Persuasive Essay On Drug Abuse

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) provides an overview of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA) and the introduction to drug classes. The CSA regulates substances or drugs by listing them under five categories: Schedule I, Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, and Schedule V. Schedule I

Back in June the marijuana community anticipated a DEA decision on rescheduling marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to some other scheduling. For political or other reasons the DEA simply made no decision at all. The outcome being that marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance alongside heroin, LSD, and mescaline.

Currently in the united states marijuana is classified as a schedule 1 narcotic by the drug enforcement agency putting it on the same level as drugs like heroin, methamphetamine, and

Marijuana is a Schedule 1 Narcotic alongside, Ecstasy, LSD, and Heroin. Schedule 2 Narcotics are Cocaine, Methamphetamines and Morphine, while the third class consist of things like Vicodin and steroids (FindLaw.com). It is interesting to note the federal government doesn’t even bother to classify alcohol and tobacco because they are not listed in the Controlled Substance Act, therefore it is a possibility that when we responsibly reclassify Marijuana we have the option to completely remove it from the Controlled Substance Act’s narcotics schedule. The argument for reclassification and decriminalization is a dual pronged argument that involves both social change and medical

. . a balanced scheme of criminal penalties for drug offenses”. While I believe that congress had good intentions when passing this statute, it is evident that the federal government did not know where to place marijuana on this scale, as the uncertainty surrounding the effects and benefits of the drug reflects its shared status with severely dangerous substances such as heroin, ecstasy and LSD. Researcher Annaliese Smith from the Santa Clara Law Review argues that “even at very high doses, THC does not produce anesthesia, coma, or death. It is this fact, above all others, that distinguishes marijuana form other ‘drugs of abuse’” (Smith 1143). Thus, Marijuana should not be a classified as a Schedule I drug because there is not a high abuse risk, it has valid potential for medical treatment, and public opinion on the drug has shifted greatly in favor of

Over the past decade, the legalization of marijuana has been a controversial topic. The drug has been legalized for medical use in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Medical marijuana laws have caused people to believe the drug is more beneficial than it is harmful. Medicinal marijuana is abused like many other prescription drugs. The medical marijuana system is also heavily regulated. The drug may not cause a rise in crime among users, but it can cause manufacturers and distributers to clog up the criminal justice system if they violate certain regulations. Right now the federal government classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, there are three criteria that are used to categorize

Controlled Substance Act of 1970 placed all drugs into five categories. Marijuana was placed as a schedule one drug meaning that it can be highly overused with no medical purposes. (1) But, marijuana’s medicinal uses can be traced back to as early as 2737 B.C. when the emperor of China, Shen Neng, mixed cannabis in this tea to help gout, malaria, and even poor memory. (4) Many people think marijuana is a gateway drug, but most Americans that have tried marijuana have never gone on to other illegal drugs. Some people have even said that trying to reduce heroin addiction by preventing marijuana use, has been said, is like trying to reduce motorcycle fatalities by cracking down on bicycle riding. (1) Also, no one has ever died from a marijuana overdose in history, which cannot be said of most other drugs. (1) Marijuana may well be the least addictive and least damaging of all commonly used psychoactive drugs, including many that are now legal. (1) Marijuana can help many illnesses, so why should marijuana be classified as a schedule one

Marijuana has become one of the most controversial drugs in America. Ever since its cultivation began around 1611, marijuana has puzzled people with its effects. Many question marijuana?s classification as a schedule one drug. A schedule one drug is one that has a high potential for abuse and no medicinal value. Some argue that the war on drugs, in particular marijuana, has cost taxpayers billions and is wasting funds that could be used on more important tasks such as improving transportation or education. As drug arrests rise, so do the populations in state prisons. This has become an immediate problem with no real solution. The legalization of possessing small amounts of marijuana can contribute positively to the medical and

“As part of a larger scheme to regulate drugs and other controlled substances, federal law prohibits the cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana”(Garvey). Federal law wants to have control of this substance to limit influences of individuals. In contrasts, the states see the needs of marijuana due to its use of medicinal purposes. This disagreement has caused problems within the decisions of the government. For example, a person who uses medical marijuana in California, which is supported by California law, is breaking federal law. Should this individual be prosecuted? The Obama Administration said, “no.” This is true as long as the citizen of california was following state law. This report examines the federal government’s position of the use of medical marijuana anywhere in the United States.

Drugs are a hot topic throughout the country, and many people have debates about how drugs should be or should not be regulated based on subjective views. I am not here to debate that based on personal feelings, but rather do research into how drugs are categorized, and if there should be a change to address the possibility of medical benefits from illegal drugs. Marijuana is usually the drug that pops into many people’s mind because it is usually the drug that most people use for relaxing, and many others feel that it is a great alternative to reduce stress. Marijuana is also one of the most controversial drug because some people believe marijuana has medical purposes and others differ. Marijuana is classified as a schedule I drug which basically

I advocate marijuana over most of what is prescribed by a doctor for many reasons, however, I do believe that there is a need for some schedule II drugs such as hydromorphone (Dilaudid), methadone (Dolophine), meperidine (Demerol), oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet), fentanyl (Sublimaze, Duragesic) and a couple other as well.

However, today, many individuals are left to choose between feeling better and breaking the law. More than twenty states have legalized the use and/or cultivation of marijuana for medicinal use, thereby removing any criminal penalties from the doctor who prescribe the drug and the patients who use it within the bounds set by state laws. As with any drug, one of the biggest dilemmas in legalizing marijuana is the potential for abuse and addiction. For this reason, under the federal Controlled Substances Act, it is classified as a “Schedule I drug”. (Rosenthal) It lacks safety acceptance, and has no accepted medical use in treatment in the U.S. Medical marijuana laws are constantly changing. There are many people out there that fear persecution so much that they would refuse to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. (Neihouse)

In 2 A.D. Hua T’o a surgeon used red wine and marijuana for anesthesia for painful surgeries. Marijuana wasn’t just used in China. It also spread throughout India and into North Africa, and then eventually to Europe by A.D. 500. In 1611, Jamestown, an original American colony, became the number one crop grower for both tobacco and marijuana. During this time, it was used as a source of fiber. Also, in the mid 1800’s and mid 1900’s, Marijuana was used to calm labor pains, nausea, and rheumatism. Marijuana in the south during 1890 was a more popular crop than cotton. In the 1930’s, the U.S Federal Bureau of Narcotics portrayed marijuana as inducer for heavier drugs such as meth, cocaine and crack. Marijuana production intensified in North America during the World War Two era, because Asia’s hemp was cut off. Culture also shifted, as jazz music started to revolve around marijuana. Marijuana was not illegal during the jazz era it was tolerated since it wasn’t a nuisance for the community. “Reefer Songs” became a huge portion of the market for music. In 1947 the U.S. governments spent over 270 million on fighting against marijuana. By the 1960’s hippies or college students took in the drug and embraced it as a symbol for rebellion. In 1961, Harry J. Anslinger, the assistant prohibition commissioner in the Bureau of Prohibition and then appointed as the first commissioner of the

Marijuana has been poorly represented in our history, even though it has been used for centuries. The earliest traces of its use dated back to 4500 years ago. It has also been very prominent in general American history, “Some colonies even made hemp cultivation compulsory, calling its production necessary for the ‘wealth and protection of the country’.” ("Marijuana Use Should Be Decriminalized.") This shows the positive effect that marijuana had on the early development of our country. Now this leads many people to the question, “If marijuana was so great then why was it made illegal?” The answer to this question is that it began to become

has marijuana listed as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it has no legitimate medical use