Background information
Cannabis has been used for medical, recreational, and industrial purposes for many years. Cannabis plant is used in some countries for religious rituals, for example, in Nepal and India people have used cannabis in their religious rituals a practice that was started many years ago (Joffe and Yancy 51). The twentieth century has seen many countries around the world enact laws, which criminalizes the sale, use, and possessing cannabis. By the fall of the year 1905, twenty-nine states around the world had enacted laws that mention cannabis. In the year 1925, the International Opium Convention banned the exportation of cannabis from been exported producing countries like India to other countries around the world that prohibited its use (Mikos 663).
The twenty first century has seen some states in the United States such as Colorado and Washington as well as some countries like Uruguay enact laws that legitimize the use cannabis for recreational purposes. In the present time, cannabis takes the lead as the most used illegal drug world over (Khatapoush and Hallfors 98). The illegalization of the drug was orchestrated by its perceived negative effects not only to the health of the user, but also to that of other and to the global economy. However, the criminalization of this drug has given rise to a heated debate. Many religious bodies, activists, and politicians have thrown their support behind the cannabis criminalization over many years. However, the clear
First, from 1900 to 1940, marijuana, including opium and cocaine were considered part of everyday drugs. As time went on, the U.S. cracked down on crack and opium, eventually outlawing them, but continued to be very “loose” with the use of marijuana. Hoxter a weed smuggler explains how he began in the 1960’s trying weed and years later saw himself unloading four hundred pounds of pot in Vancouver. The story of this man ends in his isolation and argument of why he couldn’t smoke weed even if he stopped selling? He asked a parole officer and she didn’t know what to respond. It is true what Hoxter states, fifty years ago alcohol was illegal and now it’s not, was it bad then? Will weed be legalized? And will the conflicts have been in vain? (Schou 8). Around the late 90’s and early 2000’s, scientific studies started to produce jaw-dropping results. Scientists started to discover that marijuana can significantly help people who have become ill. Medical Marijuana has been tested to help people with cataracts, cancer and severe depression (Zeese 1999). With this new worldwide discovery, the argument about medical marijuana ignited. States wanted to only make medical marijuana legal so it may help sick people, but the government did not want any form of marijuana legal. The law that was known throughout the United States was any form of marijuana was illegal. But now with this new discovery, doctors in states across the country want the
Since the paper has secured the historical backdrop of the issues and contentions about legitimizing marijuana, it will go more into insight about the issues and contentions by first outlining the persons supporting legalization. The general stakeholders include most recreational users, some police state officers and some farmers. The specific stake holders include the Drug policy Alliance, The Marijuana Policy Project and Republican Texas state representative David Simpson. These organizations and representatives aim to promote values, like liberty, health, and economic prosperity. The DPA is the country 's driving association advancing medication arrangements that are grounded in science, sympathy, well being and human rights. DPA supporters are people who accept the war on drugs is accomplishing more danger than great, like most recreational users. The DPA works to guarantee that the country’s medication arrangements stop detaining people , disappoint and generally hurt millions especially young teens and minorities who are excessively influenced by the war on illicit drugs (About Drug Policy Alliance). The marijuana policy project is an alliance and commitment to individuals who promote honesty, and advocate for terminally ill patients to use marijuana. It aims to remove penalties for possession and open a legal market where some farmers can cultivate and sell marijuana with professional help (Mission). The last stakeholder on the proponents’ side of legalizing
In this paper I discuss why Cannabis should not be liberated in the United States. My focus and concerns are to the harm Cannabis is bringing to society now a days. In the United States more people are being influenced and being in favor of this famous “Drug Addiction” causing by illusions as ignorance is taking over and affecting a nation that is role models to many other nations. Awareness of after effects of drugs are being hidden and taken for granted as people keep on living this irresponsible life not thinking of the future. In this paper, I will consider some information based on my side of the argument.
The legalization of Cannabis in the United States is an extremely hot topic in the current media. Currently, 23 states and D.C. have laws to legalize use of Cannabis (NORML). Cannabis is also known as marijuana, dope, pot, grass, weed, head, Maryjane, doobie, bud, ganja, hashish, hash, bhang (Cannabis). Cannabis is now the third most popular recreational drug in America, this is behind alcohol and tobacco. It has been used by 100 million Americans (Cannabis). Since the legalization of Cannabis is such a hot topic in the United States, this issue is highly debated. Both sides of the argument work towards making educated decisions for their stances. By collecting both sets of data, we can progress towards
“Marijuana”, “pot”, or “weed” are some of the distinguished nicknames used to reference the plant Cannabis in our society. Cannabis, as defined on Webster’s online dictionary, is a “drug (such as marijuana or hashish) that comes from the hemp plant and is smoked illegally”. However, up until 1996, according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the use of medical marijuana has been legalized in 20 states and Washington D.C. Yet, under the Federal government, the legalization of medical marijuana in various states does not legitimize nor protect the medical use of the drug itself – it is still considered a Federal offense (The White House). The intention of the states legalizing the use of medical marijuana was to decriminalize the use of marijuana for approved medical conditions and purposes. The states which have legalized the use of medical marijuana have done so through the citizen initiative and the formal legislative process (The White House). Still, legalizing the use of medical marijuana has not been sufficient for some citizens as they are pushing for the legalization of cannabis in a whole. In fact, most recently, few states have adopted the legalization of recreational cannabis which is causing great controversy not only in government but in local state agencies as the separation of medical and recreational use is becoming blurred and forgotten. This analysis examines the new legalization of recreational cannabis and medical marijuana, and how the
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a natural plant containing the psychoactive substance Delta-9 Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Cannabis originated in central Asia but has since spread worldwide, becoming the most consumed illicit drug in the world. Around the world, different countries and states laws regarding cannabis use vary greatly. Himmelstein (1983) wrote on how cannabis had previously been regarded as a “killer weed” in the United States, but in the mid-1960s, this view changed dramatically, and cannabis was then seen as a “drop-out drug”, which resulted in a major shift in how the public viewed the use of cannabis throughout the world. “In the last three decades, the recreational use of cannabis has become widespread among adolescent
A couple hits of cannabis are capable of stimulating sensations for the individual that ultimately result in a euphoric experience. The legality of this astounding drug has been a controversial subject for decades. Marijuana officially became illegal in the United States in 1937, on account of the Marijuana Tax Act (Gahlinger 35). Since then, the topic of legalizing marijuana has been discussed, but never exhausted. Many compelling arguments have been made in support for the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States; in fact, more than 70 million Americans have tried marijuana (Marijuana Myths…).Prohibition has proved to be ineffective and supporters believe that legalization could enhance the quality of American life by spurring economic prosperity and encompassing many health benefits.
