i have to answer this? for my criminal justice class--the advantages and disadvantages of  legalization weed?
349398
Although I have never used an illegal drug in my life, I can see several advantages: (1) Criminals would lose a major source of revenue, (2) Tax revenues would be generated through the sale of legalized drugs, (3) Cancer patients could easily obtain drugs now classified as illegal to  alleviate the terrible pain caused by their disease, (4)Our prison inmate population would decrease significantly, (5) We could concentrate our law enforcement capability where it is now needed most: CONTROLLING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ACROSS OUR UNDEFENDED BORDERS!
443741
Seeing as the health effects are far less than alcohol, I say legalize it, what the hell let people smoke in thier basements or back-yards with no fear.  Alcohol destroys lives, causes birth defects, and kills people.  Show me one marijuana related death.
1149905
advantages your case gets through the court quicker, instead of 5 yrs in prison you can get probation or county time. For the state cases move through faster if there wasn't plea bargaining lawyers would keep the most minor thing in court!\ndisadvantages; I can't think of one!\n\nhttp://www.total-knowledge.com/~willyblues/
457028
for it. I think that if legalized it will help cut down on drug crime. and if it were legalized yyou would at least know what quality you are getting, which is iffy from dealers. and if it were legal, lots would probobly not want to do it because it would lose the appeal of doing something that you should not be doing. besides, it could be a great cash crop. this question makes me think of dazed and confused....  oh the memories..
138789
1.  Drug companies make too much money not curing cancer to allow some plant that you can grow in your back yard for free, and which, incidentally, might actually help someone with cancer eat, be legal.  They want you to pay if you want to eat.  So, no weed for cancer patients, which is absolute shame.\n\n2.  Since people already use pot, the govt. sees in weed a nice, easy way to extort money from people and throw 'em in jail, which in the former case bankrupts someone (poor people are generally docile, since they can't just up and travel - go to Washington and protest the day's new illegal travesty being legislated, for example, or move to a better economic area, with gas being so high - Or pay for an education the likes of which a rich person can, which would land someone a good job or a seat in gov't. - you have to go ivy to go federal) in the latter scares 'em out of any 'revolutionary' activities like speaking out in public about scary issues like peace, or criminals in the White House.  This is why its a good idea not to smoke, b/c its asking for the government to take all of your rights away and/or push you into debt.\n\nI don't smoke.  I think that pot should be legalized for cancer patients, and seriously decriminalized for citizens, because no state should have so much ground to take so much money from someone or put someone in jail for some weed, OR to deprive someone in pain of something that might help ease their suffering - such is vile and inhumane.\n\n...and Tatonka (who wrote above), you are not funny.  In fact, you get the 'lame, sad tosser' of the day award for the latent fascist tendencies of your's which you so sublimely demonstrated for us in your response, tosser.
1086965
I think the punishments should fit the crime. You are correct that there has been stiffer sentences handed out for drugs than for violent crimes. Different states have their own interpretations of what a small amount of marijuana is, and have their own laws regarding it. For some less than an ounce for recreational use with no distribution intent charge is a petty misdemeanor while other states are quite stringent.  Bottom line though, as long as no one else was affected by their use, make the punishment fit the crime and focus on reducing violence by handing out stiffer penalties for that.
746333
yes!!! the effects from "weed" are far less than the effects of alcohol, if it was legal it would free alot of space in our prisons, where they are placed for a non-violent crime, and i believe it would cause alot less people to use harder drugs! and people who need it for medical reasons wouldn't have to go thru all the garbage they need to now for relief!!!
805248
haha, i think weeds better than booze, worst thing yo do stoned is want to eat the wallpaper... just kidding... some pot is far mor potent than other, but basicly you fell mellow, almost like before you goto sleep at night, or like when youve had your 3rd beer... just mellow.. till you get the munchies....oh NEVER go shopping when stoned!!  im sooo serious
433502
Happy 420!  I use marijuana for treating depression. It also helps with anger management. I have had success in using it as a pain reliever.
859649
red eyes\nshortness of breath\nincreased risk of cancer\nshort term memory loss\nlowered sperm count\nerectile dysfunction\nbirth defects\nincreased chances of miscarriage in women\ndifficulty becoming pregnant\ndepression\nincreased chance of mental problems eg paranoid schyzophrenia\npotential jail time\nmonsters in your closet.\n\nKeep in mind the chances of all these things increase with prolonged usage. I have not tried it.  I had to do an assignment on it is high school.  I don't really have a problem with people doing it.  The effects of weed are not that different from the effects of alcohol, except it makes you slower.  Some people are capable of using it in small amounts and others are not capable of controlling the addiction.  It is all dependant on the individual.\n\nI forgot to add ( thankyou Sangre Y Leche) that these are potential side effects and do not necessarily happen to everyone who uses.  The risks are increased with very heavy usage but many people with moderate levels of usage do not display any of the above.
