EOC Week 9: Wall Street Journal Editorial Opinion

"All states are explicitly barred from regulating the possession, use, distribution and sale of pot and narcotics under the federal Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Like it or not, Congress declared marijuana to be a dangerous drug that should be banned." I've never fully understood the marijuana situation. How can something be illegal in the nation, but legal in certain states within that nation? It doesn't make much sense to me, but I'll admit there are many laws that I find to be quite silly.

Legalizing marijuana is very controversial because there are polar opposite opinions on the drug. Some people believe marijuana is a dangerous drug, and even though it is a natural plant, it is a drug non-the-less. People use the plant to get high... sounds like a drug to me.

However there are many positive opinions about the drug. Marijuana supporters will explain how the drug is only a plant and is more natural and less dangerous than cigarettes or alcohol. Weed advocates make a good point when stating that no one has ever died from smoking weed, but many have died from too much alcohol.
"Mr. Obama could lead that debate, or at least offer his view, but he knows that the politics of drug legalization is still tricky and there could be a backlash in states with hot Senate races next year. Yet he also doesn't want to offend his pot-loving liberal base. So his political default is simply to declare he won't enforce current federal law"

Okay, honestly... I couldn't hardly care less about the situation. Weed is weed. I agree that it is natural, and probably less dangerous than alcohol. I agree that marijuana should be treated like alcohol when people are behind the wheel or underage. I agree that not much will change whether or not weed is legalized. People that smoke it, will continue to smoke it. People that don't still won't.

The president needs to make up his mind cautiously. He needs to realize that if he doesn't respect the laws then neither will his country.
"Don't be surprised if millions of Americans begin to follow the President's example and conclude that they also don't have to follow laws they don't like—and not merely smoking reefer on the front porch."