Marijuana Legalization: The Pros and Cons
Many organizations are pushing for the legalization of Marijuana as a medical drug. Marijuana has many medical advantages which include it being a therapeutic drug for cancer and AIDS patients. Many other research and studies dedicated to Marijuana has shown early signs that it can also inhibit cancer cell growth in animals.
In spite of these recent findings, many other organizations have tried to block the legalization of Marijuana as a medical drug. These organizations cited that only some isolated elements of Marijuana can be regarded as medically helpful and that the practice of smoking it does not necessarily have to be done.
Organizations Lobbying For Legal Marijuana Use
Patients out of Time and Law Enforcement against Prohibition are just two of the numerous organizations asking the government to change its mind regarding the prohibition of Marijuana use. Patients out of Time is an organization that has dedicated itself to the education of health care professionals and the general public regarding the therapeutic use of cannabis. This organization believes that Marijuana can be utilized as a drug to help patients who are suffering from several various diseases and illnesses.
LEAP or Law Enforcement against Prohibition is an organization that consists of former and current officers of the law and other individuals who wish to point out the failure of many drug policies. They believe that having a systematic regulation and control of drugs can benefit the community more than prohibition.
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Anti-Marijuana
There are other organizations that believe that legalizing marijuana is a good idea and others also want to veto these suggestions from the pro organizations. Other research studies have also pointed out that using Marijuana can adversely affect the brain and the body. These are lifelong effects that can manifest themselves long after an individual has given up using Marijuana. The anti-marijuana organizations stress that there are other products in the medical market that have the same positive effects of Marijuana with little or none of the negative side effects.
Researches regarding the use of Marijuana in some individuals who are already sick have shown that it can complicate the illness and add to the severity of it. Most of these organizations that are against the use of Marijuana as a medical drug urge the government for more extensive research to bring to light the effects of the plant.
As of the moment, the laws enacting the illegality of using and growing marijuana are still in place. The government has not budged regarding the many lobbyists who ask for the lifting of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In spite of the many advocates of pro-Marijuana use, the studies that have been done regarding the usefulness of the drug is still not enough to convince the government of its efficiency in the medical field. Some states in the United States of America have laws and regulations which are more lenient than other states. This is in lieu of sick people who wish to have release from pain and suffering caused by illnesses but there is a legal limit which needs to be followed.
The move to legalize the use and propagation of Marijuana will always have opposition since this plant is controversial. If the government does allow the use and propagation of Cannabis, there will always be a loophole which will be used by drug addicts and traffickers to be able to make money from the lifting of the ban.
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December 10th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Marijuana isn’ that bad I used to always do crappy in school cause I couldn’t consuntrate on my teachers or work when it was given to me, I was diagnosed with ADHD and had to take ritalin which helped me concuntrate but gave me alot of bad side effects. I was introduced to weed in high school I experimented a little bit and realized that it really calmed me down and helped me focus I was always a hyper kid so doing something like reading or writing was always hard now its just something I do as a hobby.
January 4th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
marijuana is really not as bad as public has made it out to be. when you actually think about it not a single person has died to date from overdosing on marijuana but thousands die each year from alcohol poisoning/overdosing
if alcohol is legal why not marijuana?
January 9th, 2009 at 9:24 am
me to ryan but people just think it is addictive..but it is not..it helps me in school too..i have ADD too..it helps me alot
January 11th, 2009 at 5:31 pm
Marijuana is so much more controlable then alcohol. marijuana has helped me with angry problems and concentration in classes
January 12th, 2009 at 6:34 am
how does marijuana help you consintrate in school when you can get distracted by certain movements and weird noices….but i belive you if you say so..i find that it relaxes you but too much relaXING isnt good if you now wat i meen..if you got any questions about anythign drop me a line……dr.cronice@rogers.com
January 14th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I think weed is good for people who need it like the people with ADD and ADHD, but when it’s used by teenagers like myself, especially at parties, it gets abused and it can mess up peoples lives…
January 19th, 2009 at 11:31 am
I believe that Marijuana should be legalized , because i SMOKE WEED EVERYDAY!
