Legalization of Marijuana What is “marijuana”? Marijuana is one of the most popular illegal drugs in the United States, and even worldwide (CBS News). The psychoactive drug is derived from the leaves, stems, and seeds of the Cannabis sativa plant; it can be either smoked, inhaled through vapor, brewed, or eaten. The main ingredient in the hallucinogen is delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol, also known as THC, which, along with other cannabinoids, alters and disrupts normal brain functions, including memory, thought processes, concentration, movement, sensory and time perception. (Davis and Carter) Marijuana being such a popular substance results in there being a lot of “nicknames” for it; some examples of the most common nicknames for marijuana are pot, weed, and dope, but there are a lot more. Some would say that the reason for having so many different terms for what is just a plant is because the topic of marijuana is mostly frowned upon in public, and it is considered to be one of those “things-you’re-not-supposed-to-mention-in-polite-society”; Jonathon Green says that “the terminology doesn’t emphasize illegality,” but that “the illegality created the need for the terminology” (Steinmetz). A Gallup survey conducted in July of 2016 found that 13% of adults in the United States reported to be current users of marijuana, in comparison to the 7% reported in 2013. Of those surveyed, 43% said that they had at least tried the substance, an increase from the 2013 survey where 38% of
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
With all of the complex issues facing the nation today, it seems as if the legalization of marijuana is being set on the back burner of legislation. There are so many opinions, sides, and overall arguments for and against it that many vote seeking politicians and policy makers have put up a strong resistance to this issue. In this paper I will illustrate the reasons why I think marijuana should indeed be legalized and also the arguments from people who disagree and feel that it should stay an illegal drug.
Marijuana, used by 80 million, used frequently by 11 million Americans, and has been debated its whole life (Norml). It goes way back to 8000 B.C. when textile industries began in Europe and Asia, for the use of hemp (Hempfest). To this date people rave on how people look at the drug. It's extraordinary that this plant can be used for recreation, medicine, industrial, and religious reasons. Some popular slang terms to describe marijuana are cannabis, weed, pot, cheeba, mary jane, and many more. The major active chemical, Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), when smoked it releases THC into cannabinol receptors located in the brain, thus causing the "high" feeling (Norml). What is actually smoked is the dried and cured flower buds of the marijuana plant. Today, marijuana is grown with great science, like
There has been major news forming around the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. Medical marijuana has been effective in Colorado since 2000. Now marijuana is legal for recreational use for people 21 and up. Many rules and regulations follow the legalization of marijuana. Many people of Colorado fear this legalization, where others are totally for it and think it will help boost Colorado’s economy. I have found many positives and negatives regarding the legalization of marijuana.
Marijuana is a drug increasingly being smoked across the nation. Cannabis refers to dried greenery, stems, and flowers
Even I must believe that marijuana is very addictive, but research has shown that only about 9% of users are addicted to marijuana use, and other studies show that only one in six of young users are addicted, but 25 to 50% of them are daily users of marijuana. Since it has become readily available it comes in varieties different potencies now. I feel this may contribute to some
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
Actually, a huge percentage of people who use the drug range between 15 and 22 years, a trend that is brought by the fact that people are lighting up at an earlier age (“Marijuana Myths and Facts”, p.1). The increase in the number of young people using the drug is evident in the fact that 67 percent of under-18 initiates has increased by nearly two-thirds. Marijuana has become popular among young people because many of them do not consider it as a harmful drug. Furthermore, young people in the modern society live on completely different environment from that of their forefathers.
Cannabis sativa, commonly known as marijuana, and a vast number of slang terms called weed, herb, pot, bud and Mary Jane is a green plant with a mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds that grows in different places around the world. Moreover, many recreational users smoke marijuana by hand-rolling cigarettes referred as “joints” also by using pipes, water pipes (bongs) or marijuana cigars often known as blunts. The main psychoactive mind-alternating chemical in marijuana, is responsible for the intoxicating effects sought by the users, is delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol (THC). Nevertheless, the chemical is stems from the leaves and buds of the female cannabis plant, containing more than five hundred other chemicals, that include over hundred compounds that are chemically related to THC, known as cannabinoids.
Marijuana is a plant, known as cannabis sativa and cannabis indica, which contains a psychoactive chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The effects of THC include disruption of psychomotor behavior, short-term memory impairment, intoxication, stimulation of appetite, antinociceptive, and antiemetic activities. Marijuana, the Mexican name given to cannabis is a mixture of dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the plant. Cannabis is a term that refers to marijuana and other preparations made from the same plant. Hemp is a form of cannabis, cannabis sativa L, which contains less than one percent THC; it is used to make clothing, paper, and building materials. Tobacco is smoked just
Furthermore, several key terms relating to the topic, help clarify the issue. The terms one must be aware of to understand to the topic are the several different names that are used for marijuana. These names include: weed, “Mary Jane”, pot, dope, cannabis, reefer, and many slang words. While there are several names for the drug, marijuana is the most commonly used name and is the name used throughout most documents referring to the debate. Gateway drug is a term used throughout the argument of whether the drug should be legalized or not. A gateway drug is a drug that is used to push a person to do more harmful and destructive drugs. Gateway drug is a term used by those opposing the legalization of marijuana to show its destructiveness. Another term is mind-alerting substance. This term is thrown around on both sides of the issue. A mind-altering substance is something g that cause one to loose judgment and common sense, something that literally affects the brain and its functions. These terms must be understood to be able to fallow the arguments throughout the issue.
were to become legal then that number would raise and so would the number of
Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana is opposed by a vast majority of American’s and people around the world. Leaders in Marijuana prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement adamantly oppose the substance, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the use of illegal drugs, are making headlines. They are influencing decision making thru legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate here in the United States and in other countries. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the oldest drug user lobby in the U.S. It has strong ties to the Libertarian party, the Drug Policy Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Do you know what marijuana is? “Marijuana is a drug that is always being talked about all over the media. There is constant debate on whether it should be legalized or not. Also, debate on if it were to be legalized, how would they make it work. All these questions are things the government takes into account every day. There is a big divide between people’s beliefs on this matter. Some people think it should be, others think it shouldn’t, and some think it should be with some modifications on the usage. When you look at the benefits, there is no question that marijuana should be legal throughout the entire country. There are way more positive things that could come out of it being legal. The first reason weed should be legalized is because how many other drugs are legal. Weed is one of a few not too harmful drugs that are illegal.”
Marijuana should not be legalized because it will increase health issues, its use will rise rather than decline, and taxation will result in economic failure. In recent years, however, society has become very moderate, and this is why society’s views can be swayed by the benefits of legalization. Nowadays, legalizing marijuana is not that big of a deal as it was in the 60’s and 70’s when hippies and peace organizations were advocating for marijuana use. However, if marijuana is legalized it has been said that it might be the gateway drug to legalizing all illegal drugs.