...The Legalization of Marijuana Do you ever think that maybe our government isn’t as foolproof as we would like to think? Maybe our government isn’t always looking out for people’s health as much as how much money it can make? The fact is, tobacco and alcohol are the two of the leading causes of death in America and are legal. While marijuana has virtually zero deaths yet remains illegal because the government can’t profit from making it legal. Hash, tree, reefer, cannabis, gong, chronic, pot, herb and weed are a few of the common slang terms for the widely known controlled subsistence marijuana. “The term ‘marijuana’ refers to the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis plant. Marijuana is a tobacco like substance produced by drying the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis plant. Marijuana contains a natural chemical called THC (delta-9-tetrahydocannabinol) which gives users of the drug a ‘high’ when smoked” (What is Marijuana). Marijuana has several different effects, all of which are not severe or extremely harmful. “Some of the effects of marijuana use include increased heart rate, dryness of the mouth, reddening of the eyes, impaired motor skills and concentration, and frequent hunger” (What is Marijuana). According to Pete Guither, marijuana has been recorded to have been used as far back as 7,000 B.C.E. Its common use at the time was to weave fabrics and make rope, shortly after it was used as a recreational drug. Even though it is illegal now, in 1609 Virginia passed...
Words: 1424 - Pages: 6
...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...
Words: 2673 - Pages: 11
...Legalizing Marijuana What do George Washington, Ted Turner, Michael Bloomberg, Barack Obama, Michael Phelps, and Carl Sagen all have in common? All have either admitted to growing, and or smoking marijuana. Peculiar, to say the least, all of these extremely influential people would be prosecuted and possibly arrested had they had been caught partaking in these illegal acts. If one were to go back to the time of George Washington’s presidency and take a glimpse at the first president’s garden they would be shocked to see that the leader of the American Revolutionary War Army grew marijuana. The growth of cannabis in today’s world carries quite a hazy perception. Most people would be shocked at the thought of someone; much less the president was growing marijuana. It is in this perception in which the problem stems, why be shocked? Why think less of person? Why even consider Marijuana to be this life-threatening, lazy causing, brain cell killer, schedule one drug? Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in America today. It is estimated that one hundred million people have admitted to smoking marijuana. However the winds of reform and legalization have begun to sweep this nation. Americans, now more than ever, are advocating the legalization of marijuana, as seen recently by two states legalizing the plant for recreational use. I, for one, am a strong advocate for the recreational use and legalization of marijuana in the United States. I have found that to understand...
Words: 1693 - Pages: 7
...Marijuana Should Be Illegal Herlina Pryor BCOM/275 March 23, 2014 Instructor: Jamey Pippert Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal Published: February 26, 1994 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...
Words: 980 - Pages: 4
...Beyond Legalizing Marijuana for Medical Purpose Angel Padro Devry University Professor Natalie Reid English 112 February 23, 2011 In this time of day we still have people that are against legalizing marijuana, but now it brings up discussion about marijuana if United States should legalized marijuana for medical purpose. Now you have to ask yourself something, why is marijuana illegal in the first place? If the government wants to legalize it for medical purposes, why not completely legalize it. So the question is if prohibition is here to protect us, does the prohibition really work? Where in today’s studies there no proof that marijuana is harmful to the American people, so let take a closer look on why marijuana should be legalized in Untied States. Couple years now the discussion of legalizing marijuana is coming up a lot more nowadays. It’s showing that marijuana is actually more useful than people think. So the government is thinking about legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. That raises some red flags, because everybody thinks it so harmful, but that’s not the case. “Actually it’s a proven fact that marijuana does not kill brain cells, it actually stimulates the brain cells and helps them grow.” (The Union-Adam Scorgie 2011) “Also from today polls there are no record death from Marijuana.” (CNBC-2011) Let’s take a look at a poll taking by “The United States government National Institute on Drug Abuse, Bureau of Mortality Statistics: TOBACCO……….400...
Words: 1006 - Pages: 5
...Brandon Tennison Composition II Suzanne Lindholm PROS AND CONS OF MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION Legalization of marijuana is one of the biggest topics today. Is the legalization of marijuana a good thing both morally and financially? Are we even moving in the right direction by moving down the road to legalization? There are many good and bad reasons on both sides why marijuana should and should not be made legal. There are also the moral obligations to be considered in smoking marijuana. Let’s not forget about the possible economic effects the legalization of marijuana could have. In the end it will be up to every one of us to decide if legalization is worth the effort in changing the status quo. There are always reasons why people don’t want the status quo to change. The D.E.A. and other government agencies are no different in their desire to keep Hemp and marijuana illegal. Hemp, a plant with a number of possible uses, could replace most oil products at a much cheaper price. It can be used in making rubber, a durable rubber, like what is used to make car and truck tires out of. Hemp can also be used to make fabrics, like those that are used in clothing. Keeping Hemp and marijuana illegal is more profitable to various local, federal government agencies, and private industries. There are five main groups that are in opposition to legalization. There are five main groups that are in opposition to legalization. There are five main groups that are in opposition to legalization...
