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
Medical marijuana has been one of the most controversial topics in politics for years regardings its legalization and any possible benefits. Marijuana is commonly referred to as the “gateway drug” and has been thought to be what causes the downfall of our youth in today’s society. This has caused Marijuana to earn a bad reputation due to the immense surrounding propaganda and bias opinions. Cannabis is the scientific name of the plant which is absolutely natural and free of chemicals, but the psychoactive components in the plant has been proven to be of medical use. If medical marijuana is prescribed correctly it has the potential to help thousands of patients due to the variety of benefits it can medically provide. Medical Marijuana should
There has never been a death from marijuana overdose. “A person would have to smoke 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of THC in a joint to overdose” (Wing). Marijuana was classified as an illegal drug in 1970, because it can be abused very easily (“infoplease”). Marijuana was then grown indoors. Marijuana is illegally used by many people daily. Marijuana should be legalized because it is naturally grown and can be used to help cancer patients, relieve stress, and be used daily.
Marijuana, a substance that was used frequently during the colonial times, has taken a social downfall in recent times. Although it is still illegal to possess or use for any means by federal law, states like California and Arizona have taken steps in the other direction.
Lately it seems that drug policy and the war on drugs has been in the headlines quite a lot. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the policies that the United States government takes against illegal drugs are coming into question. The mainstream media is catching on to the message of organizations and individuals who have long been considered liberal "Counter Culture" supporters. The marijuana question seems to be the most prevalent and pressed of the drugs and issues that are currently being addressed. The messages of these organizations and individuals include everything from legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, to full-unrestricted legalization of the drug. Of course, the status quo of vote seeking politicians and
According to Bernie Sanders, “It is time to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol. It is time to end the arrest of so many people and the destruction of so many lives for possessing marijuana”. Cannabis is considered to be an illegal drug but is used for medical purpose. 587,700 people were arrested for marijuana in 2016. More people always get arrested for marijuana than other crimes like rape, murder, or robbery.
Cannabis sativa or Marijuana as is commonly known worldwide is a hard drug with adverse side effects to the users. With this reason it is an illegal drug in a majority of parts in the world. However according to research statistics, with this illegality there is still a high rise of both users as well as those initiated into the practice annually with the United Nations placing it first among the illicit substances widely used in the world (UNODC 198). Having worked previously in a number of facilities for juvenile delinquency and correction in California I observed and participated in the numerous ways, methods and tactics employed by the government to reduce the use of cannabis sativa with little success. Instead, the number of crimes
A number of movements to legalize marijuana have been gaining attention lately. Currently there are 14 states where marijuana is legal for medical use (medicalmarijuana). 41% of U.S. citizens believe marijuana should be legalized (drugpolicy) but others are still concerned about health damage. American society has lost the war against marijuana, and that's okay. We should stop wasting time and money trying to reverse history and instead legalize both medical and recreational use of this mild narcotic widely seen as no more harmful than alcohol.
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.
Marijuana or Cannabis is one of the bused drugs in America and the rest of the world. Interesting accumulating evidence show that the significant negative impact of this drug outweighs the positive effects. However, the medical benefits of the drug seem on the process of chemical compounds as compared to the drug itself. Medical debates show that chemical compound in marijuana are the problem as compared to the plant. The said chemical compound affects the mental and physical health of the persons abusing this drug. There have been traditional efforts to control the use of marijuana through legislation laws, (Crick, Haase, & Bewley-Taylor, 2013). However, in the recent past the efforts and the laws are being lifted to relax the implementation of the same legislations and the population is responding fast in accepting the legalization of the use of marijuana. The aim of this paper is to discuss how lifting on the laws of the said drug indicate adverse tolerance of Cannabis among populations. The paper will also discuss impact of legalization marijuana on the safety, security and overall quality of human life. Also, the paper will analyses the effect of relaxation of the laws controlling this drug to other hard core drugs such as cocaine, heroin and meth-amphetamines among others.
The role that social policies have in the lives of every citizen cannot be understated, as the rules, regulations, and laws that govern our society provide the foundation off which our social welfare system operates. Over the past several decades, the social policy issue of the legalization of marijuana has gained substantial traction in the public eye, making it a priority topic to be addressed on the government agenda. With Colorado and Washington becoming the first states in the U.S. to legalize marijuana (TIME, 2012), Alaska and Oregon were soon to follow (Fortune, 2016), prompting more discussion and research around the effects of legalizing marijuana in North America, particularly in regard to social policy.
Cannabis or better known as Marijuana, is one of the oldest psychoactive elements used by man. Marijuana is also known as weed, pot, ganja, Maryjane, and countless other nicknames. A little history on marijuana is that it is made from the cannabis plant which can grow up to sixteen feet tall and likely originates in Central Asia. There are hundreds of compounds in Marijuana but tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC is believed to be the cause of it psychoactive effects. The “high” that people get comes from the THC binding to brain regions responsible for pleasure, time perception and pain. This plant was first brought to America in the 1800s used for medicinal purposes as an extract and which was popular during that time. But it soon was discovered by Mexican who began to smoke it and shortly after it fueled the marijuana prohibition and by the 1930s marijuana was banned in twenty-four states. By 1937 congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which effectively banned marijuana except for a few medicinal purposes. Fast forward to this present day and time and we will see how things have changed with Cannabis and this economy.
The issue of marijuana legalization has been a hot topic in recent times, but to understand first why it became illegal. Marijuana became illegal the first time shortly after the Mexican Revolution ended in 1910. After their revolution, many people from Mexico brought with them their customs their ideas and with them they brought their use of marijuana as a relaxant and medicine for many ailments. Even though, the use of cannabis was already prevalent in America at the time, the term “marihuana” was attached to it and with it led to the dirty outlook of it because of the significant influx of immigration to states like Texas and Louisiana was taking away jobs and other opportunities for Americans that were already here.
Marijuana, also known as Cannabis is the third most well-liked recreational drug, which only falls behind alcohol and tobacco, in the United States (The Whitehouse, n.d.). Marijuana is made up of dried leaves, plants, stalks, and pits from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa, which comprises of the mind-altering compound delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), in addition to other associated compounds. This plant substance can correspondingly be converged in a resin called hashish or an adhesive black fluid called hash oil. Efforts to legalize marijuana for medication treatment and recreational use in the United States have grown in current years. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that marijuana may perhaps
There currently exists a great debate concerning Legalization of marijuana. Many people are against the idea, but there are a number of people who fight for the idea to legalize Marijuana. The people that try to Legalize Marijuana use two major arguments in their effort to have marijuana legalized. First, which is by far the biggest argument is that marijuana has a significant medical use. The second is that marijuana does not cause harm to those that smoke it. Both of these arguments can be easily discounted by the numerous studies that have been done on the effects of marijuana both medicinal and recreational. Many well-intentioned leaders and members of the public have been misled by the well financed and organized pro-drug
less dangerous than tobacco and people smoke less of it at a time. Or you can