There was a thread like this on another forum I go on, was pretty big and loads of valid arguments for and against legalizing it.
I personally think it should be legalized! There is so many reasons why it shouldnt be illegal, I mean its a natural plant, why should the government be able to stop us using something that is natural? If alcohol can be legal then I cant see why cannabis cant, alcohol causes health problems, problems for the community, added strain on the nhs etc etc. I know that cannabis use does not come without its downsides, the possibilty that it induces psychosis being the main one. But cigarettes cause throat and lung cancer, which are killers! Yet fags are still legal? Makes no sense.
If it were to be legalized then the money from taxes could be put towards mental heath care and research, police time could be spent elsewhere other than stopping people for smoking a j, they could put money and resources towards fighting other drugs. I'm seeing at least 1 report a week of a cannabis farm bust, and I'm sure there are more than what is being reported in the local and national media. How much time and money is spent on finding these factories? You have the helicopter flying round with detecting high levels of heat, then you have further surveillance on the property and then finally the actual bust. Not to mention time at teh police station, all teh paperwork and court time etc. And i bet theres a fair few occasions where all they find is a handful of plants in an attic grown by some guy who wants a bit of decent smoke for himself, rather than buying the rubbish contaminated stuff that most of the dealers are selling.
Legalizing would also reduce the amount of contaminated stuff thats about atm, and who knows what the long term effects of smoking weed thats sprayed with silicona and glass beads!
Surely all this time and money could be spent on stopping the harder drugs, and heliping with the rehabillitation of the harder drug users? Money could be spent on properly educating the public and children too, rather than labelling weed as evil and shouldnt be touched, which Im sure spurs kids on to try it, they could educate on the proper use and side effects and let people decide for themselves whether they want to try it.
And the people that are saying that if its legalized then the country will turn into a nation of munchie eating pot heads, dont be rediculous! Have you been to holland? Yeah like another poster said there would be a binging period purely beacuse its new, and Im sure there would be more people wanting to try it just because they can. But to assume that everyone will be living in a stoned haze is just naive. Currently if people want to smoke weed, then the majority can get hold of it very easily, whether somebody you know sells or through a friend of a friend, people already make the decision whether they want to smoke it or not, much the same as fags, they are legal yet I dont see half the population standing outside pubs stinking like an ash tray. People make their own decisions, and so should be allowed to decide whether they want to smoke cannabis or not, the government shouldnt be stopping them.