Words: 1002 - Pages: 5
...Why Marijuana Should Remain Illegal I believe that marijuana should continue to remain illegal. I believe there are more benefits if marijuana is kept illegal than if it were to be legalized. I believe marijuana should remain illegal because it impacts health negatively, it can be addictive and it would negatively impact society. Although the article from John Cloud (2002) stated that Marijuana might actually be good for you, the fact is that the research isn’t available. I believe that marijuana should not be legalized until they can prove marijuana to be beneficial to society. We should not allow a substance to be freely used in society if we do not fully know the long term effects or implications the drug will have on users. If the government did legalize marijuana it would promote to the country that the government approves of using marijuana which would cause more people to use it. Too many people already abuse marijuana as it is and if it were legal there would be many more cases of marijuana abuse. Marijuana has a vast amount of negative effects on the user’s health which is why it should continue to be illegal. Marijuana affects the body both mentally and physically. There have been a number of studies that show association between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia (NIDA, 2010). The strongest evidence they have found against marijuana and its mental effects is that it can cause the onset or relapse of schizophrenia...
Words: 886 - Pages: 4
...Legalization of Marijuana The plant cannabis sativa, better known as marijuana or hemp, has been used by many in different ways. It has been grown to provide food for villages and towns, and used for cloths, sails on early ships and most commonly rope. Many famous writings were written on hemp paper such as The Bible and a draft of the U.S. Constitution (Cronin, 1993). For many years people have smoked marijuana for recreational purposes. Although it was illegal to possess, smokers may still have partaken in the ritual of getting high, stoned, bombed, blitzed are only some of the terms that are used. Many will claim that marijuana is not a bad drug and many will say it is. In this argument we will identify that if it is true to fact or is it just a ploy by the government to keep it illegal. The use for medical purposes has also come to scrutiny as well. The majority of Americans choose the same issues as the most threatening to the nation. Invariably among these one will see “drugs” as a major concern of most Americans. There is speculation that this is due to a perceived association between drugs and crime (Inciardi, 1999). A good deal of the argument over government policy towards drugs centers on the least unhealthy and most socially accepted of the illegal drugs, marijuana. Marijuana, scientifically known as Tetra-hydro-cannabinol (THC), belongs to its own group among other legal and illegal drugs. It is neither a narcotic, such as heroin, nor a stimulant, such...
Words: 1866 - Pages: 8
...Name: Tutor Course: Date: Why Marijuana should be legalized Introduction Various governments have made numerous drugs illegal while others remain legal. Such drugs include cocaine, heroin, methane, marijuana, alcohol, bath salts or synthetic cathinone, hallucinogens, methamphetamine and many others. However, some are legal to use; the use of others are limited while others are illegal. For instance, alcohol is legal in most countries while its use is limited in others in terms of time one can use them and in terms of amounts that one can consume. Nonetheless, most of these drugs are illegal including cocaine, heroin, marijuana and many others. However, even though some drugs are termed as harmful, they should receive some considerations to legalize them due to numerous reasons. Particularly, marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana refers to the dried flowers, leaves, seeds and stems from the hemp plant. Scientifically referred to as Cannabis sativa, that contains the mind-altering (psychoactive) chemical, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), alongside other associated compounds. Commonly, it is utilized for its physiological and psychoactive effects that can elevate euphoria or mood, appetite, and relaxation. Discussion Over the past few decades, they have been serious discussion on whether to legalize marijuana or not. Many know the reasons as to why marijuana should not be legalized. Some of the reasons put forward for not legalizing marijuana are that it harmful to one's...
Words: 2322 - Pages: 10
...Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana has been debated for decades all over the world, and it still unsure what is the best option for the people, either make it legal or keep it illegal like in almost all the countries. But here I am going to explain and show you some facts of each side of the coin. For the pro side there are many aspects that show how legalizing the marijuana can bring more benefits than keep it illegal; for example, there is evidence that show how marijuana helps some illness which means is good for medical use, there is also a fact that combating the Marijuana the governments spend tons of money, and also comparing the effects and causes of marijuana to the effects and causes of alcohol and tobacco makes thoughts easier to see legalization of marijuana makes the things better; On the other hand, looking to the other side of the coin, we got this drug which causes bad things in our bodies, it has immediate bad effects right after using it, it has also long-term effects, it seems also as a gateway drug in our society. The positive side of legalize the Marijuana. It has proved that Marijuana can be used as a treatment for many illness and bad symptoms of illness; for example, for those people who has Cancer Chemotherapy treatment and causes extreme nauseas and vomiting to them, Marijuana reduces those extreme symptoms, and it also alleviates pretreatment anxiety. For those people which because of their sickness had low appetite, and loss of muscle mass, Marijuana improves...
