Serious question about marijuana?

Alex G

thats so funny i just asked that exact same question

KaliMan

Frankly, it was a racial issue. Marijuana became illegal because (at that time) it was associated with blacks and hispanics, just as opium was associated with asians.

ZOzo

Because the gov. couldn't figure out how to tax it.

Daron M.

If you do not believe the following, do some research: marijuana was used, during the early 1900's, by african-americans and hispanics. Bakc then, it was common and just plain normal to be racist towards those groups. If you weren't racist back then, you were abnormal. The government didn't like them either, you've seen the video and pictures of black men being scraped across the pavement by a fire hose right? Well, the government can't just say, no blacks and hispanics. They sort of did, but they can't outlaw blacks and hispanics, this was the 20th century. So, they instead outlawed marijuana, which was their drug of choice, which allowed them to be arrested quite easily and frequently. So what they did is now called propaganda. They made movies "reefer madness" and commercials and posters showing what marijuana did to you: make you crazy, insane, homicidal, suicidal etc. We all know that is not true, but back then atleast, everyone (the whites) trusted their govenment, and took their every word as truth. So if the government says marijuana is bad, it IS bad. So they hated blacks and hispanics even more, and were okay with it being illegalized. It was put on the United States drug schedule, which lists drugs by their medicinal value. It was put at a level 1, which means "it has no medicinal uses whatsoever. Again, we know that to be untrue. But, the government, as we know, is still mentaly back in the 1800's. They are unwilling to be unpopular, and do the right thing. If marijuana were legalized tomorrow, and marijuana businesses popped up around the country, we would be out of this resession by summer. Almost guaranteed. But because of the many ignorant and blind american citizens, whether by religion, government or just stupidity, marijuana will not be legalized even if it is brought to congress. We are an idiocracy. That whole end of days crap, I can see why people think that. It isn't true by any means, but look around you. People are insane. Oh and how many people are dead because of marijuana related accidents every year? ZERO. How many to alcohol? About 100,000............

manurehappens13

Alcohol is a part of American culture. It's not going anywhere.

Captain Morgan

You are absolutely right, this chart proves your point:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ration...

...And everyone else above me is right too. It's mainly the tax issue that keeps pot from being legalized. It's pretty sad that the only reason the government lets people decide what they to do to themselves (in this case drink alcohol) is because they can tax it.

Yasamf

you cant grow alcohol like you can grow marijuana. The feds wouldn't be able to control the taxes.

Metroguy

You bring up some valid points...one add'l con for weed is that it does lung damage--just like cigarettes do but overall, you make some good points. I really don't suppose the Government can answer that. I will take a shot at it. Marijuana and other drugs are big business and provide a lot of Government and law enforcement jobs (fighting the importation and dealing). That means fat budgets and job billets.....That's all I can think

ducati1482

Originally they made it illegal because they had problems with minorities using the drug, this is actually how most drugs became illegal in the US, they could not simply get rid of the minorities, so they made laws directed toward them. I have also heard, and this may or may not be true, that tobacco companies helped to push the law through, it makes sense. Alcohol is one of the worst drugs there is, yet it is legal, just stop and consider how many people are killed in traffic accidents due to drunk driving, not to mention the people who die from alcoholism

Twirl

That's actually a really good question. I think it might be because people can get addicted to marijuana so much easier than alcohol, and also because sometime around the 1800s they banned alcohol in America and people freaked out and there was a rebellion and all that. Who knows?

Jason G

Your slightly off. Certain forms of alcohol are good for you. Red wine is good for your heart and beer is good for your kidneys. Both in moderation obviously. My theory on why marijuana is illegal is because of who could profit off of it. There are so many campaigns against smoking nowadays that tobaco companies couldn't possibly make a profit off of marijuana. So who does that leave? How many companies make money off of alcohol? It's all about the benjamins baby! Wasn't that a song?

Elizabeth

Not a pro or con of either but it comes down to this, when our government can find a way to tax weed, it will be legal. Booze makes too much money for too many people, regardless of consequence and they tax the hell out of it, same as tobacco. They tried to issue tax stamps on weed years and years ago, did not work.

