Argumentative Essay: The Legalization Of Marijuana

Growing up, I’ve always been taught that drugs are bad, and my parents have always told me that there is nothing good to them. I remember taking D.A.R.E in fifth grade, learning how marijuana was bad for you and that you should go to jail if you use it. My teachers and parents were my role models though, so I took in everything they told me as a fact, until now. Now I realize that drugs are a good thing. Drugs are a way of life, and they are used by millions of people everyday. There are drugs such as advil, which is used to help patients who suffer from many things, including headaches and fevers. But the drug i’m talking about is marijuana.

Marijuana has been used in religious ceremonies or for medical purposes for thousands of years. I have always been against the use of Marijuana up until four years ago when my husband at the age of twenty seven underwent invasive surgery on his knee and has never been the same since. Colorado took a huge step several years ago legalizing marijuana for medical use and in recent years took the plunge to legalize it for recreational use. Marijuana is not always a bad thing nor is it always a good thing. A lot of people will compare it to any other mind altering substance and have very valid points. I would rather have a loved one or myself smoke marijuana or ingest it, instead of popping pain pills or other harmful substances put on the market by the pharmaceutical industry; Recreational use can be safe and accepting if it is regulated correctly and used responsibly.

Marijuana has been made legal for some form of use in 29 of the 50 states in America, with eight states having it legalized for recreational use. Notable states with it legalized for recreational purposes include Washington, Colorado, and California. Marijuana shops create millions in tax revenue and loads of job opportunities for these states. Not only does it generate millions of dollars in revenue for each state, there plenty of health benefits from marijuana. Along with those positives, marijuana is responsible for zero deaths per year, while alcohol is responsible for an estimated 88,000 deaths per year. Marijuana, both recreational and medical, creates jobs and boosts the economy, has a lot of health benefits, is safer than alcohol, and also has its disadvantages. Marijuana should be made legal and available to everyone in every state across America.

The subject of marijuana legalization has been an exceedingly popular discussion topic in recent years and, as time goes on, only seems to grow more popular. This discussion has resulted in many arguments that support marijuana’s legalization. One popular argument says that since alcohol is worse for you, and alcohol is legal, marijuana should be legalized. However, this argument that marijuana should be legalized because marijuana’s effects when consumed or smoked are better than those of alcohol is a purposeless argument. This argument fails to consider the many negative effects marijuana would have on the individual, environment, and, society.

Legalization of medical use began in 1996 with California, and legalization for recreational use began in Colorado and Washington in 2012. Although marijuana use is still technically illegal under the federal government, there are twenty-six states, plus Washington DC, that allow some form of use. Of these, twenty-one have legalized medical use, eight have legalized both medical and recreational use, and five will no longer sentence jail time for possessing small amounts. All of these legalizations have happened in the last twenty years, showing just how much support has grown recently. In 2006 and again in 2016, Pew Research Center took a poll in which they asked people of all ages about legalization. In the ten years, the support for legalizing went up by thirty-two percent. (6.) It is very obvious from this data that support for this movement is growing, and it will continue to grow.

The times of hearing that marijuana is the devil?s lettuce, evil, illegal, etc. are coming to a halting stop. According to The Boston University of Public Interest Law Journal, ?Marijuana is the illegal drug of preference, with reportedly approximately 16.7 million American users at present? (167). Many citizens are overcoming the false stereotypes associated with marijuana use perpetuated by people who are uneducated about the true benefits legalization would have on society. The number of users is continuing to grow, as well as the number of supporters. For instance, ?In April 2015, a CBS News poll found that eighty-four percent of Americans support medical marijuana as a treatment if prescribed by a doctor? (Titus 39). Most

Many year in United States has been a congress war for legalization of cannabis. Many states had approved to legalize marihuana, some of them just medicine marihuana, others such as Colorado and Washington the cannabis is recreative. Here in Florida cannabis should be legal, medicine and recreative. People should not be restricted to the use of a plant that grows from earth. No one before has ever died of a marihuana overdose. Cannabis is much safer than already legalized drugs. The city is going to have a huge income by cannabis shop owners.

