...Christian Nott, Nishant Grover, Michelle Hollcraft PHIL210 4/9/13 Marijuana and its Dangers Marijuana is a substance that has been known to impact the mental, physical and emotional wellbeing of users. It creates a sense of euphoria, known as a “high”, which gives users a false sense of security and assures them a period of bliss and tranquility. This intoxicated state proves harmful when a user tries to operate a motor vehicle or perform other tasks. When high, one tends to ignore daily responsibilities, such as going to work or tending to family and friends, and instead becomes a vagabond with an aimless future focused on simply getting high. Smoking marijuana over a long period of time can lead to the development of emphysema, chronic asthma & bronchitis and even cancers of the lung & windpipe in the rarest of circumstances. Neurological and cardiovascular effects have been reported as well in strong users such as shortterm memory loss and the possibility of heart disease. And for casual users, the propensity to frequently smoke exists since the high is a feeling that can’t be replicated outside the drug due to the high concentration of THC, the main addictive property in marijuana. Marijuana abuse can cause brain damage, such as shortterm memory loss and the inability to perform motor functions, for an extended period of time, perhaps irreparably. It is not heroin, crack cocaine or methamphetamine but pop culture references portray the results of marijuana use albeit to the...
Words: 1357 - Pages: 6
...Marijuana, Mary-Jane, weed, ganja, bud, reefer pot, bud . . . one plant, numerous names. I believe we all know what Marijuana is and have tried or know someone that has tried it. Marijuana and its legalization has been argued about for many years now. Some peoples view the drug as a bad thing while others identify it as a beneficial herb; marijuana should be legalized. ”Cannabis Sativa is perhaps the most recognizable plant in the world.” (Bonsor, 2) The pot leaf is put on clothing, jewelry, bumper stickers and is used in graffiti. “Marijuana is the single most used drug in the United States.” (Bonsor, 2) According to “InfoFacts - Marijuana” 60.4% of 12th graders in 1979 had used marijuana at least once in their lifetime. There were 2.6 million new users in 2001 and 47.8% of 12th graders in 2002 had used marijuana in their lifetime. Thirty six percent of those students had used it in the past year, and 21.5% of those had used it in the past month. We should look to the reason Marijuana is outlawed by the United States Federal Government (USFG). It might be for its terribly addictive nature and ability to destroy the life of those who attempt to use it as a recreational drug. Smoking marijuana is one’s own choice and in some cases a religious aspect. A person can have the freedom to smoke tobacco and drink alcohol, how is that different from smoking marijuana? Some religious rituals even include the of use marijuana. In some places, it is a “Holy Plant” and is said to be...
Words: 1718 - Pages: 7
...Joe Mittelstaedt Instructor Baasen English 101-24 09 December 2008 Legalization of Marijuana On August 2, 1977 President Jimmy Carter expressed his belief in a message to Congress that: "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use" (NIDA, Government). Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America; right behind alcohol and tobacco. Nearly 80 million Americans have tried the drug during their lifetime. Roughly 20 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 11 million do so on a regular basis (NORML, About). It is rather obvious how the majority of Americans feel about marijuana consumption; why do our current public policies deny this reality? It should not be the ability of the government to force citizens not to indulge in recreational drug use. Instead, this decision should lie within each individual. Marijuana laws need to be revised on a state and national level in order to benefit both the citizens and the government. Marijuana is a mixture of the leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers resulting from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa. The main mind-altering ingredient present in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; better known as THC (NIDA, Infofacts). A few slang terms for marijuana are pot, weed, grass, herb, chronic, ganja, reefer. The use of marijuana...
Words: 1739 - Pages: 7
...Note to Professor: A lot of my citations say “Prohibition, 2002” and appear to come from the same source over and over again. This is incorrect; this source uses over 50 other sources, the majority of which I was not able to visit. So, I simply put down that they came from the NORML website. The endnotes are on that website if you would like to look. Meghan Wyandt Marijuana: Decriminalization for Medical Use Outline 1. Introduction a. "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use." -President Jimmy Carter: Message to Congress, August 2, 1977 i. Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since 1937. 2. Paragraph one: Present the Problem b. What is the problem? ii. Legal prescription drugs do not always offer relief to patients dealing with serious illnesses. Natural Cannabis has been proven in many clinical studies to offer relief from nausea, tremors, and chronic pain in sufferers. However, the Federal government completely prohibits the use of marijuana in the United States, for sale or for personal use, including medicinal relief. c. What caused it? iii. The criminalization of marijuana came about after its recognition as an intoxicant in the 1920s and 1930s. During this time, exaggerated accounts of violent crimes allegedly committed...
