Top Ten Reasons to Legalize Marijuana

Throughout history human beings have used marijuana as a medicine, a fuel, for the production of textiles and paper, and yes for the high they get when the smoke it. Only in the past century has the use of marijuana been demonized and made illegal. With little evidence that marijuana is dangerous it is time to stop prohibition of such a useful and frankly enjoyable plant. While there are many reasons to legalize marijuana these are the ones that I feel are most important to consider. Please write to your congressman and representatives and encourage them to consider legalizing marijuana for the good of everyone.

10. Marijuana has the potential to be an alternative fuel.

Actually hemp (a variation of the marijuana plant that contains very little or no mind altering substances but still remains illegal), can be used to create bio-fuels that are clean burning. Oil extracted from the seed of the help plant is a quite efficient and clean bio-fuel. The reason that hemp is such a good choice for bio-fuel production is it's ability to grow in most climates, it grows quickly, the oil extracted from hemp seed is ideal for bio fuel production, and the rest of the plant can be used to create rope, fabrics and other useful items.

9. Marijuana can rebuild the textile industry in America.

Cotton hasn't been king in quite a few years and if cotton ever was king hemp was the grand exulted ruler above all. Hemp farming isn't a new concept. Before the civil war hemp farmers out numbered cotton farmers 3 to 1. Simple math is all it takes to figure out the logic, 1 acre of hemp produces the equivalent of 3 acres of cotton. Not only does one acre of hemp produce more fabric than cotton the fabrics, ropes, and other textiles created from hemp are more durable and easier to work with than those produced from cotton.

8. Marijuana is not as dangerous as alcohol or cigarettes.

Marijuana use for recreational purposes is a practice that predates written history. Human beings have been getting high on marijuana since the first caveman figured out how to burn it and inhale the smoke. While the argument that marijuana smoke contains even more carcinogens (cancer causing agents) than cigarettes is absolutely true marijuana is not smoked in the quantities that tobacco is consumed. A responsible marijuana smoker that smokes even 2 marijuana cigarettes per day does not even come close to inhaling the amount of carcinogens the average smoker does in an afternoon. While alcohol can cause unpredictable results in the user marijuana has the exact opposite properties. Someone high on alcohol can be melancholy or violent, depressed or elated. Marijuana provides a mild sense of euphoria and a calming effect. There are no reported acts of violence attributed to marijuana use.

7. Marijuana is not a stepping stone drug.

Contrary to propaganda designed to propel the war on drugs marijuana use does not lead to anything more than a desire to go to Taco Bell at 2:00 AM. There is no physical or psychological reason why marijuana use would lead to the use of cocaine, heroin, or any other drug. There is some evidence that some users may be persuaded to use heavier drugs because under the current laws obtaining marijuana requires dealing with criminals who are selling other drugs. Legalizing marijuana would eliminate this problem completely. Other countries that have legalized marijuana do not have a problem with increased use of narcotics. In fact most countries that have chosen to legalize marijuana report a decrease in the use of other drugs including opiates (heroin, opium etc...) and cocaine.

6. Marijuana can replace trees as our primary source of paper goods.

Save the rain forests! We have been hearing this for years yet nobody wants to live without the products that trees provide. Millions of acres of trees are cut down every year just to produce paper products. One acre of hemp produces the equivalent of 4 acres of trees. The math just doesn't lie. In addition to using the fiber from the hemp plant for paper products as mentioned above the oil from the seeds can be used to fuel the machines that harvest the plants. Of course this oil can also be used to create plastics that are environmentally friendly. Even these plastic products can be used to reduce the need for wood in many applications, thus saving even more trees from the ax.

5. Marijuana for recreational use can be taxed and revenue doesn't stop there.

Universal health care, welfare, social security, public housing, hospitals, schools, roads, food for the poor, and so many other critical needs are not being met. Everyone wants to take care of the hungry and the sick. Everyone wants to see the homeless get homes and our children go to school. We all want to drive on safe roads and be secure that in our old age we can live with dignity. The problem is how do we pay for it all. The simple answer is taxes. The more difficult answer is who and what do we tax. A tax on legalized marijuana would easily cover these any many other issues that need immediate fiscal attention. The taxes on recreational marijuana would only be the tip of the iceberg. Job creation, reduction of dependence on foreign energy, and exports would repair all our economic woes.

4. Marijuana legalization would create jobs.

Jobs are a rare commodity today. Worse yet a lot of the jobs that are available now are an endangered species. Many industries that provide employment today will be unable to continue operations over the next few decades. There is no question that the automotive industry as we know it will no longer exist sooner than later. The oil industry including drilling, shipping, storing, refining, and all the other links in the oil chain will cease to exists, again sooner than later. Legalizing marijuana will create jobs from the farmers that grow it to the scientists that find new uses for the plant and the workers that ship, haul, store and process the plant. Marijuana jobs will be plentiful and the industry will never run out of product.

3. Marijuana legalization would reduce illegal importation of marijuana and other drugs.

Marijuana often finds its way into the country from South America, Mexico, and everywhere else with a suitable climate for growing the plant along the same channels that cocaine, heroin, and other deadly drugs get here. Marijuana illegally imported into the USA often provides the financing for the importation of more deadly drugs. By legalizing marijuana we are not only reaping the financial benefits that are currently going to South American drug lords and the like, while we won't put these drug lords out of business we will seriously hurt their bottom line. The money and resources that are put into stopping the illegal importation of marijuana can be used to stop more dangerous drugs from entering the country.

2. Marijuana is currently illegal and unregulated. Legal marijuana would be regulated.

Marijuana that is used in the United States is completely unregulated. There is absolutely no oversight into the conditions the plants are grown in or what chemicals are being added to the finished product. The use of dangerous fertilizers and chemicals is often used to speed the plants growth in order to reduce the chance of getting caught. These chemicals are dangerous to the environment and would not be used in a legal grow facility. There are also some unscrupulous drug dealers that will add other drugs or chemicals to the marijuana in order to make the product more potent. Once again in a legal distribution system this danger would be removed. Legalization of marijuana is the only way to ensure that safe procedures are being employed from the planting of the seed to the final sale to the end user.

1. Marijuana is a recognized treatment for several medical disorders.

Most importantly marijuana is a known treatment for the symptoms of several disorders. Migraine headaches, depression, nausea, pain, and appetite stimulant are just a few of the many uses that medical marijuana treats. Several states have already taken it upon themselves to set up legal distribution systems for medical marijuana use. While still illegal federally these states have seen the evidence that marijuana is the only drug in many instances that will help a patient. Federal legislation for the use of marijuana as a medicine is the first and most important reason why marijuana needs to be legalized.