General

@eean: Are there set prices on alcohol? Companies get to compete for lowering prices on booze, in washington there is going to be a set price for an ounce, $16, and there are fees and licenses at steep prices that the dispensaries must pay. people who grow at their homes will be able to sell for much cheaper, and the customers will be willing to accept a lesser quality product for a better price. Also once someone has a dealer, they usually like to stay with that dealer.

I guess I will put black market as con to back up with few facts.

[quote=Classicvibe]Marijuana is mostly illegal because the tobacco companies saw it as a competitive threat and sought to make it illegal back in the day. [/quote]

They were only one. The Alcohol industry, and the Pharmaceutical industries as well.

[quote=SmashFace]Not even close, there will always be a huge black market for marijuana.[/quote]

The black market will just shift towards another illicit drug, just like post prohibition, the black market for alcohol pretty much died off.

[quote=SmashFace]Not even close, there will always be a huge black market for marijuana.[/quote]

that's interesting. I will look thru some facts on those.
if the marijuana legalize. The government could control the price on marijuana which they could increases with tax included. So the black market could probably sell it better price, but you'll never know what you're buying. This might lose funding for the government.

[quote=eean]I would use regulation as a pro. helps to keep it out of the hands of kids[/quote]

Not even close, there will always be a huge black market for marijuana.

[quote=ltachifire]Don't you only need one side for an argumentative essay? Refute, defend, or qualify? You don't have to qualify do you?[/quote]

I have to counter arguments and prove with facts and data.

[quote=Classicvibe]You include the counterarguments and counter those.[/quote]

From what i was taught the counter argument shouldn't be a main focus. Just something to support your argument.

I would say that it's still harmful, even if it's not as harmful as smoking or drinking since i am completely against both of those two actions too.

[quote=ltachifire]Don't you only need one side for an argumentative essay? Refute, defend, or qualify? You don't have to qualify do you?[/quote]

You include the counterarguments and counter those.

Don't you only need one side for an argumentative essay? Refute, defend, or qualify? You don't have to qualify do you?

Marijuana is mostly illegal because the tobacco companies saw it as a competitive threat and sought to make it illegal back in the day.

Also, legalization would pretty much destroy the drug cartels down in Mexico. There is absolutely no way any opponent can trump this argument, it makes up like 50%+ of the cartels' profits and you have no idea how bad it is down there because of them, the Mexican president essentially said the drug war was completely hopeless unless the US found a way to stop money flowing south from drug profits.

You can't really get addicted to it.

But the strongest argument most people have for it is that it's a gateway drug, that, it encourages people to try stronger, more harmful drugs.

There are also some questionable medical research articles that are conspicuously funded by people/organizations against legalization that supposedly proves it's a carcinogenic and is also addictive.

alright I got too much pros. I need some cons.

[quote=eean]I would use regulation as a pro. helps to keep it out of the hands of kids[/quote]
Regulation is also good because it ensures that people are getting good quality marijuana safely. Why pay some shady guy on the streets for weed that's probably mixed with harmful stuff when you could go to the store and pick up some stuff that's held to a certain standard.

I know someone on Basil who was addicted to MJ.
But I guess another one is that there are no serious health risks, at least with recreational or medicinal use.

[quote=Deadling]You can't be addicted to marijuana.

Good argument. Harmless. Especially compared to alcohol.[/quote]

I guess it could be a fact on addiction.
ya good idea I could compare to alcohol

You can't be addicted to marijuana.

Good argument. Harmless. Especially compared to alcohol.

[quote=eean]I would use regulation as a pro. helps to keep it out of the hands of kids[/quote]

you mean prohibition right?
@jacob510 I just need something to disagree for my argument. so ya

There was this news report in Cali where weed decreased crime rate in youths by 20%. Another good reason is that its natural, unless its laced. For disagreement i'd have to say it causes people to be unproductive.

Not sure if addiction can even be used considering cannabis is less addictive than caffeine.