and there he is....I got an idiot to respond ! Made my day !

henry anslinger(political after he lost the war on alcohol) and william randolph hearst(money, big in paper) conspired to feed the public mis-information about 'marihuana' which they said AND printed would cause 'white women to sleep with black men', it made '4 mexicans go insane' and other racist storys. henry anslinger went from stating that marijuana would cause people to go crazy and later switched to say that it was a communist plot to make our teens lazy. we were grossly misinformed for DECADES about what marijuana REALLY is, or even has potential to do. we have come, as a society, to believe that marijuana is bad and is equal to the harder drugs. the drugs that kill and thats simply not the case.

it remains illegal because most users are afraid to state in public that they smoke for fear of prosecution and persecution. nvrmnd the fact that not all smokers want it legal cuz of the fear of taxes on it, and their life works for them as it is. the people who dont smoke, as a majority, have no problem with marijuana...they just dont care. it being illegal is of no factor to them and in their mis informed opinion is a way to curb crime, since the very possession of it is illegal ALMOST ALL YOU EVER SEE are crime related storys on it and that just reaffirms the mis informed believers.

sry...thats about as short as i can do:) and trust me....i way kept it short:)

Ok, well since no one has stepped forward to offer any sort of meaningful argument against the legalization of marijuana, let's hear from the other side.

For the proponents of legalization, please keep your arguments brief and on point. Stick to facts that can be independently researched.

JimPl, the silence is DEAFENING. I am a proponent of legalization, so I, too will fold my hands patiently....

rayselv- Regarding your quote: "your all idiots ! Funny... but still idiots......." -your grasp of the English language shows all of us just who the real idiot is.

2dognight, many of the things you posted could just as easily apply to alcohol. I'm looking for specific reasons why marijuana was made illegal and why people believe it should remain illegal. There are so many people here who jump all over thekid and other proponents of legalizing it, at least a few of you MUST have some logical reason for doing so. Right?

copperguy and thekid, I do appreciate the restraint. You'll get your turn as well.

im also tying my fingers togethor jimpl:)

2dognight: you answered why you wont use it. not WHY its illegal.

JimPl
Could it be illegal because it few people want to
live a sober life?
Life is too difficult without mind altering substances?
It takes courage to face the problems of this world and pot is a release.
I personally want to live without it and think that if we don't face the problems looming out there they will only grow bigger.
Illegal??? The majority rules.

JimPl: I hope you appreciate me "biting my tongue" to honor your request!!!!!!

Interesting. It has been just shy of 24 hours since I posted my question - why is marijuana illegal - and not one person has responded with an answer to that question. Interesting....

funny futurerichguy

i also watched marijuana inc. i especially liked the part when the county representative said, in a negative direction, that his county was known all over the country for growing good marijuana and that he had 'families buying one and two houses, and then telling their family to come do the same'...sound like a problem anyone would like to have??

Thank You to the JPD for doing the jobs my taxes are collected for. I appreciate it!!

Legalize it !

Ricky Bobby says, "Baby Jesus wouldn't approve of the use of marijuana".

futurerichguy,

LOL!!!!!

JimPI, marijuana should remain illegal because it makes people lazy, resulting in poor productivity and plant closures...oh wait.

Let me preface this by saying I'm not a fan of marijuana. I don't use it and have little use for those who abuse it. But, I'm curious and wanted to toss this question into the mix.

Marijuana is illegal to possess according to current laws. Why is it illegal? What is it about marijuana, as opposed to alcohol, that necessitates it being made illegal? For the time being, I'd rather NOT hear from thekid and the other pro-marijuana folks. Instead, I'm looking for answers from the other people here, the ones who are opposed to it being legalized. What is your take on why marijuana is illegal?

Council_foe raised an interesting point about how so much marijuana is actually home grown per recent news reports. I saw an informative documentary on MSNBC about a month ago called Marijuana inc. (I think) which reported on a new drug cartel marijuana production technique. I seems that they kidnap Mexican nationals, threaten them and their families with murder unless they agree to be smuggled into America where they are set up in remote areas of National and State Parks and other public lands, taught how to cultivate and care for marijuana crops and forced to live on cite with production quotas. These poor victims are well aware of the ruthlessness and vindictiveness of their masters so they comply. Of course, a few have been caught so we know that this is happening. I seem to remember a similar operation being discovered in Walworth County last fall. Sadly, the cultivators evaded capture but evidence was found that they were living on cite just as described in the MSNBC documentary. Was that operation run by coerced Mexicans as directed by drug gangsters? What if it was? Are you really sure of the source of the local weed you buy?

Yes, much of the marijuana consumed here in Janesville is locally grown, but it may still be supplied by drug gangs just the same. I suggest you read these for more information,

http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/local/455...

http://gazettextra.com/news/2010/mar/01/...

Change the law if you can, JoeSchmo. But you might consider obeying it until then or you do nothing to eliminate the Mexican drug cartels and their murderous ways. In fact you may well be abetting it. Where do they get the money to buy the guns and bullets they use to murder with if not from their loyal customers?

I agree with everything the POLICE OFFICER said!

