...| Marijuana Legalization: Why Marijuana Should be Legalized in All Fifty States English 102 Final Paper Table of Contents I. Introduction …………………………………………………………………………… 1 II. Is Marijuana a “Gateway Drug?” ……………………………………………………... 2 III. Arguments against Legalization ………………………………………………………. 3 VI. Recent Legalization Efforts …………………………………………………………… 4 V. Medicinal Uses of Marijuana …………………………………………………………. 5 VI. Economic Arguments Against Criminalization ………………………………………. 7 VII. Marijuana Cultivation and DTO ……………………………………………………... 8 VIII. From Decriminalization to Legalization …………………………………………… 8 IX. Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………… 10 Marijuana Legalization: Why Marijuana Should be Legalized in All Fifty States I. Introduction The issue of marijuana legalization in the United States is a charged one that brings forth supporters and opponents arguments alike. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Uniform Crime Reports, one marijuana-related arrest occurs every forty-two seconds in the United States. The government conducted over 1.53 million drug-related arrests in 2011, 90% for possession alone, and nearly 50% due to marijuana (FBI Uniform Crime Report). State governments are currently responding to shifts in public opinion, especially given the recent legalizations that passed in Colorado and Washington. According to Gallup Polls, more Americans supported the legalization of marijuana than not in 2011 (50% vs. 46%)...
Words: 3312 - Pages: 14
...The legalization of marijuana has been a common, debatable topic for a very long time. Marijuana has been thought to be a risky drug, leading to criminal conduct and personal corruption. Fortunately, opinions have changed because there is no scientific proof that marijuana has little to no lifelong, effects. States like Colorado and Washington have already legalized the use of recreational Marijuana. Marijuana has many incredible recreational benefits such as increasing tax revenue, improving quality and safety control on Marijuana and putting a Stop to the Blackmarket. At the point when a man purchases weed off the road, there's no real way to know precisely what hazardous substances are cut into the medication. While current legalization endeavors don't specifically address security issues, they do make a structure for a wellbeing control framework, which would work to wipe out a portion of the hazard that originates from smoking a substance possibly bound with poisonous fixings. Since pot stays unlawful, there are no systems for its generation to be checked, its intensity and quality to be institutionalized and tried, or its marking for potential wellbeing impacts before being sold. Research has demonstrated that...
Words: 1046 - Pages: 5
...Legalization of Marijuana “Marijuana is a mind altering substance produced from a plant whose scientific name is Cannabis sativa” (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2003). Marijuana is primarily used because its active chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) induces relaxation and heightens the senses. Marijuana is dried shredded leaves, to include stems, flowers, and seeds of the cannabis plant. This substance resembles tobacco however; it is green, brown or gray, and most recently purple in color. Marijuana comes in varying quality types, and is priced accordingly. Higher quality types of marijuana comes in colors such as purple, shades of red and yellow, and is composed of buds (National Drug Intelligence Center, 2003). Marijuana has many street names to include; Pot, Bud, Grass, Weed, Chronic, Indo, Ganja, Mary Jane and Herb, to name a few. Marijuana is used by many, to include teens and adolescence, and many debates have ensued as to legalities and dangers of use, however marijuana continues to be the most liked, and drug of choice by many. Marijuana is used by smoking it like a cigarette in a joint, pipe, bong or blunt. Recently, marijuana has become legal in many states, for the purposes of treatment of many medical disorders and diseases, which has resulted in legislation to legalize it, making it available to patients with medical conditions, for use by a prescription. Legalization of marijuana would reduce incarceration rates of drug related offenses...
Words: 2183 - Pages: 9
...and around the world. Those who support its legalization, for medical or for general use, people against it believe the others fail to realize that the greatest costs of marijuana are not related to its prohibition; it is marijuana itself. Every tenth of marijuana users develop dependence over time. They point to the fact that stopping marijuana is almost like stopping any other drug cold turkey; it will lead to symptoms like irritability and anxiety. Opposers of legalizing recreational marijuana display point from studies that shows how marijuana smokers suffer from everything from stop blood flow to the brain, major memory loss, and it could increase the likelihood of depression. However, science is still not completely sure about these claims. The schizophrenia and depression issue are particularly cloudy because people don’t know if the drug itself triggers the problem, or if the users use the drug to lessen and deal with the...