ITS ALL I DO
SMOKE
WEED
YEAH
*also, when i smoke weed then go to school, it stops me from taking my crappy teachers heads off*
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:50 pm
to Dr. Cronic Jones…different people react to it in different ways, so it really can help a lot of people to concentrate, especially the people with ADD or ADHD. Personally I found that once I started doing marijuana, my grades improved by a very large amount, because my concentration in my classes is a lot better, and I’m able to understand everything.
February 1st, 2009 at 11:45 am
I think weed is good for you. 25,000 people die every year from smoking, they get cancer of all types. everyday werepreached to about not smokeing, and everyday your told about what smoking does to you. the side effects, and you hear people saying they wish they never started it. weed on the other hand, people dont complain about, people tell you not to do it but thats it. everything is your own choice, and weed will never be stopped, but i think it should be legal. everything will prettty much kill you, and weed is more natral then anything else. you can conrol weed adictions eaasy, alchol becomes major and smokeing is terrible and kills people around you too. weed is okay, it helps with studying and concentration, its a medicine. every medience out there is expnecive and un aforable weed can help wth almost any sickness. a friend of mine simplly had the flu and it help. as i’v read it helps with add and adhd, thats great to have something that really works. i wouldnt want weed to be legal in stores like smokes but in a pharmacy or mediacane people who want it for everyday high use witch is still good can get it off there drug dealer, people need to make money. weed isnt as bad as what people say, i agree completly. your told its terrible and bad but its not, its a old mans drug compared to the oxy and coc addicions now. legalize weed, but make it conrolable with a limit.
February 4th, 2009 at 10:51 am
i belive weed is a good source of creativity. it allows to to mellow out and not woory about every little stressfull detail in your day to day life. i am a chronic weed smoker and i plan to stay that way. it doesnt ruin lives thats b.s.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:25 am
I think you guys do drugs too much because you are dillusional and cannot spell. I pity the fool.
February 11th, 2009 at 6:21 am
brady shut up, your prob one of those anit weed guys who hate it because all the “cool” kids do it and your not concidered cool. there is nothing wrong with weed i smoke it now and then, i still do good in school, passing every class and i plan on graduating on time. and i also no alot of people who smoke it alot of them are smart people who go to university, weed is fun it relaxes you and there are lots or reasons not to do it but if you want to go ahead, and anyone who says your hurting them, thats bull!!!!
February 11th, 2009 at 11:53 am
to me smoking marijuana is a matter of choice as is alcohol, only it is not legal. there r a great number of people who advocate using this drug for pain and mood control. take a look at some of the drugs used for pain….oxy’s for example. people impaired by chronic pain asking 4 help by using marijuana should not be taken lightly. how about we all start by listening!!!!!!
February 12th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Obviously a lot of you are in high school and shouldn’t be smoking period. I started smoking cannabis responsibly when I was 18 just after I graduated high school. I strongly believe that Marijuana should be taxed and regulated with age restrictions the same way as tobacco and alcohol are. There are many ways the country itself could benefit from such an action. Our struggling economy could use a boost as well and Marijuana is American’s biggest cash crop regardless of the laws against it. You kids need to grow up, you’re giving it a bad name. Though it may “help” you in school it is just like drinking. Marijuana has many positive aspects to it but, just like anything else, has its share of negative side effects especially with the use among adolescents. If you want to help do the reformers such as myself a favor and quit. You’re just making us look bad.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:33 am
marijuana should be legalized because some people who really do need it (medicinal marijuana) can not get it perscribed.
but if marijuana were to get legalized it should have rules of where,when….etc,
I myself have tried marijuana and it makes me more attentive.
BAM!!!!
and if the goverment did not want marijuana around they wouldnt have been giving it to patients for more than 40 years soooo BAM!!!!!
