Should Marijuana be legalized?

Although it is widely believed that Marijuana should be legalized due to its widespread use, I believe that it should remain illegal. Marijuana in itself is an addicting narcotic, which affects both the physical and mental state of the user. Although it is argued that it's effects are on the same level as alcohol, the problem with Marijuana is that it actually seeps itself into ones system as it is used, causing long term damage and mental instability (http://www.drugwatch.org/Cannabis%20Illegal.htm).

It is ridiculous for people to argue that such a drug should become legalized because it is already being used by a large amount of people. If it were legalized its use would become even more widespread (saying people do it because of its taboo nature does not work here because people would start to do it because it was no longer taboo and would interested in it because it was at some point) and its effects would begin to legally haunt society.

Not sure what the debate is, the only down side of Marijuana is the smoke going into your lungs. When it comes to addiction, coffee, alcohol, tabacco, food even are way more addictive than Marijuana.

If you are going to keep Marijuna illegal, then add alcohol and tabacco.

Marijiuana is much safer than alcohol and less addictive.
Alcohol kills people through consumption and through drunk driving.

Marijuana is way safer.

Absolutely should be legal to make the system make sense.

So am I to understand that your reasoning is that because Marijuana is less detrimental to society in comparison to alcohol that we should legalize the substance?

I don't think that makes for a great argument honestly. Alcohol slipped through our fingers, it should be outlawed as well. Instituting marijuana in my honest opinion does far more harm then it does good. Just because, based on your reasoning, it is less harmful in comparison doesn't mean we should legalize it. Obviously doubling our fatality rates is a clear winner here. Oops sorry, it's less detrimental so, really, we're only maybe multiplying the death rate at 1.57 (arbitrary). Clearly logical.

Many people use the argument that because a, b, c are bad but they are legal, let's make d (marijuana) legal just because it's marginally less <effect_here> which is also bad. What are you guys thinking?

You're talking as if criminalizing marijuana is free.
No way. The war on drugs has huge costs to society--much greater costs than the damage that marijuana has done.

It makes perfect sense to compare to alcohol because a smart society compares all opportunity costs. In the end, it makes no sense, morally, medically, and economically, to criminalize marijuana when society has much bigger fish to fry.

"The war on drugs has huge costs to society--much greater costs than the damage that marijuana has done."
What's your reasoning for this? Who's to say the decriminalization of Marijuana won't result in more DUI's (increased jail and court time) or more accidents due to more people being under the influence because it's legal? There is no warrant in your argument as to why the costs would be less on society, I can only imagine how it would be much greater.

I guess we should be asking the question," Why is Marijuan an illegal drug in the first place?"
It's illegal for a reason.
And the whole 'medical-benefits' debate is extremely weak in nature.
I mean seriously.. all those in favor of it's legalization.. probably.. are currently illegally sampling the stuff.
LOL

1. It's not addictive

2. It's not a gateway drug (there is no concrete evidence, only correlations which can easily explained with other arguments)

3. It's safer than cigarettes (It doesn't cause cancer, studies show that people who have smoked several joints a day for years have no statistically significantly higher risk of getting cancer)

4. It's safer than alcohol (You can't get killed from it, no matter how much you smoke, and if you're really high, you're less likely to do something stupid than if you're really drunk)

This week the news came out that a Dutch firm will release a marijuana pill for medical use. They think they can achieve this within 5 years, due to all the legal issues.... Anyway its a good question why Marijuana should be legal, i live in the netherlands, were it is legal and it works very good. And no, not the whole population is stoned the whole day and due to the fact that it is legal and accepted the use is very low.

michael

Evidence in the debate on the legalization of marijuana is heavily in favor of legalization. And, there are economic, political, and perhaps even moral dealings in this debate. However, my expertise lies in the horticultural, chemical, and medical aspects of marijuana and medical usage is perhaps the most compelling argument for legalization and therefore will be my focus.

Cannabis sativa has several subspecies and variants: sativa var. sativa ('sativa'), sativa var. spontanea (sometimes called 'ruderalis'), indica var. indica ('indica'), indica var. kafiristanica (sometimes called 'afghanica'). Each has a different chemical profiles with varying levels of chemicals called cannabinoids. The cannabinoids of interest include tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN). These chemicals work in most animals by binding to cannabinoid receptors, of which there are two types (CB1 and CB2).

CB1 receptors are mostly found in the brain and the reproductive systems. Note that CB1 receptors are generally absent from the part of the brain responsible for respiratory and cardiovascular functions, which is a risk associated with many drugs. CB2 receptors are almost exclusively found in the immune system and are concentrated in the spleen. The various cannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN) have specific affinities for the two different cannabinoid receptors. These affinities in conjunction with the array of chemical profiles in the subspecies of cannabis are responsible for wide range of effects that marijuana has for people.

THC is the chemical responsible for the psychoactive effects of C. sativa, and has been shown to ease moderate pain and prevent degeneration of neurons in the brain (at extremely high concentrations, THC inhibits the formation of plaque, the cause of Alzheimer's disease). CBD, which is known to moderate the psychoactive effects of THC, does not bind to either CB1 or CB2 receptors directly, but it does block the effects of cannabinoid agonists through unknown mechanisms. CBD helps to relieve convlusion, inflammation, anxiety, nausea, improve alertness, and recently was found to help control the spread of metastatic breast cancer. CBN is an oxidation product of THC and is the chemical associated with the sedative or stupefying effects of some marijuana.

The medical uses of THC are documented, in fact, there's already a pharmaceutical on market called Marinol which contains dronabinol (aka, THC). Marinol is FDA approved and prescribed as an appetite stimulant, anti-nauseant. However, Marinol is described as being acutely psychedlic and is also known to trigger psychosis in at risk individuals, confirming a study published in 2007 by The Lancet, a British medical journal, that indicated marijuana users had a greater risk of developing psychosis, although the risk was most pronounced in individuals already considered to be at risk of developing psychosis.

While Marinol is an effective appetite stimulant and anti-nauseant for AIDS and cancer patients, the risk of concentrated THC triggering psychosis in at risk individuals renders it unusable. A two-year study in which rodents were given THC showed reduction of body mass, enhanced survival rates, decreased tumor incidents in hormonally-controlled organs. It also caused testiculor atrophy, uterine and ovarian hypoplasia, hyperactivity, and convulsions immediately after administration.

The combination of cannabinoids offered in C. sativa plants elicits safer and more balanced results than it's pharma-cousin, Marinol. In the specific case of individuals identified as at risk for developing psychosis, indica-ruderalis cross breeds can be used to affect appetite stimulation and nausea reduction without the risk of triggering psychosis. C. sativa offers a safe and holistic way to achieve many positive medical results.

The method of consumption of C. sativa also has come under medical scrutiny, specifically the act of smoking is known to be particularly irritating and harmful to the lungs. However, a wide variety of alternatives to smoking exist which are not suspect to health concerns.

Medical marijuana has been used to treat many things successfully including: anxiety, depression, nausea, glaucoma, reduced appetite, ADHD, pain, cancerous cell growth, and more. What's more, is that this only deals with the medical aspects of marijuana. Let us not forget that there are economic and social arguments for legalization as well.

We live in a backwards world, the question shouldn't be "should marijuana be legalized?" If anything, the question should be whether or not it should be illegal, but the drug czars, tobacco companies, and propagandizing politicians embarked on an epic mud slinging campaign early in the last century.