The legalization of marijuana is a topic that has gained widespread attention. Supporters of legalization list all of the benefits that marijuana provides. Opponents list all of the health risks that are associated with its use. Marijuana is illegal on a Federal level, but many states have already completed the process of legalizing its use. Marijuana was not always illegal (PBS, 2014). It is a naturally occurring plant that has been around for thousands of years. The Cannabis plant was around even before societies developed formal legal systems. In the early days of America, the government had not yet made drugs illegal. Growing concerns about the misuse of narcotics resulted in the United States eventually making laws against the plant. It …show more content…
Many college students are in favor of the movement. Adults that grew up when marijuana was not strictly regulated are also in favor of its legalization. In general, campaigns for the legalization of marijuana focus on misinformation about the drug and appeals to the frequency of its use. They claim that governmental agencies have exaggerated the negative effects of consuming marijuana. Studies on marijuana use are offered as evidence that the drug is not as dangerous as the government claims. In addition, supporters of the movement list all of the benefits—financial and otherwise—of legalizing the plant. Increased tax revenue and decreased violent crime are two proposed results of legalizing marijuana. Another important aspect of the movement to legalize marijuana is the abundance of personal stories to serve as evidence. The government can provide an abundance of information about the drug and make claims about the dangers of its use; however, many people have been consuming the plant for years. Their lives serve as evidence that the drug does not pose significant short-term risks. For the users that have an even longer history, they can serve as evidence of the long-term safety of the marijuana plant. Young people are then faced with a dilemma. They can either listen to the warnings of government agencies or listen to the many personal stories of experienced …show more content…
24 states have already made movements to legalize the plant. However, it is important to note that of those 24, many have only legalized the drug for medical purposes. A few states have entirely legalized the drug, and it can be consumed for recreational purposes.
Gallup polls reveal that almost half of Americans think that marijuana should be legalized (Newport, 2011). It is a movement that does not happen overnight. The efforts of reformists to change public opinions are working. The poll data reveals that the percent of people approving of marijuana legalization is greater now than it was in the past. In other words, the efforts to change public opinion about marijuana are having an impact. However, it will still likely be a long time before any changes occur at the Federal
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.
Marijuana is a highly misunderstood substance, for which people have developed an array of diverse opinions and predilections. The drug remains to be illegal in the majority of America and has received a lot of controversy lately for its growing possibility of nationwide legality. Unlike many of the analysts for this matter, we have decided to provide an unbiased list of simple facts you should know about marijuana. No matter your current position, these facts on the issue should be acknowledged in order to form your own opinions about the misunderstood drug.
The topic of legalizing recreational marijuana in the United States has been a very controversial one. States such as Colorado and Washington have gone on the offensive and have legalized recreational marijuana and have enjoyed the high revenues brought in from cannabis sale. On the other hand other states have kept low profiles because they are wary of the possible negative outcomes of legalizing recreational marijuana and are using the states of Colorado and Washington as guinea pigs to see what their next course of action on this controversial topic should be. This is not only a highly debated topic among politicians, but also by the people. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center 52% of Americans
The legalization of recreational marijuana is an important debate, one that could really cause drastic changes in societies. Marijuana has entered a dark stage in the pathway of legalization, and it is correlating with the prohibition stage that alcohol rested in. The debate can often reach a nasty level between individuals taking sides with the topic. Legalization of marijuana can be very beneficial under regulated circumstances, therefore making all of the negative views less important.
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
Americans nationwide have been using marijuana for decades due to a variety of reasons. Talks of marijuana legalization and marijuana use across the country has rapidly grown and America is getting one step closer to becoming a “weed nation”. Many Americans disagree with the legalization of marijuana, but a majority of voters believe recreational marijuana should be legal nationwide. Last year alone, nearly twenty tons of marijuana was sold to recreational and medical users, which resulted in $63 million in tax revenue and an additional $13 million in licenses and fees. Legalizing and regulating marijuana will bring the nation's largest cash crop under the rule of law, creating jobs and economic opportunities in the formal
At some point in the not-too-distant future, America will confront the question of whether or not to legalize the use and cultivation of marijuana. A recent poll shows that support for legalization has reached its highest level since the question was first asked thirty years ago, with 34 percent supporting a liberalization of policy. Among political elites there is a growing consensus that the harsh penalties imposed on those who grow, use, and sell marijuana are disproportionate to its harmful effects. Even among conservatives, opinion seems to be shifting. Whether the change should be welcomed is another matter.
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
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.
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
A controversial social topic surrounding our time has been the issue of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. Cannabis sativa, also known as marijuana, was classified by the United States government as a class I drug in 1970, which means that it is against the law to possess and distribute this illegal substance (Source 2). However, in recent years, many states have made marijuana more accessible for medical and recreational use. States such as Colorado and Washington have not just decriminalized possession and distribution, but have enacted laws that encourage the recreational use of cannabis. Around 100 million Americans have experienced this drug (Source 1). Essentially one in four Americans
They used the General Social Survey, which is one of the most respected surveys of American’s opinions on a wide variety of social issues. The surveys conducted a nearly 40-year span from 1970 to 2012. They wanted to make a comparison from then to now on the support of Marijuana legalization. It shows in all the surveys that the support throughout the 1970’s climbed. Then, once the 1980’s came around, the support began to diminish. Support then grew again in the 1990’s, and is continuing to increase today. The purpose of this article is to show that decline in Marijuana legalization support is unlikely to happen ever again. It explains how over the years support for Marijuana legalization grew rapidly.
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 the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis Sativa. Marijuana contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which is responsible for the stimulation of brain cells that release dopamine creating a feeling of happiness and excitement. Research and experiments have proven that marijuana can have superb results on health issues. Marijuana can be used to treat and prevent diseases such as glaucoma, seizures, decrease anxiety, minimize cancer pains, and many more. A drug that causes temporary relief from problems that has never been connected to overdoses is illegal in the United States because of two men, Harry Jacob Anslinger, and William Randolf Hearst. Harry Anslinger was a United States government official
Drugs are a major influential force in our country today. The problem has gotten so out of hand that many people are even considering legalization of one of the most used drugs, marijuana. The legalization of marijuana is a controversial issue that has been fought for and against for several decades. Marijuana is defined as a preparation made from the dried flower clusters and leaves of the cannabis plant, which is usually smoked or eaten to induce euphoria and to heal and soothe. (dictionalr.com)