Wednesday, November 14, 2007

marijuana ???







Why do you think marijuana is bad? Do you think that marijuana is addictive ? What about the side effects--are there any? Should it be made legal to use for medical purposes? Does marijuana have any medical value? Should it be legal for general use like alcohol? Is it a gateway or stepping-stone drug? Should the people selling the drug be punished? If so, how severe?




Ben (7:00 am)

22 comments:

English student said...

I don't hold really any views regarding marijuana. I guess that it does hold some medicinal value like for glocoma and stuff, but other than that I don't know anything about it. People say that it isn't addictive but I had some friends that did it and they seem pretty addicted. So I thik it could be. Maybe the marijuana isn't addicitve but the feeling it gives you could be. It's like sex, or chocolate. I don't think it should legalized, although if someday it does get legalized. Oh well. I have never tried it and don't plan to so it doesn't affect me. Hope I've helped someway.
Dustin Piercy (9:00)

English student said...

I have studied up on marijuana and most of the things that are taught in school about it or shown in the media is wrong. ALL of the studies that show marijuana as bad or addicitve were done long ago and where biased or improperly conducted. Like anything else it can become psychologically addictive, but not physically. It is an infringement upon our rights to outlaw any drug, so it should be made legal(once again). Old studies that were covered up and more recent studies have shown that marijuana has a lot of medical value: asthma, glaucoma, tumors, nausea, muscle diseases, pain, antibiotics, arthritis, herpes, sleep, increase appetite, and depression to name a few.
People using and dealing marujuana should not be punished. There were no laws governing or outlawing drugs untill the 1930's, the people involved with drugs instantly became criminals and started a problem that has spiraled out of control, putting money and power into gangster's hands. The only negative side effect is in the people who have an allergic reaction to it or slight irritation to the eyes and lungs.
Daniel Hooker (7:00)

English student said...

We recently studied this in my psychology class and here are some negatives we learned about. First off, it lowers your sperm count. It also inhibits the transfer of info from the working to the long term memory. It is known as an amotivational syndrome which means it takes away your motivation to do anything. It contains 5x more tar than tobacco does. It does have medical value for chemotherapry, AIDS and glaucoma, but outside of these, it should be illegal. Research shows that it is a gateway druf and leads to other drugs and I believe it. Obviously the people selling it should be punished. It is illegal and they are giving it out to other people. They should be punished as harsh as someone found doing the drug.
Ryan Lowry(7:00)

English student said...

I believe marijuana should be legalized, because this is some thing that people are going to do weather they are "supposed" to or not. Marijuana was originally illegalized as a racist law, it was made illegal to keep certain people from coming to our country, and that the government should legalize, monitor and tax it just like they do alcohol, and cigarettes.

John Maxwell

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Even though I don't smoke weed, I feel that it should be legalized.
The advantages are that their whouldn't be less young Aamericans lossing their life in the street game if it was and also they could put a tax on it to help get our country out of debt!

The disadvantage is how would they go buy regulating the use of smoking, like when are you abusing weed smoking how high is to high!

Don Watts



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The advantages and disadvantages of legalizing marajuana are many. I think a top the governments list for not legalizining it is increased law enforcement bugeting. On the flip side I think the largest argument for legalizining marajuana is that if one chooses to use marajuana they're aren't endangering anyone else. The government would have you believe, as a lot of adds these days suggest, that every dollar spent on marajuana goes to support terrorism. Someone should point out that if this is the case it is only so because we can not legaly purchase it in this country. At the very least I do not think that marajuana should be listed as a schedule one narcottic. This is the same classifacation used for crack and heroine.

Matt Daily


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I haven't smoked pot in quite some time, but I have enough experience with it to believe it can be used responsibly (probably more so than alcohol) and its users don't pose any great threat to the public. For these reasons I believe it should be legalized; considering how easy it is to grow and the price that people are already willing to pay for it marijuana could be quite heavily taxed and the money could be used to fund many worthy projects (such as educating people on the responsible use of mind-altering substances). It would also free up the hemp plant for its many other uses that go unused due to the plant's legal status.

