Why is cannabis illegal?
By rhinoboy
@rhinoboy (2129)
December 7, 2006 10:42am CST
Cannabis is a natural plant that has been on earth longer than humans and certainly longer than governments. Why was it really made illegal and why should it be illegal now?
The netherlands (holland) and a few other countries allow its use for recrestion and they are not countries of layabout pot-heads. It can't harm us any more than alcohol or other drugs that the government allows us to use in order to receive taxes.
I really hate the fact that alcohol is one of the biggest social problems in the Uk today, and it is positively encouraged, but cannabis is not a real problem in comparison, but is illegal?
Please tell me you views on this subject.
2 people like this
17 responses
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
7 Dec 06
I am sorry but i do not belive in legalization of cannabis, I do not see how the world would get better with people running around stoned all the time - like u said - it is enough with drunk people!
1 person likes this
@bluuyze (67)
• United States
8 Dec 06
FYI: People are going to run around stoned whether you like it or not. As you are driving down the street, 9 times out of ten the people in the car next to you are blowing back. If you believe in GOD, you wouldn't have to worry about what other people are doing, because you would know that he will take care of you and keep you on this earth if HE chooses to. I say legalize it, keep innocent people out of jail with the murderers and rapists. Save the taxpayers money also.
@maddog108 (3435)
• Australia
8 Dec 06
its all about control the goverment cant control it dont get any taxes from it so they make money off it by makeing it illegal in the form of fines.i know a lot of cops who smoke it they dont agree with the laws either and often turn a blind eye.ifthey made it tottally legal you could make a fortune in your back yard and not pay a cent in tax
1 person likes this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
8 Dec 06
I believe that the government SHOULD control it. That way they can get tax revenue and control it in terms of production, strength, additives etc. It's estimated that if everyone in the Uk who ever smoked it was locked up, then almost half of our population would be in prison!!
Isn't 'democracy' wonderful!!
@dmacdonald111 (530)
•
8 Dec 06
I smoke it myself every now and then and it seems to help with my bipolar. I can't drink any more and even when I did, I never enjoyed it and always ended up driving for everyone. I like the fact that it's illegal. Can you imagine what would happen if they did make it legal? Think of how the price would increase. And the tax on it would be insane. It would be funny though to go into a shop and buy 20 joints for 3.99. hehe
1 person likes this
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
8 Dec 06
I'm glad it helps you manage your illness. It has been proven to provide relief from many medical conditions.
I drink occasionally, and quite enjoy it but suffer from severe hangovers if I get drunk.
Why do you like it being illegal? Is it the thrill of it being 'wrong'?
I know the government would tax the hell out of it, but at least that money would then go into the coffers rather than the pockets of criminals. I'm not sure that the price would increase by much. The traffickers must already take a big profit to make it worth the risks they take in dealing.
1 person likes this
@teufelskind (813)
• United States
8 Dec 06
it is illegal because we know the difrence between right and wrong. I would not go up to my best friend and say hey I am hungry I am going to eat you. It is moraly wrong we have feelings and emotions as to a animale that does not.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
10 Mar 07
Cannabis (hemp) was a big and valuable cash crop in Europe before the 20th century. Grown for the fiber of course which was used to make rope and sails. I don't know how or why it was made illegal to grow it even for fiber.
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
16 Mar 07
Politics, my friend. The downfall of many industries, benefits, and opportunities.
It has been well researched that hemp would still be a very valuable crop today. It has the potential for a very wide variety of uses in things such as building materials, animal fodder and fabrics. It is also one of the most productive crops known to man, in terms of bio-mass, (it grows huge in a single year) which would make it a candidate for the production of bio-ethanol.
I am aware that the effect of cannabis can cause psychosis in some individuals, but to use (again) the old comparison with booze, I have seen plenty of people change character completely, to the point of being dangerous and/or violent when drunk.
The pro's and con's are seriously mis-balanced, so why is this substance stil prohibited?
@norteh (615)
• Netherlands
7 Dec 06
I live in the Netherlands (indeed Holland), and by the way, not using cannabis. There is an other argument. Its production is co2 neutral. One of the few addictions that have a real green label.
But to give an answere; if government make these things illegal, the criminals get the profit.
That is how it works. Think of that.
@rhinoboy (2129)
•
8 Dec 06
That's my point exactly. Pro-cannabis supporters have very strong arguments about the benefits of the plant in general. In history hemp was widely used, but even now, it can be used in a wide variety of building materials and has even been put forward as the ideal plant for the creation of bio-fuels because of its excellent growth rates.
@whattobegood000 (1179)
• China
8 Dec 06
i dont even know about cannabis but according to name it says it eats (destroy)
@gaylordfocker615 (389)
• Philippines
8 Dec 06
I'll give you my friend's point of view regarding Mary Jane...he says exactly the same thing that you've been saying and also that cannabis should be legalized since it does have medicinal properties and uses.
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
7 Dec 06
Mushrooms have been on this planet probably longer than humans as well.. do you think we should all be 'shrooming and that it should be perfectly legal? What about using opiates, etc? I can see where you're coming from, but at the same time, your argument doesn't wash. JMO.
@mupegasus (44)
• Malaysia
8 Dec 06
When it create social problem, then it shall be banned.
That is the human world. ;)
@angel_manders (912)
• Canada
8 Dec 06
i think if they are going to perscribe it to sick people and say its not going to hurt them. plus it dont have anymore harm in it then tabacco does so i feel it should be legal. smoke away....