February 21st, 2009 at 7:56 am
Weed is a great drug but should not be considered a drug. Boose is much worse the death rate is huge drunk drivers overdoes and even suisides when consumed too much. The addictiveness of alcalhol is very high and rip thousands of familys apart. Icould go on and on for hours why the pros far out weigh the cons. Obeside is the number one for deaths yet there are no warning signs outside mc.Donalds but were slapped in the face with bleeding hearts on cigarette packs. Maybe if there was a an overweight guy getting heart surgery on your sandwich wrap people would think different. The laws on marijuanna are way to harsh. it should be legal like beer but treated the same. It would then be more controlled and our chrildren would not be able to poses it so easily. Ive been smoking for 10 years started when I was 12 yrs old. And will never quit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 22nd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Heres the way i see it. Everyday we come across somebody who will either be against pot or with is. I am with it, i smoke it almost everyday. When i hear somebody say that weed is terrible for you and your f@#$ing up your lives for smoking it, your wrong! i learn to cope with weed. I’ve been depressed a few times and tried to quit, but i realized how happy i was so i just learned to live with it. I can do anything just as good if not better than i had before without pot. Of course it all depends on how much you smoke per day. Moderation people. Know when to smoke it and you’ll be fine. Thing about bein a teenager, is they take it out of their hands and let it control them. It’s all in our head, when you use something illegal most of the time its cause kids feel they want to be rebellious and look cool. I’m from Vancouver and im sure most of you have been hearing abuot this gang violence over drugs. Legalize it so we don’t have to fight over it. If it was to be legalized, i think it should be like cigarettes and alcohol. Warnings and age limits probably should apply. Plus it would be great for the economy, it would bring us out of the recession by creating jobs for hundreds of thousands of people and the government would be rolling in the tax cash…just dont tax it more than everything else…if anything less
February 27th, 2009 at 6:08 am
Marijuana should be legalized because it would leave me alone from the f@#$ing police
February 27th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
The use of Marijuana has helped me through out high school so much. i used to be a angry, hyper active kid who would never listen, till i tried the magical soothin’ herb, Marijuana. Im now a calm, non angry, listening person.
February 27th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
bud..i agreee with Jon
March 1st, 2009 at 2:08 pm
After reading all the above responses from people who obviously do better in school because marijuana helps them focus, I have some advice: try studying spelling and plain English next time you’re high….It really does no good for children to leave posts that reflect their age and immaturity. I, too, am in favor of marijuana decriminalization and eventually marijuana legalization. But, if people reading these posts look at some of the responses, it seems to enforce the idea that marijuana is bad for your brain. Please do everyone a favor and just post on your teeny-bopper blogs if you would like to share an opinion with your peers. This is not an appropriate place.
March 6th, 2009 at 8:03 am
smoke weed everyday
skip class
do crack
get some lsd into yah
then knock back 8 g’s of mush on a deep dish pizza
then play guitar hero world tour
March 6th, 2009 at 8:08 am
smoking weed is bad and kills people
who want black lung
March 8th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
The Gang War End Solution
The new gang laws proposed by the government may catch some gang members; but because of the billions of dollars of money being made by the gangs the arrested gang members are quickly replaced and in the end taxpayers will end up losing billions of dollars to the gangs and paying billions of dollars for more police and new prisons to imprison the millions of non gang members to be arrested as illegal street drug end users.
According to Statistics Canada, in the year 2002, 45% of the Canadian adult population, have and still are using illegal drugs: What are we going to do with all these millions of people using illegal drugs, lock them all up in prison for life and pay hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars every year to keep them locked up in prison?
The government bureaucrat in charge of drug law enforcement says we need to spend more money on drug law enforcement. Since the start of the War on Drugs, seventy six years ago, we have spent more and more money, every year, on drug law enforcement and the end result today of all the billions and billions of taxpayer dollars spent on drug law enforcement are more violent drug gangs and a War on Drugs with virtually no possible victory in sight other than incarcerating over half the Canadian population.
On our present drug law enforcement course our youth will not have to worry about repaying our future debt, because they will be serving mandatory life drug prison sentences at a cost of billions of dollars a year to keep them in prison.
Today, ninety percent of Canada’s adult prison population is incarcerated for drug possession and or drug related crime and it is costing the Canadian taxpayers large.
CBC News reported: Canada had 110 prisoners for every 100,000 people in 2005-2006. One hundred and ten for every one hundred thousand people may not sound like a lot of Canadian’s in prison, but if you look at the Census numbers for all of Canada, it shows a huge number of Canadian’s are in prison.