James Koltz


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Just like everything else on the market from cigarettes to liqour, it is a personal choice if you want to smoke weed or not. I use to smoke when I was a teenager and didn't seem to care what the law was. If the government would really think of how much more money they would have if they did legalize weed in America. There would be taxes, profit, and oh yeah they would save money in the prisons too. Because they wouldn't have to imprison offenders for selling weed if it were made legal. I do think that weed should be legalized in this country, why not cigarettes are more dangerous for your health anyway. Shannon Black

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I think so, it is like booze was years ago, you make it illegal a black market will appear. The advantage would be taxes collected just like alcohol and cigarettes and a at least a control of what is being sold.Disadvantage would be similiar to alcohol.


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Even though I do not smoke marajuana only tried it twice in my life time. And personally I did not like it taste funny. I think the goverment should legalize weed only because you look at the drugs they use now, weed is at the bottom of the drug list, almost a mistameaner than a felony. Their three states in our union that actually legalized marajuana for clockcoma so why not for your own personal use.

Daryl V. Brown


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I dont believe it should be legalized for every day use, but as a medicenal aid. Many people with glaucoma, cancer and other terminal diseases could benefit from its uses. Many disadvantages are the paranoia, and impaired judgement usually needed to operate macienary. How would you feel if you went to the doctor for a check up or the dentist for a root canal and he or she was stoned? OOOPs forgot the novacaine cause I was hitting the bong before you got here.

Tom Duckers


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I honestly feel that weed should be legalized. More and more they are proving weed to help medically with pain, and alot of people are addicted to pain medication than why not weed. its like there is no difference. i personally don't use weed, but I feel as if it were legalized that teenagers today wouldn't smoke it as much because it wouldn't be a thrill anymore. Although, if it was legalized then that could raise more of a chase for people to find a different drug like meth to get a thrill off of doing.

Tiffany Badgley


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I would say that the only reason that it should be legalized is for medical purposes like cancer and glocomma{don't know if this is the proper spelling.} To me otherwise there isn't any other reason that it would be benefitial to have legalized unless this would reduce the use of it by taking its appeal away but I think their would be more rather than fewer users if so. For me I've never tried it and had never felt the need to because I just associated it with smoking.

Tasha Jones


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I really am undecided on the whole question. Personaly, i am against the use of marijuana. But that is my choice, not for me to shove on other people. I agree with all the reasons for not legalizing it, but i also agree with the strong arguements for legalization. The arguement about less usage is not necessarily sound though. The legal smoking age is 18 and how many minors smoke in America? 21 to drink and how many underage drinkers are there? If weed was legal what would be the legal age to purchase? And if it was 18 or 21, how would that make it different for the youths that already smoke marijuana illegally? There really wouldn't be any difference in the minors that smoke it any way. Mainly, I agree with the medical legalization but other than that i don't really see a reason to legalize it.

drew funkhouser


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I don't care one way or the other. However,I will say that weed is no different than smoking cigarettes nor drinking alcohol. There is an disadvantage and an advantage for majority of everything in life.

Mary Moore


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I would tend to lean on the side of not legalizing it. I haven't smoked it but I have been around it at a concert. The only thing it did was make me sleepy so I would be in trouble if I tried to drive afterwards. I don't see a whole lot of advantages to legalizing weed other than seeing more stoned people than we do right now. The disadvantages would be when this is needed for medical use.
Nancy Byard


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Sure, that's just what we need in our society--another legal drug besides alcohol to help people shirk their responsibilities. Legalizing pot would be about as smart as legalizing gay marriage. In legalizing delinquent behavior, your approving that behavior. Do we really want a bunch of gay lesbos freaked out on weed walking among us? I for one say no thanks.

James Burke


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Yes. The U.S. government goes on and on about how we are hurting ourselves by smoking marijuana. But what a lot of American people don't know is that the same government who says that marijuana has no medicinal value whatsoever, sells this same drug to many pharmacies across America. Talk about hipocracy. They are making money off of it right under our noses. A disadvantage of marijuana being legalized is that we would be taxed out the ass to be able to get any. That would turn into an advantage because the government could use that same tax money to pay off the national debt, help build schools, and could use it for many other things t they say we don't have money for now. Yes I do have a good connection but it wouldn't be appropriate to give it to you over the internet for this class maybe another time.

