...Institution Course Date Legalization of marijuana Introduction In most regions, the use and possession of marijuana are considered illegal. Marijuana is also known as cannabis. For many years, cannabis has been termed as an illegal drug. Today some countries in the world have legalized marijuana. To be specific, a small amount of cannabis has been legalized in regions such as Europe, South America and North America. In USA, some states such as Washington and Colorado have also legalized the possession and the usage of marijuana for medical reasons. Most countries in the world have great penalties for the usage and possession of cannabis. It should be observed that these penalties range from very simple to severe punishments. The punishment for the small amount of marijuana is not the same as the punishment for the possession of a large amount (Earleywine, 2005). The paper does explain as to why cannabis should be legalized. Lack of evidence The main reason as to why the legalization of marijuana should be lawful is that there is lack of evidence for its legalization. From a philosophical point of view, people have the right to make choices and decision for themselves. Of course, it is the function of the government to limit those choices and decisions if the action that is taken by a person does not affect with the rights of other persons. Persons who choose and decide to use cannabis do so because of their free will. Marijuana should be legalized because for its medicinal...
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...America’s Cash Crop “Why is marijuana against the law? It grows naturally upon our planet. Doesn’t the idea of making nature against the law seem to you a bit . . . unnatural?” ― Bill Hicks The legalization of marijuana is a debate being held all over the country. Everyone has their own opinion on the whole idea of marijuana. There are legislators who think that if marijuana is legalized that it will be grown illegally, and medically abused. There are potheads who think it would be cool and that they would get cheaper weed. But what it comes down to are the numbers. Marijuana is a cash crop. How can Wisconsin say no to numbers like fourteen billion, and thirty five billion dollars? Can legalizing marijuana rescue Wisconsin’s economy? Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington. In seventeen states, and DC it is legal to have at least an ounce of marijuana. In fourteen of them it is legal to even have plants (ProCon). Should Wisconsin be state number eighteen? NBC News produced an article Marijuana Called US Cash Crop and within that article they state “The study estimates that marijuana production, at a value of $35.8 billion, exceeds the combined value of corn ($23.3 billion) and wheat ($7.5 billion).” Wisconsin is in forty six billion dollars of debt and increasing every second (WisconsinDebtClock). If marijuana can bring in millions of...
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...Marijuana has been used all over the world, by people from many different backgrounds and cultures and is dated back as far as 2737 B.C. It wasn't until 1937 that marijuana became illegal in the United States. Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. According to a nationwide Rasmussen poll, as of 2012 fifty-six percent of Americans think marijuana should be legalized and regulated like alcohol and tobacco. Today there are seventeen states that have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana, and two states that have legalized it for recreational use as well. However, in a world where millions of people have died from alcohol and tobacco use, do we really need another legal drug? Many would argue no, but when scientific studies have shown that marijuana is actually less harmful to a person than alcohol or tobacco, it makes no sense to keep it illegal. Marijuana prohibition is simply doing more harm than good to society. In the 1920s, alcohol prohibition led to the widespread proliferation of violent criminal organizations that corrupted politicians and law enforcement officials to illegally peddle booze to otherwise law-abiding citizens. Similarly, by keeping marijuana illegal for the last seventy-five years, we have created a black market that helps fuel some of the most dangerous terrorist organizations in the world. Legalizing marijuana could take the marijuana business out of the hands of drug cartels, by regulating and taxing marijuana in...
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...Legalization of Cannabis and Marijuana By: Angelita Balderas English 101 Mr. Chris Dietz 8 MAY 2016 There are many people who might disagree with legalization of marijuana, however as far as facts show, states that have legalized marijuana have significantly improved in multiple ways. There is an overflowing list of health issues that can be treated by consuming marijuana. The availability and distribution of hemp, and let’s not forget about the insane overflow of cash in tax revenue. This is not your average ‘dirty money’, this is supporting, providing, and bettering the lively hood for its resident’s type of money. It is time to throw away that stereotypical pot head image, and start understanding actuality. Let’s face it, when most people think about legalizing marijuana they probably are not thinking about how it can better their state. The profit that can be made is a major part of legalization that should not be ignored. Only 4 of states have legalized recreational marijuana and have taken advantage of all of the benefits, and then there are 24 states that are starting to get on board by having legalized marijuana medically. Take Colorado for example, one of the 4 states that has fully legalized recreational marijuana. When the state asked its people what they should do with all of the additional taxes gained from the sales of marijuana, they chose the less selfish road. The options they were given was to either return the $66 million of tax revenue back to...
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...Deontology and Utilitarianism of Marijuana Brandon What do you think of when you hear the term Weed or Marijuana? Most people probably think illegal drugs, drug dealers, and crime. But what most people don’t realize is that Marijuana might be able help with some of today’s most common problems. For an Aids patient Marijuana helps fight appetite loss and headaches. The Marijuana seed is a source of nutritional value, and is a great source for cooking oils and vitamins. Before it was illegalized Marijuana was one of the main sources of paper and clothing. Marijuana can produce four times more fiber per acre than most trees used today. If you do the math on that anyone can see that Marijuana has a great chance of reducing deforestation. The war on drugs has cost our country millions of dollars over the past decades. But not only does the drug problem still exist it has actually grown over the decades. Alcohol causes more accidents and deaths than Marijuana ever has but it is not illegal. Alcohol will never be illegalized because it has always been so relative to most of the world’s cultures, but that doesn’t make it right. Do you still think so negatively of the term Marijuana? This paper will look at the Deontology and Utilitarian views of Marijuana. The purpose of this paper is to examine the rights and wrongs of Marijuana, and whether or not it should be illegalized. Is marijuana really an introductory drug? Many people believe so. In fact I believe...
