by Chuck Wolk
Come November, Californians will have the chance to legalize marijuana for the specific purpose of raising revenues via taxes. We all knew that it would be just a matter of time before the same individuals who pushed to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes would get enough signatures to put the legalization of marijuana up for a vote by the California citizens. It is a bit ironic when you consider how militant the same individuals wanting marijuana legalized have gone on a witch hunt against tobacco products.
The attack on the tobacco industry began over 50 years ago when the Surgeon General forced the tobacco company's to label their products with a warning to the user about the health risk of smoking. 60 years later there are some communities right here in California that have gotten so militant in their anti smoking campaigns that they are even considering passing ordinances that would ban smoking in private homes.
Which begs the question, "If smoking tobacco is so
harmful to society that we need to ban it from being smoked even in
the privacy of ones home, then why legalize a drug that scientific studies have
proven is 2.5 to 5 times more harmful to the body than tobacco"?Besides the 2007 study by the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand, that smoking one marijuana joint is equal to smoking five cigarettes at the same time. there are numerous other medical reasons that should keep such a drug from being legalized. There are over 400 chemicals that have been identified in marijuana. When smoked, it generates over 2,000 chemicals that invade the body through the lungs. These chemicals have an assortment of instantaneous, short-term effects. In addition, the repetitive use of marijuana has been connected to a number of long-term effects.
As most everyone is aware of, the most important drug that makes marijuana so attractive is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) . This is the drug that gives the euphoric feeling that makes it so popular. When smoked regularly, a large supply of THC accumulates in the fat. This produces a high steady level of THC in the blood system which can cause a certain level of continual sedation. With this sedation, the users brain begins to become numb and the mind can begin to experience side effects of confusion, and paranoia. Once the user stops, it can take upwards of 30 to 45 days before the brain can can operate clearly again.Eventually, for the heavy pot smoker, the 'high' that they receive from the drug will gradually diminish. This is where studies have shown that the user will attempt to either find more potent marijuana to smoke. Fact is, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse marijuana has become five times more potent than the cannabis of the 1970s. It is also being reported that many public health officials are beginning to look at new data that suggests this stronger marijuana is increasing the addiction rates. With the younger generation it has also been proven that the more they become immune to the more potent marijuana, they do begin to experiment with more dangerous drugs like cocaine, or even heroin. This is the reason why marijuana is rightly called a gateway drug.
Along with the many red flags that are beginning to pop up, there is the very real potential of the stronger marijuana negatively
effecting the brains of teenagers at a time when the brain is entering a very important phase in it's development.
Remember, the skull of a human does not form into one solid bone until around the age of 28. That is because the brain is still growing and
maturing, and thus needs room to expand. Add to the mix the fact that studies have conclusively shown how even the casual user often times will drink alcohol while getting high. So the problems of drinking can be added to the problems of smoking marijuana. Considering how many parents will smoke pot in front of their children, is it any wonder that a new disturbing trend shows the age of the average marijuana user continuing to drop in age. Studies 
show that children as young as 7 have been reported to be smoking pot. In
2007 360,000 people entering drug treatment programs reported
marijuana as their primary drug of abuse, and that they desire help to
stop using the drug. Another problem is that the proponents for the legalization of marijuana are consistently downplaying the dangers of habitually using marijuana.In his book "Concepts of Chemical Dependancy", Harold E. Doweiko learned that researchers investigating the effects of marijuana on users have found that anxiety has been reported by as much as 50% to 60% of marijuana smokers and many have stated that such an anxiety attack is why they refuse to smoke it anymore. He also points out that statistics prove that your chances of having an automobile accident while under the influence of marijuana increases by up to 700% . Another problem that many proponents refuse to admit, is that Marijuana has been proved to cause psychosis in some individuals that lasts upwards of 5 to 7 days. This side effect is not some newly discovered problem, fact is that for almost 150 years, medical doctors and psychologists have both pondered the relationship of between smoking marijuana and psychotic reactions that can be life altering if not treated properly. What is most disturbing is the medically proven fact that the use of marijuana by individuals already suffering from psychotic disorders have had their symptoms exacerbated, and has been known to initiate psychosis with individuals predisposed with such disorders.
