...Legalization of Cannabis Research Paper Cannabis has been around for thousands of years and served different cultures in various ways. Throughout the last decade Marijuana has been adapted to fit our lifestyles. Marijuana is now used for medicinal purposes and has the potential to be the plant that saves America. Unless the risks of marijuana overpower the many great benefits then we should not make a plant that comes from the earth illegal. Instead we should look at it from a logical point of view and use it to boost America out from the ditch it is in. Cannabis Sativa or Marijuana dates all the way back to 2900 BC. Emperor Fu His believed that marijuana was a popular medicine that contained both yin and yang. The Chinese used it to sooth the stressed people to make them peaceful. The Jamestown settlers brought cannabis to America in 1611. In the Jamestown civilization it was illegal to not grow a hemp plant because there was so many benefits it provided for the society. The Jamestown people created hemp fibers and they exported it to other civilizations, hemp was one of their biggest exports during the colonial period. Even our first president George Washington grew hemp for 30 years at his plantation in Mount Vernon. He records in his diary that he separated the male and female plants, and also produced a hemp plant with a high THC content (Procon.org). Recreational Marijuana use came into play back in the “olden” days when alcohol was scares. Marijuana is the most...
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...Economics of Decriminalization or Legalization of Cannabis Introduction Capitalism: an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a few markets. This unique system allows for a merchant to market just about any product to the masses dependent on a public opinion of the commodity, legality, availability, and profitability. Some commodities, although carrying high demand are regulated heavily and sometimes even ban from the market place for reasons pertaining to public safety. Others, however, showing to be a health hazard are still allowed to remain on the market. This definition is according to Merriam-Webster.com. This paper will focus on the economics of cannabis and how by its decriminalization, or legalization, it can be a profitable commodity in the marketplace by the following. Providing an overview of cannabis and how political games have caused an unearned negative public opinion on the commodity. Listing arguments that support the claim that by legalizing this commodity not only crime rates in general, but violent crime rates, will drop noticeably if not substantially providing a savings in the cost of enforcing and prosecuting such crimes. And, that by decriminalization, the federal government can regulate this commodity much like alcohol and tobacco providing new sources...
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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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...Research Background The legalization of cannabis is always a controversial subject due to the harms and the benefits of cannabis. Although cannabis is a drug, society does not deny that it is useful in the medical field. In Sznitman and Bretteville-Jensen’s (2015) research, with the belief of cannabis benefits the medical field, individuals hold strong and positive attitude at supporting the legalization of cannabis. Besides, Troutt and Didonato (2015) found, patients reported that cannabis treatment is more effective. Moreover, those patients suggested that cannabis helps not only in physical condition but also mental condition such as insomnia, anxiety and depression. As a support evidence, Greer, Grob and Halberstadt (2014) found that reduction of PTSD symptom is associated with the use of cannabis. However, the harmful of cannabis as a drug cannot be ignored. Martinez, Roth, Johnson and Jones (2015) showed students who use cannabis are robustly related to lower GPAs, even when the other factors such as identity development and growth, and the...
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...Compromise For The Green The legalization of cannabis, or marijuana, for medical usage is a controversial topic among a substantial number of individuals. Many people argue that cannabis is an effective way to treat a wide range of diseases/disorders. As also, a numerous number of others contend that cannabis is not an effective way to help treat these diseases/disorders. Personally, I believe that cannabis for medicinal usage should be legalized because it has more benefits than risks. The smoking of cannabis can help alleviate the symptoms of the terminally ill. The Institute of Medicine published in its Mar. 1999 report titled “Marijuana and Medicine: Assessing the Science Base”: “For terminal patients suffering debilitating pain or nausea and for whom all indicated medications have failed to provide relief, the medical benefits of smoked marijuana might outweigh the harm.” Nausea these patients experience from chemotherapy can be alleviated with marijuana by blocking pain receptors to mask the feeling. The risks of smoking cannabis are significantly lower for terminally ill patients because they have a limited amount of time left to live. The time it would take for a new condition to possibly occur, the likelihood of the patient still being alive would be slim. By smoking cannabis, these patients can make the remaining time left in their lives more enjoyable and bearable due to the relaxing effects cannabis has on the body without the side-effects of other mainstream...
