WHY is marijuana illegal in the US?
450093
It is illegal because of racism,  corporate greed, and corrupt officials.  Here's the history (see first source)\n\nThere has never been a reported death from marijuana as it is physiologically impossible to have a lethal overdose from it (unlike aspirin and many other legal drugs).  While long term heavy smoking of marijuana can cause bronchitis and other lung conditions, it has also not been shown to cause cancer (although the smoke contains carcinogens, every study has shown no correlation between marijuana use and cancer).\n\nMarijuana does effect short-term memory and motor coordination, but this is not a long-term problem.  While driving under the influence of marijuana is not safe, it is safer than alcohol or fatigue.\n\nThe recent FDA statement about medical marijuana was based on trying to help the pharmaceutical companies who sell marijuana-based drugs like Marinol and Sativex.  Read any of the major newspaper editorials on the FDA statement and you'll see they were slammed for ignoring all the established science in favor of medical marijuana (and a group of Representatives in Congress are demanding an explanation from the FDA).
382209
Marijuana is illegal because, unlike alcohol, when used even in moderation, it is mind-altering. And even though it has some medical benefits in certain circumstances, the FDA would never approve it due to the harmful side affects from it being an inhalant.\n\nIn layman's terms, one beer will not have a mind-altering affect on you while one toke from a joint will.
237822
It is not legal in any of the states of the U S but that does not mean a thing. The key is enforcement and there is very little.
841363
The government could care less. It's the corporations. And it's not the pot, it's the hemp that they have to keep illegal. It would replace too many poisonous things that they sell. Companies like Monsanto. Those are the kinds of companies that lobbied to make it illegal, many decades ago. Example. The first American battle ship was made of 85% hemp. Do a search and see how it use to be the main stay for the entire planet.
455222
Heres a link to an article on the "conspiracy"...Otherwise known as the real reason pot is illegal.\n\nhttp://www.world-mysteries.com/marijuana1.htm\n\n\nPeace
339051
why does it have to be illegal?
605014
Marijuana is illegal for political reasons. It has nothing to do with safety.
255195
I don't think it should be legal, we got enough potheads in America, although I think the punishment for possession should be less serious.
953956
Why don't we just legalize murder and fraud and robbery and rape.  Smoking Marijuana is illegal and just because millions do it desn't make it right.  Millions of people around the world supported the 911 attacks, does that make them rifght?  Crime is crime and people who commit it should be punished.  Lock up the crinials who use, grow and/or sell marijuana.
94772
Drugs are illegal because of the amount of money the government earns and loses because of them. If we legalized drugs, the government would have great difficulty taxing them. Most drugs are imported illegally from forign countries. Right now, america gets a bunch of money from its war on drugs including busts and payoffs. As a giant corporation, it would be stupid to allow people to purchase outside of your domain. I would never say that america does not allow it because they are bad for you- so are cigarettes, alchohol, most legal diet pills, caffine. Did you know that caffine causes weight gain, the shakes and you can actually overdose and die from it. (granted, that is an extreme and rare case) so, they do allow things that are bad for us as long as it is taxable.
119038
I don't know who exactly...but it;s not like pot is banned world wide. There are other countries that sell it, tax it or just don't care and those countries are probably the ones that started testing it's effects on there citizens.
1035368
Marijuana, because it can be used to treat glaucoma patients and to alleviate certain types of pain, should be legal, provided that it does not cause uncontollable affects in the users for whom it might be prescribed.  Legalization could eliminate the abuse of this drug and the sale of it by "street pharmacists" who frequently add other dangerous chemicals to it and use unscrupilous sales tactics to dupe customers who cannot get it legally.  The fact that it is illegal makes it more tempting to some people who enjoy living on the edge.
419312
lol...you just wanna smoke....but jokes a side I agree....sadly Marijuana has to major enemies...namely the Alcohol and Tobacco industries.....in fact those 2 substances are proven that they WILL KILL YOU and yet they are perfectly legal to take.....it is big business......just to see how potent this issue is.....for example if the state of California legalized and took control over the distribution of marijuana it would solve their financial problems in one stroke!
853053
A little known and forgotten fact: Marijuana wasn't illegal until the 1930's during Prohibition when booze was made illegal.\n\nBooze kills brain cells, where grass only puts them to sleep for awhile and relaxes the person.\n\nI say if she isn't pushing this onto others, then it should be her choice.  Only advise her that if she has too much in her possession,and gets caught is is still illegal.
18763
This is why Cannabis is illegal, I guess.
683151
Because law enforcement makes allot of money off of it. In my state for example, if you get caught with just one joint, it's like a 1200 dollar fine. That's allot of money for the corrupt law enforcement and politicians around. That's the only reason, because they make more than if they tax it. And people say you can't tax it because it's so easy to grow your own. Well, tomatoes are easy to grow too, but I'd rather just go buy them at the store, much less hassle, and potheads would do the same.
812342
Marijuana IS government regulated!!!  As with other drugs that are "illegal"  Once confiscated, it is resold on the streets and that is the vicious cycle of why these drugs are ILLEGAL...therefore making the government money "ILLEGALLY" by arresting, charging and sentencing a person to jail and fines as restitution for their possession of illegal drugs.