# Why are conservative against legalizing marijuana? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 1, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824 "2010-03-01T04:37:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/21 "2010-03-01T15:24:35Z")
Let’s not forget that bug pharma and the alcohol lobbies are against the legalization of any serious competitor. That equates to politicians being against it. ---
**Author:** ![Paleface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f19dbf/32.png) [@Paleface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paleface)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/22 "2010-03-01T15:37:51Z")
> [@](#): > > Why are conservative against legalizing marijuana? Conservatives, per se, are not against legalizing marijuana, as it is not a true conservative position. However, many who do not understand true conservatism, but who yet claim to be “conservatives”, often rail against marijuana use. Now, that being said, the OP illustrates the typical confusion of those who do not understand the true ideals of either conservatism or liberalism. In 1996, the populace of California and Arizona voted to legalize marijuana use for medicinal purposes. The Clinton administration threatened the enforcement of federal law to prohibit the citizens of California and Arizona from using medical marijuana. So, why are liberals against legalizing marijuana? ---
**Author:** ![lonestar88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lonestar88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonestar88)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/23 "2010-03-01T15:39:08Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > Let’s not forget that bug pharma and the alcohol lobbies are against the legalization of any serious competitor. That equates to politicians being against it. Big Pharma is already in on it: “MARINOL® is a synthetic version of a naturally occurring compound known as delta-9-THC. Delta-9-THC stimulates appetite and reduces nausea and vomiting by binding to special receptors found in the nervous system.” “A cannabinoid dose-related “high” (easy laughing, elation and heightened awareness) has been reported by patients receiving MARINOL® in both the antiemetic (24%) and the lower dose appetite stimulant clinical trials (8%)” [http://abbottgrowth-us.com/products/marinolproductinformation/0,998,12413-2-0,00.htm](http://abbottgrowth-us.com/products/marinolproductinformation/0,998,12413-2-0,00.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Paleface](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f19dbf/32.png) [@Paleface](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paleface)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/24 "2010-03-01T17:01:57Z")
> [@Paleface](#): > > Now, that being said, the OP illustrates the typical confusion of those who do not understand the true ideals of either conservatism or liberalism. To expand on this comment, a good example would be those who rail against the “conservative” George W Bush administration, when he ran his administration like a Wilsonian democrat. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/25 "2010-03-01T17:40:49Z")
> [@Sinaptics](#): > > Not only that, but you have big money fighting against it. You have alcohol and tobacco who don’t want competitors. You have the agriculture section that doesn’t want hemp introduced to the market. You have various crime agencies that exist because of drugs, etc. > [@cosmosdan](#): > > Let’s not forget that bug pharma and the alcohol lobbies are against the legalization of any serious competitor. That equates to politicians being against it. Cite? I’ll have to say, I have never heard of either tobacco or alcohol lobbying on this subject. I suspect this is one of those “oh, it must be true” kind of things. ---
**Author:** ![Trepa\_Mayfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/edb3f5/32.png) [@Trepa\_Mayfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trepa_Mayfield)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/26 "2010-03-01T18:01:46Z")
> [@Paleface](#): > > To expand on this comment, a good example would be those who rail against the “conservative” George W Bush administration, when he ran his administration like a Wilsonian democrat. Neither party holds the same ideals as they did 100 years ago. Your point is…? ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/27 "2010-03-01T18:18:39Z")
Let’s take a look at the situation in the Netherlands (where I live). In case you’re not aware, **it’s technically illegal to grow, possess or sell marijuana over here**. Now, because the overall consensus is that enforcing most of these laws WRT marijuana will do more harm than good (health wise, financially and legally), the laws regarding possession and growing are not enforced if it’s for personal use - basically, a couple of plants or a few grams of MJ is allowed - and licenses can be handed out by the cities for shops to sell MJ. This part of the system is supported by the majority of political parties (the only ones who are vocally against it are the Christians), and by pretty much all of the larger cities (who do the majority of enforcement). _But there is no system in place for production._ This means, that all those shops that are “legally” allowed to sell their products, must make all kinds of illegal deals to get their stock. This is a very obvious problem, and it’s an obvious opportunity for organized crime to take hold of. The major cities are actually in favor of legalization of production. The Christians are very much against - at leas on the national level. But most of the other major parties - even the ones that appear to be at least in principle in favor of legalization - are very careful not to turn this into a big debate. There’s no voters in it. The people in favor of legalization will vote for them (or not at all) anyway, while there are still plenty of people - mostly older ones, the rural voters, the people who are “tough on crime” - who don’t like the idea and they might lose their votes if they made it a big issue on the campaigns. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/28 "2010-03-01T18:24:23Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > It doesn’t really need anything else than that. Although in addition, conservatives tend to oppose all forms of physical pleasure, and most non-physical ones. Sex, drugs, music, kindess; getting pleasure from just about anything besides religion, profit and militaristic patriotism is evil in the typical conservative’s eyes. > [@pedescribe](#): > > Hey, I get to use this [Captain Planet](http://www.turner.com/planet/characters/img/villains.gif) image two times in one day! Except this time they’re caricatured conservatives, instead of caricatured capitalists. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Conservatives ARE a caricature of themselves. > > As for that cartoon ( which I’ve never watched ), I doubt Captain Planet as a kiddie show would have gone far enough to be accurate. Torture, for example, wouldn’t have been touched. Probably not even actual death. Let’s confine this discussion to marijuana legalization and leave out other issues like torture. And **Der Trihs** , assertions that conservatives and opposed to pleasure, music, and kindness do nothing for this debate. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/29 "2010-03-01T18:32:18Z")