Megan W

maijuna makes you high immediatly with one puff ( asuming you havent done it forever and ever)
when you're high you can kill someone or something horrible
The same is true when you are drunk but you arent drunk after one beer.... YOU can judge when you are a threat so the gov't actually is letting us take care of ourselves and entrusting us with our own lives.
ITS VERY LIMITED TODAY SO ENJOY IT!

jahadicwarrior

This is a great article to address your question. I think its a reprint of one that had like 5k diggs, couldn't find the original.

http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2003/12/22/whyIsMarijuanaIllegal.html

I agree, it should not be.

Kellie C

who cares?
do both.
its not hard to find.

Iri

Well alcohol does have its pros when drunk responsibly, it helps chronically shy people loosen up and socialise, it helps to relieve stress. (also if you drink lots of antifreeze, high proof alcohol can save your life :p).

A lot of the side effects of drink only occur when it is used irresponsibly, or are only temporary (for example affecting your speech).

Marijuana on the other hand has longer lasting side effects. Also, it is often prescribed as a pain killer, much like heroin based drugs such as morphine are regularly used in healthcare. Recreational use of the drug exposes the user to the side effects whilst they receive no health benefit from the drug, so the government views this as bad, and makes it illegal.

There is also the problem of actually enforcing an outlaw of alcohol, as seen in the US prohibition of the early 20's, its very hard to police entire cities desperate for alcohol.

Overall then, the side effects of drink are often short lived, reversible (even the liver damage is partly reversible), and rarely occur if used responsibly. Marijuana on the other hand does have some severe side effects (stunting the growth of the brain as you say etc.) and it is used in healthcare for its pain alleviating properties (both mental and physical), the government therefore decided to ban marijuana because of the potential damage it can do. Marijuana is also far more addictive than alcohol.

michael b

It has nothing to do with common sense or science - and everything to do with political power and economic interest.

The alcohol lobbies were more well developed and established = greater political power. There was a large established commercial market for drinking alcohol - brewers, distillers, bottlers, shippers, distributors, store outlets, bars, etc. There was a long history of protecting rights to brew, distill, sell and consume alcohol.

However, in 1690, England passed "An Act for the Encouraging of the Distillation of Brandy and Spirits from Corn" and within four years the annual production of distilled spirits, most of which was gin, reached nearly one million gallons

The seventeenth century also saw the Virginia colonists continue the traditional belief that alcoholic beverages are a natural food and are good when used in moderation. In fact, beer arrived with the first colonists, who considered it essential to their well being (Baron, 1962, pp. 3-8). The Puritan minister Increase Mather preached in favor of alcohol but against its abuse: "Drink is in itself a good creature of God, and to be received with thankfulness,

The English government actively promoted gin production to utilize surplus grain and to raise revenue.

It is clear that alcohol has been highly valued and in continuous use by peoples throughout history. Reflecting its vital role, consumption of alcohol in moderation has rarely been questioned throughout most of recorded time. To the contrary, "Fermented dietary beverage... was so common an element in the various cultures that it was taken for granted as one of the basic elements of survival and self-preservation" (Lucia, 1963b, p. 165). Indicative of its value is the fact that it has frequently been acceptable as a medium of exchange. For example, in Medieval England, ale was often used to pay toll, rent or debts (Watney, 1974, p. 16).

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/controversies/1114796842.html

There was very little organized commercial market for marijuana. There was little or no history of protecting rights to consume it.

â˜»Thyenaâ˜»

cause our gov't isnt trying to help us..

Z A C H

wer lucky we are getting away with alcohol i wish theyd make weed legal too though.

MrGuy

Might wanna check your facts about the pros before you state them. It doesn't help anything you listed, it just hides the symptoms, which doesnt solve anything.

Its illegal because of the crime connected with it, and because it is a gateway drug. People use it, and they think "well this didnt hurt me, why cant (insert drug name here)"

It also causes long-term damage to the brain and the lungs.

alcohol in moderate amounts cleans the system (the liver mostly) and is healthy to drink OCCASIONALLY, particularly wine.

Check your facts before you start trolling.

Nadia A

huh, good question.
but i have no idea either since i'm straight edge.
:)

Abbuzzy

Because it's a income for the police and they can use it as a treat if you don't talk.

Juicebox

it's a crazy messed up world.alcohol has no purpose

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