...You may know the substance marijuana, but you may not know that marijuana can be mixed in food like cookies and it can be brewed in drinks. (The Harmful Effects of Marijuana - Drug Free World.")In the U.S, over 38% of the Americans have consumed marijuana. Until this day fewer young people have used marijuana than in the 1970s and 80s (In U.S., 38% Have Tried Marijuana, Little Changed Since '80s." ), The way marijuana works is when people smoke marijuana THC rapidly passes from the lungs into the bloodstream which carries chemicals to the brain and to the organs throughout the body.("DrugFacts: Marijuana | National Institute on Drug Abuse ..." ) .The effects for men are it will change the structure of sperm cells, deforming them, even a small...
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...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 to lack of research on the potential risks. These risks include: altered...
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...According to “Marijuana: The Facts,” www.usdoj.gov, 2001. Mary and E. Williams reported in her article “Marijuana Is Harmful” she states that marijuana is harmful and addicting, the drug also has many short and long term effects like memory loss, anxiety weakened immune system and an increased risk of cancer respiratory diseases, and heart problems. Marijuana smokers are also more likely to do other illegal drugs. Smoking marijuana can also add to already serious ailments and is not recommended for medical reasons. The underlying problem with the fight to legalize marijuana is that it will lead to legalizing other illegal drugs. (Williams, 2003, para.1) Clarence Page states in the article “The Harmful Effects of Marijuana Use Are Exaggerated.” that marijuana is not any more dangerous than tobacco, alcohol or prescription drugs. He also argues that Marijuana safer than some of these other drugs because no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose. He also asserts that it helps relieve pain and nausea so doctors should be able to prescribe it. Clarence Page also believes that legalizing marijuana would help put an end to violent street gangs. (Page, 2005, para.1) According to “Marijuana Is Harmful” From 1993 to 2000, emergency rooms have seen triple the number of cases involving marijuana. Another thing to think about when discussing the topic of marijuana is that one hour after smoking it can increase the chance of a heart attack by five times. Clarence Page argues...
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...Kevin Belanger English Comp 2 Analysis Response Marijuana, Medically Benign: A Look Into its Effects Phillip Boffey, formerly the president of the National Association of Science writers and currently the director of the Council for the Advancement of Science Writing, is an editorial writer for the New York Times. He recently published an article about the health effects of marijuana titled “What Science Says About Marijuana.” The article is delivered in an informative and scientific tone by using research and proven facts to an audience most likely advocating the use of marijuana. It’s clear that anyone who picks up this article is most likely a user of the drug interested in its effects, or someone advocating for the legalization, or medical regulation of marijuana on a national scale. Boffey argues in his thesis that “It needs to be kept out of the hands of minors. But, on balance, its downsides are not reasons to impose criminal penalties on its possession, particularly not in a society that permits nicotine use and celebrates drinking.”(2) Boffey aims to educate his readers about how marijuana is far less harmful to the human body than some other completely legal substances like alcohol, tobacco, and prescription medications. While marijuana’s health effects may be minimal, these effects largely depend on the frequency of use, the age of the user, and if the user has any previous existing medical conditions. Phillip Boffey launches his debate on the subject with...
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...to Comp. 11 November 2013 Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana was not known to be illegal at a point in time; back in 7,000 B.C it was legal. Marijuana also known as the hemp plant had a number of uses such as; woven fabric from hemp, food, cloth, rope, and much more. A man by the name Harry J. Anslinger came along, who seeked career opportunity with the Bureau of Narcotics. He didn’t feel as if cocaine would be enough to get his company up and starting as fast as he wanted, so he took on marijuana and started working on making it illegal at the federal level. Anslinger stated “There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.” Anslinger soon became the first drug czar a person who deals with direct drug-control propaganda in the United States. Anslinger began making up these stories about how marijuana was the cause of gang of boys raping two teenagers girls and how a sixteen-year-old killing his whole family. By 1937 the Bureau set two important steps, first a plan to get from Congress to pass a new law that it would be under federal control on marijuana and its distributions. Second, any forms of media would mention the cleaning up hundreds of acres of marijuana. As years passed the use of marijuana was not just known to be “evil weed”, but it...
