Marijuana, bar none, should remain illegal for people of all ages. I'm beginning to move to the right on criminalization despite Ohio's decriminalization of it. I feel we're softening too much on enforcement of the federal law even despite SCOTUS already upholding it as the supreme law. Letting dealers get off even easier will allow for continued high rates of distribution of and usage of marijuana with smaller prison sentences and enforcement that would only increase the popularity and sale of marijuana. Plus, little punishment will make teens think it's okay to smoke marijuana and that they can easily get away with it without consequences and will only hurt their health, memory, grades, social life, and well-being by resorting to purchasing other dangerous drugs that they think are also legal.
Throwing kids in jail for using marijuana and giving them criminal records that can follow them for the rest of their lives, give them the mindset of a criminal, and make it harder to find meaningful employment has done far more damage to young people's lives than marijuana itself ever has.
1. Many substitutes, but many more dangerous. For example, one of my friends has been prescribed codeine (an opiod) to treat back pain, and while it is effective, it can also have unpleasant side effects if dependence is developed. Marijuana, with no chance of overdose, and lower dependence liability, would be a much better alternative.
2. Just have doctors verify any illnesses. Not to mention this wouldn't even be an issue if marijuana was fully legal.
3. Marijauna =/= vicodin
4. What "lobbying" problem?
Poll