According to Canada Census, as of the year 2008, the population of Canada was 33,212,696 people. If 110 out of every 100,000 Canadians is incarcerated, that means in the year 2008, Canada had 36,630 people in prison. It has been published it costs the Canadian taxpayers a minimum of eighty thousand dollars a year to keep a person incarcerated in prison. With 36,630 people in prison, that translates into the Canadian Taxpayers having to pay a minimum of $2,930,400,000 (two billion nine hundred and thirty million four hundred thousand dollars) a year to keep Canadian’s in prison in the year 2006. It is now 2009, so the in prison numbers will be much higher.
It must be noted, the eighty thousand dollars a year is only the incarceration costs, i.e., prison guard and cell, and does not include the police cost, prosecution costs, defense lawyer costs, court administration costs, sheriffs costs, transport to prison costs, parole and probation officer costs, etc., etc.. Who says crime does not pay?
We can not blame the Judges, as they are doing the best they can under their heavy work loads. Their dockets are filled everyday with drug offences and they witness first hand the physical and psychological damage of illegal drug law enforcement.
But what is the most disturbing; the public has lost faith in the police because of the war on drugs. The public do not believe the police could, would, or can protect them from gang revenge should they witness and report crime. It has been proven over and over and time and time again, the police offer protection up to and during the trial, but after the police and the crown get their conviction the witness is on their own.
In the last month there have been over 18 unsolved shootings in British Columbia and it has been publically stated by both the government and the police all the shootings and all the gang violence BC has been experiencing is directly connected to the illegal BC marijuana exporting. And now, because of the Mexican border gang wars and the Mexican marijuana supply disruption, USA hard core gangs are moving into Canada to take over the lucrative BC marijuana market and using cocaine to fund their take over operations.
And it is about to get much worse, as California is proposing a law to legalize the purchase and use of marijuana for anybody who is over twenty one years old.
When California legalizes marijuana, and they will, British Columbia will become a violent gang land turf battleground for brutal California marijuana importing gangs and the violence we have been experiencing today will pale in future comparison.
British Columbia will become a major exporter of illegal marijuana and it does not matter what the police do, there is nothing they can do to stop the marijuana exports, because there is just too much money to be made by the marijuana growing and smuggling gangs: We are talking about the gangs profiting billions of dollars every year and billions of dollars not going into BC government coffers at a time the government really needs the money.
We can snip the BC marijuana gangland problem in the bud and stop the BC gang wars by taking the crime and the crime profit out of marijuana and begin treating marijuana as a legal and licensed BC industry.
Taking the crime out of marijuana will really help the police: Because of the high cost of cocaine, BC gangs are using the criminal profits from marijuana to offset the costs for cocaine. By taking the crime and the crime profit out of marijuana the BC cocaine smuggler has less money for cocaine resulting in less cocaine on the street. With less cocaine on the street, it makes it far easier for the police to see who is smuggling the cocaine.
Some may argue, if we call a cease fire on marijuana it will signal to the public the criminal gangs have won. But the criminal gangs have not won, in fact they are losing big time, because with the government regulating legal distribution they no longer have a market.
With the BC forest industry in decline, marijuana and hemp can become BC’s new billion dollar cash crop. The whole hemp plant can be used: The plant grows quickly into the size of trees, the trunks and stems can be made into paper, the hemp plant oil can be used to replace the petroleum oil in plastic, the trunk fiber can be spooled into thread to make cloth and more. The whole plant is sustainable and recyclable. In the future BC could become a legal California and USA marijuana and hemp supplier. Marijuana / hemp could be the natural plant to halt the march of the BC pine beetle.
Cashing in on the billions of dollars a year in BC marijuana exporting is not a knee-jerk reaction. We all know sooner or later marijuana is going to be decriminalized. With BC marijuana having a reputation of being the best marijuana in the world, why don’t we in BC decriminalize marijuana sooner, rather than later, so we in BC can work out the bugs of marijuana decriminalization of the billion dollars a year BC marijuana and hemp exporting industry. We all know, once the California law to legalize marijuana becomes law and the other states and countries see the marijuana profits they will all follow California’s lead.
