why is marijuana still illegal? no one has ever died from smoking weed.?
821848
It is about polititions play God on another issue to get or more likely keep votes. If you ask them why they will talk circles about protecting us from ourselves. The truth is the polititions are protecting the pharmisudical companies. If marijuana was regulated and sold leagaly it would it would put the smuggelers out of business and help to keep it from the younger kids that should be protected. I personaly know hundreds of people who have been smoking pot for 25-35 years. They go to work every day, pay there taxes and are better citizens than many of the people who preach against letting people live their own lives. As far as pot being a gateway drug, it is only a gateway drug because it is illeagal. People smoke a little and they like it or not, if they like it they start loosing respect for our laws because they realize everything they have been told is a lie. Law and order should not be based on lies!  I do agree that driving and smoking is bad. But given a choice I would much rather be on the road with a hundred stoners than one drunk. If all of the government money wasted on enforcing marijuana laws was put into fighting the dangerous drugs the DEA might actually make a positive difference in drug use. In the mean time you have millions of people in this country with a lower respect for the law and find it difficult to get and keep a job because of smoking a joint after work. So the holyer than thou polititions and their supporters have us by the short hairs and will not give up their veiws because they want everyone to live the way they want us to live. Is this what a "free country" does to it's citizens? I think not. Sorry for the mis-spelling but spellcheck isn't working today. And I wasn't a very good speller long before the first puff of smoke!
336795
I don't think it's ever been proven.  It certainly has some negative effects on the brain though.  I know a lot of potheads that can't remember what they did yesterday. I heard the sperm count thing is a fact.  I think it depends on if a person a light user or heavy user.  Who knows though.  One thing that is absolutely known is that marijuana takes a toll on a person's lungs just like cigarettes do.
1185556
My husband and I watched the Surgeon General on TV the other  day talking about the new reports on second hand smoke from cigarettes.  He made the comment that it is a toxic and deadly killer...we both said at the same time, then why is it legal?\n\nI think alcohol can be used in moderation without harm, so lets keep that party going,\n\nI have a cop friend who says marijuana is the biggest waste of his time.  He hates having it illegal, said it's a joke.  I agree.  Besides, didn't they just prove that the smokers of pot have a LESS chance of lung cancer...?  \n\nI say, no smoking...unless it's a joint!  :)
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
605014
Marijuana is illegal for political reasons. It has nothing to do with safety.
194897
Why WOULDN'T pot be legal?  Lets talk about what is legal and what is not legal... Alcohol is legal - People can get drunk all they want.  The fact is when people get drunk, they often get violent, and alcohol is a leading cause of family violence.  With weed, the worst thing people do is get the giggles and crave fast food.  Pot is not like other drugs (IE coke or other chemical drugs).  Pot is not physically addictive.  Its a natural plant from the earth, not processed in any way.  How can a PLANT from God be illegal?
406287
There are absolutely no reasons for it to stay illegal. It's an enormous cheek that it is illegal, it's a bit like saying "God made a mistake!" (thanks to Bill Hicks deceased for that) and that seems a tad presumptuous to me.
826153
That is exactly it, it comes from years of the govt educating them that it is harmful, but I see more people die every year from alcohol than I EVER will from weed. People just need to be re-educated.......see people like above don't know anything except the negative "pothead" label. They don't realize that there are MILLIONS of marijuana users who are perfectly fine and very much functioning in society everyday. Many very successful people use it and if everything the govt says about it were true, that would not be the case. There will always be those that can't use it, like there are those that cannot handle alcohol, but that does not mean it should be illegal for all. It has it's uses and it is time that people woke up to the fact that it is MUCH less harmful than alcohol, which by the way, can affect a person with just one drink.
