Legalizing Marijuana. Marijuana, Also Called Herb, Weed,

According to National Institute of Drug Abuse, Marijuana is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis sativa—the hemp plant. The marijuana is often called pot, grass, reefer, weed, herb, Mary Jane, or MJ. Most users smoke marijuana in hand-rolled cigarettes called joints, among other names; some use pipes or water

“According to the United Nations, 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana—more than 3.8% of the planet’s population” (Drugfreeworld.org, 2014). Marijuana is one of the most widely used illicit drugs in the world (Sewell). It has received a plethora of criticism in the past and its negative reputation has carried on throughout history, making the legalization of marijuana one of the most controversial topics today. Marijuana does not deserve the reputation it receives, and in actuality it serves many medicinal purposes for the human body. Marijuana should be legalized in all 50 states for medical use.

The legalization of marijuana is a very debatable subject, some people think it is bad and should be illegal, and some people think it is good in some ways if used properly. It should be legal because it has few negative effects, it serves other purposes than getting people stoned, and it is better than other drugs.

Although it is a highly common defense that marijuana is not addictive, it in fact is. Many regular smokers find themselves ridden with very similar withdrawal symptoms of a tobacco addict (Marijuana Addiction Symptoms and Effects). Around 9% of people who use find themselves dependent on marijuana (Is Marijuana Addictive?). That may not seem like much, but that is almost 1 in every 10 people hooked on a drug that is supposedly “non-addictive.” Legalizing a drug that causes disorientation, paranoia, depression, anxiety, dizziness, and a slowed reaction time is not safe, not to mention the fact that it is a gateway drug, often leading users to use even more damaging and dangerous drugs (Is Marijuana Addictive?). With the legalization of a drug like marijuana comes increased use and abuse of the drug. Marijuana is unsafe medically for the individual using and for the people around them when the user is under the influence, it will cost the government money and time and it will cost employers tons. Legalizing marijuana would be a huge mistake by our country.

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.

Marijuana should be legal because it has several medicinal benefits, does not cause as much harm as alcohol or tobacco, and has been used by several dignitaries. The origins of marijuana date clear back to before recorded history, but the earliest written mention of it was in 1500 B.C. in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, titled the Rh-Ya. Emperor Fu also appears to have mentioned it in 2900 B.C., claiming that cannabis was a very popular medicine that possessed both ying and yang. It’s also mentioned several more times throughout history including usage in the Book of Exodus, Bhang (an Indian drink made of cannabis and milk), and possibly even in Bible. It was medically referenced in several places including Ancient Greece, Egypt, and China. Marijuana was made illegal essentially in 1937 by the Marijuana Tax Act. There are a few considerable reasons That it should be re-legalized, however.

In the case of legalization of marijuana in the United States, the answer is obvious. Marijuana is safer to the human body then alcohol, which is legal. Marijuana has positive medical applications, while alcohol has no positive medical applications. Alcohol also kills over 22,000 people a year from alcohol poisoning, while marijuana kills zero people a year because it is not possible to overdose. If marijuana is safer for a person then alcohol then why do they have it as an illegal substance. The legalization of marijuana is the obvious answer to the debate that is occurring across the United States.

Marijuana—often called pot, grass, reefer, weed, herb, Mary Jane, or MJ—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried out, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flow¬ers of Cannabis sativa—the hemp plant. A large amount marijuana smokers use hand-rolled cigarettes called joints, amongst other names; some use pipes often calles bongs. Marijuana cigars, or blunts, are also popular. To make blunts, users cut open cigars, eliminate some of the tobacco, and mix the remain¬der with marijuana (Timberlake, 2009).

The fact that cannabis is still illegal in forty-eight states is insane. Cigarettes, alcohol, and fast food kill hundreds of people every year and those are legal? I mean one- third of all AIDS cases in the US have been caused by syringe sharing (counterpunch). Study after study has shown that Marijuana is way less harmful than tobacco and alcohol (factslides). Cannabis has not even been directly linked to a death due to overdose, car accident, or cancer ever (Huffington). These are many reasons why many people support marijuana legalization and one of those reasons is because of the medical benefits. A drug that does not have severe side effects or could possibly kill you. Drugs like Cocaine, Heroine, Alcohol, Cigarettes. Those are the real drugs. Not Marijuana.

Legalizing marijuana has been a dispute in American for several years now, yet should not be considered. Marijuana also referred to as cannabis or weed is one of the most controversial drugs in the world and especially in the United States. Many people believe that it should be legalized because of medical reasons but on the contrary this substance does more harm than good. Society has been negatively affected in many different ways through this hallucinogenic drug. Crime rate has increased because of marijuana and legalizing marijuana would only increase this rate. Also through the legalization of marijuana our society is at harm of many risks. Our youth

Some medical reasons that marijuana shouldn’t be decriminalized are that it has long and short terms effects. Examples of the short term outcomes include memory loss, difficulty with thinking, loss of motor skills and increased heart rate. According to the National Institutes of Health show that someone smoking about five joints per week is taking in as many cancer causing chemicals as someone smoking a pack of cigarettes every day. There is no science proof that smoked marijuana can be used for medication. Since cannabis plants are polluted with a range of fungal spores, smoking marijuana may increase the risk of infectious organisms. Taradiff, J. "Marijuana and the War on Drugs. “Marijuana. Farmington Hills, Michigan: Thomas Gale, 2008. 157. Print.

Marijuana is usually smoked as a joint (rolled with paper) or in a pipe. Marijuana can also be consumed, but

Marijuana is believe it or not, one of the safest ‘illegal’ drugs on Earth. It is safer than legal alternatives: alcohol or tobacco. According to CNN “1 in 8 Americans smoke marijuana on a regular basis.” the drug can provide medical benefits, lower social costs, and better the economy. Therefore Marijuana should be deemed legal for recreational and medicinal usage across America, because it provides medical benefits, lowers social cost, and betters the economy across the board.

Marijuana use is much safer than the consumption of alcohol or the use of tobacco. Both alcohol and tobacco are the most deadly and addictive drugs, as well as the most used and abused, compared to marijuana. With marijuana, the pros outweigh the cons; where with alcohol and tobacco, that is not the case. As studies show, alcohol and tobacco are available everywhere, which causes them to be more risky and dangerous than the illegal drug, which is marijuana. Alcohol and tobacco are dangerous drugs that need to be eliminated for the sake of the people’s health and safety, unlike the use of marijuana, for the reason that it is not a deadly drug, it is a medicine that is beneficial to the people’s health, and it is harder to access.

Many people claim that there is no known case of people dying due to marijuana. This is a half truth since it’s not the marijuana itself that kills; it’s its side effects. Marijuana causes lung and throat cancer much like cigarettes. As a matter of fact, marijuana is worse for the lungs, since it contains three times as much tar as cigarettes and it’s usually smoked without a filter. They also claim there is not nearly as much crime due to marijuana use compared alcohol. This is also true but for one simple reason. Alcohol is legal and more easily accessible than marijuana. It’s the fact that marijuana is illegal that is keeping these numbers so low. Legalizing marijuana would be like adding fuel to a fire. If marijuana were to be legalized these number are sure to increase.