Should recreational marijuana be legal?

Encyclopedia of Opinion

Question: Should recreational marijuana be legal?
Position1 of 3›: Recreational marijuana should be legal
Argument‹5 of 6›: Personal freedom and marijuana

Just as we allow adults to consume alcohol, adults should have the freedom to use marijuana if they desire.

The argument

Given the limited negative effects of marijuana use on both the use and those around them, adults should be able to choose what they put in their bodies. It is a matter of personal liberty. It should not be the state's prerogative to police this and to dictate what people can and cannot do.

Premises

[P1]Marijuana use has limited negative effects on users and on those around them. [P2] Adults are entitled to personal liberty over what they put in their bodies, and it is not the state's place to police such private choices. [C] Therefore, as a matter of personal freedom, recreational marijuana should be legal.

Counter-arguments

Characterisations of marijuana as harmless are far from conclusive. It can have effects on mental health, lead to lung problems, and be addictive. It is not at all unusual for the government to restrict or outlaw completely harmful products such as some weapons or drugs. This is protecting public safety rather than infringing on personal liberties.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P1] It cannot be conclusively stated that marijuana has negative effects. [Rejecting P2] The government regularly dictates what people can and cannot do for their own safety, it is not an infringement of liberties to do so in this case also.