In a country where tobacco products and alcohol are legal, I have always wondered, why not cannabis? Why did this plant still have the stigma of being illegal when it does not cause any deaths, is not nearly as physically addicting, nor as harmful as its legal counterparts? Clearly, the law of marijuana prohibition is one that is up for debate and one that is up for change. Currently, many state laws have been passed that are either decriminalizing marijuana or allowing it for purely medicinal purposes. Although these laws are moving towards legalization, they do not come close to the actual goal. The definition of “legalization” advocates are striving to reach refers to legalized wholesale production, distribution, and sale to all marijuana users even for recreational purposes. Citizens have to realize that legalization is a realistic change that our country might be facing in the near future. Although liberals are leading the fight to end prohibition while conservatives are helping the law stand firm, this fight should not be one divided by political party. Every individual ought to be educated on the issue before saying yes or no to legalization. Before voting on this issue, I ask: What would the country actually be like if marijuana was legal?
Legalization of marijuana would undoubtedly result in an increase of freedom of choice for US citizens. Many cannabis users deem that if people can go buy a bottle of wine after dinner, they should be able to buy a joint as well. Opponents to the idea believe that it is illogical to legalize yet another psychoactive drug even though it is far less addictive and harmful. They believe it will only cause more problems to society than we already have (Pediatrics). Although marijuana is considered to be a “psychoactive drug”, the fact that alcohol and tobacco are legal is quite contradictory to marijuana prohibition especially when they cause exponentially more health risks than cannabis and also can cause death. Essentially, people will always use marijuana because it is an alternative source of relaxation and recreation. The government should learn to embrace these people’s ability to choose rather than prohibiting this source of intoxication which,
The Detroit Free Press Editorial Board’s Article Let the people decide about legalizing marijuana(2016) was an attempt to convince readers that Michigan Legislature is currently a “dysfunctional waste,” determined to keep Marijuana legalization off the ballots.The Press got their opinion across by using uncredited polls, tugging at the reader's emotions when describing both parties, and overall biased tone with underlying motives. The author uses pathos, ethos, and logos very effectively when trying to persuade the reader. Pathos is being used when the author attempts to appeal to our emotions while trying to pity MILegalize. Logos is being used when the authors tries to connect with our common sense in order to persuade by reason. Lastly ethos is being used when the author attempts to sway our opinion of michigan legislature, but altering our view of their character and morals.This article was written with intentions to get voters riled up, discredit the michigan legislature and provoke change within the court systems. The Editorial Board only presented their side of the argument, concluding they are targeting left-wing moderates that are for the legalization of marijuana.
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 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.
Have you ever wondered when and why marijuana was made illegal? The herbal plant, commonly used in medicines, was not considered a drug in the early 1900s. The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 banned the use and sales of marijuana. This act was put in place due to careless slander. Marijuana, in America should be legalized because it is safer than alcohol and tobacco, marijuana funds gangs and cartels, and marijuana can replace toxic, addictive pharmaceuticals.
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.
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.
Marijuana has been made legal for some form of use in 29 of the 50 states in America, with eight states having it legalized for recreational use. Notable states with it legalized for recreational purposes include Washington, Colorado, and California. Marijuana shops create millions in tax revenue and loads of job opportunities for these states. Not only does it generate millions of dollars in revenue for each state, there plenty of health benefits from marijuana. Along with those positives, marijuana is responsible for zero deaths per year, while alcohol is responsible for an estimated 88,000 deaths per year. Marijuana, both recreational and medical, creates jobs and boosts the economy, has a lot of health benefits, is safer than alcohol, and also has its disadvantages. Marijuana should be made legal and available to everyone in every state across America.
The legalization of marijuana in the United States is a long and historically debated subject. Pro-legalization advocates provide many reasons for the decriminalization of marijuana; some of the reasons include, zero recorded deaths from direct use, wasting tax-payer money prosecuting non-violent offenders, and prohibition promotes organized crime. Anti-legalization organizers condemn legalization due to marijuana being considered a gateway drug, moral and religious opposition, legalization could lead to harder drugs being legalized, and the fear that legalization would enable the drug to be more accessible to children. There are many positive and negative aspects of legalization, but personally I am in favor of legalization and
Cannabis, also known as marijuana among other names, is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant intended for medical and recreational use. The legality of marijuana has been a passionately debated subject for decades. As of 2018, only eight states have marijuana legalized for recreational use. In addition to, there are roughly about twenty-two states that have medical marijuana broadly legalized. Such as the state of new york. Although, the legalization of marijuana will prove beneficial not only for science, people, and economics, but also for planetary properties. However, the legalization of marijuana here in New York can cause many dilemmas such as, it is a gateway drug, it is harmful to the state, and recreational use can be detrimental
The legalization of Marijuana for recreational use has been a hot topic for quite some time. Arguments about why it should or should not be legal have been some of the highlights of many debates. Marijuana, which is usually wrongfully conveyed as a harmful drug that will only do harm to our society if it get legalized for recreational use. Skepticism aside, the history and facts about weed don't illustrate a dangerous drug that leads to the deterioration of the human body and mind, but the opposite excluding it's already proven pain tolerance .The legalization of Marijuana for recreational use is something that should be instated in every state in the country due to it already being legal in some states, people are gonna use it no matter what, and because its effects being less harmful compared to other substances that are legal.
Ethically, marijuana seems acceptable, because it is no more addictive or dangerous than any drug already legalized and beneficially challenges preconceived ideas of addiction. Medically, it could be beneficial to a large quantity of people looking for relief from pain, emotional or physical, who are hesitant about using highly addictive pills. Economically, marijuana could possibly provide a much-needed boom to America’s economy. With all these positive aspects of legalizing marijuana, it is hard to see why it is still criminalized. Misconceptions about cannabis has caused many Americans to be weary of it, however, by eliminating these prejudices against the drug and producing more supporters, America as a whole will be greatly benefitted.
Throughout the last few decades, there has been an increasing amount of prejudice regarding the usage and consumption of marijuana. Several laws have been enacted to prohibit its distribution and control the consumption of this drug. However, prohibition must be weighed against the loss of personal freedom. Countries have a responsibility to respect individual free will and the right of self-determination. We should be allowed to do whatever we find satisfying as long as it does not affect anyone else. A more critical and perhaps open view is required if this issue is to be addressed objectively and in a manner that benefits everyone. Legalizing marijuana can decrease crime, help people with chronic pain, and it can act as a significant source of money for the government.
There has been a debate over the legalization of marijuana since it was made illegal in the 1920s. There are opponents on both sides of the issue. There are many benefits to the legalization of marijuana, but there are also detrimental effects to society that are caused by marijuana use. These issues need to be debated to determine if the legalization of marijuana would benefit the United States. According to a 2003 Zogby poll, “the government should treat marijuana more or less the same way it treats alcohol: It should regulate it, control it, tax it, and only make it illegal for children.” (Nadelmann, Ethan)
“In 2006, a young man in Colorado called Mason Tvert issued a challenge to the then-mayor of Denver and eventual governor, John Hickenlooper. You bring a crate of booze. I’ll bring a pack of joints. For every hit of booze you take, I’ll take a hit of cannabis. We’ll see who dies first. Mason went on to lead the campaign to legalize cannabis in his state. His fellow citizens voted to do it — by 55 percent. After a year and a half of seeing this system in practice, support for legalization has risen to 69 percent” (Hari, 2016).