...Mary Jane, chronic, ganja, bud, grass, pot, weed. Many of you are already familiar with more than 1 of these street names for one drug, marijuana. Are you aware that more than twenty-six percent of Ontarian students from grade 7-12 already use marijuana recreationally! It is the most popular illegal drug in North America and many people believe that it is not a dangerous drug. The wide use of marijuana is due to its ability to calm one down and to temporarily provide an escape from worries. It has not been found to be as hazardous as alcohol and some other drugs; however, it can affect perception and judgment, impair memory, and result in mental health issues. Keeping marijuana illegal is very costly because over five hundred million dollars are used annually enforcing marijuana laws. Prohibition has failed because marijuana has become one of the biggest “cash crops” in Canada. These are some of the reasons the Canadian government wants to legalize marijuana. Marijuana should continue to stay illegal in Canada. Legalizing this drug will make our country a drug vacation destination and increased accessibility will...
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...Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a form of the cannabis plant. In 1923, marijuana was added to the Confidential Restricted List as a prohibited drug in Canada. However, many Canadians believe that marijuana should be legalized because it can play a significant role in the medical industry. However, others hold the opposite attitude toward Marijuana legalization. This serious controversy has lasted for many decades. Canada’s neighbor, the U.S. government, has forbidden this drug since the early 1900s. However, this implementation didn’t produce a satisfactory result. (National Prevention Strategy, 2011) Marijuana should be legalized in Canada because its advantages outweigh the disadvantages. These advantages are likely to promote the Canadian economy, eliminate social issues and benefit the health of its residents. In terms of the economy, legalizing marijuana could conduct not only negative effects, but also positive effects. In the past decade, underground trade of marijuana has caused harm to Canada’s income. Werner Antweiler, the UBC professor, believes that the marijuana market is sizable. (2013) In B.C., the estimates show that Canadians consume at least 3 billion dollars in marijuana products annually. (Barmak, 2013) Other data from The International Journal of Drug Policy indicate that the retail value of marijuana consumption in B.C is between $443 million and $564 million. In addition, further estimates point out that marijuana legalization is likely to help the...
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...of Drugs in Canada The Decriminalization and/ or legalization of drugs is a highly contentious issue regarding political, legal, economic, and social implications. It is also a highly contagious issue that the media cannot seem to cure its self of. Then again the public definitely cares about this issue intensely and so do many politicians whether they are users themselves or just simple supporters (of the tax revenues that legalizing certain narcotics will bring in to the country), especially in the United States and Canada where people are being thrown in jail for years only because of small possession charges (more so in the USA). Prisons in The United States are overcrowded with people who shouldn’t be...
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...Michael Littlejohn Essay #4 English 1101 Marijuana Legalization The history of Marijuana dates back to many, many years, and has served different cultures in various ways. Over the last few years however Marijuana has been adapted to fit our lifestyles, and social environment. Today many people around the world smoke Marijuana, for medicinal purposes, and the drug should be legalized permanently as ‘pot’ has many beneficial uses, including easing pain, helping Canada to stay away from debt, saving millions of acres in forestry and creating jobs for many people; raising Canada’s economic status. Marijuana whose scientific name is Cannabis Sativa has been mentioned in manuscripts dating back to 2700 B.C. in China. The Jamestown settlers recorded the first nurturing of the plant in 1611, as they used the hemp from the plant’s fibers to make rope and canvas. Marijuana also known as ‘weed’ was used to make clothing, as the plant was very durable. In that time, ‘pot’ was used more for survival than for any other purposes. Marijuana came into play with the scarcity of alcohol in the ‘olden’ days. The use of the drugs rose from there, and became a large problem in the Unites States. The United States is one of those countries that can immensely benefit from the legalization of Marijuana use. In the States, Marijuana is the most widely used controlled substance, and since the drug is used so often, why not brew large amounts of money. Selling the drug and at the same time raising...
