My point about marijuana is simple: why does the government deem it appropriate to censor our population from certain intoxicants and not others? I am not saying marijuana should or should not be legalized. I’m merely posing a question a question to anyone who reads this. Why is marijuana, cocaine, acid, ecstasy and other drugs illegal? Is it because they affect our bodies in a negative way? Because if that were the case then we should have alcohol, cigars, cigarettes, hookah, and several different kinds of medications banned from the marketplace as well. Perhaps it is because those drugs are bad for you which makes them so illegal. But again I ask, if this is the case then why aren’t the other substances which affect us negatively illegal as well? Everyone has a right to do to themselves whatever they please. Certainly marijuana, cocaine, heroin or other substances are not the best way we can treat ourselves. But then again, too much alcohol or stepping in front of a bus are not good decisions either. So why do we censor these drugs if people are supposed to have the freedom of choice in America?
It’s true that we can give thousands of examples preaching why all drugs should be legalized based on the fact that it is the individual’s choice of what they will do to themselves and also because it affects the person in a negative way the same way legal drugs dol. But realistically speaking, there has to be a reason the government deems certain drugs illegal. I personally believe it is based on the intensity and overall affect the drug has on a person. Many people do stupid and foolish things they are on drugs that they wouldn’t normally do had they been sober. And there is also the addictive factor involved. Some drugs are far more addictive simply because of the included ingredients. When the individual does decide to try the drug, they stand a greater chance of becoming addicted (in which case it is no longer their decision – it is their body demanding the substance) then they would had they been trying a less addictive, legal drug. So perhaps it is a good thing that marijuana and other drugs are deemed illegal because it helps keep our society healthy and prosperous. However, it could also be considered a bad thing that our government is censoring us from something we should have the right to choose. What do you think?…
Andrew Reid
I agree with you that it’s very weird that certain drugs are legal and others aren’t. However, your reasoning has a plentitude of holes in it.
For one, “the intensity and overall affect the drug has on a person” has nothing to do with it. If it did, alcohol would be illegalized. People under the influence of alcohol do the DUMBEST things; so dumb and ridiculous, in fact, that some of the best scenes in comedy movies stem from drunken behavior. Not to mention, too much alcohol begins to cloud a person’s judgment, reduces motor skills and balance, and sometimes even brings repressed agression to the surface of a person’s behavior. Based on your reasoning, this sort of behavior stemming from alcohol consumption would result in the illegalization of alcohol.
Also, the addiction factor clearly doesn’t play a large role, or cigarettes would be banned. A person can smoke a single cigarette, even take a single puff, and become addicted to the nicotine. This, of course, also depends on the individual’s resistance, both to the nicotine and addictive behavior, but the point is that nicotine is just as addictive as, let’s say, heroin. The only difference is the withdrawal from heroin is much more intolerable than nicotine, though nicotine withdrawal is still rough. Again, based on your reasoning, this would be the sole basis on illegalizing nicotine.
Steve
Credit granted, Andrew. However I do think that Steve has some good points in his comment. Although I don’t think that nicotine is as addictive as heroin, it might be more addictive than marijuana. Although I am giving you credit, it would be great if you could respond to Steve and explore some other reasons why these things could be made illegal. A little internet search might be helpful.