Marijuana is the familiar name for a raw drug made from the plant cannabis sativa. One of the active chemical in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinal (THC); a stimulant it give users the pleasure effect of relaxation, known as a “high” or hallucinating when consumed too much either through oral or smoking. It is the mainstream drug and a blistering topic to our nation in this day and age. Legalizing marijuana is an ever-growing political and social battle making its way to the top of American controversial issues list. Marijuana is one of the prime adversaries on the outlook of America’s war on drugs. Numerous people crave this drug to be permissible and readily available similar to tobacco and alcohol. While it is mind-boggling that
Marijuana, the most abused drug in America, has had a lot of publicity recently. Marijuana has caused multiple economic problems within the U.S. A controversial question has arisen from the increased popularity and troubles of this drug. The question is whether or not the U.S. government should legalize marijuana possession and sale in the country. Many Americans believe that the drug should be legalized for various reasons; others, however, are against the legalization of the dangerous drug. While legalization has both pros and cons, the positives of legalizing marijuana for those people over the age of twenty-one far outweigh the negative aspects of legalization.
States have laws against and for the use of marijuana and the federal government also has laws/mandates against the use of marijuana. There are many ways to look at the use of marijuana. The three uses that I am going to focus on are those that are recreational, medicinal, and addictive use of this drug. There is also another way to look at the drug in a retributive, commutative, distributive justice use and how it would affect the three types of uses.
Cannabis is becoming increasingly widespread and increasingly common in modern-day society for both recreational use and for medication. The article by Craig Reinarman, ‘Criminalisation, legalisation and the mixed blessing of medicalisation in the USA’ generates many controversial issues of cannabis.
Marijuana, is and will most likely always be the most used "illegal" drug used in the United States following tobacco and alcohol. This drug , also known as cannabis, is obtained from a plant named Cannabis Sativa, which holds the sought after chemical named delta-9-tetrahydrocannibinol, or THC (Barbour 14). This plant, when smoked, causes a "high" due to how THC interacts with the brain. But nonetheless, this paper is not based off of what marijuana is, but rather how the controversial plant has divided America into two sides, with how it should be legalized because it could provide necessary medical help to those who need cannabis, boost state income by taxing recreational use, and because the opposition exaggerates its risky effects, while on the other hand, marijuana is thought to be kept illegal because it 's immoral due to creating a high (drugs are bad!), is detrimental to society, and could damage our youths..
Cannabis has been used since 2900 BC for numerous medical purposes. The herb itself has been used in ancient times by sects within Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Sufism and other religious groups for religious and spiritual purposes. The earliest writing on medical cannabis was found in the Chinese Pharmacopedia, also known as the Rh-Ya, around 1500 BC. It was recorded that the herb was used for ‘healing purposes’. Cannabis has been used since 3000 BC and has continued to be used in various ways and forms by the human population despite the fact that it is illegal. During recent years, cannabis is being used recreationally, mainly by the young adult population.
Cannabis has long existed, gaining popularity in the nineteenth century, losing it in the new millennium (Bifulco). This was found to be dependent economic, cultural, and social factors (Bifulco). As of now cannabis is very popular in the United States, with several states legalizing it for medical and recreational purposes very frequently. There are currently twenty-six states along with the District of Columbia have passed legislations pertaining to the use and possession of cannabis (Governing). However, cannabis should be legalized in all fifty states; after all, a large percent of the population uses it, it is not harmful, and it is beneficial for people who suffer from several medical conditions-including the opioid epidemic.
Drugs are heavily used throughout the entire world. However, it is important to understand and not undermine the variability in which drugs are used. It is clear some are for distinct medical treatment and others are for recreational use. In the United States, marijuana has been and continues to be a very controversial drug. Some states have allowed marijuana consumption for medicinal purposes, while others have completely outlawed the drug. Those who are against the legalization and regulation of marijuana suggest the economical and health risk associated with consumption of the drug are too high. Although there is risk involved with the legalization of the marijuana, our country has already been risking too much banning the drug.