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...Legalization of Marijuana in Canada: Why Provincial Liquor Commissions Should Sell Marijuana to Adults In a time where the Canadian Government is looking for new ways to cut costs, and boost tax revenues, the idea of legalizing marijuana and selling it through provincial liquor commissions has transformed from the dreams of a few, to a country wide debate. This debate centers on whether legalizing and selling marijuana is the appropriate move for Canada, and how this process would be accomplished. Legalization of marijuana could prove to have many benefits for the Canadian people and its government; it is a topic that requires serious consideration, both by the Canadian electorate and those who shape Canada’s laws and policies. Some Canadians – a recent poll suggests less than fifty percent – take issue with the legalization of marijuana because of moral, or personal reasons. However, the legalization of marijuana is supported by many Canadians – polls suggest more than fifty percent – and should therefore be legalized and sold by provincial liquor commissions to people over the age of 18. Firstly, as a democracy, if more than fifty percent of Canadians are for legalization, our laws and criminal code should reflect this. Secondly, the amount of money that would be saved on enforcement and imprisonment costs could be used to fund addiction counseling and support services. Finally, the profit generated from the sale of marijuana would increase the amount of money that provincial...
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...Legalizing of Marijuana Research Paper Example The history of Marijuana dates back to many, many years, and has served different cultures in various ways. Over the last few years however Marijuana has been adapted to fit our lifestyles, and social environment. Today many people around the world smoke Marijuana, for medicinal purposes, and the drug should be legalized permanently as ‘pot’ has many beneficial uses, including easing pain, helping Canada to stay away from debt, saving millions of acres in forestry and creating jobs for many people; raising Canada’s economic status. Marijuana whose scientific name is Cannabis Sativa has been mentioned in manuscripts dating back to 2700 B.C. in China. The Jamestown settlers recorded the first nurturing of the plant in 1611, as they used the hemp from the plant’s fibers to make rope and canvas. Marijuana also known as ‘weed’ was used to make clothing, as the plant was very durable. In that time, ‘pot’ was used more for survival than for any other purposes. Marijuana came into play with the scarcity of alcohol in the ‘olden’ days. The use of the drug rose from there, and became a large problem in the Unites States. The United States is one of those countries that can immensely benefit from the legalization of Marijuana use. In the States, Marijuana is the most widely used controlled substance, and since the drug is used so often, why not brew large amounts of money. Selling the drug and at the same time raising the economy of...
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...if marijuana is an herb or a drug/poison, but since early 2001 marijuana was legalized which provided a set regulations towards legal access to marijuana. The restrictions for the uses of marijuana are that only allowed to be used with a license prescribed by a doctor and can be only used for medical purposes. Marijuana is known for paralyzing the pain and treats many diseases. Marijuana can also only be prescribed for 90 days by a doctor. Its uses are mainly treating migraines, inflammatory diseases, cancer, fibromyalgia (a medical disorder that spread pains into muscles) and other related diseases. Canada is also one of the first country to legalize marijuana, but because of this decision, more cons outweighs the pros. For instance, legalizing marijuana can send a message to devolving young that is right to smoke because is not against the law. Crime rates and recreational usage of marijuana can also dramatically increase since there is less protective law against it. A lot of our tax money also goes in to healthcare and marijuana is part of that system. Marijuana is a negative impact towards the media, society and economy and the final decision should be reconsider for more possibilities of changes. The laws and restrictions for marijuana have been taken too lightly since the legalizing of marijuana. Many people are abusing and taking advantage of the abandment of illegal use of marijuana. One example of people taking advantage is now more recreational use of marijuana have...
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...The Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is a psychoactive drug for medicinal purposes. The English term marijuana originates from the Mexican Spanish work marihuana. According to the United Nations, marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance in the world. In modern times, marijuana has been used for such cases like recreational, religious, spiritual and medicinal purposes. However, most of today’s people use marijuana for own self-satisfaction and psychoactive purposes. The United Nation estimated that in 2004, around 4 percent of the world’s adult population, which is 162 million people, used marijuana annually and around 0.6 percent used it daily. Due to its psychoactive effect, marijuana is currently recognized as illegal drug in most cases. Right now, it is only used for medical purposes and is legal in few places. However, there have been continuous debates going on about legalizing the marijuana. Although most politicians disagree with legalizing it, there is increase in number who agrees on legalizing marijuana for many purposes. I, too, agree on legalizing marijuana because it will solve many problems. Current Obama administration is on stress about medical marijuana laws. Ethan Nadelmann pointed out that state medical marijuana laws do not make “any sense in terms of public safety, health or fiscal policy”. (Franklin) When marijuana is used for medical purpose, there are over 70 percent of voters who support. However, recently, those...
