6 lawmakers support marijuana legalization bill

By Dennis Carcamo (philstar.com) | Updated June 18, 2014 - 10:40am

MANILA, Philippines - Six legislators have expressed their support to the proposal to legalize the
regulated use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
House Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora, Pasay City Rep. Emi Calixto-Rubiano, OFW partylist Rep. Roy
Seeres, Marinduque Rep. Regina Reyes, Masbate Rep. Elisa Olga Kho, and Misamis Occidental Rep.
Henry Oaminal all co-authored House Bill 4477.
Under the bill, or the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act, the State is directed to provide
measures to achieve a balance in the national drug control program so that patients with debilitating
medical condition may receive adequate amount of treatment and appropriate medications from the
regulated use of dangerous drugs.
It provides the legalization and regulation of the medical use of cannabis which has been confirmed to
have beneficial and therapeutic uses to treat chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that
produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe and chronic pain; severe
nausea; seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy; or severe and persistent
muscle spasms, including but not limited to those associated with multiple sclerosis.
The measure also mandates the establishment, under the Department of Health, of a Medical Cannabis
Regulatory Authority, which shall regulate the medical use of cannabis in the country. It shall be headed
by a Director-General who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines from the list of specialist
physicians recommended by the Secretary of Health.
The Medical Cannabis Regulatory Authority shall issue registered identification cards to qualified
patients after a careful review of the documents required by the Authority and included in the
implementing rules and regulations of the Act.
An entity shall operate as a Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center (MCCC) after approval of its
application and registration with the Medical Cannabis Regulatory Authority.
A MCCC shall guarantee the appropriate dispensation of cannabis and shall not release more than the
prescribed dosage for one month to a registered qualified patient or designated caregiver, the bill
provides.
The author of the bill, Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, said he recorded use of cannabis as medicine goes back to
about 2,500-10,000 years ago in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine.
"Modern research has confirmed the beneficial uses of cannabis in treating and alleviating the pain,
nausea and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical conditions including cancer,
multiple sclerosis, and HIV-AIDS as found by the National Institute of Medicine of the US in March
1999," he said.

Albano added that cannabis has many currently accepted medical uses in the US, having been
recommended by thousands of licensed physicians and more than 500,000 patients in 21 states with
medical marijuana laws.
Like the 20 states and the District of Columbia in the United States, Israel, Canada, the Netherlands and
the Czech Republic have enacted medical cannabis laws that remove criminal sanctions for the medical
use of cannabis, define eligibility for such use, and allow some means of access, in most cases, through a
dispensary, he said.
Source:
http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/06/18/1336198/6-lawmakers-support-marijuana-legalization-bill

Should Phl legalize marijuana as a cure?

By Cherish Maglaque (philstar.com) | Updated March 29, 2014 - 1:13pm
MANILA, Philippines - The recent legalization of recreational marijuana in Colorado has revived debates
on whether to allow the use of the substance for medicinal purposes.
While those pushing for its legalization claim that marijuana can provide relief to patients who have tried
in vain to seek cure from conventional treatments, some are worried about its impact on public safety.
Malacaang has yet to issue a categorical statement on whether it will back the legalization of marijuana,
preferring instead to leave the matter to Congress.
Some lawmakers have bared plans to file a bill legalizing medical marijuana, but it remains uncertain
whether it will gain widespread support.
Iligan City Rep. Vincent Belmonte, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous
Drugs, has said that the benefits of medical cannabis should outweigh the risks from potential abuse.
For now, marijuana is still considered a taboo, being among the prohibited substances under the
Dangerous Drugs Act.
But for supporters of medical marijuana, its about time that the government reconsider its views on the
plant, which is said to have been providing remedies for more than 4,000 years.
Not criminals
Former senator Rene Saguisag said those who use marijuana should not be judged as bad people.
They (marijuana users) are not criminals. They may have a weakness, Saguisag said in a policy forum
on medical marijuana early this month.
They must be seen as patients, not as criminals to be prosecuted, he added.
Saguisag said there should be an overall review as to why the use of marijuana was legalized in some
places.
Lawyer Norieva de Vega noted that under the law, the state shall strike a balance such that people with
legitimate needs should not be prevented from availing of medicines even those classified as dangerous
drugs.
Definitely, we are not for recreational use. No parent would want his child to grow up as an addict. But
no parent would also want to see his child deprived of the appropriate drug for his illness, she said.

De Vega said the constitution has a provision which states that the state shall promote the right to health
of the people.
Since it is a fundamental right, one life is precious. It does not mean that because there are many addicts
on the corner, we can no longer receive relief that marijuana can provide, she said.
Chuck Manansala, founder of Medical Cannabis Research Center, said that the United Nations Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, which was amended by the 1972 protocol, was never against
marijuana for medical and scientific purposes.
Cure
Actor Rafael Rosell, who was present in the same policy forum, said his mother had used marijuana as a
medicine.
Rosells mother had a thyroid cancer and had undergone medication and chemotherapy but to no avail.
What the doctors were giving to our mom was obviously not working. You know when you care for a
family member, you become desperate and you want to find a cure for that, the actor said.
Rosell said a friend had suggested that they try the oil of marijuana.
After two months, when we came back to the doctor, he said, Ma'am whatever you're doing continue to
do that. I don't care what it is because your cancer cells are less, he said.
Rosell claimed that his mother now looks younger, happier, and feels better.
It (marijuana) is from nature. It is something God has created. And I think everyone will benefit from
this if they just know how to use it properly, he said
Canadian Robert Coteles said he has been using medical marijuana for 40 years. Coteles said he grows
and bakes the medical marijuana into breads.
I eat one slice of bread which contains nine grams of cannabis per day and I've lost over 183 pounds in
the last four years, he added.
Coteles was diagnosed with male breast cancer when he was about 28 years old. When he knew that he
had only three months to live, he started grinding the flowers of medical marijuana into peanut butter and
honey.
Coteles claimed that his health condition improved within six months.
It (medical marijuana) changed me. It helped me. It even gave me a new life, he said.

Objections
Despite testimonies about the supposed wonders of medical marijuana, some experts are wary of
proposals to legalize it.
Rusty Jimenez, president of the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, said marijuana should
not be legalized because there are other ways to treat diseases for which the plant is said to be used
medically.
Some people might be helped by marijuana. However, more addicts to marijuana will be present and
other psychiatric diseases will increase, Jimenez said in an interview.
Health Undersecretary Nemesio Gaco said for now, there are not enough studies to convince them that
marijuana has therapeutic effects.
There are other alternatives for diseases they mentioned other than marijuana. Our recommendation
from the department is to have more study, to prove and evaluate that the benefits will outweigh the risks
or addictive side, Gaco said.
If this is the only available drug that can alleviate the disease then why not? But if there are other
alternatives out there, then utilize it first.
Sen. Vicente Tito Sotto III, who has been opposing the legalization of marijuana, said there is a need to
balance the benefits and risks involved.
You have to weigh. This can be cured. This can cure. But if we legalize it, this can cause deaths, this can
destroy the society. Which has more weight? Sotto said.
Sotto said the term medical marijuana is a misnomer and that some people are using it to camouflage
their intention of legalizing the substance.
Let's legalize cannabijohn, which is the non-psychotic component in marijuana. Legalize that, but don't
tell me we will legalize marijuana, the senator said.
If we can prove that it is scientifically proven that cannabijohn can cure, and it's therapeutic then I will
even help you. But as far as the main component of marijuana is concern, we can't because it is
disastrous.
Assistant Secretary Benjamin Reyes, deputy director for operations of the Dangerous Drugs Board,
acknowledged that there is a component in cannabis that can be used medically. He, however, noted that
the plant has over 30,000 components that need to be controlled.

You need to catalog each and every one, you need to catalog each and every effect of those components.
At the same time, this is one of the reasons why it has yet to be accepted by the US FDA (United States
Food and Drug Administration), Reyes said.
Related to crimes?
Sotto said recent crimes were committed by people who were high on marijuana.
And I can name hundreds, and hundreds of accidents and killings. Marijuana is at fault. You cannot
convince me when it comes to marijuana itself because it's a bomb and it's going to be disastrous, he
said.
Michael Angelo Salmingo of the Philippine National Police Anti-illegal Drugs Special Operation Task
Force said some groups might take advantage of the legalization of marijuana.
We are not against the use of the potential of medical marijuana. But once we legalize it, there will be
personalities and groups who will take advantage of the situation, he said.
Salmingo said they recently arrested a certain Abu who had used high school students to infiltrate
different schools in Fairview, Quezon City.
The reason of students to proliferate the marijuana leaves is the medical benefits, he said.
There should be stringent and rigorous regulations. If we use the full medical potential of cannabis, we
should also prevent possible abuses.
Breast cancer patient Emma Flores, 52, said she is against the legalization of marijuana because it would
lead to addiction.
I dont believe it can cure illnesses like cancer. Its still different if you take medicines that were
subjected to extensive studies, Flores said.