“Now, for the first time, marijuana legalization is winning majority support in public opinion polls and a drug used by about 6 percent of Americans--and one-third of the nation's high school seniors--is starting to shake off its counterculture reputation. It is winning acceptance even from some police, prosecutors and politicians” (Fisher). Controversy commenced when the general question “Should marijuana be legalized?” derived. Many people and organizations helped pass laws and set up institutions in which marijuana users could be aided in stopping the use of the drug. For example, President Ronald Reagan signs the Anti-Drug Act and a newspaper article written about it says, “ ‘This legislation is not intended as a means of filling our jails with drug users,’ he added.

The most common argument today that the public always seem to bring up is whether or not marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana is a substance that can be both good and bad. It is a drug that can be both harmful and beneficial to people. Despite the many cons of marijuana, the pros outweigh the cons by a tremendous amount. Some people think that marijuana is a harmful thing to society, but in reality it is actually not as bad of a drug as people may think. Legalizing this drug would increase tax revenue and free up money being spent on unnecessary things, and it would also decrease arrest rates tremendously. Some people are against legalizing it, but if it were to be legalized it could be beneficial to one's health. It also can help with anxiety or depression that one may have.

The 1970’s was a notorious time for the use of marijuana; nobody expected the changes that would come about from that era. Over the next 25 years Dennis Peron would light the spark for Marijuana reform. Dennis Peron watched his friend Jonathan West treat his symptoms of AIDS with marijuana and set out to make a change. In “1996 California became the first state to pass a medical marijuana law” (Seppa). California appeared to be the foundation and turning point for researchers to discover the medical value marijuana may hold for society. Over the next 20 years many scientists will run into barricades with federal approval for further studies. The “U.S. Government considers it a “Schedule I” drug meaning they view it as having no medical value (Chrsitensen). The few scientists who have received the “rare approval” from the Federal Departments have constructed

The debate on whether marijuana should be legal is very controversial. Cannabis is illegal to possess, consume, purchase, grow, and transfer in most countries. Currently medical marijuana is legal in 23 states and has been legalized for recreational use in Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and now Oregon. Many people want to keep marijuana illegal, yet they have little information on all facts about marijuana and the purposes it can serve. While some people may enjoy a glass of wine after work to relax, others may want to smoke a little weed to find the relaxation they desire after work. Just as some people are social drinkers, we now know there are social smokers as well. Over the years the number of people supporting Marijuana legalization has

The United States economy has only been going downhill over the years. Our Current national debt is almost up to $18 trillion. Our government wastes so much Money every year on unassay things. All the levels of our government, federal, state, and local authorities, participate in the "War on Drugs" which spends billions of dollars every year to catch the peaceful people who enjoy smoking. The government locks these people up in prison and we, the taxpayers, have to pay for the housing, Health care, attorney fees, court costs, food, and all the other expenses it takes to get someone from court to jail. The legalization of marijuana would solve a lot of our nation’s problems and overall increase every Americans standard of living and make us a richer state.

Pat Robertson, who was once the republican nomination for president in 1988, once said, “I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage alcohol. I’ve never used marijuana and I don’t intend to, but it’s just one of those things that I think: this war on drugs just hasn’t succeeded.” I completely relate to Robertson as I have never touched marijuana but, also believe marijuana should be legalized. Not only are laws against medical marijuana stuck in the past and deprive the ill of a legitimate medical solution, but, they are detrimental to our economy and government as a whole. When I think of legalizing marijuana, I think of money, lots of money. There is no denial that the legalization of marijuana can potentially become one of the most profitable industries in the nation. At this point in time, our nation is facing the biggest deficit we have ever dealt with, at $19 trillion dollars. Legalizing marijuana could be our first step in bringing the debt back to

Using other drugs, than those who do not use marijuana. According to the hypothesis,marijuana is the starting point from which delving into other illicit materials begins. Opponents of marijuana legalization fear that marijuana being legalized will lead to the use of drugs that are far more dangerous. Rather than maintaining the simple opinion that marijuana use should be discouraged, many opponents believe those who possess marijuana should be imprisoned for their offenses. Under current law in most states, merely possessing marijuana is viable for at least a misdemeanor, but in most cases, a felony. Either can result in Incarceration or a fine against the offender. It is the view of many that jail time for drug offenders is necessary.

The legalization of Marijuana has been a controversial topic for a while now, with arguments going for it, and some going against it. Some of the arguments could be its medical treatment ways, the saving of money and time on law enforcement, and its very innocent type effects. So next time you argue against the legalization of it, think back to these points.