...epilepsies allowing her to grow and learn for the first time in five years. (Gupta, 2013) This is just one of many ways marijuana has helped people with their diagnosis and has continued to work. In 1930 medicinal marijuana was put on the Schedule 1 list for narcotics by Harry J. Anslinger, the Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN). Decades later, after marijuana became illegal, states around America are starting to take a new position on the drug and have legalized marijuana. Knowing this, people around the nation are still hesitant of pro-legalization and the Federal Government is taking little interest in the matter. The legalization of marijuana would increase crop cultivation in America, provide jobs for those in need during this economic downfall, and decrease the amount of criminal activity involved with the use and distribution of marijuana. Before marijuana was made illegal by the FBN and before the roaring twenties, marijuana cultivation produced valuable products such as paper, rope, canvas, and textiles. Canvas is a Dutch word in which its meaning is cannabis, hemp or marijuana. All around the world professionals are finding ways to recycle materials in order to avoid cutting down trees and greenhouse gasses. These professionals are aware of hemp and its increase production, for example; an acre of hemp can produce four times more paper than...
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...Reform of Marijuana Laws By Abigail Galicia PID: A09469570 POLI 100E Final Paper Prof. Galderisi 12/13/2012 Abigail Galicia POLI 100E Galderisi 12/13/12 Final Paper NORML-National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws “It’s NORML to Smoke Pot.” How is NORML organized, and how does it pursue its policy interests? I. Introduction. The issue of the legalization of marijuana has been a hotly-debated and increasingly bitter confrontation among Americans. On the one side lie those who oppose everything about the drug and believe it to be a threat to society’s health and well-being, while the other side is composed of “the millions of smokers, many of them well educated, successful people who resent being defined as criminals for using what they regard as a mild but enjoyable drug (Anderson 3).” Both sides—for and against the legalization of marijuana—have presented proper research and evidence on either the virtually harmless or life threatening effects of marijuana along with either the economically beneficial or detrimental effects drug policy reform will have on the US. Either way, this debate has gained political momentum in the past decades and can no longer be seen as one-sided. Fueling this debate and whole-heartedly representing the pro-marijuana lobby organization, is the interest group NORML. NORML stands for the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and has been the top main advocate in leading the opposition against the prohibition of Marijuana...
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...Legalization of Marijuana Tina Washington Everest University March 3, 2015 Abstract The prohibition of marijuana has brought forth multiple passionate debates for many years in reference to its effects on the human body, its medicinal properties, and its effect on society. Even though there are many people who are opposed to the legalization of marijuana, this paper will dispute that the legalization of marijuana is justified. This paper will provide proof by measuring marijuana’s effects on the human body when ingested by inhalation against the effects on the body when consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking tobacco, by submitting research facts on its medicinal qualities, and providing you with information on how the use of marijuana can benefit a lot of people as well as our nation as a whole. Legalization of Marijuana Legalization of marijuana is wide spread. There are so many benefits to it such as helping those with medicinal issues like anxiety, AIDS, Cancer, glaucoma, etc. Being able to assist someone without throwing pills down their throat is certainly a better approach. Most people don’t know this, but there are 18 states that have already gotten on the band wagon of legalizing marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the two most recent states that adopted this law. Not only is it a great way to aid in certain medical issues, but it is also a way for the states and our government to generate revenue...
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...fight the war on Marijuana. Marijuana has been a hot topic lately, and the debates really been heating up. The main question is how much would our country benefit from the legalization of recreational marijuana? Our citizens and political leaders have a chance to cash in on one of the biggest cash crops in existence today. Legalizing marijuana for recreational use has the potential to be very lucrative and beneficial to our country and society. To fully understand the debate on legalizing marijuana, you must know what marijuana is and how it came to be outlawed in the U.S. in the first place. Marijuana is a plant that produces flowers or buds that can be smoked to produce...