Source:
http://www.philstar.com/news-feature/2014/03/29/1306545/should-phl-legalize-marijuana-cure

Bill on medical use of marijuana filed in Congress

The bill seeks to establish under the health department a Medical Cannabis Regulatory Authority that will
regulate the medical use of cannabis in the country
MANILA, Philippines It's a beam of hope for advocates of medical marijuana in the Philippines.
Isabela 1st District Representative Rodolfo Albano III filed on Monday, May 26, House Bill 4477 or the
Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Bill, after months of dialogue with advocates and stakeholders.
The bill seeks to legalize and regulate the medical use of cannabis in compliance with government
policy to balance its national drug control program and the regulated use of dangerous drugs for treatment
and medication of patients with debilitating medical conditions.
In the explanatory note, Albano said the bill intends "to provide accessible, affordable, safe medical
cannabis to qualifying patients." The bill stated that cannabis (more commonly known as marijuana) "has
been confirmed to have beneficial and therapeutic uses to treat chronic or deblitating disease or medical
condition that produces one or more of the following:

cachexia or wasting syndrome

severe and chronic pain

severe nausea

seizures, including but not limited to those characteristic of epilepsy

severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those associated with multiple
sclerosis

Regulation
Once enacted, the law will establish under the Department of Health a Medical Cannabis Regulatory
Authority that will regulate the medical use of cannabis in the country.
The agency will issue registered identification cards to qualified patients as well as maintain a registry of
cannabis patients' caregivers who will assist registered qualified patients.
The bill also proposes a Medical Cannabis Compassionate Center and Medical Cannabis Safety
Compliance Facilities.
Both should not be located within 1,000 feet of the property line of a pre-existing school, college, or
university, and should implement security measures to prevent unauthorized entry as well as theft of
cannabis.
The bill specified who will be exempted from civil and criminal liability for the use of, or for activities
related to, medical cannabis.

Under the bill, medical cannabis and its paraphernalia possessed, owned, or used in connection with its
medical use should not be seized or confiscated unless the dosage exceeds what is prescribed by a
qualified physician.
It also prohibits discrimination against both the registered qualified patient and the designated caregiver.
A Joint Congressional Oversight Committee for Medical Use of Cannabis will be established to oversee
the implementation of the bill once it is enacted.
First step
Dr Donnabel Cunanan, whose daughter has a partial seizure disorder, said the bill gives them hope.
"We dedicate this to all those who, like our children, suffer from debilitating medical conditions like
epilepsy, cancer, and multiple sclerosis," she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
Cunanan is a member of the Philippine Cannabis Compassion Society that has been working closely with
Albano for the past months.
"This is just the first step but we are confident that by the grace of God, many congressmen will vote yes
to this." Rappler.com

NY governor authorizes medical marijuana

Cuomo argues that research has suggested marijuana can help patients "manage the pain and treatment of
cancer and other serious illnesses"
NEW YORK, USA New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced Wednesday, January 8, he will
authorize the medical use of marijuana, making his the 21st US state to do so and one of the biggest.
Cuomo, a Democrat who has in the past opposed such a measure, announced a limited pilot program to
serve the state of 19.5 million people.
"We will establish a program allowing up to 20 hospitals to prescribe medical marijuana," he said during
his annual state of the state speech in Albany.
Cuomo argued that research has suggested marijuana, which is widely but illegally used for recreational
purposes, can help patients "manage the pain and treatment of cancer and other serious illnesses."
"We will monitor the program to evaluate effectiveness in the feasibility of (a) medical marijuana
system," he added.
Cuomo, 56, who last year described his support for decriminalizing the possession of up to 15 grams of
the drug, is likely to proceed by decree, after four previous attempts to legalize medical marijuana failed
to get traction among the state's lawmakers.
The announcement comes as part of a growing movement to relax US laws on marijuana.
According to an October 2013 Gallup poll, 58% of Americans favor legalizing marijuana.
Including New York, the drug will soon be allowed for medical reasons to various degrees in 21 of 50
states and in the capital Washington.
The first state to legalize medical marijuana was California, in 1996. A prescription can be obtained there
for conditions as minor as a bad back.
In Massachusetts, where the drug was legalized by referendum in November 2013, patients can possess
"no more marijuana than is necessary for the patient's personal, medical use" for up to a 60-day supply, to
ease suffering from cancer, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Hepatitis C, Parkinson's disease and other serious
conditions.
Vermont authorizes registered patients to possess "no more than two mature marijuana plants, seven
immature plants and two ounces of usable marijuana."
Oregon authorizes 680 grams, including for people who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.
Colorado has gone even further. Since January 1, recreational users older than 21 can legally buy up to 28
grams of cannabis for their own enjoyment regardless of their medical status.
The state of Washington took a similar measure, set to take effect in the coming months.
Authorities in both states oversee the production, distribution and marketing of cannabis there.

At the federal level, the sale and possession of marijuana remains illegal. But in October 2009, the White
House sent a memo urging federal prosecutors not to pursue cases against people distributing the drug for
therapeutic purposes.
Cuomo's announcement comes just days after Bill de Blasio further to the left than the governor
became New York City mayor.
Cuomo, who's up for re-election at the end of the year, highlighted the economic success of his state, the
necessity to lower business taxes there and to modernize the school system.
He has been tapped as a possible presidential candidate in 2016, along with his moderate Republican
counterpart in neighboring New Jersey, Chris Christie.
New Jersey already authorizes marijuana for medical use within a strict framework. That state's law has
recently been expanded to include certain childhood maladies. Rappler.com

Sotto: Legalizing marijuana evil, disaster

The former Dangerous Drugs Board head says: You dont declare a nuclear bomb legal just because a
small component of it can be used to light up your house'
MANILA, Philippines Let us stand up against the legalization of marijuana now, otherwise the evil
will take root.
Senator Vicente Tito Sotto III took his campaign against legalizing marijuana to the Senate
floor, delivering a privilege speech against what he called a disastrous proposal.
Why will we legalize the use and cultivation of marijuana? The proposal to legalize marijuana is
misleading. It is camouflaged under the term medical marijuana. You dont declare a nuclear bomb legal
just because a small component of the bomb can be used to light up your house, he said on Wednesday,
February 19.
Sotto objected to the plan of Isabela Representative Rodolfo Albano III and the House minority to file a
bill legalizing medical marijuana, which has the backing of the Philippines Moms for Marijuana. There is
no Senate version of the bill.
Albano and the group said parents should be allowed to resort to medical marijuana for their children
suffering from seizure disorders and other illnesses after trying ineffective medicines.
Yet Sotto, a staunch anti-illegal drugs advocate, said their proposal will encourage illegal drug use and
has no scientific basis. The senator is also a former chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
I rise to douse cold water on the move to legalize marijuana use and possession the door-opener to
more dangerous drugs such as shabu, heroin, cocaine, said Sotto.
Sotto said the proposal sends the wrong message.
If we legalize the use of marijuana, it will become a disaster. If your child is using marijuana, will you
encourage him of its continued use, or will you ask him to stop from using it? Kung makakasama sa
nakararami, gagawin ba nating batas para lamang sa iilan? (If marijuana has negative effects for many,
will we make it a law for a few?)
Senate health committee chairman Teofisto TG Guingona III said he is still studying the proposal.
Senator JV Ejercito said during the 2013 campaign that he supports the idea. Ejercito told Rappler
Wednesday he is in favor of it but for medicinal purposes only "like for epilepsy."
Prove your claims first
Sotto said those seeking to legalize medical marijuana should first prove its effectiveness.
He cited the Dangerous Drugs Act classifying marijuana as a dangerous drug, and the United Nations
Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which also classified marijuana as a dangerous drug. He said the
Philippines is a signatory to the convention.

Sotto said there are many petitions asking the UN to legalize marijuana but the organization consistently
rejected these because there is no empirical data that could back up their claims.
I do not think that these people who are lobbying for the legalization of marijuana are much better than
the powerful research machinery of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, he said.
In contrast, Sotto said Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, a major component of the marijuana plant, has
many negative effects. Citing numerous studies, Sotto said the effects of THC include short-term
memory problems, distorted perception, hallucinations and delusions, and reduced blood pressure.
Sotto also said other countries that legalized marijuana now have doubts and are on the verge of a
rollback. His examples included the Netherlands, Spain, and Canada.
In Canada, its court of appeals declared marijuana per se as illegal, while allowing the use of medical
marijuana when appropriately prescribed. However, many physicians in Canada have refused to prescribe
medical marijuana because, according to them, its benefits are not scientifically proven, Sotto said.
The senator also asked why groups are pushing to legalize marijuana when only its minor
nonpsychoactive ingredient called cannabidiol or CBD is considered to have a wide range of
therapeutic benefits according to some research.
He stressed that legalizing marijuana will only promote substance abuse.
According to the data which we have obtained from the DDB, marijuana has consistently been the
second most commonly abused substance for the past several years next to shabu. Malaking negosyo na
po ito ng mga drug pusher sa ngayon, at mas magiging malaki pang negosyo kapag ito ay naisabatas at
naging legal na. (This is big business for drug pushers now and will become an even bigger business
when it is legalized.)
Calls to legalize marijuana mounted after Colorado became the first state in the United States to open
recreational pot stores in January.
Insulting remark
For the Philippines Moms for Marijuana, lawmakers should at least review marijuanas medicinal value in
the Philippines.
The group is in talks with the DDB and Albano to petition a formal research on medical marijuana that
will be done in the country. The mothers said they did their research and came across legitimate medical
journals supporting their cause.
They cited a CNN documentary by neurosurgeon Dr Sanjay Gupta, who changed his mind on the
effectiveness of medical marijuana.
Sometimes marijuana is the only thing that works. Take the case of Charlotte Figi, who I met in
Colorado. She started having seizures soon after birth. By age 3, she was having 300 a week, despite
being on seven different medications. Medical marijuana has calmed her brain, limiting her seizures to 2
or 3 per month, Gupta wrote for CNN.

