Question: Should Cannabis Be Available as a Medical Treatment?

Medical Cannabis: A Safer Alternative

In my final rebuttal and conclusion, I address my opponent's concerns regarding the potential health risks of medical marijuana. While it is true that marijuana has side effects and potential for harm, so do most drugs. My opponent's sources, which are against marijuana, do not even discuss medical use. In contrast, credible sources advocate for the medical use of marijuana, which my opponent has failed to acknowledge.

It is important to note that numerous medical programs recognize marijuana as relatively safe for medical use. According to a statement from the US Department of Justice in 1988, "Nearly all medicines have toxic, potentially lethal effects. But marijuana is not such a substance. There is no record in the extensive medical literature describing a proven, documented cannabis-induced fatality. In practical terms, marijuana cannot induce a lethal response as a result of drug-related toxicity." From January 1997 to June 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported zero deaths caused by the primary use of marijuana. In contrast, common FDA-approved drugs, such as anti-emetics and anti-psychotics, were the primary cause of 10,008 deaths during that time period.

The FDA's statement disregarding the medicinal value of marijuana is not a valid scientific standpoint but rather a political attempt to attack marijuana users. The statement was described as a response to numerous inquiries from Capitol Hill, but its likely intent was to buttress a crackdown on people who smoke marijuana for medical purposes and to counteract state efforts to legalize the practice. The FDA simply issued a skimpy one-page statement asserting that "no sound scientific studies" supported the medical use of marijuana, without convening a panel of experts to wade through the latest evidence.

My opponent has failed to provide solid evidence that marijuana causes schizophrenia or testicular cancer. There is no evidence that marijuana has caused aggression, but rather, it has generally been reported to have a calming effect on people. The significance of this fact cannot be ignored. It explains the increased creativity reported as a part of the marijuana experience, because when both sides of brain processes are heightened, both types of brain activity are greater. The left brain notices more, while the right brain receives more. This is the unification of logic and intuition.

Regarding AIDS/HIV, my opponent has failed to provide any new evidence, and I have already shot down his argument. I urge readers to refer back to my last rebuttal. My opponent's ongoing project on

Hereby I would like to summarize my conclusions in this debate with the theme "Cannabis Legalization" in which I represented to Con side. I will keep this summary short and will not include unnecessary rebuttals, as Pro was not able to provide any evidence as to positive effects of Cannabis legalization nor did pro do a rebuttal of any of my arguments, but left them unchallenged. Thus I would like to summarize, as established in 2 rounds of debate and after several hours of research, using non-biased, statistical evidence that Cannabis legalization does not provide any benefits to Society nor Humanity. 1. ) Apparent Medical Properties. I will not deny that certain cannabinoids, if administered correctly (thus not smoking) could help with certain health issues. Smoking Cannabis, however, which is the most used method of Marijuana use is unhealthy. It is proven to cause cancer. Marijuana use in general is proven to reduce IQ in mature users as well as hinder important brain development in using teenagers, making them dumber than their non using counterparts and is well known to cause mental illness such as Schizophrenia as well as cognition impairment and memory loss. This means that Marijuana should not be given to people for 'health reasons', or any other reasons for that matter. 2. ) Hemp usage and connected economy to Hemp. Hemp is already a well used resource. Demand, and as such supply has decreased drastically in the 60's due to synthetic fiber, but is starting to have a 'comeback'. However, the U. S. would have to fight for the market as it is dominated by China. Also it should be noted that the most used Hemp plants do not contain THC and as such, could be legalized on its own. This however is a different debate. The Cannabis legalization debate has more to do with drug use than economic production of hemp and as such Cannabis should not be legalized. 3. ) Economy from production of Marijuana A well favored argument of all pro legalization supporters. However, when exact numbers are investigated, such as in the case of Colorado, a Medical Marijuana State, the economy is quite different than pro legalization would want. Fees on enforcement, that now would apparently be gone are spent on medical aid, such as hospitals and psychologists, more drug education and the liking, thus creating a possible minus here. Taxes through sale and such are negated by lost labor and in-productiveness, as well as a general 'dumber' population, meaning a decreased economy, most certainly in the minus. This as such means that it would not be economically intelligent to legalize Cannabis as a whole as it would create a minus in the economy, not a plus. 4. ) Marijuana is not harmful A well liked statement of the pro legalization community, though, as stated above already Cannabis can cause severe health issues. I would also like to refer at this point to the 100% increased road fatality rate connected to Marijuana in Colorado post legalization. A shocking increase that is not unrelated, as the number of road fatalities decreased by 14.8% in the same time frame. Furthermore, though unrelated to this, Denver experienced an increase in crime as well as arrestees influenced by Marijuana post legalization. This concludes that Cannabis is not as 'harmless' as many people want it to be. 5. ) Marijuana would be unavailable to teenagers In fact, states that have legalized Marijuana have 40% more teenagers using Marijuana than non Medical Marijuana states. This thus means that legalization actually makes it easier for teenagers to get access to Marijuana, not the opposite, as always stated. 6. ) Free will Though I agree that people should have a free will to do what they want to, the issue here is that with legalization and lost labor people will turn to welfare. If there was no welfare for lazy stoners (and in fact I know quite a few ones on welfare) this would not be such a grand issue. But unfortunately they'd get welfare. And as such I most definitely do not support legalization. Also as to the point of not being controlled by their habit, Marijuana is addictive with a large amount of heavy users having withdrawal symptoms. 7. ) Other drugs are more dangerous What a stupid argument. Does this mean we all have to use Cocaine because some idiots are using Heroin? Why do people need to justify destroying their health because someone else is apparently doing something worse? What a logic is this? When I used to smoke I knew I was an idiot for doing it, which is why I stopped. Instead of trying to justify something that destroys your body just accept that it is stupid and not worth it. Pro did not provide any evidence as to the above claims, but seemed to have simply stated his opinion. Con provided statistics and other evidence. As such I remain with my starting opinion, that Cannabis should most definitely not be legalized, as it creates no benefits.

Marijuana has altering affects on a humans mind that cause cancer and many other diseases. Marijuana has some benefits to it, but not enough to balance it's cons, let alone succeed them.

Thank you for your response. In pro's argument she says: "Plus, it would be unrealistic and unproductive to criminalize anything that could be potentially harmful." It can be harmful in more ways than you think. We now have aproblem with drinking and driving. Can you imagine adding driving high and drunk to the list of problems. According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse: "According to the 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 10 million people aged 12 or older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs during the year prior to being surveyed.4 NSDUH findings also show that men are more likely than women to drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. And a higher percentage of young adults aged 18 to 25 drive after taking drugs or drinking than do adults 26 or older.4" The institute also says: After alcohol, marijuana is the drug most often found in the blood of drivers involved in crashes. Tests for detecting marijuana in drivers measure the level of delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana"s mind-altering ingredient, in the blood. But the role that marijuana plays in crashes is often unclear. THC can be detected in body fluids for days or even weeks after use, and it is often combined with alcohol. The risk associated with marijuana in combination with alcohol, cocaine, or benzodiazepines appears to be greater than that for either drug by itself.3," The National Institute of Drug abuse is obviosly a credible source. Another problem is second hand smoke. Second hand smoke from cigarettes is bad but second hand smoke from marijuana can be equally or more damaging to others. The Canadian Cancer society says: "People who smoke marijuana tend to inhale more smoke per puff and hold it in their lungs for as much as 4 times longer than people who smoke tobacco cigarettes. This means that smoking 2"3 marijuana cigarettes can expose you to roughly the same amount of smoke as 20 tobacco cigarettes." This is also a very credible source. People have a right to do what they want but when it harms them and others it can not and should not be easily accessible. Pro argues that the country can profit off people harming there bodies. Cigarettes, alchol abuse, sugar, chemicals etc are already a problem. I don't think adding marijuana is a very smart desicion.

My opponent stated that i have failed to define terms and present an argument to refute? , Sorry im confused, There was no basic definition needed and as for presenting an argument can i remind you that my opponent has the full wrap for round one, so how was i supposed to state a full argument? :S I would Like to quote my opponent in certain areas , Assertion 1: All drugs are bad. Reasoning: Isn't this obvious? Clearly, my opponent has not reaserched well enough to debate this on solid ground. Marijuana is dangerous. So is the other drugs. An overdose of MariAssertion 1: All drugs are bad. Reasoning: Isn't this obvious? Clearly, my opponent has not reaserched well enough to debate this on solid ground. Marijuana is dangerous. So is the other drugs. An overdose of Marijuana can kill you, as shown by an incdent when a mother baked marijuana into cookies that a five year old girl ate. She ended up eating over a pound. Addiction to marijuana over a long time an lead to lung or throat cancer. uana can kill you, as shown by an incdent when a mother baked marijuana into cookies that a five year old girl ate. She ended up eating over a pound. Addiction to marijuana over a long time an lead to lung or throat cancer. Tell me how can i research something, i have not yet posted an argument for? My opponent explains that marijuana can kill you, yet has failed to present any statistics or justification to back up this statement, 10% of weed smokers have died from weed in the last three years in the uk due to excessive smoking and prolonging their appetite, Everyone is well aware of the dangers that alcohol and tobacco use presents to the population, but there is no definitive, scientific evidence that states that marijuana has long-lasting, harmful effects. Alcohol and tobacco use causes hundreds of thousands of deaths in the US and UK every year. Annual deaths are even reported from abuse of aspirin, and yet not one single death an be attributed to the recreational use of marijuana. My opponent keeps mentioning things i haven't brought up, yet how am i supposed to if i have not posted an argument ? My opponent exclaims that the government forbids all drugs, this is untrue there is many legal highs and rereational use drugs which are currently on the market. The truth is marijuana is not a a major lethal drug it may cause few withdrawal symptoms but is fine when taken in moderation. Moreover my opponent has failed to explain the lethal harm of mephadrone which if your not aware of is a plant food, which gives the likeliness effect of crystal meths and LSD, Two people have recently died from taking one intake of the drug. Because its so accessible they feel more comfortable using it public-ally and buying it knowing they can get away with it, I do believe although they shouldn't always be an alternative drug if weed was legalized it would stop youths rebelling against the law and therefore if they were to ban mephadrone for safety purposes and legalize weed , teenagers would stop finding alternative drugs which is quite frankly ridiculous alternatives. Yes, all drugs are bad one way or another but weed compared to a lot is very minimal and we are not going to stop people taking these drugs because if you haven't already noticed people are just going to keep finding more ways of getting high legally and trying out and misusing stuff which is becoming as bad as heroin, I believe we need to take a liberal approach to this. - I thank my opponent and look forward to his rebuttal :) ; sources . http://en.wikipedia.org... . http://www.amazon.com...

There are some negatives to smoking marijuana regularly. Physically, lung damage does occur over time after years of smoking. Some sites have said that marijuana is less toxic for your lungs than tobacco; others have said that it is more. There haven't been many tests done because the government restricts funding for research because it is Schedule I. I haven't heard of reports of lung cancer caused by marijuana, but lung damage is a risk. Brain scans of lifetime users show a 12% shrink in the hippocampus of the brain compared to non-users. However, it is also shown that abstinence will reverse the shrinkage without problems. Psychologically, there are risks as well. Marijuana is addictive and many people who smoke experience psychological withdrawal when stopping after using for long periods of time (depression, anger, etc. ). Many people who smoke marijuana over time report a loss of interest in things that were once important to them. Many potheads admit this. Also, smoking heavily for many years causes what pot smokers call "burnout". Many pot smokers are less attentive and less responsive to other people around them. Are these deadly? No. But should a drug be legal simply because it is not? Accidental deaths are also common to people that smoked pot.

okay....so you just proved that marijuana has a chemical that creates a euphoric feeling to most living beings here on Earth. However... my argument is the word "gateway" drug. Since conception, we (yes all of us) have been reliant on "drugs". Think of how our parents got together and procreated in the first place. Just like US, they needed a catalyst. Alcohol...cigarettes...asprin....diet pills...birth control. We grow up taking asprin for head aches, coffe to wake up, pharmacudicals to prevent sickness and allergies, sugar for breakfast, presevitives in our foods etc... The definition of a DRUG is "Any chemical taken within an organic body that changes the chemistry and emotional respone to that body. To think that marijuana is a "gateway" drug is ludicrious,considering all the corporations, factories, advertisments, drug stores, grocery stores, friends, and family who that tell you a man made product will solve your problems since we can remember. The "gateway" my friend is not a single product. It is the product of our life experience, our peers, and our influences growing up. Like I said before.... everyone has two choices when it comes to drugs

Just a reminder, I can get a little harsh. Since this dumb site doesn't allow curses (yeah, because all the controversial topics about sex & drugs are totally ok for kids to see) Expect quiet a few asterisks. (*)Before I begin, I'd like to state my stance on the weed argument. I don't smoke weed, and don't have the intention to ever smoke weed. I don't think It should be legal, but I'm not a religious wingnut who thinks it's "The devils salad" or any of the stupid things those crazy people say. So, let's begin.1. "Marijuana is not addictive."Look, anything that you take one of and want more of is addictive. Video games are addictive, sports are addictive, & hitting on women at bars is addictive.2. "Marijuana is physically impossible to overdose on"Not an expert on weed, but I'm pretty sure that - like any other substance - yes you can. Weed gives your body an unnatural effect, and smoking too much weed might cause harm. I'm not saying it'll kill you, just that it'll harm you.3. "Marijuana's supposed "negative" effects, whether long term or short, are negligible, and many of which cannot credibly be declared true."So tell me again how getting a sudden urge to eat all the cookie dough, potato chips, cream cheese & marshmellows in your house isn't a negative effect? 4. "The Gateway theory is fundamentally flawed"How is it flawed? People who do drugs tend to take other drugs. Why? Because people who take drugs probably have a rebellious personality. They do one rebellious act against the law, they want to do another, just to get that rush of doing something illegal. Teens drinking alchohol is just as much of a gateway drug as weed, but weed is still a gateway drug.5. "Marijuana's intoxicating effects are not harmful to the users or others within itself (i.e. causing aggressiveness or other adverse changes to mood or perception), and therefore responsibility is placed on the user."It completely does. Alchohol does too, every mood-changing substance does.6. "Youth's access to marijuana will not be increased by legalization but will in fact be decreased"Yeah, and you know what happens then? Weed stops being cool and teens turn to drugs that cause them actual harm such as cocaine.IN RESPONSE TO ALL THE "BENEFITS" LEGALIZING WEED WILL HAVEWeed can be used mecidally,yes. Because it already is. Legalizing it for the public won't be able to change that. In fact, by making weed legal, you're getting rid of it's use as a recreational mood-changer. It'll probably only be available to those who need it for medicinal purposes. And as for the whole "it'll stop a lot of crime" no it won't. Weed is far from the only drug out there, and getting rid of one will not change that at all. And if it isn't only medicinal, if it becomes something like tobacco did, then it doesn't stop people from driving drugged."3. Even if marijuana was a harmful substance it is clearly no more harmful than legal substances (i.e. alcohol, tobacco) which have been perfectly integrated into society and are tolerated. Therefore, it should be treated no differently."Perfectly integrated? Tobacco is seen as the devils drinking buddy by society, and drinking is now known as being desperate. Weed will stop being known as a calming drug, it'll just become a cautionary tale.IN RESPONSE TO #4Since when? Since when has the governments job not been to control us? Oh yeah, let's protect the lives of the US by doing absulutely f***-all about our s*** health care and allow all these terrible massacres to keep happening. Let's protect their liberty by trying to ban the things they love. Let's pursue happiness by going to war with the wrong countries and doing everything wrong in every other countries eyes. As for Canada, well King Prime Minister Stephen Harper banned Count Chocula & Cookie Crisp for being unhealthy, so don't expect us to legalize weed anytime soon.

PROS CASE(A) It is the personal choice of each individual american as to whether or not they smoke marijuana, regardless of the harms (assuming that the persons are informed on the potential harms). Just as is the case with tobacco and alcohol, each US citizen should be allowed to choose for themselves whether or not they want to use marijuana. As long as the citizen is informed by the manufacturer of the potential harms (as is the case with alcohol and especially tobacco products), it should be the choice of theirs, not the governments, as to whether or not they choose to use marijuana. Each adult citizen is responsible for making these decisions for themselves. (B) Marijuana can be used for medicinal uses. Another reason marijuana ought to be legalized in more areas of the US is that marijuana has useful medical employments. Marijuana is used to treat symptoms of cancer and chemotherapy. Marijuana is also used to treat glaucoma. Marijuana ought to be legalized to help treat those afflicted with diseases that can be treated with medicinal marijuana. (C) Legalizing marijuana would reduce drug related crime rates. With Marijuana legalized, the government would no longer need to arrest all marijuana dealers, only the unlicensed ones. Also governments would not have to arrest users of marijuana. Non-violent drug offenders now account for 1/4 of the prison population (1)"The cost to put a single drug dealer in jail is about $450,000, composed of the following:The cost for arrest and conviction is about $150,000. The cost for an additional prison bed is about $50,000 to $150,000, depending upon the jurisdiction. It costs about $30,000 per year to house a prisoner. With an average sentence of 5 years, that adds up to another $150,000. The same $450,000 can provide treatment or education for about 200 people. In addition, putting a person in prison produces about fifteen dollars in related welfare costs, for every dollar spent on incarceration. Every dollar spent on treatment and education saves about five dollars in related welfare costs. " (2). I await my opponents response response eagerly. Sources1. . http://www.cepr.net...2. . http://druglibrary.org...;

To refute my opponents argument: My opponent says that marijuna is good but a source: http://www.dailytoreador.com... says that Marijuna has bad health costs and should remain illegal. It also says that: It is addictive, significantly impairs one"s bodily functions and mental capabilities and acts as a gateway drug, which can lead to even more dangerous narcotic usage. It is directly associated with increased violence and illegal activities. Also when she said about alcohol is same as marijuna but http://www.dailytoreador.com... also says that: Alcohol and marijuana are different from each other in many respects. For one, marijuana consumption is more likely to lead to an addiction to the drug. Unlike alcohol, marijuana is almost always consumed to the point of intoxication. Smoking marijuana is more toxic to one"s body than alcohol, and it offers absolutely no physical benefits outside of intoxicating an individual to the point of numbness. Also drugs are addictive and One study found that more than 30 percent of adults who used marijuana throughout the course of a year became dependent on the drug. These addictive properties have the same negative effects any addictive substance has on an individual, such as showing signs of withdrawal and compulsive behavior. When since my opponent said being tired of seeing a family being taken away for possession of plant but thats their choice for having the plant since they know its illegal they shouldn't even bother to even take possession and its their fault. Marijuana is grown in the ground but its hurtful and should remain illegal.

Marijuana is only harmful under circumstances. It is when growers add chemicals to it making it harmful. If the argument you are making is that is it poison then you should be arguing for cigarettes to be made illegal. Cigarettes have many more chemicals added on by manufacturers compared to the minimal amount usually added by cannabis growers. Where have you found that it was harmful and a "poison"? Synthetic marijuana is harmful but naturally grown is very beneficial.


Question: Should Cannabis Be Available as a Medicinal Alternative?

Medical Marijuana: A Legitimate Medical Option

We have established a common understanding of the definitions, so let's proceed to the argument. C1: Medical marijuana has been scientifically proven to offer numerous health benefits. If necessary, I could dedicate the entire space to discussing the medical advantages of marijuana and how it can be beneficial, but today, I'll present three distinct benefits. Sub-Point A: Alzheimer's Disease (credit to Danielle!) Lisa M. Eubanks, PhD, Staff Scientist at the Scripps Research Institute and the Skaggs Institute for Chemical Biology, states, "THC and its analogues may provide an improved therapeutic for Alzheimer's disease [by] simultaneously treating both the symptoms and progression of Alzheimer's disease" [1]. Since the discovery of the cannabinoid, tetrahydrocannabinol, produced by Cannabis sativa in the 1960s, this natural product has been extensively studied as an antiemetic, anticonvulsive, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic. With the rising prevalence of debilitating diseases like Alzheimer's, which affects over 20 million people worldwide and continues to increase at an alarming rate [2], these studies have demonstrated the ability of cannabinoids to provide neuroprotection against amyloid peptide toxicity [3]. Thus, medical marijuana can offer plausible assistance for a widespread disease like Alzheimer's.

Sub-Point B: HIV/AIDS Numerous studies have shown that medical marijuana has benefited AIDS patients. While I encourage readers to conduct their own research, I'll summarize some of the experimental results. In a study conducted at San Francisco General Hospital from 2003 to 2005 and published in the journal Neurology, 50 patients suffering from HIV-related foot pain, known as peripheral neuropathy, were involved. There are currently no drugs specifically approved to treat this type of pain. Three times daily for nearly a week, the patients smoked marijuana cigarettes machine-rolled at the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the only legal source for marijuana recognized by the federal government. Half of the patients received marijuana, while the other 25 received placebo cigarettes lacking the active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Scientists claim that this study was the first published research to use a comparison group, considered the gold standard for scientific research. Thirteen patients who received marijuana reported a reduction in pain by at least a third after smoking pot, while only six of those smoking placebos said the same. The marijuana smokers experienced an average pain reduction of 34%, double

I will begin my rebuttals now. Rebuttals"I believe my opponent is aware that marijuana is a drug not commonly connected with overdoses. "I am aware. "I do not believe he has ever heard of an overdose of medical marijuana or addiction to it because neither have I or most people on this Earth. "That is right, I have not. My opponent then gave a long quote about how the FDA approves medical marijuana but not recreational marijuana. It is true that they do this, however it does not mean medical marijuana is safe. It simply means medical marijuana is the only known method of treating the certain disease or disorder. "One can easily be addicted to pills, tablets, serums, and other forms of medications, but medical marijuana is rarely a substance that is addicted to. I do not deny that marijuana, when used in a large amount, is damaging, but you are aware that medical marijuana overdoses and addictions are virtually unheard of, yes? "I am aware, yes, however, as I stated in my previous argument, I said nil about addictions. I have been talking about the dangerous side effects of medical marijuana. My opponent seems to be aware of these side effects when he said "I do not deny that marijuana, when used in a large amount, is damaging. ""Marijuana, when abused and overused, will be termination instead of salvation. "I concur. "I argue, however, that medical marijuana can be salvation for victims of epilepsy and other such conditions when used properly. "Is my opponent aware that it doesn't always work and that it had more unfortunate side effects than relief? "However, marijuana can be bred to have a low percentage of chemicals that cause you to be high and a high percentage of chemicals that affect the desired parts of the body in question. Marijuana has two main components: THC and CBD. "I am aware of this, however it is still not the point I am getting at. I am not talking about the dangers of recreational marijuana, I am speaking of the undeniable side effects of medical marijuana, even when bred a certain way. "He quoted webmd. com, which said "cannabinoids in marijuana can weaken the immune system. " The key word here is 'can'. It does not necessarily mean it will. "Indeed, however the percentage makes it more of a 'will' than a 'can'. "Next, the source says, "long-term use of marijuana can make lung problems worse. " Again, there is a key word that must be acknowledged: 'long-term'. Not all patients will take medical cannabis for the long-term. "Not all will take it long-term, but most will. Things like epilepsy take a long time to cure. "Also, my opponent has chosen to ignore the fact that marijuana does not need to be smoked. "I have not denied this, but have expressed and accepted it clearly. "He also states potential side effects medical marijuana may cause. They are, according to his source, "[d]rowsiness, dry mouth, giddiness, hunger, insomnia, red eyes, respiratory issues, short-term memory loss, and uneasiness or anxiety. " These side effects, when you truly think about it, are minor. "Minor? Since when are respiratory issues, hunger, and giddiness minor problems? My opponent quoted my statement: "As you can see, it can be used to help people, but . .. is different depending on the person. " He then said this: "This statement and, really, my opponent's entire argument is not sufficient. I urge the viewers and judges to carefully consider this. "How is my statement not sufficient? I am clearly stating the undeniable dangers of medical marijuana use. "My opponent makes arguments that are proven false by mine. I would like to point out an aspect of this debate he ignored fully. I said and sourced, "[m]arijuana has two main components: THC and CBD. CBD (cannabidiol) will reduce brain activity and will lower the occurances of seizures. THC is what causes one to be high. Breeding marijuana to have low THC and high CBD will be effective. This, along with other genetic modifications, will make marijuana a safe treatment. " My opponent fully ignored this statement. "Um. .. Why would I not 'ignore this statemtent' when it was not yet time for rebuttals? I was simply following my opponent's rules. I have already refuted this anyway, so there is no reason to do it again. "There is another aspect my opponent has chosen to ignore. I made the following statement: "One can easily be addicted to pills, tablets, serums. .. "Again, it was not time for rebuttals. "This means that traditional medicine may not be the best choice. This means that marijuana is a very, very safe alternative drug to treat certain conditions and diseases. This has been fully ignored by my opponent. I want him to address this in his refutations. "I did not ignore it, I simply did not wish to break the rules. Secondly, the only reason we do not use the traditional medicine is because we have not discovered it. Instead, we are using a dangerous alternative. We should focus out research on finding safer alternatives. "My opponent, again, ignored key aspects of my argument. For certain conditions, there are no successful treatments yet. Now, I adore science and I know a lot about it, so I do know that safer treatments will be found in the future. However, for now, marijuana is the safest alternative to addictive pills and tablets. "Yes, it is the safest, but not safe. It has serious problems. ConclusionIn conclusion, I have refuted all of my opponent's arguments and have proven them incorrect. I patently await my opponent's final rebuttals.

Hi! Frankly, I"m excited to be debating this topic, as it is definitely an important a sensitive issue. I agree with your definition of the plant that"s planted, but I would like to draw an important distinction. We"re debating if marijuana should be legalized, which is not the same thing as whether marijuana should be decriminalized. Legalize means to make something licit, whereas decriminalize means to remove criminal penalties from it. In other words, if marijuana were decriminalized, people would be fined (and only fined lesser sums) instead of jailed if caught using it. If it were entirely legal, there would be no penalty whatsoever. I think that marijuana should be decriminalized, but should remain illegal, and I"ll use this premise to argue the con. With this in mind, I completely agree that marijuana should not be a schedule one, two, etc. drug. It"s not even close to being on par with heroin or other hard drugs. Decriminalizing it would bring the punishment more in line with the danger actually created by the drug. However, as you acknowledge, marijuana is still addictive and, as I shall endeavor to prove, can pose a threat. I have four core arguments, which I will go through now. Contention One: Legalizing marijuana makes it appear as less of a threat, and, therefore, actually promotes risky behavior. CNBC reported in 2010: "In the discussion of legalizing marijuana, a useful analogy can be made to gambling. MacCoun & Reuter (2001) conclude that making the government a beneficiary of legal gambling has encouraged the government to promote gambling, overlooking it as a problem behavior. They point out that "the moral debasement of state government is a phenomenon that only a few academics and preachers bemoan."" Marijuana is already the most abused, illicit drug in the world; why should we promote further irresponsible consumption of it by making it legal. CNBC notes, "Legalized gambling has not reduced illegal gambling in the United States; rather, it has increased it. This is particularly evident in sports gambling, most of which is illegal. Legal gambling is taxed and regulated and illegal gambling is not. Legal gambling sets the stage for illegal gambling just the way legal marijuana would set the stage for illegal marijuana trafficking. The gambling precedent suggests strongly that illegal drug suppliers would thrive by selling more potent marijuana products outside of the legal channels that would be taxed and otherwise restricted. If marijuana were legalized, the only way to eliminate its illegal trade, which is modest in comparison to that of cocaine, would be to sell marijuana untaxed and unregulated to any willing buyer. If the U.S. were to legalize marijuana, the number of marijuana users would increase. Today there are 15.2 million current marijuana users in comparison to 129 million alcohol users and 70.9 million tobacco users. Though the number of marijuana users might not quickly climb to the current numbers for alcohol and tobacco, if marijuana was legalized, the increase in users would be both large and rapid with subsequent increases in addiction." It seems then, that the pro side would actually escalate the problem. Contention Two: Marijuana poses a grave risk on the road. CNBC argues that: "Drug-impaired driving will also increase if marijuana is legalized. Marijuana is already a significant causal factor in highway crashes, injuries and deaths. In a recent national roadside survey of weekend nighttime drivers, 8.6 percent tested positive for marijuana or its metabolites, nearly four times the percentage of drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 g/dL (2.2 percent). In another study of seriously injured drivers admitted to a Level-1 shock trauma center, more than a quarter of all drivers (26.9 percent) tested positive for marijuana. In a study of fatally injured drivers in Washington State, 12.7 percent tested positive for marijuana. These studies demonstrate the high prevalence of drugged driving as a result of marijuana use." So, when the pro mentions how alcohol is a bigger problem than marijuana, that is because marijuana is very tightly regulated, whereas that is less true with alcohol. Once marijuana is legalized, marijuana will become the bigger issue. Contention Three: Marijuana is medically harmful. As reported in the Huffington Post in 2012: "Many studies show serious problems, for example, with schizoid psychosis while smoking. " This is further evidenced by a study conduct by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which found mice, especially younger mice, at risk of cortical malformations and neurological problems after smoking even small amounts of pot. The report goes on to note that "marijuana can act as a cancer-causing carcinogen and damaging DNA for pot smoke contains higher levels of certain toxins than tobacco, which is why pot smokers face rapid lung destruction, with the impact on lungs from one joint equaling up to five cigarettes. Pot also opens the door for the virus that causes Kaposi's Sarcoma. And for pregnant moms, it can harm their unborn child by impairing growth and by causing long-lasting neurobehavioural problems. For habitual use is strongly associated with car crash injuries and smoking marijuana doubles the risk of fatal accidents." This seems to, at the very least, counterbalance the claims about marijuana"s curative properties. Contention Four: There is little to no financial benefit in legalizing marijuana. CNBC notes, "The costs of legalizing marijuana would not only be financial. New marijuana users would not be limited to adults if marijuana were legalized, just as regulations on alcohol and tobacco do not prevent use by youth. Rapidly accumulating new research shows that marijuana use is associated with increases in a range of serious mental and physical problems. Lack of public understanding on this relationship is undermining prevention efforts and adversely affecting the nation"s youth and their families. This is shaping up to be a great debate. I look forward to your responses.

I shall begin my case.Contention 1: Marijuana is dangerousMarijuana has negative side effects when individuals are exposed to it for both short term and long term periods of usage. It distorts your senses, can make you panic, give you anxiety, and increase the rate of your heartbeat, which risks a chance of a heart attack, and since heart attacks are lethal, this means that Marijuana can kill you overtime. Marijuana distorts both you both physically and psychologically. It can make you depressed, reduce your sexual capacity, reduce illness resistance in your body, and destroy your lungs fibers which could potentially be permanent. It also can give you psychosis and schizophrenia. Bronchitis and lung infections are also negative effects you can get from this lethal substance. But worst of all, it increases risk of cancer. It increases amount of cell mutations in your body and when the users smoke them, they inhale carcinogens, which have been scientifically proven to give you cancer by either manipulating your dna directly or increasing the rate of cells dividing, which increases chances of cancerous cells forming. The worst part of Marijuana is the simple fact that it contains up to 50-70% more of the cancer causing substances than tobacco does, and it can cause the same amount of damage as FIVE cigarettes being smoked one at a time.All of the above I have stated are negative effects Marijuana can give you, and we shouldn't allow a drug that is dangerous or lethal, as it causes an unnecessary amount of pain to those who are exposed to it, and each single period of time smoking marijuana is much worse than a single period of time of smoking tobacco.Contention 2: In Colorado, pot increased the crime rateFrom 2004 to 2012, crime rate in Colorado decreased by 32%, that is until pot was legalized, because once it was, crime rate was increased by 21% in just 2 years, with an average of 10.5% per year, whereas the crime rate from 2004 to 2012 decreased at a rate of 4% per year. If crime rates are increasing now with marijuana faster than it was decreasing, then Colorado has a problem. The rate could keep increasing of it is not stopped, and the problem is, this is just Colorado. Imagine if every state allowed people to smoke weed. There are only 4 states in the U.S that have 0 restrictions on Marijuana, while there are 22 states where Marijuana is illegal. Would you want to risk increasing crime rates in all of those states, not even counting the states that have heavy restrictions on Marijuana?Marijuana hurts both the users and the people around the users because as I have demonstrated, it has more cancer causing toxins than tobacco, can give you lung infections which destroy them, can make you depressed and anxious, and it can increase the likelihood of you committing a crimes. Marijuana is clearly not a safe substance, and therefore, it should remain illegal.Sources:http://www.americanthinker.com...http://herb.co...http://www.drugfreeworld.org...http://www.drugfreeworld.org...http://www.narconon.org...

Here's one for the Conservatives ;) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Thomas Jefferson once said, "If people let government decide what foods they eat and what medicines they take, their bodies will soon be in as sorry a state as are the souls of those who live under tyranny. " Today, the manufacturing, buying, posession and distribution of psilocybin mushrooms is illegal in all but 2 states: Florida and New Mexico. I support the legalization of this drug for several reasons: 1. The first amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. .. " yet the law disregards one's right to utilize the effects of mushrooms to enhance/practice their religious beliefs. 2. In addition to religious freedoms, individuals in the United States should have the right to ingest anything of their choosing - especially if it is not a narcotic or the chemical composition of the drug is natural. That is to say, mushrooms are grown wild in the enviornment and if people want to pick them and eat them and/or give some to their friends, that should not be a crime. 3. Mushrooms are not addictive either physically or psychologically. If continued mushrooms use is excessive within a short period of time, a tolerance will build giving the drug little to no effect anyway. Additionally, studies show that one's desire to ingest "magic" mushrooms decreases over time. 4. Mushrooms were legal in the U. S. until 1968, and the world was just fine prior to that year while they were still legal. Thus we can assume that there will not be incredibly dramatic, awful consequences for the legalization of mushrooms. 5. Safety: Mushrooms are realtively safe drugs. The toxicity is one and a half times that of caffeine, and the mortality rate as a result of mushroom's toxicity is an incredibly low 0.016%. 6. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine conducted a study regarding magic mushrooms. 61% of subjects reported a "complete mystical experience" while being under the mushroom's effects (which lasts 2 - 12 hours; usually between 4 - 8). Two months after using psilocybin mushrooms, 79% of the participants reported moderately to greatly increased life satisfaction and sense of well-being. Further, the "bad trips" that can result from usage were reported to be easily managed by the researchers and did not have a lasting negative effect on the subject's sense of well-being. 7. As with all illegal drugs, legalization of a controlled substance would eliminate the black market buying and selling of drugs which would in turn reduce the number of criminals in this country. I understand why not all drugs can or should be legal, however, mushrooms is not one of them. 8. It is wrong to compare individuals who take magic mushrooms with hardened drug addicts. Not only are the effects of mushrooms much different from other hard drugs such as cocaine, heroin or meth, but mushrooms are also less addictive and less harmful to the body in both the long and short term. 9. Additionally, consider the positive effects mushrooms have on individuals (spiritual enlightenment, euphoria, etc. ). Most people who are 'high' on mushrooms do not feel compelled to put the lives of others in danger or at risk by, say, driving a car while under the influence, or acting violently towards another individual. Rather people who use mushrooms report feeling closer with nature and want to be outdoors. If not, they're enjoying closed or open-eyed visuals and are more concerned/distracted by what they're seeing and feeling internally than the desire to venture out and hurt others. This is not my opinion but rather documented in various studies/reports of individuals who are familiar with the use of entheogens. 10. Finally, of course being under the influence of any drug (including caffeine and cold medicine) has the ability to alter one's actions and reactions. This should not be a factor for several reasons. First, for medical reasons my little brother takes testosterone injections on a daily basis. This greatly affects his mood (he is angered more easily) yet his consumption of the drug is not illegal. If someone were to take magic mushrooms for any reason - spiritual or medical (they have been known to help with cluster headaches) - it should not be against the law. Why? Other legal drugs that are prescribed or not affect our reflexes, chemical imbalances, moods, or ability to complete tasks / reasoning. Rather than outlaw these things, our society has sought to warn (i. e. the warning to not operate automobiles after taking Nyquil) and/or educate, such as via D. A. R. E. programs or groups like M. A. D. D. (Mothers Against Drunk Driving). I believe that like alcohol, if people are educated regarding the effects of mushrooms, they can make better decisions that would eliminate or highly prevent consumption from interfering with the lives of others and causing disaster. Similarly, just as it is socially accepted (and promoted) for there to be a 'sober force' with an individual(s) who has been drinking, for example, a similar concept can be attributed to the consumption of shrooms. In conclusion, just one of those arguments is reason enough to support the legalization of mushrooms, however, I have provided 10. For my opponent to win this debate, he or she must argue that mushrooms should not be legal and why. Their reasoning should outnumber and/or outweigh my arguments. Because my points are mostly rooted in fact, Con would have to negate those facts in order for their case to be valid.

The problem with the prohibition of marijuana is that it is a double standard. When you measure the danger of substances available on the market you are basically drawing a line in the sand saying this one is good and this one is bad. The problem is that the people who decide this do it with an agenda that has nothing to do with the "danger" of using marijuana. Why else would so many terrible things cross the line and be considered "safe". What it comes down to is that typically pot smokers are your average people who live normal lives. Other than children smoking it, I really don't see what everyone is so afraid of. Dogma perhaps? I'm an idealist that can envision a world free of red bull, McDonald, and "happy hour"! It is free of religion, government, racism, sexism, homophobia, class systems, money, apathy, malice, Terrorism, war, cancer... etc! What I am proposing is that if you can give me a solution to the horrific monster under the bed, then I will lobby to stop people from smoking! You see where I am going. The problem with idealism is that it is personal. It will be opposed by many. Heck I think the NFL, and Nascar is the biggest waste of resources on the planet and would love to see Justin Beiber live in a 600 a month apartment. But I'm not trying to stand in the way of the fans. There are so many contradictions involved it has to be something other than its affect on people. Do you have any information in regards to why so many terrible things become mainstream and something as harmless as marijuana. (Moderation is key to almost everything in life: too much water and you will drown) Your argument about marijuana affecting students in an interesting point. My solution is let the schools handle it. Let the Universities regulate and educate about moderation. The main issue is that most of the people who want marijuana to be legal already smoke it regardless... bringing up the financial aspect. Do I even need to go into this. A gazillion U.S. Dollars have went to the black market fueling larger more dangerous enterprises. Instead of going back into the schools and law enforcement! Instead A Gazillion dollars is being siphoned into making sure people can drink themselves to death while bullying the lives of innocent people! Alcohol is addictive in ever sense of the word. Smoke weed everyday for 30 years and quit. It will probably suck but in short time you will wonder what the big deal was. Now try drinking everyday for 30 years and quit.. You should probably go to the hospital so you don't die! That is something that will haunt you the rest of your life. I'm going to say something extremely bold. I actually believe this statement. There are a lot of people that need to smoke that do not, Now I will counter that statement with there are a lot of people that shouldn't smoke but do. (The world is crazy like that) I guarantee you if a suicide bomber lit up a joint there is no way he would go through with it. That is not my strongest argument I will admit but you can see how everything is distorted and doesn't really add up? You are absolutely right many people can smoke and do great things. Some just shut down and become introverted. Which is still better than drunk and obnoxious! I agree that in your perfect world where all drugs and alcohol including cigarettes are illegal, marijuana should follow. But like I said until I see that I have a hard time telling people what to do. Especially If I have no idea what I'm talking about. In closing, I will need a little more from you to keep this going. So do some research and find out the REAL reason why marijuana is illegal, and convince me that it should be!

Marijuana is a WEED which means it steals water from other plants. Those who grow it are actually destroying hundreds of ecosystems around the world. For example, in Brasil, they have a problem with losing their rainforest. This is actually because many drug dealers around there grow their plants in the secrecy within the forest. All of the marijuana plants are actually killing trees that are hundreds of thousands of years old. Besides the environment, marijuana is terrible for you. When smoked, the smoke goes to your brain and kills billions of brain cells. Although they can grow back, these new brain cells don't have the same information, making your iq lower by on average 54 points, according to a study by Harvard University. Additionally, even though people use it "medically" (It DOES make you hungry, which is true) people just smoke it in hospitals and die from cancer. For the argument on why it would help the economy, well it would actually HURT it. The more it's legalized, the more people die. With less people to trade stocks, start businesses and take jobs, the legalization of marijuana would send us into another great depression.

O.K. so I will give this one last shot, I have had some very interesting discussions on this website but the debates are rubbish.. especially the gay marriage debate (and pretty much anything about religion) but the marijuana debate is by far the most ridiculous debate that exists. I guess when I challenge someone to debate this topic I'm hoping someone has actually done the research to discover why cannabis is illegal. It has nothing to do with the dangers, it is political b.s. and is a prime example of oppression and hypocrisy! Sorry to blow up at you I was coming off the tail end of a debate that made me realize that I was debating against control freaks that wanted to dictate the lives of anyone different than them.. anyways I'm pretty busy this weekend but I will be challenging you sometime soon to a proper debate.. Do you research into the politics and maybe we can get some where! Anyways my apologies again for dumping my baggage on you.. I will come better prepared next time!

Ok i didnt really put that much research into it i was just wanting to debate. This issue is over debated and i do believe everyone should have the same rights so im not really con and the debate doesnt matter because everyone on this site is probably pro for this debate because its a very open subject Marijuana should be legal

Thanks for letting me fulfill my position.Here is my stance in this debate."1) It's extremely addictive for some people: If you don't want to take my word for it, listen to Dr. Drew Pinsky who has been working with addicts for decades. It would be malpractice to say that cannabis isn't addictive. Anybody who's experienced it, actually been addicted to it, knows how profound that addiction is.... The difficult thing about marijuana addiction is some people, even though they're addicted can do fine with it for many many years before they start to have difficultly, but eventually the high starts wearing off, people start smoking a lot more to try to get that high back and that's when they descend into difficulties. ...I've been treating cannabis addiction for 20 years. When people are addicted to cannabis, cocaine and alcohol the drug they have the most difficult time giving up is the cannabis. It is extremely addictive...for some people. I think that's where people get confused. It's not very addictive for many people. It's a small subset of people with a genetic potential for addiction. But for them it is really tough. You only need talk to them, they'll tell you how tough it is. Additionally, that "small subset" Dr. Drew is talking about isn't so small in a big country like America. "Of the 7.3 million persons aged 12 or older classified with illicit drug dependence or abuse in 2012, 4.3 million persons had marijuana dependence or abuse." It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the more legal and available marijuana becomes, the higher those numbers are going to go. 2) This experiment hasn't worked out so well for Amsterdam: Humans being what they are, just about any stupid idea we can come up with has already been tried somewhere else. Amsterdam is the most famous place across the world that has effectively legalized pot. It has even turned into a tourist destination for potheads. Legalizing weed has been a huge success there, right? Actually, not so much... Its citizens are now alarmed that their children are increasingly being exposed to it. Amsterdam today became the first city in the Netherlands to ban students from smoking marijuana at school. The city's mayor Eberhard van der Laan introduced the law after school chiefs complained about pupils turning up to classes high after rolling up outside the grounds. Marijuana is widely available in Holland as, although it is technically illegal, police can't prosecute people for possession of small amounts. But it has also had the unwanted side effect that Dutch children are frequently exposed to the drug in public areas. Additionally, contrary to the claims that legalizing it will reduce crime, in Amsterdam it’s been found that crime is now centering around the coffeehouses where marijuana is sold. …Certainly the outlook for coffee shops is bleak. Among the few policies that the three parties in the new coalition government agree on is the need to reduce their numbers. The governing agreement released last week laid out plans that will force them to become members-only clubs and shut down those shops located near schools. The coalition is also advancing the idea of prohibiting the sale of cannabis to non-Dutch residents, which amounts to a death knell for many coffee shops. ...The circumstances that led to the tolerance policies have changed in the past decade, as large-scale crime around coffee shops and the legal sex trade became more visible. In particular, the absence of legal means for coffee shops to obtain cannabis has highlighted their association with organized crime. But the open-minded instincts that helped foster the policies are also being questioned. And it is not just the far-right opposing coffee shops. The traditional parties of power on the center-right, the Christian Democrats and the Liberal VVD, have also moved against the policies they once promoted. That doesn't exactly sound like a success story, does it? 3) Marijuana is terrible for your mental health: Marijuana may even be WORSE than cigarettes. At least cigarettes don't peel points off of your IQ. A recent Northwestern University study found that marijuana users have abnormal brain structure and poor memory and that chronic marijuana abuse may lead to brain changes resembling schizophrenia. The study also reported that the younger the person starts using marijuana, the worse the effects become. In its own report arguing against marijuana legalization, the American Medical Association said: "Heavy cannabis use in adolescence causes persistent impairments in neurocognitive performance and IQ, and use is associated with increased rates of anxiety, mood and psychotic thought disorders." So, there's a good reason most habitual marijuana users come off as stupid. The drug is making them stupider, even when they're not high. You really want your kids on that? 4) Marijuana is terrible for your physical health: How bad is marijuana for you? It's even more toxic than cigarette smoke. Regular users are hit with devastating lung problems as much as 20 years earlier than smokers. Even small amounts of marijuana can cause temporary sterility and it has a terrible impact on the babies of women who smoke including "birth defects, mental abnormalities and increased risk of leukemia in children." If your standard is, "Well, it's better for you than Meth or Crack," that's true, but you're deluding yourself if you think pot is anything other than absolutely horrible for your health. 5) The drug decimates many people's lives: Movies portray potheads as harmless, fun-loving people who spend their time giggling and munching Cheetos, but they don't show these people when they're flunking out of school, losing their jobs, frustrated because they can't concentrate or losing the love of their lives because they just don't want to be with a pot smoking loser anymore. Even in the limited number of studies that are out there, the numbers are stark. A study of 129 college students found that, among those who smoked the drug at least twenty-seven of the thirty days before being surveyed, critical skills related to attention, memory and learning were seriously diminished. A study of postal workers found that employees who tested positive for marijuana had 55% more accidents, 85% more injuries and a 75% increase in being absent from work. In Australia, a study found that cannabis intoxication was responsible for 4.3% of driver fatalities. ...Students who use marijuana have lower grades and are less likely to get into college than nonsmokers. They simply do not have the same abilities to remember and organize information compared to those who do not use these substances. It's bad enough that we already lose so many Americans to cigarettes, alcoholism, and drunken driving. Do we really want to endorse the loss of millions more potentially productive Americans via Marijuana? Do we move on from there to Crack, Heroin or Meth? Some people would say, “If they want to do it, great, then it's no business of ours.” But, you can also bet that those same people will be complaining about all the junkies and welfare cases that will be created by the policy they endorsed. So, ask yourself a few key questions. Is legalizing Marijuana going to make this a better country or a worse one? Would you want to live in a neighborhood filled with people who regularly smoke marijuana? Would you want your kids regularly smoking pot? Now is the time to think about it because although it's easy to thoughtlessly legalize a drug like marijuana, when things go predictably wrong down the road, it will be a lot harder to put the genie back in the bottle than people seem to think." [1]Sources:[1] https://calmusa.org...;[2] http://www.celebstoner.com...;(Just to cite a couple of the many examples that this article cited).

(Dont worry about the delayed response, no harm done :) ) Ok lets get to it then 1) "Prohibition does not stop consumers from consuming it." Prohibition of Marijuana does control consumption of it because it severely limits ACCESS to it. People who are addicted to Marijuana will go to extreme costs and pay even more to have access to the drug, but legalizing it would mean everyone would have constant access to it and then millions of more people would increase the number of those addicted to the drug and the side effects it causes..... 2) "If used correctly Marijuana can be an alternative to many medicines". Now let me state that this is very true but there are 2 problems. The first is that it must be used correctly, If Marijuana were to be used for medical purposes it would have to be prescribed by a licensed doctor to only one individual who has a disease or ailment that Marijuana can alleviate. After that the prescription only can allow that single person access to a very limited amount of Marijuana so that it could improve his/her health without triggering an addiction. legalizing marijuana for all would cause many many people to abuse it and become addicted to it which would cause more health problems then it would solve since Marijuana only causes ailments to subside by causing a euphoria in the person using it. The second is that this argument is a good argument for the legalization of MEDICAL Marijuana (which i do support) but this debate is about the legalization of Marijuana as a drug. Legalizing it as a drug would make it available to millions of Americans who would most likely abuse the drug or suffer side effects from using it..... Marijuana is safer than tobacco and alcohol, this is true but your comparing it to two of the most harmful substances in the world. Marijuana is less dangerous than tobacco but Marijuana contains hundreds of chemicals that have been proven to be carcinogenic (cause cancer) http://www.abovetheinfluence.com... Marijuana also causes an enormous number of teenage addictions, in fact addictions to Marijuana are greater than addictions to all the other illegal narcotics COMBINED The dangerous aspect about Marijuana is that it directly causes very few deaths compared to other substances (both legal and illegal) but it causes many many other problems that could lead directly to death Marijuana plays a role in 15% of teenage car deaths, 1 in 6 teenage marijuana users become addicted, Marijuana deteriorates memory, attention, and learning skills which can cause people still in school to flunk People who have used the drug feel less physically and mentally healthy It can worsen psychotic symptoms in people which may cause extreme paranoia http://www.drugabuse.gov... http://www.abovetheinfluence.com... http://www.well.com... http://www.teengrowth.com... I agree that Marijuana is not as lethal (keyword lethal) as tobacco or alcohol, but i do believe that Marijuana should still remain illegal because it causes many harmful side effects that can harm people and play a factor (just a factor) in their deaths as well..... As of 2012 guess how many deaths in the US involved Marijuana, almost 64,000 deaths and well over 300,000 serious injuries for 2010 ALONE. roughly 370,000 deaths and 2.3 million serious injuries since 2001 http://drugwarfacts.org... Marijuana is a very harmful drug and it should not be legalized as a marketable product


Question: Should Cannabis Be Available as a Medical Treatment?

Marijuana should be a medical option.
Marijuana should be made available as a medical treatment. In the United States, 15 out of 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, have already legalized marijuana for medical use. It has proven to be a safe and effective treatment for various conditions such as cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and others. Numerous scientific studies over the years have indicated the potential medicinal benefits of marijuana. Six studies conducted in the 1970s and 1980s, sponsored by U.S. states, have shown that smoking marijuana can alleviate nausea and reduce pain for many patients, particularly those undergoing cancer chemotherapy and suffering from glaucoma. Moreover, thousands of patients, their families, and doctors have attested to the medical advantages of marijuana through public hearings and media appearances. With so many individuals suffering from these illnesses, if marijuana can provide relief, it should be legalized to improve their quality of life.

Another reason that marijuana should not be legalized because it could cause young children to think that it's ok to do drugs. Legalizing drugs is like telling a teen it's ok to engage in risky behavior, when drugs are involved, there is an increase of possible death or permeant injury. I'll agree that prescribed drugs are just as easily abused, but this drug should be used due to its "safe" use, when actually it could cause serious problems later on in life or cause a serious reaction due to a existing medical condition. Again this can happen with prescribed drugs, but the drug in question is just as dangerous as herion and cocaine.

Voters, please note that I will be posting a section on improvements, since my opponent is new to DDO. Refutations: 1. "It makes your skin sensitive to cold and heat". Compared to the side effects of many other illegal drugs this is very minor. 2. "Dehydration". Again, a very minor side effect. Contentions: 1. Marijuana has positive health effects. 2. If Alchohol and Cigarettes are legal, why not 'pot'? 3. It would bring lots of much-needed revenue to the state. 1. Marijuana has positive health effects. Marijuana, containing the chemical THC and commonly known as "pot" or "weed", has been known to reduce tumor growth. [1] 2. Alcohol and Tobacco. According to the CDC (Center For Disease Control) Alcohol is one of the leading causes of death in the US, and Tobacco follows not far behind. Marijuana is not even on the list. [2] 3. http://www.businessweek.com... Sources: 1. http://www.sciencedaily.com... 2. Cdc.gov Suggestions: 1. Make your arguments longer and more organized. Avoid run on sentences. 2. Cite sources. 3. Check your spelling before posting Voters Note: Do not vote on this debate. I want this to be a learning experience, and I want to avoid accusations of noob sniping.

My opponent stated that i have failed to define terms and present an argument to refute? , Sorry im confused, There was no basic definition needed and as for presenting an argument can i remind you that my opponent has the full wrap for round one, so how was i supposed to state a full argument? :S I would Like to quote my opponent in certain areas , Assertion 1: All drugs are bad. Reasoning: Isn't this obvious? Clearly, my opponent has not reaserched well enough to debate this on solid ground. Marijuana is dangerous. So is the other drugs. An overdose of MariAssertion 1: All drugs are bad. Reasoning: Isn't this obvious? Clearly, my opponent has not reaserched well enough to debate this on solid ground. Marijuana is dangerous. So is the other drugs. An overdose of Marijuana can kill you, as shown by an incdent when a mother baked marijuana into cookies that a five year old girl ate. She ended up eating over a pound. Addiction to marijuana over a long time an lead to lung or throat cancer. uana can kill you, as shown by an incdent when a mother baked marijuana into cookies that a five year old girl ate. She ended up eating over a pound. Addiction to marijuana over a long time an lead to lung or throat cancer. Tell me how can i research something, i have not yet posted an argument for? My opponent explains that marijuana can kill you, yet has failed to present any statistics or justification to back up this statement, 10% of weed smokers have died from weed in the last three years in the uk due to excessive smoking and prolonging their appetite, Everyone is well aware of the dangers that alcohol and tobacco use presents to the population, but there is no definitive, scientific evidence that states that marijuana has long-lasting, harmful effects. Alcohol and tobacco use causes hundreds of thousands of deaths in the US and UK every year. Annual deaths are even reported from abuse of aspirin, and yet not one single death an be attributed to the recreational use of marijuana. My opponent keeps mentioning things i haven't brought up, yet how am i supposed to if i have not posted an argument ? My opponent exclaims that the government forbids all drugs, this is untrue there is many legal highs and rereational use drugs which are currently on the market. The truth is marijuana is not a a major lethal drug it may cause few withdrawal symptoms but is fine when taken in moderation. Moreover my opponent has failed to explain the lethal harm of mephadrone which if your not aware of is a plant food, which gives the likeliness effect of crystal meths and LSD, Two people have recently died from taking one intake of the drug. Because its so accessible they feel more comfortable using it public-ally and buying it knowing they can get away with it, I do believe although they shouldn't always be an alternative drug if weed was legalized it would stop youths rebelling against the law and therefore if they were to ban mephadrone for safety purposes and legalize weed , teenagers would stop finding alternative drugs which is quite frankly ridiculous alternatives. Yes, all drugs are bad one way or another but weed compared to a lot is very minimal and we are not going to stop people taking these drugs because if you haven't already noticed people are just going to keep finding more ways of getting high legally and trying out and misusing stuff which is becoming as bad as heroin, I believe we need to take a liberal approach to this. - I thank my opponent and look forward to his rebuttal :) ; sources . http://en.wikipedia.org... . http://www.amazon.com...

Okay, first of all I would like to say that I do not EVER want to do drugs and put myself in that kind of danger. If Marijuana is legalized, think about all the danger that that would put people in. Even though, the taxes might give our government the money, it's not worth the risk of people dying in order to do so. Also, if marijuana was made legal, think about all of the health problems that would occur. I don't think we need to be paying anymore money for health care. I also understand that you made a point how scientists have yet more to study about marijuana. The government is in fact keeping us safe because WE DON'T really know what's in Marijuana. If they said that we could have it anytime we wanted, think about what that would do to people everywhere. Smoking is already harming people enough. The second-hand smoke? We would all have to deal with that too. So back to my point, we could at least WAIT to find out what is in marijuana and see if it IS safe, and wait for them to keep the law or not. I agree though with your point about your topic on "If Marijuana was legalized we could study the chemicals in Marijuana in more depth and maybe find cures for such "UN-curable" diseases". I think that scientists and doctors with degrees should be able to study marijuana, but I don't think it should be open to everyone. I thank you for listening to my debate.

Con has forfeited, but I'll put my points up anyway. Marijuana should be legalized for three reasons. 1. Marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol and therefore applying the law to one and not the other presents a double standard that just isn't reasonable. 2. The criminalization of pot has contributed greatly to the upsurge in the already bloated American justice/prison system. 3. Keeping draconian laws on a nearly harmless substance that just recently passed a majority (over 50%) support for legalization isn't even democratic. As a nation, if we decide in majority that we want something legalized the argument is over. People might support it and they might not, but in a democratic society majority always wins, period. It's a matter of time. Give it a generation and it'll be made legal - I guarantee it.

This is for a devil's advocate tournament. I hope for a really fun debate - I'll try and offer something different from the usual boring old arguments that always seem to get presented for medical marijuana.This first round is for acceptance. I'll start my case in round two.

You son of a donkey's dildo.Of course weed is unhealthy, you fool! Sleeping pills and Chantix, an anti-smoking medication (that is a total Plutocatic scam) are legal, but they have ridiculous side affects! Something being a medicine does not prove that it's not harmful!You're probably just another Christian stoner punk who has been brainwashed by the Weed Agenda! Immature worthless punk. Maybe someday you'll grow up!.What has weed ever done to me?! I used to smoke the crap! It made me paranoid and crazy! I couldn't drive anywhere without not braking in time to stop at a stop sign.Fortunately, I'm not crazy anymore. Unlike you, Libertarian punk.This "Weed Agenda" is a plan by the Plutocracy to legalize Marijuana in all states, for both medical and recreational purposes, and make us intelligent people look like fools for defending our stance on the issue!Some Democracy America is, huh? We'd surely be much better off as a Socialist nation, and Charlie Chaplin would agree.Immature punk. Maybe someday you'll grow up!

okay....so you just proved that marijuana has a chemical that creates a euphoric feeling to most living beings here on Earth. However... my argument is the word "gateway" drug. Since conception, we (yes all of us) have been reliant on "drugs". Think of how our parents got together and procreated in the first place. Just like US, they needed a catalyst. Alcohol...cigarettes...asprin....diet pills...birth control. We grow up taking asprin for head aches, coffe to wake up, pharmacudicals to prevent sickness and allergies, sugar for breakfast, presevitives in our foods etc... The definition of a DRUG is "Any chemical taken within an organic body that changes the chemistry and emotional respone to that body. To think that marijuana is a "gateway" drug is ludicrious,considering all the corporations, factories, advertisments, drug stores, grocery stores, friends, and family who that tell you a man made product will solve your problems since we can remember. The "gateway" my friend is not a single product. It is the product of our life experience, our peers, and our influences growing up. Like I said before.... everyone has two choices when it comes to drugs

I will be affirming the resolution that Marijuana should be legalized in the U. S. My argument will consist of five contentions in which I will prove that the U. S. government should legalize marijuana. Contention 1: People deserve the freedom My first point will be that there is no good reason to not make marijuana legal. Many people ask 'Why should marijuana be made legal? ' but we should ask 'Why should marijuana be illegal? ' Individuals deserve to make their own choices. The government only has the right to put limits on these choices hurt another person. This doesn't apply to marijuana, since the person who chooses to use marijuana only affects the person that uses it. Contention 2: Keeping marijuana illegal is too expensive. The second point is that marijuana legalization would save the U. S. government a great deal of money. In one year alone the U. S. government spends $42 billion trying to get rid of marijuana by chasing down peaceful people who happen to like to get high [1]. These people get locked up in jail and we the taxpayers have to foot the bill. We have to pay for food, housing, health care, attorney fees, court costs, and other expenses to lock up these people. This is a extremely expensive method and simply costs too much. Think of how many better uses that money could be put too. Contention 3: It would give the government more funds. If marijuana were to be legalized it could be taxed and the government could get revenue to do its job better, such as paying off our national debt. Contention 4: Marijuana prohibition doesn't help the U. S. The third point I will make for why marijuana should be legalized is because prohibition doesn't help the U. S. in any way at all, and cause a ton of problems. There is not one good piece of good evidence that prohibition decreases marijuana use, and there are quite a few theories that suggest that it might be increasing marijuana use. One of the unintended effects of weed prohibition is it is very popular in high schools. Why is this? Because it is available. People don't have to be 21 to buy marijuana, marijuana dealers usually do not care about the age of their customers as long as they have enough money. It's easier for high schoolers to get their hands on marijuana then it is for them to get alcohol, because alcohol is legal and regulated so it will stay away from kids. We would do better if we just relied on honest open programs to educate the youth and regulated it so it stays out of the hands of kids. But our current prohibition plan does not allow such reasonable approaches to weed. The The programs such as 'DARE' lie about marijuana and also does not even work. We tried and failed miserably in alcohol prohibition, and now it is time that we learn from our past. [2] Contention 5: Marijuana has medical uses. Marijuana should be legalized because it also has certain properties that would be useful to the medical feild. In past years the palnt has treated many different sickenesses and disorders. It has even been used to treat the harsh effects of Kemo Therapy durring cancer treatment. Some of the ailments that marijuana is effective against are Arthritis, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Eating Disorders, and many more [3]. Conclusion In conclusion, legalizing marijuana would be better the keeping it illegal. The pros outway the cons when it comes to it. It would save money, and it would even decrease teen marijuana use, and it would make a lot of medical patients feel better. Vote Pro! [1] . http://www.alternet.org...... [2] . http://en.wikipedia.org...... [3] . http://www.medicalmarijuanablog.com......

You can point out all you want, but the comparison is valid. Both are considered recreational drugs. Marijuana is all natural, and helps with many ailments. It has been prescribed and freely ingested for hundreds of years or more. Not one death has been fully attributed to it at all. http://freecannabis.net... Prohibition of marijuana is comparable to that of alcohol in the early part of 1900s. People are going to do it, regardless of legality, if marijuana was legally available as an option other than alcohol, you would be essentially saving those lives from liver disease, alcoholism, and other short or long term effects of alcohol, in exchange for some slight memory loss, (which is why smart phones come in handy) good sleep, and a surge in sales at local cookie factories. For those states that have yet to legalize, the marijuana market belongs mainly to drug sellers that sell far worse chemicals along with it. Looking at Colorado, where it has become legal, crime rates have dropped, and jobs have been created. Since the first retail marijuana stores opened on January 1st, 2014, the state of Colorado has benefitted from a decrease in crime rates, a decrease in traffic fatalities, an increase in tax revenue and economic output from retail marijuana sales, and an increase in jobs. http://www.mintpressnews.com... Farmers are finally making a decent living now. Taxation of marijuana has helped build schools, and more. The age requirement helps keep the plant out of underage hands, when drug dealers have no age requirements, and young customers may be tempted to buy more dangerous drugs. The money from these deals usually go to buy guns, etc. Cartels get a lot of business from the black market, which is unavoidable due to the increase in useage, so keeping the sale illegal is ideal to them. The prison industry also gains plenty from prohibition of marijuana, because most people don't want to quit using, regardless of legality, resulting in overcrowded prison populations, most for as little as a single cannabis cigarette. It is for this reason America has the highest percentage of incarcerated people's in the world. Smoking the plant, while far less dangerous than cigarettes, provide the easiest, quickest release of thc, but with legalization, comes more innovative, safer techniques for intake, such as edibles and vaping. http://www.iflscience.com...https://en.m.wikipedia.org... Big pharmacy, which accounts for very serious side effects, will also take a paycut with the legalization of marijuana, which I'd like to point out to our voters you have dropped. Over half of American adults have at least tried marijuana. Over half of Americans at least think it's a good idea to legalize it. It's a creation of nature that has harmless side effects in most people, and to those who feel it dangerous, or decide they would like to keep their short term memory, only need to stay away from the plant. Did you know that the USFG prescribed a few people(and still supply to this day) several marijuana cigarettes every day? They know it has medical significance, even admitting that cannabis cures cancer in question 6 of the q&a section of the .gov link below, which is hypocritical.http://www.cbsnews.com...http://www.cancer.gov...Doctors, lawyers, and business owners like myself smoke cannabis on a daily basis. While it's best done in privacy to unwind. Most of America thinks it's a good thing, it makes most people happy with very little dangers, if any. Notice how many time my opponent uses words like "may" or "could" and saying they don't know the long-term effects. We've been using this God given plant for centuries, is it possible that there are no long term effects? If you are scared of it, don't use it. Simple as that, but prohibition is not working right now, and we should learn from the areas that have legalized it, and move forward. Many states would have already done so I'm my opinion, if it weren't for the USFG. The government has a shortage of hackers, some of the smartest men and women on the planet in my honest opinion, because none of the best ones can pass a urinalysis for cannabis. So much for that whole brain killing argument.http://motherboard.vice.com... http://www.wsj.com...