Zach Frazier


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If you want weed, let me know, i know many people and could get you whatever you want. please keep that on the down low because as you know weed is illegal and by selling it and buying it a person is jumping into untaxed commerce! weed will never be legalized in the united states for one reason, the government cannot regulate the groth on it and there are too many people producing the crop at the moment to change that. its a lot easier to grow a few weed plants than it is to distill a whole barrel of moonshine or beer. i think that it should be legalized because there are soo many people that currently use it and get charged with small convictions. they could at least put an age limit on it, that way they could increase the punishment for posessing or abusing it.

Ben Armstrong


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I feel Mary Jane should be legal. What's the worst that can happen:People start eating more?

Tamika Newbern


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I don't know if marajuana should be completely legalized, but it is important for medical use. For those who are in pain with cancer, or for glaucoma. It can be a dangerous drug, and from what I have seen, incredibly addicting. I think that if it was legalized that it would bring in a lot of money to the U.S. which they concentrate on a lot these days. I think that if it was legalized though, that it would as well need a certain age for the users. I know that underage kids will still be using it, but I don't think that younger kids should be able to get their hands on it due to the effects it has on your body. I don't really think it is necessary to actually go through with it and legalize it just because in the long run, I'm sure it will just cause more problems.

Elizabeth Moody


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I guess I'm in the minority, but I do not feel it should be legalized. I know that teens will still try it and some will still smoke it (I've tried it myself like pretty much everyone I know), but I don't want my children to grow up thinking it's okay and an everyday item to buy at the store. It's not. I don't care what anyone says, it's very, very addictive. I know two people who were close to me and couldnt' stop smoking the crap if their life depended on it! What age would be legal? Would they treat it the same as alcohol? I can actually understand why it might be used for cancer patients who are in intense pain; medicinal purpose. But I do not agree with making it mainstream in stores and teaching our children that it's okay.

Katrina Schoonover


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I think that leagalizing marajuana would bring in tax dollars, but I don't think it will work as smothly as most people believe. Marajuana is a depressant just like alcahol, and most companies would fire someone if they came to work while under the influence of alcahol. Since marajuana stays in your system for an extended period of time, most of the working class wouldn't be able to use it anyways.

Good Luck,
Valerie Myers


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I believe that the legalization of weed would be a very bad idea. I admit that there are many positives that could come from this act such as the use for the treatment of glaucoma, the side effects of chemotherapy, and prolonging the life expectancy of those suffering from AIDS. But I feel that they are out weighed by the negatives. Weed is a drug that has been made illegal because it has so much potential for danger. It has five times the amount of tar than in cigarettes. Tar is the substance that causes lung disease.
This disease is one of the most deadly that our nation faces. I think that nicotine and alcohol should be made illegal. It would be senseless to bring another drug into our stores and gas stations to kill our citizens.
David Floyd


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I dont think that it should be legalized but at the same time people are going to do it anyways but no i dont think it should be legalized!

Amber Franklin 9:00

English student said...

I'm so sick of hearing about marijuana. First of all, I don't understand why marijuana is illegal. Having experienced both marijuana and alcohol, I think the effects of marijuana are much less harmful. Also, I think the punishments for posession are much too severe. On the other hand, I don't understand why so many people bitch about being illegal. There are a lot bigger problems in the world today than me not having the right to smoke a joint in front of a police station. Quit complaining, and just don't get caught. It's really not that hard.

Tristan Cogswell

English student said...

I guess I don't think marijuana is bad anymore than I think alcohol is bad. If I were to pick the lesser of the two--I would pick marijuana. I think it should be legalized, or at least decriminalized. Marijuana has proven medicinal advantages and should be legal for medical purposes. It is beneficial for glaucoma patients and can be a great benefit to Chemo patients. Marijuana seems to make people happier with their current situation, and as a result makes some people have less drive to do things for themselves. It is also addictive because it has withdrawl symptoms. I believe the only reason marijuana is a stepping-stone drug is that it is not legal. Once people start doing something ilegal it is easier to break the law again. People who break the law should be punished to whatever extent the law provides. They can change the law, or move if they don't like it.

Steve Kidd (7:00)

English student said...

