How can we help to legalize Marijuana in the United States?

Question

i think it should be legal. Are there any ways to help make it legal?

Answer 1

Do u have a medical problem?

Medicinal Vs. Recreational?

The legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes as contrasted for general use must be examined as separate topics.



First, let's discuss medicinal purposes where it has been claimed that medical marijuana alleviates pain. Obviously, battling with chronic pain can be debilitating.

If scientific tests clearly validate that medical marijuana mitigates pain,  

Smoking cannabis will NEVER be accepted. But these days, we don't need to "smoke" it, to receive the benefits of cannabis. Vaporizing marijuana is a safe, non-toxic method of delivering the active ingredient - THC, which all but negates every single negative consequence of cannabis use.



then it should be considered for legalization especially if there is no other remedy to comfort the afflicted person.

There must, however, be stringent policy enacted otherwise it could easily digress into an out-of-control quagmire. It shouldn't be allowed for every ailment that comes along, lest it become, "Gee, doctor, this headache is a nuisance .., how about some medical marijuana for a buzz to help numb the pain?"

Now for the overall general use of marijuana: My viewpoint is an emphatic NO. Why would we contemplate legalizing something that can potentially cause both adverse health and mental problems? The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has concluded that marijuana usage can contribute to difficulty thinking clearly, anxiety attacks, feelings of paranoia, and dangerous impairment of driving skills. This last warning about driving is especially alarming. Our roadways are already becoming a battle zone, with alcohol abuse being the No. 1 reason for driving-related accidents and deaths. Just imagine adding marijuana to the lethal mix. Also, how would the police monitor the situation? We have DWI tests, so would DWS (driving while stoned) testing need to be implemented?

In conclusion, having witnessed the drug culture of the early 1970s, I would not legalize marijuana for general use. Why would we want to further burden a society that already is stockpiled with enough woes and worries?

Jeff Egan, Maine

Debated

The question posed has been debated for longer than some of us have been alive. Politicians, educators, even some doctors have seen the potential good that can come with its use, although they would most likely be too afraid to comment.

With the large amount of man-made pharmaceuticals on the market, some of which can be harmful -- if not fatal -- we see that the "bad" side effects are sometimes disregarded because of the overwhelming good the drug can do. With this is mind, think of how many alcohol-related deaths there are, yet somehow alcohol remains available to anyone over the age of 21.

One can only imagine how much revenue, and taxes, can be made off the growing, packaging, and selling of this product.

Consuming marijuana can be more therapeutic than any liver-killing pill. The worthless stalks can be made into clothing, paper, and fuel. A chunk of barren land, incapable of farming, can sustain the plant and be revitalized for food crops the following year.

From what I hear, marijuana is as easy to grow as a houseplant. In the end, this fact is why I believe it will never be legal. If the everyday Joe could supply himself with it, the government could not tax it. Instead, that everyday Joe has to pay taxes on the alcohol, or overpriced pharmacy bills.

Judath Carley, Binghamton

Nixon

Should marijuana be legalized? Yes. This view is not just shared by stoners. In 1972, President Nixon's National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse recommended decriminalization. In The Netherlands, use of hard drugs has gone down since marijuana was legalized. What is now a major criminal justice problem could easily become a minor medical issue.

According to Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2006, 12.7 percent of state inmates (over 33,000) and 12.4 percent of federal inmates (over 10,000) are imprisoned for marijuana offenses. According to the FBI, 44 percent of all illicit drug arrests are for marijuana. It costs more than $1 billion annually to imprison marijuana offenders. Some economists estimate the cost to be as high as $7 billion annually, taking into account all expenses. Since 1990, there have been over 10 million arrests for marijuana offenses.

The benefits of medicinal use of marijuana are well documented. It has uses in pain relief, especially neuropathic pain (resulting from nerve damage). It is effective in treating nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, movement disorders and insomnia. Its use as an appetite stimulant helps treatment of AIDS, cancer and dementia. Research suggests it may inhibit the growth of cancer cells (shown to be true in animal studies), aids in the reduction of arterial blockage and may be useful in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Anecdotal evidence indicates that it is as effective as many pharmaceutical tranquilizer

Answer 2

Hopefully nothing.  Sorry, I have an opinion too.

Answer 3

find a way to make it easily taxable and controlled by the government. right now they make more money in people paying fines than they would make selling weed. it is also so easy to grow that anyone could grow it making it even harder for the government to regulate. Good Luck!

Answer 4

You think it should be legal... OK... and Who are you in the eyes of our government?

The government doesn't do **** for the public because the public "want it" it has to benefit them somehow. If somehow it was legalized it would be taxed exorbitantly, bringing in a lot of money for Uncle Sam. Judging by how fast our government has worked on other things in the past, I expect that you won't be able to light up your joint for a good while.

There is, however, a solution to your problem, Amsterdam. My Friend.

Otherwise, you could go out and wave signs, make petitions and pretend like you, an average American citizen, is making a difference in politics.

Before you get all depressed and call me a cynical old b*****d, there is a beauty to all of this, this is probably the easiest country in the world to become rich. Make your buck and when you have the money, buy a villa island estate out in the Pacific.  

Answer 5

vote libertarian

Answer 6

Watch the movie Grass, it is a documentary narrated by Woody Harrelson (Cheers, Natural Born Killers)  It tells how and why pot is illegal in the US.  Funny and informative movie.

to watch go to...

http://quicksilverscreen.com/watch?video...

You must get the Federal government to change the laws.  No matter what a state may say, the feds consider pot illegal.  In California they have made it OK to have medical marijuana, but the feds still bust the people who grow, sell, and smoke it.  

Maybe the rest of the world needs to take a look at Holland, and how they treat pot.