The polls have
officially shown that Americans no longer support the prohibition of marijuana.
Although Colorado and Washington are the only two states to have legalized
recreational marijuana statewide, many cities are showing support of
legalization. In Portland, Maine, there was an ordinance passed making it to
legal to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana on private property. "A
majority of Americans now agree that marijuana should be legal for adults, and this
was reflected at the polls,” said Mason Tvert, a spokesman for the Marijuana
Policy Project. Almost 70 percent of voters in Ferndale, Michigan voted to pass
legalization. Also, in Lansing, Michigan, unofficial polls show that 8,550
voters are supporting it and 5,339 are opposing it.
In my personal
opinion, it is the job of the government to pass legislation according to what
the people desire. Similar to gay marriage, a majority of Americans do not see
an issue with it; however, there are still a majority of states that do not
allow it. This is undemocratic on many levels. Americans elect officials to
vote on the legislation of the people. If the people vote for legalizing
marijuana, then the proper legislation to have it passed should be enacted.
Period. Cigarette smoking is legal and it is the number one cause of
preventable death in the US claiming 393,000 lives a year. Consumption of
Alcohol is legal and it is responsible for approximately 2.5 million deaths
worldwide. Marijuana is illegal and it has caused 0 recorded deaths in all of
it's history. Obviously, there is an abundance of confusion about the dangers
of marijuana compared to alcohol and cigarette smoke.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/us/measures-to-legalize-marijuana-are-passed.html
Statistics on Deaths:
Alcohol:
http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/in-the-news/155-25-million-alcohol-related-deaths-worldwide-annually
Cigarettes:
http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/about-smoking/health-effects/smoking.html
Marijuana:
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Causes_of_Death#sthash.JHGNI3bl.dpbs
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/07/us/measures-to-legalize-marijuana-are-passed.html
Statistics on Deaths:
Alcohol:
http://www.ncadd.org/index.php/in-the-news/155-25-million-alcohol-related-deaths-worldwide-annually
Cigarettes:
http://www.lung.org/stop-smoking/about-smoking/health-effects/smoking.html
Marijuana:
http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/Causes_of_Death#sthash.JHGNI3bl.dpbs
I agree with you it is the governments job to give the people what they desire. But this one shouldn't be passed by the governments because overall it is a bad idea. If you look at statistics the number of Americans using illegal drugs has been on a down fall since the 1970's. I feel by legalizing pot it will increase crime, and Drug usage. An example of this would be Portugal legalize it, its crime went up, murders, blood disease issues, and drug usage went up.
ReplyDeleteI agree they shouldn't pass this law. If they do the crime rate will go up even more. The excuse will be cause I was "high" and couldn't control my body. Over half of Americans are using drugs, they should keep illegal. Also the stuff is bad for you health the more you do it will effect your health.
ReplyDeleteThis is in no way comparable to legalizing gay marriage. Marriage is a fundamental human right that should not have been taken away in the first place. Marijuana is a substance and drug that people use to get high. Just because the people want something does not mean it is what is best for the country. For example, say the majority of the people was in favor of getting rid of gun laws. Just because that is what they want, certainly does not make it a good idea. Moreover, the government really should be thinking about more important issues than pot, such as education, and the economy. Also, many places are now smoke (tobacco) free which took a long time to make happen. If marijuana is legalized, what is to stop people from smoking it on the streets in front of kids? Marijuana is not a pleasant smell nor something I want nor would want children to breathe in. Lastly, by children seeing people smoking pot on the streets, it is teaching them that it is okay to take in substances and harm your body, when it is not. Overall, marijuana should not be legalized and the government has more important matters to focus on over pot.
ReplyDeleteIt is comparable to legalizing gay marriage, because the majority of people have shown that legalization should be enacted. What is stopping people from smoking tobacco on the streets in front of kids? Secondhand smoke has been proven to be more dangerous to people than firsthand smoke.With all due respect, gay marriage is not really that important of an issue to me. Just like you said, just because the people want something does not mean it is what is best for the country could also be said about gay marriage if you are on the other side of the argument. I agree that there are more important issues, but the fact remains that it is the job of the government to enact laws that the people want enacted. Marijuana legalization would be excellent for the economy, which is a huge issue that the government is focused on. The legalization of marijuana could save money for taxpayers, because we wouldn't have to pay to house people in jail for the "crime". Making marijuana illegal doesn't keep it away from kids. Kids are innocently killed over marijuana drug deals in inner cities all the time. Just because you see something as unimportant and morally incorrect doesn't mean that it actually is. You have your own biases just like every other citizen in America.
ReplyDelete