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...2. Claim: Marijuana legalization will benefit everyone both medically and economically, 3. Support: Currently 15 states allow the use of marijuana for medical purposes. 4. Warrant: People with pain, nausea and loss of appetite by people with AIDS, cancer and other debilitating diseases are benefiting from medical marijuana in the current 15 states that allow its use. 5. Backing: As in the past marijuana was used for medical purpose. 6. Rebuttal: Refusal to legalize continues to cost the government a lot of funds in prohibition and enforcement. In the perspective of America's war on drugs, marijuana is one of the biggest enemies. And since alcohol and tobacco, two life threatening substances, are legal it is a relevant question to ask why marijuana is illegal. What comes into our minds each time we hear people talk about Marijuana? We associate the use of marijuana with a lot of bad things such as violence, intoxication, and bad behaviors - the list is endless. Before consideration is even given to legalization of marijuana, let us first of all understand what it is and, its history. Since time immemorial, there has been a negative stigma attached to marijuana, but exactly what is it? www.justice.gov/ndic describes Marijuana as a mind-altering substance produced from a plant with the scientific name Cannabis sativa. The drug is used because of its primary active chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which may induce relaxation and heighten the senses. THC is the main psychoactive...
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...Legalization of Marijuana Research has been published in favor of legalizing marijuana. The legalization of marijuana is a political issue that has continued to surface for decades. There is countrywide support lobbying for reinstating the right to use this natural product. A large majority of this country's population refuses to accept the United States government’s decision to prohibit citizens from enjoying the benefits that this organically grown herb provides. In my paper I will research and have knowledge on the legalization and political issues about marijuana. Most Americans do not want to spend scarce public funds incarcerating nonviolent marijuana offenders, at a cost of $23,000 per year. Politicians must reconsider our country's priorities and attach more importance to combating violent crime than targeting marijuana smokers. Marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers at least $7.5 billion annually. This is an enormous waste of scarce federal dollars that should be used to target violent crime. Marijuana prohibition makes no exception for the medical use of marijuana. The tens of thousands of seriously ill Americans who presently use marijuana as a therapeutic agent to alleviate symptoms of cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, or multiple sclerosis risk arrest and jail to obtain and use their medication (Grinspoon and Bakalar). Americans, it turns out, aren't conflicted in their attitude toward marijuana. They want it illegal but not really enforced...
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...Should Marijuana Be Legal? Student Name Institution Should Marijuana Be Legal? Marijuana is a drug extracted from cannabis sativa plant. It has several uses, which include smoking, fuel, and manufacturing of fiber. Smoking takes the lead in its uses and bears the identity of the plant. Large volumes of documented facts about this drug are in existence, but the legality of the drug remains arguable. In some countries such as America, the drug is illegal, while it is legalized in other countries such as Jamaica. Research has proven beyond any reasonable doubt that the spread and use of the drug among populations is deep-rooted even in countries where it is illegal. This stamps a question on the illegality of the drug and the effectiveness of its prohibition status. The beneficial documented facts about legalizing the drug critically surpass the benefits gained if it is prohibited. Everything in this world has two faces, the positive, and the negative. Individuals have personal freedom that is protected by the constitution of a given country. Prohibition of marijuana induces restrictions to the excise of this freedom by those who use it (Rosenthal, Kubby, & Newhart, 2003). The government has a right to withhold this freedom, only when its use interferes with or harms another individual. The use of marijuana has neither known direct interference effects to non-users nor does it harm the health of the user; this is unlike other legalized drugs such as alcohol...
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...years, there has been an increase in the number of states legalizing marijuana for medical or recreational purposes. The prohibition of marijuana has been the source of countless debates with people on opposite sides of the spectrum defending their beliefs. The history of marijuana prohibition, the consequences resulting from the prohibition, money spent on enforcing prohibition and potential profits, medical marijuana, dangerous manufactured substances, confusion between the state and federal governments, the ineffectiveness of current laws, and marijuana’s affect on state and local politics have all contributed to large debates across the states as legislatures decide the right way to regulate marijuana. The prohibition of alcohol and the restriction of cannabis use have certain similarities. Both were directed against the evils of using these substances, the negative rhetoric against both substances was the same, and both started at the state level with congressional action following later. During the prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s, the government spent millions of dollars trying to enforce an ineffective law it had in place.2 The same can be said about marijuana, but one a much larger, more devastating scale. The “evils” of alcohol were matters of public knowledge, with countless debates leading to the Eighteenth Amendment and later the Volstead Act. It was the direct opposite regarding marijuana. There were no public opinion polls before legislation was passed...
