Arguments Against Marijuana: 7 Strange Reasons Marijuana Is Still (Mostly) Illegal

Cannabis is a controversial subject, especially as the market is beginning to open for it in Canada and the United States.

For every person who declares it a miracle drug, it seems that there is also someone who is rallying against legalization just as wholeheartedly.

While it’s commonly accepted as relatively harmless, at least compared to other drugs of abuse, there are still some arguments against marijuana.

We’ve brought together seven of the strangest reasons that cannabis remains illegal for your viewing pleasure. Read on and see some of the reasons why people think that marijuana should remain illegal.

1. It’s a Schedule 1 Drug

In the United States cannabis has been declared a Schedule 1 drug by the DEA.

The strict definition of a Schedule 1 compound is simple. The drug has to have no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. It’s the same category used for drugs like heroin and LSD.

That alone is enough reason for many to declare that it should remain illegal.

If it sounds strange to you, especially considering the recent research into medical uses for cannabis, it does to us as well. The law is still the law, however, and the DEA has decided to keep marijuana classified as a major public safety risk.

2. The Gateway Drug Theory

While largely debunked, many people hold to the gateway drug theory they grew up in.

The idea is this — you use cannabis and move on to harder drugs.

And, there are some measurable effects there. People who use marijuana heavily are about nine times more likely to experience an opioid problem.

The question for the rest of us is how exactly that comes about. The most likely explanation is that forcing users to buy cannabis off of the black market also makes them more likely to be put in contact with other illicit narcotics.

3. The Smoke is Still Harmful

Public pressure against any form of smoking has been mounting for decades.

And the truth is that most people who use cannabis still smoke it. Edibles are readily available but the average user opts for a pipe, joint, or bong just for the ease of use.

Marijuana smoke has many of the same risks as tobacco smoke and those who are chronic users can develop many of the same problems over the long run.

4. It’s Still Seen as Addictive

View any discussion of cannabis online and you’ll soon find people calling out users as addicts. There’s definitely a growing body of evidence that supports it as well.

Some users of cannabis will become dependent on the drug. In that case, they’ll experience withdrawal symptoms upon suddenly stopping. While not as dramatic as the heavily physical addictions of alcohol and opioids the consequences can be uncomfortable.

Irritability, trouble sleeping, and lack of appetite are among the most commonly reported symptoms. In most individuals, this period will last for a couple of weeks.

5. Its Association With Criminal Culture

Marijuana has a hard reputation among those in the “tough on crime” crowd. Their argument is that marijuana can make someone more likely to commit crimes.

The argument is a simple one for the most part: many criminals use cannabis so the effects of the drug must be related.

Much like the gateway drug argument above, however, the reality of the situation is much more complex than it might seem. Indeed, legalization has been linked with lower rates of violent crime.

There’s some limited evidence supporting the opposite conclusion but even there it’s noted that social and cultural factors likely play a more immediate role.

6. It Can Cause Psychosis

While most people like to chill out after smoking a bowl, cannabis has a reputation as being a causal effect in cases of acute psychosis and chronic schizophrenia.

The jury is still out on whether cannabis use leads to schizophrenia in the first place, however. While the incidence of schizophrenia is twice as high in those who use cannabis it’s still a fairly negligible risk.

While marijuana is occasionally associated with these mental problems it’s hard to say how. Current theories range from the drug being used as self-medication prior to the condition becoming clinically significant to the drug precipitating the illness earlier than it would have manifested otherwise.

While a small risk, acute psychotic episodes characterized by paranoia have been documented and it remains one of the primary reasons why people insist marijuana should be legal.

7. Government Inertia

One should never underestimate the sheer stubbornness of government. Even as legalization has occurred across the nation there are many who cling to keeping cannabis illegal simply because it’s seemingly always been that way.

Of course, it wasn’t always that way. In 1619 farmers in Jamestown were actually legally compelled to grow cannabis. The current stigma originates in the early parts of the 1900s.

The legal issues surrounding legalization are quite complex. While Canada legalized recreational usage nationwide, there were still many problems implementing it.

This includes government licensing, sorting out the legal issues around the black market, the accompanying tax, and basically every facet of the cannabis industry. Government resources have to be involved for any legalization program to be successful and many people are against legalization for that reason.

Then comes the question of how you regulate things like an online dispensary.

Tradition aside, it’s a massive undertaking to bring a recreational drug to market while allowing for sane regulations to keep the populace protected.

Are These Legit Arguments Against Marijuana?

Looking into the future it’s obvious that legalization of cannabis is going to continue marching forward. The question that remains for those in government is if the arguments against marijuana are a strong enough reason to keep it illegal.

What do you think?

Let us know below and then check out our interesting facts section for more of the weird information you love.

Weirdomatic is the place where all weird things come to life through the amazing world of photographs – a corner of our wild imagination or the whimsical face of the reality?