should  they legalize pot to pay for free health care with the taxes tacked on the product / would people  buy
444050
RIGHT ON ANSWERMAN!!(Above)\n\nHeres all kinds of mind-blowing long-suppressed facts about Humanity's best friend "The Cannabis Plant". \n\n---Hemp or Cannabis as it is scientifically referred to is the fastest growing biomass source on Earth. Biomass is a cheap and efficient source of fuel. As a matter of fact, if we were to farm only 6% of the country's available farmland with hemp we could meet all of the country's Industrial energy and transportation needs.\n\n---As a renewable resource from living plants hemp does not contribute to the greenhouse effect. The growing plants absorb as much CO2 as will later be released when oil or other plant matter is burnt. Unlike fossil fuels (oil, coal, gas) or nuclear fuels hemp could supply us with raw materials for thousands of years, without ever changing our climate and without producing waste that remains radioactive for millions of years. \n\n ---Hemp is 26 times stronger than cotton and lasts 10 times longer.\n \n---We can produce 4 times as much paper from Hemp as we can from trees at one fourth the cost and 1/5 the pollution and it is 10 times stronger and lasts ten times longer.\n \n---It is a fact that Betsy Ross made our first flag "Old Glory" from Hemp fiber. Also, our Constitution and \nDeclaration of Independance were printed on Hemp paper.\n \n---The soldiers clothes during the revolutionary war were made from Hemp.\n \n---The second most prescribed medicine in the United States for 150 years for over 100 different medical illnesses was a Cannabis extract and it is alot stronger when taken in concentrated form.\n\nDoes This mean that all the children in America for 150 years were brought up as DRUG USERS from birth?? Or,Does it just mean simply, that we had a better understanding of herbs and their medicinal usage 100 years ago than we do today.\n(So who has REALLY lost their mind, people who smoke pot, or the "NORMALS"?)\n\n---The drug war is nothing more than an excuse to suppress consciousness and use the ignorant in our society to create laws for the New World Order to use to crack down on all of our rights !!\n \n---According to a Feb. 1938 article in Popular Mechanics the invention of a new machine called the decorticator, would once again put Hemp in the dominant position in the fiber and textiles industry over cotton by speeding up the harvesting methods in use at the time. \nAt this same time Dupont held a patent on a synthetic compound used to break down wood pulp to make paper. To make paper from Hemp didn't require any chemicals. In order for Dupont to profit from these chemicals, they had to see to it that Hemp was out-lawed. \nAndrew Mellon sat on the board of Dupont and Mellon's nephew was Harry Anslinger, the head of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics at the time. \nWilliam Randolph Hearst owned many big newspapers and working together they whipped up a smear campaign of  "Yellow Journalism" in America, spreading propaganda that the African-Americans and Mexicans were smuggling in a new killer dope weed that would lure white women to fall prey to the seduction of the "Negro", while under the influence of Jazz music. \n(Racism and fear were used to outlaw something that was used by every man, woman, and child in America.) \nIt wasn't until after the marijuana tax act was passed that the American Medical Association realized that "marijuana", a slang term for hemp was in fact "Cannabis", our second most prescribed medicine. This is when "Reefer Madness" began. \n\nNO ONE HAS EVER DIED FROM USING CANNABIS / MARIJUANA !!!\n\nSo, You See, The REASON That MARIJUANA Is Illegal Has NOTHING To Do With The Pharmaceutical Effect\n\nIts All About DOLLAR$ And NO SENSE\n\nTo Answer Your Question--YES, "THEY" SHOULD Legalize \nBut "THEY" Never Will
93458
The government could make a fortune if they legalized it and taxed it.
1015919
Marijuana is perscibed to people that are dying and people with health issues that need it for certain reasons. Yes i think it should be legalized. The medical use is a step in the right direction and i belive these folks get cards and paperwork for personal use.
1182063
this is a really good question,  I for one think the US should legalize pot too.... They should sell "j's" in packs like cigs... The US is in so much debt, then y not legalize something that has few side effects besides muchies..... they would be out of debt in no time... And ppl need not to say that it leads to other things cuz it dont , its the person who wants more... not because they cant get h*gh ne more its all in their head ... I know..... Just think if they would legalize it there wouldnt b much hate ne more either........ because its a know factor that when ur sto*ed that ur a happier person .....
