Throughout time there has always been a debate on whether or not marijuana should be legal or not. The most recent drug survey, conducted in March 2015, “finds that a slim majority (53%) of Americans say Marijuana should be made legal, compared with 44% who want it to be illegal”, and the opinions have changed drastically since 1969, when only 12% favored legalizing marijuana use. Marijuana is a plant that people use for various things, including medicinal use, recreational use, and personal use. Although most people believe marijuana is a dangerous drug and inflicts damage to society, legalizing it actually has many benefits, from marijuana having positive health effects, to not being as dangerous to other legal drugs like Alcohol and Tabaco, …show more content…
For instance, in the article, “Counterpoint: There Are No Good Reasons to Legalize Marijuana”, authors George Wright and Heather Newton they criticize the proposed legalization of marijuana by stating in my opinion irrational information about marijuana. In particular, saying, “...may ultimately lead to substantial problems such as addiction or the reduction of natural inhibitions from performing other dangerous acts.” First of all, compared to other drugs that are legal, marijuana is the least addictive substance. For instance, Leslie L. Iverson, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Cambridge in England, based on his review of the scientific literature, has said that only about 10 to 30% of regular users will develop dependency and only about 9% will have a serious addiction. Compared to other drugs like tobacco which is estimated that about 32% of users will become addicted, and alcohol which about 15% of users will become addicted, marijuana is the least percentage. Also going back to the counterpoint article the authors say “ultimately lead to…the reduction of natural inhibitions from performing other dangerous acts”. Dangerous acts may include driving under the influence of marijuana, but Yale psychiatrist Richard Sewell reviewed the academic literature on driving while intoxicated and most studies suggest that, smoking one-third of a joint or less has virtually …show more content…
Not only-but also isn’t as dangerous as most drugs that are legal in America for example legal drugs like tobacco, alcohol and even household items like glue and paint that are being taken advantage of and used as drugs. Next, by legalizing marijuana in the United States we can reduce the costs of keeping marijuana illegal by billions of dollars and use that tax money on other important things and have police officers focus on the serious offenders rather than some young adult with possession of a harmless drug (marijuana). Lastly, skeptics about the legalization of marijuana having no benefits at all but I supported my argument by saying that out of all the legal or illegal drugs, marijuana is the least addictive and harmful as proven in the fifth paragraph. Marijuana is one of the most used drugs in the United States and I believe that it will continue being one of the most used drugs until it’s made legal and it becomes regulated and
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.
Marijuana can be used by the public for many purposes. Medicine is an important part of our lives and marijuana has been tested to cure cancerous cells as well as help people with their epilepsy. Using marijuana for medical purposes is one major aspect that people should take into consideration for legalizing it. Marijuana’s market has also been brought to many people’s attention because it has been poised to grow faster than smart phones. Together, these reasons have been more than enough for people to consider legalizing marijuana.
The legalization of marijuana is one of the most debatable topics in our society today. What is marijuana? According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis Indica plant. Marijuana is also known as weed, herb, pot, cannabis, maryjane, and a sort of other nicknames. Most people believe that marijuana should be legalized for the numerous medical health benefits, and that marijuana is found to be less harmful than consuming other drugs and alcohol. However, the people who oppose legalizing marijuana believe that it is too dangerous for a person’s well-being; it can also inspire people to try other drugs like cocaine or alcohol. In the article, “Marijuana should stay illegal,” Carly Zive asserts that smoking cannabis is bad and it should remain illegal, yet, in “This is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere,” Renee Jacques depicts marijuana as a substance that perceives health benefits for people.
Today in America, millions of American citizens are both confused and outraged by the fact that there are still laws that are preventing people from using one of the most popular and controversial, illegal substances in the world: marijuana. According to recent polls, fifty percent of Americans want marijuana to be completely legal and decriminalized (Blodget), and a whopping eighty percent of Americans want it to be at least legalized for medical use (RangelMD). So why do so many Americans want marijuana to be legalized? To some this question can be easily answered, but to others, it’s not so simple. There are way too many reasons to count why
Marijuana is amongst one of the most disputable subjects in political issues. It is the most exploited drug in the United States and can even be around the globe. Marijuana is the main source of substance reliance other than alcohol in the United States. Numerous groups in recent years have come forward and claim that marijuana use has been beneficial with numerous medical conditions. In fact, it has helped numerous people with diseases, for example, Glaucoma, Cancer, and any other physical or mental pain. Medicinal cannabis should be legalized in Florida, but should be regulated accordingly. The clear majority trust that marijuana use would be more beneficial if it was not criminalized but most still believe that the government should keep it as a controlled substance. In 2008, 4 million out of the 7 million individuals, ages 12 and older, characterized as having a reliance or abusing marijuana. This implies that two out of every three Americans experiencing any substance abuse have developed marijuana reliance. The legalization of marijuana in the United States such an issue for so many individuals today. Some believe that marijuana should not be legalized in Florida because of physical health, mental health, effects of driving under the influence of marijuana, and increase in use. Others believe that is it marijuana should be legal because of its harmless if used in moderation, limits of personal freedoms, and potential FDA regulations.
