...were legal? Would it be possible to have organization and live in a 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...
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...Should we Legalize Jaclyn Russo COM/220 April 20, 2011 Kathryn Geranios The plant Cannabis Sativa a plant that has taken the spotlight of the world, it is a plant that has angered, confused, obsessed, and even mesmerized many people throughout history and today. This plant is otherwise known as Marijuana. Abraham Lincoln said, "Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason, in that it attempts to control a man's appetite by legislation, and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes. A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles, upon which our government was founded." This statement still applies in today’s society in regard to the illegal use of marijuana. The ban on Marijuana causes more harm than the plant itself. The legalization of marijuana could benefit the country medically and economically by increasing revenue and treating symptoms of many illnesses. Thanks to the culmination of international laws, Marijuana is under new speculation, review, public image, and attention than ever before. Countries are legalizing it, whereas other countries are criminalizing it; some states are decriminalizing it while their country is against it! So it comes down to the argument of it all, and hope that enough people around the world will follow the correct path and stance on the subject. Marijuana should be legal because it is a natural herb that for thousands of years has been used, it is impossible to become physically addicted to, as well as impossible to...
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...Should Marijuana be legalized? In 1545, the Spanish brought marijuana to the New World. The English Introduced it in Jamestown in 1611, where it became a major commercial crop alongside tobacco and was grown as a source of fiber. It was in the 1920'sthat marijuana began to become more popular. Some historians say its emergence was brought about by Prohibition. http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/marijuana-history.html Cannabis sativa commonly known as marijuana is a plant species that is mainly known for its psychotic effects when consumed. It is consumed either through smoking, ingesting, or vaporizing. Marijuana has been used for centuries but has recently been mainstreamed in culture today. It has nicknames such as weed dope, grass, ganja, Mary Jane and chronic. Now, more than ever, propositions to legalize the plant have risen and been the subject to controversy and heated debates. Morals and politics are what make up the structure of this country, so when an issue receives responses coming from different points of views, the issue becomes controversial, and the topic of marijuana is definitely a controversial subject. The legalization of marijuana is a controversial subject; however, there are many positive arguments to support the idea as well. The following passages will discuss some pros and cons to this subject and will provide some insight on just what this drug is. Just saying the word Marijuana conjures...
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...Medical marijuana is one of the most underestimated drugs that are out there to help relieve and cure some of the most dangerous diseases. There have been many cases where marijuana has helped prevent seizures from occurring and many other disabilities. Medical marijuana has more pros than it has cons. Medical marijuana may not be legal in all of the United States, but more states are passing laws that allow people to use it in a positive way. California was the first state to approve a medical marijuana program. Each state has its different reasons for why a person can be prescribed a medical marijuana card. For example, in New York the list is long: HIV or AIDS, ALS, Parkinson’s disease and spinal chord injuries are just a few of the approved...
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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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...Amanda Martinez Proceed with the Weed! Although people say marijuana has no benefit or purpose of use, I strongly standby the fact of it becoming legalized acknowledging that there has been positive results’ concluding from the medicinal uses of marijuana, growth in job marketing and fiscal matters. The first and most essential reason that marijuana should be legal is that there are no cautious proven facts or reasons for it not to be legal. Some people ask 'Why should marijuana be legalized?" but we should really be asking "Why should marijuana be illegal?" Some of the United States labels Marijuana as a gateway drug leading to a life of failure because it is assumed to not having a legitimate purpose of use. Although there has been proven facts of positive benefits from the uses of marijuana. Many people against legalizing marijuana argue that marijuana should stay illegal because it poses health risks. This claim is not logically sound because Marijuana’s health risks are too complex therefor can’t be specifically classified of being a detriment to an individual’s health or not. The health risks that are believed to occur from ingestions of marijuana are most likely to be known as exaggerated. When people against legalization begin to go over health risks with the public they use it as a strategy for providing controversy arguments to try convincing individuals to avoid excessive use of marijuana or use at all. No one realizes that alcohol and tobacco are a lot...
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...the possession and distribution of the drug generates an increase in crime. A drug may be considered dangerous because it is mentally addicting and the likelihood of an overdose is high. In my opinion, heroin is the most dangerous drug to our culture because it is one of the most physically and mentally addicting substances in our culture. Furthermore, addiction to heroin leads to heavy, compulsive use, which greatly increases the risk of overdose and death. According to our text, there is only a small number of heroin users in the United States. Most of these users are physically and psychologically addicted to the substance and use heroin on a regular basis. Our text states, “Heavy heroin users inflict a great deal of damage on the rest of society—and in turn, society inflicts a great deal of damage on them.” (p.267). Although there is only a small number of heroin users in our society, heroin use is problematic because heroin accounts for almost all drug-related overdoses, compared to drugs with more widespread use such as cocaine and marijuana. Not only is heroin dangerous because of the likelihood of addiction, it is also dangerous because there is a narrow gap between the effective dose and the lethal dose. The effective dose is the amount of the drug it takes for the user to feel the effects, while the lethal dose is the amount of the drug that it takes to cause death. Heroin only allows a small window between the effective dose and the lethal dose, resulting in a much...
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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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...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 marijuana...