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...The opinion of Marijuana during the 70’s was much more definitive than it is today. Approval of Marijuana by 27 states, new medical studies, and its consequences on those convicted from use of the most common illicit drug in the world, is forcing the United States of America to rethink its stance on the matter. In general, the underlying argument about Marijuana in this country is: should Marijuana continue to be prohibited to citizens based on its health effects, medicinal values, and costs to the country? The reasons why this argument is so important are great. As previously stated, Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world, and with millions of people using it regularly and almost 100 million that have ever used it in this country, the laws behind this drug hold great influence. It is because of this and the immergence of new evidence, that the justification behind prohibition of this drug is being rethought scientifically, socially, and economically. The use of Marijuana as both medicine and a recreational drug is being thoroughly questioned in the US. 27 states have Marijuana approved in some form, many of those for medical purposes however those users can still, and do get placed into prison by federal law. Currently, 830,00 people a year are in trouble with the law in regards to Marijuana and numbers seem to be on an uphill trend . Furthermore, the US invests 30 billion a year into the drug war, half of which is dedicated to Marijuana. Many are questioning...
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...Making Marijuana Legal By James Pizzato The topic of whether or not marijuana should be legal has been debated since the early 1900s, when it first became illegal. Before then, marijuana was never known as a recreational drug. Marijuana, in the form of hemp, was used in many resources such as fuel, textiles, and even in medicine. Although marijuana is legal in many states for medicinal purposes only, it is still considered a harmful drug. Making marijuana –which is more beneficial than any other legalized toxic drug—legal in the United States would reduce cost for war on drugs and increase government profit by selling it. History of marijuana use can date all the way back to 2700 B.C. It is noted in what could be the world’s oldest Pharmacopeia as having cures for many ailments such as malaria and absentmindedness. China used the drug in teas to help cure vomiting, stomachache and infections. The drug spread to India and became very popular in healing rituals. Continued use of the drug spread around the world, to Europe, South America, and Africa. Each country used marijuana for similar medicinal uses, as well as recreationally. Marijuana was legal in the United States up until the early 1900s. Previous to this, the drug was very widely known as a medicine. The drug was even noted in the United States Pharmacopeia up until 1942. Marijuana, as a recreational drug, was brought over by the Mexicans after the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Shortly after, the drug started...
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...The subject of marijuana is a very touchy subject to a lot of people; being that many people believe that it is the “devil’s lettuce,” and will ruin people’s lives, whilst some believe that it has no harmful effects that would change how a person lives their life. I will list both sides of the issue in order to make a clear decision. Legalization: * Marijuana is not any more harmful than that of alcohol or tobacco products; in fact, thousands of people are killed every year from the effects of smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol. While there are no reported cases of people dying from the effects of marijuana. * Restricting the use of marijuana is an intrusion on people’s personal freedoms; the drug does not hurt the user or people around them in a way that should be considered a threat. So the government should not have the power to say you can’t use marijuana. * An estimated 21 billion dollars a year would be brought in if marijuana was legalized; this would come from the taxation of the crop, and also the money spent to prevent the use of “criminals” who use this drug, who would no longer be incarcerated saving billions of dollars nationwide. Similarly, law enforcements could turn their focus to more important crimes, such as murder, theft, etc. instead of ruining the lives of individuals who are trying to enjoy their life. * If Marijuana was distributed by the government, it could be safely monitored and made sure that harmful chemicals weren’t being put in it...
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...be bad” is one of the many lies marijuana users tell themselves in order to indulge themselves on this so called “medicine.” Marijuana users claim the drug makes them feel good, it makes them calm down. They also say marijuana is not a drug, and not nearly as harmful as other drugs and alcohol. But, are these claims correct? Of course not. These are some of the many lies marijuana users tell others in order to spread the use and legalization of this drug. According to recent statistics from “DrugFreeWorld.org,” cannabis is the number three in the top five harmful substances which account for admission into drug treatment facilities in the United States. Although users may argue marijuana is not nearly as harmful as it has been perceived through the media, the drug wreaks havoc on a person’s health, destroys families and leads to prolonged and free drug abuse. The risks of using marijuana far outweigh the “benefits” of the drug as it can lead to health issues regarding the heart, lungs, and brain. According to “AddictionBlog.org” the most common reasons people use marijuana are to relax, curiosity, and its deceptively low perception of harm. Yet, most of the users of marijuana are so ill informed of what the drug actually does to their bodies. Admittedly for most users of marijuana, it does “relax” the user in distorting their perception of the world; however, this temporary fix only leaves permanent damage. Prolonged use of marijuana has proven to be linked with loss...
