...LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA Kristina Brown Ashford University POL 201 American National Government Instructor: Tracy Trunnell When it comes to marijuana there is a great debate. While there are still many who oppose it, there are just that many more that will be for it. There is more than just the bud that can make you high. The entire plant has many uses. But the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) within the female part of the plant is all that anyone can seem to focus on. With there being many medical benefits that have been proven, they are still worried on the criminalization of it that has been created. Many feel that it has proven that it doesn't belong here as it made a major appearance in the 50's and 60's. There are many faces to the making Marijuana debate, but I see nothing wrong with it being fully legalzied. In the birth of this nation, even a few of our founding fathers grew hemp. Hemp is related to the marijuana plant. Hemp can be useful for many things, such as paper, rope, clothing, etc... Marijuana first made an appearance in the United States after the civil war, were it was encouraged to be grown. It was then found and used for many medicinal aspects. At the turn of the century, the Pure Food and Drug Act was passed that in short required the lableing of canibus that was in any over-the-counter remidies. From the turn of the century through the roaring twenties, the Mexican's introduced the use of the recreational proerpties of marijuana. As it soon became...
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...Supporting the Legalization of Marijuana For the past years whether marijuana should be legal or not has been a popular debate topic in the media. This is not only discussed between government officials, but also the general public. It is often a heavily debated topic with two strong opposing opinions. Each side often has a great argument or point of view when it comes to marijuana legalization. There is a lot of concern behind making marijuana legal everywhere which is understandable. What people can sometimes forget is the benefits brought upon by marijuana. Marijuana being more beneficial or more hurtful has been the main issues discussed when it comes to legalizing marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized in every state because it...
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...years. However, the debate to legalize marijuana in the United States is brought up constantly. Marijuana is known through media sources such as, in television, music, and movies. We are in today’s society where this drug is a debatable issue. I believe people who oppose having marijuana legalized haven’t viewed the debate and are judging invalid accusations. Marijuana can have an impact on America for many positive reasons. The reasons why I believe weed can benefit the public are for medication, crime, and economy matters. Throughout the years, marijuana has become less prohibited and has gotten more respect to the society. I personally believe America can adjust to the legalization of marijuana with appropriate handling. First of all, marijuana is a natural plant that can be useful in many medical ways. Not many people realize it can be used as medicine. They often think of it as a way of feeling high. Some people think cannabis causes lung problems, metal disorders, and destroys overall health. But in fact, medical marijuana is used for cancer patients to help them with dealing with symptoms. Truly speaking, it doesn’t cause any harm. For example, cannabis along with cigarettes, is used as a way to meditate and relief stress. However, cigarettes can lead to lung cancer, maybe a missing finger, or even worse death. As opposed to marijuana, consistently smoking this herb doesn’t lead to death. There isn’t any recorded death on overdosing marijuana. Marijuana is not a lethal...
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...The debate over the legalization of marijuana has done its rounds through the federal legislature for decades. Two years after Colorado and Washington State became the first states to legalize the sale of marijuana, the conflict rears its head yet again in the national debate. The anti-drug coalition has had its time in the limelight, as it now seems that the pro-legalization groups have achieved success in the past few years. America is known for being the “land of freedom”; therefore, granting the right to legally possess and use marijuana advocates the freedom that America is so well known for. However, with so much room for abuse, this “right” is more of a test on how well the nation’s residents can control themselves. Along with the legalization of marijuana use, guidelines and punishments must be heightened to remind Americans that actions always come with consequences....
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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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...Could legalization of marijuana pave the way to a modern and less violent society ? Plan : 1) Proposition California ( modern or chaotic state ? 2) The debate : fear or hope. 3) The arguments in favour : Financial, Mexicant cartels (tempered by BRAND study) ( it’s a good start. 4) The argument oppos : the raising of consumers and the consequence on heath. 5) The portuguese exemple tempered by the differences between the countries. 6) The conservative views : an break to mernisation, the exemple of prohibtion in the thirties al Capone. 7) Let’s be modern ! 1) Next month, a proposition which legalises marijuana will be voted in the state of california. According to the polls proposition 19 has a big shot of becoming a state law, making California the first amercian state to legalize marijuana. The proposition stipulates that adults could grow own and consume a little bit of marijuana for personal pleasure. If adopted, will this law make California a modern state or a chaotic one ? Those two perspectives are on one hand a hope for the majority and a fear for the others. The debate opposing those in favour of leagalising marijuana and those against is old. In 1972 more than 30 years ago, the opponents would have won at a rate of 2 against one, now we’re facing the oposite. But this fact isn’t a revolution. It’s more likely to be the result of an evolution of minds : Indeed in 1997 a big step was made towards legalization :...
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...Ryan Kidwell English 101 March 26, 2014 Should Medical Marijuana Be Legalized? A major debate currently being discussed within the Senate and House of Representatives is a topic that has caused a great amount of controversy throughout the United States. This topic only really has two sides to it. One side is completely against it and the other is completely for it, there is no middle ground. The topic that has caused such a great amount of controversy is the discussion as to whether or not medical marijuana should be legalized within the U.S. Those who support the legalization of marijuana usually have three supporting arguments: Medical marijuana has various medical benefits, it is less expensive in comparison to other drugs, and other drugs are addictive whereas medical cannabis is not. But others who are against the legalization of marijuana have their own arguments. These people who are against legalizing medical cannabis typically have three main reasons as to why they disagree with legalizing it. These three main reasons are that marijuana is has no true medical benefits, that medical marijuana is already being abused by cardholders, and that marijuana is a gateway drug. Both sides have various supporting arguments, but with the evidence I have gathered, I believe that the legalization of medical marijuana is beneficial to those in need of it’s benefits. Ever since Congress placed medical marijuana in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act, 20 out of...
