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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
    21 thru 25 of 791 comments     1   2   3   4  [ 5 ] ...   
    On 03/17/08
    Kheave from CA said:
    There hasn't been a single death from marijuana use. And this explanation has nothing to do with why it's illegal.
    On 03/04/08
    zach from UT said:
    that doesn't tell me why it's illegal, it tells my why laws are made.
    On 02/25/08
    CMak from NY said:
    Weed should not be a crime more people die from Alcohol poison and tobacco each year about 50,000 from Alcohol and 400,000 from tobacco weed is NONTOXIC so it cant cause death on overdose theres good and bad to it but ask yourself how many people die a year from marijuana overdose?
    On 02/09/08
    jmoney from WA said:
    weed was made illegal because the goverment can not profit off it. If it was so bad for people to do then they would not give it to people medically. alcohol and cigs cause more deaths in a year then weed. The only reason that they are legal is because the goverment can make money off it. Alcohol kill people, puts then in hospitals which pay the goverment, people commit crimes when under the influence which makes money for jails, same with cigs. The goverment is a bunch of drug dealers. Weed can be grown by anyone, so they dont make any money. Alcohol and cigs are business where the govcantax
    On 02/01/08
    M.B. from IN said:
    Yep...this page makes me what to reach through the computer and smack someone! Like the others on here have said you can't O.D. on it. Well I've not heard or seen it yet but pills, alcohol and anything else out there you can. Things you can even O.D. on vitamins. Weed was a way of living back then, such as it was in clothes, ropes, foods, and more. It’s still is a way of life as far as I’m concerned it’s a medicine! So Legalize It Already!
    21 thru 25 of 791 comments     1   2   3   4  [ 5 ] ...   



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