Why are cigarettes legal, but marijuana illegal?

Seriously, cigarettes are soooo horrible for you, so why are they legal? On the flip side, weed has some medicinal purposes, and it's all natural, but illegal????????

This seems like the proper place for this discussion.

The reasons it was made illegal in the first place really don't seem to make that much sense, especially since alcohol and tobacco products are still legal. One reason for it's being seen as somethinng criminal that I've always found interesting (and I really don't want to start a whole other debate by saying this) is the racial aspect of those who were more likely to use it when it was originally made illegal. This is from the wikipedia entry on marijuna:
Although cannabis has been used for its psychoactive effects since ancient times, it first became well known in the United States during the jazz music scene of the late 1920s and 1930s. Louis Armstrong became a prominent and life-long devotee. It was popular in the blues scene as well, and eventually became a prominent part of 1960s counterculture.
Cannabis (drug) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marijuna#Legality)

I really don't think it should be illegal because there really is no proof that it's any worse than other, more legal ways of killing one's brain cells. At the same time, I'm still a bit skeptical on how benifical it can really be because I find it hard to believe that any kind of smoke that goes into the lungs can be very good for you.
Oh, and by the way, I sound like a big pothead or something but that's actually not the case. I was a sociology major in college where I basically focused all my studies on criminology-related topics and my senior thesis dealt with American drug laws and the way they are enforced.

And by the way; if you want a really good laugh watch the movie "Reefer Madness." If you've never heard of it, it was made in the 1930's (I think) as a way to 'warn' people about the dangers of marijuna. The depications of people smoking up and the way they react to it are classic.

I think the Govenrment likes to keep good things to themselves. They all smoke it.

If big business got behind pot like they're behind tobacco they could push it through easily enough.

Those commercials are the ones that crack me up.

I'll be honest, I enjoyed smoking weed a lot in my younger days, and I have occasionally dabbled in it now in my elder days. I have an MBA in finance and graduated with a 3.5 gpa. I have acheived many things in my life.
Like anything you do, if you do it in excess, it will hurt you. Even eating food will hurt you in excess. Moderation is the key. I personally feel that if more people smoked weed, there would be a lot fewer crimes, and it would help the economy immensely.

If big business got behind pot like they're behind tobacco they could push it through easily enough.

DING DING DING!!! I agree 100%.

But, I really don't think it will ever be made completely legal, per se. If anything, it will become decriminalized like it is in Holland. For instance, I don't ever see a situation where Nate Newton would get off Scott free, but could see people not having to get into high speed chases with the cops because they have a joint in the ashtray.

The other thing besides the major companies getting behind it would be when the government decides to start regulating it and taxing the bejeebus out of it for their own gain. That would be like killing two bird with one stone, because not only would they get $$$ from the taxes but they would also get to save money on court costs and prison sentences for simple offenders.

If big business got behind pot like they're behind tobacco they could push it through easily enough.


Gary Johnson (R- New Mexico, ex-governor) wanted to legalize it, and it seems this trend is becoming somewhat sexy.
So you're right, if big business got behind the idea, then more and more politicians would get on board.

I agree, moderation. Maybe that's what Corporate America is doing, waiting for the oppurtune time. Who knows, Wal-Mart gets there way with everything, maybe they'll start selling it for cheap,and crak there whip on some poor phillapino farmer to grow it at a faster rate...."WHOOPISH, GROW IT FASTER!!!"

if alcohol and cigarettes were introduced today, they'd probably be illegal.

but because they've been around since this countries founding, and because tobacco was our only valueable major export for a long time (WAY back), they're still here. as far as medicinal purposes, that's not nearly enough because it's really not that useful, and it has somewhat serious side effects (memory loss).

studies have shown (i believe from a jamacian work place) that regular smokers that came to work sober showed no loss in productivity. I really haven't bothered to do much research though cause i have no interest in using it and it'll never be legal here anyways.

oh yeah, and that flawed gateway drug thing.