Marijuana or Naw??

10/5/2018

In 2018 only 9 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 29 states have legalized medicinal marijuana. Idaho has not legalized either. It has been an argument lately whether Idaho should jump on the marijuana bandwagon and legalize it.

Some arguments are that if Idaho did legalize it would increase our economic standing because it would bring more money into the state from the shops and pot farms.
Other arguments are that legalizing it would make the felony rates decrease because people would not get in trouble for using it and or dealing it. Both of these arguments are more for recreational marijuana. When it comes to medicinal people will argue that prescribed medical marijuana can help with stress relief, anxiety relief, and pain relief.

Do you think that these arguments would outweigh the downfalls that would come from legalizing marijuana in Idaho? Would we benefit more as a state or would it hurt us? Should we just legalize medical because it is in need more? Or should we continue to not pass the laws to legalize it?

46 Comments

McKinlee

10/6/2018 04:42:07 pm

Medical marijuana doesn’t contain THC which is what makes a person high, so if people have problems with that aspect then they wouldn’t have to worry when it comes to using it for medicinal purposes. I honestly don’t see a problem with legalizing marijuana wether it be medicinal or recreational. I mean I do think the age limit is important. But even if it isn’t legalized people still go out and buy it. I also liked your points on how it can benefit our state economy, I actually never really considered that and I think it could be a good pro to legalization!

Katherine

10/6/2018 06:00:21 pm

I think it's a common misconception that medical marijuana contains THC. If people were to realize that it doesn't contain that and you can't actually get high from it, they might have a slightly different view on it. I think if its recreational it should have an age limit, but if it's medicinal then I don't think that should be relevant.

Kelsey

10/7/2018 10:06:50 am

It is crazy how we are inhibiting people form getting necessary medicine. I understand that it would much easier for people obtain marijuana if they could lie about needing it medically, but how is this any different than getting it off the street? What age do you think would be appropriate if it were to be legalized? I also did not think about economical benefits.

McKinlee

10/7/2018 01:52:36 pm

I think an appropriate age restriction would be 18-21 but only for recreational purposes.

Katarina

10/7/2018 10:07:07 am

I do think it is important to advertise that medical marijuana doesn't contain THC so people won't get high. I think it's a common misconception that by using medical marijuana, especially for children, their parents believe their kids may become addicted or high off of it.

Kenna

10/7/2018 11:34:12 am

I didn't know Medicinal marijuana doesn't have THC. This is very important and I definitely agree that the people that have a problem with getting high don't have much of a reason to dislike medicinal marijuana. Having an age limit like alcohol and cigarettes would be needed for recreational use.

Katherine

10/6/2018 05:56:55 pm

I think that Idaho should legalize it for at least medicinal purposes. Medicinal marijuana can help a large list of diseases, one of the most common being epilepsy. Having it legalized as recreational would change the quality as well. If you buy off of the streets, you might not know what you're getting. For example, it sometimes gets laced with heroin, so having it bought from a store would be much safer. I think it would be beneficial to the state to legalize it.

Mckinlee

10/6/2018 10:55:38 pm

It would definitely be so much safer for people to buy it from stores rather than from some random dealer. And I think that the medicinal uses far outweigh any other arguments, it’s amazing how many diseases it can help!

Katarina

10/7/2018 10:10:37 am

I do agree that if it were to be legalized it would probably be a safer and better quality. I also think that it would be beneficial for medicinal to be legalized to help those that can and would like to use it.

Kelsey

10/7/2018 10:14:35 am

I agree, also, using marijuana where it is illegal would sound much more enticing to kids looking for an adrenaline rush by "breaking the law" than it would be if it were legal. Furthermore, it so common nowadays that it would be more efficient to make laws protecting users and nonusers - like making an age limit.

Challis

10/7/2018 01:47:35 pm

I definitely agree. I feel like so many people use it these days that it would benefit many people to have it regulated.

Jesse B.