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...Legalizing Marijuana Greg Crist Law and the Individual Fall 2010 Legalizing Marijuana Legalizing marijuana would prevent so many problems for the United States government and could have a positive effect on the economy if handled correctly and take a very large strain off of our justice system as well. This debate has become much more intense since the latest president legalized medicinal marijuana. Now the push for total legalization has become much stronger. The recent ‘Proposition 19’ in California, which called for total legalization and taxing, failed by only a small margin, losing by only 7%. (ballotpedia.org) The problem with this issue is that marijuana has been viewed as a dangerous drug for so long that many people have a hard time accepting its benefits and the recent research that says many of the myths about marijuana use are untrue. Marijuana is an illegal drug right now, yet many people currently use it or have used it at one time in their life. 27% of people ages 18 to 25 have reported using marijuana in the last year (US Gov.) Close to a third of the population in that age group uses marijuana, yet the government still considers it a schedule 1 drug (highly addictive with no medical purposes) along with LSD and heroin. (Gunn) The federal government has set up a schedule system for all drugs based on the level of addiction and medicinal properties. Some examples of schedule II drugs are Ritalin, PCP, morphine, and cocaine; schedule III drugs are...
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...NORML-National Organization for the 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...
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...part of the last decade has been the debate over the legalization of marijuana. Now of course, each side of the debate has its merits. Yet, the fact is that marijuana has been used by normal, everyday people since 6,000 BC and possesses many upsides. Marijuana, before being deemed illegal by governments around the world, was once used as a major trading currency. Marijuana does more good than harm and I am up to the task of proving that to anyone reading this essay. Marijuana should be legal nationwide and worldwide and I believe one day it will be just that, legal. Hopefully this day comes soon. Now marijuana isn’t some new occurrence in the lives of people all around the world. As I stated...
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...Sherry English 1108 Essay #3 28 April 2015 The debate for marijuana legalization has been getting more and more attention as more and more states are opting for legalization for not only medical purposes but also recreational purposes. Since it was outlawed in “1937 when congress enacted the marijuana Tax Act made it a federal crime to possess,” (Alex & Alexander pg1 13s) people believed that marijuana was a terrible drug that did harmful things to our bodies, and that it lead to the use of harder drugs. It just had a bad reputation all together. More recently there has been more and more people deciding to be pro legalization. Marijuana has been studied rigorously and over many years and has proven to provide a very beneficial impact on society in many different ways and this is why there has been a huge push for legalization in most recent time. These benefits have been seen in positive health gains for adults and children being treated for an array of illnesses, revenue gains in several different areas, as seen recently with amendment 64 being passed in Colorado, and criminal/court system spending goes down, along with spaced being freed up in prison systems for harsher criminals. These benefits should be viewed as something that can greatly help are economy and citizens within which in turn would make our country a more thriving better place to live and that is why marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana is a naturally grown plant that can be grown anywhere...
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...views today on Marijuana are not the same as the views in the 70’s.Due to the approval of 27 states, medical studies, and cost of consequences on those convicted from use of the most common illicit drug in the world, the United States of America has began to rethink its stance on the matter. The question of this country seems to be 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? This argument seems to be a great topic in the U.S. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug, not only in the United States, but the world, and because of this the laws connected with 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. Twenty seven states have approved the use of marijuana for medical purposes, but the users can be prosecuted, and placed into prison according to federal law. I cannot began to understand this, but currently, 830,000 people a year are in trouble with the law in regards to Marijuana (Business Insider, 2012) and numbers seem to be on an uphill trend . The money tax payers are paying for the war on marijuana places a dent in our society. This money could be used for many other things such as education, care for elderly, and funding for U.S. soldiers. Marijuana comes from...
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...Legalization of Marijuana One debate that keeps coming up time and again is the topic of the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug. Nearly one in three teenagers have at least tried marijuana by the time they graduate high school. It is also gets the most publicity for its legalization. Over thirty pro-legalization organizations have been displayed on the Internet alone. The legalization of marijuana , although popular by today's drug culture, would be a very dangerous and detrimental act for the United States to take part in. Not only would it destroy families, but would also lead to the fall of our economy. Pro-legalization organization argue the fact that legalization would result in the decrease of crime rates in our cities and towns, but in actuality almost eighty-two percent of all violent crime that involves drugs don't involve marijuana. The fact remains that crime would still inhabit the streets if marijuana was to be legalized. The organizations base there theory on the success that the Netherlands has had with reduction of crime due to the wide- spread legalization of marijuana. The differences between New Amsterdam and the United States is great due to a different structured economy and different cultures. This differences would prove to be the reason for their success and the United States failure. Legalization would also be very dangerous to the economy. The United States economy is a rather shaky one...
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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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...government has been responsible for serious research misconduct in several cases. One study in particular, an examination of the effects of THC on tumors, did not produce the results that the government wanted. They then suppressed the study, even though its findings could greatly benefit cancer research. The government employed values in an unacceptable and direct role, allowing biased views to overcome the need to promote the good of all. II. Introduction Before examining the details of the situation, it is important to understand why marijuana became illegal in the first place. The major reasons relate directly to racism and prejudice. In the late 1920s, around the period of the Great Depression, many Mexicans were migrating to the United States to seek employment. Americans already had trouble finding jobs, so all of these foreigners entering the country and adding to the competition greatly angered them. Several Mexicans brought marijuana with them and introduced it to the country. The government viewed this as the perfect opportunity to manipulate the views of the general public, who were unfamiliar with...
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