Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

Since the first efforts to legalize marijuana in the 1960s, Americans have become progressively more accepting of requests to liberalize laws restricting possession and use of marijuana, but the shift has not been a straight line. After 11 states decriminalized marijuana possession in the 1970s, recoil led by suburban parents led too much harsher implementation of drug laws. But since California legalized medical marijuana in 1996, outlooks toward the drug have relaxed significantly.("A Brief History of Public Opinion on Marijuana Legalization.")

In more recent history, the late 1900's were filled with important decisions by politicians regarding marijuana. During the Kennedy administration in the 1960's, Vietnam was a major issue, and the public, especially college students, turned to marijuana as a form of dissent. As this happened, enforcement lessened; courts dismissed marijuana charges or imposed only "modest fines." (Gerber) In 1960, there were only 169 marijuana related convictions in the entire United States. During this time, marijuana was seen more as an escape and protest. Time Magazine saw marijuana use as an attention worthy means of protest. (Time) Crime rates did not rise, and no major health problems had appeared to be caused by the drug. The 1962 White House Conference on Drug Abuse concluded that there was only "weak" evidence indicating that marijuana leads to using harder drugs. (Eldridge) At that point in time, it almost seems as if we were the closest we've ever been as a nation to decriminalizing the drug.

To legalize or to not legalize drugs, that is the popular question lately. The current repeat visitor to each states legislative sessions is making marijuana legal. Currently in the United States there are twenty states with legal medical marijuana and the District of Columbia. Out of those twenty only Colorado and Washington have also legalized marijuana for recreational use. When it comes to legalizing drugs marijuana appears to be the most popular one being advocated for. However, does that leave the door open for other drugs to be advocated for as well? Should they all be legalized or just a select few?

The legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the “high” feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasons. First, I will present two common arguments against the legalization of marijuana and then refute them. Second, I will explain how there is no proof of harmful effects from marijuana and that there are many health benefits prominent. Third, I will describe how legalization would bring in tax revenue for the government. Finally, I will go into detail on how legalization would decrease crime rates.

Ferrets are a part of the weasel family. They are closely related to animals like otters, minks, wolverines, and badgers.

Marijuana has earned itself a terrible name over the years. This plant has a long history with humans, from early medical uses to spiritual and even recreational use. In recent years, many states have seen the legalization of marijuana for medical uses. Most large scale experiments have been hindered because of the difficulty of getting experiments involving marijuana approved. Despite this roadblock for the research of marijuana, surveys and observations of the medical use of marijuana show that the plant may have legitimate medical uses. The lack of evidence showing that weed is a dangerous drug also pushes for its legalization for recreational use. Based on all of the evidence about marijuana for recreational and medical use, marijuana

Many college students are in favor of the movement. Adults that grew up when marijuana was not strictly regulated are also in favor of its legalization. In general, campaigns for the legalization of marijuana focus on misinformation about the drug and appeals to the frequency of its use. They claim that governmental agencies have exaggerated the negative effects of consuming marijuana. Studies on marijuana use are offered as evidence that the drug is not as dangerous as the government claims. In addition, supporters of the movement list all of the benefits—financial and otherwise—of legalizing the plant. Increased tax revenue and decreased violent crime are two proposed results of legalizing marijuana. Another important aspect of the movement to legalize marijuana is the abundance of personal stories to serve as evidence. The government can provide an abundance of information about the drug and make claims about the dangers of its use; however, many people have been consuming the plant for years. Their lives serve as evidence that the drug does not pose significant short-term risks. For the users that have an even longer history, they can serve as evidence of the long-term safety of the marijuana plant. Young people are then faced with a dilemma. They can either listen to the warnings of government agencies or listen to the many personal stories of experienced

Possession and use of marijuana is illegal in over half of the United States, but it is still the third most popular recreational drug in the United States. The debate for this drug to be legal has been going on for many years; some states have legalized the drug for medical use, and some for recreational use as well. Other states seem to disagree; they are not in favor of making the drug legal for medical use or recreational use. It has been proven that marijuana has a positive impact on society. Marijuana should be legalized as it would reduce crime, provide health benefits, and it is a safe drug.

