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    Speak Up! - View Question #516


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    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
    461 thru 465 of 791 comments    ...  91   92  [ 93 ]  94   95  ...   
    On 11/10/03
    Chris from AZ said:
    Ive been told by a cop that marijuana is illegal for having hallucengentic *cant spell that word, makes you see stuff* effects, truth is, mushrooms are a hallucegentic drug and alcohol is too, heard of double vision The tax payers in america spend 7.5 to ten BILLION dollars putting people behind bars for simple marijuana possession, they arent selling it. 7.5 billion. no wonder the schools are so broke, all the money is going to prosecuting peopel for making a simple life choice, and i feel we should be able to make that choice resposibly. alcohol is the worst drug of all, and actually we
    On 11/10/03
    Chris from AZ said:
    smoking marijuana is actually a safe thing to do, other than the smoking part! there would only be long term affects of using the drug if you let them slide, and we can tell if you do! Why would they make the less harsh ones illegal, and punish them more, than the more harsh drugs, and claim their harder to find! 87,000,000 people in the us have admitted to smoking pot. some legislaturs, some presidents, and even some govenors *ahem arnold schwartzenneger* why do you gotta crack down on us, cause noone cracked down on you!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
    On 11/10/03
    Victoria from AZ said:
    I totally agree with you. Ive beem smoking marijuana for the past 3 years. Im still in school and have a 3.9 GPA and about to graduate this June! Class of 2004!! I've held a steady job for the past 2 years. Employee of the month 4 times. I'm getting into NYU with a scholarship and plan to major in psychology and minor in english. I know people argue, demotavation. It can be to some people. But a psychiatrist and prescribe someone pills which some people become dependent upon. And for the commercials that say this driver was tested positive for marijuana. you can get into an accident 25 days l
    On 11/06/03
    Tom from AZ said:
    I have been smoking pot for more then three years and I feel it has more reason to be legal then alcohol. Alcohol is a lot more harmful. The only reason pot is not legal because the government can not put a tax on it.
    On 11/05/03
    Mark from Othe said:
    It seems that the US Federal government is quite happy to use scare tactics, and misinformation to get the american public to do what they want. Marijuana is (and is proven to be) less harmful than a variety of other thing, including cigarettes, and including 'being fat.' Americans are the most overweight population in the world, and yet the government do nothing about it, but continue to push their "drugs = terrorism" campaign. Their priorities are completely wrong.
    461 thru 465 of 791 comments    ...  91   92  [ 93 ]  94   95  ...   



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