Chalk up another conservative for legalization. On **Bricker** ’s scale, I’d be a “1”. Legalize it, tax the hell out of it, and you’ve created a painless new revenue stream for the State and/or Uncle Sugar. ---
**Author:** ![kidchameleon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/898d66/32.png) [@kidchameleon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kidchameleon)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/30 "2010-03-01T18:34:29Z")
It hasn’t helped that politics can’t keep its paws off science. Many of the studies of MJ/THC have been biased going in, resulting in a lot of propaganda against it. On the other side, the pro-groups have done a lot of the same. So we have a whole lot of biased studies drowning out what true knowledge is out there. Thus we’ve essentially removed science from the mix, making it more about dogma, money and headlines. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/31 "2010-03-01T18:37:21Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m a conservative, and although I oppose the legalization of marijuana, I’m not particularly strongly opposed to it; if we did the typical 1="strongly in favor and 10=“strongly opposed,” I suppose I’d be about a six. **I suspect that if I immersed myself in learning the science of marijuana’s ill effects in any detail, I’d probably move to a four or five.** I’ve had discussions here which have seemed convincing, but then subsequent off-board discussions that were also convincing in the other direction. How does this differ from your feelings about alcohol and tobacco? And if it does not differ, do you think the government reaction should still be different? ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/32 "2010-03-01T19:15:11Z")
The criminalization of pot is primarily (imo) legal desocialization. Instead of being able to offer a toke to a random passerby, starting a conversation and maybe finding some common interests and making a friend, the thought police have us looking our shoulders for citizen narcs. Fear, more fear. ---
**Author:** ![lonestar88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lonestar88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lonestar88)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/33 "2010-03-01T19:50:17Z")
As others have said, its not all conservatives… but likely social conservatives. And, I think this is primarily due to an image problem. THC is already legal in pill form. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/34 "2010-03-01T20:27:17Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I’d say it depends on the conservative, especially on the TYPE of conservative. I get the impression that people think that conservative thought is some kind of monolithic group think that’s in lockstep (with jackboots…always remember the jackboots). The term ‘conservative’ encompasses a pretty wide range of beliefs, however, many of which are mutually exclusive. How about telling us what “conservative” actually means instead of snarking at those who supposedly have the wrong impression. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/35 "2010-03-01T20:29:23Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > The criminalization of pot is primarily (imo) legal desocialization. Instead of being able to offer a toke to a random passerby, starting a conversation and maybe finding some common interests and making a friend, the thought police have us looking our shoulders for citizen narcs. Fear, more fear. I don’t think I’ve ever heard this argued before. What is the basis of your theory? ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/36 "2010-03-01T21:11:36Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever heard this argued before. What is the basis of your theory? [disclaimer]I’ve never inhaled the shit.[/disclaimer] But, inexplicably, I love the stink and the folks it seems to attract. I have found that a good doobie is much like a campfire. Enough said? If not, I will go on, but please, don’t Bogart. In a more serious vein in answer to OP, legalizing mj would put a lot of people out of meaningless (anti-social) work, My fav bumper sticker is “DARE to think for yourself.” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/37 "2010-03-01T22:20:09Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m a conservative, and although I oppose the legalization of marijuana, I’m not particularly strongly opposed to it; if we did the typical 1="strongly in favor and 10=“strongly opposed,” I suppose I’d be about a six. I suspect that if I immersed myself in learning the science of marijuana’s ill effects in any detail, I’d probably move to a four or five. I’ve had discussions here which have seemed convincing, but then subsequent off-board discussions that were also convincing in the other direction. **Bricker** , could you explain why you oppose legalization of marijuana? Is it because you think it would further societal disorder, or would increase health problems, or because you think it’s a gateway drug, etc? I’m not looking to even comment on your views here; I’m just curious. I mean, I figure that way we at least know why _one_ conservative opposes legalization. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/38 "2010-03-01T22:34:45Z")
> [@adhay](#): > > But, inexplicably, I love the stink and the folks it seems to attract. I have found that a good doobie is much like a campfire. Enough said? If not, I will go on, but please, don’t Bogart. While I disagree, for the most part, I do thank you for explaining it to me. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/39 "2010-03-01T23:03:50Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > Even William F. Buckley noticed how stupid the laws are: Sure, but are there any examples of **conservatives** with that opinion? 😃 ☹ ---
**Author:** ![adhay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@adhay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhay)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824/40 "2010-03-01T23:39:36Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > While I disagree, for the most part, I do thank you for explaining it to me. And I truly thank you for asking here. Saves my starting a thread. So, do you inhale … I thought not. Me neither. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-conservative-against-legalizing-marijuana/530824.md?page=3)