Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

Marijuana is amongst one of the most disputable subjects in political issues. It is the most exploited drug in the United States and can even be around the globe. Marijuana is the main source of substance reliance other than alcohol in the United States. Numerous groups in recent years have come forward and claim that marijuana use has been beneficial with numerous medical conditions. In fact, it has helped numerous people with diseases, for example, Glaucoma, Cancer, and any other physical or mental pain. Medicinal cannabis should be legalized in Florida, but should be regulated accordingly. The clear majority trust that marijuana use would be more beneficial if it was not criminalized but most still believe that the government should keep it as a controlled substance. In 2008, 4 million out of the 7 million individuals, ages 12 and older, characterized as having a reliance or abusing marijuana. This implies that two out of every three Americans experiencing any substance abuse have developed marijuana reliance. The legalization of marijuana in the United States such an issue for so many individuals today. Some believe that marijuana should not be legalized in Florida because of physical health, mental health, effects of driving under the influence of marijuana, and increase in use. Others believe that is it marijuana should be legal because of its harmless if used in moderation, limits of personal freedoms, and potential FDA regulations.

The word "marijuana" has been a concerned topic in almost every American home today. Marijuana, whose botanical name is cannabis, has been used by humans for thousands of years. It was classified as an illegal drug by many countries in the 20th century. Over the past two decades, there has been a growing movement to legalize marijuana, primarily for medical purposes. Opposing views on the subject of decriminalizing the plant has caused much controversy over the past twenty years and still remains an important issue. The legalization of marijuana in the United States would drastically reduce crime in our cities and help reduce some of the national debt through its

Illegal drug use is a huge part of American culture and one the most controversial of those drugs is marijuana; its technical name is Cannabis Sativa. But whether you call it cannabis, marijuana, pot, reefer, weed, bud, herb, Mary Jane, hemp, grass or wacky tabacci, it is still illegal in the United States. Actually, all over the world the deliberation rages about the harm or benefits that marijuana has to offer. Attempts to legalize it in the United States have been going on since the Marijuana Tax Act was introduced in 1937 and have thus far largely failed. The debate whether or not to legalize marijuana seems to circle around numerous points, including the recreational use verses being a gateway to

Most of America’s knowledge about the drug is based off of scare tactics, propaganda, and yellow journalism from an era that is long since gone. Its reputation has been smashed to pieces to promote politicians, and a politician would commit career suicide if they were to promote its legalization. One of the most vicious politicians that targeted marijuana was Harry Anslinger. In 1930, Anslinger headed the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. As the leader of this government run organization, his department was originally conceived to support the governments stance on alcohol prohibition. Alcohol, deemed to have narcotic like effects, was legal, but wasn’t demonized for its effects on the mind. In 1933, the 21st amendment, which forbade the use and production of alcohol, was repealed, and Anslinger needed to focus his Bureau in another direction (Guither).

In 1974, High Times magazine was founded (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In the 1980s, first lady Nancy Reagan started the “Just Say No” campaign to influence children to resist peer pressure to use illegal drugs (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). In 1980, arrests were predominantly for marijuana (seventy percent); marijuana possession offenses alone accounted for fifty-eight percent of the total drug possession arrests (MacCoun 24-25). The price of marijuana has increased quite a bit since 1980 (MacCoun 31). For twenty years, seventy to eighty percent opposed marijuana legalization (MacCoun 48-49). In 1996, California became the first state to legalize the medical use of marijuana after marijuana became a controlled substance in the U.S. Marijuana has been shown to be therapeutic in treating patients with glaucoma, AIDS, and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (At Issue). In 1999, the Institute of Medicine conducted a review of the potential health benefits and risks (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). The report concluded that cannabis is useful for pain relief, control of nausea and vomiting, and appetite stimulation (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). Despite this observation, marijuana is still stated to be harmful to the lungs (Marijuana Legalization Timeline). On March 19, 2009, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the Justice Department will not prosecute pot dispensaries that are operating

Cannabis, regularly known as marijuana, and by various other names is a composition of the cannabis plant intended for utilization as a psychoactive medication and physiological effects. People usually think that marijuana is unhealthy drug that needs to be avoided, but is it harmful than alcohol and tobacco? In modern days, cannabis is used as a recreational or medical drug, depending on the laws provided by different states in the USA. Although marijuana faces a strong opposition, a force for its legalization is extending across the nation. However, what are the after effects if marijuana is legalized? What are the pros and cons of it being legalized?

