LSD) are too dangerous per se to be legalized.

If Marijuana was legalized the amount of violent gang related crime would fall dramatically, as would theft and other petty crime. In San Antonio Texas, in just 2 months the amount of drug-gang related murders was numbered at 8 and rising. Drugs are both fuel and are fueled by poverty, the war on poverty and war on drugs are both related; one most be removed before the other can be cured/worked on (marijuana would be easier to resolve than poverty at large because that is impossible [resolving poverty totally]).

So we can state that legalization of marijuana would mean:

• Less violent crime
• Less property related crime
• Less organized crime power
• Possibly better economical situation for addicts due to lower prices, but that's a maybe.

So we wonder, with all the benefits why its not legalized; that could be due to the following:

• It is safe to say and even clear to see that there are corrupt officials in with the drug lords;
• That the corrupt officials and drug lords profit off this
• Legalizing marijuana would be viciously fought by organized crime
• Many people do not see the effects that drugs such as marijuana have on all over crime
• Prisons would be almost empty, there would be much less income for local governments.

Its safe to say that while other parts of the nation are plagued by other drugs, that the 2nd largest state in both area and population would, in all probability, benefit greatly off marijuana being legalized.

You may or may not realized the corruption in government; that does not change what goes on in the streets.

 

 

 

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Well I don't use the drug (although I did periodically when I was younger), but I don't see why it isn't legal.
Alcohol and tobacco are both more dangerous than marijuana and they are legal. So much tax money goes
into keeping people in prison on marijuana-related charges. Some of the prisons out here are full from these
type of crimes. People are going to use it whether it is legal or not. Not far from where I live, in West Hollywood,
they have legalized marijuana in small amounts. Although this decision conflicts with federal law, the police can
now focus on less-trivial crimes. It doesn't seem like there have been any major problems with this and I know
that other cities like (I think Denver) are doing the same.

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As for federal law I'd say its fully within the State's rights to legislate in-state grown marijuana.

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Are you saying that it should be their right or that they currently have that right?
The last time I checked, I think that technically it is against federal law to grow or
be in possession of marijuana. I personally think that it should be handled by the state.

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I am saying that one could interpt the 10th amendmant to allow states to legalized marijuana regardless of federal law, provided such marijuana is grown within the state and only used within the state, otherwise it'd be interstate commerce and subject to federal law.

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how could somebody allow such a destructive plant to grow in their fields. amsterdam is enough
I would suggest not to add one. there is not a single case where using marijuana is usefull even
if they say that it is healing kinda plant but the point is that it is addictive and any kind of a
destructive addictive stuff is bad

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Did you not read my post? Do you not see that illegal marijuanas leads to other crimes? That it leads to theft, murder and violent crimes? That it it was legal the damage might be lessened? Or did you just see the title and respond. Also on the flip side of the coin look at alcohol. You like many people only see the effect of marijuana to the individual user and not to society as a whole.

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Alcohol, though legal is just as destructive as marajuana. I am a recovering alcoholic and addict. Being in support groups, you hear alot of terrible things that are associated with alcohol. But, on the other hand, you don't see many addicts coming in complaining how marajuana ruined their lives. It is usually the other drugs out there that are so destructive. I'm not saying that nothing bad will happen by using marajuana, it is just not as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

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The reason there aren't support group for marijuana addicts? They'd all get arrested. I think that marijuana by itself isn't as destructive as alchoal can be, but there are variations. Marijuana with the illegal organized crime that goes with it is a serious threat to society.

Btw good job on working overcoming alcoholism, your wife (if you have one) and children (if you have any) will thank you I am sure.

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I've never used marijuana or any illegal drugs, and never plan to, but I think it should be legalized for all of the reasons SilverFox stated along with a few related ones. First, like foolakadugie said, they put a lot of tax money towards keeping people in jail for drug charges (especially in NY, with the Rockefeller laws), in addition to money and police time enforcing the laws, the lawyers, etc. All that money could be put to far better use, like education (perhaps educating people about the dangers of marijuana, instead of sticking posters up telling people it's illegal as though they didn't already know). Also, if it was legal, it could be taxed, like cigarettes. Additionally, if it was legal, high school teachers wouldn't be expected to teach about how long you'll spend in jail if you do it, they could teach about the health effects of it (teaching about health in health class, crazy, no?). People who are addicted to it aren't very likely to seek help if they know they could go to jail for 20 years of their life because of it, if marijuana were considered the same way cigarettes are, it'd be much different.

 

 

 

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