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...questioning of the rationality of the current US federal legislation on both drugs, as marijuana is currently illicit whilst alcohol is not. Research has suggested that marijuana could be equally if not more beneficial than alcohol to the economy, with fewer negative externalities. This discussion has been sparked anew after the states of Colorado and Washington infringed federal legislation by instating the open legality of marijuana. The topic, in current debate, must be viewed objectively to reach a valuable conclusion, since much of the argument is highly opinionated and biased owing to the stigma attached to such substances. Marijuana is currently a Schedule I substance under federal law whereas alcohol is federally regulated through the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) alongside stringent state and county laws. Existing federal law makes alcohol legal to those over the age of 21, with high taxation placed on consumption. Hence, the substance is highly regulated, although not currently prohibited. We intend to examine the economic effects that alcohol has on the economy and compare these findings with the hypothetical benefits of legalised marijuana. Analytically considering the reasoning behind its current illegal status, we will compare the negative externalities of cannabis against those of alcohol to determine whether there is logic behind the prohibition. The paper will look to settle disputes about the monetary incentives of a legal market by appraising...
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...Abstract: The prohibition of marijuana has been a heated debate for years. This paper will examine the question of whether or not it will be beneficial to the population as a whole, smokers and non-smokers to legalize marijuana. This paper will begin by giving a historical overview of marijuana and how it became illegal. Then, it will attempt to examine and illustrate the many valuable, and beneficial qualities that marijuana has. Relying on the facts found to ultimately come to a conclusion on whether or not legalization would positively effect our country. Introduction Background Information The legalizing of marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes will have significant benefits for smokers and non-smokers, the economy, and the population. Currently any production, sale, distribution, or consumption of the drug marijuana is illegal in forty-eight states in the nation. Legalizing marijuana in this situation would mean executing the same or similar laws as are imposed on to alcohol. “On November 6, 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the sale and possession of cannabis for recreational use since the Marijuana Tax act of 1937 when they passed Colorado Amendment 64 and Washington Initiative 502” (Szalavitz). The few states that have legalized marijuana are instituting practices to integrate the substance into society. To continue, consumption of marijuana would be illegal as well as the purchase of the substance by minors...
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...Arguments Against: Prohibition of Marijuana 1. Medicinal Use a. STUDY- According to Congressional Research Service, “By the 1840s, marijuana’s therapeutic potential began to be recognized by some U.S. physicians. From 1850 to 1941 cannabis was included in the United States Pharmacopoeia as a recognized medicinal. By the end of 1936, however, all 48 states had enacted laws to regulate marijuana.” b. Certified physicians prescribing marijuana (specifically for the THC in it) as a form of medicine i. Many people can find benefits from its medicinal purposes 1. Improves nausea and vomiting 2. Stimulation of hunger a. Cancer and AIDS patients b. STUDY- University of California, San Francisco concluded that 30% more AIDS patients who smoke cannabis compared to those who did not felt “significantly less pain and better appetite” 3. Lower eye pressure c. Specifically Glaucoma patients 4. Generic pain reliever ii. Many countries have begun the process of legalization for medicinal use 5. 9 Countries around the world, including Spain, Germany, Italy, and Canada 6. As well as 14 states within the United States, making you wonder what exactly will happen if over half the states legalize medicinal marijuana c. VIDEO----------------------------------------------UNION MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS ------------- 2. Industrial Use ...
