i'm not siding with the current illegal status of marijuana if that's what you're thinking. i'm answering why they have it illegal.

It's all good! This was the official White House response to the reasons why marijuana would not and could not be legalized in the United States:

"When the President took office, he directed all of his policymakers to develop policies based on science and research, not ideology or politics. So our concern about marijuana is based on what the science tells us about the drug's effects.

According to scientists at the National Institutes of Health -- the world's largest source of drug abuse research -- marijuana use is associated with addiction, respiratory disease, and cognitive impairment. We know from an array of treatment admission information and Federal data that marijuana use is a significant source for voluntary drug treatment admissions and visits to emergency rooms. Studies also reveal that marijuana potency has almost tripled over the past 20 years, raising serious concerns about what this means for public health -– especially among young people who use the drug because research shows their brains continue to develop well into their 20's. Simply put, it is not a benign drug.

Like many, we are interested in the potential marijuana may have in providing relief to individuals diagnosed with certain serious illnesses. That is why we ardently support ongoing research into determining what components of the marijuana plant can be used as medicine. To date, however, neither the FDA nor the Institute of Medicine have found smoked marijuana to meet the modern standard for safe or effective medicine for any condition.

As a former police chief, I recognize we are not going to arrest our way out of the problem. We also recognize that legalizing marijuana would not provide the answer to any of the health, social, youth education, criminal justice, and community quality of life challenges associated with drug use.

That is why the President's National Drug Control Strategy is balanced and comprehensive, emphasizing prevention and treatment while at the same time supporting innovative law enforcement efforts that protect public safety and disrupt the supply of drugs entering our communities. Preventing drug use is the most cost-effective way to reduce drug use and its consequences in America. And, as we've seen in our work through community coalitions across the country, this approach works in making communities healthier and safer. We're also focused on expanding access to drug treatment for addicts. Treatment works. In fact, millions of Americans are in successful recovery for drug and alcoholism today. And through our work with innovative drug courts across the Nation, we are improving our criminal justice system to divert non-violent offenders into treatment.

Our commitment to a balanced approach to drug control is real. This last fiscal year alone, the Federal Government spent over $10 billion on drug education and treatment programs compared to just over $9 billion on drug related law enforcement in the U.S.

Thank you for making your voice heard. I encourage you to take a moment to read about the President's approach to drug control to learn more."

Maybe my phrasing "why is marijuana illegal" was a poor choice of words. I am mostly interested on people's opinions of legalization - sorry about that!

Such a rubbish excuse, it's a well known scientific fact that weed is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, especially if they sold "pure" weed, instead of modified skunk etc

I agree that it should be legalized for medicinal reasons. That is not what I meant. I was talking about those who use it recreationally.

I don't really get the distinction. It's a matter of the right to choose what I do and do not put into my own body. Why is it perfectly legal to unwind with an alcoholic drink at the end of the day and not a joint?

I guess that I just don't care. If you choose to use a drug that is illegal, then that is a crime. And I don't see why it shouldn't be. I'm pretty indifferent about the matter, really, so if it ever becomes legal, fine. But for now it's not, and I'm perfectly okay with that.

well thats fine. I support your right not to smoke it if youre not interested.

Why cant i smoke it if i like it and its not bothering anyone else though?

Same reason we had prohibition and a hundred other ridiculous laws AND half the problems on this forum.

People want to control others. VERY much. Don't ever doubt this.

I just don't want the actions of others to effect ME. Do what you want, leave me out of it and I promise to do the same for you.

Should I choose to indulge in marijuana it makes no difference in your life. Please allow me the same freedoms I allow you.

Ken Burns recently did a great documentary on prohibition. How it was passed by a vocal minority of busy bodies. How it made most law abiding citizens into criminals. How it created the mafia. Anyone who could watch that and not see the correlation today..well I just don't get it.

its really about the fact that it was pointless for it to be criminalised in the first place.

I find that as a chronic insomniac, a little smoke in the evening puts me to bed far more efficiently and with less side effects than any prescribed or OTC sleeping pills ive tried. I dont see why this should make me a criminal. I really REALLY dont see how it affects anyone else. Its not a drug linked particularly with any crimes or criminal activity, apart from the fact its illegal in itself.

