DEBATE: SHOULD WE LEGALIZE MARIJUANA? - CON

The chorus of voices calling for legalization and regulation of
marijuana is growing louder and more numerous.

Pardon me if I don't join in.

Oh, we hear a lot of good reasons. We spend so much money on combating
the flow of marijuana and incarcerating users and dealers. It's almost
impossible both to reduce the demand for cannabis and to stop the
steady flow into the United States and the domestic production of
marijuana - even in our national forests and national parks. Why don't
we just legalize it and regulate it with taxes? Tax revenue would be
most welcome in these days of rising deficits.

If we ever do legalize it, I hope we make the misuse of it subject to
the same laws now governing alcohol. Although recent research shows
that the deleterious effects of weed may have been subject to
exaggeration, I just as soon would not have to deal with those we know.

The American Council on Drug Education notes that marijuana:

Encourages fantasies.

Distorts perception.

Can prompt some intense and disturbing reactions, including paranoia
and hallucinations.

How many of us would like to go into surgery and have the last words
we hear before the anesthesia takes effect be, "Hey, man, are we doin'
the left hip today or the right?"

Or how would an executive waiting for a crucial report like to hear,
"Jeez, man, I guess I lost track of time - I'll get started right away."

How about a police officer interviewing accident survivors? "Man, I
just got distracted by this awesome chartreuse flamingo that was
crossin' the road."

And this is purely anecdotal, but I have yet to run into a regular
marijuana user who is a focused, high-functioning, high-achieving individual.

I'll be the first to concede that we spend a lot dealing with
marijuana today, but I also submit that we would be facing far worse
situations in society if we legalize it.

Bad idea.