What is the real reason why they won't legalize marijuana?
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.
1164997
Watch a documentary called "Grass."  It's narrated by Woody Harrelson, and it's the entire history of the United State's war on marijuana, from the 1800s to the present.  It's pretty incredible.  It shows that marijuana is basically harmless and that the government studies saying it's not were complete lies.  \nIn fact, the reason marijuana is not legal right now is beause one politician screwed it up for the rest of the country.  Jimmy Carter ALMOST legalized it when he was president.  He was about to do so, when one of his aids got caught with a breifcase full of cocaine.  Because of that aid, Carter could not afford to look soft on drugs, so he didn't legalize pot.  That one aid and his coke ruined it for the rest of the country.  If it weren't for him, you'd be able to toke up right now -- legally.
574118
they should be able to stay if they get legalized. but if they refuse, send them back!
906262
The reason it was made illegal in the first place was because the oil from the seeds can be used to fuel an engine, and so the oil lobby, along with the media who were making profits from cutting down trees, found a way to make it illegal. The law was passed as a part of the tax law, which introduced the name marijuana, so that nobody would realise that they were restricting the use of hemp.
53923
Because we need fewer stoned people in society.\n\nLook at the pathetic state of public education.\nLook at how little personal responsibility people have (unwanted pregnancies, stds, child neglect etc.)\nTry to get a straight answer when you call "customer service"\nTry to get correct change the next time you shop at the mall.\nTry to get your car fixed without bringing it back three times.\n\nWould it really help society if all of these people were stoned? I don't think so.\n\nThere is no constitutional right to be able to obtain whatever recreational chemicals you want, just as there is no constitutional right to drive.\n\nThere is, however a constitutional right to bear arms. Anyone who cares about freedom should be asking why there are so many laws against that.
522599
because the USA wont allow it
433183
I see there are quite a lot of uneducated people answering questions nowadays.\n\nThe only reason marijuana was made illegal was to discriminate against the Mexicans coming into America during the early 1900s. First, they passed a law that said if a person possessed marijuana, they needed a tax stamp on it, but the government never gave anyone these stamps so the cops would just throw those people in jail. It had nothing to do with people actually getting high off of it. Then in the 1950s, the government went and made it completely illegal because they were so uneducated about it, they thought it made people psychotic murderers.\n\nEdit: I swear, some people just buy into everything they are told on TV. As I see more stupid people comment on how marijuana is a gateway drug, I must interject once again. It's is NOT a gateway drug. People see all drugs as taboo, so if they try marijuana and like it, that makes them wonder if the government is wrong about all the other illegal drugs out there. Legalize it, and I guarantee people who do other drugs will quit doing those and just smoke marijuana. And the people who just start smoking marijuana will be content with the affect it has on them and won't do anything else. The folks that are so bent on trying other drugs will do so regardless if they ever smoke marijuana. It's just the fact that marijuana is much more accessable, so that is usually the drug they use first.
584302
Mainstream politicians can't come out in favor of legalization, because they would never get elected/re-elected.  The libertarians have the advantage of not REALLY having to worry about saying things that will tank their ability to get elected, because they won't get elected anyway.  \n\nIt is another issue where politicians can't be truthful or use concrete data to make decisions because the American people don't see the nuances in arguments.  Politicians can't be in favor of mj decriminalization, because then the tv ads of their opponents will say they are for the legalization of drugs with a visual of someone shooting up.  \n\nThe founding fathers were right.  America can't handle a true, one person, one vote democracy.  It would require too much time and thought for most people to develop a good understanding of the issues.  Not to mention, it requires a good education which most of our population isn't getting.  Instead, we watch 30 second tv commercials and base our votes on those.  It is sad actually.
1134999
Because alcohol and tobacco are already in place and have been giving the government money forever, where as the government did not know that it would be such a good commodity.  Check out the difference between using paper and hemp.  Hemp is better all around, for environment, cost, everything and why is it they use paper and not hemp, that is right money!!!  It is crazy, but the government does not put laws in place (like alcohol and tobacco) to look out for you, so the fact that it has never caused a death is unimportant to them, the important fact is that it would be easy for people to grow their own and then the government would not make any money with it so it has to be illegal.  Sucks right, you have to love our for the money by the money government!!!
683151
Because law enforcement makes allot of money off of it. In my state for example, if you get caught with just one joint, it's like a 1200 dollar fine. That's allot of money for the corrupt law enforcement and politicians around. That's the only reason, because they make more than if they tax it. And people say you can't tax it because it's so easy to grow your own. Well, tomatoes are easy to grow too, but I'd rather just go buy them at the store, much less hassle, and potheads would do the same.
