Should marijuana be legalized?

There are simply too many reasons why it should be legalized.

The taxes it could generate.

The Jobs it would create.

The reduced number of people in prison for non violent offenses.

The money saved by not imprisoning people and prosecuting them.

The medical benefits...

You can point out the "harmful" effects all day.. the fact is. people are smoking it anyway.. legal or not.. so the "harmful" effects are already in place. Why not regulate it and tax it.. People think It may add to health care costs.. it won't... PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SMOKING IT! The costs of harmful side effects in Health care and ALREADY THERE.

No drug dealer ever checks IDs.

There is a list a mile long of OTHER uses for this plant besides smoking.

Simply put... It's already here, and Americans are tired of see their tax dollars

wasted on enforcing laws that a MAJORITY of us want to see changed anyway.

Big businesses such as TOBACCO, ALCOHOL and MOST RELIGIOUS groups throw

huge amounts of money at politicians to keep these laws in place.. Why? Because they

will lose money.. They are worried about there wallets.. NOT the interests of American citizens.

So they pay, and our government (by the people.. for the people) turns a blind eye and a deaf ear

to the will of the majority.

Weed is NOT going away, Period.. Nor are the vast majority of people who think it should be decriminalized. Look at the numbers on this one forum alone.. Most people SAY YES.. LEGALIZE IT.

SO quit wasting everyone's time, money and patience... Just legalize it already..!!!!~!

ONDCP's Barthwell is proud that tobacco use is way down due to strong public education programs. And that's true without even throwing a single person into jail for using tobacco.

So why is she opposed to doing the exact same thing with marijuana?

I say, legalize, tax and regulate ... now!

I have neighbors on either of me - I can smell pot coming from their homes daily when I work in my yard. Both are over 50 - it's possible that one are both are using it for medicinal purposes. Currently the smell seems to be mostly contained in their homes.

If pot is legalized, does that mean I have to inhale it too if they decide to smoke outside?

I have a right to clean air! I have a right not to get stoned when I go outside (if second hand smoke gets you stoned - I don't know - but I have heard that any second-hand smoke causes health problems).

I don't want to live in a world full of potheads, but since I already do, the smoke had better be contained in their homes and not be permitted outside or in public places. We all have a right to breathe clean air and maintain a clear head.

I am not interested in working professionally with any potheads. It is a waste of time. There is already too much incompetence and apathy in many of America's workplaces. How can we compete with overseas workers if our own workers are stoned? Regardless of legalization, employers should still have a right to reject employees who test positive for pot.

Want to feel better? Try eating spinach and protein, doing yoga (it's great for back pain), and going for a brisk walk every day (for those who can). Learn a new skill on the Internet and hug your kids or your dog. Make a plan to start a business so you have a goal. For most people, substance abuse is not a requirement for making yourself feel good.

Geneisis 1:29 - Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it to use".

Marijuana should be legal for personal consumption. It should not be offered or available for children as many other things are not for under aged individuals. Operating a vehicle while stoned is ill advised as with alcohol.

Not only would legalizing it bring about new revenue, but the savings to the court and legal systems would be tremendous. Law enforcement could use the time spent busting somebody with half a joint in their possession and could spend time on real crime. Jails and courts would be less crowded and real criminals could be caught and prosecuted. Rather than bothering adult taxpayers who prefer to smoke pot over activities the money could be put into better and truthful education and eradicating more dangerous drugs like crack and meth.

The only time most marijuana smoker break the law is when they try to buy a natural product that the government deems to be bad. As a rule most are law abiding citizens. Not to mention the medical benefit from everything to stress relief to headaches to more serious ailments. This is one tax I wouldn't mind paying.

FACT:

People are going to continue to use marijuana, legal or not, just as we have for thousands of years.

May as well tax it and regulate it. Oh, and about the children...gang members and other drug dealers don't check for ID's, but a store clerk will. Put the gangs out of business overnight. Let's do this already.

I just finished watching the mini debate concerning Marijuana legalization as well as the tax revenue it would generate. Realistically this issue at hand should be addressed Nation Wide.

If one thinks back in time about the alcohol prohibition, why was the law changed? One of the factors behind the "legalization" of alcohol was the tremendous usage. Two, the money projected from sales and taxation was astronomical. Look at any tourist town, "Cape Cod Massachusetts" for example: RT 28 Is the liqueur store mecca. Any given day the parking lots are completely full of customers. $$$

The comment from one of the Doctors on this morning show regarding the "substance issue" would escalate and treatment facilities would be impacted. Being from a Mill City where substance abuse is very overwhelming I can tell you Marijuana is NOT considered a factor for the thousands that frequent the treatment centers "Methadone Clinic" Is This City's Main Substance Center. The Drugs in this nation are many, many prescription drugs should be outlawed as they are a major contributing factor in substance abuse and treatment programs. Marijuana "Treatment Programs" Sparsely Exist if they exist at all? I Personally have not heard of a marijuana treatment program... Have You? Didn't think so!

This issue will be debated until it is seen in such a light as the reversal of the alchol prohibition. It only makes sense for the government to reap the benefits from a WEED that does not produce violent behavior or addictiveness. Personally I hope for the best and look forward to other peoples comments.

The taxes everyone keeps talking about will be paid by people living in settings where growing is not an option,or they are too busy,or lazy. The real boost to our economy comes when we have legitimate sales points where age can be checked,and we stop sending billions out of our country buying foriegn weed. The boost to the economy will also be when people growing their own quit giving their money to a dealer,who may or may not have cartel connections,and start spending their former drug money on manufactured goods and services. A much more effective stimulus to the economy than giving tax dollars to politicians to give to the rich to trickle down to the poor.

And the grow your owns will be few,you can grow your own vegetables now,and 1/4 of the grocery stores are taken up with produce.