952919
No! Countries which have national health have oppressive tax bases and the systems are highly ineffective and unresponsive. I believe that we should look into to insurance and medical reform. Pricing structures should be examined. For example why should insurance companies be allowed to pay one price to doctors while people off the street must pay more. \nInsurance coverage should be made affordable for all wishing it, perhaps in the form of a government group plan which leverages large scale buying power much the same way as corporations do. \nWe should also review medical savings accounts. Contribution should be allowed to carry over from year to year allowing people to build medical nest eggs. Currently the plan allows tax free contributions, but they are lost if not used in a particular calendar year.\n\nThere are many things we can do to help make Health Care more affordable and available to all in this country, but creating what would be the largest entitlement in American history is not the answer.
821015
Yes, and it should be taxed and regulated like alchohol.
737513
Well the amount of money in taxes would certainly be a major factor....it's also arguable that crime on one hand would be significantly reduced for obvious reasons (decriminalisation) but then again would there be an increase in users and therefore crime related to obtaining money for these drugs?? Many criminal gangs working in the drug industry would be put out of business and a lot of profits from this activity funds other crimes such as people trafficking. A combination of selling certain drugs through licenced premises and a liberalisation of trade barriers for certain substances could actually benefit certain drug production for some of the world's poorest people.\n     It has been proved with the lowering of cannabis to grade C that usage has actually dropped....maybe an effect of making it less desirable as it doesn't carry the same position in youngsters minds (demand dropping when level of legality falls). Check out New Scientist Magazine for figures.\n    How would nation/ health care react  ...probably extremely negatively and in many cases for good reasons. Could it work? well for such a complicated matter with so many issues it would require a huge cost/benefit analysis and to implement such a system i would imagine is too expensive monetarily speaking. Read a bit of "Mr.Nice" for info on drug trafficking industry and ideas advocating this theory.
137646
I have rethought my position on legalization of marijuana. I think it should be legal under certain guidelines and locals.\n\nThe first reason it should be legalized it will mellow out the liberals. They are way to shrill.\n\nReason number two, if a liberal is high they won't care about voting and we can easily elect conservative representative, congressmen, and president. Conservatives will never again have to deal with R.I.N.O.s if this happens. Imagine if there was no Arlen Spector or John McCain.\n\nReason Three assuming that only liberals and libertarians are for the legalization of drugs they can fight amongst themselves, and we conservatives have a way to sure up our power\n\nThe Previsos\n\nmarijuana would only be legal in Blue States. If you are caught with marijuana in a red state you get a trial and immediately executed after the trial, no appeals. The reason for this is to get potheads out of here and since it seams as if the Blue states want to legalize it let them.\n\nIf someone who is high robs, steals, or causes an accident after THC is detected in their system ALL their possessions become the property of the estate of the victim. (applies to all fifty)\n\nIf they have children, the children are removed from the home and are never returned (applies to all fifty)\n\nThe only treatment for those who want to quit smoking marijuana will be the intake of tobacco products, or beaten with a bong. Paid for by the offender (the way they train dogs not to make messes on carpets) Again all fifty.\n\nIf this works for marijuana I would propose the same for all illicit drugs. But no one would accept this proposal so I will have to continue my opposition to this and ALL illegal drugs.
1086319
Yes.\n1. As a popular intoxicant, marijuana is much safer than alcohol and other drugs. If Tobacco and Alcohol are available (tolerated by society), then marijuana should also be tolerated. I would much rather have my child abuse marijuana than alcohol, because afterward they would still have a liver and a brain.\n2. All recreational drugs should be legalized. There is no point trying to regulate personal behavior, which contravenes the American ethic anyway.\nCurrent laws do or can provide penalties for intoxicated problem behaviors such as driving under the influence, so that's covered.\n3. If you want to eliminate the crime associated with "the drugs trade", then legalize drugs. If necessary, make various drugs (such as cocaine) available only at the pharmacist's counter with a valid ID as proof of age.\nBut, no more drug kingpins - drugs will be commodified.\n4. Tax drug sales and get those revenues; and save all the money wasted on the drug war.\n\n5. And of course, as a marijuana user, I would look forward to cheaper product. :)
67803
It should be legalized.\nIt should be controlled as is alcohol(over 21, strict driving laws, etc.).\nIt should be taxed as are alcohol and tobacco which will provide additional revenue to the states.\nThe legalization will allow law enforcement and the courts to concentrate on more dangerous drugs and more serious crimes.  The legalization will also help to alleviate some of the overcrowding in our jails and prisons, an additional savings to the taxpayers.