Some say, the War on Drugs has become an industry. That is certainly true; the War on Drugs is now an industry of its own. For the society of government bureaucrat people employed to fight the War on Drugs it provides a lucrative paycheck and benefits resulting in this society of government bureaucrat people offering utter resistance to change. Logic, efficacy, and historical truths do not interest them.
Which begs a question; What kind of government pays an industry billions of dollars a year to prey on its citizen’s pleasures, addictions, poverty, mental health and misery under the guise of enforcing the law? I think the last government that allowed this kind of law enforcement had law enforcement with the initials SS.
For the government to call a cease fire on the War on Marijuana there will be no unemployment for the society of government bureaucrat people presently employed in the war on drugs because after a cease fire on the war on drugs, with the reduction of prison populations, the decommissioned prison guards, police and administration can be put in the military and sent to countries where their expertise and training can be used to help defend our country on the front lines against our real enemies.
To call a cease fire on the War on Drugs and the government take control of the drug trade would virtually deny no terrorist group the ability to profit from illegal drug sales in Canada to fund their terrorist operations against Canada and its allies.
Over the last seventy six years the War on Drugs has cost the taxpayers billions of dollars and there is no end in sight to the War on Drugs. How long and how many more billions of taxpayer dollars will the government spend and innocent lives be lost fighting an unwinnable war against its own citizens before a cease fire is called?
The law enforcement money saved and money earned on a cease fire on the War on Marijuana could put a roof over the head of every Canadian Citizen: Now that’s crime prevention. A cease fire on the War on Marijuana would save and earn the government billions of dollars every year and easily pay for the drug treatment facilities.
With no cease fire on the War on Drugs, billions of dollars are spent and billions is lost to the gangs and the Canadian taxpayer foots the entire multi billion dollar War on Drugs costs; including paying for the drug treatment facilities.
It would be knee-jerk to think drug decriminalization will erase the entire criminal element in our society, but illegal drugs represent a major part of the criminal market; if decriminalization of marijuana can help stop the violent drug gang wars, create sustainable employment, earn billions of export dollars to help pay down the BC and Federal Government debt, and save the life of one innocent person, then marijuana drug decriminalization is a law worth passing.
March 9th, 2009 at 10:12 am
i think you should say that about me cause im going to kick your butt
March 19th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Hey!
Marijuana is B-A-D!
It is WORSE THAN TOBACCO!
So STOP smoking WEED and get an EDUCATION!
March 22nd, 2009 at 7:39 am
Marijuana does have it’s share of negative side effects but really wh is it hurting? The only reason why the government is not legalizing it is because they have kept it illegal for all these years; it will make them look bad if they legalize it now. We all know how the government doesn’t like to look bad. Either way, weed is a completely beneficial “drug” if you use it responsibly. Its those idiots in America who sell heroin and crack among marijuana which give it a bad name. Who the hell is going to get high and go rob a store? Maybe a trip to your nearest McDonalds would be more appropriate for a stoner. So people dont be dumb, if you are going to use it, use it responsibly.
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:34 am
SMOKE
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:37 am
My Name is brittany and i love to smoke that herb. by i don’t know anything i’m just a girl. hahahahaha
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:39 am
i love weed..but i am a douche bag
March 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 am
my name is bryce and i smoke that ganja ye ye son…
March 25th, 2009 at 8:40 am
smoke weed ery day
March 30th, 2009 at 9:55 am
you guys are retards, i smomke weed, but i dont say “smoke weed ery day” by the way, learn to spell. and this is about the legalization of marijuana, not smoking it. i agree with alot of the people it calms you down quite a bit. but on the other hand, you can get to calm to the point where you dont want to do anything, i know it happens to me all the time, so know i dont get high at school anymore. anyways, there are alot of reasons why it should be legal, and alot saying it shouldn’t be, i think it should.
March 31st, 2009 at 9:21 am
i have smoked weed about 10 times now and this stuff takes the pain away from my arms after a work out and then i get hugary so i eat to put on musical so this stuff is great for everything
April 2nd, 2009 at 7:20 am
for those of you complaining about spelling, who gives a f@#$? this is an open discussion…. people can say what they want, how they want to say it. why you being rude about it?
whatever happens, happens.
