Social Issue: Legalization of Marijuana


Identify the social issue for study: Should marijuana be legalized?
Consider all alternatives.
Identify positives and negatives of each statement. Note: I have tried not to use the same consequences more than once. I am aware that certain positives and negatives may be used under more than one category but it is not necessay to repeat the same reasons.
Identify opposing fundamental principles concerning the issue. Note that these opposing principles are included at the top of each chart.
Make a decision based on the information you have discussed.



The Issues:


1. Marijuana should be legalized.
confrontation vs. addiction
Positives Negatives
If we legalize marijuana, we reduce the black market and the violence associated with the sale of marijuana.
By legalizing marijuana, more people will use the drug and as a result, become addicted.






2. Marijuana should not be legalized because of the health risks that accompany its use.
health vs. choice
Positives Negatives
Not legalizing the sale and use of marijuana means it is tougher to purchase the drug, thus decreasing the frequency of its use and the frequency of addiction.
People who use marijuana for treatment of pain associated with diseases such as cancer, will not have legal access to it.

A decrease in the use of marijuana means fewer health risks; slowed brain function, or risk of cancer.


There are fewer health risks for those indirectly associated with the use of marijuana; second hand smoke, being injured in an accident where the driver was under the influence of marijuana, etc.







3. Marijuana should be legalized only for those individuals who require it for medicinal purposes, and with a physician's consent.
personal use vs. medicinal use
Positives Negatives
It insures that people who use the drug for medicinal purposes, such as pain control, have access to it.
Doctors may become part of the black market by handing out prescriptions to those who want it rather than those who need it.

It limits the legal sale of the drug to those who are using it for medicinal purposes, rather than personal use.
The use of marijuana as a pain control may cause patients to rely solely on the drug rather than medical treatment.

The sale of marijuana as a prescription drug serves as a source of income for the government.







4. Marijuana should not be legalized due to the societal implications that accompany its use.
society vs. individual
Positives Negatives
Addicts are willing to spend their entire life savings on purchasing the drug. If marijuana remains illegal, fewer people will go into debt to buy the drugs, thus decreasing the amount the government will pay for the social assistance of these addicts.
Certain people are able to function only with the aid of marijuana. If it is more difficult for them to access the drug, they may be unable to perform effectively in society.

Fewer families will become dysfunctional as a result of marijuana use.







5. The government should legalize the use of marijuana considering people are using it anyway.
government gains vs. personal loss
Positives Negatives
The government could tax the sale of marijuana and use this income to lower the national debt.
There will be an increase in people using the drug and therefore a need to increase rehabilitation programs which will come at the cost of taxpayers and the government.






6. Marijuana should be legalized only for those individuals over the age of eighteen.
age vs. education and values
Positives Negatives
This decreases the likelihood of younger children buying marijuana.
In the Christian faith the body is considered a temple of God and it is unholy to fill the body with toxins of any kind, regardless of age.

These individuals are considered adults and are able to make their own decisions regarding drug use.
Health risks related to the use of drugs is a factor regardless of age.


Some individuals at the age of eighteen are unable to make responsible decisions.

No marijuana should not be legalized, too many crack pots running around wrecking society as we know it for the rest of law abiding good citizens

What. you ever met somone whos properly stoned. all they want to do is each crisps or go to the pub. weed is better than say beer. if your stoned all you want to do is eat crap. if your drunk all you do is either punch people or just be genraly annyoying as hell.

i spent a fair chunk of like with pot heads. and really. apart from staring into space or wanting a kebab can't see any harm......well a few mental issues but that was about it.

Marijuana for MEDICAL propose i think should be allowed. but you should have a special dodcotr thing you carry with you. it really loosens up the joints.

also vager, stoners.....running. no. they bairly move if they can help it. they become the lazyest things on the panet.

so. summary. medica Marijuana is a good idea. and stoners are no harm to anyone. but Marijuana for medical use only. mainly becuse having spent so long with stoners they p1$$ me off now.

I think it's evyryones own business if you like to use marijuana or not, it's like smoking. If you wan't to ruin yourself then go ahead. But personally I think that it should not be legalized, because it's drug after all.

It`s as much of a drug as alcohol and today 10 years old are drunk on the streets and nobody gives a crap

but it`s funny you made this topic today, yesterday on TV i saw the cops catched a stash of... stash... 700kg of marijuana, bit cargo, but the funny part is that all the boxes where labeled, even had Trademark, all that was lacking was phone and addres of the manufacturer ^_^, i think they even had a barcode.

Personally i think marijuana should be.
I dont smoke it, but i know alot of people do.
It would be better if it was cuz i mean...imagine the money!
its easily grown, and a lot of people like it.
The government could use it to there advantages!

Thats my opinion

I don't really care, but if criminals want to get stoned all day, and not cause trouble, but just get stoned go for it. But then still, it smells really bad, and I have the stuff. <--- Doesn't want to mess up atheletic-ness

I'm probably anti messing with chemicals that screw with you brain, or body, since I do a lot of sports.

Well in my country (Holland) marihuana is already legalized, but it does give some certain problems in the big cities, because young people are hanging around in groups when they are smoking their joints and they cause a lot of inconvenience and troubles.
Also some people are breeding the weed plants at home (which is strictly forbidden) and they illegaly drain the electricity to give the plants their 'sunlight' for 24 hours per day which often leads to short circuit and fire.
But because it's legalized, we hardly have any illegal practices, like smuggling.
But I think it's a good thing that they've legalized the medical weed for patients with a lot of chronical pain.

Well, I think that if marijuana really can help people medically, then it should be made available (legally, of course) ONLY to those who really need it, and have the patients on marijuana confined to a hospital or supervised by some caretaker at home while under treatment. But the MUCH better option would be to look for alternatives for treating chronic pain, rather than using marijuana.

I think that part of the reason so many people find smoking pot intriguing is because it is illegal. perhaps if it wasn't illegal, people would not be so drawn to it.

ramunefaerie

i think that part of the reason so many people find smoking pot intriguing is because it is illegal. perhaps if it wasn't illegal, people would not be so drawn to it.

i some what agree with you on that.
that might work for like 10% or less of smokers

The only reason i really say it is bc i'm kinda sensitive to smoke anyway so even if it was legalized i probably wouldnt smoke it...

Legalize it. Many reasons I could post have already been stated. But for a slightly different point in addition: crime rate would go down because the court system wouldn't be clogged with stupid cases of petty possesion and young teens won't acquire adult criminal records for something so stupid. Wanna work at the bank? "Sorry kid, says here you had a gram of pot when you were seventeen..." Which is pretty stupid considering I sometimes have a beer to go with my sandwich on lunchbreaks.

From my experiences...there is no addiction. as long as people can moderate themselves and not abuse it. i dont see why they should be legalized.i know plenty of people who smokes, drinks, trip on acid, shrooms, X...u name it they tried it. but they still work and study like any normal person should. the most important thing is balance.
however as long as it exists people will continue to abuse it no point of choosing either. but i personaly would like it not to be legalized just because i get good buds from my dealer :)... legalized pot will probably cost so much more...

I don't care because I don't smoke it. But, they should get rid of smoking instead I think...