I dont blame you if you dont read this. But I wrote it so I'd be flattered if you did.

[trombonesrawk]

In states where medical marijuana is legal and marijuana in general is decriminalized, people can still be arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced because of marijuana distribution and possession. How is this possible? It’s possible because, according to federal law, marijuana is still illegal. This seems like a blatant disregard of democracy, because

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[lovesacoustic]

In other studies, smoked marijuana has been shown to cause a variety of health problems, including cancer, respiratory problems, increased heart rate, loss of motor skills, and increased heart rate. Furthermore, marijuana can affect the immune system by impairing the ability of T-cells to fight off infections, demonstrating that marijuana can do more harm than good in people with already compromised immune systems.

In addition, in a recent study by the Mayo Clinic, THC was shown to be less effective than standard treatments in helping cancer patients regain lost appetites.

The American Medical Association recommends that marijuana remain a Schedule I controlled substance.

The DEA supports research into the safety and efficacy of THC (the major psychoactive component of marijuana), and such studies are ongoing, supported by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

As a result of such research, a synthetic THC drug, Marinol, has been available to the public since 1985. The Food and Drug Administration has determined that Marinol is safe, effective, and has therapeutic benefits for use as a treatment for nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, and as a treatment of weight loss in patients with AIDS. However, it does not produce the harmful health effects associated with smoking marijuana.

Furthermore, the DEA recently approved the University of California San Diego to undertake rigorous scientific studies to assess the safety and efficacy of cannabis compounds for treating certain debilitating medical conditions.

It's also important to realize that the campaign to allow marijuana to be used as medicine is a tactical maneuver in an overall strategy to completely legalize the drug. Pro-legalization groups have transformed the debate from decriminalizing drug use to one of compassion and care for people with serious diseases. The New York Times interviewed Ethan Nadelman, Director of the Lindesmith Center. Responding to criticism from former Drug Czar Barry McCaffrey that the medical marijuana issue is a stalking-horse for drug legalization, Mr. Nadelman did not contradict General McCaffrey. "Will it help lead toward marijuana legaization?" Mr. Nadelman said: "I hope so."

Also, consider the public safety of others when confronted with intoxicated drug users:

Marijuana affects many skills required for safe driving: alertness, the ability to concentrate, coordination, and reaction time. These effects can last up to 24 hours after smoking marijuana. Marijuana use can make it difficult to judge distances and react to signals and signs on the road.

The National Transportation Safety Board studied 182 fatal truck accidents. It found that just as many of the accidents were caused by drivers using marijuana as were caused by alcohol -- 12.5 percent in each case.

Consider also that drug use, including marijuana, contributes to crime. A large percentage of those arrested for crimes test positive for marijuana. Nationwide, 40 percent of adult males tested positive for marijuana at the time of their arrest. It's not the primary reason they were arrested, it more than likely was the cause.

Among marijuana's most harmful consequences is its role in leading to the use of other illegal drugs like heroin and cocaine. Long-term studies of students who use drugs show that very few young people use other illegal drugs without first trying marijuana. While not all people who use marijuana go on to use other drugs, using marijuana sometimes lowers inhibitions about drug use and exposes users to a culture that encourages use of other drugs.

The risk of using cocaine has been estimated to be more than 104 times greater for those who have tried marijuana than for those who have never tried it.

In Summary:

Marijuana is a dangerous, addictive drug that poses significant health threats to users.

Marijuana has no medical value that can't be met more effectively by legal drugs.

Marijuana users are far more likely to use other drugs like cocaine and heroin than non-marijuana users.

Drug legalizers use "medical marijuana" as red herring in effort to advocate broader legalization of drug use.

[trombonesrawk]

I agree with alot of what you're saying. I'm not denying that marijuana has health risks, it definitely isn't 100% safe. I also suspected that the push for medical marijuana was just propaganda to get it legalized in general.

The point I'm trying to make is that people should be able to choose for themselves. Yeah, it has risks, but its no more dangerous than alcohol or tobacco, which are both legal. Someone's life shouldn't be ruined with prison time just because they smoke weed. It's a nonviolent crime and they're hurting nobody but themselves when they do it.