The Philippines Moms for Marijuana criticized Sotto for a previous insulting remark where he said, If
their child experienced problems, it might be that you used marijuana before. Rappler.com

House Bill to legalize use of medical marijuana in the Philippines proposed

BY A VILLANUEVA
JUNE 2, 2014POSTED IN: PHILIPPINE NEWS, PHILIPPINES
MANILA A bill seeking to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes was formally filed at the
House of Representatives, but, Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III says it does not include pot sessions as
the bill wont allow it.
Albano , a member of the House minority bloc, filed House Bill (HB) No. 4477, otherwise known as the
Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Act.
Albano said the bill calls for the legalization and regulation of the medical use of marijuana or cannabis
which he said provides therapeutic benefits for the treatment of chronic or debilitating medical condition.
This is in response to the demand of patients andcaregivers especially those suffering from cachexia or
wasting
syndrome,
severe
and chronic
pain,
severenausea; seizures or
severe
and
persistent musclesspasms, Albano said.
However, Albano disclosed that only patients with chronic diseases and conditions screened by competent
doctors would be allowed to use marijuana.
The bill, according to Albano, also contains strict provisions that would regulate the cultivation and use of
medical marijuana.
Albano said, Modern research has confirmed the beneficial uses of cannabis (or marijuana) in treating
and alleviating the pain, nausea and other symptoms associated with a variety of debilitating medical
conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, and HIV/AIDS, as found by the National Institute of
Medicine of the US.
According to the opposition lawmaker, at least 20 states in the US, Israel, Canada, the Netherlands, and
the Czech Republic have allowed the use of medical marijuana while other states in the European Union,
including Finland, Portugal, Spain, and Luxembourg, in recognition of the medical value of cannabis,
have attested that the use of cannabis rarely lead to criminal prosecution, he added.
In the Philippines, Albano noted that the law which prohibits dangerous drugs permits laboratories and
research centers to cultivate marijuana for medical experiments or research purposes or for the creation of
new types of medicine.
The bill also calls for the creation of a medical cannabis regulatory authority under the Department of
Health to regulate the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
The authority would issue identification cards to qualified patients and caregivers who have passed
evaluation while all information relating to patients would be treated as confidential.

Although qualified, the patient cannot carry or use medical marijuana in public and cannot operate any
vehicle while under its influence.
The patient should likewise refrain from doing tasks using body or motor functions impaired by his
medical marijuana treatment.
A patient can only use marijuana for the treatment of his debilitating medical condition and the physician
can only prescribe the use of marijuana for purposes covered by the law. Penalties will be imposed upon
offenders.
The bill mandates the secretary of health to issue the implementing guidelines.
A group of parents calling themselves Philippine Moms for Medical Marijuana has been advocating the
use of medical marijuana.
Source:
http://m.kickerdaily.com/house-bill-to-legalize-use-of-medical-marijuana-in-the-philippines-proposed/

Legality of cannabis
The legality of cannabis varies from country to country. Possession of cannabis is illegal in most countries
and has been since the beginning of widespread cannabis prohibition in the late 1930s. However, many
countries have decriminalized the possession of small quantities of cannabis, particularly in North
America, South America and Europe. Furthermore, possession is legal or effectively legal in the
Netherlands, Uruguay and in the US states of Colorado (Colorado Amendment 64) and Washington
(Washington Initiative 502) as the federal government has indicated that it will not attempt to block
enactment of legalization in those states. On 10 December 2013, Uruguay became the first country in the
world to legalize the sale, cultivation, and distribution of cannabis.
The medicinal use of cannabis is legal in a number of countries, including Canada, the Czech Republic
and Israel. While federal law in the United States bans all sale and possession of cannabis, enforcement
varies widely at the state level and some states have established medicinal marijuana programs that
contradict federal lawColorado and Washington have repealed their laws prohibiting the recreational
use of cannabis, and have instated a regulatory regime that is contrary to federal statutes.
Some countries have laws that are not as vigorously prosecuted as others, but apart from the countries that
offer access to medical marijuana, most countries have various penalties ranging from lenient to very
severe. Some infractions are taken more seriously in some countries than others in regard to the
cultivation, use, possession or transfer of cannabis for recreational use. A few jurisdictions have lessened
penalties for possession of small quantities of cannabis, making it punishable by confiscation and a fine,
rather than imprisonment. Some jurisdictions/drug courts use mandatory treatment programs for young or
frequent users, with freedom from narcotic drugs as the goal and a few jurisdictions permit cannabis use
for medicinal purposes. Drug tests to detect cannabis are increasingly common in many countries and
have resulted in jail sentences and loss of employment. However, simple possession can carry long jail
sentences in some countries, particularly in parts of East Asia and Southeast Asia, where the sale of
cannabis may lead to life imprisonment or even execution.
Currently Bangladesh, North Korea, Czech Republic, Portugal, Uruguay, the Netherlands, and the United
States (Washington and Colorado) have the least restrictive cannabis laws while China, Indonesia, Japan,
Sweden, Turkey, France, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Philippines and the United Arab Emirates
have the strictest cannabis laws.
According to the first ever global study of illicit drug use, published in August 2013 by the Lancet
journal, marijuana is the most popularly used illegal drug worldwide.
History
Cannabis has been in use for thousands of years. In India and Nepal cannabis has long been used in
religious rituals Under the name cannabis, nineteenth century medical practitioners sold the drug (usually
as a tincture), popularizing the word among English-speakers. In 1894, the Report of the Indian Hemp
Drugs Commission, commissioned by the UK Secretary of State and the government of India, was
instrumental in a decision not to criminalize the drug in those countries (See Shamir and Hacker (2001) in
'further readings' below. From the year 1860, different states in the US started to implement regulations
for sales of Cannabis sativa. A 1905 Bulletin from the US Department of Agriculture lists twenty-nine
states with laws mentioning cannabis.In 1925, a change of the International Opium Convention banned

exportation of Indian hemp to countries that have prohibited its use. Importing countries were required to
issue certificates approving the importation, stating that the shipment was to be used "exclusively for
medical or scientific purposes".
The Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 was the first US national law making cannabis possession illegal, with
the exception of industrial or medical purposes. Growers of hemp products were required to purchase an
annual tax stamp, priced at $24, and retailers were required to purchase stamps priced at $1 per annum.
The name marijuana (Mexican Spanish marihuana, mariguana) is associated almost exclusively with the
plant's psychoactive use. The term is now well known in English largely due to the efforts of American
drug prohibitionists during the 1920s and 1930s. Mexico officially adopted prohibition in 1925, following
the International Opium Convention.
The use of cannabis became widespread in the Western world due to the rise and influence of the
counterculture that began in the late 1960s. In the late 1990s in California, Dennis Peron started a
movement to legalize medical cannabis.
On November 6, 2012, Colorado Amendment 64 and Washington Initiative 502 were passed by popular
initiative, thereby becoming the first American states to legalize the recreational use of cannabis under
state law. However cannabis is still classified as a schedule I controlled substance under federal law and is
subject to federal prosecution under the doctrine of dual sovereignty and Supremacy Clause.
In a historical event with global significance, Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper signed two bills on
May 28, 2013 that made Colorado the world's first fully regulated recreational cannabis market for adults.
Hickenlooper said to the media: "Certainly, this industry will create jobs. Whether its good for the brand
of our state is still up in the air. But the voters passed Amendment 64 by a clear majority. Thats why
were going to implement it as effectively as we possibly can." In its independent analysis, the Colorado
Center on Law and Policy found that the state could expect a to see "$60 million in total combined
savings and additional revenue for Colorados budget with a potential for this number to double after
2017."
Uruguay then became the world's first nation to legalize the production, sale, and consumption of
cannabis in December 2013 after a 1613 vote in the Senate. Julio Calzada, Secretary-General of
Uruguays National Drug Council, said in a December 2013 interview that the government will be
responsible for regulating the production side of the process: "Companies can get a license to cultivate if
they meet all the criteria. However, this wont be a free market. The government will control the entire
production and determine the price, quality, and maximum production volume."
Under the new law, people are allowed to buy up to 40 grams (1.4 oz) of cannabis from the Uruguayan
government each month. Users have to be 18 or older and be registered in a national database to track
their consumption. Cultivators are allowed to grow up to 6 crops at their homes each year and shall not
surpass 480 grams (17 oz). Registered smoking clubs are allowed to grow 99 plants annually. Buying
cannabis is prohibited to foreigners and it is illegal to move it across international borders.[18]
In July 2014, announced president Julio Calzada that the implementation of the law is postponed to 2015,
"there are practical difficulties" and that authorities will grow all the cannabis that can be sold legal.