10/7/2018 05:10:34 pm

You are right on in saying that marijuana would be safer to purchase from a licensed seller than from that shady guy down the road. In addition to that, crime would decrease and drug dealers would not have as much business with their main product being legalized. If a legalization bill were to be proposed right now, do you think that it would pass in Idaho?

Kelsey

10/7/2018 09:58:33 am

I think legalizing marijuana would be beneficial to Idaho, especially for medical reasons. It is silly that doctors are allowed to prescribe other serious drugs that are extremely dangerous when abused, but can't prescribe something that is technically not addictive and is not as high-risk. From my perspective, I think marijuana is similar to alcohol. There should be an age restriction, but once the adolescent brain finishes developing, people should have the right to use or not use the substance. Making marijuana legal would also take the edge off it, making it less desirable which would make using the substance much safer. People are going to use it regardless of the law, so we should focus on making it safe for both user and nonuser.

Katherine

10/7/2018 11:32:25 am

I agree that marijuana is similar to alcohol. I think if it is for medicinal purposes, then there shouldn't be a age restriction though. If it's for recreational use, there should be one. Legalizing it would make it less desirable because it would have less of a rebellious vibe to it. Citizens would also have access to safer strains of it, and be fully aware of what they are buying.

Kenna

10/7/2018 12:24:29 pm

I agree that there are much worse medicines that people are prescribed. Medicinal marijuana doesn't even have THC so you won't even get high. An age limit would definitely help matters.

Brooke

10/7/2018 01:31:49 pm

Exactly, people still use whether or not marijuana is legal or not. So why not try and use it for a helpful cause? There could be restrictions made, like you said, in order to make others feel comfortable with the usage.

McKinlee

10/7/2018 01:51:18 pm

The point you made on there being prescribed drugs that are far more harmful than medical marijuana is so true! And I believe that marijuana and alcolhol is a great comparison, but like Katherine said when using it for medicinal purposes there shouldn’t be an age restriction.

Jesse B.

10/7/2018 04:58:50 pm

I really like your idea for an age restriction on marijuana. We could treat it like tobacco products and only allow a certain percentage of the population to use it. Also, not only would legalization make the product more pure, it would also decrease the amount of crime in the state. If there is nothing stopping legal businesses from doing it, there would be no profit for the illegal dealers. How would the state government enforce regulations that would keep the drug out of underage users?

Katarina

10/7/2018 09:59:50 am

I think medicinal marijuana should be legalized because there have been a lot of cases where it has helped patients. However the issue with legalizing it for medical purposes is it is then easier for people who don't have a medical reason for it to obtain it. As of now I don't think Idaho will legalize it for awhile medicinal or not because I don't think our state is at that point yet.

Challis

10/7/2018 01:44:48 pm

There are always people that are going to abuse medical marijuana but so many more dangerous prescribed drugs are abused as well and those are still legalized.

Saylor

10/7/2018 07:43:07 pm

That's a good point, it would be much easier for people who dont need it to obtain it. I dont see idaho legalizing marijuana for a while, but it would still be beneficial of they did!

Kenna

10/7/2018 11:21:16 am

I believe the only marijuana that should be legalized is Medicinal marijuana. People who don't have an illness, such as epilepsy, don't need to use it. Medicinal marijuana can help people with cancer and other illnesses which deserves to be recognized in Idaho.

Brooke

10/7/2018 01:29:42 pm

People who would benefit from the use should be allowed the help from their own state, I agree. I recall someone from our school years ago who made a video stating that point, because he needed it. Perhaps if the state is not comfortable legalizing medical, then at least make it easy for the patient to go somewhere to receive it.

Conrad D.

10/7/2018 07:35:57 pm

Another problem. It is very easy to say that people who don't need it won't use it, but in reality, more people will use it who don't need it than those who will. A slippery slope that cannot be climbed from the bottom up. The only safe thing is not to begin the descent at all.