1083410
lol people are stupid.. when it does become legalized, the US will have more money from marijuana taxes\n\nive been a stoner since i was 14.. im 21 now. ive graduated high school, never been arrested, never commited a crime, never got any vehicle violations, never forgotten anything important or crucial, ive been just like everyone else, maybe even better. \n\nmarijuana doesnt cause people to kill. its been proven. if you still believe that, then youre believing claims from back in the 1930's. its the 2000's. it helps with aids and cancer paitents. its a natural pain killer. tons of famous people smoke it.\n\nto each is her own, thats what i say :)\n\ngreat question :)
202686
I don't know, but that's a damn good question. Even if it wasn't legal, there is no reason why we shouldn't be able to speculate on it (as long as no one's directly saying, "Who can sell me marijuana?" or similar). After all, if I have to read questions like "Did god take a dump and call it a muslim" and "Should we hang gays like they do Afganistan or gas them like Hitler did?" and these questions get to stay... well, we should be able to discuss marijuana. After all, it fosters love, not hate.
180920
Apparently we didn't learn.  Marijuana is illegal because it might compete with standard cigarettes, and the tabacco companies won't allow it.  That and people have been brought up to believe that it's bad so they get to feel morally superior for not using.  Then they turn around and use tabacco and alcohol, both of with are more harmful than marijuana, and FAR more dangerous for innocent by-standers (how many people each year are killed in stoned-driving accidents?).  Incidently, both cigarettes and alcohol can cause birth defects and other problems for an unborn fetus, whereas infants whose mother used marijuana during pregancy are shown to be calmer and actually preform slightly better on congative testing (although the effects disappear after the first few months of life).  Also, both cigarettes and alcohol are more addictive than marijuana.  And cigarette smoke contains more carcinogens than marijuana smoke.\n\n\n>>> Criminalizing Marijuana reduces crime and keeps the bad elements locked up.<<<\n\nNot true at all.  Marijuana use is in no way associated with crime.  All crimilizing marijuana does broaden the definition of crime, thereby creating more crime.  Do you have ANY idea how much crime (the kind that has victims - assault, murder, theft, etc.) is associated with the sale and purchase of illegal drugs simply BECAUSE they are illegal?  If illegal drugs weren't illegal people wouldn't have to buy them from shady dealers, which would but the drug dealers (and the gangs that go with them) out of business.  It's not the drugs themselves but their illegality that creates crime.\n\n>>>people who use it tend to stay stoned and unambitious<<<\n\nThat's funny, half the kids at my school smoke pot, and yet we have, I think it's the 3rd highest rate of graduates go on to earn PhDs of any school in the country.  I know a LOT of very sucessful people who smoked pot in college.\n\n>>>marajuana is a gateway dru<<\n\nBecause it's illegal, and, in many circles, taboo.  If we banned tabacco you'd see that turning into a "gateway drug" pretty fast.  A LOT of people smoke marijuana and don't move on to "hard" drugs.  And you know what, if people want to throw their lives away that's really their own concern.  We don't ban alcohol even though people drink and drive, and, unlike cocain, drunk driving kills other people too.
190346
You make a brilliant point. Thank you for supporting legalization! Please allow me to correct the imbecile above me before I move on.\n\nOk, Buddy, first off, marijuana doesnt stay in your system for thirty days. What stays in your body is the chemical THC. And it only stays there for about 2-3 weeks. And when it does stay in your body, it stays in your fat tissue. And you are not high for thirty days!!! What do you think that if you smoke a joint on the first of the month youll still be high by the 30th? Please...Do some research before you shoot your mouth off.\n\nOk, now that I got that out of my system, yes youre completely right. It should be legalized. But since no-one has yet told you the real reason why its illegal, I'm going to give you an article to read which explains it. Its very good, and 100% correct. I've researched every claim it makes and I can assure its all true. Have a look and keep spreading the word! Thanks\n\n\nPeace
338010
Marijuana is constantly in the news and more and more scientific evidence is pointing towards its use causing serious and permanent psychologically damage.\n\nOk!\n\nHow many people die from smoking cigarettes or from drinking themselves to death or other when these idiots try and drive etc?\n\nExcellent question!  \n\nAll three have very, very detrimental effects on our health and the health of others around us and it seems insane to 'point the finger' only at marijuana.\n\nAt the end of the day its your informed choice.\n\nRespect other, but do as you please!