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...Marijuana Legalization: The War on Drugs and Criminal Law Howard R. Burke Strayer University Abstract This research will point out that the United States’ current policy on drug prohibition, the so called “War on Drugs,” is ineffective. The current draconian prohibition policies against drug consumption may actually increase their use. As well, contrary to claims made by current drug policy supporters, increased drug enforcement can reduce public safety and compound the individual and social costs of drug use. The U.S. drug policy, born over a hundred years ago, has gone through several transformations becoming more voracious with each new invocation. The War on Drugs is an expensive and failed concept which has incorporated racism in its administration, increased crime rates, imposed harsh sentences for nonviolent offenses, facilitated police corruption and aggressively eroded civil liberties. Table of Contents INTRODUCTION Introduction to the Problem Background of the Study Statement of the Problem Purpose of the Research Research Questions Significance of the Research Assumptions and Limitations Organization of the Remainder of the Study LITERATURE REVIEW CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Marijuana Legalization: The War on Drugs and Criminal Law INTRODUCTION The United States has conducted a long experiment of drug prohibition. The prohibition of marijuana and other illicit drugs has only...
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...Marijuana Legalization in the United States Elisha Havraniak Ottawa University LAS 30012 Writing and Critical Thinking in the Liberal Arts October 11, 2013 Marijuana Legalization in the United States Marijuana has had a long history as an illicit drug, but is quickly becoming a mainstream issue. Some people use marijuana to ease their pain and treat their illnesses. Many others use it because of it mood-altering effects. Laws have been passed to regulate both of these uses of the drug. Those who advocate legalization favor easing or overturning laws against the possession and use of marijuana for recreational purposes, medical use, or both. In general most proposals for legalization fall into one of three categories: decriminalization for recreational use, legalization for recreational use, or legalization for medical use. In opposition to these three choices is the option to keep marijuana illegal for both recreational and medical purposes. The purpose of this paper is to explore the facts, pros and cons, regarding the legalization of marijuana. The information for this paper was obtained from scholarly and peer reviewed journal articles, books, and online sources. The research questions answered are as follows; * Could the legalization of marijuana rescue our struggling economy or could it provide much need relief to the overcrowded prison system? * Will the legalization of marijuana lead to a regulation nightmare…can it even be regulated...
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...these ideas and form my paper. I am pleased especially with the topic I have decided to discuss about, because I am very familiar with the subject and I’ve had a certain feeling about this topic for the past few years. I specifically want my audience to focus on the comparison between alcohol and marijuana as far as, the government implementing marijuana into the economy as alcohol. In this case, marijuana would take on the same laws and restrictions as alcohol does as far as age limit and those matters. I want my audience to give their honest opinion about my topic and how they feel about the situation. The main aspect I want to hear from people when reading my paper is what is their feel on marijuana and why do that feel that way. I believe this is an important issue in today’s society and I would love to know how people feel towards the drug. I was able to implement comments and suggestion into this draft fairly well. The suggestions people gave me were very helpful and I found out they helped me with some grammar errors I had no idea were in my paper. Marijuana is a topic of significant public discourse in the United States, and while many are familiar with the discussions, it is not always easy to find the latest, research-based information on marijuana to answer to the common questions about its health effects, or the differences between Federal and state laws concerning the drug. The debate continues to be over whether or not marijuana is a harmful drug and whether...
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...For the Legalization of Marijuana Naomi H. Marquez Brad Lycan October 16, 2013 As we venture on the topic of legalizing marijuana these paper will analyze several crucial points of this discussion and review several articles and their position on this controversial topic. We will analyze the main topics of concern for the legalization of cannabis which will include, the history of the prohibition of cannabis, the potential health risks compare to alcohol and tobacco, the criminal affect that this drug can have if legalize and finally the economical side of cannabis. The following paragraphs will dissect the following topics with the help of several articles and experts in the topic. The first topic of discussion will be the history of the prohibition of cannabis which became illegal in September of 1937. To understand this topic we need to submerge ourselves into its history. In the article “How Hemp Became Illegal: The Marijuana Link” explains the detailed history on how this miracle plant became illegal. The main concern of marijuana was that it was a plant that was so versatile not only because it can be used in so many ways but because marijuana can be grown pretty much in any climate and with a minimal water supply. This article goes into detail of all the inside meetings between politicians and multimillionaire tycoons who wanted cannabis to become illegal because marijuana could be used as paper, food, fiber, fuel, plastic and of course medicine...
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