¿Smoker Or Not: Do You Think Marijuana Will be Legal Almost Everywhere in 50 Years from Know? Arguments?

Question

1 out of 100 American adults are in jail. When you see that figure, what comes to mind? You may ask yourself, “Why are so much people in jail?”

One of the big answers is: Marijuana. In the year 2006, 43.9 percent of the 1,889,810 total arrests for drug violations were for marijuana- a total of 829,627. Out of that 829k, 738,916 people were arrested for just marijuana possession alone. Think of how much it would have risen since then? In the recent news report about the jail rates it said on average a state spends 25k per inmate. That’s around 18,472,900 dollars- If they where arrested all in the same state, since some sates spend even more, or less per inmates.
Oh, yes. Don’t forget the cost of fighting Marijuana “States spent $42.89 billion on Corrections in 2005 alone. To compare, states only spent $24.69 billion on public assistance.” So, in 2006 to around 2005, if you add all that up, the cost of jailing the inmates, and the correction costs: it all adds up to more then 42,908,472.900 being spent!
Those 829,627 people did nothing wrong, they did no violent act. If free they’d be any normal working tax payer in the US.

The point of this article is to show you that Marijuana isn’t the work of a bad force. Rather the work of a good force but clouded by the government and its drug laws. If we stopped spending all that money, we could put it into something that’d help the economy. Give it to schools, or help feed some poor people. This war on drugs has done nothing to stop the flood of drugs entering the US. “Did alcohol use decrease during the Alcohol Prohibition? No.” in fact “Consumption by women and children increased dramatically” Today we’re seeing the exact same thing when it comes to the drug war. “Every hour spent investigating a drug user or seller is an hour that could have been used to find a missing child…”

I'm in favor of legalizing drugs. According to my value system, if people want to kill themselves, they have every right to do so. Most of the harm that comes from drugs is because they are illegal."

Answer 1

I live in Colorado where it's legal for medical purposes under Amendment 20. I think that it'll be legal soon because the movement is growing and more people are learning about the different uses of cannabis. It's very good medically, and may even include curing terminal cancer (look up "Run From The Cure" or Rick Simpson). It's illegal to grow industrial hemp (less that 1% THC) in most of the US because of marijuana. Hemp can be used for so many things including fuel (creates 5 times more biomass than corn stalks and it's a weed so it's super easy to maintain). I believe it's illegal because the government and corporations want to make money. If you could grow your own medicine, fuel, paper, plastic, etc. they wouldn't make as much money as they do. Cannabis cannot be patented because it's a plant, therefore corporations cannot make money from it.



Here in CO, there have been tons of articles about mmj in the newspaper everyday. They're talking about selling it in pharmacies instead of the independent dispensaries and using 50% of the 160 million dollars towards higher education and the other 50% towards the "Colorado rainy day fund". If they're going to do that, they need to put most of that money towards researching the medical benefits of marijuana so people can stop saying "there's no proof, I've just heard stories". And they better make sure that, just like the amount for every other drug sold in those pharmacies, it's covered by insurance. It's a bad idea though because they could raise the prices to whatever they want. Some growers don't want it to be legalized because they make money on the black market.



That's what it comes down to, money. Always always money.



It was legalized (not just medically) in Breckenridge, CO. The votes were, I believe, 71% in favor. People say it doesn't mean anything because it's still illegal according to state law. But I believe it's a huge step towards it :-).



Edit:

I'd also like to say that I've SEEN loved ones die and have seizures from alcohol (at a very young age). No one has ever died from marijuana. Marijuana is a much safer choice, though I really don't smoke it. I just did my own research.

Answer 2

Well i've asked myself this question many times, well in a way its good that its illegal, because if it was legal the government would tax it like crazy [like cigarettes]. If it was legal many people would go without jobs. And think about all that Second-Hand funny smoke. Marijuana would of course become one of the countries leading imports or exports [hemp, you know?] Although it seems like a good idea, it isn't but whatever keep smoking my friend.

Answer 3

"Most of the harm that comes from drugs is because they are illegal."



Yeah, you keep on believing that, when some nimrod comes along, high as a kite, and wipes your loved ones off the road.



By the way, when you spout statistics, you might make it a point to know what you're talking about. Yes, state prison inmates can cost anywhere from $25k - $35k to keep, but one does not go to state prison for simple possession of marijuana. In fact, one rarely goes to the county jail for simple possession. Most often, one gets a summons to come to Court at a later time. One goes to state prison, however, for possession with intent to distribute. Part of the reason distribution is such a problem is that your run of the mill drug dealer doesn't have the courtesy to sell only to adults. They're much happier, by and large, selling to children, who are easier to manipulate, less likely to report them, and more-easily influenced by the changes in their demeanor brought about by mind-altering drugs. Since it is considerably worse to push drugs onto kids, who lack the wisdom and experience of adults, society has frowned upon drug distribution in any sense.



That said, if you don't want to go to prison, don't deal drugs.



I've been around the block a few times and I've interacted with lots of people, and let me tell you...potheads will be the first to tell you how harmless it is, but nine times out of ten, right before they tell me that, I was looking at them and trying to figure out if they were mentally challenged or just plain stupid. Most times, their pot-is-good announcement explains everything.



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No one has ever died from Marijuana???? Ha. What fairy tale book did you use for your "independent research" ?

Answer 4

You country is the strangest prohibitionist of them all. You allow people the choice to own guns but not take drugs. Crazy. The world is changing, people are not so concerned with what the US say over drug laws some are legalising and decriminalising drugs like Portugal and a whole swathe of South American nations who are being ripped apart from the drugs trade, which has been created by the prohibitionists are legalising and decriminalising drugs. Countries like the US and UK are run by misinformed public opinion and sadly public opinion is driven by misguiding media. I doubt we will see drug law change for awhile.

Answer 5

We can only hope. But I think the goverments will only put taxes on it, and the prices will only ski rocket. The mafia pays the goverment to keep it illegal so they can keep the prices high. The gov. does it to keep these funds as secret as possible.

Answer 6

What does that have to do with anything important. If you are expecting lifes greatest adventures from smoking whacky weed, then you are in for a very disapointing time.

Answer 7

Yeah, it will be legal way before then. California basically sells it just about everywhere now for medicinal use.

Answer 8

I hope so. they should just have the same rules they have for alcohol for weed.