why is america one of the few countries that bans the use of marijuana?
151046
It doesn't cut the proffits of alcohol or tobacco, in fact most stoners I know dring and smoke more while stoned than they would otherwise... it's because of Dupont... they have a financial interest in keeping it illegal... if it were legal, it would cut into their proffits in the Nylon, Pharmacutecle, and Petrochemical industries...  Yes, Dupont deals in ALL of thoes industries, and Marijuana would compeete with ALL of them... Hemp is STRONGER than Nylon... Weed, would replace Marinol, and Hemp oil can be processed into fuel suitable for Gasoline engines...\n\nBush ownes stock in Both Dupont and the Oil Industry...
1103558
I think not many people use it because it's illegal and the media and governments have spread misinformation about it for so long.\n\nIt's illegal because unlike alcohol and tobacco, there is no refining/processing required to enjoy pot, it's easy as 1-2-3 to go from seed to joint.  The governments could never tax it.... IMHO
580102
Bad argument, as there are probably ample numbers of  accidents by people driving while high.\n\nThe better argument is why did the country decide that it needed to be illegal in the first place? Is there anything in the Constitution that gives them this power? [no]\n\nThis is what happens when you let do-gooders make laws that limit your freedoms, for your own good, of course. Like making it illegal to smoke tobacco in 'public' places. These are areas that no level of government in the US has the authority to go, yet they do it, because enough people have given those corrupt idiots the power.\n\nI don't smoke it, I don't want to smoke it, but by god, the Constitution as written gave me the freedom to choose to if I did want to. \n\nThat's what the real problem is. Our government's abandoning of the principles of the Constitution.
295980
Marijuana is the least toxic drug there is. That includes smoking and alcohal which are both legal and I believe far more dangerous. I think there should be limits on when and where you can have it of course,but I think it should be legalized. The only reason it isn't already is because the Government hasn't found a way to tax the hell out of it yet.
97361
It's against the law everywhere in the US.  Federal Law outweighs local or state laws when it comes to weed.
720841
Many people assume that marijuana was made illegal through some kind of process involving scientific, medical, and government hearings; that it was to protect the citizens from what was determined to be a dangerous drug.\n\nThe actual story shows a much different picture. Those who voted on the legal fate of this plant never had the facts, but were dependent on information supplied by those who had a specific agenda to deceive lawmakers. You'll see below that the very first federal vote to prohibit marijuana was based entirely on a documented lie on the floor of the Senate.\n\nYou'll also see that the history of marijuana's criminalization is filled with: \n\nRacism \nFear \nProtection of Corporate Profits \nYellow Journalism \nIgnorant, Incompetent, and/or Corrupt Legislators \nPersonal Career Advancement and Greed \nThese are the actual reasons marijuana is illegal.\n\nThe Mexican Connection\n\nIn the early 1900s, the western states developed significant tensions regarding the influx of Mexican-Americans. The revolution in Mexico in 1910 spilled over the border, with General Pershing's army clashing with bandit Pancho Villa. Later in that decade, bad feelings developed between the small farmer and the large farms that used cheaper Mexican labor. Then, the depression came and increased tensions, as jobs and welfare resources became scarce.\n\nOne of the "differences" seized upon during this time was the fact that many Mexicans smoked marijuana and had brought the plant with them.\n\nHowever, the first state law outlawing marijuana did so not because of Mexicans using the drug. Oddly enough, it was because of Mormons using it. Mormons who traveled to Mexico in 1910 came back to Salt Lake City with marijuana. The church was not pleased and ruled against use of the drug. Since the state of Utah automatically enshrined church doctrine into law, the first state marijuana prohibition was established in 1915. (Today, Senator Orrin Hatch serves as the prohibition arm of this heavily church-influenced state.)\n\nOther states quickly followed suit with marijuana prohibition laws, including Wyoming (1915), Texas (1919), Iowa (1923), Nevada (1923), Oregon (1923), Washington (1923), Arkansas (1923), and Nebraska (1927). These laws tended to be specifically targeted against the Mexican-American population.\n\nWhen Montana outlawed marijuana in 1927, the Butte Montana Standard reported a legislator's comment: "When some beet field peon takes a few traces of this stuff... he thinks he has just been elected president of Mexico, so he starts out to execute all his political enemies." In Texas, a senator said on the floor of the Senate: "All Mexicans are crazy, and this stuff [marijuana] is what makes them crazy."\n\nJazz and Assassins\n\nIn the eastern states, the "problem" was attributed to a combination of Latin Americans and black jazz musicians. Marijuana and jazz traveled from New Orleans to Chicago, and then to Harlem, where marijuana became an indispensable part of the music scene, even entering the language of the black hits of the time (Louis Armstrong's "Muggles", Cab Calloway's "That Funny Reefer Man", Fats Waller's "Viper's Drag").\n\nAgain, racism was part of the charge against marijuana, as newspapers in 1934 editorialized: "Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men's shadows and look at a white woman twice." \n\nTwo other fear-tactic rumors started to spread: one, that Mexicans, Blacks and other foreigners were snaring white children with marijuana; and two, the story of the "assassins." Early stories of Marco Polo had told of "hasheesh-eaters" or hashashin, from which derived the term "assassin." In the original stories, these professional killers were given large doses of hashish and brought to the ruler's garden (to give them a glimps