Brooke

10/7/2018 01:26:38 pm

Marijuana is one of the most commonly known types of drugs, but it may be one with the biggest controversy. Yes, legalizing medical marijuana would give easy access to users, but let's be honest, they will find a way to get their fix regardless if it is legal or not. Using it for medical purposes should be allowed if there is a need. Otherwise those people have to go to another state to be treated, all because the help is there. Maybe if not full medical legalization, at least grant partial exceptions, that way it could benefit the patient and the state alike.

Sadie

10/7/2018 06:05:24 pm

Patients deserve to be treated for their illnesses. Even if it would be just for relief, denying them that seems wrong. And I agree, people are going to find a way to get weed no matter what so lets just focus on making it safe and usable for everyone who would really benefit.

Bailey

10/7/2018 07:55:48 pm

I do believe that there are certainly situations where medicinal marijuana should be allowed. It definitely helps in some medical cases, and should be allowed for medical use in required situations throughout all of the states.

Challis

10/7/2018 01:27:14 pm

I think it is a bit hippocratical to not have medical marijuana legalized. One of the main concerns is that it will get abused by people who do not actually need it but so many people abuse other prescribed drugs that are more addictive and more dangerous than medical marijuana. Also, medical marijuana, from what I have heard, does not even contain the part of it that actually gets you high. It just relaxes your muscles. Why is that so bad?

Jesse B.

10/7/2018 04:49:06 pm

The state of Colorado became to the first state to legalize marijuana on November 6, 2012 when Amendment 64 was passed. Since then, eight more states have completely legalized weed. There are also many other states that allow only medicinal use including Ohio, New York, and Montana. Idaho is now in the minority of states that still have every form of cannabis outlawed. It is time for the great state of Idaho to legalize marijuana, for medical uses that is. In comparison to states that have fully allowed the use of hemp, Idaho is much more conservative and a bill to allow for all uses of the drug would not pass right now. Small steps should be taken if legalization is to be accomplished. One step would be to promote the medical benefits of weed and what it can do for the terminally sick. Another could be to show the public how the police would crack down on illegal growers and have stiff rules on the legal producers so that the medical weed would not get into the hands of underage users. Personally, I do not think a complete legalization is what our state would benefit from right now. Our state’s population is too small to really see any benefit from the income the drug would bring in. Once medical marijuana is legal though, complete decriminalization will follow, but it would take years.

Sadie

10/7/2018 06:12:52 pm

Idaho is a pretty small, insignificant state. You are probably right about not gaining very much profit from it. And it doesn't really matter what we believe right now because it would take forever to really organize it all out anyway.

Sadie

10/7/2018 05:58:08 pm

There would honestly be many benefits to legalizing marijuana. We would just need to take control of all the weed farms and the sellers and form it into a more sophisticated business income. This would most likely take decades, but it might be worth it. Similarly, we already saw what happens when authorities try to take influential substances like alcohol away from people in the 1920s. Just like drinking or smoking, using marijuana in excessive amounts would obviously be bad for you. But if those certain people decide to overuse these substances, then that's their fault. Also, medical marijuana can be very beneficial to people. Who are we to deny a relatively safe, alternative medicine to patients?

Rachel

10/7/2018 07:27:53 pm

Do you think it would be possible to create a functioning business industry out of marijuana farms? I think that it is possible, but that it would take years before we found a system that works and it would also take years before the stigma associated with the marijuana industry would be replaced by a good reputation.

Jazz-Lynn

10/7/2018 07:38:29 pm

I completely agree with this! I think medical marijuana could be a great option for those who truly need it. How do you think selling and purchasing with nonprescription users could be controlled after it reaches the consumer?

Rachel

10/7/2018 07:23:17 pm

I believe that marijuana should be available to those who need it specifically for medical purposes. I do not agree with making it available for recreational use. But, if we could find a way to make sure that it was only prescribed to those who actually needed it then it would bring in revenue for Idaho as well as helping those who are hurting. It seems inhumane to refuse someone of a drug that could help them simply because others can not use it intelligently. A way to regulate the prescriptions would be to have the prescription go through a medical center instead of being over the counter, and also to require that the person have papers that prove their medical condition before the dosage is given to them.