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...Why the Decriminalization and Legalization of Cannabis Would Improve Canadian Society Criminology 101 - Section 02 Nikaya Mirhadi-Pathon Capilano University Cannabis, the plant from which marijuana is derived, is the most widely used, produced and trafficked drug worldwide (Ducatti Flister, 2012). The decriminalization of marijuana has been a widely debated topic on a global scale as many advocate for it’s therapeutic purposes. In the city of Seattle, there are reportedly more medicinal marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks outlets. With the recent rise of dispensaries, two Washington University students are preparing to capitalize on this phenomenon by releasing an app for iPhones called Canary, billed as “Uber for marijuana” where an illegal delivery service can bring high-grade cannabis to your home within the hour (Altman, 2014). Governments world wide have invested copious amounts of money in fighting drug production and consumption, even though, the war on drugs has increased cannabis seizures, we see in countries like Canada, that regulated distribution of marijuana, has made it more readily available for both recreational and medicinal users (Ducatti Flister, 2012). Although, police within the Canadian jurisdiction are capable of pursuing criminal charges for cannabis possession for those who are distributing and consuming illegally, there is still a lack of consensus on the legal status of cannabis in Canada. Though the drug is illegal in Canada, with exceptions...
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...“Cannabis should be legalised.” To a large extent I agree with this statement; cannabis should be legalised. I do feel, that legalizing cannabis would help resolve many of our country’s problems and difficulties, for example street-crime or burglary indirectly related to drugs. However I also feel that it could cause other types of problems if people don’t understand the effects of it. To many people, they see cannabis as a dangerous and damaging drug, however the effects of cannabis are sometimes not as bad as alcohol or other legal drugs. Keeping drugs illegal will only carry on the on-going drug related cycle: people get caught with possession of drugs, their third time getting caught they get a sentence, go to prison, come out, and it happens all over again. To keep one person in jail for one year, for drug abuse, is forty thousand pounds. When cannabis users come out of prison, they often have nothing to go back to, many find themselves back in their old life almost immediately with the same contacts they had before; the drug dealers. Even if they wanted to quit, quitting is not an easy process itself. Refraining from cannabis won’t result in physical withdrawal symptoms, unlike the nicotine in tobacco. However some long-term users do report psychological problems when it comes to being weed-free. This can range from difficulties in coping with social situations to sleep problems and heightened anxiety. Rastafarians don’t have a specific way of living or religious...
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...Marijuana should be legalized within the United States Marijuana should be legalized within the United States Persuasive Essay Final Paper Andrea Dawkins Com/172 Elements of University Composition and Communication University of Phoenix Ms. Julia Pineda Reeves, M.Ed., NBCT 3/6/2011 Persuasive Essay Final Paper Andrea Dawkins Com/172 Elements of University Composition and Communication University of Phoenix Ms. Julia Pineda Reeves, M.Ed., NBCT 3/6/2011 Andrea Dawkins Persuasive Essay explain the benefits and effects of legalizing Marijuana Andrea Dawkins Persuasive Essay explain the benefits and effects of legalizing Marijuana Americans now-a-days have many ways of pleasuring, entertaining, as well as curing themselves. Some of which include smoking marijuana. Legally smoking marijuana is prohibited in most of the fifty states, but marijuana was legal within the United States brought benefits such as providing revenue, which could help with National Debt or community reconstruction, providing jobs such as farmers, distribution workers, as well as quality assurance workers. An organized marijuana trading business would be as beneficial as it would be safe. The government would be able to both tax and monitor the consumption of weed. Marijuana would be the safest among drugs to legalize because it is not as harmful as other drugs such as alcohol and Tobacco, which are both legal, yet have a higher rate of death then marijuana. With all of these positive...