Words: 2333 - Pages: 10
...Medical Marijuana Laws and their Effects Keith Reese COM/156 7/23/2014 Jennifer Preus Medical Marijuana Laws and their Effects In 1936, George Herliman produced the propaganda film “Tell Your Children”, later titled “Reefer Madness”(“IMBD”, 1990-2014). This film, financed by a church group to display the exaggerated consequences of marijuana usage, was intended to inspire fear in parents and children alike. Though marijuana legalization has become a front burner topic, one would assume that our technological advances would invoke more rational responses from the general public seeking facts to support claims. However, the same type of fear induced media messages are employed today by anti-marijuana groups and politicians to sway public opinion. Contrary to the seemingly credible publications throughout the media, the legalization of marijuana, medical or recreational, does not increase crime. As the debate regarding the legalization of marijuana, both medicinal and recreational, has heated up, several groups have been formed to speak out about the perceived consequences. Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy has co-founded the anti-marijuana group, Project SAM, with Kevin Sabet who also is the director of the organization. After the Justice Department allowed Colorado and Washington to move forward with their respective marijuana legislation, Kennedy claimed, “we can look forward to more drugged driving accidents,...
Words: 1669 - Pages: 7
...Nathan Nickel Gina Schneck Writing 150 24 September 2015 “Weed” Be Better Off Have you ever thought about what would happen if we lived in a society where everything were legal? Would it be possible to have organization and live in a 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...
Words: 1315 - Pages: 6
...Marijuana is one of the most discussed and controversial topics in the U.S today. Many say that it has medicinal benefits and should be made legal. While many say that it has a “high potential for abuse” (Medical) and should remain illegal. Among the arguments, proponents for medical marijuana have presented a stronger argument for legalization through their use of research and evidence. Opponents of medical marijuana have given many reasons for why it should not be legalized. One of the main reasons they argue is that “Marijuana smoke contains known carcinogens and produces dependency in users” (Medical). In many studies it has shown that it does have some harm such as the harms associated with smoking, but the National Academy of Science affirmed that “marijuana’s short term medical benefits outweigh any smoking-related harms for some patients”(Medical). Though marijuana has been proven to be damaging to the lungs than tobacco, a study in 2006 “found no evidence that marijuana smokers had higher rates of lung cancer” (Medical Marijuana). The FDA has tested the effectiveness of marijuana and has found that the cannabinoids are helpful in “treating pain associated with chemotherapy, postoperative recovery, and spinal cord injury, as well as neuropathic pain, which is often experienced by patients with metastatic cancer, multiple sclerosis,[and] diabetes” (Medical Marijuana). There is also no evidence shown that patients who use marijuana become addicted. Though the opposing...
Words: 781 - Pages: 4
...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...
Words: 3369 - Pages: 14
...Marijuana Legalization The legalization of marijuana is something that I have always been interested in. In high school, I heard about people first smoking marijuana, and I thought it was so bad because of everything that I was taught in elementary and middle school. Kids always pledged to stay away from any type of drug. Once I knew friends that were smoking and I talked to them about it, they made it seem so harmless, and that’s when I really got curious about it. Then I started to find out more information about marijuana and its effects, and I started to wonder whether marijuana should be legal for recreational use? After all my research I have come to the conclusion that marijuana should be legal for recreational use in the United States. Lets start by looking at the economical perspective. The United States has a national debt of trillions of dollars, and a huge financial problem is how much our law enforcement and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) are spending to enforce the prohibition of marijuana. “In America we spend nearly $8 billion trying to enforce the laws prohibiting the use and possession of marijuana” (Cartwright 86). This money could be spent on highways, schools and other government properties but instead it is spent on enforcing laws that are being broken every single day. Another huge part of the DEA is the so-called war on drugs. Mexican drug cartels are a huge supplier of marijuana to the U.S. “In 2009, the U.S. National Drug Intelligence Center estimated...
Words: 1609 - Pages: 7
...Ronda Smalley PHI-105 21st Century Skills: Critical Thinking and Problem Solving April 22, 2012 Marti Abitheira Legalizing Marijuana: Recognizing Its Medicinal Value . Marijuana should be made legal as an accepted medical treatment for many conditions including, but not limited to, glaucoma, pain control, and appetite stimulation. Some stumbling blocks to legalization have been public sentiment, public opinion, and government opposition. It is possible that these can be overcome with education and time, especially if the medical community will recognize marijuana as a valid treatment option. Marijuana has been used over the centuries for many things. The Dutch used hemp rope to build their ships and used hemp sails to propel them back in their ‘Golden Age’ (Kold, Sjoerd, 2012) Jazz musicians in the early part of the 20th century smoked it during their breaks to enhance their musical skills. Reefer Madness, an exploitative film made in the 1930s, depicted marijuana as a horrible menace that would turn fine, upstanding young people into crazed murderers (Hoerl, Meade, and Franklin. 1938). The Dupont company lobbied heavily to have marijuana outlawed so it could own the rope market with its nylon version of the much more durable hemp rope. The US and Mexican governments have an unholy marriage in the illegal drug trade which has gotten to the point where too much is at stake for both to really change anything. In all the maelstrom of marketing...