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...topic of legalizing marijuana has been on a rise over the last couple of years, especially in Canada. According to Statistics Canada, they conducted a Canadian Community Health Survey – Mental Health (CCHS – MH) in 2012 that “12.2% of Canadians aged 15 or older (3.4 million) used marijuana in the past year” (Langlois and Rotermann). Over the years, smoking marijuana has become more and more of a ‘leisure activity’ amongst many young adolescents and teenagers. Whether or not society realizes, by participating, it has situated biased perceptions towards narcotics, strained their social relationships and triggered physiological effects on themselves. The majority of adolescents participate because of peer pressure. Regrettably, the innocent fifteen year old teen does not realize how detrimental smoking marijuana is after it is done once. Whereas, adults smoke marijuana because they are not able to escape their addiction therefore they partake in smoking marijuana to escape their reality. Prohibiting marijuana is a detrimental to their mental abilities, their health and the government. The prolonged misconception that smoking marijuana carries little to none health effects has been proven wrong by many doctors, scientists and researchers. Many users and pro-marijuana movements are under the impression that marijuana is not an addictive drug. After committing to smoking marijuana for the first time, the addiction is let off its leash. Recent studies has proven that marijuana is in fact...
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...drugs even though it’s illegal. Though its not something anyone could ever understand, why do these people go against the law and jeopardize their life just to use drugs? The drug that I am talking in this essay about is marijuana, and it may be surprising to some but it is all around us. Marijuana is even being referred to in today’s media. The way that they are doing this is through the mainstream media sources that people prefer; like music, movies, and TV shows. Now being a 20 year old adult and having my own personal experience with Marijuana and knowing its effects on others, and myself. I always ask why it’s not legal. Why is it that this drug has become illegal all over the world, but they allow cigarettes, alcohol, and prescription medication. The war to legalize marijuana in the United States of America has been and is now being fought nonstop since the existence of the drug itself. Marijuana has been tested and proven to have a very positive impact on the American society for multiple reasons. Some of these reasons are for America’s economy, the health of certain people, and even crime. These reasons could very well help America turn around its national debt and help thrive the country in the future. This naturally grown plant known as marijuana is known all around the world. This plant is known to be a herbal medicine that gives users a “high” and is legal in a lot of countries in the world, but also illegal in a lot of...
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...dilemma is how to exactly stop it. Some people believe that making drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, and methamphetamine legal in the United States would put a stop to drug trafficking, but this is just going to do nothing but make things worse for the people of the United States and cause the drug war to begin in our own country. It is believed by some that making drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, LSD, and methamphetamine legal in the United States will stop drug trafficking from other countries and help the United States in other ways. People believe that making drugs legal in the United States that it would reduce the prison population which will save the government money, it will make money for our country because the government can tax the drugs, reduce the chances of drug overdoses because the drugs will be more pure and the amount sold will not be deathly, help cancer and glaucoma patients, and stop trafficking and smuggling from other countries. This all may be true in some ways but making these drugs legal would just cause more problems within the United States and for our people. These problems vary from more crime within the United States to more jobless people in the United States. Also it is not going to make the drug traffickers disappears they will find ways to stay in the drug trade. So if people would research the effects of these drugs and what legalizing them would do to the United States they might think twice about this and find other...
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...Vincent Piccoli Professor Melville EN 112 25 November 2014 The Legalization of Marijuana The legalization of Marijuana has gradually become one of the most talked about topics in the world today. It has been a fight between the government, the states, and the citizens of any country/countries around the world. From 12 percent in 1969, to 25 percent in 1995, to 36 percent by 2005 and hitting 48 percent in 2012, the demographic shift on this issue has been stunning. (Heuvel, Kartina Vanden) There are 23 states in the United States with some form of marijuana legalization. Whether it be the legalization of marijuana medically or recreationally, or some both. Legalizing marijuana has some very big advantages along with the pros and cons already. For most states, legalizing marijuana will benefit the economy greatly, marijuana is more harmless than many other drugs such as alcohol, tobacco, cocaine. There always is that chance it does not benefit the economy but the percentage of marijuana users throughout the world is increasing every year. (Heuval, Kartina Vanden) With all of this comes responsibility and with the right determination and structure, Marijuana should be legalized but with regulations. One positive effect the legalization of marijuana will have on society is the medical aspect of marijuana. So many people need and use medical marijuana to help treat themselves and take care of themselves. For some it is their only cure and for some it is more like...