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...Legalizing Marijuana in Colorado Andrew Rouse COMM/215 April 12, 2013 Lisa Turner Legalizing Marijuana in Colorado In early November 2000 Colorado voters legalized the use of medical marijuana by a vote of 53%. Amendment supporter Martin Chilcutt said (2000) “an ounce of marijuana could cost $100 to $400, depending on quality” (“Regulatory issues; attorneys attempting to legalize medical marijuana in Colorado,” para. 2). In November 2012 Colorado voters have again upped the ante by passing a bill to create a legal, regulated market for cannabis sales and personal use. Medical Uses The use of medical marijuana has long been an issue in the United States. I have met several people who have very legitimate health issues from anorexia, anxiety to cancer. Marijuana helps to ease nausea, calm nerves and boost the appetite of these patients dealing with chemotherapy and nerve and chemical imbalances. Some family members of these patients worry about the legal implications and the possible health problems from smoke inhalation but the patients state that the benefits outweigh the consequences. Abuse of the system Those who have no legitimate health issues but just want to buy and grow high quality marijuana legally are forced to abusing the medical marijuana system. I am not opposed to the recreational use of marijuana and I believe that people growing...
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....“ Legalizations of Marijuana While being interview by a reporter from the New York Times Obama was quoted as saying (Seelye, 2006) “When I was a kid, I inhaled, that was the point.” As referring to when he was a young man that he had inhaled marijuana. And he became the Presidential of the United Stated. In many ways, it’s the way that some people in society has demonized the use of marijuana it, (Scheer, 1999) Eight million American have tried marijuana and report have shown that there is no proclivity to move on to harder drugs. This accorded to an 18 month study commissioned by the federal drug czar Barry R McCaffrey. We will look at the several economy impacts of decriminalizing or legalizations of marijuana. (Brown 2003) One why to assist the farmer's domestically grown marijuana is the second largest cash crop in the United States, behind only corn. The above references are from people that have no finance gain in the legalization of marijuana and the other one is the Presidential and he would not lie. (Schlosser 1998) States According to the detail of the show the numbers of people in Jail for marijuana arrest are one in every six. There are more people now in prison for marijuana offenses than for violent offenses. There are 1.1 million inmates in American prisons. And if 1 in every 6 is held because of marijuana arrests that make it about 180.000 in jail. And certainly, at a time when there's a shortage of prison space and when murderers are serving on average...
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...alone however, cannot get our federal government out of the hole that it is in now. Even if the revenue was about $100 million from ever state that has recreation cannabis, and if all states had legal recreational cannabis, it would still not even get close to how much money the government needs to generate. The problem with that is that once the government legalizes marijuana recreationally everywhere, it will create a black market due to people not wanting to be charged such outrageous prices and taxed so intensely. If certain states make marijuana recreationally legal, that would be for the best in my opinion. The US government wouldn’t really benefit from that amount of money even if all the states were legal, there was no black market and everyone was making a lot of money. According to an article in Forbes about a report made on the inefficiencies of legalized cannabis, Colorado won’t even make half of what they were estimating to make. The article explains how right now the cost of growing is around four hundred dollars per pound of cannabis. This price would have to increase to eleven hundred dollars per pound of cannabis to make it so that the tax revenue would be as estimated before. This would drive the prices to be incredibly high, creating a black market that would completely destroy Colorado’s cannabis economy. There is one thing, however, that the government could legalize and should legalize immediately that would change the economy of this country greatly. Industrial...