Its a bit like if watching telly was made illegal and then someone came along and said, well i dont like telly anyway, so im quite happy for it to be illegal.

Fair enough that its no skin off your nose one way or the other, but it still doesnt mean it makes sense that its illegal

First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

It's illegal because Pharmaceutical lobbyists can't corner the market. Because anyone can grow it, no one stands to make any money on it.

It's illegal because Pharmaceutical lobbyists can't corner the market. Because anyone can grow it, no one stands to make any money on it.

That is a common argument, and there is some truth to it. But that's not really entirely true.

Growing weed is about as tricky as growing tomatoes. Not hard at all and anyone can do it with just a little bit of dirt, sun and water. It is a weed after all. So the fear is everyone will just grow their own.

One question. Do you buy tomatoes or do you grow them?

Most people live in cities with limited green space. Many people live north where it's too cold many months out of the year. Also it's just a real hassle! Who would want to plant weed, wait a few months to harvest it and dry it out when you could just pick some up legally and affordably?

Legal marijuana would be a huge industry that will provide many revenue streams which are now left only to criminals. Growing, preparing, transportation and distribution... small businesses would literally spring up overnight in towns across the country. Not more bars. Not more crime areas. Little cafes selling weed and pastries. People taking the product home for their own enjoyment. Renting a movie and ordering a pizza.

All taxed. All legal. Huge savings on the money we currently spend keeping it illegal. Huge profits on new taxes that no one is arguing against.

I swear I could pull us out of this economic crisis with a little bit of legal weed.

it is the same. Its something YOu want to do, that affects noone but yourself. Its about freedom. Whats the point in having laws against things that harm noone just for the sake of it?

it is the same. Its something YOu want to do, that affects noone but yourself. Its about freedom. Whats the point in having laws against things that harm noone just for the sake of it?

I guess that we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. I'm not going to change your mind, and you're not going to change mine.

But please leave my boyfriend out of it.

I could care less if they make it legal. Stopped smoking herb about 25 years ago.

Granted, I don't see it as being any worse than alcohol, but who needs more stoners driving to the cookie aisle at the grocery store.

i think with all the funds they would save on the 'drug war' against marijuana and criminalization could be used to fund treatment centers for addicts of more serious drugs that have proven to kill and be dangerously addictive. the only think mary jane ever did to me was raid my fridge :laugh:

Estimated revenue from the black market annually: $18 Billion. The US SPENDS about $13 billion a year on prohibition costs a year.

People ***** and moan about how much money our military is costing us to police the world but don't care how much our government spend on other little things...

I could care less if they make it legal. Stopped smoking herb about 25 years ago.

Granted, I don't see it as being any worse than alcohol, but who needs more stoners driving to the cookie aisle at the grocery store.

What things would the government need to make illegal "just because" for you (directed at all 'neutral' people, really) to start caring? Cigarettes? Pop-Tarts? I choose not to drink regular, non-diet soda, but I would be spitting mad if the government decided to make that illegal, "just because". Me taking the Switzerland approach to sugary soda and saying "welp, who needs more fatties blocking the aisles with their electric carts?" sounds pretty silly, because it's a sweeping generalization of people who choose to partake in that particular substance. Sure, there's people who drink Coke for breakfast, but there's also people who would appreciate having a glass of Coke once in awhile when they go to dinner.

Same goes for alcohol, same goes for marijuana. Not all people who drink alcohol are alcoholics, just like not all people who smoke marijuana are "stoners".

To me, the fight to legalize marijuana isn't JUST about the right to toke up - it's about the right to make an adult choice about what goes into my body. Even if people don't smoke, the right to choose to is what people should be fighting for.

This debate is divided by those that smoke dope and those that don't. I'm sure that pedophiles would like to make kiddie porn legal and meth addicts would like to see meth legalised. Doesn't make it a good argument.

Like I said before, I don't care if marijuana is legalised or not as long as the same laws that are imposed on drinkers are imposed on "stoners". Relax. Toke up. Have a double stuffed oreo.