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by Samson Olawale

:::WHY MARIJUANA SHOULD BE LEGAL FOR ADULTS:::

Lives have been ruined by drugs like cocaine, painkillers and alcohol. I have also borne witness to the devastation brought upon cannabis users -- almost never by abuse of the drug, but by a justice system that chooses a sledgehammer to kill a weed.

Alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, caffeine and refined sugar are among the most commonly used, potentially habit-forming recreational substances. All are best left out of our daily diets. Only marijuana is illegal, though alcohol and tobacco are clearly more harmful. In several respects, even sugar poses more threat to our health than marijuana.

Marijuana has plenty of harmful side effects: Chronic use of cannabis correlates with mood change and low motivation, most importantly when used by children, teenagers and very young adults, but at least some when used by informed adults in its typical form.

But these dangers are far surpassed by the perils of alcohol, which is associated with pancreatitis, gastritis, cirrhosis, permanent dementia, physiological dependence and fatal withdrawal. In healthy but reckless teens and young adults. Further, alcohol causes severe impairment of judgment, which results in violence, risky sexual behavior and more use of hard drugs.

Natural marijuana poses much less danger than synthetic cannabinoids -- legal or otherwise.

There is no existing evidence of anyone dying of a marijuana overdose, but this doesn't preclude the possibility of experiencing adverse or unpleasant effects when it is consumed in large amounts. For comparison's sake, alcohol overdoses claim approximately 5,000 casualties per year.This is often cited as a reason that marijuana is safer than other drugs, like alcohol. Take aspirin, for example. For most people, it is a safe and effective pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. for others it leads to death. Some people have violent reactions and hallucinations after consuming a caffeinated beverage.

The ban on the so-called "Weed of Madness" was based on bad science and fabricated stories of violence perpetrated under the influence. The madness of cannabis can be ascribed not so much to its users, but to those who sought to criminalize the drug so soon after the monumental failure of alcohol Prohibition.

Cannabis is more widely used today than at any time before its prohibition, even though it was domesticated in antiquity and has been cultivated ever since. Marijuana prohibition has also greatly increased illegal activity and violence. Otherwise law-abiding private users became criminals, and criminals became rich through the untaxed, bloody and highly lucrative illicit drug trade.

But this mess can be fixed through marijuana legalization. Federal, state and local governments can regulate the cannabis trade as they do with alcohol and tobacco -- monitoring the production process for safety and purity, controlling where it is sold, taxing all aspects of marijuana production and consumption like we do beer and cigarettes. Put more in the government coffers and redirecting resources from punishment to prevention.

I'm mostly pro-legalization for two of the reasons listed above: so that the types of marijuana can be regulated so that we don't get these scary chemical weeds in people's systems, and so that drug cartels stop making as much money as they do. Right now, I fear that many people who buy marijuana are putting money into those criminals' hands. Last reason: tax it like we do beer and cigarettes. This will put more into government coffers.

Forget the antiquated dogma and judge marijuana prohibition on its own merits. If you still believe that cannabis should be illegal, then you must logically support the criminalization of alcohol and tobacco, with vigorous prosecution and even imprisonment of producers and consumers. Does that sound ridiculous? Then you must conclude that the only rational approach to cannabis is to legalize, regulate and tax it. 

Opinions on dis issue are welcome. Feel free to drop yours.

ANNUAL DEATH RATE OF VARIOUS DRUGS

TOBACCO - 435000

POOR DIET/EXERCISE - 365000

ALCOHOL -85000

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS - 32000

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASHES - 26347

HOMICIDE - 20308

ASPIRIN - 7600

PEANUTS - 100

MARIJUANA - 0

MARIJUANA IS SAFER THAN PEANUT!!!