Encyclopedia of Opinion
Question
Should recreational marijuana be legal?
Position2 of 3

No, cannabis should only be used for medical purposes.

This position holds that cannabis should be restricted to medical use, not legalised recreationally. It argues that the drug offers society no value beyond medicine — that it has negative health effects, can act as a gateway to harder drugs, and that legalisation would even feed the black market.

Supporting arguments · 3

  1. Legalising marijuana benefits the black market
    Legalising marijuana serves to make it more popular, which only serves to help the organised crime units that profit from it.
  2. Marijuana has negative health effects
    Marijuana has been linked to numerous health problems, and should not be sanctioned by the state.
  3. Marijuana is a gateway drug
    Marijuana is a gateway drug. Those who try marijuana are more likely to try other, harder drugs. IT also increases a persons' vulnerability to addiction. Legalizing marijuana would lead to more people being addicted to dangerous and life-harming drugs.