Drugs.

[peregrine]

Frist I'd like to address whoever said cigs have "no redeeming qualities." It's true, that it smells, it kills, it's a nasty habit... but yet people DO get addicted to smoking. And let me tell you that 1 cig doesn't get you hooked. The sheer volumes of people who have gotten addicted has to say SOMETHING about it's beneficial qualities. From my experience, smoking a cig is akin to getting a buzz from alocohol for a short while, with a calming effect. Sure it's unhealthy, but there are reasons why people who have neither a psychological nor physical dependence on it continue to smoke. Those are its redeeming qualities.

Which is very akin to alcohol. Unhealthy, judgement impairing, brain-cell killing, concentration reducing... but still very prevalent in society, and most of all - legal. Alcohol sure doesn't solve any problems on its own, but it does give one the escape needed to endure a hardship for a while.

And with the facts presented in this thread, I don't see why weed shouldn't be legalized. It can't be stopped, and I'd argue it's almost as, if not more common than cigarette smoking.

It's harmful to your health - so are other controlled substances... and if you don't like the health risks, don't use it.

Everybody will do it if it's legal - not everybody is a lush who chain smokes. And it's not like it being illegal really stops people from getting weed if they want it.

It's just plain wrong to use any substance - that's just plain stupid... the same could be said of video games, many require you to sit (low energy, lack of exercise is unhealthy), many are single player or have that mode (requires time to play, excessive playing can lead to antisociality, if that's a word), causes eye strain, and probably some form of carpel-tunnel syndrome... etc.... when you say it's wrong to use any substance, you're saying any form of escapism is wrong... and I'll agree that IN EXCESS escapism is very unhealthy physically, psychologically and socially... everybody needs a break now and then. If you've achieved perfect happiness and can live your life with a smile on your face all day long, then congratulations... but don't make it harder for those of us who are trudging through life.

It incompacitates your abilities, specifically driving - true... although so does alcohol... additionally: most of my weed smoking friends don't feel like doing much when they're high, perhaps it's just them, but driving doesn't seem to be a high priority when you're stoned. And there's always the option of a taxi or designated driver. There are responsible ways to go about drinking, they can be adapted to smoking weed.

[jewpinthethird]

I thought this was funny, I found it on http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz...marijuana.html

"By 1621, the British were growing cannabis in Virginia where cultivation of hemp was mandatory. In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper. Both President George Washington and President Thomas Jefferson were advocates of hemp as a valuable cash crop. Jefferson urged farmers to grow the crop in lieu of tobacco. By the 1850s, hemp had become the third largest agricultural crop grown in North America. The U. S. Census of that year recorded 8,327 hemp plantations, each with 2,000 or more acres in cultivation."

"The controversy and misinformation persists around this relatively safe and non-toxic herb. The World Health Organization, in a 1998 study, stated that the risks from cannabis use were unlikely to seriously compare to the public health risks of the legal drugs, alcohol and tobacco. And despite thousands of years of human consumption, not one death has been directly attributed to cannabis use."

"No health hazards or side effects are known in conjunction with the proper administration of designated therapeutic dosages."

[perfect_fat]

Cannabis was called a "superior" herb by the Emperor Shen-Nung

I can imagine a guy with a big suit on, a blunt in his hand, eyes all red saying this. Bobbin his head of course.

[dehumanised]

I, personally, am violently allergic to marijuana. I only need the slightest sniff of it, and I can end up comatose, as happened at a concert a couple of years back, and if I'm in a room with someone who is smoking it, you can count me out of the next 24-48 hours. Marijuana is slowly starting to become legal here in the UK, in the Amsterdam style of "hash bars", which I am alright with as long as it does not become legal to smoke it anywhere. It shouldn't be illegal. However, if marijuana was made legal in the streets I would not be able to leave my house, that is seriously how bad my allergy is. Just my tuppence worth.
Drew

[trillobyite]

I only read the first post and skipped everything else, so if someone already said these please forgive me, but marijuana is what is known as a "gateway" drug, a drug that can start the chain of a drug user from starting at pot and moving on to heroine, crack, etc. Those other drugs kill, and they kill horribly. It makes sense to make it illegal to stop anyone from taking any of those other drugs. Tobacco should be illegal too, but for some reason everyone feels like sucking up to Philip Morris 8)
Alcohol on the other hand, is actually good for you if you take about half a cup of light wine a day. It exercises your liver so that it can fight off other posions more rapidly. Drinking too much though, can screw up the liver, and get people drunk. If anything, only alcohol abuse should be illegal, but the ability to drink only a little should stay (and not to drink and drive).

