I have been observing this thread since its inception a couple of days ago and, I must say, I am none too surprised that the majority here are for legalizing marijuana. I am also for legalizing marijuana. I think that, when ingested in its pure form, it is not so bad a drug. Keep in mind I have never tried it, nor do I want to. But I do think that Alchohol is a much worse drug. Simply put, I have never had to fight someone high on marijuana. I have had to tussle with scads of drunks though. I also think that we the taxpayers are spending billions of dollars a year on a losing battle against marijuana. I do not think that legalizing them will "save teens" because they will try it regardless and, more than likely, it will still be illegal to them since they are under 21 and that may be the cut-off point in most states. Alcohol is attributed to be the number one killer of teens across America and that is a fact. However, despite this I am in no way for legalizing all forms of drugs. Marijuana can be grown, harvested, regulated, and taxed. Methamphetamine, crack, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, etc. are all lethal and dangerous drugs that nobody should be allowed to have. I have seen first hand the destruction of a person just a mere couple of years after they have their first hit of crystal methamphetamine. They are skinny and pale, have no job, are very close to death, everyone they love has abandoned them, and they are petty criminals who prey on you and I. They'll even steal a child's bike from your front yard if they thought they could make $20 on it. Don't be fooled, many forms of drugs are just too dangerous for everybody to even touch. If you all could only see what these people put into their bodies, it would make the average person sick. I dealt with one meth cooker a couple months back who was bragging to me that the reason his ice sold so much better was because of his secret ingredient of radiator coolant and nail polish remover. Marijuana needs to be leaglized for many reasons:
1. In it's pure form, it is not that bad. Notice I say "in it's pure form". Modern day black market marijuana is usually laced with other things to make it harder. The marijuana of today is much more potent that what folks were smoking in the 60's and 70's.
2. Taxes, taxes, taxes. We, as citizens, could stand to make tons of money a year from various taxes placed on marijuana. Not only that you associate everything that a big busines can contribute. Property taxes, sales taxes, creating more jobs, the general impact on our economy would be tremendous and positive, to say the least.
3. Help the justice system. Legaliing marijuana would free up at least 40% of the justice system to focus on other crimes which are much more serious. Plus, all of the many deaths a year related to the black market sales of marijuana would cease and free up the street patrolling officers to be in your neighborhood more, rather than stuck processing evidence, arrests, and everything else a marijuana arrest has with it.
I see no other better solution than the complete legalization of marijuana. Write your congressman.