I find it interesting the when liberals step up to prevent any actions that may be harmful to individuals or society, that their two biggest targets are guns and cigarettes.
Lately they have even stepped up their attack on sugars, fast food, and freedom of speech, but I digress. America is the only country on the planet that has a constitutional law specifically protecting the citizens right to keep and bear arms.Yet the left has been on the warpath against our constitutional right to own guns for well over a hundred years. When it comes to tobacco, the left has attempted to destroy an industry operating well within the limits of the law by since
the early 1960's. They have even vowed to continue their assault until the dreaded tobacco plant has been eradicated from the planet. 
I can only imagine how safe our society would be if the left were to direct such energy towards stopping those who actually commit crimes as they do towards those who are just doing something legal. After all, the left hates guns, but the judges they appoint continually hand out light sentences to those who use them in violent crimes. The left will go after the tobacco industry and tax the product for revenue, but the very icons they worship in Hollywood make moves that still glamorize smoking cigarettes.More times then not when it comes to actual criminal behavior, the left makes excuses for the criminals and will even argue that maybe if the act was not against the law the problem would be solved. Thus is the situation we find ourselves in the war on drugs. Their judges hand out sentences to those breaking the laws, and within a few years the criminal is out on the streets again because to the left, ten years really means one year with probation. So we end up with a revolving door of drug dealers going in and out of prison and there is no deterrent to their behavior.
When it comes to legalizing bad behavior, we in California have been through this door before. in 1998, many of us warned that if gambling was legalized that there would be millions of citizens who's lives would be destroyed by it. In the 12 years since Californians voted to legalized it, our fears have been justified, because the problem of gambling addiction has escalated to epidemic proportions. We are now seeing addicted gamblers who have lost everything from their jobs, possessions, and even their families as they have become either homeless or wards of the state. How long will it be before the legalization of marijuana will cause millions of more Californians to join the fate of the addicted gamblers? We live in a society who's politicians have betrayed their oaths, by trading the health and welfare of the citizens for any means of collecting revenues for their failing tax and spend policies. This time we need to just say NO by defeating proposition 19! 
About Me: I am a born again Christian who enjoys talking religion and politics. I have always believed that it is the Christian's obligation to understand the workings of our government as well as they do the precepts of God. Jesus tells us to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves". (Mark 10:16) So it is with this understanding that I approach life. I was born in the Midwest, and while I may have grown up in Northern Minnesota, I have earned my degree in knowledge and understanding from the many regions of America and Europe that I have either lived in or visited as an adult.
"Legalizing Marijuana, So Politicians Can Spend More Money"
How about, Legalizing Marijuana, so some people can stop worrying how other people live their lives?
Besides, don't you think if it were legal most users would at least try to grow their own? It is a weed after all and would take over your lawn if you let it.
A similar argument could be made about cocaine plants. After all, long before men began chewing and snorting it, the plant was a naturally grown plant
You do not understand the problems that will arise in your desire to seek a little euphoric pleasure.
"How about, Legalizing Marijuana, so some people can stop worrying how other people live their lives?"
You mean like letting people and businesses do what they want...like, drilling for oil, hunting for food, building wherever we like, wearing perfume, smoking in restaurants, eating fat and sugar, riding without a helmet, keeping a gas guzzler till it won't run anymore, driving an SUV if I want, praying in school, flying the flag, wearing a flag T-shirt to school on cinco de mayo...you mean like that?
You are so correct Tina.
I am always surprised by the lame excuses used to justify the legalization of illicit drugs.
We must also admit that there is a political aspect to the pro/anti pot debate.