108802
I can forsee many social impacts from the potential legalization of marijuana.\n\npros \nFarmers will have a viable cash crop\nTax monies can be collected from the sales\nCigarette companies could package it and promote less tobacco use\nLess criminals in an already crowded legal system\nMany drug dealers would be put out of business and foreign imports of the drug curbed\nLess need for other means of getting high\n\ncons\nFurther class separation\nWorkforce productivity impact and drug related injury increases\nAnother source for family breakdown\nGenerational dependency issues\nIncreased lung and heart disease incidents and other long-term effects of chronic usage
919340
I think there are several approaches to this Q.  Any law has to be sold to the masses and it also has to be appealing.  Here are my selling points:\n1) It has abundant medical uses and it is cheaper than current prescription choices\n2) As a recreational drug it is less deadly and problematic than alcohol and/or cigarettes\n3) It can be highly taxed bringing in a new source of gov income\n4) People who profit from marijuana sales could be properly taxed for their income\n5) Land degradation and pollution by illegal growers would be easier to prevent\n6) Control of the substance and substance abuse would be easier to identify\n\nAnd Now for the controversial argument.... Religious...  God made all plants to be used by people as needed/desired.\nGenesis 1:29-30\nThen God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food."
1145321
Not only do I NOT think it's bad.  I think it's great.  I have been a heavy pot smoker since I was 12.  I graduated in the top of my class in high school, I graduated college at a university, I am 22, work for myself, and make almost $100K/year totally legal, and I'm working on my MBA.  My mom and aunts and uncles have smoked since they were in high school and all have very good jobs, families, and lives.  All my friends in college and right out of college have been smoking with me forever and are all doing great.  It is so much safer and healthier than alcohol.  Someone tell me what is bad about marijuana.  They have even found out recently that the THC actually fights off the cancer causing chemicals in marijuana, so it actually offsets itself as far as cancer goes.  Wow.  And people actually still live so far in the past and think weed is bad.  Come on now, crack is bad, not weed.
394111
Use the brain God gave you- paranoia is a response of the central nervous system better known as INSTINCT in "lesser" animals. You were paraniod for a reason, Weed Hopper: it's illegal, dear, and the penalties are far worse today than they were when WE (I'm 45) were kids. So if you WANT to loose about $4,000 on your legal fees and defense plus risk jail time and never seeing a professional license again (EX: nurses loose their ability to make $40+/hr and are forced to work at Wal-Mart rotating stock in the dairy case!) and you MIGHT loose your car or driver's license IF they catch you Dope Scoping in your car.\nRethink it- use your years of "wisdom".
140239
The main argument against legalization is that there would be a lot of cops on the unemployment line, not to mention prison guards, probation officers, etc., etc., etc.\n\nThe arguments in favor of legalization are more profound.  They have to do with the fundamental rights of individuals to decide for themselves what they will or will not inhale, eat, or even inject.  If we ended the drug war today, most addicts (here referring to hard drugs; addiction is almost impossible in regard to marajuana) would be at the doctor's office getting help tomorrow morning early.  The drugs they crave would be less expensive that way, because the black market is even more expensive than not having health insurance!  They could also get help to quit if they were so inclined, and probably get a good bit of pressure to be so inclined.  Their families and friends would no longer have to fear that they will be arrested, put in jail, lose their jobs, lose custody of their children, and beg for money for bail, a lawyer, etc.\n\nAs to marijuana, it is a useful medicinal herb, as you probably know by now.  It is also considerably less dangerous as a recreational drug than alcohol, which is legal.  And we already have laws in place that people are not supposed to drive a car under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, so we would not need to change that.
642126
No, marijuana should not be legalized, but it should be decriminalized, like the rest of the world has done. Why make criminals out of pot heads? Answer: to take everyone's rights away.\n\nBecause of a little marijuana, they can seize your car, your bank accounts, your possessions; just load it all up and take it away, and redistribute your wealth elsewhere. That is forbidden by the Contitution.\n\nBecause of a little marijuana, they can search every crack and crevice of your body, search your car, gain access to open land, spy on you, record your messages, and start a dosier on you. \n\nIf they smell marijuana, good luck. But all they have to do is "say" they smelled marijuana, and all of the above applies.\n\nBecause of a little marijuana, they can give you more jail time than bank robbers, rapists, and even murderers, especially if the Fed gets involved, and they have filled their jails to overflowing and can't build them fast enough. And this is one of the most important reasons of all to decriminalize marijuana, is to get the Fed the hell outa here, and to stop the growth rate of the prison industry.\n\nBecause of a little marijuana, you want more marijuana. It is not addictive, but it is psychologically addictive. You spend a good part of your life high, or coming down, and the parties are for hours. Then you spend hours driving around looking for it and smoking more. Then you have to get some more money to pay for it. \n\nYou can spend an inordinate amount of your time "wasted," and watching life go by, or you can kick the drugs and get "in" life and live it, experience it, effect it, gain from it, experience joy and fulfillment and happiness, or you can sit on the couch and seek pleasure that fades after the last toke. \n\nBecause of a little marijuana, you will be lethargic and not do well in school, if you go at all. And probably because of marijuana, you will not succeed in life. It will choose your friends, it will choose your music, it will choose where you go, and you will live your life for a worthless lie called a drug.
839900
Is there any thing better than MARIJUANA?\nYA, brain cells