[lovesacoustic]

Well yeah, but like I said... it does affect others. If marijuana was legalized, everyone would have more access to it and more people would be driving under the influence, adding to the already ridiculous amount of drunk driving accidents. And also like I said, it's a very good chance that many crimes are caused by smoking weed. It impairs your ability to think straight, causing its users to be less rational when thinking about what's right and wrong. Some 40% of criminals are found with it in their system. So others do suffer from their decision to smoke.
Heroin and crack "only hurt the people who use them," but these drugs shouldn't be legalized either.

[trombonesrawk]

Well, if it were legalized yes, people would have more access to it. People at a certain age, probably 21. Also, marijuana doesn't impair your driving nearly as much as alcohol, and I can attribute this to personal experience. I've driving with countless stoned drivers who drive just fine. Even when I'm in the car sober.

Also, weed doesn't make you commit crimes. The main reason a majority of criminals smoke weed is because they dont care about breaking the law anyway, and its of easy access to them. A person who's going to commit a crime is going to do it regardless of whether they smoke or not.

[lovesacoustic]

I've also been in a car with a drunk driver (unfortunatly) and they drove just fine, as well. It's not a matter of how well the driver concentrates or actually DRIVES correctly, it's a matter of responding if something were to happen. It's a fact that marijuana slows your responses, affects your alertness, and takes away greatly from your motor skills. A sober driver wouldn't have to think through the cloud of smoke in their head to swerve in time to miss an accident. Also, even if smoking does less damage than alcohol, that still doesn't make it okay. Why add another reason and cause for possible accidents when we have so many already?

And it's a possibility that it doesn't cause the crimes, but even if it doesn't - it's pretty obvious that they go hand-in-hand. Why encourage something that criminals find rebellious? If they did it solely because it was against the law, it's like giving them a pat on the back and a handshake for doing something they knew was wrong. It reinforces their negative behavior.

You don't hate me now, right? haha 'cause I still like you. :D I find this a lot like my 10th grade debate class. It's interesting to actually hear both sides and express your opinions and beliefs. What would the world be like if everyone had the same view?

[trombonesrawk]

So we're putting people in jail because of a possibility? Marijuana and crime do not go hand in hand. There are plenty of people out there who smoke in their free time that are decent, hard-working people like the rest of us, do they deserve to go to jail too?

Legalizing weed wouldn't reinforce their behavior, its not like we're making murder and rape legal too.

And no, I definitely don't hate you =P This is the first time I've actually gotten to debate the topic. Most people are just closed minded and are like "Nope, you're wrong, later."

You do make alot of good points, but regardless, I still don't think people should be punished as severely as they are for posessing weed.

If weed were legalized then yes, there should be some strict laws that go with it, including laws against impaired driving and an age limit. People are going to smoke regardless of the law, so legalizing it would be doing alot more good than harm.

[lovesacoustic]

They're breaking the law... which is the definition of a crime. So yes, they should. I mean, regardless of their own opinion on the matter, they're doing something they know is illegal and they're fully aware of the consequences. lmao would it be cheesy for me to say "do the crime, do the time"? :P

And no... it's not just reinforcement. It's just saying that what they did was okay - when it was against the law. That's like telling a little kid that was doing something that was against the rules at the time, that he's not in trouble now even though he was bad. Mkay. That was a really bad example. But you know what I'm saying, right? I just got done working from 8-5 so I'm a little braindead. Ugh.

Yeah, there would have to be age restrictions and strict laws... but of course, that's just setting more rules for smokers to break. Regardless of these strict laws and anti-impaired driving rules, these people are going to do it anyway. As you said, people are going to smoke regardless of the law. And even that some do it solely because it's against the rules. Make it legal and more accessible, and it will bring more people to try it and start smoking on a regular basis... the outcome is more wrecks and people trying to function in society while under the influence. I think there are enough problems with the many people who do it already. To broaden the amount of people using the drug will only make matters worse.