Maybe if someone could give me on decent understandable reason why it should not be legal, then I wouldn't be so against the legalization of it.
It should be legal just like alcohol is. Over 18 (not 21) , No driving under the influence, etc. There are lots of people who make the argument against it who have no business making those decisions. Unless you know the effects first hand, you should not speculate. Alcohol is far worse. When you consume too much, you could literally die. Drink enough, but not that (to the point of poisoning) too much, it makes you sick, you vomit and likely pass out. Little less than that and while you might think you're completely aware of what's going on around you, you're really not. I'm sure you guys all know how it works.
Back to marijuana; In this comparison to alcohol, you can clearly see there is no reason for its unlawfulness. How many have you heard of dying from smoking too much at a time? Any overdoses? Who throws up all over themselves? While you may be inclined to sleep, you do not pass out. Although you are high, you are completely aware of what is happening around you. Don't get me wrong, You're still impaired, but not nearly as bad as alcohol. Driving is much more negotiable than while drinking (Although I would not condone making that legal; just look at the morons with cell phones.) Anyway, the side effects are minimal. You do not wake up the next morning with a massive hangover and no recollection of what happened the night before.
Some more basic information. Angry Drunks. A big part of the population drinks and gets upset. Even if you're typically a "happy drunk" alcohol screws with the emotions (I'm sure we've all experienced increased emotions here) One little trigger could set you off where you would flip out. With weed, well; everyone's happy. Not a care in the world.
I'm not really too sure of an addictive property. I know cigarettes are highly addictive (just quit) and they're completely legal. Alcohol is legal and there are addicts. With weed, I'm sure that there are lots of people who would become "addicts" What I am not aware of is an addictive property of weed. I believe it would be a mental addiction such as "It makes me feel good, so I want more." And not everyone would act like retards (a la Cheech and Chong) Granted, most people do laugh a lot and say some dumb things, but it is usually a relaxed atmosphere.
Let the government tax it, Just let us vote on it. Hell, Cigarettes are legal, and the government taxes them to no extent. Also talks of alcohol taxes going up (again.) Let them make some more money on this, just don't throw me (figurative) in jail for something so pitiful. Where I live the right first step has already been made. Caught with a small amount on you, get a ticket (non criminal.)
To all those who said people would just grow it to avoid taxes, fine. Let them. Hell, there's people who grow their own tobacco, brew their own alcohol, Go out of state to buy things from a lower taxed state, etc. etc. Some people do whatever they can to avoid taxes. The majority of the population though is too damn lazy to go through the trouble when they can go down the the corner store and buy a week's supply, propbably much cheaper than you get it illegally for now. The fact that it's illegal drives up the price. Make it legal, bi companies here grow it and sell it, drops prices dramatically, government adds huge tax rates and well, think cigarettes. 20 to a pack, 20 joints to a pack; roughly the same amount of plant. To buy all that weed now, $100+ Cigarettes: $7.77 (just went up again) here. That's with a ridiculous amount of taxes. Say they put a 100% tax on it, double the price. I still think you could get a pack of 20 joints for less than $100. Probably less than $50. For those not in the know, 20 joints could last you quite a while...Well, depending on if you're sharing
Sorry, I tend to go on and on when it comes to issues like this. I just feel the government has no right and no justification to outlaw something like this. Especially with its medicinal use. There is no harm for anyone in the legalization. It would free up so many resources in this country. Do we really need a "war" on it? Do we need our prisons overpopulated with these "drug" users. Think of the tax dollars going to the enforcement of arcaic laws.