Why ban pot if we have cigarrettes and cigars?

Seriously, I dont get why such a strong ban on marijuana when we have cigarrettes and cigars. Some say because it is bad for health. Well, I may be new in this world but for as what I know, tobacco kills by millions. Tobacco kills people who smoke and sickens people who just are near smokers. Itis arguably possibly the most addictive thing thereis (except for substances which create a physical dependency)if we are talking about mental addiction. And it has no REAL beneficial effect. It calms? Yes, but so does marijuana. I'd say legalize the "drug", or ban tobacco, if legislators were "sincerely" worried about our health.

And going a little further on comparisons, what about alcohol Vs. Marijuana. I admit that research has demonstrated that alcohol in small doses is beneficial. One cup/glass of beer, wine, wodka and even tequila may be beneficial, but so marijuana can be. And both marijuana and alcohol can be toxic and fatal. However, when talking about alcohol no one would even dare to ban it again, even though alcohol + car is one of the biggest causes of death. Marijuana, on the contrary of alcohol, does not cause euphoria (followed by depression), but rather soothes and calms people. So, if drunk people are dangerous because they are euphoric, people on marijuana are less dangerous, for they are "doped" (or calmed if you wish to say it).

So, what is the big fuzz against marijuana when we accept more toxic and dangerous substances?

You raise excellent questions. I dont know why.

As with most things, it is stupid politics and bureaucracy.

However, the only rational reason is because weed impairs your abilities to an extent immediately, while cigarettes do not

long story short -

in the US all the major politicians are in the back pocket of alcohol, pharmaceutical and tobacco companies. legalizing marijuana would drive those companies out of business (or they would lose large percentages of annual income) so the politicians keep it illegal so that the drug co's (who basically prescribe allergy meds with a possible death side effect) alcohol and tobacco co's can stay in business and continue to line the politicians pockets.

awesome reason huh? /sarcasm

You raise excellent questions. I dont know why.

As with most things, it is stupid politics and bureaucracy.

However, the only rational reason is because weed impairs your abilities to an extent immediately, while cigarettes do not

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

metroidfood

Because crack is whack; and pot is slightly bad for you.

long story short -

in the US all the major politicians are in the back pocket of alcohol, pharmaceutical and tobacco companies. legalizing marijuana would drive those companies out of business (or they would lose large percentages of annual income) so the politicians keep it illegal so that the drug co's (who basically prescribe allergy meds with a possible death side effect) alcohol and tobacco co's can stay in business and continue to line the politicians pockets.

awesome reason huh? /sarcasm

z4twenny

They couldn't make Alcohol or Cigs illegal even if they wanted to.. Crime would sky rocket.. Just like prohibition.

I dont think they want to make the same mistake with Marijuana.

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

cyberdarkkid

They couldn't make Alcohol or Cigs illegal even if they wanted to.. Crime would sky rocket.. Just like prohibition.

I dont think they want to make the same mistake with Marijuana.

Abicus7

[QUOTE="z4twenny"]

long story short -

in the US all the major politicians are in the back pocket of alcohol, pharmaceutical and tobacco companies. legalizing marijuana would drive those companies out of business (or they would lose large percentages of annual income) so the politicians keep it illegal so that the drug co's (who basically prescribe allergy meds with a possible death side effect) alcohol and tobacco co's can stay in business and continue to line the politicians pockets.

awesome reason huh? /sarcasm

JLF1

because marijuana is a cheap, plentiful, easy-to-produce medicine that is a cure-all for many illnesses and bad stuff, and is also great for treating pain and enduring things. Chronic pain, glaucoma, cancer, headaches, hangovers...it can easily, naturally, and safely take the place of many medicines people pay too much for and endure too many side effects.

Would you rather grow a few plants in your back yard for near-free and smoke weed, which feels nice, to treat your athritis?

Or would you prefer to take expensive prescription medicine that makes you feel queezy for a few hours after ingestion?

[QUOTE="JLF1"]

[QUOTE="z4twenny"]

long story short -

in the US all the major politicians are in the back pocket of alcohol, pharmaceutical and tobacco companies. legalizing marijuana would drive those companies out of business (or they would lose large percentages of annual income) so the politicians keep it illegal so that the drug co's (who basically prescribe allergy meds with a possible death side effect) alcohol and tobacco co's can stay in business and continue to line the politicians pockets.

awesome reason huh? /sarcasm

mrbojangles25

because marijuana is a cheap, plentiful, easy-to-produce medicine that is a cure-all for many illnesses and bad stuff, and is also great for treating pain and enduring things. Chronic pain, glaucoma, cancer, headaches, hangovers...it can easily, naturally, and safely take the place of many medicines people pay too much for and endure too many side effects.

