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My opinion: It all boils down to money. Back in the day ppl used hemp for building and clothes and used pot too. I mean tree sized ones. When it became widely used and too affordable and accesible then they axed it. This country is alot about money and a little about common sense!

i mean if it was about money they would tax the other drugs..am i right?

Alright. I'm off to bed. I think. I might stick around. This laptop can go anywhere. Feel free to check my profile and add me if you like. I've got a fun page! Nice intelligent conversation. Don't see so much of that around this time of night/morning! Peace out!

Marijuana (cannabis satvia) is currently an illegal drug listed as a Schedule I controlled substance.



It takes a very long time, and a lot of research and money, to move a substance from a Schedule I classification to a Schedule II classificiation. (The current research could actually move it to a Schedule III, IV or V classification.) And even when it IS moved, marijuana in its usual form (IE, dried leaves and buds that are smoked) is not likely to be legal. THC, the active component of cannabis, can be extracted and put into pill form (dronalbinol, brand name Merinol), into a sublingual (under the tongue) spray (brand name Sativex), or vaporized for inhaler or nebulizer use. It will not be legalized for recreational use any more than cocaine, heroin or methamphetimenes are.

There is currently a rescheduling petition that has been filed, accepted by the DEA on April 3, 2003. This is likely to come up before the US Court of Appeals before it makes it to the Supreme Court. This could make cannabis legal for MEDICAL use, under the direction and supervision of a doctor.

Those medical uses are as follows:
~appetite stimulant and pain relief for cancer and AIDS patients
~nausea relief during chemotherapy
~relief of glaucoma
~calming of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, migraine and bipolar disorder
~reducing arterial blockages
~treatment of multiple sclerosis

The argument has nothing to do with taxes or the drug companies making more money, but it has everything to do with one very specific thing: its high level of addiction and its high level of abuse. This being said, the medical use of cannabis is legal in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Spain. It can be legally possessed in the UK and is in the process of being legalized in Mexico.

On the other hand, possession of even very small amounts of cannabis can lead to long jail terms or even execution in some East Asian countries. In the US, cannabis possession is most likely to net you a short jail term and a fine for possession of a small amount.

Your best bet: Leave the stuff alone unless you're under the supervision of a physician, folks.


Bibliography:
Cannabis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_(drug)

Controlled Substances Act (information on drug schedules):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_Substances_Act

Cannabis rescheduling in the US:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_rescheduling_in_the_United_States

i agree. the whole thing is just stupid. systems screwd! stare

I peresonally think that alcohol and tobacco should be made illegal if pot is illegal. alcohol and tabacco cause more deaths and illness and all kinds of other problems or make you angry but all pot does is make people happy and lazy.

they should just legalize it and tax it up the a** becaue everyone is going to buy it, and the state/us could make so much money that way.

i think it should be legalized with lws similar to drinking, such as dwi/dui and stuff like that.

I too think it should be legal, though I won't be buying it.

Actually, I think it's legal for medical use in my state already...if they haven't revoked it. I know they've revoked the doctor-assisted suicide at least once already...

Anyway, yeah, I agree with Toy and Rydia ^.^