Conrad D.

10/7/2018 07:29:56 pm

The problem is that it is a state of progression. Once weed is introduced, it is only a matter of time until the next step is reached, recreational use. Very few people are out there that actually need marijuana, many are simple case where a much simpler drug could fix the problem and let the people continue on as they had been.

Sariah

10/7/2018 07:53:00 pm

I agree that once weed is introduced it is only a matter of time before we legalize other things. In states where weed is legal the people are trying to get stronger and stronger weed because the high isn’t high enough for them. Weed is full of chemicals which is exactly what meth is. So what is the difference? Do you let a child do a bad thing because maybe it is less that a worse thing they could be doing? I don’t think so. I think wrong is wrong. There is no trying to regulate it or justify it. It will be abused and continue to be abused.

Conrad D.

10/7/2018 07:26:51 pm

Medical marijuana should not be legalized in Idaho, there is more cons on than pros. As hard as we could try, it will still find its way into society, causing more people to depend on it as a way of life rather than fixing things themselves. Many of these states are doing it because of the tax revenue that is gained from it and not the benefit that is actually provided to the people. I don't think Idaho should change, we need to stay away from drugs, while a few people that can benefit from this, there are plenty of other states they can move to that provides what they need.

Rachel

10/7/2018 07:30:41 pm

What if medical marijuana is the only drug that actually gives a hurting person relief? Is it fair to refuse them and ask them to move to another state? I think that with the proper regulations we could prevent it from filtering into society and could ensure that it is used solely for medical purposes.

Sariah

10/7/2018 07:44:28 pm

I disagree with the fact that we could “solely” ensure that marijuana would be regulated. I know that we for sure could not. We can’t even control prescription drugs we already have let alone medicinal marijuana.

Jazz-Lynn

10/7/2018 07:30:05 pm

Whether or not marijuana is legal, people will use it. I don't think that there are any major drawbacks to marijuana and it can really help the people that actually need it. Keeping marijuana illegal just means that those who it will be sneakier about getting it. Those who desire it are either growing weed or buying secretly and might get something in their purchased product that is harmful. I believe legalizing marijuana would make it safer overall because consumers wouldn't be sneaking around and unknowingly purchasing tainted, and possibly dangerous pot.

Saylor

10/7/2018 07:40:16 pm

I agree, people aren't going to stop selling weed let alone using it, even if it is illegal. The fact that it is illegal just makes the users want it more. People wouldnt be getting in as much trouble if it were legal.

Saylor

10/7/2018 07:36:58 pm

People are going to use marijuana wether it's legal or not. Legalizing medical marijuana is a good idea. There are not that many cons of it, and the actual high from THC isn't apart of medical marijuana. If it is used correctly it doesn't do any harm. On the other hand using marijuana just for fun or just to get high should not be legalized. Smoking marijuana before your brain is fully developed can cause problems with your brain later in life. If it isn't helping with any medical conditions or pain it should not be used.

Saylor

10/7/2018 07:41:17 pm

I didn't realize it corrected medicinal to medical! Sorry.

Jazz-Lynn

10/7/2018 07:50:42 pm

While using marijuana before the brain is fully developed can be harmful, can it impair the functions of the brain if only used past full development? Should recreational marijuana be legalized for adults past a certain age?

Bailey

10/7/2018 07:57:25 pm

I completely agree that with correct usage, there won’t be any harm in it. The issue that people in authority positions have to watch out for is letting the use of it get out of control.

Bailey

10/7/2018 08:00:20 pm

I believe that medicinal marijuana should be legalized in every state. There are situations and circumstances under which it is useful. Like epilepsy, and anxiety relief. I know that if I had a medical condition with which medicinal marijuana would be of use in suppressing the symptoms, like epilepsy, I would want to be able to use it. And as the high from recreational marijuana comes from THC, the user of medicinal marijuana wouldn’t get high and have to worry about addiction. Thus, why I believe medicinal marijuana should be legalized.

Marijuana or Naw??

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