Concentration of THC shall be 15% or lower. An opposition presidential candidate claimed that the new
law never is going to be applied, it is not workable.
Alcohol and marijuana prohibition correlation
Franklin D. Roosevelt promised in the election for president to end the prohibition for alcohol. He
fulfilled that promise in 1933. For cannabis Roosevelt supported more restrictive laws from 1935.The U.S
Treasury Department created a new department in 1930 named the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Harry J.
Anslinger - who previously held the position of Assistant Prohibition Commissioner - became the
Commissioner of Narcotics in 1930. Commissioner Anslinger's report in 1935 noted: "In the absence of
Federal legislation on the subject, the States and cities should rightfully assume the responsibility for
providing vigorous measures for the extinction of this lethal weed, and it is therefore hoped that all
public-spirited citizens will earnestly enlist in the movement urged by the Treasury Department to adjure
intensified enforcement of marijuana laws." By 1937, 46 out of 48 states had officially classified cannabis
as a narcotic along the lines of morphine, heroin, and cocaine. Anslingers campaign supported the
passing of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. The bill originated in the Harrison Narcotic Act of 1914, but
that law didnt actually ban marijuana outright.
Attitudes regarding legalization
Many advocate legalization of cannabis, believing that it will eliminate the illegal trade and associated
crime, yield a valuable tax-source and reduce policing costs.[23] Cannabis is now available as a palliative
agent, in Canada, with a medical prescription. In 1969, only 16% percent of voters in the USA supported
legalization, according to a poll by Gallup. According to the same source, that number had risen to 36%
by 2005. More recent polling indicates that the number has risen even further; in 2009, between 46% and
56% of US voters would support legalization. According to press reports, supporters of the California
initiative estimate that about $15 billion worth of marijuana is sold every year in the state. Thus, an excise
tax on the retail sales of marijuana could raise at least $1.3 billion a year in revenue.
Attitudes regarding marijuana regulation have also changed as some states (Colorado and Washington)
have passed their own laws legalizing marijuana for recreational use. According to a Gallup Poll
published in December 2012, 64% of Americans believe the federal government should not intervene in
these states. The survey also found a difference in age groups for those that think marijuana should be
legal and those that still support prohibition: 60% of 18-29 year-olds favor legalization while only 48% of
those age 30-64 and 36% of those older than 65 feel this way.
In the Pew Research Center poll released on April 4, 2013, 52 percent support legalizing the drug and
only 45 percent oppose legalization. While support has generally tracked upward over time, it has spiked
11 percentage points since 2010. Research conducted by the Pew Research Center in February 2014
shows an increase in the percentage of legalization supporters, from 52% to 54%.
Advertising
Medical marijuana advertisements have been banned in states where it has been legalized, although it is
legal to advertise other pharmaceuticals.

Use of capital punishment against the cannabis trade

Several countries have either carried out or legislated capital punishment for cannabis trafficking.
Country

Status

Has
Saudi Arabia
used

Notes
been

An Iraqi man named Mattar bin Bakhit al-Khazaali was convicted of

smuggling hashish in the northern town of Arar, close to the Iraqi border and
was executed in 2005.

In 1997, the Indonesian government added the death penalty as a punishment

for those convicted of drugs in their country. The law has yet to be enforced on
any significant, well-established drug dealers. The former Indonesian
President, Megawati Sukarnoputri announced Indonesia's intent to implement
been
a fierce war on drugs in 2002. She called for the execution of all drug dealers.
"For those who distribute drugs, life sentences and other prison sentences are
no longer sufficient," she said. "No sentence is sufficient other than the death
sentence." Indonesia's new president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, also
proudly supports executions for drug dealers.

Indonesia

Has
used

Malaysia

Has
used

Philippines

The Philippines abolished the death penalty on June 24, 2006. Previously, the
Philippines had introduced stronger anti-drug laws, including the death
penalty, in 2002. Possession of over 500 grams of marijuana usually earned
No longer
execution in the Philippines, as did possessing over ten grams of opium,
imposed
morphine, heroin, ecstasy, or cocaine. Angeles City is often a vatican for
Filipino cannabis users and cultivators, although enforcement has been
inconsistent.

been

United Arab
Sentenced
Emirates

Mustaffa Kamal Abdul Aziz, 38 years old, and Mohd Radi Abdul Majid, 53
years old, were executed at dawn on January 17, 1996, for the trafficking of
1.2 kilograms of cannabis.

In the United Arab Emirates city of Fujairah, a woman named Lisa Tray was
sentenced to death in December 2004, after being found guilty of possessing
and dealing hashish. Undercover officers in Fujairah claim they caught Tray
with 149 grams of hashish. Her lawyers have appealed the sentence.
In July 2012, a 23-year-old British man Nathaniel Lees, [37] and an unnamed 19year-old Syrian citizen were sentenced to death for attempting to sell 20 grams
(about 3/4 of an ounce) of marijuana to an undercover officer in Dubai.

Thailand

Frequently Death penalty is possible for drug offenses under Thai law. Extrajudicial
used
killings also alleged.

Singapore

Frequently Death penalty has been carried out many times for cannabis trafficking. (July

Country

People's
Republic
China

Status

Notes

used

20, 2004) A convicted drug trafficker, Raman Selvam Renganathan who stored
2.7 kilograms of cannabis or marijuana in a Singapore flat was hanged
in Changi Prison. He was sentenced to death on September 1, 2003 after an
eight-day trial. (The Straits Times, July 20, 2004).

Death penalty is exercised regularly for drug offenses under Chinese law, often
in an annual frenzy corresponding to the United Nations' International Day
Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug trafficking. The government does not
Frequently
of
make precise records public, however Amnesty International estimates that
used
around 500 people are executed there each year for drug offenses . Those
executed have typically been convicted of smuggling or trafficking in anything
from cannabis to methamphetamine.

United States

Never
imposed

While current US federal law allows for the death penalty for those who have
extraordinary amounts of the drug (60,000 kilograms or 60,000 plants) or are
part of a continuing criminal enterprise in smuggling contraband which nets
over $20 million, the United States Supreme Court has held that no crimes
other than murder and treason can constitutionally carry a death sentence
(Coker v. Georgia and Kennedy v. Louisiana)

Non-drug purposes
Hemp is the common name for cannabis and is the English term used when this annual herb is grown for
non-drug purposes. These include industrial purposes for which cultivation licenses may be issued in the
European Union (EU). When grown for industrial purposes hemp is often called industrial hemp, and a
common product is fibre for use in a variety of different ways. Fuel is often a by-product of hemp
cultivation.
Hemp seed may be used as food. Though the UK's Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs) will not issue cultivation licenses for this purpose, treating it as a non-food crop, the seed
appears on the UK market as a food product.
In the UK hemp seed and fibre have always been perfectly legal products. Cultivation for nondrug
purposes was, however, completely prohibited from 1928 until circa 1998, when Home Office industrialpurpose licenses became available under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.
Industrial strains intended for legal use within the EU are bred to comply with regulations limiting THC
content to 0.2% (THC content is a measure of the herb's drug potential and can reach 25% or more in
drug strains).
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legality_of_cannabis

Lawmakersmulllegalizingmarijuanaformedicaluse
By Gil C. Cabacungan |Philippine Daily Inquirer
9:57 pm | Wednesday, January 29th, 2014
MANILA, PhilippinesMinority lawmakers are mulling the legalization of marijuana for medical use and
decriminalizing its possession to reduce the jailbirds in the countrys packed prisons.
Minority Leader Ronaldo Zamora said that his group agreed to consider the legalization of medical marijuana.
Isabela Rep. Rodolofo Albano III revealed that he planned on filing a bill in March that would permit the sale and
purchase of cannabis strictly for medical use.
Albano stressed that he was only pushing for medical marijuana and not for smoking or selling it like cigarettes.
Im only interested in opening up the debates on the possibility of relaxing the law on marijuana use solely for
medical purposes and not for recreation, said Albano. If there are those against it, I wont force it because the
public might think we will be holding a pot session here in Congress. For me, it is only for medical reasons because
mothers whose children are afflicted with epilepsy have asked me to champion the cause for medical marijuana.
Albano said the oil extracted from marijuana has been found to be a cure for a number of ailments.. One mans
poison can be another mans honey. If one has tried all medicine except for marijuana, why wont you try it? said
Albano.
Based on his proposal, Albano said the medical marijuana would be cultivated and sold under close supervision by
the Department of Health.
He asked: If dangerous drugs like morphine could be used with a doctors prescription, `why not marijuana?
ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said he would look into a proposal by officials of the Bureau of Jail Management
and Penology to decriminalize marijuana possession.
They told me that since the enactment of the Dangerous Drugs Act, detention centers and jails have started to
become crowded because most of the detainees and prisoners were there for possession of small amounts of
marijuana, said Tinio.
Under the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, which amended the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, mere possession of less
than 300 grams of marijuana was punishible with 12 to 20 years imprisonment and fine of P300,000 to P400,000.
For them, one important component of prison reform, particularly the de-clogging of prisons, is to look into the
decriminalization of possession, which is separate from supply or dealing. I myself was surprised why the BJMP
itself has made this recommendation, which means there are other issues to be considered in the marijuana debate,
said Tinio.

Source:
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/571263/lawmakers-mull-legalizing-marijuana-for-medical-use#ixzz3B1tMPVof

Allow Medical Marijuana research to be done and implemented in the Philippines .

