The legalization of marijuana pros and cons stand at the forefront of recent policy debates, largely due to the success of state level measures in Colorado and Washington. The 2012 elections propelled the nation’s cannabis discussion from the medicinal realm to that of broader recreational use. While public opinion polls show widespread support for medical marijuana, outright legalization remains highly controversial; data reveals roughly 50% of the population favors total legalization as opposed to approximately 75% for medical cannabis. The polarized political climate fuels radical rhetoric on both sides of the issue, which makes it difficult to discern factual arguments from pure propaganda. Here are some common statements from pot proponents as well as prohibitionists.
advertising. The combination would likely produce an increase in cannabis use, which means a larger portion of the public would be susceptible to addiction.
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fortunately, we’ll have washington and colorado providing us with empirical data so we can authoritatively evaluate the consequences of legalization, rather than relying on hearsay, myth and conjecture, so far, the main opposition seems to be from those who, not surprisingly, profit from prohibition enforcement, while an
impressive number of scientists, doctors, former police officers and other distinguished public figures are emerging with remarkable evidence in defense of this unjustly accused plant, long held in federal custody, seems the only person not weighing in on the discussion is the guy over at the doj
Yeah, seems as though everyone is on board, but the feds. I heard the latest DEA raids in WeHo involved the DEA, so the outlook doesn’t seem very positive. I’ll never give up hope though, and I trust you won’t either. Stay stoney my friend.
I keep seeing all of these “polls” saying 50+ percent of the public favors legalization. No one asked me for my opinion, so I have to assume there are millions of others who were not asked as well. Typically, the results of a poll are meant to bias public opinion about some topic of interest. It is my guess that the people who conduct these polls carefully select their participants so that they achieve results favorable to the cause they support. I am not in favor of legalization for recreational use, so I suggest that the poll may not be entirely accurate.
I for one, cannot take seriously the droves of pot smokers who keep justifying their recreational use of marijuana as medical. I can’t believe the thousands of college students who simultaneously lit up @ 4:20 pm on 04/20/2010 @ CU Boulder all had to self-medicate at that exact moment. I have done research and I have found that there is evidence that there is some medicinal value for some medical conditions in some patients. That’s great; I am all for cancer patients and those who suffer from other chronic illnesses receiving any level of relief from their symptoms by utilizing any means they see fit. But if marijuana is in fact “medicine” as I hear more and more smokers call it, then it needs to be managed through legitimate pharmacy channels like any other medicine. If it is in fact medicine, then there is currently huge numbers of abuse cases involving people “self-medicating” without any legitimate medical training or knowledge. It’s kind of naïve to believe a MMJ dispensary is all about helping their “patients” when the only help they provide is selling them pot.
I honestly do not care if someone wants to get stoned somewhere that doesn’t impact children or other adults who do not want anything to do with pot, but unlike alcohol which only directly affects the person drinking it, the second hand smoke is a problem for those who do not want anything to do with pot. I unfortunately live in Colorado for the time being and since A64 passed, I have smelled the disgusting odor of pot smoke wafting through my neighborhood. That infringes on my rights and there is precious little I can do about it. Also since A64 passed, there has been a significant increase in cases in Colorado of kids bringing pot into the schools, not only using it themselves, but selling to other students. I also have to make a statement to those of you who believe legalization of use and a domestic supply chain is going to be the dawn of a euphoric society where we can all just buy and sell pot and pot related products and the whole economy will stabilize as a result… If you think the people who now supply the bulk of the pot consumed in this country are just going to stand by and watch their cash flow dry up while legal domestic growers start taking away their profits, I’m afraid you may be high…
Pt, that’s one big ball of wax there.
Of course millions of people do not take part in research studies. Have you ever taken statistics? I doubt it because then you would know that all studies are based on estimates from research conducted on sample populations. More often than not, the samples are selected at random. Besides, Gallup polls are considered a trustworthy source. Your accusations with respect to their data appear baseless.
I see your point about recreational users capitalizing on medical marijuana. Frankly I don’t care why people smoke as it’s none of my business. When we legalize, we will be able to provide for both medicinal and casual users in a safe manner.
Your blanket generalizations about dispensaries come off as ignorant. I volunteer for a collective who provides a lot more for patients than just medication. Most legit shops in the area have compassion programs for patients. These patients usually get free medication, counseling, etc. from their dispensary. I don’t know what things are like in Colorado, but here in the Valley many collectives play a positive role in the community.
As for second hand smoke and your rights, I find it interesting that you complain about the scent instead of a contact high. I love the way weed smells, and I’ve never seen anyone be repulsed by the smell of burning marijuana.So I find that part of your rant difficult to believe.
I consider your characterization of alcohol equally suspect. Secondary effects of alcohol include domestic violence, child abuse, and potentially fatal car accidents. Your problems seems quite trivial in comparison. I can’t stand the smell of the LA RIver aka the Wash in the summer, but you know, I deal. So should you.
We actually agree on the economics angle. I get sick of overzealous pot advocates who swear hemp will save the world as well. Of course, we dislike this approach for different reasons. My objections stem from an unrealistic evaluation of prohibition. I hate to break these people’s spirits because I know their hearts are in the right place. Nevertheless, it’s quite naive to think that the government refuses to accept a massive source of additional revenue on moral grounds. The fact of the matter is that pot would be legal if the powers that be would be able to line their pockets through taxation. I guess it never occurred to these folks that the government makes a lot more money off marijuana’s illegal status than it would collecting taxes.