A little while ago 'Reasons To Legalize Marijuana' began to trend on Twitter. I am finding that the arguments for marijuana have not changed in several years. Many people do not go to the trouble of dissecting them, as they do appear to be airtight at first glance.
Further, I would like to state that I do not have a personal bias. I do not have a psychological inclination to be for or against marijuana. This is a completely objective analysis of the arguments that I have seen tonight.
I will analyze the arguments first from a worldly perspective, and then from a religious perspective. The following statements were presented on Twitter under the #ReasonsToLegalize hashtag.
@stillblazintho (Marijuana is a) Gateway to what? The kitchen?
While clever, stillblazintho's argument, if taken seriously, is rather indicative of his utter bias in favor of marijuana. The 'gateway drug' argument is a fact. To deny it is to be in denial. You will frequently find that marijuana users are also willing to try zanex or mushrooms. It could either stay at this level or rise massively. I would rather be safe than sorry and keep marijuana illegal!
@Carlomura - It causes less problems than alcohol!
Alcohol is legal, and it does cause problems. However, the conclusion 'therefore marijuana should be legal' does not follow the premise 'marijuana causes less problems than alcohol.' It only follows that alcohol has less legal grounds than marijuana. But it says nothing in regard to whether either of them should be legal!
@Sexrobotxxx - It makes no sense that cigarettes are legal and marijuana is not.
Like the alcohol issue, I agree that cigarettes should absolutely not be legal. However the conclusion 'therefore, marijuana should be legal' does not follow the premise 'cigarettes are legal and cause more problems than marijuana'. It only follows that cigarettes have less legal grounds than marijuana.
@User- The majority of Americans have smoked pot, including our president. Therefore, it should be legal.
Like the last two arguments, the conclusion does not follow the premise. When Obama announced that he had smoked marijuana, it was a matter of submitting to honesty lest that story be used against him. It was a matter of great shame, not a point in favor of legalizing this drug!
@danielle_irene - It is putting innocent people in jail
If they are willingly doing something that is against the law, then they are certainly not innocent! They are criminals. Think of it like this. Imagine I travel to another country, and in this country, wearing baseball caps is illegal. I am completely aware of this law, and I flagrantly wear a baseball cap anyway, because I love them so much. Do I not deserve whatever punishment that I receive? It may not be an act of immorality to wear a baseball cap, but it absolutely is to do so when it is blatantly stated that the country you are in frowns upon it.
@jawknee182 - I have never touched pot and I never would. But I can see why it should be legal.
Think of the reasoning that you have to be personally opposed to it. I do not think the masses should be allowed to willfully endure whatever it is you are afraid of!
@eden_gills - There was no reason for it be illegal in the first place!
I am not sure why it was originally made illegal, but I can certainly understand why such a legislation was maintained. Coupling the 'gateway' point which I raised at the beginning of the article with the actual damage that it does to the human mind, there is definitely strong reason for marijuana to be illegal. People do not see it, and adhere to the many of the pro-marijuana arguments not because they are objectively pro-marijuana, but because they are personally pro-marijuana. By this I mean that they have a personal interest in the legalization of marijuana, causing a strong bias in favor of it.
@ashtrey122 - it keeps people from getting their weed from the street
I saved this one for last because it was possibly the strongest pro-marijuana argument that I read within the 'legalize' hashtag. It would absolutely reduce the power of the street gangs. But something like 'power' does not merely dissolve. It would be rewarded to the corporations! They would tax the marijuana to death. Think of cigarettes. They are far less valuable than $10 per pack. But corporations charge this because they know people will keep buying. For this reason, for the every day marijuana smoker, the legalization of marijuana would be very negative.
Additionally, I believe in idealism. I do not think that we should make something that should remain illegal, legal. This will indicate to the criminals of the United States that they hold all of the cards. Surely, that is not something that you or anybody else could be in favor of.
Further, what do the rebellious youth seek when marijuana is legalized? When enduring puberty, teenagers are known for breaking the law and generally doing things that the world does not approve of just for the sake of itself. If the world approve of marijuana, what will they go after?
Religious Argument
And God said, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth. I have given every green herb for meat." Genesis 1:29-30
We tend to forget what we want to forget. Very clearly, it says "For meat." This is in regard to peas, corn, and other vegetables. This has nothing to do with drying a plant and putting into a plastic pipe. Frankly I have no idea how we draw "Dry this plant. Break it up, put it into a plastic pipe, set it aflame and inhale the smoke," from "Eat natural food."
There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. Mark 7:15
This is in regard to food. Jesus was rebuking the Jewish custom of eating only kosher.
Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation. Genesis 2:1
This is a matter of stewardship. We are to maintain and keep the earth clean. Not pollute it with excessive carbon dioxide!
Finally, I want to present this verse which pro-marijuana Christians tend to forget. "Do not be drunk, wherein excess, for that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit." Ephesians 5:18
For an in-depth analysis of the physical and mental affects of marijuana, click HERE.
To read more of my articles, go to my Christian Articles section by clicking here