I can't say this enough, the real reason weed is illegal is because of M-O-N-E-Y!! It's BIG BUSINESS!! Don't think for a minute it's all about protecting society from drug addictions because it's not. Everything that's illegal costs more money just because it's illegal. Look back at the Al Capone days and alcohol prohibition. He had money and power because he was dealing in illegal things. To make that kind of money selling booze today, you'd have to at least own Bud Weiser or Jack Daniels.
I'd think mainly because the government can make tons of money off of persecuting people who get busted with it.
Yup.. money. While the government would make a lot of money out of taxes, they make more by catching people off guard with weed on them. The Netherlands use weed as a way of getting more tourists, but the U.S doesn't need that.
I don't understand why it isn't legal yet. It has valid medicinal uses, and is not even as harmful as alcohol or tobacco. I think Washington and Colorado have it right. Hopefully one day it will be legal, federally. It has so many great uses.
I'm surprised it has taken this long for the government to flip that policy around. Yes, I'm sure they make an absolute mint prosecuting people, but that's such an unstable form of economy. Sure, you're always going to have drug dealers, but what if they slip away from you? I'd think formulating an industry around marijuana and taxing it would, ultimately, prove more beneficial. Especially since marijuana has some medical uses. I can't help but wonder if they're slow on the uptake because the war against pot has been so ferocious in the past. Not willing to admit you were a little over-zealous, perhaps?
The real reason why Marijuana is restricted is due to over-use and abuse. In my country it is highly grown. At one point it was restricted because of the high shipment that was being sent to other foreign countries as well as the now popular "drugs for gun" trade. Now it is restricted, due to the high level of substance abuse by our young people. Children from an early age of 13 years old have started to use this substance. Now there is a high level of crime, memory loss in our young children and a high level of aggressiveness associated with its' use.
The real reason, you ask? I think it's plain to see that marijuana is addictive. Yes, it has medical properties. It relieves pain and relaxes the patients' nerves. However, the consequences of addiction far outweigh the benefits of pain relief. That's what the government's trying to zoom in on. Unfortunately, when you live in a highly liberal society where "freedom of expression" is an overused battle cry, it's inevitable to legalize an otherwise illegal substance.
Marijuana is actually legal now in a few states. They don't have dispensaries in place yet where you can go to into a store and buy it without a prescription but you can have a certain amount in your possession legally for personal use. I've always heard, as a few bloggers have posted, marijuana wasn't legalized for financial reasons. Totalarmordestine's post was very informative.