[BluE_MeaniE]

I've read that marijuana isn't really a gateway drug. But if you look at the people who do harder drugs, they often started with marijuana, possibly because it was easier to get. But marijuana doesn't necessarily lead you to other drugs because there are many people who stop after trying marijuana

[trillobyite]

Well, even if there are many that stop after using marijuana, there is no point for those few who end up doing other drugs to end up doing other drugs. No matter what way you put it, Marijuana is bad, even if not as bad as I thought before, and I believe it should be made illegal. Plus, it isn't exactly good for people either.

[jewpinthethird]

Plus, it isn't exactly good for people either.

"Clinical studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in relieving nausea and vomiting following chemo-therapy treatments for cancer. The herb has also been shown to reduce intra-ocular pressure in the eye by as much as 45%, a beneficial action in the treatment for glaucoma. Cannabis has proven anticonvulsive action, and may be helpful in treating epilepsy. Other research has documented an in-vitro tumor inhibiting effect of THC. Marijuana also increases appetite and reduces nausea and has been used with AIDS patients to counter weight loss and "wasting" that may result from the disease"

And that whole thing about Marijuana being a gateway drug is bull. Smoking cannabis doesnt make you want other drugs. Many many of the potheads I know will be nothing more than potheads. Only one of my friends who smokes went on to try other things (cocaine). The rest are happy with marijuana.

Also, it smells good (much better than tobacco).

I know a few of you said you are allergic, well, some people are allergic. I dont really know what to say about that. But if Marijuana were made legal, it isnt something that people can smoke in the streets do to the fact that it does alter people's minds. But like those Hash-bars.

[dontcareaboutmyid]

Over summer school in health class (I took to get ahead) a cop brought in drug parafenalia and acual drugs and there was a bag of acual weed that he passed around. I said it smelled good and got the entire class to roll around laughing.

The teacher did a major eye roll.

that was an interesting day.

[peregrine]

if they can have a law against public drunkenness, they can easily have a law against public pot smoking.

And I'd have to disagree with you, jewpin, I'd rather smell menthol cig smoke than pot smoke. That pot smell just gets everywhere, and it's really pungent.

[jewpinthethird]

I dont know, but I actually like the smell of pot smoke. It smells like incense.

[DracIV]

Marijuana won't be legal because of how society views it. Smoking and alcohol have their "refined" sides in cigars and fine wine. Cigarettes and booze are just crappy imitations that hold the negative feelings from the deaths. Marijuana on the otherhand is only viewed as unrefined. The most "refined" form I can think of it a bunch of potheads smoking it in a car with the windows closed. That's the best image that most people can get and it is totally unappealing. Additionally, neither smoking nor drinking is seriously mind-altering unless abused, while the whole point of marijuana is that it IS mind-altering when used in nearly any amount. Another bad part is that your mind can be altered immediately because someone else is doing it. That doesn't happen with smoking or alcohol, even though smoking does have effects after many hours of exposure. It seems to me that the whole reason that marijuana is illegal is because all it does is screw with your mind (not beneficial).

[Jessus]

weed is not an upper, or stimulant, but rather a depressant. also, it's only illegal because of false claims from the tobacco company right after the new plow was invented in the 40's. they were afraid marijuana sales would rival their own tobacco sales.

and no, no deaths have ever resulted DIRECTLY from marijuana use. car crashes are not direct effects.

also, there WERE no actual bad effects that made it illegal, it was mostly rumors.

oh, and tobacco cant be made illegal because of the billions of dollars that the government gets from it. the economy would literally fall apart.

and someone who said "drug dealers get killed!" well this is bull too. the reason drugs are so pricey and sought after is because they aren't allowed. the extra money its sold for covers the risks that dealers take by doing something illegal. if it was legal, it would be much safer for users and dealers alike, and a lot cheaper too.

[CyanoticXtC]

it would be much safer for users and dealers alike

Not really would it be safer for dealers if MJ was legal, there just wouldnt be many dealers at all, you could just head on down to your Local Kwik-e-Mart

[dontcareaboutmyid]

Okay one more time, majiuana is a hallusinogen.

not an upper not a downer, its a hallusinogen.

and excuse me for spelling hallusinogen wrong if it is.