Marijuana: Question of the Week #2

Ever since I discovered how muddled our knowledge of marijuana is, I have taken a fascination to uncovering it's history, as well as the scientific nature of the substance.  In this blog post I will briefly cover it's history (to the best of my ability, as this is a very confusing subject), the arguments for and against it, and any current political events regarding this substance.
 
History
Marijuana wasn't put on the wasn't put on the schedule 1 drug list for scientific reasons.  By 1937, 23 states
had outlawed marijuana: some to stop former morphine addicts from taking up a new drug, and some as a backlash against newly arrived Mexican immigrants, some of whom brought the drug with them.  Also in 1937, the Federal Government passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which made nonmedical use of marijuana illegal Times.  Some blog.  Drug Warrant.  Wikipedia.

Pros and Cons

First, I would like to show a brief comparison chart from Balanced Politics

Yes

No

The drug generally isn't more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in moderation. Limiting the use of the drug intrudes on personal freedom. Legalization would mean a lower price; thus, related crimes (like theft) would be reduced. There are medical benefits such as the those for cancer patients. Street justice related to drug disputes would be reduced. It could be a source of additional tax revenues. Police and court resources would be freed up for more serious crimes. Drug dealers (including some terrorists) would lose most or all of their business. The FDA or others could regulate the quality and safety of drugs. Like sex, alcohol, or cigarettes, marijuana is one of life's little pleasures for some people. Aside from recreational drug use, Cannabis has several industrial and commercial uses, as over 25,000 products can be made from the crop. Drug busts often trap young people in a flawed system that turns them into lifelong criminals.

Marijuana is often used as a stepping-stone drug, leading to heroin, cocaine, or other harder drugs. Stoned driving and other dangers would be increased. Some consider use of the drug as morally wrong. Legalization would increase the chances of the drug falling into the hands of kids. Because of drug-related arrests, people who have committed or are likely to commit more serious crimes can be taken off the streets. Physical damage would be done to users that abuse the drug. More widespread use would increase the dangers of secondhand smoke-damage to bystanders. Legalization of marijuana could eventually lead to the legalization of harder drugs or all drugs altogether.

There have been several government commissioned studies on marijuana, and they have all concluded that marijuana is a useful substance with various medical values, and should be legalized.

• Commissioned by Gen. Barry R. McCaffrey, 1999.  This study supports medical use of marijuana, and asserts that marijuana has no potential to be used as a gate-way drug. New York Times
• Commissioned by President Richard M. Nixon, March, 1972.  "Looking only at the effects on the individual, there, is little proven danger of physical or psychological harm from the experimental or intermittent use of the natural preparations of cannabis."  Summary of key points  Full Study

When considering all studies done on marijuana, there is clearly a larger number of studies with results supporting the medical uses of marijuana.
Review of all Marijuana studies

	Pro		Not Clearly Pro or Con		Con		Totals
	# of studies	% of total	# of studies	% of total	# of studies	% of total	# of studies	% of total
TOTALS	33	45.20%	23	31.51%	17	23.29%	73	100%

One study found a no-cancer connection with marijuana.  Washington Post

Portugal decriminalized all drugs, and experience a major drop in use.  http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1893946,00.html

An interview with an author of the book "Marijuana is Safer.  So why are we driving people to drink?".
Interview

Some reason why pot should not be legalized:  CNBC

This post is severally lacking reasons against the legalization of marijuana.  I welcome anyone to contribute to either side, by posting comments.