I believe cannabis should be legalised with the same restrictions as alcohol, for many, many reasons. Or at the very least it should definitely be legalised for medicinal use.
Chris Swan, UK

The problem of legal and illegal drugs will only be solved when they can be discussed without being seen as such a serious issue. Until people who don't like the use of drugs, and people who do, stop acting as though drugs are one of the most important things in our lives nothing can change. Proper, regulated, safe drug use is nothing special - whether for medicinal or recreational purposes. What needs to change are the attitudes of people who think that drugs in themselves are evil, and those who believe that drugs are "cool" and a panacea for all their problems.
Duncan Hurwood, England

It should have no legal status whatsoever. It should be as free to grow for recreational, commercial and medicinal use as tomatoes or roses. Look at what has happened to British music since the demise of recreational drug use. Once it becomes more freely available we will see more of the OLD Elton John, Pink Floyd and Rolling Stones; not this Spice Girls, Chemical Brothers nonsense.
Kurt, New Zealand

No. It should not be legalised until much more is known about its possible links with the onset of psychotic illness, particularly in young people.
JN, Australia

Cannabis can lead to harder drugs, just as alcohol can lead to alcoholism, but one is banned and the other is not. In the USA we tried banning alcohol once with terrible results. Now we are incarcerating more people for simple possession of cannabis than for any other crime to the point that we are short of jail space for more serious offenders. Governments are too interested in protecting people from themselves. The only crimes should stem from your actions while using cannabis, not from the use of it. If you cause no one harm, then it is no concern of anyone else.
Brett Holzschuh, USA

Logically, banning cannabis is futile. Those who wish to use it will purchase it illegaly, and the underworld thus profits. Since cannabis isn't extremely dangerous or addictive, there is no real reason that it shouldn't be legal. Furthermore, there is the amount of money that could be made from taxing the sale of cannabis. I've been to Amsterdam, and it seems that the Dutch have it right.
Rabia Geha, USA

Objection to a substance for purely moral reasons is silly and insulting to those who could benefit from use. Alcohol and tabacco have been proven more addictive and lethal than cannabis. Either make them all criminal or adopt a more rational policy of moderate decriminalization.
Doug, USA

It is not marijuana but the culture related to it that is being objected to.
Charles Zellers, USA

The only reason why people are against legalisation is fear of the unknown. Most anti-cannabis people do not distinguish it from hard drugs.
Jeffrey Maughan, England

No, cannabis is not the harmless substance that many try to claim it is, it is PROGRESSIVE by nature. Those who smoke it do so for one purpose, to get a high. But unfortunately, as is with any pleasure seeking substance, it does not continue to satisfy, one becomes desensitized to its effect and more, or stronger substances are needed, progressing most frequently to harder drugs. At least this is what I found true for myself. We already have enough substances, with a potential for us to destroy ourselves with.
Rose Coward, Canada

It's easy to just say "Yes" to an issue like this, but although I think that legalisation is a good thing, there is a great deal of work that needs doing into researching the effects of such a change.
Oli, United Kingdom

I`m sure if legalised there would be a great demand for drugs. The government however has also chosen to ignore other benefits such as the future reduction in pension payments, and long term health care due to a decrease in the population whuch would surely occur, due to the increased risk of overdose if hard drugs were legally available.
John Geston, United Kingdom

Cannabis should only be legalised for medical use of extract under appropriate "Narcotics regulation" i.e. by Prescription. Growth of plant,or import by permit/licence only, subject to draconian penalties.
Roy S. Gillinson M.D, U.S.A

Cannabis has only been prohibited in the last 40 years. It has been legal for 2000 years.
Eur van Andel, Netherlands

It is ridiculous that a "drug" which is so widely consumed by young people should have the worst effects of making criminals of its users, and giving drug dealers large profits tax free.
Roger Dunham, Scotland

Legalise cannabis: - cheaper soft drugs - better quality (normal commercial competition) - better health of addicts - stops trade and trafic - stops small crimes - turns off schoolkids
Els Borst, Netherlands