The word "marijuana" has been a concerned topic in almost every American home today. Marijuana, whose botanical name is cannabis, has been used by humans for thousands of years. It was classified as an illegal drug by many countries in the 20th century. Over the past two decades, there has been a growing movement to legalize marijuana, primarily for medical purposes. Opposing views on the subject of decriminalizing the plant has caused much controversy over the past twenty years and still remains an important issue. The legalization of marijuana in the United States would drastically reduce crime in our cities and help reduce some of the national debt through its
Marijuana is not a dangerous drug and has never killed anybody. Alcohol and tobacco is extremely addictive. Alcohol causes bodily harm to health and has severe effects on a person behavior. Alcohol alone can cause gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers, liver cancer, cirrhosis, and other liver diseases. The over consumption of alcohol can lead to alcohol poising, brain damage, and death in severe cases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “In 2013, alcohol overdoses alone caused nearly twenty-five thousand deaths. Nearly sixteen thousand of the twenty-five thousand deaths were a direct result of liver disease”. (Jack Brewer,2014) According to Jack Brewer; In 2012, there was two point two million arrests were the of alcohol-related crimes. Tobacco is just as bad as alcohol. Tobacco causes lung cancer and throat cancer. Tobacco contains at least nineteen different types of cancer and is the major cause of cardiovascular disease. According to the CDC, tobacco is the cause five hundred thousand deaths per year. Medical bills for tobacco-related health complications is approaching one hundred forty billion dollars a year. (Jack Brewer,2014) Despite the known health risks of both of these drugs they remain legal and available almost everywhere. According to __________, it is scientifically proven that marijuana is not toxic to humans. It is physically impossible to overdose on marijuana. Marijuana
The legalization of marijuana is, and has been a heavily disputed issue for decades. On one hand, marijuana could lead to a medical breakthrough, or at least provide relief to cancer and AIDS patients. On the other hand, legalizing a drug could expose it to too broad an audience. As a drug, marijuana has never proven to be anywhere near as harmful as cigarettes or alcohol. Each year in the United States, 400,000 people die from tobacco, 50,000 from alcohol, and from marijuana, zero. Regardless of what side one may take to this argument, there are some causes to this marijuana debate that everyone should know. Marijuana was not always illegal, and the reasons behind the history of narcotic regulation are interesting when viewed from
Illegal drug use is a huge part of American culture and one the most controversial of those drugs is marijuana; its technical name is Cannabis Sativa. But whether you call it cannabis, marijuana, pot, reefer, weed, bud, herb, Mary Jane, hemp, grass or wacky tabacci, it is still illegal in the United States. Actually, all over the world the deliberation rages about the harm or benefits that marijuana has to offer. Attempts to legalize it in the United States have been going on since the Marijuana Tax Act was introduced in 1937 and have thus far largely failed. The debate whether or not to legalize marijuana seems to circle around numerous points, including the recreational use verses being a gateway to
Debates over the legalization of marijuana have been around for a long time now. The process to pass a law is long. Marijuana has been legalized in some parts around the country, and in different states in the United States. Several articles have been written, some approving of marijuana and some opposing it. The questions of the approval of marijuana come from a long run of opinions. Written articles have been made to express an individual’s own hypothesis over it. The articles “Why It’s Always Been Time To Legalize Marijuana” by Katrina Vanden Heuvel and “The Real Reason Why Pot Is Still illegal” by Lee Fang go further into detail on the pros and cons for the legalization and also differ into shaping up this argument. The authors of the articles
Cannabis has been used for over 6000 years without its legality being questioned until the 1930's when the United States Government criminalized its possession. Now seventy years later, its prohibition is being reconsiderat both State and Federal levels of the government. The push for legality has never had as much support as it does now, with the legalization of medical marijuana in 20states, decimalization in 16 states, and 2 states that allow commercial cultivation, manufacture, and sale of cannabis. An overwhelming majority of the United States population,including me, see the legalization of cannabis as a profitable and harmless idea.
Ever since 1930 marijuana has been an illegal drug in the United States. Somehow even though it is illegal, it is the countries number one cash crop with the most margin for profit. Users of cannabis are not the only supporters of the legalization of marijuana, many people who do not use the drug are supportive due to the fact that they know that the prohibition of it does more harm than good. They also can see that making it legal would be useful in many ways to those people who have diseases, that way they could use it as a medicine as well as a relaxant. One more reason people are pro legalization of marijuana is due to the fact that it could really help
The prohibition of marijuana has sparked a big debate in today’s society Views of a dangerous killer drug we once thought as common knowledge are now being proven wrong by science and it is time for our society to reassess based on our knowledge. Although many still view marijuana as a hazardous drug, it in fact has medical, economic and social benefits such as a lowering the cost of the war on drugs, reducing the prison population, generating tax revenue, and creating jobs. These are just a few of the many benefits that can come with the legalization of marijuana. As we learn more about marijuana and its effects we need to revisit our social, political and legal views on its use.
Marijuana is a cannabaceae plant, which has always been associated with negative connotations until recently, when it has been discovered that this plant may be used to cure diseases and improve a country economy. Thus, the American opinion is split on the question of “Marijuana Legalization”. In fact, a survey undertaken by CNN/ORC International Poll states that 55 % of Americans believe that the use of marijuana should be legal, while only 44 % think it should be illegal (CNN). I also share the American majority opinion since there is some evidence that marijuana yields positive results.