...The Benefit of Legalizing Marijuana Of all legal reformations that should be made, the legalization of marijuana is perhaps the most necessary. If legalized on a controlled basis, it could greatly benefit our country in a variety of ways. Clearly the most controversial topic is marijuana's benefit to the medical community. The economy would also be a beneficiary of marijuana's legalization through taxation and all the while crime rates would inevitably decrease throughout the country. While many citizens are opposed to the legalization of marijuana they are often misinformed and misguided. Marijuana is a drug that is overlooked and can be used in many positive ways. There are many people that oppose the idea of legalizing marijuana and their point of view can be justified, but marijuana can be used for other purposes than getting “high”. Although there are valid points to each side, ultimately, if legalized the benefits of legal marijuana could greatly outweigh the risk. It has been documented that marijuana can severely reduce some effects of cancer. Also, it is known that marijuana has prolonged the lives of people who were diagnosed as terminally ill. Many rely on the drug to ease their pain and suffering. Another useful benefit is its aide in reducing nausea in chemotherapy patients. Medicinal uses for cannabis date back to 2737 B.C. when the Chinese emperor and pharmacologist Shen Neng prescribed the drug for gout, malaria, beriberi, rheumatism, and memory problems...
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...Table of Contents Hypothesis: 2 Introduction: 2 The Effects of Cannabis 2 Can the Drug Be Medicinal? 2 Decriminalisation 2 Hypothesis: While there are some benefits of using marijuana, the adverse consequences are responsible for some of society’s highest social and legal problems. Therefore is it a good idea to legalise it or at least decriminalise it, so that it would at least save money that is spent on controlling the drug? Introduction: Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia. According to a 1998 survey, almost 40% of Australians over the age of 14 have used cannabis at least once (Rees, 2002, p. 15). The majority of casual users of the drug show no signs of serious damage. Although Dr Tim Rolfe, the deputy director of the Dandenong Area Mental Health Services, says that research shows; “An increased risk of schizophrenia for regular users of cannabis” (those who use more than 50 times a year) (Healey, 2002, p. 34). There are arguments saying that if drugs were legal, then more people would become users, therefore it is reason enough for it to remain illegal. Others say that users only take drugs because of the thrill of breaking the law, and by making them legal it would make taking the drug less attractive. Therefore it is just a method of entertainment, and there is no reason for it to be illegal (Rees, 2002, pp. 24-25). In some countries, addiction is seen as an illness rather than a crime and the drug is decriminalised as a personal...
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...country today has reached an epidemic proportion. The problem has gotten so out of hand that many options are being considered to control and or solve it. Trying to end the drug war may not seen to be the best answer in the beginning, but those so-called wars on drugs have not been very successful at stopping the drug wars. I feel that there should be some different options. The legalization of marijuana is an option which hasn’t received much of a chance, but should be given one. Given that marijuana has known important medical uses, such as the alleviation of nausea, and the treatment of glaucoma, can the government justify banning it just because some individuals use it for recreational purposes? Is it even the business of the government to regulate the private lives of its citizens? I really don’t condone the use of any kind of drug use, but a drug such as marijuana should be legalized to a certain extent, because marijuana helps people with some medical conditions they may have. In order for one to solve the ongoing issue of the legalization of marijuana one must take a look at the classical theory of deontology. Deontology is the classical theory where the reason for which an act is done is assessed. (Mosser, 2010) When assessing the issue of the legalization of marijuana, one must question the exact reasons as to why individuals use marijuana and the government’s role in its prohibition. As we know legalizing marijuana does have its consequences, but does should these...
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...prohibition isn’t working. Today between 95 and 100 million Americans admit to having tried it and nearly 15 million have used it within the past month. Some people believe that marijuana is bad and does damage to the body but alcohol and cigarettes are more dangerous. Alcohol has a high level of sulphate and can cause alcohol poisoning. Cigarettes contain over 4,000 chemicals including 43 known cancer compounds and 400 other toxins. Marijuana is not 100% free of chemicals but it more natural because it is from the earth and contains only 100 chemicals. ill be discussing marijuana legislation first wat is marijuana and hw does it affect humans? second when and why did marijuana become illegal? and why states are legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. using these points i intend to inform you about marijuana and the movement to legalize it. according to the national institute on drug abuse, a survey shows that over 98 million americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least one time in their life. what is marijuana? and how does it affect humans? according to webMD, marijuana , is a naturall plant that contains several\ ingredients, including delta 9 THC. when THC reaches the brain it creates relaxation and a feeling of euphoria.it basically heightens your seances and relieves pain. now that we know what...
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...Tobacco and alcohol are legal in our country and controlled and distributed by our government yet there are more deaths related to tobacco and alcohol compared to marijuana; therefore, the laws against personal marijuana use does not make sense and marijuana should be legalized. • “Marijuana is far less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Around 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning. Similarly, more than 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco smoking. By comparison, marijuana is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose.” (5) • “Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use.” (5) • “According to the prestigious European medical journal, The Lancet, "The smoking of cannabis, even long-term, is not harmful to health. ... It would be reasonable to judge cannabis as less of a threat ... than alcohol or tobacco."…” (5) If marijuana were to be legal and controlled responsibly, the state and taxpayers would benefit because the cost to enforce the drug is very high and yet marijuana is still very easy to obtain. • “Enforcing marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually and results in the arrest of more than 829,000 individuals...
