Teachers *  About LFK * LFK en Espanol * Search LFK:   
Arizona
LFK Home Speak Up! Stories Toons Laws Justice for All Law Docs Change It! Games Links
Search Questions
 Speak Up! Topics
  Arrested (61)
  Banking (5)
  Bullying (6)
  Contracts (5)
  Credit (4)
  Curfew (44)
  Drinking (25)
  Driving (187)
  Emancipation (67)
  Family (219)
  Guns and Weapons (23)
  Housing (17)
  Illegal Substances (91)
  Jury Duty (15)
  Marriage (16)
  New Laws (15)
  Other (378)
  School (118)
  Sexual Assault and Misconduct (31)
  Trouble (34)
  Vandalism and Property Damage (8)
  Violence (87)
  Voting (6)
  When You Turn 18 (107)
  Work and Employment (24)

Latest Questions
  • Is it illegal to download foreign items that is not licensed in United States?

  • I have a questions for you. Since i'm emancipated do I still have to have my parent sign for me to get a tatoo in arizona. And if not would i have to bring the emancipation papers with me to get a tatoo.thanx for answering all my questions.

  • how many people can i have in my car,and what is the curfew in goodyear,az

  • what is the cerfew for pinetop-lakeside, az?

  • Can I get emancipated if I'm only 15, if I'm pregnant, and still going to school? And can I live with my boyfriend which he has a job and will prvied everything needed for me and my baby.

  • Search Dictionary

    Tell a friend about this page!
    Type a friend’s email address into the box below, then hit ‘send.

    Speak Up! - View Question #516


    printer friendly version

    Question:

    Why is marijuana illegal?



    Answer:

    Something is illegal when laws are passed prohibiting it. Marijuana is against the law because there are specific laws which make it illegal.

     

    To understand why certain things are illegal, we should understand two basic principles: (1) where laws come from; (2) why one thing, rather than another, may have a law against it.

    Laws are rules which are enforced by a controlling authority or Government. In the United States, we have a Constitution, which is considered the highest body of law, or rules, in the land. The US Constitution creates three areas of government: 1. a President to oversee the country; 2. a Legislature to enact and create rules of law; and 3. a Court system to test and enforce the rules and laws enacted by the legislature.

    Laws are usually made with the idea of protecting people or things. For instance, laws against driving too fast are safety-oriented and are intended to protect people. Laws against chopping down native cactuses are intended to protect the desert plants, rather than protecting people.

    Before a law on anything is created, people must agree that a law is necessary. For some things, most people agree there is no need for a rule or law to control it. On the other hand, when enough people agree that a law is needed, then one may be created by the legislature. Legislatures are made up of representatives elected by people.

    If something is determined to be dangerous, and people are doing it in spite of its dangers, then the legislature may create a law to prevent people from doing it and the court system may punish people who break the law.

    So, marijuana, like most things which are illegal, has been determined to be a danger to the people, and because some people use it, sell it or possess it in spite of its dangers, laws were created by the legislature to prevent people from using, selling or possessing it and to punish people who violate the law.


    Comments
    201 thru 205 of 791 comments    ...41 ]  42   43   44   45  ...   
    On 08/30/05
    Jerm from CA said:
    Whoever wrote this should study the facts because it never really discusses why it is illegal or dangerous.
    On 08/12/05
    Troy from CO said:
    Marijuana has virtually no bad health effects, is not physically addictive (caffeine is more addictive), and the male plants can be used to make over 25000 different products. But the reason it is illegal is because its labelled as a "gateway drug" which is friggin rediculous cause most addicts of worse drugs began with alcohol, a far mor addictive and intense substance that remains legal. Colorado is finally putting the legalization of marijuana on the state level for 21+ on the ballod to be voted on, and hopefully it passes, cause this war on drugs targeting marijuana smokers is messed up!
    On 08/09/05
    chris from WA said:
    ok i read why weed is illegal and i found nothing that backed up why weed is harmful. I smoke weed a lot and all me and my friends do is sit around talk, play games, or watch TV. Ok waste of time right? Well we smoke usally late at night so what can a few teenagers do late at night.
    On 08/01/05
    astrid from CA said:
    I don't get the on why is pot illegal....it's not bad it doesn't harm anyone....if people want to do it...well let them do it...
    On 07/26/05
    michael from NJ said:
    The government are full of idiots, if hemp was legal in this country we could make 1000's of products out of it we would NEVER NEED TO CUT DOWN ANOTHER TREE EVER. thats a fact and they know this but why would they over look that? because these companies that cut down thousands of trees a day pay the government millions to let this go on and the government looks the otherway because they are a bunch of greedy stupid  that seriously only care about themselves, they might pass laws that benefit us but thats only to keep us in the dark about what they really do when no ones looking
    201 thru 205 of 791 comments    ...41 ]  42   43   44   45  ...   



    Read more about the law and Illegal Substances
    Related Stories
    Related Laws
    LFK Home   |   Speak Up!   |   Stories   |   Toons   |   Laws   |   Justice for All   |   Law Docs   |   Change It!   |   Games   |   Links
    Disclaimer: The information contained in this site is made available as a public service to the general public and is not intended to serve as legal advice. You should consult a trained legal professional for questions you may have about the laws affecting juveniles or any legal interpretations.

    Send Feedback regarding website content or to report bugs.
    Copyright © 1998 - 2025. Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, All rights reserved

    Privacy Policy  |  Terms of use  |  Disclaimer  |  Contact Us