50% of Americans want Cannabis legalized, therefore it should be legal

[tridim]

http://www.gallup.com/poll/150149/Record-High-Americans-Favor-Legalizing-Marijuana.aspx



It is no longer necessary to justify legalization with anything other than this number.

- The fact that Cannabis is beneficial to MY health doesn't matter.

- The fact that Cannabis is non-toxic and non-physically addictive doesn't matter.

- The fact that Cannabis is much safer than alcohol and tobacco doesn't matter.

- The fact that Cannabis makes me feel euphoric and extremely creative doesn't matter.

- The fact that Cannabis has been used by humans for thousands of years doesn't matter.

- The fact that Cannabis has the potential to be a multi-billion dollar industry doesn't matter.

The only thing that matters is that most Americans want a currently illegal activity to be legal. In America, majority rules.

LEGALIZE IT. NOW. :smoke:

[Harmony Blue]

1. I was skeptical for a long time but I have decided

that it should be legalized. My change in position is fueled by what scientific evidence I have seen that shows the benefits outweigh the risks. I think the more the people attack the scientific evidence, the more it galvanizes my support. Maybe I am jaded seeing so many people try to kick science, and scientists around without any logical reasoning.

[RainDog]

2. that's what opened my eyes

I mean, I had long thought it should be decriminalized, at the least, for decades. it's no worse than alcohol.

but then I started reading about the science - about the research that has been done, and about the potential benefits for people with illnesses. But any research into this substance has to jump through ridiculous hoops set up by the DEA - law enforcement - rather than the medical and scientific community. It's ridiculous.

So, while I have long thought that people who wanted to use cannabis recreationally should be allowed to do so, via decriminalization - I now think it should be legalized so that scientists and doctors can conduct research with ease.

It has taken many years for Americans to get beyond the reams of propaganda that have been printed about cannabis - but, it seems, with the ability to communicate and access information from reputable sources, to check data, to compare claims - the more people learn about cannabis, the more likely they are to support full legalization.

This 50% joins with the 81% who think that medical cannabis should be legal.

Funny thing, tho. For a LONG TIME the American public has been behind legalization of medical marijuana. Ryan Grimm, who wrote "This is Your Country on Drugs" used to lobby for cannabis. He noted that he would talk to legislators and they all said they would agree to changing the law but the public wouldn't support it. Grimm would ask these legislators what percentage of the population, did they think, supported legalization. The legislators routinely said 30%.

The reality was, at that time, 70% support legalization - but the legislators were so out of contact with the will of the people they assumed the loud minority that opposed were the majority. But they weren't. And they aren't now, either.

[msongs]

3. if it was good enuff for jesus its good enuff for everyone else. nt

[WingDinger]

4. Um, this is a republic, that uses democracy for our elections.

Sorta

[cleanhippie]

5. If only the Obama Admin followed through with the promise to let states decide...

But instead have been quite aggressive in curbing legal MMJ. :puke: