I feel that marijuana has excellent uses for so many things. I smoke marijuana frequently and I have found so many medicinal uses for it. Alot of times I've used it for stress relief, when I get home from work, had a hard day, smoke a little, and it's like I was never at work that day. If you loose your appetite, smoke a little, and boom...you got it back. These are instant results, mind you. Have a headache? Smoke, its gone. Back aches? Stomach aches? Can't sleep? Feeling anxious? Muscle aches? Cramps? Down in the dumps? Hang over? Smoke some weed, and all of these things are gone, instantly. The relief is temporary (depends on the quality of weed to determine how long the relief lasts) even Tylenol, Pepto, and other chemicals you load into your body are also temporary. I just hate that it's illegal, because, when I see my little neices and nephews sick with stomach viruses, or my parents with headaches and muscle aches; knowing that it would take away the pain and the sick feeling, I can't offer it to them. Why? Because it's illegal. It has a bad reputation with some crowds. It's looked down upon. Why? With all these wonderful uses, why is it not an over the counter drug like any other medication? I truly hope one day it is. Not so people can abuse it, or burn out. But so people can have a natural option of pain relief. One that tastes good, one that works instantly, and one that does not add to the polution in your body. Can I get an amen?

Lisa J., 23
|TN  USA

Ummm...no comment.

Jennifer, 19
Wilkes-Barre, PA  USA

Marijuana can have long term effects on your brain...but to be honest, I would rather have it legalized than have alcohol legalized. I think that marijuana is prolly the safest drug out there and besides, legalizing it would take most of the fun out of using it. I don't necessarily condone the use of it, but I don't think it's as bad as people make it out to be.

Angela, 18
Bella Vista, AR  USA

I think that it should probably be legalized and then regulated like alcohol. And then, I will say that I think that people use it as a crutch. I myself don't use, but know a lot of people who do. And it's find that they have a joint, but I don't think they've realized yet that they can have a good time without it.

Jaden, 21
Brampton, Ontario  CANADA

I've been waiting on this question!! I personally believe it should be legalized and alcohol should be illegal, but that is another story altogether. Is it good for you? No, but neither is tobacco, alcohol, Olean, and pretty much everything else we touch during any given day. In defense of the weed, a recent study proved that it does no long term harm to the brain and after one month of abstinence, the brain makes a complete recovery. Is it a gateway drug? That is debatable. The first drug I  used was marijuana. I used a number of other drugs, but it seems like I only tried other drugs when there was no pot around to smoke. So, I suppose it was for me, but the morale of the story is if it were legal and sold in stores, I would have never tried any other substance.  Are there any obvious benefits? Well, besides the obvious economic boost; the reduction of non-violent criminals in extremely overcrowded prisons; the enormous tax revenue; and the increased sales in junk food, smoking devices, and Pink Floyd albums; no, there are no obvious benefits to the legalization of marijuana. By the way, what is my view on marijuana? I like it...

Aaron, 22
VA   USA

Whether or not I approve of marijuana depends greatly on the individual smoking it. This subject came up with my aunt and uncle on the way  to a Bob Dylan concert yesterday. My aunt had lit up a joint and I realized, "hey, this is a woman who should NOT smoke." As I talked with her and her husband, though, I realized that his personality and even awareness was improved by the presence of the drug in his system. For me, personally, I tried it a few times and never enjoyed it much, and politically, I think it should be

Johanna, 18
OK  USA

I dont care one way or another. Although i think it has much value as a medicinal product.

Talia, 24
Wilton, CT   USA

i really dont think theres anything wrong with it. i really dont see the big deal about it really, so many people use it now anyway that it really should be legalized.

Karen2, 15
Boston, MA   USA

Well, I think that using it for medicinal purposes is fine. If you are sick and this can help you then why not? Although the side effects aren't great, it should be your desision. As for people using it illegally, well I haven't tried it and don't really plan on it since if I ever got caught my future career as a police officer would pretty much go down the drain.

Dianne, 17
Ontario  CANADA

I don't think Marijuana is as bad as cocaine or other harsh drugs because he can be used for medicinal purposes, but I don't think it should be legalized as some say it should be. It's still a drug that impairs many abilities and normal activity. However, it is a natural herb so it's kind of a mixed view. But I personally wouldn't use it.

Stephanie, 25
TX  USA

As a whole and thorough perspective? What, you want me to write a college essay for you? Sorry, no thanks! I have no problems with marijuana; I've tried it myself on occasion. It just wasn't interesting enough for me to try it again.

etoile, 20
Washington, DC   USA

I do not approve the use of marijuana for recreational or medicinal use. I have seen too many young people that have burned out their brains on this. I have see those that used marijuana go on to hard drugs whether there are those that believe it or not I think it cause's the use of hard drugs down the line and also the medicinal use of it is an excuse as there are too many good prescription drugs to help those that think marijuana is the answer. There is pain medication and anti nausea medicine. I do not want to see it be legalized.

Marci, 56
Diamond, OH   USA

Pretty much the same as my views on regular cigarettes. Not for me, I'd don't like being around it, and I think it can have effects on your health. However, I wouldn't impose these views on others and think that alchohol and cigarettes are probably more danagerous.

Felicia, 35
Lowell, MA   USA

I'm too ripped to type about it right now. Just kidding, I can type. I really don't think there is anything wrong with smoking marijuana responsably. Just like people are allowed to drink. An irresponsible drunk can be more of a danger than a pothead. Who would you rather pick a fight with, the guy who's liquered up and fearless or the lazy, paranoid pothead? And if it's that harmless to other people, why not let a person make their own decisions?

A-Dog, 18
McMinnville, OR  USA

Marijuana is a mind altering drug. So is alcohol, although alcohol is also legal and taxable. I favor legalizing marijuana and taxing it heavily.

Jill, 60
Saylorsburg, PA  USA

should be legalized but available only to those who need it like people w/ cancer or something, no one else.

Patty

I believe that marijuana is essentially harmless when it's not cut with other more dangerous substances. I believe that, like alcohol, it's not something you should do while working, driving, or doing other various clear-thought-needed. It's much less dangerous than other substances that

Firelady, 23
Dallas, TX   USA

Marijuana as a perspective? It's probably a pretty weird one. Marijuana is a plant. People use it for weird things. As long as I don't have to be around them while they're using it, I don't care.

Karen, 22
Marshalltown/Ames, IA  USA

I don't believe I have a whole and thorough perspective on marijuana, but to the extent I've thought about it since the seventies, I should say that it is probably no more harmful than the legal recreational drugs and, were it legal, would be no more likely to lead to the use of more dangerous ones. Since it has demonstrable anti-nausea effects, I think it should in any case be available for medical purposes. As for myself, I'll stick to a glass of wine.

Jane, 62
West Linn, OR  USA

I think it's silly that it's illegal. I enjoyed it as a teenager, but don't indulge any more.

Laura, 36
Lowell, MA   USA

Legalize it, tax it, get over it.

Alias Irrelevante

I feel like the government is making a bigger deal of it then it should  be. We allow people to drink and they crash their cars and kill other people, get violent and hurt other people. Marijuana may cause car accidents too but from what I hear it makes the person pretty mellow so violence would probably be out. It seems to me Marijuana is a lot better than alcohol and we allow alcohol. Personally I am not into mind altering substances but I feel that people who would like to partake should have the right to  do so.

Celeste, 30
Colorado Springs, CO  USA

Although it is probably not the most popular position in the world...I think it should be legalized...to take the profit out of the picture...at least for medicinal use...but not for getting high for fun...

Frodo
age unknown, parts unknown

Kristin, 20
IA   USA

I can't believe they still lock people up for possession of it. There are people doing longer sentences for marijuana possession than people who have committed murder.

Janet, 44
E. Brunswick, NJ   USA

I think it's pretty much harmless. There's no way it does as much damage as alcohol.

Jonathan, 19
Brevard, NC   USA

Yesterday / Tomorrow