Yes there have only been 26 known deaths in the last thirty years by the drug itself, but many people have died while high or by developing diseases such as cancers caused by many years of smoking the drug.
Could you source the 26 deaths please? If marijuana itself has caused a mere 26 deaths, then that means marijuana is VERY safe.
But what about the cancer from smoke? It's true that if you smoke marijuana, your chances of obtaining cancer do increase. But let me ask you this, why shouldn't we be allowed to do what we want with out own bodies? More importantly, how do you protect people by arresting them?
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Let's suppose marijuana is bad for one's own body.
If Tom smokes marijuana, he will probably do bodily harm to himself.
We need to protect Tom from putting his body in any harm.
The solution, if we see Tom harming his own body by smoking marijuana, we will arrest him.
We will throw Tom in Jail and fine him if he is caught with marijuana. This is for Tom's own good.
If Tom has enough marijuana on him, we will throw Tom in prison.
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I fail to see how the above logic works. How do you protect people from themselves by kidnapping them and putting them behind bars?
Marijuana is just as harmful as tobacco in some cases. In fact, you are five times more as likely to get lung cancer if you smoke marijuana than smoking tobacco.
This is NOT true at all.
Another risk is that it reduces the amount and quality of sperm and can course erectile dysfunction.
This is reason to throw someone in prison?
That said you do need to smoke a lot of weed to succumb (die or catch) any illness caused by it. But there will always be people who want listen to advice or common sense and will smoke themselves silly.
Let's put aside the fact that you'll suffocate on smoke before you OD on marijuana. You're telling me that marijuana should be prohibited because it might be abused? You're telling me, that Johny might be stupid enough to smoke himself to death, which is why I will be arrested and put in jail if I smoke marijuana responsibly?
If someone is stupid enough to smoke themselves to death, then they're likely going to find a way to obtain marijuana and do so anyway.
Despite the fact that marijuana is illegal, it is a VERY common drug used by a LARGE number of people. You can't say, "This might happen if you let people smoke marijuana," because people are already smoking marijuana. If it's not happening now, then it probably won't happen if it's legalized. The chances people will smoke themselves into a hospital or coffin is slim to none, and it will remain that way when it's legalized. More importantly, you can't punish the many because a few bad eggs might hurt themselves.It also increases the chances of dementia and other psychotic mental illnesses by 45%.
I believe this is a steamy load. Many people who suffer from mental illnesses smoke pot. This does NOT mean pot is the cause of their mental illness.
LinkIt's just like the law to wear a crash helmet when driving a motor bike.
Helmet laws SUCK.
Yes, wearing a helmet while on a motorcycle is much more safe than riding without a helmet. However, it should be up to the individual to decide how much risk he wants to take. Everyone who doesn't wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle are aware of the risks. They choose not to wear a helmet because they simply don't want to. They feel it is worth the risk to let the wind blow through their hair.
If someone wishes to live a life full of risk, who am I to force them to live "safe"? As long as they don't put others in harms way, then why does it matter?
It would be great if we lived in a World where we all could drink, eat and smoke responsibly but we don't so we must keep dangerous substances illegal to protect those who would abuse them and die.
I don't understand why some people value freedom so little.
Someone might abuse marijuana, therefore everyone is not allowed to smoke it. Those who smoke pot responsibly shall also be treated as criminals.
Your method treats society as a collective group, where everyone is only as strong as the weakest link. If one person in the chain can't behave properly, then EVERYONE is treated as if they can't behave properly. I believe we let people do what they want as long as they don't harm others. This way, those who misbehave wont drag everyone else down with them.
If you were the head of a nation and could decide to have a population of dying pot heads or a population where a few people were unhappy that marijuana was illegal what you choose?
This is a false dichotomy.
A nation with legalized pot won't result in ruin. Simple as that.
I was going to put a link to the "Bag of Weed" song from Family Guy, but all the actual videos are censored out and replaced by lyrics.
Don't worry, I've got one better.
Don't Step On The Grass Sam