Many of the same people who are behind the legalization of it want a clean environment, they want to avoid impurities from entering our systems, and they do all they can to keep away from harmful meats and other unsafe foods....
These same people have NO problem encouraging the use of pot.
We will never see them admitting that marijuana possibly be bad for the human system. Then again, they are certain that cigarettes are harmful, but regardless of the scientific studies done, they have their doubts about marijuana being bad for you.
Scotti, beam me.
I have found no intelligent life form down here!
Thanks for stopping by Tina
I personally think that marijuana should be legalized just out of principle.
That being said, if they are doing this just to give the politicians more money to waste on failed social programs, well then maybe it should stay illegal.
I would rather the criminals south of the border get the money then the criminals in Sacramento.
Fred, you disappoint me. You actually agree with the idea of legalized pot?
Minus the taxes obviously. I would be interested in knowing your reasoning.
Good article OV,
Unfortunately I think a bit differently than you do on this. For many years I have been against the legalization of illicit drugs, but lately I have come to the conclusion that there is no will to even win the wart on drugs.
So lately I find myself leaning to the decriminalization of at least marijuana. If we were serious about the war on drugs then I would still be against it being legalized. But how can we win a war when the politicians themselves are not willing to spend the capital needed to win it?
Whether it be Vietnam, the war on terror, or the war on drugs, the story line is the same. The leaders in America do not have the courage it takes to fight a war until the enemy is eliminated anymore.
Sadly, that is why I think America is doomed as a nation. I say that because any society that will not stand up to evil, will inevitably be destroyed by that evil. And that is my dilemma with this issue. Do I cave into the evil because our government does not have the will to properly fight it, or do I continue to support a war like Vietnam, only against a weed. losing battle?
America is facing many evils in the world today, and I have yet to see us collectively stand up against them. What I do see is a nation that continually caves into the evil it come up against.
You accuse the left for this problem, but to me it is not a left or right issue, and freedom never is. To quote one of the founders of the modern conservative movement William F. Buckley;
I am for legalizing MJ, it will take the money out of it and therefore the crime will also go away. However, taxing it to the ridiculous point that tobacco is taxed will merely continue the status quo and criminals will continue to grow it and sell it illegally because they will undercut the legal growers who will have to factor in the taxes with their expenses.
So, legalize it but try to keep the tax man's hands off of it(fat chance of that!) if we want to take the crime out of it.
You speak of prohibiting something because of the problem it will cause to be legal. As I recall we tried that with alcohal and it was a miserable failure.
Anyone needs to look no further than the 1920s to see the failures of prohibition.
Capone, Chicago, Kennedy,
Today, MS13.
Prohibition creates and feeds it's own monsters and problems!
I think the fantasy that some have that violence will disappear of drugs are made legal is pathetic. 20 years ago the same people were claiming there was no violence associated with marijuana but that message wasn’t selling so they went with a new message that there’s violence but its all somebody else’s fault.
The fact is that these so called “drug cartels” are really just organized crime run rampant. They shake down Mexican businesses and politicians even schools. It doesn’t matter if the source of their money is legal or illegal, the border itself is their source of money and any cross border commerce is their target. Ray LaHood says he’s going to restart the Mexican trucking program again and I guarantee that violence will spring up around that completely legal activity.
As far as legalization is concerned, the pro legalization crowd would be a whole lot wiser to support decriminalization. The revenue generated by fines would be far less than tax revenue generated by legalization. Hundreds of new laws will arise out of legalization as well.
How many people have died from marijuana use?
How many people have gotten lung cancer or any hazardous condition from marijuana?
Wake up people. It's not harmless, but these "smoking a joint=5 cigarettes" lies won't get us anywhere.
Sorry John, but it is not a lie. The studies have been checked out and proven to be true. You may not like the results, but the fact remains that those who smoke marijuana tend to hold the smoke in longer and into the lower half of their lungs. Thus destroying tissue that normal smokers do not normally get effected because they seldom hold the smoke in that long nor so they hold the smoke in their lower lung.
