Arguments Against Marijuana Legalization

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Marijuana Legalization Needs Honest Debate Most of the public understand that many people use or have used marijuana without serious consequences for personal or public health. The public also understands that many marijuana users favor legalization because they like pot and don't want to be arrested for it. It's pretty obvious, and the public is skeptical of advocates who try to pretend otherwise. People use marijuana for different reasons, and answers to the question will vary considerably. What's important, though, is not so much the reason for wanting legalization but instead what one is willing to offer society in order to get it. The legalization of marijuana will not be achieved through cleverness; it is not a matter of refining an argument or implementing a shrewd public relations campaign. Legalization is a political objective, and political objectives are accomplished through making deals, through an agreed upon exchange of actions. Deals, though, ultimately require trust, something marijuana users are quite familiar with. Honesty builds trust, and more honesty about marijuana use in the United States can only advance the cause of legalization. Marijuana users…show more content…
Certainly the public is interested in hearing about the impact of legalization on personal conduct involving such matters as safety (driving under the influence) and restricted availability (not providing marijuana to teenagers and children). Many parents are just as concerned, though, about marijuana use in public, whether it is otherwise responsible use or not. The attitude of many parents can be generally summarized as "please, not in front of the kids", underscoring their concern over the conduct of marijuana users over any concern for the effects on the users themselves. Most marijuana users view it as a private matter anyway, just as most marijuana users engage in responsible conduct whether they are stoned or

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