For some reason my number of viewers have suddenly sky rocketed! They are not making any comments! :)) Okay,read and think about it then!

Here is an article detailing the debate on the legalization on Marijuana in the United States. At first when I heard about this possibility,I was like 'was that even being considered?'. Then I read some sources about this and it didn't seem too impossible to me. One guy interviewed said:'It it's gonna happen,it's gonna happen under ma nigga Barack Obama'. So,Marijuana a thing of alternative festivals and for some a normal thing to smoke just like tabacco.Some say tabaccoo has more side effects but I will do my research and come up with some views and opinions on this subject as soon as possible. Pros and cons will convince me to a conclusive opinion on whether the legalization of marijuana should be passed.
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Smoke Weed Occasionally?
BY:GULIZ SAHDUR

*I thank blog.co.uk for the opporunity to speak and anyone who reads.*

It is recently under debate in the United States to legalize the long time illegal drug marijuana which can also result in strict criminal investigation and punishment for violation of this law. It is now considered a popular topic to write about this and the medical benefits for example,on cancer are slowly being revealed to the public. It is also been researched and studied that marijuana consumption will lead to a more relaxed life and social order eliminating the many illegal activity that surrounds marijuana. It is also argued that marijuana could also bring a good economic income to the struggling economy of the U.S. The most important factor in a legalization of Marijuana is that is would be controlled by pharmacies(Chemists,drug stores) and sold by prescription. In other words the consumption would benefit the govenment and the smoker. But I wonder how many marijuana smokers would actually go into a local pharmacy(chemist) and ask for it? In other words I wonder if consumption would decrease if legalized?

After reading some articles I have decided that it would certianly decrese smoking of weed illegally and keep money control away from dealers who make millions by charging too much for it. Therefore,this would drop the prices. In fact,if marijuana is legalized some other of the soft drugs should also be considered to be legalized. The thought of this I am sure would effect some gangs and mafias economic flow. Internationally,it would also benefit countries who can grow it as a crop and sell it freely and legally to the american market. It would also bring considerations from other countries about the issue. However,from what I have read the dosages have been kept to a minimum and the price still not settled. This the government should think very carefully. The main question I would ask is what is the gain in prohibition of marijuana up to now? and why it is a good idea to legalize now? Then the medical side of it must be carefully examined in order to give the correct information to the public.

The prohibition of Marijuana has not been very successful according to news articles and federal information. The statistics all show that the police and government in the U.S and other countries has not been very successful. 'One every 45 seconds of arrests' and many more who smoke it illegally regularly. This shows that there is indeed a huge demand for Marijuana. As long as the medical world can stand behind the medical benefits which they say range from cancer,anxiety disorders,anorexia and other which are all noted in many articles show that overdose has not ever been seen in marijuana smoke and it is used for the right purposes I do not think many people would have a huge problem with the legalization. If legalization is not successful there is a possibility for at least a reform on marijuana rules which could lessen the punishment for being in possesion of it. the state of Massecusetts has officially legalized it but many are looking to the federal government at the moment.

Although many have proven supporters there are still many drug law enforcement agencies and groups which strongly oppose any relaxation on drug laws. The main reason for this is a feared abuse. Here is how the medical facts sound on an anti-legalization site:'The main active chemical in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). The membranes of certain nerve cells in the brain contain protein receptors that bind to THC. Once securely in place, THC kicks off a series of cellular reactions that ultimately lead to the high that users experience when they smoke marijuana.(2)'More specifically they warn about the effects stating in a very long list which goes:When marijuana is smoked, its effects begin immediately after the drug enters the brain and last from 1 to 3 hours. If marijuana is consumed in food or drink, the short-term effects begin more slowly, usually in 1/2 to 1 hour, and last longer, for as long as 4 hours. Smoking marijuana deposits several times more THC into the blood than does eating or drinking the drug.(4)
Within a few minutes after inhaling marijuana smoke, an individual’s heart begins beating more rapidly, the bronchial passages relax and become enlarged, and blood vessels in the eyes expand, making the eyes look red. The heart rate, normally 70 to 80 beats per minute, may increase by 20 to 50 beats per minute or, in some cases, even double. This effect can be greater if other drugs are taken with marijuana.(5)
As THC enters the brain, it causes a user to feel euphoric— or “high”—by acting in the brain’s reward system, areas of the brain that respond to stimuli such as food and drink as well as most drugs of abuse. THC activates the reward system in the same way that nearly all drugs of abuse do, by stimulating brain cells to release the chemical dopamine.(6)
A marijuana user may experience pleasant sensations, colors and sounds may seem more intense, and time appears to pass very slowly. The user’s mouth feels dry, and he or she may suddenly become very hungry and thirsty. His or her hands may tremble and grow cold. The euphoria passes after awhile, and then the user may feel sleepy or depressed. Occasionally, marijuana use produces anxiety, fear, distrust, or panic.(7)

