Should drugs be legalized?
404222
DRUGS SHOULD BE LEGALIZED\n\n1) Govt. would make more money than they do off ciggs\n2) If it is legal not so many people will do it (for all u anti-drug ppl)\n3)It will open room in our jail cells for real criminals instead of users\n4)If it is legal you can set rules and regs. on them along w/ no driving if you are on them (which doesnt always work but it does sometimes, and if it doesnt work, it wont work while they are illegal either)\n5) The drugs are getting done either way, people are doing the same things while they are on the drugs either way, and the money being made off them is going to ppl to make more drugs OR TO TERRORISTS! so by legalizing these drugs the money will go to the U.S and we know that the terrorist groups are getting no money and we can put the money towards something usefull.\n6) NO ADVANTAGES TO HAVING DRUGS STAY ILLEGAL...LEGALIZE THEM!!!
1025970
No. Drugs should remain illegal.
99366
I believe it should be legalized...  my reasoning is that the LAW ruins peoples lives over a stupid charge of possession, the drug itself does not realy hurt anyone directly, however, the irrational, irrisponsible, and/or wreckless things people do under it's influence can... but same could be said for alcohol...\n\nI used to use it... but I quit...
929753
I would certainly think the opposite is true.  I do, however, feel that marijuana SHOULD be legalized for medical use in many other circumstances.
718157
I agree that weed should be legalized but it Will never happen as long as the pharmaceutical companies have the F.D.A and lots of politicians in their back pocket as for BuSh he prefers whiskey and cocaine over weed
1035368
Marijuana, because it can be used to treat glaucoma patients and to alleviate certain types of pain, should be legal, provided that it does not cause uncontollable affects in the users for whom it might be prescribed.  Legalization could eliminate the abuse of this drug and the sale of it by "street pharmacists" who frequently add other dangerous chemicals to it and use unscrupilous sales tactics to dupe customers who cannot get it legally.  The fact that it is illegal makes it more tempting to some people who enjoy living on the edge.
1134454
Should Governments Legalize and Tax Marijuana?\nExamining a Recent Study on Legalization\nThe war on drugs is an expensive battle, as a great deal of resources go into catching those who buy or sell illegal drugs on the black market, prosecuting them in court, and housing them in jail. These costs seem particularly exorbitant when dealing with the drug marijuana, as it is widely used, and is likely no more harmful than currently legal drugs such as tobacco and alcohol. There's another cost to the war on drugs, however, which is the revenue lost by governments who cannot collect taxes on illegal drugs. In a recent study for the Fraser Institute, Economist Stephen T. Easton attempted to calculate how much tax revenue the Canadian government could gain by legalizing marijuana. \nThe study estimates that the average price of 0.5 grams (a unit) of marijuana sold for $8.60 on the street, while its cost of production was only $1.70. In a free market, a $6.90 profit for a unit of marijuana would not last for long. Entrepreneurs noticing the great profits to be made in the marijuana market would start their own grow operations, increasing the supply of marijuana on the street, which would cause the street price of the drug to fall to a level much closer to the cost of production. Of course, this doesn't happen because the product is illegal; the prospect of jail time deters many entrepreneurs and the occasional drug bust ensures that the supply stays relatively low. We can consider much of this $6.90 per unit of marijuana profit a risk-premium for participating in the underground economy. Unfortunately, this risk premium is making a lot of criminals, many of whom have ties to organized crime, very wealthy. \n\nStephen T. Easton argues that if marijuana was legalized, we could transfer these excess profits caused by the risk-premium from these grow operations to the government: \n\nIf we substitute a tax on marijuana cigarettes equal to the difference between the local production cost and the street price people currently pay--that is, transfer the revenue from the current producers and marketers (many of whom work with organized crime) to the government, leaving all other marketing and transportation issues aside we would have revenue of (say) $7 per [unit]. If you could collect on every cigarette and ignore the transportation, marketing, and advertising costs, this comes to over $2 billion on Canadian sales and substantially more from an export tax, and you forego the costs of enforcement and deploy your policing assets elsewhere. \nOne interesting thing to note from such a scheme is that the street price of marijuana stays exactly the same, so the quantity demanded should remain the same as the price is unchanged. However, it's quite likely that the demand for marijuana would change from legalization. We saw that there was a risk in selling marijuana, but since drug laws often target both the buyer and the seller, there is also a risk (albeit smaller) to the consumer interested in buying marijuana. Legalization would eliminate this risk, causing the demand to rise. This is a mixed bag from a public policy standpoint: Increased marijuana use can have ill effects on the health of the population but the increased sales bring in more revenue for the government. However, if legalized, governments can control how much marijuana is consumed by increasing or decreasing the taxes on the product. There is a limit to this, however, as setting taxes too high will cause marijuana growers to sell on the black market to avoid excessive taxation. \nWhen considering legalizing marijuana, there are many economic, health, and social issues we must analyze. One economic study will not be the basis of Canada's public policy decisions, but Easton's research does conclusively show that there are economic benefits in the legalization of marijuana. With governments scrambling to find new sources of revenue to pay for important social obje
781437
I think so, for a couple of reasons.  \n\n1) Teen drug use is lower in countries like Amsterdam, which have legalized it. \n2) More law enforcemnet money can be spent on the "harder" drugs like meth, coke, herion, etc.--I consider those drugs much more of a danger to society.  This would take a burden off our jails too. \n3)  Decriminalizng Marijuana would give many minor drug offenders a shot at a better life--FYI, you are unable to get any financial aid for college if you are any type of drug offender, even a Misdemeanor!!  That only helps to continue the cycle of poverty/drug use/dealing, etc. \n4)  Tax the crap out of it and we could pay off our national debt! \n5) Marijuana has the potential to be an effective treatment for many people with various ailments, such as glaucoma, cancer, etc.\n\nCool class you are taking, never written papers like that before.