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...Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal Published: February 26, 1994 * Sign In to E-Mail * Print To the Editor: I read with concern "Legalizing Marijuana Would Allow Regulation of Its Potency" (letter, Feb. 13). According to the writer, marijuana with high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC (the chemical that causes the psychoactive effects on the abuser), is not a new phenomenon, and this high potency should not be used as a reason to keep marijuana illegal. Marijuana is not the same drug it was 20 years ago. Special fertilizers, plant hormones and steroids, carbon dioxide and advanced indoor horticulture techniques are used by the informed grower to "push" the plant to produce the highest grade, most potent variety of marijuana, sinsemilla. Because of its potency, domestic marijuana is the most highly prized cannabis product in the world. In 1970, the average THC content of a marijuana plant was 1.5 percent. The THC content of today's sinsemilla variety ranges from 8 percent to 20 percent. Today's marijuana is a drug that is significantly more potent than it was during the Woodstock era. The writer then states that "if the Government really believes that stronger varieties of marijuana are less desirable, then it has one more reason to support legalization. If cultivation of marijuana were legal, growers would not be pressed to produce the strongest possible product, and health authorities would be able to regulate its production and strength." This logic doesn't...
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...Cannabis/Marijuana for Our Environment, Health and Ecology A Research Paper in English Submitted to: Mrs. Ma. Leonor M. Vertucio Submitted by: Mayuga, John Angel Ocino, Angel Joseph I. Introduction Our topic is about Cannabis, also known as marijuana (sometimes spelled "marihuana") among many other names, refers to any number of preparations of the Cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug or for medicinal purposes. According to the United Nations, cannabis "is the most widely used illicit substance in the world.“ The typical herbal form of cannabis consists of the flowers and subtending leaves and stalks of mature pistil late female plants. The resinous form of the drug is known as hashish (or merely as 'hash') The major psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis is Δ9- tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly abbreviated as THC). Cannabis contains more than 400 different chemical compounds, including at least 66 other cannabinoids (cannabidiol (CBD), cannabinol (CBN) and tetrahydro cannabis varin (THCV), etc. which can result in different effects from those of THC alone. In modern times, the drug has been used for recreational, religious or spiritual, and medicinal purposes. We choose this topic to know and to inform our listeners that marijuana is a harmful plant...
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...Should Marijuana Be Legal? Student Name Institution Should Marijuana Be Legal? Marijuana is a drug extracted from cannabis sativa plant. It has several uses, which include smoking, fuel, and manufacturing of fiber. Smoking takes the lead in its uses and bears the identity of the plant. Large volumes of documented facts about this drug are in existence, but the legality of the drug remains arguable. In some countries such as America, the drug is illegal, while it is legalized in other countries such as Jamaica. Research has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the spread and use of the drug among populations is deep-rooted even in countries where it is illegal. This stamps a question on the illegality of the drug and the effectiveness of its prohibition status. The beneficial documented facts about legalizing the drug critically surpass the benefits gained if it is prohibited. Everything in this world has two faces, the positive, and the negative. Individuals have personal freedom that is protected by the constitution of a given country. Prohibition of marijuana induces restrictions to the excise of this freedom by those who use it (Rosenthal, Kubby, & Newhart, 2003). The government has a right to withhold this freedom, only when its use interferes with or harms another individual. The use of marijuana has neither known direct interference effects to non-users nor does it harm the health of the user; this is unlike other legalized drugs such as alcohol...
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...What good could the legalization of marijuana possibly do? This is a question that has been brought to the minds of almost every person across this great country. Recently, the state of Colorado has legalized marijuana for personal use. In addition, businesses have opened to sell marijuana to the general public, with some startlingly beneficial effects to Colorado's economy. Do we really know all the facts about marijuana though, from all the media and gossip that we have heard about the elusive and very much illegal drug in most of America, how can we be sure that we are getting the best and most accurate information? The consideration to legalize marijuana nationwide should be based from facts and through studies alone. A common misconception about marijuana is that it is only used recreationally. That being said, marijuana has been used for numerous years for so many different reasons, it's almost staggering. "The ancient Greeks used cannabis as a remedy to treat inflammation, earache, and edema" (Hanrahan, Frey & Davidson, 2011). In today's age, it is commonly known that many individuals are issued cards to legally carry and use medical marijuana for problems such as chronic back pain. While the Greeks might not have known the use for marijuana as a pain reducer, they were able to see its use for medical properties. Other cultures were also able to observe marijuana's other uses such as its ability to be used as parchment. "By the year 100 B. C. the Chinese were...
