Drug Legalization In The United States

The legalization of marijuana has been a hot topic in the media for many years now. There is a major divide in those who believe it should be legal, those who do not, and those who think it could be legal with modifications on the usage. The number of those who support the legalization of marijuana is on the rise with nearly 50% supporting recreational marijuana legalization, and 81% supporting marijuana legalization for medical treatment as of 2015 ("Public Support for Marijuana Legalization, 2015”). Marijuana should be legalized on a federal level because it is safer than alcohol, it will increase the economy, and there is an unfair criminalization of marijuana.

The dispute over the legalization of cannabis sativa, more commonly known as marijuana, is one of the most controversial issues ever to take place in the United States. Its use as a medicine has existed for thousands of years in many countries across the globe. Legalization should be considered despite efforts made by groups who say marijuana is a harmful drug that will increase crime rates and lead users to other more dangerous substances. The legalization of marijuana can improve our society by helping with our economy, freeing legal resources, and benefiting the overall health of the nation though medical uses.

There are many major factors at one point time in society, the most controversial is drug decriminalization. When the topic of drug or drug related discussion arises, many individuals would choose to ignore the topic entirely. Why not approach the topic head on? Attack the issue at its roots and refuse to give up until proven wrong. Drug decriminalization is a topic that needs to be brought to the front of discussion with politics and legislation. State and federal laws should be readjusted and in many cases removed in regards to drug policy. As a society, we need to treat the way we handle drug users and drug cases differently. Our current approach is not working anymore, and it’s time for a change. To change, everything has to change from the start.

With addiction rates rising every year, the overwhelming drug dilemma has opened the eyes of numerous governments around the world. This paper will discuss what decriminalization is and if decriminalizing drugs in the United States will lead to lower crime rates and lower incarceration rates. In addition, it will discuss the impact decriminalization will have on society, the effect it will have on the economy and finally how it influences the now addicted, should legalization occur. Currently, Portugal has decriminalized all drugs in every drug classification for recreational use. Furthermore, Colorado is the only state in the United States, to have decriminalized marijuana. In looking at the drug laws in Portugal, Colorado, Mexico, and the Netherlands this review will examine what appears to be working and not working of both decriminalizing and keeping certain drug classifications illegal. Multiple web-based articles, books, and peer-reviewed articles were the many sources used in researching this paper. Can drug decriminalization be a practical way to cut down on drug related crimes? Will it benefit society, boost the economy, and help the addict? Based on this research I have concluded at a federal level, the United States should decriminalize

The legalization of marijuana is a controversial issue in North America today. Despite the outstanding benefits of legalizing this drug, we haven't gotten any closer to ending the war on drugs. There are major social, law enforcement and fiscal benefits with very minor drawbacks. Many European countries have proven than legalizing drugs can reap many benefits and we should follow these liberal ideas so we can also enjoy the benefits.

With all of the complex issues facing the nation today, it seems as if the legalization of marijuana is being set on the back burner of legislation. There are so many opinions, sides, and overall arguments for and against it that many vote seeking politicians and policy makers have put up a strong resistance to this issue. In this paper I will illustrate the reasons why I think marijuana should indeed be legalized and also the arguments from people who disagree and feel that it should stay an illegal drug.

Drugs should be legalized and/or decriminalized in the future in Washington State and the Unit-ed States. However, along with legalization should come counseling for drug abuse and should give the pros and cons to using drugs. Since smoking was legalized and more information has come out about smoking there is 50% less smokers and it is less of a public issue. And as far as the concern with there being more people using drugs and driving a car, yes we will have drivers using just as we have drivers drinking and driving. Also with legalization will come more control for the purity of drugs and users will be less like to become dependent because of this. One other issue is that more money needs to be spend on rehabilitation. Incarceration is

The United States has been engaged in a “war” for nearly 25 years. It is a war with unclear goals; ending the war in a victory is made nearly impossible due to subjective statistics and hazy results. At the heart of this continuing struggle, the “war on drugs,” is the fundamental question: Is this a battle the United States can win? It is likely everyone will agree drugs are harmful; they have serious medical side-effects. Drugs are addictive; they can ruin a family, a job, a life. The war is continued with the goal of eradicating the drug epidemic. With that in mind, the war on drugs has had a minimal impact on drug use in the United States. Instead, it has created a military police force,

I believe as a nation we have done well when it comes to learning from our mistakes; however, the debate over the issue of drugs in our country has truly caused turmoil throughout the nation. It is an issue that does not choose sides; rather it strikes every race, religion, and economic class across the country. We all have our beliefs about the topic of drugs in our country and how it impacts us as a whole. United States citizens believe that drugs are one of the major problems that this country is dealing with today. The belief that drugs are one of the leading contributors to elevated crime rates is what causes citizens in our country to view all drugs in a negative light. It is hard to disagree with people when you know their claims hold

Did you know that almost half of the population in the United States belongs in jail, according to the law on marijuana? It’s true. In 2008 Time Magazine reported that researchers had found more than 42% of people surveyed in the United States had tried marijuana at least once (Lynch, 2008). So if marijuana use is so common in the United States, why should it not be legalized? In this paper I will discuss both the supporting and opposing positions on the legalization of marijuana. I will also explore the moral and ethical views for legalizing marijuana.

The issue of legalizing marijuana has been prominent in news headlines recently with Washington and Colorado’s new laws on using marijuana for recreational use. The problems stem from the vast difference of opinion between those who support the new laws and those who oppose them. The supporters of legalizing marijuana argue that the police resources that are being used for trying to prosecute users of marijuana could be better used for violent crimes such as murder and rape. Supporters also argue that marijuana has far more positive properties than negative ones. Those who oppose the legalization state that marijuana is a gateway to other more harmful drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin. They also say that marijuana is a

The world has been involved in a long debate over the legalization of marijuana. Although this would be a great choice, I have found that there is one more option that makes the most plausible and logical pathway in the future. After you hear the compelling arguments for the decriminalization of marijuana, you will agree that this will work for the public good. This essay will utilize information from scholarly journals, statistical data, and newspaper articles to prove decriminalization is the best choice for our nation.

Legalization of marijuana is one of the most controversial topics in American society today. Surveys done by the US Government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive showed that 95 million Americans have used marijuana. There are two opposing sides that have strong stances on whether it should become legal or should remain illegal. We have one side that is anti-marijuana and the other is pro-marijuana. Each side provides valid and strong arguments supporting their views. The purpose of this paper is to carefully examine each opposing side and try to find some way to come to a compromise.

The first benefit to the legalization of marijuana would be the decreased spending on law enforcement. Many of America’s jails are filled to the brim with people who got long and unfair sentences for possession of the drug. Part of the

There are many ways marijuana can be beneficial to medical problems. Smoking or consuming marijuana can help with the pain of harsh chemotherapy for cancer patients (Gillard). Some marijuana extracts have been shown to kill certain cancer cells (Christensen, 2016). It helps tremendously with seizures and muscle spasms, and can nearly instantly stop a seizure if smoked (Gillard). It can possibly even be the only drug that will help patients that suffer from chronic pain (Gillard 200). “Medical marijuana extract in early trials at the NYU Langone Medical Center