Pubdate: Wed, 20 May 2009
Source: Guardian (Wright State U, OH Edu)
Copyright: 2009 Guardian
Contact: http://www.theguardianonline.com/2.9150
Website: http://www.theguardianonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4586
Author: Tyneia McGill
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n427/a06.html

LEGALIZATION WOULD BE HARMFUL ECONOMICALLY AND MORALLY

Finance the Bailout: Legalize Weed" was an editorial published 
on  April 7, 2009. I don't agree with  this article [editorial] about 
legalizing and taxing weed to help produce money , reducing the cost 
of law enforcement, and a better alternative to cigarettes.

Legalizing would generate money, but not enough to make a difference. 
Today's drug dealers have came up with ways to continue to sell weed 
while its illegal. If it becomes legal they are going to find ways to 
sale other things such as heroin, cocaine, and etc. The drug dealers 
are going to find a way to make money. As long as it's a demand for 
those harder drug, then that how they are going to make it. The only 
way the government would be able to make a profit is to sell the weed 
cheaper than on the street.

The cost of law enforcement if anything will increase because the 
consequences for those harder drugs are far more worst than the 
consequence for weed. The addiction to crack and heroin are much more 
stronger, therefore the money spent  on drug rehabilitation will 
increase as people become more dependent on it. The restrictions 
would definitely have to be stricter.

The author states that "cigarettes have more proven negative health 
effects than marijuana." So should we legalize weed and make 
cigarettes illegal? I don't think the author understands that the 
government has more control over the tobacco industry than it ever 
will over the weed industry.  So what if weed isn't as bad for your 
health as cigarettes are or doesn't really have any long term 
affects. Weed has an extreme short term effect that causes people to 
get high. When people are high they don't make good decisions.

If weed is legalized, this means that's people will be able to come 
to work and drive high causing a more dangerous situation. I believe 
that legalizing weed would only hurt Americans, economically and morally.

Tyneia McGill
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