Medical Cannabis has been proven to minimize the risk of cancer and cure illness such as multiple
sclerosis, glaucoma, relieves pain for those people who undergo therapy such as chemotherapy and the
likes. People here in our country need to know more about cannabis. They were blinded from the very
beginning about the real facts about Cannabis. I think it is the time that we make some changes about the
law and let us be more open about the positive effects of the plant. There are a lot of studies and
researches that give us facts on Cannabis is all about. In some countries this has been legalized and in
some states in the U.S. as well. I think Philippines needs to check the data again and consider legalizing
the plant and if not at least give the people choices if they are going to take pharmaceutical drug
(chemical) or Cannabis (natural) like what they are doing in CA. People in CA who choose to use
Medical Cannabis is given a card that they can use so that they will not be included in the prohibition of
the said plant. I know it will be hard but in the long run I know this will bring good to our country and our
people.
Poverty can end as well, world hunger could end. A large variety of food products can be generated from
hemp. The seeds contain one of the highest sources of protein in nature; they have two essential fatty
acids that clean your body of cholesterol. These essential fatty acids are not found anywhere else in
nature! Consuming pot seeds are the best thing you could do for your body. Eat uncooked hemp seeds.
You can live healthy for the rest of your life eating nothing but hemp seeds.
These are just few facts about Cannabis, I hope that the people who have read this petition will do
research on their own and I do hope you will see the light. Let us make this change, even not for us, think
of this as an investment for our future generation. We don't want our siblings to undergo the same
mistake. Let us think of the people who are fighting for their lives and their last option is Cannabis but
they can't have it, now even they do, they have a big chance of ending in jail for the rest of their lives.
Please have courage to fight for what we know is right. People are dying because of not knowing, not
knowing the cure to their illness, not knowing where to get Cannabis, not knowing their right to have
access to it. One signature can make a big difference.
Source:
http://www.change.org/p/medical-marijuana-philippines

Marijuana Legalization and Regulation

Marijuana should be removed from the criminal justice system and regulated in a manner similar to
alcohol and tobacco.
Legalizing and regulating marijuana will bring the nation's largest cash crop under the rule of law,
creating jobs and economic opportunities in the formal economy instead of the illicit market. Scarce law
enforcement resources that could be better used to protect public safety would be preserved while
reducing corrections and court costs. State and local governments would acquire significant new sources
of tax revenue from regulating marijuana sales.
The criminalization of marijuana use disproportionately harms young people and people of color,
sponsors massive levels of violence and corruption, and fails to curb youth access.
Marijuana Product Standardization and Testing
Marijuana product testing is becoming a standard requirement for legalized marijuana markets. This
allows consumers to become better informed about the cannabinoid profile and potency of marijuana they
consume. While universally accepted standards have not been established for testing, consumers should
consider requesting information on any pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, or any other residual solvents
that could remain on flowers after the cultivation process.
Testing for mold, fungus, bacteria, and other microbial organisms should be required to ensure safety and
quality, as the effects of consuming some of these chemicals, especially in the immunocompromised,
could be significant. Flowers and other cannabis products sold to consumers should include cannabinoid
profiles, including the content of THC, CBD and other major cannabinoids, and the number and
concentration of doses in a product. This is especially important for edible products, which can contain
widely varying doses of cannabis. Consumers should be sure to inquire about the potency and dosage of
an edible product, especially if they are a novice consumer or if the package is not clearly labeled.
Our Commitment to Legalizing Marijuana for Adults
The Drug Policy Alliance advocates marijuana legalization through a well-regulated market for marijuana
production and distribution. We seek to enact change on the state and federal level through ongoing
legislative efforts and through high-profile ballot initiatives in upcoming election cycles. DPA helped lead
the historic campaign in 2010 to support Proposition 19 in California. In 2012, Colorado and Washington
became the first U.S. states -- and the first political jurisdictions anywhere in the world -- to approve
measures legalizing and regulating marijuana similar to alcohol. DPA worked closely with local and
national allies to draft these initiatives, build coalitions and raise funds. Similarly, DPA was deeply
involved in the campaign to regulate marijuana in Uruguay, collaborating with local civil society
organizations. Uruguay became the first country to legally regulate marijuana in December 2013.

DPA will play a similar role in upcoming campaign cycles in 2014 and beyond. We are engaged in
building an unprecedented coalition that includes organized labor, civil rights groups, parents, and law
enforcement.
DPA is also working to build support nationwide for ending prohibition by playing a key role in sparking
and sustaining the national dialogue around marijuana legalization, and serving as a national thought
leader for viable alternatives to failed prohibitionist policies. DPA staff advise elected officials,
regulators, and other advocates on available options and their implications for state and local
governments.
We aggressively engage the media to ensure the dissemination of sound, accurate information about the
harms of prohibition and the benefits of viable alternatives.
Source:
http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana-legalization-and-regulation

Pros & Cons of Legalizing Marijuana

Pros for Legalizing Marijuana:
1.

Prohibition must be weighed against the loss of personal freedom. Countries have a
responsibility to respect individual free will and the right of self-determination.

2.

The immorality of marijuana use can only be based on one set of moral beliefs. By taking a
moral stand against recreational drugs, or fighting the evils caused by the illegal drug trade
they increase their popularity amongst constituents.

3.

The War on Drugs serves the immediate interests of politicians. By taking a moral stand
against recreational drugs, or fighting the evils caused by the illegal drug trade they increase
their popularity amongst constituents.

4.

Legal prohibition does not stop consumers from consuming drugs, it does not stop trafficers
from producing and selling it. The price of the final product increases to abnormally high
values because of the black market status, which together with the powerful effects of drug
addiction causes users to commit crimes in order to fund their addiction.

5.

Critics of the War on Drugs advocate the partial or complete decriminalization of illegal
drugs, combined with a system of regulation, as happens with alcohol and prescription
drugs. By providing legal supplies of currently illegal drugs the price will fall, leading to a
collapse in the illegal drug industry, and a reduction in crimes committed by both drug suppliers
and users. They also argue that the reduction in the price will lead to little, if any, growth in
drug addiction, due to the inelasticity of demand. Some even state that in a strictly regulated
market, drug use may fall overall, by removing the marketing activities of the illegal drug
industry.

6.

It is not worthwhile for a law to forbid people from willingly exposing their own bodies to
harm by using drugs, any more than by overeating or bungee-jumping. Obesity is a national
epidemic, killing millions every year, but the government has no right to regulate how much
citizens eat.

7.

Drug users exercise free will when they chose to use drugs; a person has the right to give up
his or her own freedom. A Government does not have the right to dictate them. No drug
eliminates free will. It is possible to quit using any drug. Many banned drugs are significantly
less deleterious to free will than legal alcohol or tobacco. Severe physiological addiction has
been demonstrated for tobacco (stronger than cocaine), but no strong physiological addiction
has been shown for marijuana.

8.

Illegal Drug dealers will sell to anyone, including children. Merchants who legally sell alcohol
and tobacco are not allowed to sell to children. Many high school students report that it is easier
to obtain illegal drugs than alcohol and tobacco.

Cons for Legalizing Marijuana:

1.

A State cannot be involved with the distribution of substances considered immoral by relevant
lots of the population. A substance considered unhealthy cannot be produced and distributed
with the help of the state, because the goal of the state is to protect citizens health and not to
expose them to risk.

2.

The easy availability of drugs would create new consumers rather than rescuing current ones.

3.

Drugs are addictive. They rob the user of free will. A drug user cannot make an informed and
rational decision to continue using drugs because the use of the drug eliminates that users
ability to think logically. Nor can they disseminate themselves from drug taking.

4.

Drug use is dangerous to persons besides the user. In the rise of health care costs, violence
associated with the use of drugs, neglect of children by drug-addicted parents, and other third
party effects.

5.

The use of soft drugs, such as marijuana, leads to the use of hard drugs (the Gateway Theory).

6.

Legalizing drugs will send a message to children that drug use is acceptable.

Source:
http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/pros-and-cons-of-marijuana.html

Pros & Cons of Legalizing Marijuana

Pros
Social Reasons

Prohibition of marijuana is unwarranted government intrusion into individual freedom of choice.

Marijuana is no more harmful to a person's health than alcohol or tobacco, which are both legal
and widely used, and regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Marijuana has proven medical benefits for cancer, AIDS, glaucoma and other patients.

Crime and violence, both within the U.S. and at the U.S.-Mexico border, are greatly increased due
to illegal selling and buying of marijuana. Legalization would logically end the need for such
criminal behavior.

Law Enforcement Reasons

"National statistics show 872,000 arrests last year related to marijuana, 775,000 of them for
possession, not sale or manufacturing - sparking some critics to suggest that the resources of the
criminal justice system, including the crowded state prisons and courts, might be better used
elsewhere," per the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009.

Drug busts of youth for marijuana offenses often carry harsh penalties that can cause undue social
harm with lifelong consequences.

Fiscal Reasons

Marijuana is one of America's top-selling agricultural products. One California politician

estimates that marijuana sales in his state top $14 billion annually.

New tax revenues from legalized marijuana sales could exceed $1 billion just for California. This
rich new source of tax revenues nationwide would help lift the U.S. economy out of its worst
recession in decades.

"... mainstream pundits like Fox News' Glenn Beck and CNN's Jack Cafferty have publicly
questioned the billions spent each year fighting the endless war against drugs," per the San
Francisco Chronicle in 2009.

If marijuana was legalized and regulated, an estimated $8 billion would be saved annually in
government spending on enforcement, including for the FBI and U.S.-Mexico border security.

Cons
Social Reasons

Some Americans believe that marijuana ingestion is immoral, and that their moral standards
should be required of all Americans.

Long-term or abusive use of marijuana can be harmful to a person's health and well-being.

Second-hand smoke from marijuana can be harmful to others.

Many allege that regular marijuana use can lead to use of harder, more harmful drugs such as
heroin and cocaine.

Law Enforcement Reasons

Some opponents of legalizing marijuana believe that individuals involved in illegal buying and
selling of the drug are more likely than average to be involved in other crimes, and that society is
safer with marijuana offenders incarcerated.

Law enforcement agencies don't want to be construed as supporting drug use.

Source:
http://usliberals.about.com/od/patriotactcivilrights/i/MarijuanaProCon_2.htm

Should Marijuana be Legalized under any Circumstances?

In a Nutshell
Yes

No
1. The drug generally isn't more harmful than
alcohol or tobacco if used in moderation.
2. Limiting the use of the drug intrudes on
personal freedom.
3. Legalization would mean a lower price;
thus, related crimes (like theft) would
be reduced.

1. Marijuana is often used as a stepping-stone

drug, leading to heroin, cocaine, or other
harder drugs.
2. Stoned driving and other dangers would be
increased.
3. Some consider use of the drug as morally
wrong.

4. There are medical benefits such as the those

for cancer patients.

