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Legalizing MarijuanaKimberly Denise TeagueArgosy University OnlineENG102 Composition II |

The first thing you have to realize is that marijuana is here to stay. There is enough reliable information about marijuana and the effects that it has on people. The outlook of marijuana should be based evidence, facts and basic common sense. There are claims that heavy users of marijuana can be harmful, but it’s not what people would think. There is enough information presented that marijuana is good for many things, and no matter the massive efforts to stop the use of marijuana with the war on drugs, it has failed. Though the use, sale, and cultivation of cannabis in the US continue to occupy a legal grey area, controlled legalization is a better option for a number of reasons. By legalizing marijuana, it could potentially bring in more money for the US, by taxing it. It would lower the crime rates throughout, while doing so; it will put the focus to more serious crimes such as rapes, murders, and drunk drivers. Not to mention, it has many medical benefits.
The main concern involving marijuana usage is that it is addictive, without the correct dosage amount, it would be harmful. Legalizing marijuana however, would create so many positive things. Vomiting, nausea, treatment for appetite loss, even seizures. Thus far, marijuana has proven to have no health risks, and looking into it, it’s far less dangerous then alcohol, smoking, and caffeine for that matter.
As you know, legalizing the substance known as marijuana and its medicinal and recreational use has been major debated over many years. Throughout time, the government has been involved in the personal lives of people who smoke the substance. The main concern here is that marijuana is a drug; therefore, it should be illegal like every other drug. However, if you think about it, what is a drug? According to Webster’s dictionary, a drug is a medicine or other substance that has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced into the body.
With that being said, why isn't alcohol illegal? Not only is alcohol a "drug" so are narcotics.
When you go to a doctor for an injury, if its severe enough, that doctor will give you a prescription for the pain. That prescription has mind boggling affects. Narcotics are drugs, but they are still legal, because the help you. Marijuana on the other hand is still illegal, and has been for quite some time.
Some of the benefits of legalizing marijuana would create a larger job market, as well as provide massive blows to drug cartels and even bring in billions in taxes. Potentially it would even save the law enforcement thousands if not millions. By legalizing, it would impact health risks by reducing costs to provide treatment to the sick. Not to mention there are many other medical benefits. Some of the things that marijuana would be used to cure include; appetite controlment, even dizziness and glaucoma. Not only that, but marijuana would be used to control muscle spasms as well as pressure within the eye that is caused by frequent headaches. If you don't have an appetite it would help with that as well as control any nausea or vomiting which are the most common effects of people that are on chemo treatment. For those that suffer from seizures, it would help control them, as well as arthritis, restless leg syndrome, headaches, even menstrual cramps in women. If you have common stomach aches, it will help control those also. Of course the substance takes to everybody differently; it could potentially treat mood disorders as well as depression. One of the major heated arguments with legalizing marijuana is that it could do potentential harm to people. You could argue that its unhealthy, and that would be why it is still illegal, but then the explanation of why tobacco and alcohol are still legal.
Eighty-thousand people die each year related to alcohol poisoning. Tobacco smoking can cause lung cancer, fatigue, heart failure, and can be very harmful for pregnant women. However, marijuana can be and has been for many years to treat headaches, and pains that are caused from child birth. With the correct dosage of cannabis, symptoms from migraines, and other various medical related injuries can be treated. From many different studies that have emerged there is efficient evidence that proves that marijuana has positive medical effects on people.
Criminalizing those who smoke marijuana wouldn’t be right. I mean, when thinking about crimes, you usually think about the person committing the crime, and the itself. Not one without the other. The government has done its fair share of making it a law that anyone who smokes or uses marijuana will be thrown in jail. As you know the war on drugs has been an expensive and failing war. Most of the money is used to catch those who use and buy marijuana and throw them in jail. This money is used to prosecute marijuana users, throwing them in jail. Providing them housing, food, water, healthcare and even clothing. Time and time again, the War on Drugs has failed, and it continues to fail. Over the years, the government has spent over trillions of dollars trying to get rid of drugs altogether, but truth be told, drugs are here to stay. If we could tax marijuana, we could take some of that money, if not all of the money that is used in catching those who smoke, use or buy marijuana, and actually use it towards the real threats, the real criminals. Honestly, the only reason that marijuana isn’t taxed or hasn’t been legalized yet is because it would replace a lot if not all of behind the counter and even over the counter pharmaceuticals. Those in which include; pain medications for headaches, stomach aches, back aches, even sleeping medication, and anything in which controls your appetite.
There have been over eight hundred and fifty thousand people arrested for the use of marijuana, whether that be smoking, buying or growing it. This doesn’t even include those that have the narcotic in their system. Imagine if all of those people were free, the money that the government would save would be outrageous. It could be used for catching the real criminals out there. The rapists, murders, thieves, and larcenists. Law enforcements could pay closer attention towards those crimes, and make the streets just that much safer. For beneficial reasons, there have been fourteen states thus far that have passed laws for medical marijuana and even recreational use. Not to mention, three or more states have decriminalized marijuana possession. If every state would just do this, and tax the substance, Mexican cartels would be out of business, forever, because they wouldn’t have any type of business or income.
(Truthout, http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/16798-top-ten-reasons-to-legalize-marijuana-now)) Back in the mid 1900’s marijuana’s seeds and stems were used in the making of paint and varnish. Now days it’s no longer used for that purpose. In doing research it was discovered that marijuana could be used in the making of paper, fibers and even cotton. That lone would cut down on how many trees that we use.
It's our right. Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness are unalienable rights that are written in the declaration of independence. The fact of the matter is marijuana is safer then alcohol and tobacco. As I stated earlier, the stereotype throughout the world is that pot smokers are lazy, and unmotivated. Cannabis consumers can be hard working people, can be artists, athletes and/or musicians, teachers, and even students. It has been known for football players to use marijuana as a substitute for pain medication. It not only helps with their joints but helps them play the game better. Musicians and artists are known to smoke cannabis because it helps them calm down and makes it easier for them to write songs. People who consume tobacco or alcohol can have alcohol and tobacco out and public without the fear of arrest if they drink responsibly. Alcohol and tobacco users have the right to have a house, as well as sit in their yards to drink or smoke and can talk without being thrown into jail. Parents of young children can still drink or have a cigarette, often in a divorce, they are generally given preference over pot smokers for custody of their children, no matter who they better parent may be. Alcohol consumers can hold a job if they use alcohol on their own time. But they aren’t screened for job employment. If for some reason they get caught drinking, they can still get loans, and government help. Just about everywhere alcohol consumers have freedom of religion to drink alcohol or use it as a religious sacrament, and sometimes given to minors. However those who consume alcohol and don’t use it responsibly kill people every single day. However people who smoke or grow cannabis or smoke it are subject to locked up, and faced with heavy fines, arrest and prosecution and could possibly be sent to prison. They may lose their home if cannabis is found. Cash, private property, cars, and bank accounts could be terminated. If smoked on private property or in public housing they could be kicked out even without knowledge. They may be arrested and lose their children if they use marijuana. They are discriminated against child custody battles, often told they are terrible parents because they choose to smoke. They are subjected to drug testing and aren’t able to get jobs, and could be fired from jobs, as well as lose loans and government assistance. They can lose their educational backgrounds and opportunities for the future. With that being said, there hasn't been one death associated with marijuana use. Nor will there be. Discrimination is wrong, and there should be equal rights.
Often heard is that cannabis leads to harder drugs. The "Gateway" drug is just a myth.
Cannabis only leads to harder drugs if you try harder drugs. Just because you smoke cannabis doesn't mean that you are going to go into something harder. The U.S governments own statistics show that 75 percent of people who use cannabis never get into harder drugs. The gateway theory isn't true at all. It’s nothing but flawed logic. According to many people of the world, marijuana is addicting. Actually studies show that caffeine and nicotine is more addicting then cannabis. Marijuana is one of the least forming substances known. How can a society that allows the consumption of alcohol which kills thousands ever year in traffic fatalities alone, supports tobacco products in which are known to cause serious illnesses and death to people, say with any credibility at all, that marijuana is a substance that should be illegal for use, when science doesn't support their outdated stance. If we could just tax the product, and the world would open up their eyes and see that cannabis could potentially help millions of people. With that being said, by legalizing cannabis we could save lives by providing America with a solid source to control illnesses and disorders. Not only that but it can use the product as a substitution to save our environment and air. The legalization of marijuana is seen as a controversial issue by many because it is associated with negative activity, although many fail to see that there are positive reasons why marijuana should be legalized.

