...Legalizing Marijuana Thomas Hendricks SOC120: Introduction to Ethics & Social Responsibility Instructor: Wendell Johnson 11/18/13 Introduction The legalization of Marijuana has long been a debate and will no doubt continue. While it has its supporters it also has opposition against legalizing it. This paper will look at the argument for legalization and the argument against legalizing it. It will also look at Marijuana use for medical purposes and how that too affects the arguments on both sides. There has been a long debate to legalize marijuana for many years. It now appears that many Americans are favoring legalizing Marijuana and this may have gotten a boost from accepted medical use in some states. Many states allow the use of medical marijuana for cancer patients, multiple sclerosis patients and as Dr. Sanjay Gupta who worked on a documentary called “Weed” for CNN stated the case for medical use of marijuana when he answered a viewer question on his change in opinion of medical use marijuana “Take neuropathy, a severe nerve pain that's often treated with narcotic pain relievers. Yet marijuana has proven to be effective, with few side effects. Every 19 minutes, someone in the United States dies from a prescription drug overdose, usually narcotics. I couldn't find one documented fatality from a marijuana overdose. Marijuana can also ease nausea from chemotherapy treatments, tremors, and epilepsy. Still, I'm very concerned about young people using pot recreationally;...
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...Health Marijuana Legalization 11-2-15 People say that marijuana is a helpful medical drug, similar in significance to chemotherapy. It helps people calm down and sleep better, in some cases. It has been helpful in suppressing nausea in chemo patients, and even helps with seizures. There may be a place for marijuana use in medicine, although that use is different than recreational marijuana use. Some say that recreational use it isn’t as harmful or bad for you as alcohol and other hard drugs. Maybe legalizing it will even help the economy. Those are some reasons why many might want to legalize recreational marijuana use. I disagree, recreational marijuana should stay illegal in the United States because if it is legalized it will cause negative effects on physical and mental health. Marijuana is a gateway drug....
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...English 1B 16 February 2016 Legalizing Recreational Pot Heavy marijuana smokers are at risk for some of the same health effects as cigarette smokers, like bronchitis and other respiratory illnesses. Marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the United States and around the world. Those who support its legalization, for medical or for recreational use, fail to recognize that the greatest costs of marijuana are not related to its prohibition; they are the costs resulting from marijuana use itself. If the United States were to legalize marijuana, the number of users would increase. New users would not be limited to adults if marijuana was legalized, as regulations on alcohol and tobacco does not prevent use by youth. The legalization of recreational pot in America will increase the number of drug users at a younger age nationwide because many youth are more susceptible to peer pressure, the curiosity and sensation of what other drugs will feel like will grow causing more people to try and become addicted to other types of drugs, and finally because the recreational use of drugs will become a social norm instead of a taboo. The legalization of recreational pot in America will increase the number of drug users throughout the country as well as increase the number of younger users. There is a possibility that since this drug would be legalized, there would be easier access to it. Since access to marijuana would be extremely easy with stores selling it in shelves, more...
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...| 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%)...
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...Marijuana Legalization in the United States Elisha Havraniak Ottawa University LAS 30012 Writing and Critical Thinking in the Liberal Arts October 11, 2013 Marijuana Legalization in the United States Marijuana has had a long history as an illicit drug, but is quickly becoming a mainstream issue. Some people use marijuana to ease their pain and treat their illnesses. Many others use it because of it mood-altering effects. Laws have been passed to regulate both of these uses of the drug. Those who advocate legalization favor easing or overturning laws against the possession and use of marijuana for recreational purposes, medical use, or both. In general most proposals for legalization fall into one of three categories: decriminalization for recreational use, legalization for recreational use, or legalization for medical use. In opposition to these three choices is the option to keep marijuana illegal for both recreational and medical purposes. The purpose of this paper is to explore the facts, pros and cons, regarding the legalization of marijuana. The information for this paper was obtained from scholarly and peer reviewed journal articles, books, and online sources. The research questions answered are as follows; * Could the legalization of marijuana rescue our struggling economy or could it provide much need relief to the overcrowded prison system? * Will the legalization of marijuana lead to a regulation nightmare…can it even be regulated...