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...English 1020 10 November 2015 The Legalization of Medical Marijuana Legalizing marijuana has been a controversial issue for quite some time, but only recently have commercials in regards to legalization flooded American television. The recent exposure occurred largely because the issue finally made it to a ballet for Ohioan’s to vote. Ohio spoke and the legalization of marijuana was not passed. Those that are for the legalization of marijuana believe that marijuana is a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of chronic illnesses. It is marijuana’s addictive properties and ability to become a gateway drug that concerns those who are opposed to legalizing marijuana. While some say medicinal marijuana is safe and effective, others say that marijuana as a whole is dangerous. There has not been enough research and medicinal marijuana lacks FDA approval. Should we be concerned with the legalization of marijuana? Medical marijuana refers to using the whole unprocessed marijuana plant or chemical derivatives from it to treat diseases or symptoms. Marijuana contains over 400 chemicals, the chemical that is most talked about and used in medicine are cannabinoids which are related THC. THC is the main ingredient that gives users the effect of being “high”. Currently, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not recognized or approved the marijuana plant as medicine. Scientific studies however, of the chemicals in marijuana, called cannabinoids, have led to two FDA-approved...
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...Legalizing THC By Crystal Zambrano THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol is the chemical responsible for marijuana’s psychological effects. Many feel that marijuana is a harmful plant that can endanger lives and just another problem to be dealt with in society. But times are changing and people are recognizing the pros outweigh the cons for legalization. There are many reasons why marijuana should be legal but today I will focus on its benefits to the medical industry, the health risk as it compares to alcohol, the benefits legalization will have on our economy, and the penal system. For centuries marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes. It has many beneficial properties including: sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsive, reduction of dizziness, increases appetite, anti-nausea, and a bronchodilator. This can be a relief to so many people with medical conditions such as AIDS, glaucoma, hepatitis, multiple sclerosis, eating disorders, insomnia, seizures, cancer and many other issues. We don’t have the right to turn down a cancer patients request for THC as a treatment, or a child with epilepsy. I believe must have the option of medicinal THC for our loved ones, knowing it could alleviate their pain or prevent their seizures, how could we possibly tell them no? According to the CDC, excessive alcohol use is the third leading lifestyle related cause of death for people in the U.S. each year. In 2007 there were roughly 47,000 deaths due to alcohol and alcoholic liver...
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...Should Marijuana be Legalized? BCOM/275 November 26, 2012 Should marijuana be legalized? Throughout the years, the topic should marijuana be legalized is often heavily debated. For many years the use of marijuana was forbidden and outlawed in the United States, but in more recent years marijuana seems to be becoming accepted. Scientist has found many useful applications for marijuana. Recently, here in the United States, many states have approved legislation for marijuana for medical purposes. Most recently, two states Colorado and Washington have passed referendums that will allow people over the age of 21 recreational use of marijuana without the penalty of a criminal offense. These two states will oversee the use of marijuana for its constituents similar to how alcohol is controlled. Whereas, the government at the state level in Colorado and Washington is in favor for the legalization and passed legislation for the legalization of marijuana, the federal government has not. This causes legal, moral, and ethical issues and begs that questions; should marijuana be legalized? Pros of Legalization One benefit of the legalization of marijuana would be the ability for state and local governments to tax the legal production and sale of it. Currently, because marijuana is illegal the sale of it is not taxed so the local, state, and federal governments do not reap any of the benefits of this “$10.5 billion dollar industry” (Miron, 2005, p.4). In a report written by Jeffrey A....
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...Lugene Rosen Legalize It! The legalization of marijuana would not hurt the country, but it would benefit it in many ways. Alcohol and tobacco are legal although they are more harmful than marijuana, which can be used to raise revenue, decrease the crime rate, and help heal the sick. Marijuana, or cannabis, has many positives much good can come from it being legal. Some of the main positives of legalizing marijuana include raising revenue for the country as a whole, decreasing the crime rate and number of prisoners, and it can be used as a cheap way for people to self-medicate. As with everything where there are positives there are negatives. Some negatives that could be argued would include how the government would control it, what to do with prisoners who were arrested prior to the legalization, and what kind of damage long term use could cause. The benefits of legalizing cannabis outweigh the negative side of it, like raising the revenue and economy of this country. One reason why marijuana should be legalized is that it can raise the revenue and economy of this country tenfold in a short period of time. People do not just start doing something because it becomes available in mass quantities with no prosecution. Marijuana can be grown by companies, like Phillip Morris a cigarette company, and taxed by the government. A high tax should be put on the product of course, making enjoying it a rare occasion. Alcohol and tobacco are legal products in this country, and the government...
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...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....
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...The Benefit of Legalizing Marijuana Of all legal reformations that should be made, the legalization of marijuana is perhaps the most necessary. If legalized on a controlled basis, it could greatly benefit our country in a variety of ways. Clearly the most controversial topic is marijuana's benefit to the medical community. The economy would also be a beneficiary of marijuana's legalization through taxation and all the while crime rates would inevitably decrease throughout the country. While many citizens are opposed to the legalization of marijuana they are often misinformed and misguided. Marijuana is a drug that is overlooked and can be used in many positive ways. There are many people that oppose the idea of legalizing marijuana and their point of view can be justified, but marijuana can be used for other purposes than getting “high”. Although there are valid points to each side, ultimately, if legalized the benefits of legal marijuana could greatly outweigh the risk. It has been documented that marijuana can severely reduce some effects of cancer. Also, it is known that marijuana has prolonged the lives of people who were diagnosed as terminally ill. Many rely on the drug to ease their pain and suffering. Another useful benefit is its aide in reducing nausea in chemotherapy patients. Medicinal uses for cannabis date back to 2737 B.C. when the Chinese emperor and pharmacologist Shen Neng prescribed the drug for gout, malaria, beriberi, rheumatism, and memory problems...
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