• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Marijuana vs. Cigarettes: Why Is One Illegal and Other Isn't?

Neo-Logic

Neo-Logic

Reality Checker
Upon observation, Marijuana and Cigarettes seem to be categorically similar. Both are addictive. Both are mind altering substances. Both are potentially carcinogens. Yet ... only one of them is illegal while the other one is free for all to enjoy - provided you are 18 and over, of course. Comparing the two substances, would it be of surprise that the only one illegal causes the least number of deaths and the only one of the two to have actual benefits?

Cigarettes:

According to the center for disease control "more than 400,000 Americans die from cigarette smoking" and "one in every five deaths in the United States is smoking related"

That makes Cigarettes the number 3 leading killer only after Heart Disease & Cancer.

Marijuana:

There has not been a single recorded death from Marijuana usage in the medical journals or history. Source

Marijuana also has an added benefit of functioning as a pain reliever and has medical applications.

Argument: Either marijuana become legal or cigarettes illegal.

So why is it that one drug is legal while the other one is not? Forget morals, forget the myths, it's the money. Cigarettes is a multi-billion dollar enterprise and regularly contributes to political campaigns.

It seems like a double standard that cigarettes, which are more dangerous and harmful to the user than Marijuana with no medical benefits is legal, while the other one is not. This is not an argument of whether smoking a cigarette or even marijuana is moral, right, or wrong. It is simply a matter of one being legal and the other illegal.

Benefits of legalizing marijuana:

  • Take money away from drug dealers and gangs who deal it in the black markets regardless of the law
  • Marijuana could be taxed and money used to fund education/ recovery programs
  • Control the quality of marijuana in the market
 
Smoke

Smoke

Done here.
I don't know why marijuana is illegal elsewhere, but in the United States the professional sin-sniffers needed something to do after Prohibition, and managed to convince a gullible citizenry that if marijuana were available to young people or black men, they'd lose their minds and -- in the case of the black men -- start raping all the white women.

It would be funny if it weren't so sad.
 
kai

kai

ragamuffin
i think you will Find a slow process going on that will gradually see tobacco going the illegal route, it is now becoming more and more socially unacceptable, well here in the UK anyway
 
Shadow Wolf

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber & Business Owner
I don't know why marijuana is illegal elsewhere, but in the United States the professional sin-sniffers needed something to do after Prohibition, and managed to convince a gullible citizenry that if marijuana were available to young people or black men, they'd lose their minds and -- in the case of the black men -- start raping all the white women.
Click to expand...
I think it's odd how a minority who uses a drug will start raping white women.
 
zenzero

zenzero

Its only a Label
the lawmakers never tried marijuana and decided only on hear say.
In future, marijuana will be medically accpetable for soothing nerves as people suffer from hypertension etc.
It is possible to grow marijuana in pots too.
Love & rgds
 
doppelganger

doppelganger

Through the Looking Glass
Bouncing Ball said:
I very much doubt that.
Click to expand...
So do I. They are pandering to a loud and aggressive part of their constituency who has never tried it, and in the process helping perpetuate all kinds of irrational fear about MJ (and yes, probably making a few bucks off the tobacco industry). The whole drug policy in the US is a poorly-thought out mess from top to bottom.
 
ChrisP

ChrisP

Veteran Member
Recognising the damage Marijuana does and being a habitual smoker myself for some time...

There are many legal things that are bad for a person. It should be a personal choice.
 
zenzero

zenzero

Its only a Label
Friends,
Have been a marijuana smoker for 4 years and smoked that after 35 years only once.
Found it to be non-addictive as am still unable to drop smoking cigrettes but with marijuana it was just overnight with no withdrawl symptoms.
Marijuana also helps in meditation which is why in India it has, is and will be used by monks / sadhus as meditational aids.
Personally find that moderate use of marijuna specially for meditation or claming of the nerves is as much more positive than similar synthetic drugs and medicines.
The statement about law makers not having used marijuana was just an off the cuff remark as they are against it and not to have been taken seriously.
Love & rgds
 
doppelganger

doppelganger

Through the Looking Glass
Not to be too much of a buzzkill, but driving while high on marijuana can still be very dangerous. It does usually result in someone going slower, but it also delays reaction time and going too much slower can also cause accidents. I helped try a case a couple of years ago where drunk driver met stoned driver. She was doing 85 mph (in a 45 zone) with a BAC of .15, and he was 20 mph half an hour after sparking up. It was ugly. Don't ever drive a car under the influence of any intoxicants. A car is neither a toy nor a privilege.
 
A

angellous_evangellous

Guest
***MOD ADVISORY***

Please keep in mind that RF does not permit discussion of illegal activities. Feel free to discuss the issue, but leave out personal details in which you are breaking local, state, or federal laws.

Thanks

RF Staff


 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top