But the first step,to stop the black market is to under price the market in place to put them out of business. Anything we do that keeps the cartels profits up just underwrites their existence.

You have to take the big money out of game to take them out. Already,a black market for ciggarettes exists because they have raised prices,trying to make people quit,and the black market has found a way to sell for less,and still make a profit. The same will happen if they price themselves out of the market in marijuana too.

I live with painfull nirve damage.I live in az,it is not legal on any level to smoke or have any pot here.Marijuana is the only thing that works for my pain and I will continue to worry about my freedom as truly the quality of life for me is better with it.Geoff

Money for CA is just a bonus. The real benefit is booting the government out of one more decision in our personal lives in this supposedly free country. And frankly, I don't smoke it but I'd much rather be around someone smoking marijuana then someone smoking cigarettes or smashed on booze ANY day.

Wow! I am just glad this is getting this much attention, which is well deserved! I have been suffering from an incurable disease that slowly strangulates my body, whenever, however it wants. After 8 operations and countless procedures, I have been given so many drugs from the doctors that have done nothing but help my liver, pancreas and kidneys get worse much faster than the disease! I am 50 years old and have a licence to grow and purchase marijuana. In the last 3 years being allowed to use it, has saved my liver and other organs from continued harm which is what those legal pills were doing to my body INSIDE! Not to mention, the pills which my docs prescribed were causing me much more harm than I imagined. Once, I weened myself off those drugs (with horrific side effects and nightmares) and began to self medicate myself with marijuana, my body has calmed down and I can now lead a more comfortable life which is all I wanted in the first place! Plus, the disease has "slowed way down" and can now be controlled better. I went from 14 different pills a day to 1 or 2 bowls of marijuana and my liver has healed itself, kidneys and pancreas are back to normal. Not to mention my insurance company, doctors, hospitals, pharmacy and all the rest can no longer count me as one of their best contributors. Don't we want to ease up the burden on our health system? I am only saying that for me, one little lady, it has helped tremendously in my healing and I know of many others that feel the same as I do. I grow my own with my licence clearly shown. I don't flaunt it, sell it or give it a way. I use it in the privacy of my own home. And most especially, I am not about to go out and buy it on the streets! NO WAY!!! I am a grandmother but, for crying out loud...this has been around since way before any of us was born! One more thing, those people who start smoking it and they go onto harder drugs have addictive personalities anyway. Most people I know take prescription drugs and then get behind the wheel and drive their grandchildren to and from school! When are we going to get the "big" picture here? What will it take to do the "logical" thing? Passing this law will be the stimulus package that we all will benefit from. Everyone wins. PS. Marijuana is out there ANYWAY!!! Let's stop "sweeping" this issue under the rug and wasting more money our state doesn't have and pass this law once and for all.

The discussion was sooo incomplete!  Comparing the health costs of marijuana to cigarettes are like comparing atomic bombs to bb guns. 

It also cant be compared to alcohol as the violence and aggressiveness factors of alcohol are  completely missing from marijuana use.

Ever heard of someone high on marijuana coming home and beating the crap out of his wife and kids?

I really think the reason it's not legalized already is the drug company lobby. Their profits will plummet if people are able to legally get marijuana. One more example of how the government is completely corrupt.

Dr. Barthwells argument against legalization was health care costs - its been proven that use of a vaporizer, which is becoming the preferred method of use, takes away the inhalation dangers. She also stated that monies will be spent on "addiction" which is the conservative falsehood that has been purported since the reagan era. You cannot equate marijuana use with drugs like meth because there is no withdrawl. Coffee can be more addictive than pot and quite frankly, if you have an addictive personality then even if all drugs, including alcohol and cigaretts were banned, you would get hooked on paste. Get the tax revenue and stop the cartels from making all the money. Pot is here to stay.

hello!!!!!! proibition is great always works..the U.S. government living your life for you.what a relief. take a look at the FDA ,the toxins it approves ever see a prescription drug commercial...like a stand up routine. back ache headache liver kidney damage suicidal and homocidal thoughts and action,stay out of the sun,take on a full stomach. internal bleeding ,constipation, joint pain.blurred vision speech problems, driving while sleeping . spotting dizziness increased -decreased blood pressure. genetic damage,birth defects ..Pot is not legal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????/ What a shameful sham of the U.S government did you know pot was made illegal by a corporate paper and fiber lobby for a rich American business man its a fact.Hemp was going to compete with the few so its illegal for the many..look into your government...get it??

Claibourne. true pot should be legal.False the government will NEVER under cut the price of the grey market never ever

I dig pot. someone posted additives are absent in weed. False,false,false herion is often added to weed b4 consumers have a chance to buy it. dryer sheets and other nasty stuff is also added to your sack. perfume also.Fact sometimes the finger hash in ur bag is black tar herion.its true. herion by weight is cheaper than smoke and keeps us going back for more.Insecticide and yes paraquat is still being sprayed on weed crops. just a little FYI. One more....sugar and or honey is often watered down and sprayed on your smoke befoe you get it. adds flavor and weight. if one knows what they are tasteing, miracle grow and other chemical ferts. are used and do effet the burning rate and flavor

then laugh,and wonder all you want,maybe the name of the warriors was something else,but hash was used to work the warriors into a frenzy of RAGE,and if you had smoked enough to know what you are talking about,even you would have experienced rage while high. It happens. I especially rage at idiots that think their opinion means anything or that there opinion is the only one that counts.

In just the amount of money it costs to fight illegal drugs they'll save billions, plus, taxing the snot out of marijuana, just like cigarrettes, would allow California to pay off it's state budget shortfall in a matter of days.

On a negative note; Legalizing Marijuana will make California the richest state in the Union, instead of Alaska