Church
September 22nd, 2011, 10:48 PM
Alright I've become what I would consider active in the cause of legalizing marijuana to the extent I can, I've mailed my senators, representatives, my governor, to support bills. I've also mailed other states senators to support bills in their own states for medical marijuana or decriminalized marijuana as well as signing any petition that comes my way. Along the way I've learned so much about marijuana and all its benefits and honestly, I dont really see any reason why any people can see keeping marijuana to be impractical. Now do not misread that please, I understand some may see it as a moral issue etc but practically it has no reason to be illegal, and heres why I think why. Feel free to share what you believe, comment and critique as you wish.
1. The war on drugs in general has been a complete failure, similar with campaigns such as "Just say no." In 2010 our federal government spent $15 Billion dollars on the war on drugs, source being the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and when we always hear we need more money and which programs we should cut, doesnt it make sense that cutting the war on drugs, or at lease cutting money that's put towards marijuana control. We could use that 15 billion dollars for things such as improving our educational centers, hospitals, roads, etc etc etc.
2. Americans love marijuana. According to a poll done by Time magazine in 2008, 42% of Americans admit to trying marijuana at least once. According to the website census.gov their are 312,274,801 Americans, that means if my math is correct 131,155,416 Americans have tried marijuana at least once. Now compare that to the Netherlands, in the same poll 20% of Netherland citizens have tried smoking marijuana. So why is it in a country where it is illegal it is more widely used than a country that allows it in certain circumstances? As my Government teacher would say, its the forbidden fruit concept, when something is not allowed, people will want to do it.
3. Marijuana is excellent for medicine. 16 states plus D.C allow medical marijuana for patients with things such as cancer, AIDs, and depression and much more ailments. Many doctors endorse marijuana as a safe, practical medicine. You do not know what your going to get with prescription medicines that are used for ailments like the previously listed. Some of those drugs they will prescribe those patients can kill them. Marijuana has never killed anyone.
4. All the old stereotypes about marijuana that were shoved down Americans throats like you'll become a lunatic, or a murderer, or addicted have been blown out of the water. In the field of marijuana causing risky behavior and violence I would like to offer this quote from the British Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, in 2002. “Cannabis differs from alcohol … in one major respect. It does not seem to increase risk-taking behavior. This means that cannabis rarely contributes to violence either to others or to oneself..."
5. Marijuana is a very useful crop for industrial products. Marijuana's cousin, hemp, is used for things such as fabrics, oils, ropes, food, paper, etc etc. Also, hemp has very low THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, compared to the marijuana that is grown for recreational and medical purposes. Trying to get high off of hemp is like trying to get drunk off of alcohol-free beer.
6. Putting people into jail has an impact on our economy. So far this year, 1.2 million people have been arrested for marijuana based crimes, according to the Uniform Crime Reports, done by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That is 1.2 million people we need to feed. That's 1.2 million jail cells we could be using for murderers and rapist so we don't need to waste our tax payer money on expanding jails.
The arguments against marijuana are statements such as marijuana is a gate-way drug,, and moral objections based in religion.
The first anti-legalization statement I would like to tackle is the gate-way drug theory. A recent study by RAND (Research and Development) Corporation found, "Statistically, for every 104 Americans who have tried marijuana, there is only one regular user of cocaine, and less than one user of heroin..."
I am unsure how the Jewish and Islam religion view marijuana, however in the Christian religions Bible, in Genesis God says, ""Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food." Being as though marijuana bears seeds, God finds it alright to eat it. At least if you literally interpret the Bible.
So with so many benefits to legalizing marijuana I don't really see how anyone can be against it on a practical level. However I will listen to the other side so any comments or critique of my information is welcome, and if anyone would like to add on go on ahead.
1. The war on drugs in general has been a complete failure, similar with campaigns such as "Just say no." In 2010 our federal government spent $15 Billion dollars on the war on drugs, source being the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and when we always hear we need more money and which programs we should cut, doesnt it make sense that cutting the war on drugs, or at lease cutting money that's put towards marijuana control. We could use that 15 billion dollars for things such as improving our educational centers, hospitals, roads, etc etc etc.
2. Americans love marijuana. According to a poll done by Time magazine in 2008, 42% of Americans admit to trying marijuana at least once. According to the website census.gov their are 312,274,801 Americans, that means if my math is correct 131,155,416 Americans have tried marijuana at least once. Now compare that to the Netherlands, in the same poll 20% of Netherland citizens have tried smoking marijuana. So why is it in a country where it is illegal it is more widely used than a country that allows it in certain circumstances? As my Government teacher would say, its the forbidden fruit concept, when something is not allowed, people will want to do it.
3. Marijuana is excellent for medicine. 16 states plus D.C allow medical marijuana for patients with things such as cancer, AIDs, and depression and much more ailments. Many doctors endorse marijuana as a safe, practical medicine. You do not know what your going to get with prescription medicines that are used for ailments like the previously listed. Some of those drugs they will prescribe those patients can kill them. Marijuana has never killed anyone.
4. All the old stereotypes about marijuana that were shoved down Americans throats like you'll become a lunatic, or a murderer, or addicted have been blown out of the water. In the field of marijuana causing risky behavior and violence I would like to offer this quote from the British Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, in 2002. “Cannabis differs from alcohol … in one major respect. It does not seem to increase risk-taking behavior. This means that cannabis rarely contributes to violence either to others or to oneself..."
5. Marijuana is a very useful crop for industrial products. Marijuana's cousin, hemp, is used for things such as fabrics, oils, ropes, food, paper, etc etc. Also, hemp has very low THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, compared to the marijuana that is grown for recreational and medical purposes. Trying to get high off of hemp is like trying to get drunk off of alcohol-free beer.
6. Putting people into jail has an impact on our economy. So far this year, 1.2 million people have been arrested for marijuana based crimes, according to the Uniform Crime Reports, done by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. That is 1.2 million people we need to feed. That's 1.2 million jail cells we could be using for murderers and rapist so we don't need to waste our tax payer money on expanding jails.
The arguments against marijuana are statements such as marijuana is a gate-way drug,, and moral objections based in religion.
The first anti-legalization statement I would like to tackle is the gate-way drug theory. A recent study by RAND (Research and Development) Corporation found, "Statistically, for every 104 Americans who have tried marijuana, there is only one regular user of cocaine, and less than one user of heroin..."
I am unsure how the Jewish and Islam religion view marijuana, however in the Christian religions Bible, in Genesis God says, ""Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food." Being as though marijuana bears seeds, God finds it alright to eat it. At least if you literally interpret the Bible.
So with so many benefits to legalizing marijuana I don't really see how anyone can be against it on a practical level. However I will listen to the other side so any comments or critique of my information is welcome, and if anyone would like to add on go on ahead.