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...Introduction Marijuana is a psychoactive drug made from the dried leaves and flowering parts of the hem plant (Dudley, 1999). Marijuana contains an active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol, known as THC. It is one of the most strictly classified illegal drugs in the United States. Marijuana is a schedule I substance. Schedule I means that marijuana has a high potential for abuse. It is illegal to buy, sell, grow, or possess marijuana in the United States. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. Marijuana is derived from the plant Cannabis. War on Drugs Marijuana prohibition comprises a large part of the federal government’s War on Drug’s. Law enforcement officials made 600,000 marijuana-related arrests in 1995 (Gerdes, 2002). The criminal prohibition of marijuana, this represents an extraordinary degree of government intrusion into the private, personal lives of those adults who choose to use it. People convicted of marijuana offenses face penalties ranging from probation to life imprisonment, plus fines and forfeiture of property. The government spends millions of dollars annually on preventative programs such as Dare Abuse Resistance Education (DARE), in which local police officers visit schools to teach young people to refrain from trying marijuana and other drugs. Marijuana Medical Uses Despite federal laws prohibiting marijuana in 1996, California and Arizona passed state initiatives legalizing marijuana for medical use by patients suffering...
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...make the choice to refuse current treatment methods or medications that would otherwise extend or save their lives. Recent discoveries have shown that using marijuana as form of treatment for chronic illnesses such as HIV/AIDs, cancer, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis, has shown to have justifiable healing and sedative reprieve without otherwise having to suffer the nasty side effects that other treatments have to offer. Current legalization forces patients with chronic and life-threatening illness to either suffer horrendous medicinal side effects from treatment and illness, or break the law by self-medicating by way of marijuana. Medical marijuana should be legalized for the chronically ill as an alternative treatment method to painful and horrid side effects of current treatment methods that are in place. Marijuana originates from the dried parts of the Cannabis Sativa or hemp plant and is known by hundreds of street names such as pot, weed, and grass. The hemp plant has existed for thousands of years with archaeologists discovering hemp fibers that date back as far as 400 BCE (Henningfield, 2008). Marijuana used for recreation is used primary for its hallucinogen effects, whereas used for medicinal purposes it has been known to alleviate nausea, increase appetite, and decrease chronic pain. The effects of marijuana through inhalation or ingestion can be attributed to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinal, or THC (Henningfield, 2008). The...
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...Marijuana (APA) By 2014, four states in the United States of America including Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington legalized the recreational and medicinal use of marijuana. In addition, sixteen other states legalized the sole use of medicinal marijuana. In recent years, marijuana usage, both recreational and medicinal, have become a highly debated topic. A considerable amount of society believe marijuana to be generally risk-free. On the other hand, the remainder of society find it physically and psychologically unsafe. (interruption) Throughout history, as mentioned, two sides of this subject arise: one side suggests that marijuana use is not usually harmful; the other side suggests that marijuana use is harmful. Both sides have the common ground of the individual user’s health and the tendency to advance to other narcotics. However, the side that supports that marijuana is harmful has the stronger argument. One side of the argument, covered by J. M. Rey, A. Martin, and P. Krabman (2004), in an article “Marijuana Use Is Harmful,” urges that adolescences are unaware of the lasting effects of cannabis use. First, Rey, Martin, and Krabman (2004) make a case for action by reporting that adolescences who use marijuana gain a lifetime dependency for the narcotic. (introduction) In New Zealand, data collected suggests one in ten people exposed to marijuana develop a dependency (p. 21). Next, Rey, Martin, and Krabman (2004) affirm the evidence supporting that marijuana is...
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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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...history about medical marijuana has been found in the Chinese history, which was used in Taiwan for fiber starting more than 10,000 years ago. People of that time, used the seeds of marijuana in the food, and it was natural for them. Later on they found medical properties of the plant. The oldest Chinese surgeon Hua Tua was the first recorded person who used marijuana by mixing it with alcohol, for “anesthesia”. Nowadays in the US society, people have started to use marijuana for recreational purposes, and it is responding to obvious abuse damages of human health. Whether the use of marijuana for recreational use should be legalized or not is still a question that bothers many generations of human society. In my paper, I will be against...
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...The Legalization of Marijuana Elboni Hodges DeVry University Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana has been illegal for many years now, but can only be used for medical purposes. The drug is used to provide medical treatment for many diseases. Cannabis sativa plant is the really name for marijuana. One of the ingredients in marijuana is THC. Cox (2012) says: THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects. THC changes behavior by binding — fitting together like a lock and key — to receptors on nerve cells, which then respond with a change in activity. (para1). When people are taking drug test, they use the levels of THC in a person’s system to calculate the usage of marijuana. Other names for marijuana are weed, pot, mary jane, or grass. Lately, the legalization of marijuana discussion has been a controversial issue in the United States. The government will allow marijuana to be legally regulated on the state level. Why wait until now to legalize it? Or is this a way to control drug trafficking and crime? Legalizing marijuana may solve some issue but can also create new ones. Marijuana should be legalized but regulated similarly to tobacco and alcohol. No longer will people have to run to the streets corners to purchase a bag of marijuana. No more dealing with drug dealers. Legalizing marijuana will put drug dealers out of business. People will be able to purchase marijuana out of stores soon...
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