References:

1. Teague, K. (2014). Legalizing Marijuana. Legalizing Marijuana.

“I used part of my essay from my first English class, I did it on marijuana also, I went

back and done some changes to it, and I was satisfied with it, so I including part of it in

this essay. I hope that is okay.”

2. Legalization of Medical Marijuana- Demetrius J Porche, DNS, PhD, FAANP, FAAN1 Louisiana State University, New Orleans, LA, USA; http://jmh.sagepub.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/content/7/6/449.full 3. (2014) Legalizationofmarijuna.com; http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/marijuana-myths.html 4. (2010, January 30). Introduction to Medical Use. Retrieved June 5, 2010, from NORML: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=5441#f2 5. (n.d.). Which Drugs are the Most Addictive?. Retrieved June 7, 2010, from Schaffer Library of Drug Policy: http://www.druglibrary.org/SCHAFFER/library/basicfax5.html 6. Marijuana Legalization and Regulation. (n.d.). Drug Policy Alliance. Retrieved July 30, 2014, from http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana-legalization-and-regulation
"Marijuana should be removed from the CRIMINAL JUSTICE system and regulated

in a manner similar to alcohol and tobacco.”

7. Marijuana legalization pros/cons | The Liberty Champion. (2014, July 31). The Liberty Champion Marijuana legalization proscons Comments. Retrieved July 30, 2014, from http://www.liberty.edu/champion/2013/10/marijuana-legalization-proscons/
"Legalization is a viable way to help boost the U.S. economy"

8. Joy, A. (n.d.). Marijuana As Medicine : The Science Beyond the Controversy. Marijuana As Medicine : The Science Beyond the Controversy. Retrieved July 30, 2014, from http://site.ebrary.com.libproxy.edmc.edu/lib/argosy/docDetail.action?docID=10038627

"Approximately 30 percent of all Americans will develop cancer in their lifetimes. Although

two-thirds will eventually die as a result, many will live with cancer for years beforehand. For

this reason, researchers not only seek medicines to prevent and cure the disease but also drugs to

make life more comfortable for people with cancer."