Legalize It

[Alex Costigan]

After nearly 75 years of marijuana prohibition, it has never before made more sense to legalize this ancient, harmless herb.  Congress needs to review the law and see the plant for what it is: a plant.  There are so many nation-wide advantages from legalizing it, that it seems stupid for the greatest country on Earth to make it a highly-illegal substance.  It's seemingly limitless uses continue to be discovered, and we learn more about it each day.  Something that can be used for everything from an alternate fuel source to treatment for glaucoma and chronic pain sufferers should definitely not be a criminalized felony, but a natural miracle. 

 

All over the U.S. we can already see states legalizing the herb for its medicinal value, but unless it is fully legalized at a national level, we will still have otherwise innocent teens and young people being swept up and hardened by the legal system.  Portugal, who recently decriminalized every known form of drug, now enjoys far less crime, very little gang violence,  and even lower teen marijuana smoking rates.  If it worked there, we know it can work here.  Legalization would eliminate the need for dealers, and lives won't be destroyed because of a 30-year sentence for simply selling marijuana.  It would also stop funding gangs with drug money so they can't buy weapons and other drugs.  Another major factor pushing legalization is for the many medical advances that have been made with marijuana.  Creating hunger for chemo patients and making life more bearable for people with arthritis are just a few of the ever-growing uses for the plant in the medical field.  The third, and arguably most important factor in this debate, is the advantages of marijuana in the trade and agriculture industries.  Hemp, a less potent form of marijuana, is one of the best natural materials on Earth, yet remains illegal to grow here in America.  It can be used for paper, fiber, clothing material, and much more.  Because of its fast growth and quick life cycle, it can be used as a way of clearing land without using harmful poisons or pesticides.  It grows so quickly that it can be used to grow over invading plants that have taken over a foreign region, restoring the region back to how it should be.  Since we currently can only import hemp, growing it here would save us millions annually, and exporting it would create jobs and stimulate the economy.  Comment and say what you think.

 

 

 

[Alex Konrath]

I think it should be legalized for almost all the reasons your listing here. A tax could help the economy, it would make it a safer substance with more regulations and proper distribution. I think its just plain stupid that it is still illigeal in America. Taking money out of the gangs pockets and adding it to our own Governments sounds like a good plan to me.

[Danny Vasilev]

*Danny Vasilev likes this post also*

[Lauren Olson]

I think it should be legalized, but also I agree with Aly. A high tax that would benefit society. If it can be regulated by the gov. then a lot of crime would go away and that's a plus.

[Aly Glover]

I agree with you. They should make marijuana legal and just put a high tax on it like they do with cigarettes. The government could make so much money off it. Like Mike said, "In this horrible economy, maybe his is the jump start we need."

[Michael Naselli]

I would have to agree with you alex. I don't think marijuana should be illegal either. Just think of how much money the government could make off of taxing this harmless plant. For example in California, their state government made millions of dollars selling marijuana medically. In this horrible economy, maybe this is the jump start we need. Also, I just don't understand how alcohol which is much much stronger than marijuana and kills thousands of people a year can be legal but marijuana is illegal.

[Robin de Freitas]

*Robin de Freitas likes this post*