Argumentative Research Paper On Marijuana

Marijuana or Cannabis is a hallucinogenic drug that contains a very high amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It can be used for both medical and recreational reasons, but it is currently illegal in most states in this country. This drug has been illegal for the majority of this country's history, and just recently several states like Washington, California, and New York have passed laws so that people with medical issues are able to consume this drug for their own medical needs

In the United States, we have enacted numerous bans and restrictions against certain drugs and substances with the purpose of protecting the general public from their negative effects. On this list of illegal drugs are harmful and addictive substances such as cocaine, methamphetamines, and heroin. A substance called cannabis, also known as marijuana, is also on this list. As of now, it is illegal to buy, sell, possess, or use marijuana in any shape or form in the state of Louisiana. However, due to the advancement of technology and of human perspective and innovation, it has come to light that marijuana could actually be of benefit to our society through its medicinal uses in treating a range of conditions and diseases as well as its possible social benefits in helping individuals stray from heavier drugs by acting as a substitute. Now that the wheels of time are turning and that medical marijuana is becoming a budding industry, the question remains: should marijuana be legal all across the United States of America? With the benefits it could bring with its medical, social, and economic uses, marijuana could be a profitable asset to our society if it were to be legalized, and I believe that we should strive for that outcome.

The medical marijuana debate is an interesting one because there’s such a wide diversity of opinions and views that oppose each other. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. They consider these drugs to have no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse and to be some of the most dangerous drugs, because they’re highly addictive and may cause severe psychological or physical dependence. Other Schedule 1 drugs include heroin, LSD, ecstasy and meth. Many who are against marijuana believe the drug is dangerous, harmful and feel it should remain illegal.

Natural supplements are widely used throughout the world and are recommended by holistic doctors for patients who do not want chemically made medication and alternate treatments. Although natural supplements are better for the human body, cannabis is a product that is not seen as positive example of natural supplements. Cannabis is a plant that has many strains and can be used to treat different medical issues. Even though most sport organization have cannabis on a list of banned performance enhancing drugs it should not be banned; because it does not truly give a competitive advantage to an athlete, it can be used for pain medication and long term health problems that may be caused from over usage of this drug should not be the concern of sport organizations, but a personal decision made by each athlete. Unfortunately, cannabis does have negative side effects such as a change in the state of mind, killing brain cells, and societies’ negative perspective on cannabis.

“Police officers in Texas claimed that marijuana incited violent crimes, aroused a ‘lust for blood,’ and gave its users ‘superhuman strength.’ Rumors spread that Mexicans were distributing this ‘killer weed’ to unsuspecting American schoolchildren.” With this information 29 states outlawed marijuana between 1916 and 1931. Then the Marijuana Tax of 1937 pretty much banned it nation wide. “During the mid-1970s, virtually all states softened penalties for marijuana possession,” reports The New York Times. However, the federal government continued to cling, as it does today, “to a policy that has its origins in racism and xenophobia and whose principal effect has been to ruin the lives of generations of people.”

Marijuana is one of the most popular drugs in the world. Users most commonly use it by smoking its leaves, stems, buds, or flower to experience some sort of high. Scientists have discovered that not only does marijuana have an intoxication effect, but that it could be used for medical reasons as well. Marijuana has been tested by many scientists who would all agree that it should be legalized

What is Marijuana? Well, it is a plant that has many medical benefits and dates back almost 12,000 years ago. The plant has many components within itself like THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, it is the chemical compound in cannabis responsible for a euphoric high. Another component is CBD, Cannabidiol, which is a non-psychoactive and provides a wide range of medical benefits. There are eight states that allow for the plant to be used recreationally and twenty-nine states that allow the use of the plant for medical purposes only.

When is comes to marijuana many U.S citizens have mixed emotions on this topic. The people who are all for it, argue that it would have a great impact on health such as medical marijuana and a tremendous boost in our economy. The opposing side thinks that marijuana can lead into health issues as well as many teens being omitted to the E.R for the marijuana use. Which levaes you with something to think about, Should Marijuana be legalized on a Federal level?