I think Marijuana is bad depending how much you smoke a day. If you smoke one blunt a day i seriously think it will hurt you. Addictive no, i have many friends who can go weeks without smoking weed, they just do it at social events. From the commercials i've seen Marijuana can slow your reaction timing from your regular timing by alot. I also think that Marijuana kills brain cells because of the chemicals in it. I think it can be legal who suffers galucoma because it helps there vision out alot. I think it could have medical value if they legalized it for medicinal purposes only. I think it should be legalized for adults twenty-one or older, the same as alcohol. If people want to smoke its there choice, and it would definitely limit some of the war on drugs with law enforcement. It can be depending on the person. Iive had family members who started smoking Marijuana and they told me that it led them to try other drugs that eventually hurt them. I think the person buying the drugs should be punished, they don't have to but it, the sellers are just trying to survive, but if they get time it just be like a year in jail for sell of Marijuana.

Demaris winston(7:00)

English student said...

I think it is bad because we are already killing enough brain cells on other things in this world and we do not need another thing killing them. Also when you do marijuana you are breaking the law and are getting high and in some cases could be life altering or changing like if you are driving high and hit a kid or something of that nature. No it is not addictive, it is just your mind telling you, that you want it and cant live with out it. Cigars and other smokig products are addicting. I am really not to familar with marijuana but there probably are side effects for using this. For medical pursposes yes, it should be legal for. If they can really say its going to kill some of the pain and help the patient than yes legalize it. No it should not be legal for general use like alcohol. YOu will never stop people doing marijuana in this world. But no it should not be made legal. yes the people who are selling the drugs to little kids or to anyone on the streets should be punished they should be behind bars for a period of time and than thrown into some rehab programs and than be supervised and go to school to school telling the kids of our world the consequences of selling and doing drugs. They should not be thrown in prision for life or even more than a few years, just enough time you think about what they did.

Shawn Harshbarger

English student said...

Weed is not bad first of all. I don't believe its addictive in any way. The big rumor about how marijuana kills your brain cell is completely false.

There are side affects such as problems with memory,distored perception,difficulty with thinking and problem solving, loss of coordination, increased heart rate, anxiety, paranoia and panic attacks. If you chose to stay in your home and do it this will all be gone between 1 and 2 hours.

Yes, I think that weed should be legalized for medical purposes. It helps with people who have back problems,decresed muscle spasms,tumors, sleeping problems,stimulates appetite,stops convulsions,relieve eye pressure, suppress nausea and glacoma. This is because of its therapeutic nature, marijuana has been used in treatment of several conditions including:cancer and aids.

No, it shouldn't be legal like alcohol. You should have to get a normal prescription from your doctor to use it. This way it would be regulated through the governement and they could tax it just like they do everthing else.

No, its not a gateway or stepping stone drug. Its been around for along time and regardless if it becomes legal people will use it anyways.

No, I don't believe that the people who are selling the drug she be punished at all. Its a natural herb that has been around for over 3,000 years. If someone choses to smoke it and put it into there bodies its there problem not every cop shop in town.

I have no doubt that the positive out weighs the negative.

Kelly Martinez(700 AM)

English student said...

I think marijuana should be legalized. I actually just had this conversation with my grandmother yesterday afternoon. I haven't ever smoked pot, and I probably never will, not because it isn't available to me because oh boy is it, but because i choose not to. For other people though they choose to start smoking pot at really young ages. Maybe it's the people around them that influence it. Yes I'm sure people get addicted to marijuana, just like people get addicted to food, t.v, the internet, and computer games. They don't out law those though huh? For the most part the people getting stoned aren't bothering anyone.. actually they are probably sitting at home maxing out on cheeto's, watching scobby doo right now.. not bothering a sole. So it's whatever. Legalize it.
LesLee Watkins (7:00)

English student said...

I do not like marijuana. I have tried it twice and did not like the way it makes me feel. With the drug being illegal I have zero tolerance for it now that I have kids. I do not like being in the same room that marijuana is being smoked or just lying around.
With everything that is out in the world for medicaine, they can find another drug to will help the same problem as marijuana and stop using marijuana.
I think that the people who sell it should be punished, but how severe, I have no clue. Each case is different and it should be treated different.
I think marijuana is addictive and I would really like to know why it is illegal. I understand why it is, but I would like to see in writing why and who made it illegal.
Michelle Frischkorn

English student said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
English student said...

Because the government says its bad, i dont think its bad. i dont think that marijuana is physically addictive but i do believe that its mentally addictive. i think that marijuana should be legal period for medicinal and recreational use. i honestly dont know if it has and medical value but it never hurts to look that way for one. i dont think that marijuana is a gate way drug, its the users choice to take the other drugs and it sure doesnt help that they are being ifluenced most of the time by someone they know to take the other drug. people who sell marijuana shouldnt get into any trouble, its a natural plant that is grown, JUST LIKE TOBACCO.
Thomas Wood

English student said...