Would you rather grow a few plants in your back yard for near-free and smoke weed, which feels nice, to treat your athritis?

Or would you prefer to take expensive prescription medicine that makes you feel queezy for a few hours after ingestion?

Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes and legalizing it for recreational use are two different things.

[QUOTE="Abicus7"]

They couldn't make Alcohol or Cigs illegal even if they wanted to.. Crime would sky rocket.. Just like prohibition.

I dont think they want to make the same mistake with Marijuana.

madmidnight

Yeah, I know what you mean, Prisons would be less crowded plus they could tax it. But if they made it Legal, then years down the road (if)they realize it was a bad move they wouldn'tbe able to make it illegal again. But im just speculating, I think it would be better legalized. IMO.

Well, it's pretty clear.

Cigarrettes and cigars should be banned as well, but they aren't. So, I'd understand if your argument was for the banning of cigarretes and cigars.. but not one for why Marijuana should be legalized.

[QUOTE="cyberdarkkid"][QUOTE="metroidfood"]

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

Brainkiller05

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

cyberdarkkid

While I agree that you should not point to the bad behaviour of others to justify your own, or, more generically, two wrongs don't make a right,I don't think that applies here.

I think the OP is pointing out the hypocrisy of our current drug laws. Alcohol is a mind altering drug, that when abused can cause great harm to the abuser and possibly innocents that get in his/her way. And yet, as long as I stay home, I can drink all the booze my credit card can buy me, even to the point of becoming dangerous to myself and I break no law in the process.

I'm free to drink myself to death, eat enough fat a sugar to make myself morbidly obese, smoke cigs until I have lung cancer, BUT, if I grow a plant in my back yard, dry it and smoke a little bit of it, I'm a criminal.

You do know that pot was legal in this country up till the 1930's right? And what was the primary argument for making it illegal? Why, thats a "brown man's drug" and a scourge on white society.

I also agree with those that point out that the alcohol companies are the biggest supporters of the drug war. They don't want the legal competition. Also, the oil companies don't want hemp to be legal because it is a direct competitor for many of the oil byproducts such as nylon for ropes.

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

because marijuana is a cheap, plentiful, easy-to-produce medicine that is a cure-all for many illnesses and bad stuff, and is also great for treating pain and enduring things. Chronic pain, glaucoma, cancer, headaches, hangovers...it can easily, naturally, and safely take the place of many medicines people pay too much for and endure too many side effects.

Would you rather grow a few plants in your back yard for near-free and smoke weed, which feels nice, to treat your athritis?

Or would you prefer to take expensive prescription medicine that makes you feel queezy for a few hours after ingestion?

mrbojangles25

[QUOTE="metroidfood"]

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

curono

No I think it is a lot more reasonable for Y to be banned too, than for x to be legalized. That is if you actually want the health problems to decrease.

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

because marijuana is a cheap, plentiful, easy-to-produce medicine that is a cure-all for many illnesses and bad stuff, and is also great for treating pain and enduring things. Chronic pain, glaucoma, cancer, headaches, hangovers...it can easily, naturally, and safely take the place of many medicines people pay too much for and endure too many side effects.

Would you rather grow a few plants in your back yard for near-free and smoke weed, which feels nice, to treat your athritis?

Or would you prefer to take expensive prescription medicine that makes you feel queezy for a few hours after ingestion?

JLF1

[QUOTE="curono"][QUOTE="metroidfood"]

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

cyberdarkkid

well thats great and all if you're a fascist and don't want people making their own decisions and living their own lives. are you a fascist ?

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

[QUOTE="cyberdarkkid"]

[QUOTE="mrbojangles25"]

because marijuana is a cheap, plentiful, easy-to-produce medicine that is a cure-all for many illnesses and bad stuff, and is also great for treating pain and enduring things. Chronic pain, glaucoma, cancer, headaches, hangovers...it can easily, naturally, and safely take the place of many medicines people pay too much for and endure too many side effects.

Would you rather grow a few plants in your back yard for near-free and smoke weed, which feels nice, to treat your athritis?

Or would you prefer to take expensive prescription medicine that makes you feel queezy for a few hours after ingestion?

z4twenny

Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes and legalizing it for recreational use are two different things.

right.... did anyone ever say it wasn't?

[QUOTE="z4twenny"]

[QUOTE="cyberdarkkid"]

Legalizing marijuana for medical purposes and legalizing it for recreational use are two different things.

cyberdarkkid

right.... did anyone ever say it wasn't?

well since aspirin is more harmful for you than marijuana, i don't see the problem with its legalization for recreational use.

