Next month here in Michigan we need to make a decision — should marijuana be legalized?
Even after writing this post I'm not entirely sure yet which way I'm going to vote and I hope you'll add your comments one way or the other to help me decide! When it comes to medical marijuana, I'm ALL for that, knowing how it has helped so many people who truly need it (read how this Mom was thankful for it when her daughter had cancer), but legalizing it for recreational use???
I'll tell you that I've never used it myself and don't see any reason to start unless I had a medical condition that could be helped by it. My friends and I certainly weren't angels as teens, and we did drink alcohol when we were too young, but I never smoked dope. Not only was I too afraid of getting caught anywhere near drugs (and I thought pot stunk!), but thankfully it was never even offered to me, so I easily steered clear.
Should marijuana be legalized? Here are my thoughts so far and some opinions from three of my good friends.
One who is against legalization for recreational use and two who are for it…
1. My friend Kimberly wrote this blog post: 10 Reasons to Vote NO on Marijuana Legalization.
2. See my friend Bob's thoughts here: Marijuana: good or bad?
3. I texted another good friend who has worked in Colorado (waiting to hear for sure if I can share his name so for now he'll be anonymous) and here's what he said:
I am very libertarian so I support its legalization. I have seen the CO legalization firsthand on my regular travel there and now legalization for recreational use has come to CA as well. Personally, I'm not a personal user of marijuana though I have tried it. But I am becoming a big fan of CBD oil – the non psychoactive cannabinoids in the plant that are great for muscle pain or insomnia (I use it to sleep when I travel to other time zones). AND hemp can be grown in a much more environmentally positive way than trees or other plant fibers like cotton. Here’s my point of view: wide-spread use is already happening. Do we really see an ROI for spending countless law enforcement hours and filling jails with potheads, even those who distribute? Once those people get processed through the criminal system it breeds a broader degenerative system in my opinion. The data clearly shows the harm per capita for marijuana is lower than alcohol. I say we should trust adults to be adults and make their own decisions just like we do with alcohol, and with what they chose to eat or drink (like raw milk), etc. And then we maintain, maybe even increase, the safety nets in place for when people fall out of line with making good responsible choices and put other people at risk.
Please share your thoughts in the comments and help me decide. Should marijuana be legalized?!
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Krissy says
When you do not support tax and regulate for cannabis, your are fully supporting the black market–don’t kid yourself.
Psychoactive cannabis and hemp provide crops for family farms to make a living for their family.
With the growing legalilzation of cannabis you will see a decrease in alcohol consumption, glorification and abuse. Alcohol has far greater detrimental effects on our entire society.
If you live in rural areas and are are agriculturally zoned land and think cannabis smells, it’s no different than a pig or cattle farm next door. It’s called RIGHT TO FARM.
Prohibition will be looked back someday as one of the most failed, brutal stances that our politicans have done to our country and people of the USA. Prohibition has ruined countless lives and destroyed families–all the while they would prefer to keep child preditors and violent rapists out in the public to do more harm. They have filled our prisions and jails with mostly non-violent offenders at the tax payors expense.
Stop the non-sense and educate yourselves. Many of the people that support anti-marijuana laws are hypocrites and drink alcohol (yet don’t see themselves as hypocritical). Many that are against the cannabis industry are also personally invested in the addiction field and treatment business. They have a vested interest in keeping it illegal, it is a cash cow for them.
I could go on an on, by the way I do not drink alcohol or use cannabis.
If you have or choose to continue to support prohibition you are on the wrong side of history.
Linda says
It cannot be a good choice to legalize recreational use.
Amy says
https://avemariaradio.net/program/kresta-in-the-afternoon/
The second segment in this radio program highlights the negative effects of commercialization of marijuana. I am voting a big NO.
KitchenKop says
Amy, someone else sent me this too and I need to listen to it yet, thank you!
Kel
KitchenKop says
Amy, is it the 2nd segment of the first hour or the second hour from 10/31/18?
I’m having trouble finding it.
