Will legalizing medical marijuana increase recreational use?

why does anyone have the right to tell us we can't smoke some weed once in awhile? I really am sick of hearing everyone say it's a gateway drug...really? Maybe the government makes so much money busting people with weed that they don't want to make it legal. Too many times the government tells us what we can and can not do. There are so many things that are so much worse then weed. But hey that's just my opinion.

it will for me, lol

No more than legalized opiates have increased their recreational use. I'd rather deal with someone who smokes a little weed now and then than someone who is hooked on Oxycontin.

I worked for a doc who played a major role in legalizing medicinal marijuana where I live and while it did bring ALOT of patients to our doorstop, I dont think it increased recreational use. Those who are going to use it recreationally are going to do it whether or not it is legal. I'll never forget this one patient who drove his MOTORCYCLE 4 1/2 hrs to come see the doc wanting a Rx for medicinal marijuana for neck & shoulder & low back pain. The doc laughed at him and told him anyone who can drive 4 1/2 hrs straight on a laid back Harley isn't in that much pain. I only know of two patients that the doc I currently work for who he prescribes it for. One has very severe fibromyalgia and failure to thrive and the other pancreatic cancer.

but that's not in any way a bad thing

Honestly, who cares? The government doesn't have any right to tell anyone what they can and/or can't put into their own body. Of course they do, but that's another issue.

Did legalizing alcohol increase or decrease alcohol consumption?

Just do a little brushing up on prohibition, and you'll know exactly why people call for ending all drug prohibition. Its because prohibition increases drug use, increases violent crime, and allows criminals to use illicit funds to buy off everything between local police to politicians.

Probably. But I would rather see people who shouldn't be smoking, walking around red eyed & dumbed down a little versus not walking around at all because they are in a hospital bed or a casket due to liver failure from pill popping &/or drinking.

I hope so!

Legalize all marijuana.

I don't think it will.People that want to use it as a way to unwind are most likely already using it.
People who are sick really do need it.let's get that taken care of .

i doubt it.you have many that don't smoke it now because they don't want to. and you will still have employers doing drug testing and they are allowed to set their rules

Increases in it's availability and social acceptance can do nothing but increase the demand for and the use of cannibis

of course....