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Marijuana And Decriminalization Essay

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This research paper seeks to investigate the Decriminalization vs Legalisation and also the Commercialization of Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa), also looking at the Implications for Bioethics, Human Happiness and Medicine. The United States of America’s, National Institute on Drugs, defines marijuana, also known as weed, herb, pot, ganja and Mary Jane as “the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa.” Marijuana has a long history and dates back to the early 2700s B.C., where it was used by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung who prescribed the tea for the treatment of gout, rheumatism, malaria and, oddly enough, poor memory” according to an article entitled, “A Brief History of Medical Marijuana” by Patrick Stack …show more content…

It is wrong to use the both terms synonymously, as they have completely different meanings however, they can go hand in hand as decriminalization is seen as only half the way and a step towards legalisation, according to an article entitled, ‘A half-smoked joint.’ Decriminalization looks at the lessening or complete removal of criminal penalties for violations meaning, if marijuana is decriminalized, persons can no longer be prosecuted for its use. If they are found with it on them, it is not viewed as a criminal act and there are no real laws put in place to control or regulate it. On the other hand, legalisation deals with making an act which was previously illegal, legal or lawful, that is, sanctioned and accepted by laws. With legalisation of marijuana, they can regulate the activities and control the amounts persons are able to carry on them and if found with more than the required amount, there are consequences in place. The difference therefore is that with decriminalization, you can carry your marijuana in any amount you wish because the activity is unregulated however with legalisation the activity is lawfully regulated although it is no longer considered criminal

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