Kelly
Hannah says
I believe marijuana should definitely be legalized. If we look at countries where drugs are legalized, people are more knowledgeable about them leading to less addiction and crime. We also know there are many true benefits of marijuana that have been backed by science and anicdotal research. The downsides are really few and far between. I believe the “war on drugs” has scared people into believing lies about the herb. We allow alcohol, prescriptions, and over the counter drugs into our lives every day without blinking an eye. People say they don’t want to get high yet we will not hesitate to take an anti anxiety medication. They are both drugs which alter your state of mind. The difference is one has been concocted in a lab, and one is grown naturally and has been persecuted for years. Whether or not you agree to people using the plant or not, you should still vote to legalize it. I say this because there are many people, like my mother, who have tried so many different types of weastern medicine which haven’t worked. She’s open to trying it, but won’t because it’s illegal. It can and will also help the economy and keep undeserving people out of jail. It’s not as scary as we’ve been taught in school. Alcohol changes someone’s personality way more than weed does.
Linda Friedrich says
I understand the desire for natural pain relief. And a lot of people think de-criminalizing its use will get rid of the criminal activity surrounding its sale. I live in California where there was support for all aspects… medicinal, recreational, freeing up police, added tax dollars… I get it. But most of the people speaking so positively about marijuana don’t live next to a pot farm. It stinks. Literally. I own a rural home. Tall pines. Quiet. Been my family home for over 60 years. Now, I have an illegal pot farm next door. In California, we are allowed up to 6 plants, outdoors, screened from neighbors. This farm easily has 250 plants. Our county sherriff cannot do anything about it. There are 2 people to patrol our entire county. During harvest season, twice a year, you cannot sit on your porch with the stench of skunk surrounding you, because that’s what it smells like. “Interesting” characters drive into my driveway at all hours, searching for the farmer’s camp trailer where he lives with his wife & 2 little kids. Crime has risen since our county welcomed this industry. My husband has been threatened with a gun on our own property. People doing illegal things tend to be worried; people who smoke pot daily tend to be paranoid. That’s a bad combination. So, if you’re just thinking about dispensaries and custom blends when you think about legalization, there’s more to the story. Maybe if people would follow the law and raise a few plants for their own use, it would be ok. But legalization does not stop black market growing. And, if you’re concerned about water use and high use of Round Up, you need to factor that in. This is not a good environmental move.
bobbie says
It should be legal and eventually with all the good it does it will be; so you may as well make it happen now. It has untold health benefits, I witnessed it almost instantly helping a person with seizures stop the shaking.
Everyone needs to get on board and realize that not only is it wonderful for health reasons, i.e. PTSD, etc., but also it is so much safer than alcohol for recreational use. Its a win win situation.
Nanci says
I am also a Libertarian and agree with your friend. If drugs were legal, there would not be crime associated with their use.
Marijuana is so helpful for pain and for many ailments. I would rather see people us it than opiates.
Kris says
God created the cannabis plant for a purpose. Making a living plant illegal is one of the most asinine things I’ve ever heard of. Yet all the while the Great Pimp (aka pharmaceutical companies) legally creates addicts, damaging and killing people with their own network of drug dealers (aka “doctors”) and nobody blinks an eye at that.
Tami J Koval says
Your friend Kimberly has listed many emotional remarks that are not even remotely based on fact. In fact-I live in California and we do not have armed guards all over our national forests. I routinely hike with my family in national forests without fear. And she seems to believe that alcohol either isn’t a chemical substance, isn’t a drug, isn’t dangerous-honestly I am not sure but she doesn’t seem to get the damage alcohol does and has done in so many lives. I could go on but this is a comment, not a post. I really do appreciate your friend Bob and his clear, concise, accurate take on the history and science behind it. Personally, I do not smoke pot, and have used the oil for pain, sleep and cancer.
Jackie says
People have debated this question for years, and the debate continues. Personally, I think it should not be legalized. I live in a state where that same question is on the ballet. I live on a farm that is currently only pasture and have a barn where I can raise marijuana. I also live near a legal marijuana oil processing plant. The oils are one thing, but people do not get the same high as smoking or eating the plant. CBC is not addictive and does not lead to serious crimes. I did some research online recently, looking at increase in crimes for states where it the plant has been legalized. The reports state that crime does go up in those areas, as well as death-related traffic accidents. I believe states should look much more carefully into these statistics and then perhaps allow CBC oils to be used medically, without repercussions.
Sally says
Yes!!! It’s a harmless medicinal herb. Besides, the government has NO authority to ban it. Zero. That’s why they had to come up with a tax and then the ridiculous “schedule” of drugs. They know they have no authority.
It’s legal medicinally in 29 states and recreationally in 9 including DC, for goodness sake. It’s legal in several countries now including Canada. If teens were dying or going crazy, we’d be hearing about it.