Disobedience is occasionally the vehicle of change. It was disobedience that eliminated prohibition. It was disobedience that brought about civil rights for black Americans. And, slowly, disobedience (along with science) is changing the law about marijuana.

In Dane County, the District Attorney won't accept cases of posession of personal amounts of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia. They get kicked back to the arresting officer as "Lacks prosecutorial merit." DA Blanchard has stated publicly that he simply doesn't have the prosecutorial resources to pursue such cases.

your all idiots ! Funny... but still idiots.......

as is often the case when you live in a world of hypocrisy...

thekid, billnewbie with horror is running from what HE supports!!!

of course the local holier than thou fear mongering troll is here telling us all what bad people we are for supporting the cartels. ha. even acknowledges to joeschmo that its possible legalizing marijuana is the answer. ughhh...but UNTIL then we are immoral people. i wish the blindman could see how outnumbered they continually are here and give it up. or at least come up with an argument other than 'ugghh you support the cartels'. not sure why i would expect a rational thought process to suddenly begin when it hasnt been close to the fingertips yet...

" The war on drugs is quite profitable to who?"
.
A: Organized crime....Like any vice activity that the governmnet tries to futilely ban, it just makes many in organized crime rich beyond belief, and creates empires of wealth. Look at the empire prohibition created in the Kennedy clan!
.
B: The Feds, and those who enforce the joke of the laws put on the books by clueless politicians. Many Feds who enforce the laws are simply bought off/bribed, and make a fortune that way. The few who have integrity still make good $$$; as being employed by the governmnet is becoming the most lucrative profession out there now a days. Soon it will be every kids dream job to work for the governmnet when they grow up! However; it may be broke by that time, but you can still dream big!

If number of deaths was the barometer used to regulate personal activity tobacco and alcohol would be illegal.

As it is now this is a stupid law, the same as any law that protects you from yourself.

I am all for following most laws, yes I do occasionally drive over the limit, but at least speed limits serve a purpose by hoping to protect you from others and others from you.

The idea our government, by way of elected officials, has wormed there way into regulating private activities is just plain WRONG. Yesterday was pot, today states like New York are looking at banning everyday condiments like salt; if you don’t speak up what will it be tomorrow?

Mexican drug cartels.....Wow are you all that blindsided by the facts that the media reports .Did anyone notice the amount of home growers being busted as of late ? A large part of the supply is grown within a few hundred miles of this area, and yes in many cases much more potent than mexican supply .If your not involved in it than you only know what is in print or on the radio , or on tv .Ask a pot head where their weed comes from , you may be surprised .

So Bill, is it wrong of us to try to change the law? To try and reduce the amount of money our government spends on the "war on drugs"? To try to reduce the amount of crime in America? To try to eliminate the Mexican drug cartels and their murderous ways?

That is what many of us are trying to do: let our voices be heard, be true, proud Americans and make a better country for all.

Or should we just be quiet and obey the law?

Saint Paulie Walnuts refused to obey the law of the Torah.

"If marijuana was legal and regulated, there would be no need for the Mexican drug cartels." True perhaps, but until it is legal and regulated there are people being killed by those drug cartels who are supported in part by illegal marijuana commerce in Janesville and America because so many Americans including many residents of Janesville refuse to obey the law.

How much does the drug war cost American taxpayers?$40 billion per year and climbing.

http://www.drugpolicy.org/library/factsh...

biggirl - and when you get rid of the gangs, you get rid of 50% of gun deaths in the U.S. Just imagine.

The war on drugs is quite profitable to who?

JoeSchmoe is right! 70% of drug trafficking is marijuana. You legalize it, and you get rid of most of the gangs. Mexicans as well as Americans would benefit. Why don't we get rid of it? Because 1) we have a bunch of puritanical values in our country and 2) because the war on drugs is quite profitable.

weed is not a victimless crime as to young kids getting in their parents stash and you can say all you want about it not being a gateway drug as IMO when that high they get the first couple of times and then spend wasted years trying to get that "high" again and then reach to something stronger to get that high on a different level BEEN THERE AND BACK......And so has many other people I know.They just grew up...I look at people I know and love when they are high and I am so amazed that they can't see the ignorant stoned look with not a clue which way to go and then try and baffle you with their "high" level of their intelligence that only they can actually comprehend. BTY it is still illegal.....

Vurp....

If marijuana was legal and regulated, there would be no need for the Mexican drug cartels. duh.

I'm sure that January overdose had nothing whatsoever to do with marijuana. It's just a mere coincidence that these people have a house full of wacky weed just 2 months after someone took too much of some pharmaceuticals while at their humble abode. Just like it is mere coincidence that all those people died last weekend in Mexico at the hands of America's largest marijuana supplying drug cartels. That has nothing to do with the victimless crime of marijuana commerce in Janesville either (wink, wink).

There are none so blind as those who will not see.

a non fatal overdose that i can PROMISE you had NOTHING to do with marijuana but they dont clarify that here. reefer madness.

all you blind can say what you want but adult possession of marijuana is A VICTIMLESS CRIME. what a complete waste of our resources. this makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.

We seen it executed, in and out in no time! Sure didn't take them long!

wth??