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...the grapevines that some states have been working numerous of months to craft and enact a regulatory framework for commercial marijuana cultivation and distribution in their states. Though there is a lot of controversy with how the legislature is to address some issues which include: amending currents laws, the impact of legalization on workplace, new regulations, deciding to set standard while driving, integrating the existing medical system into commercial marketing, and taxing on wholesale sales. The ongoing proposal for states on licensing, taxing and regulating the distribution of marijuana may be a never ending story to this law. The state of Colorado placed a signature on Amendment 64 which calls for regulating and taxing marijuana just like alcohol though some legislators remain opposed to legalization. Adults in Colorado will no longer be punished for the simple use and possession of marijuana (Drehle 1). As the Colorado’s Representative Frank McNulty says “Even when Prohibition was repealed, it involved a product that had previously been legal. In this case, we’re really starting from square one” (Weiss 2). Colorado’s Amendment 64 Amendment 64 allows anyone over age 21 to purchase up to one ounce of marijuana from specialty marijuana dispensaries. Selling marijuana without a license, purchasing marijuana from a party who is not licensed and public use of marijuana still remains illegal. Unlike the new Washington law, Amendment 64 also allows residents to grow up...
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...certainties are slowly starting to reappear. Unluckily, these facts are being very heavily criticized because of the clichéd view of what people see as the classic “weed smoker.” This twisted observation of a lazy and unenthusiastic America is the consequence of over seventy years of information and deception spread by private interests who needed weed illegal for their own particular gains. As just a regular citizen and someone that doesn’t even use marijuana, I think that the drug should be legalized for all uses. Consuming marijuana for pharmaceutical purposes is not a new discovery. Actually, written references to consume medical marijuana go back to almost 5,000 years ago (herer, 167). Western treatment included marijuana’s medical properties in the mid-1800s, and by the start of the 20th century, doctors had issued more than 150 credentials in the Western medical literature recommending its use for a variety of disorders (Miron, 117). These conditions include relief from pain, glaucoma, nausea and movement disorders. It can also be used to help patients that have or had HIV/AIDS or cancer patients that have to go through chemotherapy because it motivates their appetites. In our day, thousands of patients are capable of use marijuana as an effective technique of cure for their illnesses. This is probable because fourteen state governments across the country already have documented cannabis’ active healing properties and officially legalized its consumption for pharmaceutical resolutions...
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... Even in our society it is considered an illegal practice, although it is a common habit for some social groups. There have been several attempts to prevent the consumption of drugs. Despite the effort, so far all the policies raised have failed. The war on drugs primarily aimed the controversial drug marijuana, which is still the most used illegal drug throughout. Due to the consumption of this drug, our generation faces the challenge of deciding whether marijuana should remain illegal or must become legal. Usually, people do not know much about marijuana. Everyone thinks it is as harmful as heroin and cocaine. However, marijuana it is fully comparable with legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco, in terms of their impact and damage. I believe that marijuana should be legalized for the reasons I will explain in the following paragraphs. First, marijuana can be used for medical purposes. The use of marijuana for medical purposes is not a recent finding. The use of medical marijuana dates back around 5000 years. There are several writings from Western culture recommending the use of this substance for a variety of health problems and disorders. Today, many doctors agree on the use of marijuana as an alternative medicine because it can reduce the pain of many diseases. Marijuana is useful to relieve pain, nausea, glaucoma, and muscular problems. It is also helpful for patients that suffer of AIDS and cancer. In addition, it is beneficial to calm migraines and even prevents...
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...steadily throughout United States History. There are two sides to every story – one side supports legalization and one side opposes it. Everyone has the right to their own opinion on this matter so I will let you decide after reading this. Marijuana has been used, according to ancient medical references, since about 2737 BC in China. In 1545 the Spanish brought marijuana to the New World. It was introduced to Jamestown around 1611 where it became a major commercial crop along with tobacco. Marijuana was listed in the United States Pharmacopeia from 1850 until 1942. It was prescribed for conditions ranging from labor pains to rheumatism. In the 1930s A campaign by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics portrayed marijuana as a powerful addicting substance and it would lead users into using harder drugs. In the 1950s it was an accessory of the beat generation; in the 1960s it was used by college students and hippies and it eventually became a symbol of rebellion against authority. When the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 was passed, marijuana was classified along with heroin and LSD as a Schedule I Drug. A Schedule I Drug means it has the highest abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Throughout the Reagan and Bush administrations there was a zero tolerance feel. This zero tolerance resulted in strict laws and mandatory sentences being passed for the possession of marijuana. Beginning in 1982 the Drug Enforcement Administration...
