One of the main reasons you should consider in your attempt to quit weed is it being not legal. Possession of weed in any quantity is a serious offense (felony) in many countries, and would put you through a great deal of hardship to recover
if caught.
But the question "Why is Marijuana illegal and alcohol or tobacco is not" lies with everybody who likes to use Marijuana.
Its true the comparison is legitimate and rationale. There are many cases of people going over board of the socially accepted means of getting high. (i.e alcohol and tobacco) Which put this ban on Marijuana seem foolish and baseless.
In history, we find that the widespread ban on marijuana started in late 1920's and early 1930's where Mexican immigrants were seen to be getting endless power from smoking weed. Being immigrants they were thought of as second class citizens and for them to have access to something the first class people didnt want to understand meant prohibitions. Prohibitions by means of law passed by the same first class whites. It was used to insist on the power the land owners had above the workers. There was another side to this. Large scale land owners didnt like the small land owners using cheap immigrant labor. They had the power to use lawmakers to dismiss this new threat.
Hemp was also outperforming cotton, that lead to the powerful cotton manufactures taking steps to ban Marijuana.
Wikipedia has a good article on the history of weed below.
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_history_of_cannabis_in_the_United_States
2) http://www.drugwarrant.com/articles/why-is-marijuana-illegal/
Any how, in summary weed was banned because the rich didnt like it and the poor couldn't afford anything else. Sounds Familiar?
In the current context, weed is banned due to the industry it is run on and its abusers in society and most of all the crimes it involves. Drug lords, gang activity, money laundering, exploiting laborers, teenagers high on weed, shoot outs, burglaries etc. and the whole grower to consumer channels and methods used are deemed illegal in every sense there is to it. However, you might think "it is like that because it is illegal, and if you legalize it it can be done in a legal manner like coca cola sends bottles to your supermarket".
It is much more complicated than that, The industry is made in such away that it needs to be illegal for its existence. What would the drug lords do if it was illegal? make a tax paying multinational company like Marlboro? What would the weed peddler do, sell lottery tickets? There are a lot of people making money just because it is illegal. Including, the pharmaceuticals, alcohol and tobacco companies. It wont be easy.
Its like telling your parents, to paint the house purple or you need freedom. Its just the way things are.
History, is History now move to the future.
What if we legalize weed, lets see
Pros
- The drug generally isn't more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in moderation.
- Limiting the use of the drug intrudes on personal freedom.
- Legalization would mean a lower price; thus, related crimes (like theft) would be reduced.
- There are medical benefits such as the those for cancer patients.
- Street justice related to drug disputes would be reduced.
- It could be a source of additional tax revenues.
- Police and court resources would be freed up for more serious crimes.
- Drug dealers (including some terrorists) would lose most or all of their business.
- The FDA or others could regulate the quality and safety of drugs.
- Like sex, alcohol, or cigarettes, marijuana is one of life's little pleasures for some people.
- Aside from recreational drug use, Cannabis has several industrial and commercial uses, as over 25,000 products can be made from the crop.
- Drug busts often trap young people in a flawed system that turns them into lifelong criminals.
CONS
- Marijuana is often used as a stepping-stone drug, leading to heroin, cocaine, or other harder drugs.
- Stoned driving and other dangers would be increased.
- Some consider use of the drug as morally wrong.
- Legalization would increase the chances of the drug falling into the hands of kids.
- Because of drug-related arrests, people who have committed or are
likely to commit more serious crimes can be taken off the streets.
- Physical damage would be done to users that abuse the drug.
- More widespread use would increase the dangers of secondhand smoke-damage to bystanders.
- Legalization of marijuana could eventually lead to the legalization of harder drugs or all drugs altogether.
What do you think? Are there more to it?
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