Words: 965 - Pages: 4
...Should Same-sex Marriages be Legalized? Kristina Linthicum PHI 200: Mind and Machine Instructor Michele Clearman-Warner May 5, 2011 Should Same-sex Marriages be Legalized? In recent news articles, it is being said that the legalization of same-sex marriages is imminent. But the biggest debate about the issue is should it be legalized? While there are many points that are for and against the issue, one thing remains. This is a legal issue on whether the law should be changed. When deciding whether a law should be changed, it should be viewed in a legal manner. Here is why same-sex marriages should be legalized in the United States of America. Part I: Thesis The United States of America was based on freedom. While each freedom was not spelled out in the constitution, it is something that can not be refuted. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines to marry as “to take a spouse or to unite in close and usually permanent relations” (Definition 2). While it is socially more accepted now than ever for same-sex couples to live together and even have children together, why are they being held back in receiving the freedom and benefits every opposite-sex couples receive? The right to be able to marry should be equal whether in same-sex couples or opposite-sex couples. Finkelstein (2011) points out that “marriage strengthens commitment between couples and therefore brings stability into the lives of those who enter in it”. If same-sex couples are able to cohabitate...
Words: 2266 - Pages: 10
...Farmers across the nation, primarily along the west coast, are dealing with some form of financial decline due to soil erosion, drought, and costs to income ratios. The cultivation of hemp will restore our economy and environment. In the article titled “The Forgotten History of Hemp,” author Jack Herer claims that: Farming only six percent of continental US acreage with hemp could end America’s dependence on fossil fuels. Capable of producing ten tons of biomass per acre in four months without chemical fertilizers, hemp-energy farms could return billions of dollars’ worth of natural resource potential back to the farmers and bring millions of jobs back to America’s heartland. (Herer) The cultivation itself helps farmers, as no chemicals...
Words: 945 - Pages: 4
...marijuana, whether for recreation or medical use. Marijuana has been researched, analyzed, studied, and proven to have positive impacts on the American society. A couple of these impacts are a boost to the economy (additional taxes) and health care (medical benefits). It is going to take society becoming more educated and with up-to-date scientific data to prove or disprove previous misconceptions about the drug and finally remove the bad reputation that this drug has garnered. During the late 19th century through the early 1920’s, marijuana was legal and a widely used ingredient for medicinal purposes and even sold at local pharmacies. In 1937, the US passed a law that ultimately ended up prohibiting sales and use of the drug in the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 in an effort to control the Mexican immigrant population in the Southwest. The Act, after being deemed unlawful, was replaced by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970. The federal government lists marijuana as a Schedule 1 narcotic which defines it as “narcotic drugs with no known acceptable medical use, that carry a high abuse potential” (Drug Enforcement Agency [DEA]). Regardless of the barriers in place by the government, marijuana health benefits are being found at an extraordinary rate. According to the late Dr. Tod Mikuriya, a former director for the National Institute of Mental Health Center for Narcotics and Drug Abuse Studies, he stated “After dealing with about 10,000 patents in the last...
Words: 1902 - Pages: 8
...Should Marijuana Be Legalized? “Herb is the healing of the nation, alcohol is the destruction.” –Bob Marley. Bob Marley believed that marijuana should be legalized for anyone and everyone to use how they want to. The legalization of marijuana would be beneficial to the government, and to the many people that suffer from several medical conditions such as nausea and chronic pain. Many others also agree that the legalization of marijuana would significantly benefit America. The legalization of marijuana for medical use would help out thousands of people with their physical and mental disabilities. First of all, “marijuana helps prevent nausea and vomiting. Two FDA-approved cannabis-based drugs helped to reduce chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. When taken orally, the drugs “worked as well as or better than some of the weaker FDA-approved drugs to relieve nausea and vomiting.” (5 Common Uses of Medical Cannabis) Also, medical marijuana helped patients with their loss of appetite. Cannabis stimulated appetite in cancer and AIDS patients in many studies. Animal studies have proven that inhaling cannabinoids increased food consumption. Furthermore, cannabis relieves muscle tension and spasms. Liquid extract used by MS experienced a decrease in muscle spasms and shacking. Studies on MS patients had a decrease in tremors and muscle stiffness when they had an intake of THC. Additionally, marijuana helped relieve pain. A Canadian team has found...
