Con: Legalizing marijuana wonâ??t improve society

[Richol]

Con: Legalizing marijuana wonâ??t improve society

Monday, May 4, 2009, 9:19

Marijuana should remain illegal in the United States, some say.

Marijuana is a gateway drug, leads to delinquency and would become a great problem for young people, those who oppose its legalization maintain.

Do you want your children getting their hands on a drug the way they can beer or cigarettes?

Victoria County Sheriff T. Michael Oâ??Connor said making marijuana legal wonâ??t make society better.

Many of the narcotics users his department arrests say they graduate from marijuana to more lethal drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamines.

â??Sometimes the grass isnâ??t greater on the other side,â?� Oâ??Connor said.

In California, where marijuana is legal for medical purposes in some cities, crime rates are still worrisome.

â??There is an increased aggressiveness among criminals,â?� Oâ??Connor said. â??They rob these stores for the product. Or, they rob people for the legal drug profits. Criminals will just wait for pot to become legal, and theyâ??ll just continue to rob.â?�

Life on roadways would suffer, too. Law enforcement at all levels fight daily the problem of drivers who abuse alcohol. Drivers who abuse marijuana would worsen the problem.

â??To put themselves in an impaired way, then weâ??ll have increased risks to travel,â?� Oâ??Connor said.

Victoria Police Chief Bruce Ure said heâ??s unsure, without having viewed ample scientific data, what the full effects on society would be.

â??The issue that concerns me most,â?� Ure said, â??is whatâ??s next? If society legalizes this particular drug, then what drug is next and where do we stop.â?�

Legalizing marijuana wonâ??t undermine violent drug cartels, as legalization proponents suggest.

â??Organized crime will find something else,â?� Oâ??Connor said. â??Theyâ??ll continue until we change peopleâ??s minds about using narcotics. Itâ??s a defeatist attitude to say, â??Letâ??s make it legal.â?? Iâ??m trying to look at it practically, look at the bigger picture of things. What kind of laws will we write up on this? Can we enforce it?â?�

To legalize marijuana simply for taxation is not enough reason, District Attorney Steve Tyler said.

â??Nicotine doesnâ??t impair judgment like marijuana does,â?� Tyler said. â??Itâ??s a concern for young people. Personally speaking, not speaking as a district attorney, I side toward it being illegal. I believe it poses a health risk and poses the greatest risk to young people.â?�

Link: Victoria Advocate | Con: Legalizing marijuana won't improve society
Source: Victoria Advocate Publishing Co
Author: Gabe Semenza

again people are ranting the same shit they have always said about the good green herb:stupid: