This is several quotes from a credible website.
"Driven by the Drug War, the U.S. prison population is six to ten times as high as most Western European nations. The United States is a close second only to Russia in its rate of incarceration per 100,000 people. In 2000, more than 734,000 people were arrested in this country for marijuana-related offenses alone."
Now this is scary. Why should our government spend so much money trying to put these people in jail when they could just legalize it.
"These new FBI statistics indicate that one marijuana smoker is arrested every 45 seconds in America. Taken together, the total number of marijuana arrests for 2000 far exceeded the combined number of arrests for violent crimes, including murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault."
We should put all of our resources toward arresting suspects of violent crimes, not freaking out about this simple drug.
"Like most Americans, people who smoke marijuana also pay taxes, love and support their families, and work hard to make a better life for their children. Suddenly they are arrested, jailed and treated like criminals solely because of their recreational drug of choice. State agencies frequently step in and declare children of marijuana smokers to be "in danger", and many children are placed into foster homes as a result. This causes enormous pain, suffering and financial hardship for millions of American families. It also engenders distrust and disrespect for the law and for the criminal justice system overall. Responsible marijuana smokers present no threat or danger to America or its children, and there is no reason to treat them as criminals, or to take their children away."
Why should the government have the right to rip apart families. There are such things as responsible marijuana smokers. They don't go out driving their kids around while they're under the influence. They don't overuse. They don't abuse their family. They just use Marijuana.
"ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS
TOBACCO ........................ 400,000
ALCOHOL ........................ 100,000
ALL LEGAL DRUGS .............20,000
ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS ..........15,000
CAFFEINE .........................2,000
ASPIRIN ...........................500
MARIJUANA ...................... 0
----------------------------------------
Source: United States government...
National Institute on Drug Abuse,
Bureau of Mortality Statistics"
Now this part is disturbing. 0 deaths from marijuana. The US government just proved that marijuana is safer than caffeine. I mean come on people it doesnt make people overdose.
"The most common problem attributed to marijuana is frequent overuse, which can induce lethargic behaviour, but does not cause serious health problems. Marijuana can cause short-term memory loss, but only while under the influence. Marijuana does not impair long-term memory....Marijuana does not cause brain damage, genetic damage, or damage the immune system. Unlike alcohol, marijuana does not kill brain cells or induce violent behaviour. Continuous long-term smoking of marijuana can cause bronchitis, but the chance of contracting bronchitis from casual marijuana smoking is minuscule. Respiratory health hazards can be totally eliminated by consuming marijuana via non-smoking methods, i.e., ingesting marijuana via baked foods, tincture, or vaporizer."
So, if you're worried about bronchitis, eat a brownie. You can't get around this one, so stop trying to make up reasons about how marijuana hurts you.
"A 1997 UCLA School of Medicine study (Volume 155 of the American Journal of Respiratory & Critical Care Medicine) conducted on 243 marijuana smokers over an 8-year period reported the following: "Findings from the long-term study of heavy, habitual marijuana smokers argue against the concept that continuing heavy use of marijuana is a significant risk factor for the development of chronic lung disease." "Neither the continuing nor the intermittent marijuana smokers exhibited any significantly different rates of decline in lung function as compared with those individuals who never smoked marijuana." The study concluded: "No differences were noted between even quite heavy marijuana smoking and non-smoking of marijuana.""
This is the best part about the whole thing. This a real study with real findings. The users of marijuana had no '...significantly different rates of declined lung function...' Now, I know what you're going to say. 'significant, doesnt that mean that there was some sort of lung decline with some of the users?' Well yes. But notice 'significant' there is a significant difference of lung function in smokers.
"Marijuana does not cause serious health problems like those caused by tobacco or alcohol (e.g., strong addiction, cancer, heart problems, birth defects, emphysema, liver damage, etc.). Death from a marijuana overdose is impossible. In all of world history, there has never been a single human death attributed to a health problem caused by marijuana. Legalize marijuana and life would be better for most people."
This is a great summarization of this article. It is true and straight to the point. Why should you worry about keeping it illegal when it's the safest thing out there. Seriously.
If you would like to check out this website go to
http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/From there you can read the full article and be informed before you try to fight everything I said here.
Oh yeah and if you want to start quoting everything I said and going against it, Id be happy to hear what you have to say and give an appropriate responce.
Whether you are poor or sick, hated or loved, clean or dirty, tall or short, obese or skinny, you deserve to be adopted.
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