4. Legalization would increase the chances of

the drug falling into the hands of kids.

5. Street justice related to drug disputes would

be reduced.

5. Because of drug-related arrests, people who

have committed or are likely to commit more
serious crimes can be taken off the streets.

6. It could be a source of additional tax

revenues.
7. Police and court resources would be freed up
for more serious crimes.
8. Drug dealers (including some terrorists)
would lose most or all of their business.
9. The FDA or others could regulate the quality
and safety of drugs.
10. Like sex, alcohol, or cigarettes, marijuana is
one of life's little pleasures for some people.
11. Aside
from
recreational drug
use, Cannabis has several industrial and
commercial uses, as over 25,000 products
can be made from the crop.
12. Drug busts often trap young people in a
flawed system that turns them into lifelong
criminals.

6. Physical damage would be done to users that

abuse the drug.
7. More widespread use would increase the
dangers of secondhand smoke-damage to
bystanders.
8. Legalization of marijuana could eventually
lead to the legalization of harder drugs
or all drugs altogether.

Overview/Background
A number of movements to legalize the use of marijuana have been gaining steam lately. There are places
in California where it's already legal for medicinal purposes. Much of the American public now believes
that the drug should be legalized (40 percent according to a Rasmussen International Poll) but others are
still concerned about health damage and other adverse effects.
Yes
1. The drug generally isn't more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in moderation. As you'll see
by reading research studies from the related links section at the bottom of the page, the studies of
the harmfulness of marijuana are inconclusive and contradictory. Most doctors would agree that
it's not very harmful if used in moderation. It's only when you abuse the drug that problems start
to occur. But isn't abuse of almost any bad substance a problem? If you abuse alcohol, caffeine,
Ephedra, cigarettes, or even pizza, health problems are sure to follow. Would you want the
government limiting how much coffee you can drink or how much cheesecake you take in? Most
doctors believe that marijuana is no more addictive that alcohol or tobacco.
2. Limiting the use of the drug intrudes on personal freedom. Even if the drug is shown to be
harmful, isn't it the right of every person to choose what harms him or her? Marijuana use is
generally thought of as a "victimless crime", in that only the user is being harmed. You can't
legislate morality when people disagree about what's considered "moral".
3. Legalization would mean a lower price; thus, related crimes (like theft) would be reduced. All
illegal drugs are higher in price because the production, transportation, and sale of the drugs carry
heavy risks. When people develop drug habits or addictions, they must somehow come up with
the money to support their cravings. Unless a person is wealthy, he or she must often resort to
robbery and other crimes to generate the money needed to buy the drugs. Legalization would
reduce the risks and thus reduce the prices. There would therefore be less need for the secondary
crimes needed to raise money.
4. There are medical benefits such as the those for cancer patients. As detailed in the related links
section, there are a number of medical benefits of marijuana, most notably in the treatment of
patients undergoing chemotherapy. Others believe it helps in the treatment of depression. Certain
states like California have brought initiatives to legalize the drug for at least medicinal purposes.
5. Street justice related to drug disputes would be reduced. Currently, if someone in the drug trade
screws you over, there's no police to call or lawyers to litigate. You must settle disputes yourself.
This often leads to cycles of retaliatory violence. Legalization would create proper means to settle
disputes.
6. It could be a source of additional tax revenues. An enormous amount of money is raised through
government taxation of alcohol, cigarettes, and other "sins". The legalization of marijuana would
create another item that could be taxed. I'm sure the government would have no problem
spending all that extra money.

7. Police and court resources would be freed up for more serious crimes. Many consider the War on
Drugs an expensive failure. Resources for DEA, FBI, and border security are only the tip of the
iceberg. You must add in the cost of police officers, judges, public defenders, prosecutors, juries,
court reporters, prison guards, and so on. Legalization of marijuana would free up those people to
concentrate on more important things like terrorism, harder drugs, rape, murder, and so on. In
addition, an already overloaded civil court docket would be improved; thus, the wait time for
other legitimate court cases would be reduced.
8. Drug dealers (including some terrorists) would lose most or all of their business. Perhaps the
biggest opponents of legalizing drugs are the drug dealers themselves. They make their enormous
sums of money because of the absence of competition and the monstrous street prices that come
from the increased risk. Legalization would lower prices and open competition; thus, drug cartels
(that might include terrorists) would lose all or some of their business.
9. The FDA or others could regulate the quality and safety of drugs. Many drug users become sick
or die because of poorly-prepared products. After all, there is nothing to regulate what is sold and
no way to sue anyone for product liability. By bringing marijuana into the legitimate business
world, you can oversee production and regulate sales.
10. Like sex, alcohol, or cigarettes, marijuana is one of life's little pleasures for some people. All of
us have our guilty pleasures. They are part of what makes life worth living. Several of these little
pleasures--coffee, sex, alcohol, cigarettes, etc.--are potentially harmful if abused. Even legal
substances like pizza and donuts can be harmful to a person if not consumed in moderation.
Would you want to give up all these things for the rest of your life? Would you want someone
else telling you what you can and can't have when it is only your body that is affected?
11. Aside from recreational drug use, Cannabis has several industrial and commercial uses, as over
25,000 products can be made from the crop. The plant used in making marijuana has a ton
of alternative uses, including construction & thermal insulation materials, paper, geotextiles,
dynamite, composites for autos, and insect repellent. As far back as 1938, Popular
Mechanics deemed it the "new billion dollar crop", as over 25,000 products can be made from it.
Unfortunately, the lack of legality in the U.S. and other countries has squashed the growth and
development of these products. We shouldn't limit the use of such a diverse product
because one use is found objectionable by some.
12. Drug busts often trap young people in a flawed system that turns them into lifelong
criminals. Imagine an impressionable teenager who is tired of earning minimum wage, who hates
living in a poor ghetto area, or who needs to save money for college. He's offered the opportunity
to make some decent money simply carrying some drugs across town. Then he's busted. He's
thrown in jail as part of a mandatory sentence. There, he spends his time and becomes friends
with many other delinquents. He gets meaner in jail since he has to defend himself in a rough
crowd. When he gets out of prison, his job and college prospects are slammed because of a felony
record and/or disruption of school. This just makes the resumption of a normal crime-free life all
the more difficult. Strapped for cash, he joins some of his new friends in a greater crime like
robbery. Suddenly, you have someone who has started down the road of being a lifelong criminal.
This story may seem farfetched, but it is all too real for some. The legalization

of marijuana would remove another temptation that could lead a young impressionable individual
down the wrong road.
No
1. Marijuana is often used as a stepping-stone drug, leading to heroin, cocaine, or other harder
drugs. Studies show that marijuana use often progresses to the use of harder drugs. In other
words, people experiment with what is often thought of as a "harmless" drug. Then, after using it
for a while, a bigger "high" is sought; thus, users then turn to the harder stuff like heroin, LSD,
cocaine, etc. This is particularly a problem since most people will not directly start abusing the
harder drugs that are generally understood to be harmful. Marijuana use may simply embolden
them to experiment.
2. Stoned driving and other dangers would be increased. Marijuana use isn't truly a "victimless
crime" when you consider all the crimes that may be committed when the user is under the
influence of the drug. Drunk driving is still a major problem in our society despite all the
education and stiff penalties. "Driving high" would be even harder to detect. Unless the user has
been smoking in the car, there isn't as distinctive of a smell as there is with alcohol. Also, there's
always the possibility that the lapse in judgment caused by drug use will lead to harder crimes
like rape or robbery.
3. Some consider use of the drug as morally wrong. Many religions and moral codes prohibit the use
of intoxicating substances. Marijuana is generally considered to fit into this category.
4. Legalization would increase the chances of the drug falling into the hands of kids. Even
unhealthy legal items such as cigarettes and alcohol are prohibited from being sold to kids. This is
because kids generally don't exhibit the same reasoning, responsibility, and judgment of an adult.
And their bodies aren't as equipped to handle the intake of these substances. The problem is even
worse for marijuana use. Developing brains and bodies can be dealt serious blows by the use of
marijuana. Any time you make something legal, you increase the accessibility to children. All too
often kids and teenagers get their hands on alcohol or cigarettes. We shouldn't let the same thing
happen with marijuana.
5. Because of drug-related arrests, people who have committed or are likely to commit more serious
crimes can be taken off the streets. People who produce, sell, traffic, or use illegal drugs have
already established themselves as people who will break the law. Anyone who commits drugrelated felonies isn't likely to be constrained in committing other felonies, such as robbery, rape,
murder, etc. If such people are in prison because of drug charges, they aren't able to go out and
commit other crimes. Also, it often occurs that there isn't enough evidence to imprison felons for
the serious crimes like murder; however, if they can be imprisoned for something, society is much
better off. At a minimum, they will be off the streets, unable to wreak more havoc.
6. Physical damage would be done to users that abuse the drug. Although some studies have been
disputed, marijuana abuse has been tied to brain damage, cancer, lung damage, depression,
amotivational syndrome, and even death. The brain damage has been shown to cause memory

loss and difficulty in problem solving. It is the governments duty to protect the public from such
dangerous drugs. After all, that's why the FDA was created.
7. More widespread use would increase the dangers of secondhand smoke-damage to
bystanders. The dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke are well-publicized. Common sense tells
us that more widespread usage of marijuana increases the likelihood that other people would
suffer the damage of inhaling other people's smoke. Public places like bars would expose
innocent patrons. In the home siblings, roommates, kids, and spouses would all face increased
exposure. Thus, the health damage to society becomes somewhat exponential. Even marijuana
smoked at home can make it's way to others, such as in multi-level apartment complexes.
8. Legalization of marijuana could eventually lead to the legalization of harder drugs or all drugs
altogether. Culture shifts rarely happen overnight. Behaviors of society stay relatively stable, with
only small incremental changes. Legalization of marijuana would further shift the culture to more
of a "anything goes" mentality. Step-by-step, more drugs will gain acceptance, with advocacy of
the legalization of harder drugs. Drugs like heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines, which we may
view now as unacceptable for legalization may eventually be sold over the counter at every
corner drug store.
Source:
http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm

Pros and Cons: Should Marijuana Be Legalized for Medical Purposes?