Words: 1155 - Pages: 5
...Marijuana: Not Just Another Illegal Substance Com/220 Louisa Verhaart 4/14/10 I. Even though it is illegal, marijuana is not the drug people think it is. A. What is marijuana and how do people use it? 1. Marijuana is a drug that’s active ingredient is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and is cut and dried from the plant known as cannabis. 2. The most common way to use marijuana is to smoke it by rolling it into a cigarette paper (a joint) or the outside of a cigar (a blunt). B. Marijuana has been illegal for decades now, but why is it illegal? 1. A big part of why marijuana is illegal is because it is considered an addicting drug and when the law was passed most people didn’t have the right information about this drug. 2. Marijuana was made federally illegal in the United States in 1937 by the Marihuana Tax Act. II. There are a lot of myths about using marijuana that are not true. A. Parents tell their kids that marijuana kills brain cells. 1. No medical test that has been used to show brain damage in people has found that marijuana kills brain cells. 2. Supporting example 2 in a complete sentence. B. Using marijuana while pregnant can cause developmental problems and birth defects. 1. Test were ran on newborns to older kids, no results came back that there was any developmental problems. 2. Older kids of prenatal users and nonusers were tested and only small differences were found with some results better than others. III. Marijuana can help with some medical...
Words: 2117 - Pages: 9
...Making Marijuana Legal By James Pizzato The topic of whether or not marijuana should be legal has been debated since the early 1900s, when it first became illegal. Before then, marijuana was never known as a recreational drug. Marijuana, in the form of hemp, was used in many resources such as fuel, textiles, and even in medicine. Although marijuana is legal in many states for medicinal purposes only, it is still considered a harmful drug. Making marijuana –which is more beneficial than any other legalized toxic drug—legal in the United States would reduce cost for war on drugs and increase government profit by selling it. History of marijuana use can date all the way back to 2700 B.C. It is noted in what could be the world’s oldest Pharmacopeia as having cures for many ailments such as malaria and absentmindedness. China used the drug in teas to help cure vomiting, stomachache and infections. The drug spread to India and became very popular in healing rituals. Continued use of the drug spread around the world, to Europe, South America, and Africa. Each country used marijuana for similar medicinal uses, as well as recreationally. Marijuana was legal in the United States up until the early 1900s. Previous to this, the drug was very widely known as a medicine. The drug was even noted in the United States Pharmacopeia up until 1942. Marijuana, as a recreational drug, was brought over by the Mexicans after the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Shortly after, the drug started...
Words: 1126 - Pages: 5
...TV shows or even in chatting with friends is the legalization of marijuana. It is a polemical issue in our society with a lot of pros and cons. However, the main issue in this debate is why marijuana is still prohibited? The legalization will be the solution for several social problems that we have in our society, such as traffic, murders and everything that is involved in this illegal market. Serious dependence is the first argument that people against the legalization use in a debate. They say that marijuana causes dependence, and this dependence could interfere in social life of users, for example, school and job performance. First of all, there are research comproving that marijuana is less harmful to human health than most of other banned drugs, such as cocaine or crack. Furthermore, marijuana is less harmful than the main two legal drugs that we have nowadays. The dependence of tobacco and the changes in our mind of alcohol are countless times more harmful than marijuana. The main point in this discussion more than the dependence, is the social problems that the illegal commerce of marijuana causes. The current ways adopted by the government to combat the traffic are not working. The government does not know how to stop this illegal commerce. It happens because even with the legal prohibition the consumers do not stop to consume drugs and it does not stop trafficker to produce and sell illegal marijuana. In summary, only the combat against the crime is not the right way...
Words: 486 - Pages: 2
...utopia-like society or would everything be mass chaos? What if only the non-harmful illegal subjects were made legal? If something is truly non-harmful then why is it illegal? These are all very 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...
Words: 1315 - Pages: 6
...Medical Marijuana: More than a High Your Name COM/220 – Research Writing 8/2/2012 Instructor Name There has been much debate over the years about whether marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes. There are many arguments both for and against this issue. This paper will present facts to support the legalization of medicinal marijuana. It will also go over the arguments against the medical use of marijuana and show why these ideas are invalid. This can be a very morally based issue. Some people may ask, why is marijuana illegal when there are other substances frequently used that are so much worse for the human body? Others may say that the government made marijuana illegal for a reason. Marijuana has been legalized by state law for 16 U.S. states and DC, so why is it not legal for all 50 (Medical Marijuana ProCon, n.d.)? These are some of the things that will be addressed, along with many other questions that will be answered. By the end of this paper, it should be apparent that something should change. Marijuana should be legalized for medical use because of its advantages over other traditionally used drugs which are currently legal. The use of marijuana for its medical advantages has been recognized since before recorded history. There are written references that can be found as far back as the fifteenth century B.C. (Zeese, 1997). There were over 100 articles published in medical journals on the therapeutic use of cannabis between 1840 and 1900....
Words: 1907 - Pages: 8
