Firstly, I'd like to state I've only read this page (page 14) and the first, so if something I state has already been negated earlier on please let me know.
Yes, there's a TL;DR at the bottom, because I love you all
There's no true benefit to marijuana legalisation, whether for medicinal usage or recreational. The cons simply out-do the pros for both scenarios.
Medical usage of cannabis is minimal, there being many more better-performing drugs already legalised and that medical marijuana has unwanted side effects. Common usage, when necessary, includes softening nausea and vomiting in chemotherapy patients. However this is generally in the form of THC tablets, not the actual cannabis plant. THC tablets are able to be synthetically produced, but alternatives exist. Rather, cases of bronchitis and potentially cancer have been linked, the former extremely, to the use of cannabis, as it contains over 50 carcinogens. It's also been linked to cardiovascular disease and arteritis.
Usage in adolescents has also shown a somewhat permanent decreased cognitive ability. One time use, not so much, however consistent use showed this.
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The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) states that cannabis is unlikely to be useful as medicine as "(1) it is an unpurified plant containing numerous chemicals with unknown health effects; (2) it is typically consumed by smoking further contributing to potential adverse effects; and (3) its cognitive impairing effects may limit its utility."
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Recreational usage is only really used for those who want to get high. Let's face it. Now, the effects may not be as detrimental as say, heroin, however in-direct fatalities and injuries are relatively common. While ODing on cannabis is near impossible, the symptoms experienced by users make roads, construction, and general day to day life extremely unsafe for the individual and others, not to mention the side effects mentioned above.
A common argument is "Alcohol is worse". Well, yes it is. It's only still legal as it's become ingrained in our culture and way of life. But just because it's still legal, doesn't mean cannabis has to be too. Think of all the lives that have been lost due to alcohol related incidents, whether liver fail, drunk driving, or falling off a cliff/onto the road/really doing anything.
I ask you all, is it really worth countless lives to introduce another harmful drug into society?