Why Not?

The Positives of Legalizing Marijuana

          If Americans allow such a thing as alcohol to be legal, even with the obvious physical, mental and numerous other problems it causes, there is no reason marijuana should be illegal. About 20,000 people die each year from the use of alcohol, excluding car accidents. There are more deaths cause by aspirin, caffeine, and prescription drugs, than marijuana who‘s number totals to about 5 over a period of 4 years.   The marijuana prohibition created in 1937 is extremely outdated.

          Scientists have never been able to induce an overdose from marijuana on laboratory animals. They were able to tolerate doses of up to 1,000 mg. The Deaths that have been recorded to be the results of marijuana usage were later closely examined and found to actually have been caused by choking on vomit which was not directly credited to the drug. A John Hopkins study done over a fifteen year period has concluded that there were no long-term effects on cognitive skills or actual intelligence in users who smoked about five joints a week. Though most obviously, Americans have no problem with tobacco, alcohol, oxy-cotton, codeine, and many other harmful substances being legally obtained. So why would the legalization of marijuana be any more harmful?   Many religions believe marijuana can be used for spiritual purposes. These practices were in place long before the country of America was even established. The first amendment gives all Americans the right of   “freedom of Religion”.   Though the many religions that find spiritual significance is smoking marijuana are not allowed to do so in America, despite its claim allowing people to practice religion any way they choose.   

          On another level, the use of medical marijuana could easily soothe the symptoms of thousands of people who suffer from fatal illnesses such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, Wastings syndrome, and nervous and neurotic problems.