Tests have also proven that adolescence (teenagers) tend to experiment with pot more then any other age group. So at an age when humans are already curious, pot gives them a reason to try harsher drugs for a better high. Fact proven by time. If you want to be honest with your own experience with pot you will admit as much.
Finally, every society that has legalized the use of drugs has destroyed a good portion of the population and actually stagnated their society to the point that they end up with a permanent underclass that does drugs.
You wish to destroy your life, go ahead, but do not claim that it is harmless. Just as alcohol is not harmless, neither are drugs of any other kind.
Grow up and join the adult class of society and become a useful member of society. There is a reason they call it dope, Please do your own future a favor, do not be a dope yourself just so some politician has more money to spend on useless programs that do nothing for society.
Actually, the reason why 1 joint is equivalent to 5 cigarettes is because pot smokers roll their own joints, with very primative filters. If marijuana was legalized, it would be likely be sold in prepackaged joints - rolled tightly like cigarettes, with a much better-quality filter. Also, marijuana doesn't even have to be smoked - it can be eaten instead.
What you fail to take into consideration is the fact that when a person smokes marijuana, they suck in the smoke to the lower half of their lungs. Most cigarette smokers only inhale the smoke to upper half of their lungs. Then the post smoker actually holds the smoke in longer, usually until they are forced to exhale due to the need of oxygen. This is so the THC will give them the maximum effect.
This is why the effect of marijuana is five times that of cigarettes, not because they are loosely rolled. As for eating the marijuana, then why not just get the THC pills that have been around for years. The pills give the same effect of alleviating the pain that smoking does, but without the high. It is not about the pain relief that's why, it is all about getting high and that is why 99% of pot smokers smoke marijuana instead of eating it.
If you had a close family member that was deathly ill and turned to marijuana for relief, would you label them a criminal and have them arrested?
If I had a family member breaking the law, I would have a serious talk to them about the consequences of their actions. I would tell them this time I have warned you that your actions are wrong, next time I will turn you in. So I guess they would have to be sure as to not be breaking the law when I am around.
What part of illegal do you not understand?When we condone criminal behaviour just because it's a family member, then why have a criminal justrice system? The problem in the black community is that they condone behavior that is detrimental to the future of their children, so their children are being raised to ignore the law. Take a look at this story in Washington State where a mother got pissed at the justice system for arresting her son
She’s “pissed off” at the system? WHAT? That is why the black community is in trouble, because they don’t hold their children responsible for their actions. My kids would be more scared of me (and their father and their grandfather) than they would be of the police.
So back to your answer, my relative would know long before they ever even thought of breaking the law of what my reaction would be. I have a wife who lives in constant pain, but you don't see her running down buying pot to get relief. It is a lie that only smoking marijuana will helps with the pain and suffering. The drug THC that is the active ingredient in helping some symptoms can be prescribed in pill form and it works just fine.
Besides, this whole proposition is about legalizing it so everyone can smoke it, not just the ill. Ask those who put the initiative on the ballot. It is all for the purpose of taxing it for revenue. So we demonize cigarettes and tell people to quit smoking, then we legalize pot and say it's fine. This society has a strange way of picking and choosing what is right and what is wrong.
As for being deathly ill, my family member would relish the closeness they are to death because that means they are closer to God. If you have ever been around one who is close to death you will know that the doctors have and still do prescribe some powerful drugs to make them feel comfortable in their last days. You are either a young person who does not understand the ramifications of what will happen, or you are from the 70's and just wants to get turned on so you can tune out, or you are a just hoping it gets passed so the politicians can have more tax dollars to do more of what they promise on but never deliver.
Right, but the oil companies like not having hemp products competing against them for plastic or fuel/lubricating oils, as are pharmaceutical companies who are afraid of its medicinal properties, and textile/paper companies who are afraid of it replacing cotton or trees in making clothing and paper.
This is how Marijuana prohibition started.