But, no. All we hear about is the zillions in tax revenue being generated by sales of a harmless medicinal herb.
xoxoxo
Norma says
I think it should be legalized for the mere fact that it is a plant. With all of the terrible drug use in this country, I would love an option other than pharmaceuticals. They are able to make plant blends to help with all kinds of ailments and personally I don’t believe it is worse than alcohol.
Angelica says
Moreover, Cannabis is MEDICINE, much like the food we consume. For many, it is a life saver, for others, it calm anxiety and promote pain free living and restful sleep.
If we are to be TRUE advocates for a healthy future in which access to diverse medicinal needs is available, including alternative medicines,such as homeopathy, raw milk, supplements, etc., then voting for the legalization of a plant is along the lines of the SAME fight.
If you are against Government overreaching, then this is another VERY CLEAR indication that they should not meddle in the personal health choices of others.
Cannabis is much less a gateway drug than alcohol. There are actual DEATHS associated with the abuse or misuse of alcohol- however zero cases of death caused by Cannabis.
Paula says
Like your third friend, I lean towards libertarian. I believe the government should allow people to make as many of their own decisions as possible. However, your first friend’s 10 reasons to vote no on marijuana legalization is accurate. I live in a small town in a state where marijuana is legal, and it has changed our small town for the worse, in my opinion. Yes, the town now has more money. But what did our town have to sacrifice to get that money? We now have people with signs on many street corners and intersections. We did not have ANY people with signs standing at intersections before marijuana came to our town. There are also a lot more homeless people all over the place, walking the streets, and there are even many hard-core marijuana uses hanging out at our library (even spending time in the kids area). We have a downtown street where many of the marijuana stores are concentrated, and no, you can’t really walk down that street without breathing in, or at least getting a whiff, of the marijuana. What’s really bad is that the town is actually putting a school on this street! City planning at its finest! I really don’t care what adults do in their own homes, but when what they do invades a whole town where children are raised, it really bothers me. I can only imagine that many of the kids in my town will be raised thinking that it is totally okay to smoke pot. (And in fact I have heard stories where kids have been asked this and answered in the affirmative.) How sad! I feel like our little town sold its soul to marijuana at the expense of the families and kids living here and at the expense of any wholesomeness that it had. If there was a way to vote yes but with restrictions in place that would truly guarantee to keep everything related to the marijuana under control, then I probably would say to vote yes, as I do believe people should be able to make their own choices. However, after witnessing the negative changes that have taken place in my own town, well, I wouldn’t want that for any community. Allowing marijuana without the right restrictions in place is like so many other undesirable things that tend to grow once we allow them in. For example, once you start letting something into your family life (laziness, bad habits, questionable tv shows and movies, etc.), those things tend to have a life of their own and they become harder and harder to control. I am all for medical marijuana. I know people who are very responsible with it. They moved here for it, but if they hadn’t have told me that they use it, I wouldn’t have known. Sadly, I think those people are in the minority.
Diane says
A friend told me that his friend gave this for a reason why he wants pot legal: If someone was hurt in an accident near his house, he wants to be able to run out and help that person not leave the injured person over a worry about hiding the pot in case an officer has to come into the house. Pot is in widespread use by many, many people, and we want them all to not worry about the police possibly entering their premises. I thought this a thoughtful personal reason to vote for legalization.
Lindan says
Use homeopathy for emergencies. It safe and effective!
Keith Boynton says
Yes it should be legalized. People who have medical conditions that can be either cured or helped by MJ have to travel to various states where it’s legal.
Big pharma is afraid that the sales of their medication will decrease as a result of legalizing MJ.
When making a decision about how you should vote, you should always look to see who will benefit and who will lose from the sale of a particular product before voting.
Lisa says
Yes! MJ is legal now in my province as of a few days ago. It has changed nothing except redirects the dollars into the government instead of gangs. My fibromyalgia is so bad that the only thing that takes away the pain a bit is pot. I don’t smoke it but make my own oil or butter. You know me Kel, I don’t pay full price for someone to make me anything.
Lisa
Kris says
Marajuana should not be legalized, the way this law is written. It would be the most lenient in the country. It will cost Michigan residents more for auto insurance and for other programs that will be needed be because of the problems it will cause like crime and addiction.
Amy says
If you watched the truth about cancer series…you would know how powerful and healing the marijuana plant it’s… Like alcohol, it’s not the product…. but what the people do with it…. the benefits are too much to pass up