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... The u.s should legalize recreational marijuana Is marijuana safer than alcohol? Marijuana is not a lethal drug, which means it is not toxic to humans, overdoses are nearly impossible and is not as addictive as tobacco or alcohol. Legalizing marijuana would have a beneficial impact on the U.S. Marijuana has been illegal for less than 1% of the time that it’s been in use. Legalizing marijuana also would cut taxes. Also legalizing it would get rid of government waste. The U.S should legalize recreational marijuana because marijuana is too expensive for the justice system and should be taxed. In the High Times article they state that, “Law enforcement has more important responsibilities than arresting 750,000 individuals a year for marijuana possession.” Statistics do show that the people arrested for marijuana, 90% of it is just for possession. This is unfair because people are not selling it, they are not criminals, and they are just smoking it for their own use. They also state, “Marijuana arrests make Justice more expensive and less efficient in the U.S…” It is expensive because the government is spending all this money on court cases for just smoking pot and wasting jail space on basically innocent people. The High Times article also states, “Furthermore, taxation of Marijuana can provide needed generous funding of many important criminal Justice programs.” A Harvard study estimates that legalizing recreational marijuana would save the U.S 7.7 billion dollars...
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...A major controversial issue in the United States today is the debate over medical marijuana. Currently, the medical use of marijuana is legal in twenty-three states and Washington D.C. The federal government and the majority of states believe legalizing marijuana is simply too dangerous. Despite the many benefits medical marijuana offers severely ill patients, opposers believe legalization will eventually lead to recreational use. Protestants against marijuana argue the benefits have not yet been proven and could potentially be dangerous. According to How Is Colorado Doing Since Marijuana Legalization, some say it helps the economy and brings jobs while others say it creates more crime and puts kids at risk (1). However, many testimonials from patients and their loved ones provide evidence that medical marijuana has been nothing short of a miracle for them. Because of the benefits marijuana offers, legalization laws should be passed in all fifty states for the sole purpose of medical use; severely ill patients who could receive benefits are being deprived because of the possibility that the drug would lead to recreational use, increased...
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...Marijuana in America COM 220 Marijuana is a drug that has played a significant role in American history and culture. The drug has been used in several forms, from practical uses to recreational uses. Marijuana also once defined a generation of American people. As of today, marijuana is illegal for recreational use, with some states allowing the drug to be used for medicinal purposes only. The debate has begun in federal and state governments for decriminalizing the recreational use of marijuana, which has brought about questioning the effects that the drug has on people. Is marijuana a gateway drug that leads people to use harder, more dangerous drugs or is this theory a scare tactic to persuade people to keep from using the plant? Marijuana began its history in the United States as a plant that was grown to produce rope, clothing and sails for boats as early as the 17th century. The plant, known as hemp, was first brought to America by the Puritans, a group of people from England that immigrated to the United States to escape religious prosecution. As the people began to create communities, leaders encouraged farmers to grow hemp. In 1619, the Virginia Assembly approved legislation that “required every farmer to grow the hemp seed because the plant’s large role in producing material” (Booth, 2003, p. 173). The plant was also used as legal tender in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia to pay property taxes. By the 18th century, marijuana...
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...Marijuana should be legalized for recreational purposes to anyone over 21 years of age. Jason Anderson COM/156 MARCH 2, 2011 Colleen Vosicky Marijuana should be legalized for recreational purposes to anyone over 21 years of age. Marijuana has been proven to be safer than alcohol, yet marijuana is against the law. Alcohol is known to contribute to acts of violence and crime, while in most cases cannabis can reduce aggression in its users. “In last year’s cases of reported violent crime three million offenders had been drinking. Almost all cases of date rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence had some kind of connection to alcohol” (Medical Fact: Marijuana is Safer Than Alcohol, 2009). Marijuana has not been linked or has been left absent from any of those type of crime reports. Alcohol-related traffic accidents have gone down in the past 20 to 30 years; however, they still kill approximately 14,000 lives every year according to MADD. The numbers for THC-related traffic deaths are very rare because most of the deaths in these cases the driver was also under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. However, “there is evidence from a number of studies, including some laboratory simulations that give power to the idea that people under the influence of cannabis seem to be aware of their impaired motor skills, and two tend to drive below the posted speed limit. People under the influence of alcohol are more likely to unaware or defiant about their impaired state...
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...Marijuana legalization has strengthened Colorado's government funding. Every society has under gone major changes completed in different states, communities and even countries. In these cases some changes are unwelcome. Today I've chosen a development that affects not only the world around me but also the choices of friends and people who support the use of recreational marijuana. There are two states in the US that has legalized recreational use of Marijuana. The first state to legalize this gateways drug was our Nation’s capital. Following in the footsteps a few years later the great state of Colorado joined the movement. Today I will be focusing strictly on the state of Colorado. There is seemingly more publicity and problems for the state...