58876
I definately think that marijuana should be legalized for medicinal use.  By legalizing it for medical use, it's not as if it would be street legal.  Not only would it help cancer patients such as your friend, but many other people who suffer from many other ailments, MS, ADD, ADHD, just to name a few.  I most definately think it should be lealized.
79600
Yes, marijuana should be legal, because the current system of illegalization is unfair. Why are cigarettes, which are proven to be tons more times unhealthy and deadly than marijuana, legal? Cigs kill through a physical addiction as well as a psychological addiction, which means that you actually become physically dependent on the drug and you enjoy how it makes you feel, and therefore you develop the diseases that kill you. On the other hand, marijuana does not cause a physical addiction, but a psychological addiction. So you don't die from weed, and there are very few reports that support the direct disease development of weed that kills you. So why are cigs legal and taxed, but weed isn't? Why don't they just make weed legal, tax the hell out of it so it can benefit the economy, and set an age limit for 21 years-old, just like alcohol. This will benefit everyone, because it will allow taxes for law enforcement to go towards people who are actually committing violent crimes instead of trying to calm down after a hard day by smoking weed. Also, it will stop the violence that erupts over the weed drug war between gangs and thugs. Money will no longer be an issue for the gangs to fight about over the weed.\n\nWe all know why weed is illegal - because the majority of its users are minorities and those in poverty. Sure, there is a fair share of middle and upper class young people who smoke weed, but the majority are those of us in the lower tier of society. If it was made legal, then those in power (the rich, upper class and conservative citizens) would not have as much power over us. Bottom line. Dispute it if you want, but the evidence is clear.\n\nIt's the same thing with why a smaller amount of crack carries a harsher legal penalty than the same amount of pure cocaine. Poor minorities use crack, upper class citizens use pure cocaine.
678094
Look at the revenue that could be made by legalization and taxation.  More people than you realize use it on a regular basis.  Think about the 60's and what age the stoners of then are now.  If they were say 20 in 1965, they are 60 now.  And do you really think that all of those people quit smoking?  Not to mention how many more people have since started and add them all together.  I really think we could put a good dent in the deficit if we legalized and taxed marijuana.  Just my opinion.
522707
think about it this way... i feel marijuana should be legalized due to the fact we are putting away pot heads for possession and stopping this drug from being on the streets and spending all of this money putting them away when there are TONS of cocaine dealers, crack dealers, meth heads, pedifiles, murderers etc still out there... yet our government is so convinced that marijuana is this horrible gateway drug... what about alcohol? in most cases kids now a days are more suseptable to drinking and then smoking pot than it being the other way around... but anyways. do you often read about people gettin arrested for being stoned out of their mind and killing someone from smoking and driving??? it happens occassionaly, but not as often as being being drunk and driving... do you hear about pot heads robbing gas stations to fund their habit? noo... usually that is cocaine addicts and meth heads... if the government was to legalize pot, they could put their own tax on it, and it would be just like alcohol, except for the fact you cant get "marijuana poisoning" well...you can, but to receive a lethal dose of thc you would have to consume 900 joints in a day... sure it causes cancers, but so does alcohol, so does smoking cigarettes...  so based off of how much we are spending on sending pot heads to jail, as well as keeping this so called "drug" off the streets we would make twice that if it were legalized... so yes, i feel people in the states should have full rights to smoke marijuana as they do in amsterdam.  but our government is to damn stupid to realize this potential and is just continually spending our tax dollars on throwing these TERRIBLE people, aka pot heads in jail...
710726
Yes I believe it should be legalized, because in relation to other drugs that are currently legal, the deleterious effects of marijuana simply don’t compare. I think the distribution of it should be controlled as to where it can be smoked, and who is licensed to sell it.
417650
Yes.  That way we could use the police for more preventative measures.  We could get rid of the drug dealers.  We could regulate the substance - people would get what they paid for - no sugar, flour, Comet, Drano, etc - and the O.D.s would practically disappear.  We could tax it and help remove the national multitrillion dollar debt. \nI don't use drugs, but I don't think it's the government's right to tell me that I can't.  I am a functioning tax paying adult. The government is not my parent.
921950
There are a couple of states considering medical marijuana legislation but it probably won't work because the supremacy clause of our constitution says that federal laws override state law, and on the federal level its illegal. Even if it was legalized in those states for medical purposes it still would be legal for just anybody who wanted it to have it; you would probably have to have a terminal illness to get a prescription.