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... Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalized? The legalization of medical marijuana is a sensitive subject both politically and individually. There have been many field tests and trials validating marijuana as an aid to help various medical conditions from cancer to traumatic brain injuries. My argument has little to do with the political argument as I will be focusing mainly on the individual argument. The Pros and Cons of Legalization In an Oxford University journal report from 2013 states that the endocannabinoid system plays an important roles in the reparative mechanisms that are shared with minocycline pathways reduces the lesion volume and decreases TBI-induced hyperactivity. (Oxford University Press, 2013) . In another study led by Prof. Yosef Sarne from Tel Aviv University suggests that a single, low dose of THC was able to protect the brain from long-term damage induced by a variety of experimental toxins. (Truthonpot.com, 2013). The most recent study was reported by Jeffrey Carpenter of ABC News. He cites the research done at the Hebrew University that shows that a cannabinoid, similar to the active ingredient found in marijuana and produced in the brains of many animals, protects mice from brain injury. This reports quotes Dr Shohami as saying she didn’t “see any problems with using a drug from this family to treat patients”. (Carpenter, 2014). There is overwhelming evidence that cannabis relieves various medical conditions; unpleasant symptoms...
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...calms the nerves of people with Anxiety Disorders. Although it contains no healing properties, it does help to improve the quality of life for some who are suffering. Many drugs kill people; nevertheless, marijuana is not one of those drugs. The late Dr. Ted Madurai has proven in his research after dealing with 10,000 patients in the last 15 years. That 200 different medical conditions respond favorable to cannabis. Medical marijuana may be beneficial to the whole world if given a chance. I feel that marijuana has been used to help people before these modern times. Some people agree that marijuana is an herb no a drug. Look at the benefits of marijuana that’ why it has been studied for years. The drug marijuana stands alone with the properties that are needed to help people with certain medical conditions. Medical marijuana has been proven to help sick and disable people. Secondly, marijuana should be legalized because it generates revenue. Colorado and Washington legalized cannabis. Furthermore, the states could see a major economic boon because of the legalization. The new measure is expected to bring the two states more than $550million combined; also legalizing pot could save the U.S. up to $14 billion a year. Research shows that 56% of the population, equaling up to 839,120 people in society, voted yes on the...
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...alone however, cannot get our federal government out of the hole that it is in now. Even if the revenue was about $100 million from ever state that has recreation cannabis, and if all states had legal recreational cannabis, it would still not even get close to how much money the government needs to generate. The problem with that is that once the government legalizes marijuana recreationally everywhere, it will create a black market due to people not wanting to be charged such outrageous prices and taxed so intensely. If certain states make marijuana recreationally legal, that would be for the best in my opinion. The US government wouldn’t really benefit from that amount of money even if all the states were legal, there was no black market and everyone was making a lot of money. According to an article in Forbes about a report made on the inefficiencies of legalized cannabis, Colorado won’t even make half of what they were estimating to make. The article explains how right now the cost of growing is around four hundred dollars per pound of cannabis. This price would have to increase to eleven hundred dollars per pound of cannabis to make it so that the tax revenue would be as estimated before. This would drive the prices to be incredibly high, creating a black market that would completely destroy Colorado’s cannabis economy. There is one thing, however, that the government could legalize and should legalize immediately that would change the economy of this country greatly. Industrial...
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...still come away with 321.6 billion dollars from sales. The DEA alone has an annual budget of two billion dollars, but they only cut the drug money profit by 17.7 billion over the past five years (Agency, 2004). While losing a war by such a wide margin, it is hard to believe anyone thinks things are getting any better. The government tried prohibition in the 1920’s and the crime rates spiked because people produced, smuggled, sold, and consumed the banned substance. The same goes for drugs. The argument about legalizing drugs has a push-pull correlation and always will. However, the reasons why drugs should be legalized have a stronger defense than why they shouldn’t be. The most heated argument out about drugs as of now is the legalization of marijuana. The financial benefits of legalizing marijuana alone are worth it in the eyes of the right person. The state of California would generate a tax revenue of 1.4 billion dollars off of the 14 billion dollars of currently untaxed marijuana sells. If the production and distribution of drugs was regulated by the government, people will be less likely to turn to the streets to obtain drugs. The government will be able to control the production and sell of marijuana the same way they control the sell of alcohol and tobacco. The opposition to the...
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