310667
Alcohol is more harmful to the human body. Marijuana is illegal because it is a drug and the government can't make any money off of it. If it were legalized, the revenue from it would be the releif that this country has been in need of for too many years. We have many legal drugs that are way more harmful and yet they are used every day. Pot makes you mello. I think it should be legalized, and sold like cigarettes. This would eliminate the drug dealers and make things safer. The gov must be in with the drug dealers... we go to jail and they are at fault for allowing this to happen.  Any body think this is true?
810403
it is illegal because it has to many uses and is far cheaper than what is currently available and so the big company's never want it to become legal but here is the real info.\nWhy is Marijuana Illegal\n\nMany people assume that marijuana was made illegal through some kind of process involving scientific, medical, and government hearings; that it was to protect the citizens from what was determined to be a dangerous drug.\n\nThe actual story shows a much different picture. Those who voted on the legal fate of this plant never had the facts, but were dependent on information supplied by those who had a specific agenda to deceive lawmakers. You'll see below that the very first federal vote to prohibit marijuana was based entirely on a documented lie on the floor of the Senate.\n\nYou'll also see that the history of marijuana's criminalization is filled with:\n\n    * Racism\n    * Fear\n    * Protection of Corporate Profits\n    * Yellow Journalism\n    * Ignorant, Incompetent, and/or Corrupt Legislators\n    * Personal Career Advancement and Greed\n\nThese are the actual reasons marijuana is illegal.\n\nA picture named leaf.gif Background\n\nFor most of human history, marijuana has been completely legal. It's not a recently discovered plant, nor is it a long-standing law. Marijuana has been illegal for less than 1% of the time that it's been in use. Its known uses go back further than 7,000 B.C. and it was legal as recently as when Ronald Reagan was a boy.\n\nThe marijuana (hemp) plant, of course, has an incredible number of uses. The earliest known woven fabric was apparently of hemp, and over the centuries the plant was used for food, incense, cloth, rope, and much more. This adds to some of the confusion over its introduction in the United States, as the plant was well known from the early 1600's, but did not reach public awareness as a recreational drug until the early 1900's.\n\nAmerica's first marijuana law was enacted at Jamestown Colony, Virginia in 1619. It was a law "ordering" all farmers to grow Indian hempseed. There were several other "must grow" laws over the next 200 years (you could be jailed for not growing hemp during times of shortage in Virginia between 1763 and 1767), and during most of that time, hemp was legal tender (you could even pay your taxes with hemp -- try that today!) Hemp was such a critical crop for a number of purposes (including essential war requirements - rope, etc.) that the government went out of its way to encourage growth.\n\nThe United States Census of 1850 counted 8,327 hemp "plantations" (minimum 2,000-acre farm) growing cannabis hemp for cloth, canvas and even the cordage used for baling cotton.\n\nThe Mexican Connection\n\nIn the early 1900s, the western states developed significant tensions regarding the influx of Mexican-Americans. The revolution in Mexico in 1910 spilled over the border, with General Pershing's army clashing with bandit Pancho Villa. Later in that decade, bad feelings developed between the small farmer and the large farms that used cheaper Mexican labor. Then, the depression came and increased tensions, as jobs and welfare resources became scarce.\n\nOne of the "differences" seized upon during this time was the fact that many Mexicans smoked marijuana and had brought the plant with them.\n\nHowever, the first state law outlawing marijuana did so not because of Mexicans using the drug. Oddly enough, it was because of Mormons using it. Mormons who traveled to Mexico in 1910 came back to Salt Lake City with marijuana. The church was not pleased and ruled against use of the drug. Since the state of Utah automatically enshrined church doctrine into law, the first state marijuana prohibition was established in 1915. (Today, Senator Orrin Hatch serves as the prohibition arm of this heavily church-influenced state.)\n\nOther states quickly followed suit with marijuana prohibition laws, inclu
40836
Simple answer. Cigarettes and alcohol are a huge part of the U.S. economy. If you made them illegal there would be a lot of pissed off companies and people. \n\nThere aren't very many companies in the US that depend on marijuana sales. No impact on economy... no reason to legalize it. It'll make the US no money.\n\nIn short... it's all politics.