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...Legalized Marijuana: Colorado’s Answer? The current presence of Marijuana in the United States is at an all time high. Everywhere you look and read you’re sure to hear or see something that has to do with marijuana. Marijuana has become a huge element within our current culture and it is easily seen. Since marijuana has been on the rise in the United States, there has been a push for legalization of it for both medical and recreational use. With the current movement that is ongoing, we have seen 21 states within the U.S. legalize marijuana for medical use and the states of Washington and Colorado have legalized it for recreational use (ProCon.Org 2014). Colorado has been in the spotlight of the movement ever since the legalization for recreational use of marijuana went into effect. It’s been considered a modern day Amsterdam in the United States with the amount of marijuana that is being consumed and produced there. But, with the legalization of marijuana also comes the negative elements that can and will be produced by the drug. The ongoing debate in the U.S. concerning the legalization of marijuana benefits seems to outweigh the potential of negative consequences it could potentially cause. Those who are in favor of the legalization of marijuana believe it will aid in reducing the populations in jails and prisons, free up law enforcement resources so they can target more serious crime within the U.S., as well as increase states’ revenue through the taxation of sales of legal...
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...which enabled patients and their caregivers to obtain a restricted amount of marijuana from medical dispensaries. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment created and informal rule prohibiting caregivers from providing medical marijuana to more than 5 patients at a time and were subsequently sued for the policy by Sensible Colorado, Colorado’s medical marijuana distribution system. In 2007, Sensible won the lengthy hearing, and its victory made way for store-front dispensaries throughout Colorado. Fast forward November 2012, 55% of Colorado’s voters were pro-Amendment 64. Amendment 64 made recreational marijuana use legal to anyone age 21 or older. This law was made...
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...HurtingHealing & Rough Draft Peggy Matthews COM/172 6/9/2014 Mrs. Clarke Healing & Hurting Rough Draft Marijuana and opiates help when there’s pain you cannot naturally fight. But when abused they both get you higher than a kite. Medical Marijuana and opiates are used for pain relief, but are widely used for substance abuse. What is Marijuana? Is it an illegal drug? Or is marijuana a medical breakthrough? The United States Government contradicts itself everyday with this issue. The United States Government allows all states to pass bills if they so choose to, allow medical marijuana to be used as treatment for patients with chronic pain and recreational use. The other states are absolutely against the legalization of medical marijuana, saying “it is immoral”. What is the history behind Marijuana? I am going to take you on a journey ten thousand years ago in ancient civilization. Marijuana also called Cannabis was used for fiber. The humans in this time period also used the hemp seed for food. It was only natural that they discovered the medical properties of the plant. Cannabis was actually used for a list of reasons such as hemorrhoids, insomnia, headaches, pain, and even childbirth. But that was some time ago. In the 1970’s scientist were able to extract the THC from the plant. Thus making a synthetic version of the plant, and calling it Marinol. Marinol was approved from the Government and the FDA to be prescribed to patients. It was used to treat anorexia...
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...which enabled patients and their caregivers to obtain a restricted amount of marijuana from medical dispensaries. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment created and informal rule prohibiting caregivers from providing medical marijuana to more than 5 patients at a time and were subsequently sued for the policy by Sensible Colorado, Colorado’s medical marijuana distribution system. In 2007, Sensible won the lengthy hearing, and its victory made way for store-front dispensaries throughout Colorado. Fast forward November 2012, 55% of Colorado’s voters were pro-Amendment 64. Amendment 64 made recreational marijuana use legal to anyone age 21 or older. This law was made...
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...The Great Marijuana Debate Cory Williamson Keri Keith University Composition and Communication 2 May 08, 2014 The Great Marijuana Debate A question that has been asked over decades is “What should the US do about marijuana?” Recently Colorado voted for the legalization of recreational marijuana, and according to the New York Times article by Rick Lyman (2-26-14), the state is bringing in more money than expected. There are Arguments for and against the legalization of marijuana. Some of the arguments for legalization are the medical benefits, high taxation dollars, and the creation of new jobs. Those who oppose the legalization of marijuana cite a higher crime rate, consequences of smoking to both the user and the family, and more people becoming addicted. The medical advantages of marijuana are well documented, but many people prefer to keep it illegal; however, economic possibilities compared to criminal consequences show the benefits of legalization. “Something that cannot be argued is the stimulation that selling and taxing marijuana would provide to both the state and national economies,” according to Rick Lyman. Colorado governor John Hickenlooper, in a CNN.com interview with Evan Perez (2-17-14), said that marijuana shops opened in Colorado and the revenue from sales alone was over one million dollars. Colorado also has a 12.9 percent tax rate statewide on regulated recreational marijuana. Using those statistics, the predicted sales and tax...
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