April 7th, 2009 at 4:15 am
my names [puurr and i LOOVE drinking gasolineeee♥
April 7th, 2009 at 4:20 am
I LOVE WEEEEED AND I DON:T GIVE A SHYYYYTTTT WHO DOESNT ALL I DO IS SMOKE WEEEEEEED< yo
April 7th, 2009 at 8:45 am
I smoke the herb everyday fore the last year and man do i feel great hahahaha ……….just remember dont fear the reefer
April 7th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
I think marijuana should be decriminalized becuase it does not harm anyone; especially in comparison to alcohol or REAL drugs(not weed). I have been smoking weed for a few years now,and i smoke it almost everyday. and i find that it helps me concentrate and it definately calms me down ALOT. It helps me in everyday life and i personally think it is a great thing in moderation. Marijuana has never hurt anybody, just decriminalize it already!!
April 8th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
they really should get it to there mind that weed is a healer and not what they think is does. it helps people with severe medical condictions like anorexia, and STD’s.
April 15th, 2009 at 6:46 am
im all for marijuana but against the legalization of it, it the government got a hold of it they would jack up the prices, control the potency, and would steal my business. Plus all you guys who dont smoke it doesnt effect you if its legal or not, but for all of us stoners who love smoking a big ass blunt think about it, its sooooo easy to get it and if it was sold at stores there would be a age limit.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:59 am
marijuana is so sick and i concentrate a thousand times better when im high so f@#$ all of the people who dont want it legalized
April 21st, 2009 at 7:05 am
Smoke weed. =)
April 21st, 2009 at 8:49 am
i agree with devil smoker i can def concentrate better when im high
April 21st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Look, getting high and rambling about why weed should get legalized on youtube isn’t helping. Sure weed helped me get better grades in school but it was because I did my homework and studied before I got high. The pro’s far outweigh the cons and I’ve been diligently looking for arguments against legalization that can’t be torn up with a bit of logic. It should be regulated just like cigarettes. You can buy all your smoking accessories at 18, why not buy the weed at the same place. The economy boost comes from the savings from enforcing prohibition and probable taxing of legal marijuana (for those who won’t grow it themselves). It stops the unpleasant dealings with dealers. No one wants to hang out with their dealer. It became illegal because of racism and quests for monopolies. Let’s forget the past and right the wrong.
May 5th, 2009 at 9:21 am
smoke datttt reeferrr
reefer <33333333333
May 5th, 2009 at 9:22 am
im all in for legalizing pot , look it people in amsterdam their alright they aint dyin n or gettin lung cancer but f@#$ i cant wait for the day everyone can smoke pot in a restraunt that will be some kool s@#$
May 13th, 2009 at 7:55 am
Okk straight uupp, marijuana needs to be legalizeed. i mean alllll the peoplee i talk to who are FAAT stonerrs, they all say it relax’s them and comes them down.? Who wouldnt wanna smokee itt..i mean come onn..youu kickk backk and chiill.
And itt even can help youu concentrate. I smoke weeed everyday ALL day..and im noot siick or dying. I basically never get sick. Marijuana needs to be legalized. I dont understand why alchol is legal annd kills thousands and thousands of people but marijuana hasnt killed anyone yet..well that i know of.? I think people need to pull there heads out of there A$$’s annnd LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.! :)
Takee a bonngg tokkeee everyoneee.!! =)
May 21st, 2009 at 10:00 am
i love smoking weed it makes me — faster
May 21st, 2009 at 10:01 am
its the truth
May 23rd, 2009 at 10:53 pm
Marijuana helps me consentrate, but i cannot smoke it because it is illigal….we need to legalize it a.s.a.p
May 25th, 2009 at 6:30 am
=]
May 26th, 2009 at 8:46 am
i agree with courtney
SMOKE WEED ALL MAHH F@#$% DAY!!, and i will take a bong toke for you! :d
May 26th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
i think it is a waste of time to argue over an internet forum about whether or not marijuana should be legalized. but have fun with that.
June 2nd, 2009 at 7:03 am
HEY DUDE MAN BROS!!!SHUT UP I***T BOYS!!!