AND THOSE THEY SAY ARE THE SHORT TERM EFFECTS. THE LONG TERM EFFECTS ARE LISTED AS FOLLOWS:Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers do, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illnesses, a heightened risk of lung infections, and a greater tendency toward obstructed airways. Cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs may also be promoted by marijuana smoke. Marijuana has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because marijuana smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke.(8)
Marijuana's damage to short-term memory seems to occur because THC alters the way in which information is processed by the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for memory formation. In one study, researchers compared marijuana smoking and nonsmoking 12th-graders' scores on standardized tests of verbal and mathematical skills. Although all of the students had scored equally well in 4th grade, those who were heavy marijuana smokers, i.e., those who used marijuana seven or more times per week, scored significantly lower in 12th grade than nonsmokers. Another study of 129 college students found that among heavy users of marijuana critical skills related to attention, memory, and learning were significantly impaired, even after they had not used the drug for at least 24 hours. It has also been stated that marijuana for medical use is already sold as medication. A legalization they say would lead to more abuse of the substance. Government endorsed and illegally sold. This they say would backfire and cause many problems in children and teenagers. However I am personally critical of this because under government legislation legalizing it would take it away from youngsters only selling it with prescription. Any illegal activity beyond that would still be considered a crime anyway. The last word will come from President Barack Obama in answer to the question he said jokingly,'No I don't think that is a good strategy to grow our economy' but as slowly we are seeing that steps are being taken in this direction and it is well known among the Obama campaigns biggest donators were pro-legalization. To me it looks like this debate will be continuing for awhile. Where do I stand?...

I began to wonder a world of marijuana smokers:Brave New World's Soma coming to life!How wold this effect a society I wonder? In Brave New World by Aldous Huxley(one of my favorite dystopian novels) they use Soma to block away their unwanted feelings such as anger,sorrow-to feel happy about their world. Huxley died of an overdose by the way! So,America's got economic crisis,unemployed,dysfunctional families and terrorists out to kill them etc. and a million other probems. As if America does not have enough legal drugs-AND I DON'T MEAN THE SUBSTANCES YOU WOULD EXPECT now they are going to legalize marijuana. So,let's all just be in don't worry be happy mode and they can do what they like to the world right? WRONG! This of course an exaggerated view. More than the legalization of marijuana,I am intersted in why certain people would need such a stimulus to feel good. There are those who would truely benefit from it,those who smoke who do it for fun and the dangerous illegal adrenaline it may bring,Peer pressure,others use it with other hard drugs. I am in symapthy with those who need it and am in favour of legalization for those who really need it. However,I feel it would be better to face the problems and talk about what is wrong with their society?what is wrong with their family? What has fucked up the world to the point that this many people need it? Of course the answer for that changes for each individual.

However,a feedback mail has pushed me to think about some other possibility of reasons for weed. He asked me to think about why people drink alcohol?or smoke tabaco? why do people use these substances that may harm you but bring pleasure? He says it is the pleasure principle of life. Take a blunt and you'll know what I'm talking about.To be fair,there are many who use it as a bit of fun and pleasure once in awhile and that has no harm. Marijuana in also helpful for creative people like muscians,poets,writers,artists and all the other creative,imaginative thinking people. I read that Carlos Santana,the God of guitarists alive is a supporter of legalization. For some it is not about 'we're depressed,we need some Soma',its about let us relax and have some fun occasionally,say some pro-legalization supporters who view this as an even bigger issue than Iraq or terrorist Bin Laden-Just give us some weed!.

In conclusion,I have not read one article that fully convined me that the continuation of prohibition is useful any longer. I have noticed that pro-legalization people are very enthusiastic and excited about even the possibility. My vote goes to either a reform on marijuana laws or LEGALIZATION. Hopefully the government of the United States just listens to what the people are saying and they have a democratic debate based on facts and medical research and if legalization takes place,I hope nothing goes wrong.

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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.

The US war on drugs places great emphasis on arresting people for smoking marijuana. Since 1990, nearly 5.9 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges, a greater number than the entire populations of Alaska, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming combined. In 2000, state and local law enforcement arrested 734,498 people for marijuana violations. This is an increase of 800 percent since 1980, and is the highest ever recorded by the FBI.

As has been the case throughout the 1990s, the overwhelming majority of those charged with marijuana violations in 2000-- 646,042 Americans (88 %) -- were for simple possession. The remaining 12% (88,456 Americans) were for "sale/manufacture", an FBI category which includes marijuana grown for personal use or purely medical purposes. 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.

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. As a society we need to find ways to discourage personal conduct of all kinds that is abusive or harmful to others. Responsible marijuana smokers are not the problem and it is time to stop arresting them.

Once all the facts are known, it becomes clear that America's marijuana laws need reform. This issue must be openly debated using only the facts. Groundless claims, meaningless statistics, and exaggerated scare stories that have been peddled by politicians and prohibitionists for the last 60 years must be rejected.

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
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Source: United States government...
National Institute on Drug Abuse,
Bureau of Mortality Statistics

Like any substance, marijuana can be abused. 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 lead to harder drugs. 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.
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."

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