I don't really much have much background information regarding marijuana. I have never personally tried it, but I do know several people who have. They said it's a feeling like no other. They say it's not addictive, but yet they continue to do almost everyday. I don't think marijuana should be legalized. We have enough problems to worry about, so why should add to it by legalizing weed? I just think it's unecessary. I know studies have shown that it helps with asthma and glaucoma, but I still don't think it should be legalized. I'm sure there are millions of illegal drugs out there that help aid with illnesses, so does this mean we should legalize all illegal drugs just for that reason? I don't think so! I think things are fine the way they are, and there is no need for change.
Chelse Lindenbaum (9:00)

English student said...

I think marijuana is really bad because it could really hurt your mind. I have seen so many people out there that have used marijuana and they all act like they are out of it or they are so stupid. Im a business man and i would never hire anyone that showed signs of the use of marijuana not because they seem to be air heads but also because i would never trust them.
Justin Henrichs (9:00)

English student said...

I can honestly say that I have never smoked marijuana, therefore I can't really say that it is bad or good. I can however tell you that I don't understand why people smoke it. I have heard on many occasions that it is not addictive. I believe that it does not need to be legalized in order to use it for medical purposes, because people use it for medical purposes now, and it has not been legalized. I DO NOT believe it should be legal for general use. It is almost as bad as alcohol, which I strongly do NOT believe it. The people selling should be fined and questioned about where it is coming from in order to stop the actual chain of the weed from going dealer to dealer.

Brittney (7:00)

English student said...

No matter if it could be used for good or not, it should definately not be legalized. There is way too many addictives now that are available, we do not need another. No matter what people say, I truly believe that it is addictive. If it was not addictive why would people use it? Do people enjoy having health problems, and wasting there money. I think NOT! And of couse, addicts are going to tell you that they are not addicted because their addicts, they will say anything to get you off their backs. Just like chain cigarette smokers, or alcoholics, they do not want to be told what to do because they think that they are on top of the world and no everything. Like any other drug, or addictive, it is a vicious cycle that never ends. Right now marijuana is thankfully not legalized, and once it becomes legalized it can never go back. You have already let the cat out of the back and now you are screwed. Timothy Swan

English student said...

I think that marijuana may just be a gateway drug-- a drug that leads you on to more powerful things. Marijuana is an addictive drug that severly impairs the smokers judgement. I think that the medical uses of marijuana are just a way to get around the law and legally smoke the very harmful substance.
Frankie Gaskill (9:00)

English student said...

I don't think marijuana is bad, I think it's overrated. No, it's not addictive at all, the side effects are: it makes you hungry, you reaction time is slower. Some people use marijuana for cancer and HIV. i think it should be legal like alcohol, because alcohols' side effects are far worse than marijuana. It's not a gateway drug, the people selling it shouldn't be punished because they have their many reasons for doing it.
Tiffany Fields 9:00

English student said...

I don't really think that pot is a good thing. But I've never done drugs, so I guess I shouldn't judge. Yes, I do think it's addictive.

--Jill Reinhart (noon)

English student said...

I don't believe marijuana is any more harmful to the body then everything else we are killing ourselves with--cigarettes, alcohol, overeating, too much Red Bull, preservatives, etc. I believe the government should legalize and tax it, especially with the total debt at 9 trillion. I believe marijuana can be addictive if it is misused, like coffee, cigarettes, alcohol, chocolate, tweenkies, McDonald's french fries, (I won't go on.) I believe it must have medical value if it is medically legalized in twelve states. I don't know anyone personally who needs it medically though. I believe people being punished for selling marijuana are taking up too much space in prisons, another reason for the government to tax it and make the money instead of the guys in prison. We could use the money for something much better, instead of some dealer getting rich the wrong way.
Bobbi (9:00)

English student said...

i definetly think that marijuana is addictive. However sometimes it is used to help treat patients with illnesses. I think it should be made legal for medical purposes. However, it should not be legal for general use like alcohol. I think that certain sellers should be punished. However those that sell it for medical purposes should not be punished. Those who need to be punished should do time i think.

Haley Stewart (7:00)