The question of legalizing marijuana has been an issue for many years. In the Unites States from the 1600s to late 1800s hemp was harvested on U.S. soil to create materials such as rope, paper and clothing. It was during the 1800s that cannabis products became popular for medical use and was sold in many pharmacies across the nation. It became a requirement to label these over-the-counter medicines containing cannabis but it was still legal. Around the early 1900s the many Mexicans immigrated to U.S. to escape the Mexican Revolution conflict. These immigrants smoked marijuana recreationally and brought this concept with them. El Paso, Texas became the first U.S. city to ban marijuana in 1915 (Benson, 2015) By 1937, 46 of the 48 states has passed laws banning marijuana use and the Marijuana Tax Act was passed making it illegal to have marijuana unless it was for medical reasons. In 1952 the Narcotics Control Act of 1956 was imposed and the federal government started requiring minimum prison sentences for possessing marijuana. Marijuana was made a schedule I drug meaning it had no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse in the Controlled Substance Act of 1970.

The debate for years \that has divided the question is weather not any good. Many states have legalized medicinal marijuana. The states that have legalized has it helped or has come from its use. What is the purpose? What should the guidelines be? The Medical board and the Government have hopes that in legalizing it, medical marijuana will help those with diseases to be able to cope much easier. However, the determination of which ones that should be allowed to have the okay to be able to use it. Even though some people may argue against medicinal marijuana use and legalization, there are too many reasons why it should be.

There are so many deviant illegal drugs out there, but one has really road the social acceptance roller coaster. Marijuana, a slow up and coming social norm, has been a topic for debate for the past century. In 1914 the Harrison Act passed which allowed selling and using of opiates, cocaine, and marijuana without a prescription. Over the past years many states and areas are starting to understand the acceptance of cannabis becoming a similar social activity similar to alcohol. Yet, many still associate marijuana as a gateway drugs and want to prevent the youth of the nation in becoming another era full of drug abuse. Marijuana has always been on the fences between deviant and non-deviant, but is becoming a more acceptable

I am one of those people that is 100% against marijuana getting legalized for recreation purposes. I care because of what it does to people and how damages a person. Yes, I’m not the one smoking and never will be, but that doesn’t mean I want to smell it just anywhere. Yes, I know we can smell marijuana in some places we go to, but I do not smell it everywhere I go for the reason that it is illegal. Yes, I may not have control over who wants to smoke it anyway, that’s their choice. I do get your point about drinking, you are correct. I don’t agree with too much alcohol either, because alcohol kills as much as any tobacco does. That all comes down to abuse, abusing alcohol or abusing drugs. Me personally not wanting marijuana to be legalized has nothing to do with judging anyone who wants to smoke it, it has everything to do with what I believe in and I don’t believe it is a smart idea legalizing marijuana.

Marijuana has become a widely discussed topic within our society today. History has shown marijuana was and currently still looked down upon by society; yet there has been serious thought about the legalization oqf marijuana today. In 1545, marijuana was brought to American by the Spanish although it was not introduced until 1611 (Narconcon, 2010). During this period marijuana become a major commercial crop as was tobacco; marijuana was seen as a source of fiber to the settlers of Jamestown. Although, by 1890 marijuana had been replaced as a major cash crop by the production and distribution of cotton; marijuana was also used in medicines during 1890. (Narconcon, 2010). However it was only in a small percentage of medicines used during that time.

Medical marijuana is very a big and controversial issue in today's society, currently the community is divided on the issue. Questions are always being thrown around such as "how does marijuana affect the body?" and "what good does’ marijuana do for a person?" Researchers have tried to answer these questions with multiple studies and they have shown some of the positives of medical marijuana. If something is able to help someone who is in dire need why not use it on those people to find a better solution for them. I myself am on the supportive side of the issue of medical marijuana. I don't think it should be legal to just anyone though I believe there should be a legal age law, a driving while under the influence, and a public intoxication law in effect for medical marijuana to be legal.

At the time of the 21st century in the United States, one of the leafing countries of the world, the usage of the pure chemical substance tetrahydrocannabinol, which can only be found naturally in marijuana, for medical purposes, is still illegal in half of the country. Medical marijuana is a controversy in today’s society, and the usage of it is still a taboo in an enormous percentage of the population of the country. Due to the fact that over time the American public opinion has been, mangled and morphed by government propaganda and policies to condemn marijuana as socially immoral. Currently the community is divided on the issue. Question are constantly being thrown around such as “what effects does it have on the body?” and “what benefits does it provides to a person?” Researchers have tried to answer these questions with studies and they have shown how positive medical marijuana can be. If something can benefit an individual there is not valid argument to not use it for the sick in an attempt to find a better drug for those who really need it. The medical use of marijuana should be legal all across the United States because of all the good it can do for a person’s overall health and the fact that everyone deserves all possible methods of treatment when they are ill. However, the government still considers marijuana as a risky drug. Therefore, my purpose in this paper is to discuss and clarify three main concerns on the topic; does it truly exist medical benefits on its