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.
553843
Marijuana use is less harmful and risky than the use of alcohol, tobacco, and many nonprescription drugs. It is the safest (currently) illegal drug. Marijuana is much less addictive than tobacco or alcohol. This is one reason why most people that smoked it in the 70's were able to quit easily and not become addicts.\n\n2) Legalization of marijuana would cut down on crime. Because marijuana is illegal, it is difficult to manufacture, and is expensive, so addicts often have to turn to crime to sustain their habit. Legalization would drive the price down and alleviate this problem. Currently, much of the crime that goes on is a result of territory disputes between dealers. Legalization of marijuana would hurt organized crime as a whole. If marijuana was legal, the entire infrastructure of organized crime involved in its manufacturing and distribution would lose any reason for existence because marijuana would be legally produced and sold at a much cheaper price by legitimate companies. Police officers and suspected informants often face retribution by gangs and drug dealers. Legalization of marijuana would simply eliminate the need for dealers and put a stop to all this. Legalization would cut down on corruption in the law enforcement, the government. Officials will no longer be tempted into accepting bribes, and pocketing large amounts of drug money. \n\n3) Legalization would free up resources to fight legitimate crimes. It would end prison overcrowding, as many prisoners are sitting in jails for drug-related convictions. It would free up the court system and the police and allow them to concentrate on other crimes. Fighting marijuana-related "crimes" is costing us tax money. \n\n4) Legalizing marijuana would make it safer for users. One of the main reasons why marijuana is unsafe right now is because it isn't regulated, and its quality isn't monitored by anyone. When people buy marijuana, they don't know for sure what they're getting or where it's been.\n\n5) The government has no right to interfere with people's personal freedom as it is currently doing. Smoking marijuana only has the potential to hurt the health of the user. An individual should have the right to choose to use it. People are allowed to skydive, and drive cars. There are risks in those and many other activities, but the government isn't regulating them. Sure, smoking marijuana does put others at minimal risk through second hand smoke and the user's actions towards others, but this is also valid for alcohol and tobacco. This is why driving while stoned should remain illegal.
784813
That is a good question that I don't have an answer for, but will probably be pondering for the next few days. I just wanted to say your question is the reason weed is illegal--because it does make intelligent people think. The govt would rather we drink beer and stay fat and stupid.
688591
I'm sure the MJ is bad for your health, smoking anything is going to be unhealthy but I'm pretty sure tobacco is worse.  In fact there are a large number of scientist that believe that marijuana is by far the safest illegal drug and is safer then tobacco and alcohol.  Which leaves the question why is marijuana illegal while alcohol and tobacco are legal?  That would take some time to explain.\n\nI've heard that a joint has the same amount of tar as 8 cigerettes, but this is from an anti-marijuana ad which are known to lie or stretch the truth.  What they don't mention is the size of the joint.  They also don't take into account that joints are filterless as well as they are typically passed around in a group.  Cigerettes are typically not passed around and a person will smoke far more cigerettes in a day.\n\nBasically the largest risk of marijuana is accidents or mistakes made because of being high.  An inexperienced user may feel that they are dying but just calming the person down is the best treatment.\n\nIf stuff like this really interest you then I suggest a book for you to look at.\n\n"Buzzed," by Cynthia Kuhn,Ph.D., Scott Swartzwelder,Ph.D., and Wikie Wilson,Ph.D.\n\nit contains valuable information about almost every drug you could think of from Alcohol, Caffeine, marijuana, tobacco, etc.\n\nsorry for the long answer but people get the wrong impression of marijuana based solely on the fact that it is illegal