The craze for marijuana started, in America, in the early 1600’s, at a point there was even a law passed that required every famer to grow marijuana, it was not until the 1900’s that the growing and usage of cannabis started escalating too quickly and in the 1930’s increase in crime and violence linked to using marijuana caused 29 states to outlaw the use of marijuana, however in the 50’s to the 60’s a new “hippy” culture had started and marijuana, and other drugs, were a large part of the culture. This caused new laws to be placed, mandatory and stricter sentencing rules and larger fines. However in the 1970’s there were political changes trying to decriminalize the possession of the drug for non-medical purposes as well as legalizing it for medical purposes. Then during the 1980’s due to large number of protesting parents and campaigns from other parties, the government was compelled to start a ‘war on

Today, the idea of marijuana (cannabis) being legalized has created major controversy within the United States. In the article, “Legislation to Legalize Marijuana Discussed,” Paul J. Nyden discusses the legislation of the legalization of marijuana use, especially for medical purposes. Nyden presents several reason’s to support his thesis, but the main issue is, should supporters of marijuana legislation in West Virginia back various reform laws saying they could offer people medical help, create new state tax revenues, cut prison cost, and enhance an industry already booming underground (Nyden). Some ideas used in Nyden’s article stating most people even delegates like Mike Manypenny, and D-Taylor backing the

The legalization of marijuana in the United States would drastically reduce crime in our cities and form a more productive society through its positive uses. The United States government is spending millions and millions of dollars each year to enforce petty marijuana crimes and it’s time for this change. Embracing marijuana for personal, medical, and industrial use will encourage economic growth and stability. Associating taxes along with eliminating risk of illegal activity will increase consumer confidence whereas the ease of growing requirements will boost substantial profit. Over the next couple pages I hope to convince you as to why marijuana should be legalized for the many reasons that I will touch on throughout this paper.

Marijuana Illegalization has been a problem in the United States since the beginning of the twentieth century. Prior to the federal prohibition of marijuana in 1937, people used these plants for a variety of essentials, including but not limited to: hemp, rope, cloth, and food, and even for medicinal purposes. Marijuana was not banned because it was unhealthy, or because it had terrible effects of the mind and ones’ actions. No, the plant was banned because of corrupt legislators that had an agenda to demonize the use of marijuana for political gain. Before the federal prohibition, Americans loved marijuana. It was not until the early 1900s when Mexicans started crossing the border into California, that the government started to

The major debate in America today, is whether Marijuana should be legalized or kept illegal. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in America, of the nearly twenty million current drug users, 14.6 million are using marijuana (National 73) . Therefore, if marijuana is legalized in America, the number of users will skyrocket. Hence, marijuana should stay illegal in America for the reason that if it is legalized, more adolescents would acquire the drug easier, roads will become more dangerous and finally, more marijuana means higher chances of addictions and use of other harmful drugs.

What could the United States do with 7.7 billion dollars? What could the state of Kentucky do with 5.3 billion dollars? How could the country even get this much extra money? By legalizing marijuana in the United States we could generate such revenue. There are several benefits to legalizing marijuana, which include stimulating the economy in the United States, helping patients in pain, and eliminating illegal drug use one the streets.

Four proposals made it onto the ballot for the Massachusetts general election; the fourth question is for legalizing the use of marijuana recreationally. Over the past few years, several states have started to decriminalize the use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes. In Massachusetts, the legalization of marijuana has been a growing possibility gaining momentum recently. Prior to the 2016 elections, recreational use is legal only in Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Currently, the possession, use and sale of the drug is illegal in Massachusetts, and there are harsh punishments for any transgression. Some of the benefits of legalizing recreational marijuana are job creation, saving the government money, promoting safe use, and eradicating mobs and cartels from the industry. I believe that these pros outweigh the cons of allowing the recreational use of marijuana and thus it should be legalized.

America is currently embroiled in a debate about the use of marijuana. Our nation is slowly moving in the direction of legalization for both medicinal and recreational use, but we’re still not actually sure of the effects that it will have on our society in the long term. I want to find out if using marijuana at a young age can be directly linked to an early death. By examining a group over a very long term, you could compare the age they started using marijuana and their age when they die.

The suggestions and information presented is intended for every day American voters between the ages, with families that may have psychological or physical sicknesses or diseases. Its’ purpose is to hopefully bring a new light and possible understanding to the benefits of marijuana.