Why are people against the legalization of marijuana?

Here is my opinion on this whole subject. Do you want to know why people are against it? Or why the government is against it? People are against it because the government has filled there heads with all this anti-drug crap and convinced them that marijuana is something in which it is truly not. It does not cause cancer, it is NOT a gateway drug and it IS much much safer than alcohol and tobacco. And all this unmotivated crap, i have been smoking for along time and i don't just sit around and smoke... i am completely motivated to do lots of things i run daily and work out. The government has thought about legalizing it because they too understand just how much money they could make, marijuana sales top about 68 BILLION dollars a year and that is illegally without tax. But just for the same reason Moonshine is illegal, since anyone with the internet and a couple hundred bucks can grow weed how can they tax it? Just like anyone who knows how to make moonshine could just make it instead of going to the store and buying it. So until they find away around that or just realize that if it is legalized they will have to deal with people growing it, it will not be legal, sadly. But we can always hope! LEGALIZE!!

Marijuana robs people of ambition. Think of the people you know who smoke it daily. They probably have little motivation to do much with their lives. Just my personal observation.

I have no idea personally, i think its great! First off, weed is natural and way better for you than alcohol, but that is legal and pot is not. It should be your own decision because the only downside of weed is smoking it. It is a not bad drug and people get in so much trouble for it, the police should be looking for heroin dealers and murders. Real criminals, not 15 year old kids that smoke pot. The government would make so much money by controlling and taxing, it and it would no longer be a problem. You never hear about people dying from marijuana, but many people die from alcohol and tobacco and those are still legal killing many people everyday. Marijuana is used for medical needs right now, you never hear doctors prescribing alcohol, because it is not good for you! Marijuana is great and it is an outrage that it is not legal in the United States!

No one said cigarettes didn't cause respiratory problems. The difference is Cigarettes make you stink and have no money cause they now have an addiction (ok that ones the same) There may be no evidence it kills brain cells but I swear it makes people 10 times stupider even when there not high and leads to obesity. It also keeps gangs and other people in business cause no one would want it if it was legal.

First of all, for the other people who answered, it is not a gateway drug, and it only robs people of just about all motivation ONLY while the drug is in effect. There are extremely successful people who are ambitious who smoke marijuana on a regular basis. The only negative known is that smoking any drug increases the risk of lung problems, but that is also true of tobacco. (steps off of the soap box) Some people are against the legalization of marijuana because they don't believe that any mind-altering drug should be used by anyone. Some believe the propaganda that the government puts out, such as the "gateway drug" idea, and the motivation killer - both mentioned above. Some believe that marijuana is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. Most of the opposition begins at the corporate level - being that the legalization of marijuana would cripple the alcohol, tobacco, clothing, and paper industries, among others. They more or less bribe governments to keep it illegal, and the government tries to get people to believe that marijuana is just as harmful as heroin.

gateway drug. Also causes respiratory problems long term.