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...“I believe marijuana should be legalized.” There are several different reasons why marijuana (pot) should be legalized. By legalizing marijuana it would reduce crime with criminal gangs. Marijuana is too expensive for our justice system and should instead be taxed to support beneficial government programs. Marijuana use has many positive attributes, such as its medical value and use as a recreational drug with relatively mild side effects (Alt 2007). For many years there has been a "war on drugs" in this country. Legalization of marijuana would reduce the money flow in our American economy. It would also add to foreign cultivation and smuggling to the United States very profitable. It would send billions of dollars overseas in an underground economy while diverting funds from productive economic development (Alt 2007). Instead of penalizing people for possessions charges the states should legalize, regulate and tax marijuana sales. According to Phillips, Wayne he believes that by legalizing marijuana it could create more jobs and strengthen the Canadian economy and help build their international image. It would help reduce federal spending and taxes. It would help safeguard youth and communities, stop the enabling crime organizations. Canada would gain respect as a nation that reflects intellect over ideology. Legalizing it would also go to offsetting pressing needs (Phillips, Wayne 2012). On Seattle television King 5 News, two former US attorneys, John McKay and...
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...Marijuana is one of the world’s oldest plants to come to wide practice of production, sale, and consumption originally used for medical purposes. This generated rapidly growing industries based around the variety of uses for the easily grown plant species. Hemp has been used for a variety of everyday purposes in Americas past including paper, clothing, food, and fuel; the economic potential for this plant type surpasses many plants which are considered staple crops today. Marijuana is America’s number one cash crop surpassing corn and other items. Its decriminalization would open new tax revenues and slash old tax budgets as funds are re appropriated to satisfy a hungry criminal justice system. There have been many non-violent convictions in the justice system that costs the country potentially hundreds of billions of dollars every year and have since the start of the war on drugs during the Reagan era. These convictions could be avoided if the government let each American decide if the production and consumption of marijuana violated their moral and ethical values as individual liberties. As Americans, we are given, at birth, unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the freedom to pursue happiness through whatever means beyond any clear and eminent harm. The combined benefits that would be experienced from legalization are obvious, evident, and too important to remain illegal; the decriminalization of marijuana is more a matter of time due to the variety and abundance of positive...
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...Outline: Should Marijuana be Legalized? Introduction History of Marijuana (Raymond) Describe the History of the Drug Marijuana. References: Cohen, M. (2012, 12 08). Marijuana legalization and states rights. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/08/marijuana-legalization-and-states-rights/ Committee on Substance Abuse and Committee on Adolescence, . (2004, 6). Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth . Pediatrics, 113(6), 1825 - 1826. Grush, L. (2013, February 6). Smoking Marijuana Linked with Higher Risk of Stroke in Young Adults, Study Finds. Fox News. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/02/06/smoking-marijuana-linked-with-higher-risk-stroke-in-young-adults/ Harvey, B (Director, Writer). (2007). The Union: The Business Behind Getting High (Documentary, DVD). Canada: Eagle Entertainment. Head, T. (n.d., n.d.). Why is Marijuana Illegal? About.com Guide. Retrieved from http://civilliberty.about.com/od/drugpolicy/tp/Why-is-Marijuana-Illegal.htm The Truth About Cannabis. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.truthaboutcannabis.org/ Body Paragraph 1 Pros- Medical (Anthony) Discuss the positive effects that legalizing Marijuana will have on Medical needs. References: 17 legal medical marijuana states. (n.d.). ProCon.org. Retrieved from http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881 Cannabis and mental health. (n.d.). Cannabis and Mental Health. Retrieved...
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