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...Alcohol and Drug Addiction Liberty University Abstract This paper is a reflection of addiction in the United States and the statistics that prove addiction is a major issue within the country. Discussed in the paper will be first the primary causes of addiction and risk factors that may lead to an addiction in an individual. Going further into the problem, the cycle of addiction and how to break free of the cycle and an individual’s addiction is talked about. Since there are different drugs that can cause addiction, a breakdown of certain drugs is given. These drugs include alcohol, prescription drugs, heroin, and marijuana. Next, the side effects of drug addiction to the drugs chosen are described in depth as well as the signs that can be viewed in screening for drug addiction. Resources available to drug addiction are touched on and treatment options to explore what can be done if an individual does suffer from drug addiction. Finally, what human service professionals are doing to assist individuals who are addicted and how they can improve on training to ensure that addiction can be caught early enough to make a difference? Introduction to Drug Addiction Addiction is a chronic disease of brain reward, motivation and memory in individuals who submit to any number of different drugs available to them. Such chronic need for the drugs leads to manifestations biologically, psychologically, spiritually and even socially in any given individual (ASAM, 2014). These, however...
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...Devin Mayo English 101 03/30/14 Free Mary According to government surveys over one-hundred million Americans have used marijuana in their lifetime, Twenty-five million have used in the past year, and fourteen million use on a regular basis despite the laws against it. It has been reported to be the third most popular recreational drug in America (only behind alcohol and tobacco). It also has been proven to be less harmful than alcohol and tobacco in numerous occasions. Which brings up the question why is this drug not legal. In 1905 El Paso, Texas banned marijuana as a way of discouraging Mexican-American subcultures from developing. By the 1930's it was banned over thirty states in America. Marijuana related arrest for possession sadly affect African-American and Hispanics reinforcing the perception that law enforcement is biased and prejudiced against minorities. According to the New York Times "Minorities were nearly four times as likely as whites to be arrested on charges of marijuana possession, even though the two groups used the drug at similar rates, according to new federal data". The laws against this drug are executed primarily against minorities in this country. On June 18, 1971 President Richard Nixon held a press conference regarding our nation’s drug abuse and prevention, the day that he introduced our country to the term "War on Drugs". On this day he declared drug abuse to be "public enemy number one", stating his devotion to more federal resources to...
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...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...
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...Casie Anderson Mrs. Serwa English IV 8 May 2017 Research Paper Are you for Marijuana or against it? Marijuana/cannabis has been around for centuries approximately 2737 B.C. Around the United States they are trying to figure out if Marijuana should be legal or not, but who knows if it will or not. Whatever the government decides to do about it. Throughout the whole deal with Marijuana it should be legal at all cost. If it becomes legal good and bad at the same time can come out of it, but overall it should be legal around Marijuana should be legal; it helps out many people in many different ways like; their health or maybe in even ways just to comfort them. May not think it but Marijuana isn’t so bad and there’s no harm in it. Legalized...
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...good questions. One substance in particular that is illegal but has not been proven to be harmful is marijuana. In 1970, marijuana was officially illegalized when the Substance Abuse Act was passed. It wasn’t until 1996 that California was first state to take action and to legalize marijuana for medical use (“Medical Marijuana States”). In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Since then, Oregon, Alaska, and the District of Columbia have joined the group with numerous other states on the verge of recreational legalization. Currently, 23 states have marijuana legal in either recreational use, medical use, or both (“State Marijuana Laws Map”). So where should we stand on this marijuana dilemma? Are there benefits to legalization? Is the drug actually harmful or does it have medical benefits? Marijuana is a non-harmful substance, with numerous benefits available and should be legalized on a national level. Whether or not marijuana has any true medicinal value has been debated vigorously for decades now. In recent years the FDA has approved some medicinal use of marijuana in patients. However, the FDA hasn’t approved a full-blown go ahead for marijuana, due to lack of research on the potential risks. These risks include: altered senses, impaired memory, impaired body movement, all of which being temporary. Marijuana is generally accepted in the medical field to have medicinal...
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...The Legalization Of Marijuana for the Benefit of America Marijuana under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970 is a schedule I narcotic and therefore has been made illegal in the United States[1]. Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since the early 1900’s and has been demonized for what it does to a person that uses it. Through the great propaganda of the 1900’s by the United States government they convinced an entire nation that marijuana is evil and will cause horrible side effects without having to prove just about any scientific or research data at all. Basically people chose to go against marijuana without knowing what it is, how it works, or how even America can benefit from breaking apart from the 1900’s way of thinking and legalize it. As it is normally known and referred to as marijuana but its scientific name is cannabis. It comes from the cannabis sativa plant, which is native to Asia and Africa but now is being grown just about world wide. Cannabis has many forms other than its plant one that is widely used. In its most common form, marijuana consists of flowers and leaves while as hashish it is found as a type of resin liquid. There were many prominent Americans that used to grow the plant and use the cannabis as a cash crop similarly to how tobacco plants were grew for profit. George Washington used to grow cannabis as his primary cash crop on his plantations, it was a good profit for him as it had its medicinal and recreational...
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