119038
I don't know who exactly...but it;s not like pot is banned world wide. There are other countries that sell it, tax it or just don't care and those countries are probably the ones that started testing it's effects on there citizens.
1060501
Originally weed was made illegal because it was a threat to the oil companies.  Hemp was such a useful commodity, that Shell oil actually helped in creating propaganda films(such as Reefer Madness) to lump it as part of a hardcore drug culture.  It helped to stop research and use of a natural material that was an actual threat to the oil barons.  Why government doesn't decriminalize it now is years of negative campaigning that is still hard to shake.  Hell, look at Clinton's first appointed surgeon general.  She came out publicly about pot's positive effect medically.  She already was female and black, so you know conservative America wasn't ready to hear that from her, of all people.  She was gone within a year.
968027
Keeping drugs illegal hardly makes money for the government.  We spend billions each year and have little to show for it.  Instead, the reality is that it is very politically unpopular to come out in favor of legalization.  actually there are even several conservative thinkers who despise addicts and addiction and drugs in general nonetheless favor legalization (including legendary but controversial conservative economist Milton Friedman who died last week) as a policy.  Until these voices can convince the general public that legalization would save money and lives and not constitute society's tacit approval of what is generally destructive behavior (yes, even marijuana can have dire consequences for its abusers) there will be little political impetus for change.  Thus, right now, the issue is simply a nonstarter for any politician who wants to keep his or her job.
48885
Because they are just like drug pushers.They don't REALLY want people to stop smoking. They just use that phrase "discourage use"  as an excuse so they can keep raising the taxes. If they REALLY wanted people to quit, they would ban cigarettes. But, if they did that, then who else could they stick with the outrageous taxes? They aren't fooling anybody.
137646
I have rethought my position on legalization of marijuana. I think it should be legal under certain guidelines and locals.\n\nThe first reason it should be legalized it will mellow out the liberals. They are way to shrill.\n\nReason number two, if a liberal is high they won't care about voting and we can easily elect conservative representative, congressmen, and president. Conservatives will never again have to deal with R.I.N.O.s if this happens. Imagine if there was no Arlen Spector or John McCain.\n\nReason Three assuming that only liberals and libertarians are for the legalization of drugs they can fight amongst themselves, and we conservatives have a way to sure up our power\n\nThe Previsos\n\nmarijuana would only be legal in Blue States. If you are caught with marijuana in a red state you get a trial and immediately executed after the trial, no appeals. The reason for this is to get potheads out of here and since it seams as if the Blue states want to legalize it let them.\n\nIf someone who is high robs, steals, or causes an accident after THC is detected in their system ALL their possessions become the property of the estate of the victim. (applies to all fifty)\n\nIf they have children, the children are removed from the home and are never returned (applies to all fifty)\n\nThe only treatment for those who want to quit smoking marijuana will be the intake of tobacco products, or beaten with a bong. Paid for by the offender (the way they train dogs not to make messes on carpets) Again all fifty.\n\nIf this works for marijuana I would propose the same for all illicit drugs. But no one would accept this proposal so I will have to continue my opposition to this and ALL illegal drugs.
382209
Marijuana is illegal because, unlike alcohol, when used even in moderation, it is mind-altering. And even though it has some medical benefits in certain circumstances, the FDA would never approve it due to the harmful side affects from it being an inhalant.\n\nIn layman's terms, one beer will not have a mind-altering affect on you while one toke from a joint will.
95932
I could not possibly agree more with you. People are so reluctant to legalize marijuana because it has such a bad reputation. Of course, it gets that reputation because it is illegal and people pass judgment on it based solely on that fact. If you stop looking at the actual legality of it and just think about it morally it is a vice no worse than many others that americans find perfectly acceptable. Anything can be abused. People abuse alcohol, cigarettes, fast food, gambling and countless things which are perfectly legal and socially acceptable, but somehow so many people think smoking weed is just wrong.\nI can hardly see how continuing to make it illegal will benefit anyone. It only allows drug dealers to set the standards of production/regulation etc. all the while evading taxes. Making it illegal probably does not really curtail the use of the drug either. Did prohibition curtail the use of alcohol? nope. did it increase crime? yes.\nLegalize it and regulate it. Everyone wins. The potheads won't have to worry about getting locked up. The government can make some more cash. And we won't continue to whaste our time prosecuting potheads and enforcing rediculous laws that combat marijuana use at the expense of taxpayer's dollars.\n\naside from these reasons, weed just isn't that bad. It is not physically addictive (as is alcohol/tobacco), it does not have the reputation of making people violent/abusive (as does alcohol), it is not as closely associated with recklessness (as is alcohol) and when was the last time you threw up or had a hangover from smoking some weed? never.\n\nLegalize it!!