The legality of tobacco (especially considering we lack the ability to outlaw it at this point in time) is not an argument for the legality of marijuana.

They are two mutually exclusive drugs, you can't claim that one should be legal because the other is.

[QUOTE="cyberdarkkid"][QUOTE="z4twenny"]

right.... did anyone ever say it wasn't?

z4twenny

well since aspirin is more harmful for you than marijuana, i don't see the problem with its legalization for recreational use.

[QUOTE="cyberdarkkid"][QUOTE="z4twenny"]

right.... did anyone ever say it wasn't?

InEMplease

Some medical purposes = 2000+ known illnesses. I'd like to see Tylenol try that.

legalize it. take money away from drug dealersand use it to fund facilities for harm reduction. then....put them out of their misery.

Seriously, I dont get why such a strong ban on marijuana when we have cigarrettes and cigars. Some say because it is bad for health. Well, I may be new in this world but for as what I know, tobacco kills by millions. Tobacco kills people who smoke and sickens people who just are near smokers. Itis arguably possibly the most addictive thing thereis (except for substances which create a physical dependency)if we are talking about mental addiction. And it has no REAL beneficial effect. It calms? Yes, but so does marijuana. I'd say legalize the "drug", or ban tobacco, if legislators were "sincerely" worried about our health.

And going a little further on comparisons, what about alcohol Vs. Marijuana. I admit that research has demonstrated that alcohol in small doses is beneficial. One cup/glass of beer, wine, wodka and even tequila may be beneficial, but so marijuana can be. And both marijuana and alcohol can be toxic and fatal. However, when talking about alcohol no one would even dare to ban it again, even though alcohol + car is one of the biggest causes of death. Marijuana, on the contrary of alcohol, does not cause euphoria (followed by depression), but rather soothes and calms people. So, if drunk people are dangerous because they are euphoric, people on marijuana are less dangerous, for they are "doped" (or calmed if you wish to say it).

So, what is the big fuzz against marijuana when we accept more toxic and dangerous substances?

curono

didn't some town in Colorado make it legal to carryan ounce or lessof marijuana here recently :question:

duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnooooooooo?!?! :|

i dont really care bout drugs

EDIT: but Alcohol :D

Well, people do have problems with pot, and legalizing it would probably have a huge negative effect on illegal immigration. There are lots of pot dealers out there, and how much do you want to bet that if pot was legal, they would just sell more menacing drugs instead of getting a real job. Also, pot is a potentially dangerous drug to mix. Smoking a joint and having a couple drinks (even if you're below the limit) can really impair some people.

Most of the health reason of why pot is illegal are BS, but the social reasons make sense. Decriminalizing it is a must, though.

politics

Seriously, I dont get why such a strong ban on marijuana when we have cigarrettes and cigars. Some say because it is bad for health. Well, I may be new in this world but for as what I know, tobacco kills by millions. Tobacco kills people who smoke and sickens people who just are near smokers. Itis arguably possibly the most addictive thing thereis (except for substances which create a physical dependency)if we are talking about mental addiction. And it has no REAL beneficial effect. It calms? Yes, but so does marijuana. I'd say legalize the "drug", or ban tobacco, if legislators were "sincerely" worried about our health.

And going a little further on comparisons, what about alcohol Vs. Marijuana. I admit that research has demonstrated that alcohol in small doses is beneficial. One cup/glass of beer, wine, wodka and even tequila may be beneficial, but so marijuana can be. And both marijuana and alcohol can be toxic and fatal. However, when talking about alcohol no one would even dare to ban it again, even though alcohol + car is one of the biggest causes of death. Marijuana, on the contrary of alcohol, does not cause euphoria (followed by depression), but rather soothes and calms people. So, if drunk people are dangerous because they are euphoric, people on marijuana are less dangerous, for they are "doped" (or calmed if you wish to say it).

So, what is the big fuzz against marijuana when we accept more toxic and dangerous substances?

curono

Ban all of them :|

Well, it's pretty clear.

Cigarrettes and cigars should be banned as well, but they aren't. So, I'd understand if your argument was for the banning of cigarretes and cigars.. but not one for why Marijuana should be legalized.

[QUOTE="z4twenny"]

[QUOTE="cyberdarkkid"] It appears as if some people like to use the argument that Marijuana is good for some medical purposes to justify its legalization for recreational use.cyberdarkkid

well since aspirin is more harmful for you than marijuana, i don't see the problem with its legalization for recreational use.

How will tobacco companies make their billions if they can't sell their product?

How will tobacco companies make their billions if they can't sell their product?

one_plum