410842
It's prohibited in the United States; not elsewhere.
596414
Let me first start by saying I have never smoked any pot or done anyother type of drugs in my life. Not because I have any religious beliefs against it or anything, but just because I like having control of my mind and thoughts. I also do not drink by personal choice. (not that I look down on you if you do.) \n\nI believe the main reason that pot is not legal is because of voting pressure against our leaders. They know that there are tons of groups such as M.A.D.D. and others that would make sure that they were never re-elected. However I feel that if we ever have leaders with enough balls to do it, it would not only lower the crime rate but it would overall help our country finanially.\n\n\n\nIf they legalized drugs it would...\n\nA. Make room in our prisons. Our prisons are overflowing with so many people that they are constanly having to turn guilty criminals loose on the streets to make room for more. About 73% of people in jail are there on some type of drug charge or another. If they legalized drugs there would be more room to house murderers, rapists, and other serious criminals in this world.\n\nB. It would lower the persentage of roberies everyday in this country. If drugs were legal, the price of them would drop jurasticlly. Therefore there would not be as many desperate people out there who are willing to steal to feed their habit.\n\nC. It would bring more economic opportunity to our various states. If it were able to be purchased the same as you would a beer (which by the way it does absolutely no more harm than beer does) then any store could aquire a license to sell and it would hence bring more money for our honest local buisiness owners, instead of into the pockets of lowlife scum dealers.\n\nThese are my thoughts on this subject.
179886
The Constitution gives congress the power to make laws. States can also pass laws specific to there jurisdiction as long as the state law does not violate federal law. In cases where there is no federal law, states are free to come up with their own. An example that has had a lot of attention in recent years is the legalization of marijuana. Some states have past laws to make it legal but the federal government still says its a crime to possess it. If you live in a state where marijuana has been legalized, the federal government could still arrest you for violating federal law.
861746
Why should we decriminalize or legalize marijuana?\nAs President Jimmy Carter acknowledged: "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use."\n\nMarijuana prohibition needlessly destroys the lives and careers of literally hundreds of thousands of good, hard-working, productive citizens each year in this country. More than 700,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges last year, and more than 5 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana offenses in the past decade. Almost 90 percent of these arrests are for simple possession, not trafficking or sale. This is a misapplication of the criminal sanction that invites government into areas of our private lives that are inappropriate and wastes valuable law enforcement resources that should be focused on serious and violent crime.
1117254
The restriction against marijuana runs contrary to the concept of limited government and maximum personal liberty and responsibility that many conservatives believe in. We are adults who do not need a nanny state to protect us from ourselves.
1101708
As President Jimmy Carter acknowledged: "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use."\n\nMarijuana prohibition needlessly destroys the lives and careers of literally hundreds of thousands of good, hard-working, productive citizens each year in this country. More than 700,000 Americans were arrested on marijuana charges last year, and more than 5 million Americans have been arrested for marijuana offenses in the past decade. Almost 90 percent of these arrests are for simple possession, not trafficking or sale. This is a misapplication of the criminal sanction that invites government into areas of our private lives that are inappropriate and wastes valuable law enforcement resources that should be focused on serious and violent crime.
602763
No- too many looney bins in America that would abuse it.  This is home of the freaks.  No respectful citizens- not a good place for legal weed.  Seriously- you know that wierd guy down the road?  He would come over to your house in the middle of the night and try to steal your gouda.\nGo to the Netherlands- it's legal there.
442178
The federal government has repeatedly forbidden any states to decriminalize the sale or use of marijuana, as in California a few years back when some folks decided it would be a good thing if people suffering from AIDS or cancer treatment drugs could legally take a few tokes so that they might not feel quite so miserable every minute of every day, but the Fed said "Hell no you don't" and that's still the general consensus to this day. I doubt that I will see the decriminalization of pot in this country in my lifetime.