Words: 1081 - Pages: 5
...For years a popular controversial subject Texas has been talking about is the legalization of marijuana. Many people believe it should be legal and many believe just the opposite of that. Marijuana is not some dangerous drug that can take your life, that’s not what makes it illegal. Marijuana first became illegal in the 1910’s. In western states, it was a fear of Mexican immigrants who used the plant and in eastern states it was a fear of African Americans who used cannabis to take advantage of white women (Hoff). Although illegal now, the effects of legalizing marijuana in Texas would benefit in many ways. One effect of legalizing marijuana in Texas would be the money it brings in. As of right now, Texas’ highest paying cash crop is cotton...
Words: 484 - Pages: 2
...a secondary research analysis of the theoretical perspective of the marijuana movement - pertaining to the politic standpoint of marijuana verses cigarettes and scientific medical analysis of marijuana verses cigarettes. This research is meant to explore the multifaceted aspect of marijuana, cigarette trends, and the correlation between their recent waves of popularity. We will explore the historical facts of past tobacco trends to the present marijuana movement including widely held attitudes and beliefs about both substances. The thesis of this research will be to explore the differences between marijuana and cigarettes and social stigmas. Including the shift in popularity between tobacco and marijuana the MJ activist group known as NORML supporting the legalization of cannabis, while anti tobacco organizations have increased to ban cigarette smoke in public places. This research will conceptualize the meanings behind the negative stigmas associated with drugs legal and illegal influence. The problem is a double standard between the political views of marijuana and cigarettes. The political perspectives seem to be focused on public stigmas about the substance(s) rather than deciding drug laws based on medical science. Marijuana and tobacco have a shared relationship in the type of substance use. Framing theory will be used to explore four correlations in the aspects of: (1) Marijuana short and long term effects, (2) medical pros and cons, (3) recreational use and...
Words: 5541 - Pages: 23
...Jack Doherty Microeconomics - Yarti Deonaran September 30, 2014 Economics of Marijuana in the USA Millions of people across America, and even around the world, use marijuana everyday, but what exactly is it? The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines marijuana as “the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds”(NIDA). Marijuana, frequently referred to as weed or cannabis, is the most common illicit drug used in the United States. It is often frowned upon mainly because it is still illegal in a majority of the country. Cannabis activists from all around the US have been fighting for legalization of the drug for years. Their main argument is that marijuana is actually a much less dangerous drug than alcohol and tobacco, which are both legal. About 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning, and there are over 400,000 deaths a year attributed to tobacco smoking. On the other hand, marijuana is considered non-toxic and cannot cause death from an overdose. Because many states have yet to pass laws for legalization, only a small percentage of marijuana is sold legally through licensed dispensaries run by state governments. The rest is sold illegally on the streets, which is where the real dangers of marijuana arise. More and more states are passing laws to decriminalize marijuana...
Words: 2719 - Pages: 11
...U.S. could save billions of dollars by decriminalizing marijuana. Marijuana should be decriminalized because it helps people with health issues, it saves the U.S. tons of money, keep jails safer and less congested, and benefit other people that need it. Marijuana should be decriminalized because it acts as a natural pain killer. Studies have shown that marijuana sometimes is the only painkiller that can help a person. For example, it helps people with chronic nerve pain due to injury or surgery feel less pain, relax, and sleep better. (Doheny) This is only one of the pains that marijuana can help, but there are many more. Today, more than 60 U.S. and international organizations support providing marijuana to people that need it. (NORML) Since marijuana is priceless and can assist so many people with medical care for many different illnesses, states should decriminalize it. An honest marijuana consumer doesn’t show harm to society. According to the marijuana policy project, enforcing marijuana prohibition costs tax payers an estimate of $10 billion annually and results in arrests of more than 701,000 individuals per year. On average, one person was arrested for a marijuana-related offense in the U.S....
Words: 981 - Pages: 4
...the past of UMass student activism. However what struck me and made an interconnection was what I need to focus on and that being my capstone paper. While spending time in Amsterdam and looking at Northern European policies around incarceration rates I wanted to compare the two countries. Unsure of what I wanted to research in the archives, and how this trip could later develop into another paper I needed to write, I started to piece things together as I began to recall articles read over the last two semesters in STPEC in order to bridge together the bigger picture of social and economic injustices impacting communities of color and working class populations. To my surprise, however I was told the archives hold the organizations NORML documents. NORML an organization, trying to repeal pot laws across the US. How does this history relate to my research and my capstone project is where the interconnection lays with room to grow. Through American history since the years of Nixon the ramp up of drug laws and targeting populations of people based on race and perception was magnified into the race to the largest population between prison and jail walls. As Norml’s mission is to legalize the use, production and distribution of pot I am interested in how racial policies dating from Nixon has created the massive shift in a new Era of New Jim Crow Laws targeted black and brown bodies through such policies and the recent increase of police presences in schools. Interconnecting research by...
Words: 797 - Pages: 4