Words: 1255 - Pages: 6
...Marijuana in California. The debate regarding the legalization of soft drugs such as marijuana is capable of being characterized as one which pits the concept of freedom of the individual against the concept of a paternalistic State. Advocates of legalization argue that amongst other things, marijuana is not only less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are legal substances, but also as a matter of fact has been proven to possess certain medicinal property. The people who support the legalization are member of law enforcement and medical professionals, who really know how ineffective and unnecessary in stance prohibitionist. In contrast, those opposed to legalization argue that the legalization of marijuana will act as a precursor to increased addiction to harder drugs. This will necessarily lead to an increase in the crime rate and accident rate as well. In this article, I would like to explicate both sides of the debate and provide the evidences that support the idea of legalizing marijuana. Why marijuana should not be legalized? Critics claim that all drugs are addictive; they would rob the drug users of free will. Marijuana is considered a drug that associated with unfashionable lifestyles. It is often thought of as a drug for hippies and losers. Drug users can not have rational and informed decisions to continue using drugs because the use of the drug would eliminate their ability to think logically. The use of marijuana leads to the use of harder drugs like morphine and...
Words: 2541 - Pages: 11
... result from marijuana usage. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers and any others" (ukcia.org, (n.d), para. 1). Since this time, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 has spawned more strict laws that have many unintended side effects. After many decades, effective federal propaganda has won public support for these laws. Only recently, U.S. citizens have started to question why marijuana is illegal. I feel that it would be beneficial to discard these laws and beliefs of the past. We need to analyze how the legalization of marijuana would positively affect the United States and its citizens in the following fields: medical, criminology, and financial. I support the legalization of marijuana not because I use this herb, because I do not and would not even if it was legal much like a majority of our populous. I have taken this stance because of the benefits that would arise from legalization. Marijuana has been criminalized for private citizens since 1930’s bringing over 80 years of undue turmoil. The criminalization of marijuana and the war on drugs has imprisoned countless American citizens for nonviolent crimes, and is fueling Mexican drug cartels. Marijuana could bolster our weakened economy providing economic security for those who choose not to use marijuana. Marijuana could also provide cheap and effective medical treatment for numerous medical...
Words: 1787 - Pages: 8
...marijuana illegal, but nicotine a known addictive drug and alcohol are legal for personal use. I believe as a personal choice medicinal marijuana should be legalized and this paper will be a utilitarian’s view on legalizing marijuana. I will begin with some information about marijuana or a more common name of Cannabis comes from the plant, Cannabaceae. Along with Cannaboids, there is another main cannabinoid the most prominent and psychoactive called THC, or delta 9 tetrahydocannabinol, this is what causes the effects of marijuana. This is the most popular illicit drug that has been around for thousands of years. These particular extracts from the plant have several medicinal purposes and legalizing marijuana for medicinal uses would benefit several people with serious illnesses. As of now it is still illegal in most states and federally. Relativism is “the idea that one’s beliefs and values are understood in terms of one’s society, culture, or even one’s own individual values” (Mosser, K., 2010) Society has made marijuana illegal so for the relativist it should be illegal, however this way of thought is changing, and there are 17 states that have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana regardless to it still being illegal by the federal government. The states that have legalized medicinal marijuana are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon,...