Marijuana is most often used as a recreational drug, but more and more patients, doctors and advocates have stepped
forward to offer testimony to its beneficial medical properties. Usually used as a painkiller and stress-reliever for
those who are very ill or injured, marijuana's current illegality is being questioned and supported with arguments
from both sides of the issue. Proponents say that if it were any other drug with the same healing qualities, it would
most likely be up to patients and doctors on whether to use it or not. Those against its use argue that its effects are
not entirely beneficial and that it could potentially lead to a wider distribution to those who do not require it.
Wherever you stand on the issue, it is wise to know the pros and cons of medical marijuana.
What is marijuana?
Marijuana, or cannabis, is a plant that is used as a psychoactive drug, meaning that it affects brain function and the
central nervous system. It has been used as a recreational and medicinal drug for thousands of years. Most
psychoactive drugs are not thought to be purely addictive, but because of the euphoric, relaxing and mind-altering
properties they possess, users sometimes abuse them.
What are the medicinal properties of marijuana?
Marijuana reduces nausea and pain, induces the appetite and serves a stress-reliever due to its muscle-relaxing
effects. Such properties are especially beneficial to cancer patients and those who suffer from chronic pain or
glaucoma. Because it is a plant and not made from synthetic compounds, any negative side effects are minimal.
Why do some doctors and patients advocate for medical marijuana's legality?
Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy have noticed their symptoms alleviated, as well as those suffering from
AIDS and multiple sclerosis. Marijuana is relatively inexpensive to grow and procure compared to most
manufactured drugs on the market. It is an organically grown substance and not prepared with numerous synthetic
properties, making any side effects minimal in most cases. Also, many patients, the majority of whom have no
record of past drug abuse, have come forward to testify to medical marijuana's effectiveness in easing their pain and
stress. They did so in hopes that marijuana would be legalized and available for optional use for future patients.
Why do some oppose the legalization of medical marijuana?
Even though marijuana is organic and not a synthetic chemical, it can have negative effects. These negative side
effects include loss of memory, a suppressed immune system and damage to the cells lining the lungs, especially if
smoked heavily. Many opposed to its legalization also point to the fact that not many scientific studies have been
performed on its overall effectiveness. In addition, some fear that the legalization of medical marijuana opens doors
to the legalization of its recreational use.
The question of whether or not medical marijuana should be legalized is a complex one with strong advocates and
opponents. The culture of the American "War on Drugs" is also still a prevalent issue, influencing the opinions of
many lawmakers and average citizens. While patients have and are still benefiting from the use of medical
marijuana, it is likely that progress in legalizing its use cannot occur until more scientific tests are done or until more
medical professionals come out in favor of its use.
Source:
http://freedom.answers.com/drugs/pros-and-cons-should-marijuana-be-legalized-for-medical-purposes

10 Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal

The readers of HIGH TIMES want marijuana legalized, nationwide, and now. Here are our top ten
reasons marijuana should be legalized:
10.

Prohibition

has

failed

to

control

the

use

and

domestic

production

of

marijuana.

The government has tried to use criminal penalties to prevent marijuana use for over 75 years and yet:
marijuana is now used by over 25 million people annually, cannabis is currently the largest cash crop in
the United States, and marijuana is grown all over the planet. Claims that marijuana prohibition is a
successful policy are ludicrous and unsupported by the facts, and the idea that marijuana will soon be
eliminated from America and the rest of the world is a ridiculous fantasy.
9. Arrests for marijuana possession disproportionately affect blacks and Hispanics and reinforce the
perception that law enforcement is biased and prejudiced against minorities. African-Americans account
for approximately 13% of the population of the United States and about 13.5% of annual marijuana users,
however, blacks also account for 26% of all marijuana arrests. Recent studies have demonstrated that
blacks and Hispanics account for the majority of marijuana possession arrests in New York City, primarily
for smoking marijuana in public view. Law enforcement has failed to demonstrate that marijuana laws can
be enforced fairly without regard to race; far too often minorities are arrested for marijuana use while
white/non-Hispanic Americans face a much lower risk of arrest.
8. A regulated, legal market in marijuana would reduce marijuana sales and use among teenagers, as well
as reduce their exposure to other drugs in the illegal market. The illegality of marijuana makes it more
valuable than if it were legal, providing opportunities for teenagers to make easy money selling it to their
friends. If the excessive profits for marijuana sales were ended through legalization there would be less
incentive for teens to sell it to one another. Teenage use of alcohol and tobacco remain serious public
health problems even though those drugs are legal for adults, however, the availability of alcohol and
tobacco is not made even more widespread by providing kids with economic incentives to sell either one
to their friends and peers.
7. Legalized marijuana would reduce the flow of money from the American economy to international
criminal

gangs.

Marijuanas illegality makes foreign cultivation and smuggling to the United States extremely profitable,
sending billions of dollars overseas in an underground economy while diverting funds from productive
economic development.

6. Marijuanas legalization would simplify the development of hemp as a valuable and diverse
agricultural crop in the United States, including its development as a new bio-fuel to reduce carbon
emissions.
Canada and European countries have managed to support legal hemp cultivation without legalizing
marijuana, but in the United States opposition to legal marijuana remains the biggest obstacle to
development of industrial hemp as a valuable agricultural commodity. As US energy policy continues to
embrace and promote the development of bio-fuels as an alternative to oil dependency and a way to
reduce carbon emissions, it is all the more important to develop industrial hemp as a bio-fuel source
especially since use of hemp stalks as a fuel source will not increase demand and prices for food, such as
corn. Legalization of marijuana will greatly simplify the regulatory burden on prospective hemp
cultivation in the United States.
5. Prohibition is based on lies and disinformation. Justification of marijuanas illegality increasingly
requires distortions and selective uses of the scientific record, causing harm to the credibility of teachers,
law enforcement officials, and scientists throughout the country. The dangers of marijuana use have been
exaggerated for almost a century and the modern scientific record does not support the reefer madness
predictions of the past and present. Many claims of marijuanas danger are based on old 20th century
prejudices that originated in a time when science was uncertain how marijuana produced its characteristic
effects. Since the cannabinoid receptor system was discovered in the late 1980s these hysterical concerns
about marijuanas dangerousness have not been confirmed with modern research. Everyone agrees that
marijuana, or any other drug use such as alcohol or tobacco use, is not for children. Nonetheless, adults
have demonstrated over the last several decades that marijuana can be used moderately without harmful
impacts to the individual or society.
4. Marijuana is not a lethal drug and is safer than alcohol. It is established scientific fact that marijuana is
not toxic to humans; marijuana overdoses are nearly impossible, and marijuana is not nearly as addictive
as alcohol or tobacco. It is unfair and unjust to treat marijuana users more harshly under the law than the
users of alcohol or tobacco.
3. Marijuana is too expensive for our justice system and should instead be taxed to support beneficial
government programs. Law enforcement has more important responsibilities than arresting 750,000
individuals a year for marijuana possession, especially given the additional justice costs of disposing of
each of these cases. Marijuana arrests make justice more expensive and less efficient in the United States,
wasting jail space, clogging up court systems, and diverting time of police, attorneys, judges, and
corrections officials away from violent crime, the sexual abuse of children, and terrorism. Furthermore,

taxation of marijuana can provide needed and generous funding of many important criminal justice and
social programs.
2. Marijuana use has positive attributes, such as its medical value and use as a recreational drug with
relatively mild side effects. Many people use marijuana because they have made an informed decision
that it is good for them, especially Americans suffering from a variety of serious ailments. Marijuana
provides relief from pain, nausea, spasticity, and other symptoms for many individuals who have not been
treated successfully with conventional medications. Many American adults prefer marijuana to the use of
alcohol as a mild and moderate way to relax. Americans use marijuana because they choose to, and one of
the reasons for that choice is their personal observation that the drug has a relatively low dependence
liability and easy-to-manage side effects. Most marijuana users develop tolerance to many of marijuanas
side effects, and those who do not, choose to stop using the drug. Marijuana use is the result of informed
consent in which individuals have decided that the benefits of use outweigh the risks, especially since, for
most Americans, the greatest risk of using marijuana is the relatively low risk of arrest.
1. Marijuana users are determined to stand up to the injustice of marijuana probation and accomplish
legalization, no matter how long or what it takes to succeed. Despite the threat of arrests and a variety of
other punishments and sanctions marijuana users have persisted in their support for legalization for over a
generation. They refuse to give up their long quest for justice because they believe in the fundamental
values of American society. Prohibition has failed to silence marijuana users despite its best attempts over
the last generation. The issue of marijuanas legalization is a persistent issue that, like marijuana, will
simply not go away. Marijuana will be legalized because marijuana users will continue to fight for it until
they succeed.