710230
anyone who thinks drugs should be illegal purely for health reasons must certainly agree that all fat people should be put in jail for hurting themselves.....\n\nthe only thing that should be illegal involving drugs is the use of drugs to harm another person... and since harming another person is already a crime... then by default if you take a drug and you do something stupid... you're already in trouble by the law... taking the drug itself shouldn't be a crime\n\nwho really cares if a person harms themselves using a drug... cigarettes, alcohol and fatty foods do the same thing... breathing in fumes from household cleaners is bound to kill cells too... but hey it's not illegal to smoke, drink, eat mcdonalds, and clean your toilet... taking a drug should be a choice... citizens should have the freedom to take them if they want... advocation against drugs should be aimed at influencing people to not take them and try alternative activities.. and NOT to place bans and restrictions on them\n\nbesides in the long run... if someone dies from an OD... then 1. it's their fault... and 2. less "stupid" people in our overpopulated world\n\nbut yes that really didn't answer your question... it was more of an opinion...
226488
Yes, I think marajuana should be legalized.  Compare it to our two most popular legal "recreational drugs."  Marijuana is only mildly addictive especially in comparison to tobacco.  The affects of marijuana lower inhibitions, but unlike alcohol it is nearly impossible to overdose.  When was the last time you heard of someone getting high on pot and beating someone up?  It would be far more likely they got an uncontrollable case of the giggles. Now consider how dangerous someone who is drunk on alchohol - their aggressor response is heightened, not diminished.\n\nAnd I would also like to state:  I don't drink and I don't smoke marijuana.   This is just my observations.
67803
It should be legalized.\nIt should be controlled as is alcohol(over 21, strict driving laws, etc.).\nIt should be taxed as are alcohol and tobacco which will provide additional revenue to the states.\nThe legalization will allow law enforcement and the courts to concentrate on more dangerous drugs and more serious crimes.  The legalization will also help to alleviate some of the overcrowding in our jails and prisons, an additional savings to the taxpayers.
575828
AGREE! of course...lol jk...idk...maybe\nIt's cool, but wat would happen if legalized?\nLegalizing marijuana would allow ppl to smoke it openly rather than hiding it. But would it bring down the number of ppl that smoke it, or would it bring it up? It does help with Gleucoma and other diseases, so I guess for "medicinal" purposes it should be legalized.\nEither way ppl will b doin it anyway, \nwhether legal or not
949024
I don't smoke marijuana, but I think that if it will help people it should be legalized.
830744
What would happen to the crime rate if it were legalized?\n\nWhat would the number of users do if it were legalized... would it increase or decrease?\n\nWe know it's a harmful substance so why would one want to legalize such a harmful drug?\n\nIf it were legalized, then teens (for the most part) using the substance to rebel against parents, rules, laws, and whatever else, what would they do?  Would they continue using marijuana or would they move on to another, more harmful substance?\n\nHow and why would this benefit society?\n\nThe only use for marijuana that's acceptable in society today (for medicinal purposes) is already available in many states/provinces with a prescription from a qualified doctor.  What would the purpose of legalizing marijuana be?  \n\nIf it were legalized, wouldn't it be easier to get ahold of and be easier for children to access and be harmed by?\n\nWould you allow your own children (either now or several years down the road when you do have children) to use marijuana?  If it's legalized they can purchase it on their own much easier.  Just gives a person a little bit to think about.
20882
Yes, all drugs should be legal.\n\nMaking drugs legal would mean that they could be better controlled, or maybe even taxed.  The tax could be used to help people get off hard drugs.\n\nIn my opinion, governments should not have control over something an individual does to themselves.
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!!!
13200
Yes. \n\nOK, that seems too short for a Yahoo!.ANSWERS answer. But it must be obvious, giving the hugebuttedness of the nation, that they are. They really should be either illegal to sell (like drugs) or taxed heavily (like cigarettes) since they severely affect the health, productivity and future of the nation.