GOT WEED? HERE'S WHY MARIJUANA WILL NEVER BE SOLD LIKE MILK

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. -- Marijuana will never be legalized in the United States,
despite the efforts of various groups of concerned people. Why, you ask?
First, allow me to mention some of the reasons why some people think weed
should be legal. Supporters believe that if the government were to legalize
the manufacture, distribution and consumption of marijuana, it could be
taxed. Unfortunately, for something to be taxed, it must be controlled.

Products containing tobacco and alcohol are not produced and sold on the
individual level. The alcohol and tobacco markets have evolved from small
breweries and plantations to large corporations as the economy of America
has grown. If, by chance, marijuana had remained legal throughout the
history of this country, it would possibly be controlled the same way. But
trying to bring a black market item into the Krogers and Rite-Aids at this
stage in the game seems improbable.

Therefore, the country would not be able to control the sale of pot and
wouldn't be able to tax it, either. Do you think America will let something
exist legally without being controllable or taxable? I doubt it.

Most supporters of legalization say that a drunk is more likely to cause a
car accident than a stoner. This may be the case. Unfortunately, when
someone is arrested for being under the influence of marijuana, how can the
officials determine whether that person had smoked weed that day or two
weeks ago?

It would not be possible because THC, the potent ingredient in marijuana,
remains in the human blood stream for at least two weeks. Therefore, people
who drive high would receive the same punishment as people who wait a day
after smoking and drive. Of course, pro-legalizationists can claim that
smoking marijuana has no effect on one's driving ability.

This has yet to be determined scientifically. Until that time, the U.S.
government cannot and will not legalize weed. But why do various people
fight for the right to smoke pot? For one thing, if weed were legal,
potheads would probably be less paranoid.

Why send thousands of nonviolent offenders to prison, anyway? The truth is:
If you're not willing to go to prison because of it, don't sell it, buy it
or smoke it.

An alternative to the "Just Say No" campaign would be the "Just Say Prison"
campaign. If teachers took high school students on field trips to their
local jails, the kids would get a dose of reality rather than ideology.
Maybe the seriousness of the situation would sink into the minds of the
youths and they would decide against marijuana.

The possibility of using marijuana for medical purposes seems much more
likely than complete legalization. You can't go to the drug store and buy
Valium, but it is taxable. And people on heavy medication shouldn't be
driving, so no worries there.

But for casual users, growers and dealers, it comes down to this: If your
conviction is that weed is okay, you should be willing to stand by that
conviction. Do you feel that marijuana is worth the consequences?