Source:
http://www.hightimes.com/read/10-reasons-marijuana-should-be-legal

Why Marijuana Should Be Legal

Liberty: people deserve freedom to use marijuana.
The first and most basic reason that marijuana should be legal is that there is no good reason for it not to
be legal. Some people ask 'why should marijuana be legalized?" but we should ask "Why should
marijuana be illegal?" From a philosophical point of view, individuals deserve the right to make choices
for themselves. The government only has a right to limit those choices if the individual's actions endanger
someone else. This does not apply to marijuana, since the individual who chooses to use marijuana does
so according to his or her own free will. The government also may have a right to limit individual actions
if the actions pose a significant threat to the individual. But this argument does not logically apply to
marijuana because marijuana is far less dangerous than some drugs which are legal, such as alcohol and
tobacco.
SUMMARY: Individuals deserve the right to decide whether or not they should use marijuana. The
government should not tell individuals what to do as long as they do not harm others.
Cost: keeping marijuana illegal is expensive.
The second important reason that marijuana should be legal is that it would save our government lots of
money. In the United States, all levels of government (federal, state, and local authorities) participate in
the "War on Drugs." We currently spend billions of dollars every year to chase peaceful people who
happen to like to get high. These people get locked up in prison and the taxpayers have to foot the bill. We
have to pay for food, housing, health care, attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses to lock these
people up. This is extremely expensive! We could save billions of dollars every year as a nation if we stop
wasting money locking people up for having marijuana. In addition, if marijuana were legal, the
government would be able to collect taxes on it, and would have a lot more money to pay for effective
drug
education
programs
and
other
important
causes.
SUMMARY: We would have more money to spend on important problems if marijuana were legal.
Failure: prohibition doesn't help.
The third major reason that marijuana should be legal is because prohibition does not help the country in
any way, and causes a lot of problems. There is no good evidence that prohibition decreases drug use, and
there are several theories that suggest prohibition might actually increase drug use (i.e. the "forbidden
fruit" effect, and easier accessibility for youth). One unintended effect of marijuana prohibition is that
marijuana is very popular in American high schools. Why? Because it is available. You don't have to be
21 to buy marijuana -- marijuana dealers usually don't care how old you are as long as you have money. It
is actually easier for many high school students to obtain marijuana than it is for them to obtain alcohol,
because alcohol is legal and therefore regulated to keep it away from kids. If our goal is to reduce drug
consumption, then we should focus on open and honest programs to educate youth, regulation to keep
drugs away from kids, and treatment programs for people with drug problems. But the current prohibition
scheme does not allow such reasonable approaches to marijuana; instead we are stuck with 'DARE' police
officers spreading lies about drugs in schools, and policies that result in jail time rather than treatment for
people with drug problems. We tried prohibition with alcohol, and that failed miserably. We should be
able
to
learn
our
lesson
and
stop
repeating
the
same
mistake.

SUMMARY: Prohibition does not work. Education and treatment are better ways to address the drug
problem.
There are plenty of other reasons why marijuana should be legal. Just to name a few:
1. Medicinal use: Marijuana can be used as medicine because it helps to stimulate apetite and
relieve nausea in cancer and AIDS patients.
2. Hemp: The hemp plant is a valuable natural resource. Legalizing marijuana would eliminate the
confusion surrounding hemp and allow us to take advantage of hemp's agricultural and industrial
uses.
3. Religious Use: Some religions instruct their followers to use marijuana. Just like Christianity and
Judaism instruct their followers to drink wine on certain occaisions, some Hindus, Buddhists,
Rastafarians, and members of other religions use marijuana as part of their spiritual and religious
ceremonies. These people deserve the freedom to practice their religion as they see fit. The First
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says that the government cannot 'prohibit the free exercise'
of religion, and so marijuana should be legal.
Source:
http://www.mjlegal.org/essayspeech.html

5 Reasons Marijuana Should Remain Illegal

1) It's extremely addictive for some people: If you don't want to take my word for it, listen to Dr. Drew
Pinsky who has been working with addicts for decades.
It would be malpractice to say that cannabis isn't addictive. Anybody who's experienced it, actually been
addicted to it, knows how profound that addiction is.... The difficult thing about marijuana addiction is
some people, even though they're addicted can do fine with it for many many years before they start to
have difficultly, but eventually the high starts wearing off, people start smoking a lot more to try to get
that high back and that's when they descend into difficulties. ...I've been treating cannabis addiction for 20
years. When people are addicted to cannabis, cocaine and alcohol the drug they have the most difficult
time giving up is the cannabis. It is extremely addictive...for some people. I think that's where people get
confused. It's not very addictive for many people. It's a small subset of people with a genetic potential for
addiction. But for them it is really tough. You only need talk to them, they'll tell you how tough it is.
Additionally, that "small subset" Dr. Drew is talking about isn't so small in a big country like
America. "Of the 7.3 million persons aged 12 or older classified with illicit drug dependence or abuse in
2012, 4.3 million persons had marijuana dependence or abuse." It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure
out that the more legal and available marijuana becomes, the higher those numbers are going to go.
2) This experiment hasn't worked out so well for Amsterdam: Humans being what they are, just about any
stupid idea we can come up with has already been tried somewhere else. Amsterdam is the most famous
place across the world that has effectively legalized pot. It has even turned into a tourist destination for
potheads. Legalizing weed has been a huge success there, right? Actually, not so much...
Its citizens are now alarmed that their children are increasingly being exposed to it.
Amsterdam today became the first city in the Netherlands to ban students from smoking marijuana at
school.
The city's mayor Eberhard van der Laan introduced the law after school chiefs complained about pupils
turning up to classes high after rolling up outside the grounds.
Marijuana is widely available in Holland as, although it is technically illegal, police can't prosecute
people for possession of small amounts.
But it has also had the unwanted side effect that Dutch children are frequently exposed to the drug in
public areas.
Additionally, contrary to the claims that legalizing it will reduce crime, inAmsterdam its been found that
crime is now centering around the coffeehouses where marijuana is sold.

Certainly the outlook for coffee shops is bleak. Among the few policies that the three parties in the
new coalition government agree on is the need to reduce their numbers. The governing agreement
released last week laid out plans that will force them to become members-only clubs and shut down those
shops located near schools.
The coalition is also advancing the idea of prohibiting the sale of cannabis to non-Dutch residents, which
amounts to a death knell for many coffee shops.
...The circumstances that led to the tolerance policies have changed in the past decade, as large-scale
crime around coffee shops and the legal sex trade became more visible. In particular, the absence of legal
means for coffee shops to obtain cannabis has highlighted their association with organized crime.
But the open-minded instincts that helped foster the policies are also being questioned. And it is not just
the far-right opposing coffee shops. The traditional parties of power on the center-right, the Christian
Democrats and the Liberal VVD, have also moved against the policies they once promoted.
That doesn't exactly sound like a success story, does it?
3) Marijuana is terrible for your mental health: Marijuana may even be WORSE than cigarettes. At
least cigarettes don't peel points off of your IQ.
A recent Northwestern University study found that marijuana users have abnormal brain structure and
poor memory and that chronic marijuana abuse may lead to brain changes resembling schizophrenia. The
study also reported that the younger the person starts using marijuana, the worse the effects become.
In its own report arguing against marijuana legalization, the American Medical Association said: "Heavy
cannabis use in adolescence causes persistent impairments in neurocognitive performance and IQ, and use
is associated with increased rates of anxiety, mood and psychotic thought disorders."
So, there's a good reason most habitual marijuana users come off as stupid. The drug is making them
stupider, even when they're not high. You really want your kids on that?
4) Marijuana is terrible for your physical health: How bad is marijuana for you? It's even more toxic than
cigarette smoke. Regular users are hit with devastating lung problems as much as 20 years earlier than
smokers. Even small amounts of marijuana can cause temporary sterility and it has a terrible impact on
the babies of women who smoke including "birth defects, mental abnormalities and increased risk of
leukemia in children." If your standard is, "Well, it's better for you than Meth or Crack," that's true, but
you're deluding yourself if you think pot is anything other than absolutely horrible for your health.
5) The drug decimates many people's lives: Movies portray potheads as harmless, fun-loving people who
spend their time giggling and munching Cheetos, but they don't show these people when they're flunking
out of school, losing their jobs, frustrated because they can't concentrate or losing the love of their lives

because they just don't want to be with a pot smoking loser anymore. Even in the limited number of
studies that are out there, the numbers are stark.
A study of 129 college students found that, among those who smoked the drug at least twenty-seven of
the thirty days before being surveyed, critical skills related to attention, memory and learning were
seriously diminished. A study of postal workers found that employees who tested positive for marijuana
had 55% more accidents, 85% more injuries and a 75% increase in being absent from work. In Australia,
a study found that cannabis intoxication was responsible for 4.3% of driver fatalities.
...Students who use marijuana have lower grades and are less likely to get into college than nonsmokers.
They simply do not have the same abilities to remember and organize information compared to those who
do not use these substances.
It's bad enough that we already lose so many Americans to cigarettes, alcoholism, and drunken driving.
Do we really want to endorse the loss of millions more potentially productive Americans via Marijuana?
Do we move on from there to Crack, Heroin or Meth? Some people would say, If they want to do it,
great, then it's no business of ours. But, you can also bet that those same people will be complaining
about all the junkies and welfare cases that will be created by the policy they endorsed.
So, ask yourself a few key questions. Is legalizing Marijuana going to make this a better country or a
worse one? Would you want to live in a neighborhood filled with people who regularly smoke marijuana?
Would you want your kids regularly smoking pot? Now is the time to think about it because although it's
easy to thoughtlessly legalize a drug like marijuana, when things go predictably wrong down the road, it
will be a lot harder to put the genie back in the bottle than people seem to think.

Source:
http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2014/01/21/5-reasons-marijuana-should-remain-illegaln1782086/page/full