In recent years the legalization of marijuana has been broadcasted numerous times. There is much debate on whether or not it should be legalized or used precisely for medical purposes. Legalization of marijuana or cannabis has already occurred in 29 states and the District of Columbia. Should the United States legalize it all together? Marijuana itself is the dried up hemp or cannabis plants which contain THC which is a mind altering chemical. A lot of research has been conducted on the benefits and disadvantages of marijuana in both medical and recreational use. Medical marijuana should be legal in the United States in order to provide relief for suffering patients, however it should not be legal for recreational use because it will

In the recent years, there has been a push, nationwide, to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. In most states, medical marijuana is legal and in some states, so is recreational. But the legalization of recreational marijuana may have detrimental effects. In the recent election, Arizona had a ballot measure (prop 205) which called for the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Prop 205 lost and recreational marijuana is not currently legal. However, it is likely that the advocates for this campaign will work to get their issue on the next ballot. If Recreational Marijuana is legalized in Arizona the number of deaths per year will rise because it is likely there will be an increase in the use of other addictive substances, there will be an increase in traffic violations and accidents, and the number of people effected by lung cancer and other medical issues will increase.

The word marijuana has been drug through the dirt in recent years. The “War on Drugs” campaign has falsely made marijuana a villain. Sixty years ago marijuana had many different uses, and today marijuana has many more pros than it does cons. Marijuana should be legalized because positive results of criminalization of it are nonexistent, the medical effects are legitimate, and marijuana is less harmful than alcohol or tobacco.

The American coalition- an anti-immigrant group in 1980 had this to say about the drug, “Marihuana, perhaps now the most insidious of narcotics, is a direct byproduct of unrestricted Mexican immigration.” It is through seclusion, Nixon’s outright war on drugs, and society’s fervent dislike for marijuana user that the subculture grew. It came to a point where one could not discern fact from myth about marijuana in the 60s/70s war on drugs, mainly because no research was allowed.

The legalization of Marijuana in the United States has been a hot controversial topic in the past few years. Marijuana is classified by the Controlled Substance Act as a schedule 1 drug, meaning there are no medicinal benefits and has a high risk of being abused. Marijuana has been illegal since the 1930s, after newspapers falsely exaggerating violence committed by immigrants intoxicated by marijuana. Along with the newly formed Federal Bureau of Narcotics caused marijuana to become illegal based on propaganda.( http://norml.org/component/zoo/category/norml-report-on-sixty-years-of-marijuana-prohibition-in-the-us) Many people still are still unsure if legalizing marijuana is a good idea. Despite this, many states are seeing positive effects since the legalization of marijuana on a state level.

Marijuana can be viewed in two ways: an addictive illegal high or a medical treatment drug. Marijuana first and foremost is an illegal drug, and can land you up to 7 years in prison just for possession or up to 14 years in prison for the supplying and production of the drug. However, marijuana is not all bad. It can be used for medical purposes (shown in certain states of the USA). Many people are unaware of this, so this leads us to the question: Marijuana; legislation or a continued ban?

Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (“Marijuana” 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel “high” or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (“Marijuana” 1). Like most drugs, marijuana has a very long history. People have been using the plant around the world for thousands of years. The oldest record of the marijuana plant dates back to 2727 B. C. in China where the plant was used as a medical herb for treating conditions like rheumatism, gout, malaria and even absent-mindedness (“Cannabis, Coca, & Poopy: Nature’s Addictive Plants” 1). Slowly, the plant started spreading around the world. By 1545, cannabis was starting to appear throughout the western worlds. Being introduced to South America by the Spanish to be used as fiber. The crop also had many other common uses around the world. In North America, cannabis was often used to make paper, ropes, clothing and other materials (“The Origins of Cannabis” 1).