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...Marijuana Legalization Name Institution Marijuana Legalization Uruguayan government must be the most daring in the world. According to Mic (2014), they proved this as late as they legalized the use of marijuana. There have been divergent opinions on whether to legalize weed or not. And with Uruguay providing the laboratory for scientific prove, it sounds an alert to other nation on pressure to appreciate and embrace the legalization of weed. Against many false dogmas surrounding the use of the ‘drug’, there exist countless benefits from its legalization. This writing elaborates why nations should follow the trend and legalize marijuana. Firstly, the illegality of marijuana is based on unproven theories and delusions. Use of the modern scientific records proves against dogmas of reefer madness associated with marijuana consumption (Alternet, 2007). Claims of how vastly dangerous marijuana use can be, are nothing else, but 20th-century prejudices that existed without any scientific evidence. Since the discovery of cannabinoid receptor system during the late 1980s, cases of psychoneurotic hysteria concerns are yet to be confirmed. Also, a belief wide that marijuana helps in generation of criminals is nothing away from lies. Somebody’s character in inborn and prevalent. We have as many criminal culprits who don’t know the taste of marijuana. There is no any ground to support this. Secondly, almost every government has failed to control the use of marijuana. According to WHO (world...
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...after all the facts of this topic have been completely laid out. It’s time we take this industry into our country’s hands and not let it go unregulated and untaxed. State Thesis & Main Points: The legalization of cannabis would be another step closer to the way out of this economic crisis our country is in today. the regulation of this product would bring economic improvement, new-found resources, and medical aid. however, we must establish both the positive and the negative sides to truly comprehend this movement. Body (3-5 MAIN POINTS PREFERRED (USE ONLY COMPLETE SENTENCES I. MAIN POINT (state as a single declarative sentence): A major upside in the legalization of cannabis is the benefit of economic improvement. A. SUBPOINT: Legalizing this drug would bring about millions to billions of dollars in tax revenue. 1. Marijuana growers account for 14 billion dollars a year in sales in CA, making it the states most valuable cash crop which is a perfect reason to tax it. a. Economist Stephen Easton estimated in 2012 that legal marijuana could be a 45-100 billion dollar industry b. Adding the tax to this industry would bring substantial growth to the already massive amount of money that the product makes on it’s own 2. Government legalization of marijuana could bring 7.7 billion dollars annually by not having the current...
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...would bring because everything ties back to the medical purpose that some users use marijuana for. Twenty-three states have legalized marijuana in some way. I believe that if alcohol and cigarettes are legal than so should marijuana. Alcohol overdose caused nearly twenty five thousand deaths in 2013 and contributed to about sixteen thousand deaths. Cigarettes caused for five hundred thousand deaths in two thousand thirteen with medical bills near one hundred forty billion. Thing two are the most harmful legal drugs, with no benefit to the people while marijuana does have its benefits. You might say that marijuana smoke can affect your lungs and that is true it can. One thing that sets marijuana apart from other drugs is that there are numerous ways of taking it. Marijuana edibles are the most common way of in taking marijuana without smoking it. 749,825 Americans have been arrested for marijuana law violations in 2013. All those people that were arrested for having possession of marijuana their respective states spent money on a judge, officers, and other law informant necessities. Marijuana is linked to helping some cancer patients who suffer from the nausea caused by chemotherapy and helping the appetite of patients with Aids. Cancer is a disease that torn many peoples families and themselves apart. Not everyone has the benefit of getting medical marijuana prescribed by his or her doctors. By making recreational marijuana legal it allows for anyone sick or healthy to feel...
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...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 government generate $2.5 billion in taxes and license fees over five years. Therefore, these statistics show an enormous potential to boost the Canadian economy by legalizing cannabis. By contrast, some people argue that it is unfair for retailers who plant medical marijuana...
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...Should Marijuana be Legalized By: Susan Cooper Starting in the 1600’s the hemp plant was grow as a trade good. It was used for rope and fabric though out the 18th and 19th centuries. In the mid 1800’s they started using part of the plant to make cannabis and use it for medical use. With this new drug on the market the department of agriculture wanted to place regulations on it. After all the testing they did on the drug they considered it to be poison. In the early 1900’s states had to label it as such and show all ingredients in it. A few states started to require prescriptions for the sale of the drug. In 1938 the Federal Pure Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act of 1938 was passed. This law set strict standards for prescription, non-prescription drugs and also food. This made the drug cannabis or marijuana a dangerous and illegal drug. This is still the law we have in affect as of today. Lately a lot of people are up in arms about the law and some believe it should be changed. Some believe that there are more benefits to marijuana if it was legal. The Cons: People believe marijuana should remain and always be illegal. Just like any drug marijuana is addictive according to Dr. Drew Pinsky. He said “It would be malpractice to say that cannabis isn't addictive. Anybody who's experienced it, actually been addicted to it, knows how profound that addiction is. The difficult thing about marijuana addiction is some people, even though they're addicted can do fine with it for many...
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...Legalization can lower the crime rate. Not to mention that marijuana is an affordable alternative for those seeking it for medical purposes. In the same sentiment the health benefits of marijuana have surpassed the expectations of even the most skeptical. To end, the taxing of recreational use will impact our public schools significantly in a positive way. The children of the future deserve any chance for success. Legalizing a drug that’s been illegal for decades seems intimidating and nerving but if we instead focus on all the good that comes from legalization, we just may be taking a step towards the right...
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