Words: 2517 - Pages: 11
...the facts found to ultimately come to a conclusion on whether or not legalization would positively effect our country. Introduction Background Information The legalizing of marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes will have significant benefits for smokers and non-smokers, the economy, and the population. Currently any production, sale, distribution, or consumption of the drug marijuana is illegal in forty-eight states in the nation. Legalizing marijuana in this situation would mean executing the same or similar laws as are imposed on to alcohol. “On November 6, 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the sale and possession of cannabis for recreational use since the Marijuana Tax act of 1937 when they passed Colorado Amendment 64 and Washington Initiative 502” (Szalavitz). The few states that have legalized marijuana are instituting practices to integrate the substance into society. To continue, consumption of marijuana would be illegal as well as the purchase of the substance by minors under the age of 21. Driving or performing certain tasks under the influence of the drug would be illegal and result in criminal consequences. The unlicensed sale of the drug, or any sale to minors will be illegal as well. The personal production or growth of the substance would be legal and untaxed permitting that the product is not sold or distributed for money. Legalization offers an...
Words: 3369 - Pages: 14
...out exactly how much tax money was spent on prosecuting nonviolent marijuana offenders, how marijuana became illegal and how marijuana could help our economy if legalized. The results from my research were astounding to me. It was a shock to know that while alcohol was deemed illegal at one point marijuana was completely legal. I expected to prove my thesis, but I was not prepared for so much information that leads me to believe and become active in the cause for legalization. Although there is much opposition, I am very confident that the legalization of marijuana will not be too far away. Keywords: John Getteman, NORML.org, MMP.org, PBS, American Cancer Society The Legalization of Marijuana The word Marijuana alone is enough to send conservatives running from the room. The discussion about the legalization of Marijuana is at the forefront of the American mind. Marijuana is a drug to most people, it is believed to impair the brain and thought to be more toxic than the consumption of alcohol. The legalization of Marijuana is a touchy subject, however, the legalization of marijuana could help our struggling economy, ease the pain and symptoms of cancer patients and lower drug abuse violations for minority offenders. Prohibition and Marijuana The discussion on marijuana has gone back as far as the 1930's, it is hard to believe that once marijuana was as legal and alcohol was not. In 1920, the sale and production of alcohol was prohibited under the...
Words: 1848 - Pages: 8
...in the United States. The growth in population and the decrease in organ donation has resulted in organs deficit. There is a growing supply and demand gap in the United States. The non-legalization of organ markets goes against the concept of choice and individual rights which is part of the foundation of the United States. The body is a private property and people should have the right to do as they please with their body. By having an organ market there will be many economic and personal benefits. Some arguments that are proposed by people against the organ market are that the legalization of the sale of human organs would create a black market. A black market that might increase crime in the illegal pursuit of organs. It is also believed that organ market will result in many negative externalities; a negative externality is a cost that is suffered by a third party that was not included in the original plans. An example of a negative externality that would arise from the legalization of organ market would be an increasing child trafficking and there would be more kidnapping of children to sell their organs. Others who argue against organ markets believe that the sale of human organs would cause many poor deserving people to die because they cannot afford a transplant. It may also lead to the sale of organs that are not fit for transplant and ultimately harm transplant victims. The rich would definitely have an...
Words: 1799 - Pages: 8
...There is always a big debate over the legalization of recreational use of the commonly known all natural drug marijuana. In my opinion the debate stems from the stigma that has always been associated with marijuana use. That stigma, unto which was onset in the early 1960’s from the “ Hippy” generation has carried over into modern day, thus making the use of weed, marijuana, gongja. Reefer, or chronic as a substance that is destined to lead you to destruction. It would be easy for me to reference a lot of different resources when addressing this subject, but since I have so much hands on experience in the use of cannabis, I will start with myself and my history of the use of marijuana and why I feel like it should be legalized. My use of marijuana started at the age of 12. It was at a point in my life as to choose which side of peer pressure that I would submit to. I initially tried cigarettes, as a matter of fact a variety of brands, none to which I can actually say suited my taste. My first experience with marijuana took me to a place of calmness. My biggest fear of my first smoke was “What are the side effects?”. Needless to say my side effects were tolerable very to me, and damaging to any ones kitchen that I was in, because I was extremely hungry and very inquisitive, during mediocre conversations. This is a brief summary of my personal history and now I will emphasize my personal perspective on the legalization of recreational marijuana use. The...
Words: 1303 - Pages: 6
