What's changed today is that our attitudes towards illegal drugs are becoming more sophisticated and discriminating. After thirty years of research into the harmful effects of cannabis, there can be no hidden dangers left to discover. We know that it is plain nonsense to regard cannabis as a performance-enhancing drug, just as it is a myth to think the substance rots the brain or leads inexorably to harder substances.

The issue of cannabis legalization has been debated ever since the substance was made illegal on April 14, 1937. Reformers still press legislation today to make the psychoactive plant available to medical patients as well as the general adult population. One of the more prominent groups that lobbies for the legalization of marijuana is NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws). NORML has

On the other hand, "Legalizing marijuana, even for medical purposes, could be the single worst decision our country has ever made," according to Dr. Lynn Thomas. "They fail to see that legalization would lead to increased crime, health problems, and economic instability. The legalization of marijuana would aggravate some of the same problems that it is intended to help." Marijuana use can result in lung cancer and a decreased ability to recall information. It can also damage cells and tissue in the immune system, and affect the reproductive hormones. They argue that the money made from the taxation of marijuana would not come close to the amount of cash lost in treatment programs for addicts and lost worker productivity. The pressure of unchanged legislation also comes from such reputable sources such as: The DEA, Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and various religions. These groups hold tight the moral issues associated with the criminalization of marijuana.

My personal feelings about the legalization have changed dramatically over the past couple years. I once believed that Marijuana was "devil weed," and everybody associated with it was immoral. I believed the D.A.R.E. programs claims of, "Only losers use drugs." This attitude changed my freshman year of college. This was my first year away from home and sort of a "blooming stage" if you will. After repeated use of marijuana I did a complete 180 degrees and was pro-weed. I went on to write my congressmen many times adding to the legalization movement. I started to change my speech, dress, and friends to being more "smoker-friendly." Since that year I have matured and learned some of the errors of my ways. I have come to realize that there is in fact a negative side to smoking herb. I have had some repercussions of smoking marijuana. Presently I believe that the use of this plant has a time and place in society. I still believe that Marijuana has many desirable effects for medicinal use. I do not condone the recreational use of this substance, but I believe that cannabis should be legalized for medicinal purposes.

The anti-legalization platform is also guilty of Inductive Fallacies. The Slothful Induction Fallacy is the conclusion of a strong inductive argument is denied despite the evidence to the contrary. This platform argues that "our society couldn't survive and function with the legalizatio

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