Primary Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Weed

Today in America, millions of American citizens are both confused and outraged by the fact that there are still laws that are preventing people from using one of the most popular and controversial, illegal substances in the world: marijuana. According to recent polls, fifty percent of Americans want marijuana to be completely legal and decriminalized (Blodget), and a whopping eighty percent of Americans want it to be at least legalized for medical use (RangelMD). So why do so many Americans want marijuana to be legalized? To some this question can be easily answered, but to others, it’s not so simple. There are way too many reasons to count why

The legalization of marijuana has been a topic of debate for many years. This may be because of the cultural diversity that the United States of America is known for. Recently, bills were passed in Colorado and Washington to implement the legalization and regulation of recreational marijuana use. These events along with the ever growing popularity of the drug in society, media, and entertainment are proving to be more than anti-marijuana advocates can handle. In this paper, I explore the financial, social, medical, and political benefits of legalizing marijuana.

While an undereducated, youth fostered movement towards the legalization of marijuana is rapidly spreading across America, Father Gerald Coleman, in Is America Going to Pot, steps back from the frenzy to examine the gross amount of physical evidence that opposes the rash movement. Approaching legalization of marijuana from numerous avenues, Coleman systematically degrades many of the popular pro-marijuana arguments circulating today. In addition his article is able to simultaneously provide a number of well-founded arguments ranging from the various health troubles, the gateway drug potential, and the resounding positive effects on the black market drug trade that legalization of marijuana would and is currently promoting, to support his anti-legalization

Public support for legalization of marijuana has doubled since the 1970s and is continuing to develop. An ample percentage of Americans this year disclosed to having tried the drug, which may be an adding factor to greater acceptance.( "For First Time, Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana.")

Cannabis has been illegal since the Marijuana Tax act of 1934. Yet of a population of 284 million (2000 U.S. Census), 70 million Americans claim to have smoked cannabis at some point in their lives [NORML]. Prohibition of cannabis is therefore apparently ineffective at changing the habits of a population, just as prohibition of alcohol was

Even with all the laws enacted against marijuana and the taskforces assigned to tackle the problem, new users are sprouting up and replacing those who have ceased their activity with this natural substance. This cycle closely relates to that of alcohol prohibition during the early 1900s. Alcohol was once considered illegal like marijuana and is now as ubiquitous as produce in a grocery store. However, unlike alcohol the wide acceptance for marijuana has been drawn-out and at best slow. There is an iota of hope for marijuana reform. Four states, Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Oregon and including Washington D.C., have already approved marijuana for recreational use and so far the results have been successful. Tamar Todd, a policy director at the Drug Policy Alliance, was quoted in The Guardian stating that, “Marijuana prohibition has been a costly failure – to individuals, to communities, and to the state [of Oregon].” Also that “Oregon is taking a smarter, more responsible approach to marijuana that ends the wasteful and racially disproportionate practice of arresting and citing people simply for possessing a small amount of marijuana.” This is proof that decriminalizing marijuana can be beneficial to society by not ruining lives over personal interests, and by saving resources that would

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

The use of marijuana is very widespread which clearly means the United States is losing the “War on Drugs” and needs to find a different approach to recreational drug use. David Usborne states that he is not surprised that a poll shows strong support Americans, because, as he says, “Americas are increasingly recognizing that marijuana is less harmful

Support for legitimizing Marijuana is not new. In any case, demographic changes may support improving marijuana laws. With it’s across the board use among undergrads starting in the 1960's, cannabis is no more a medication connected with edges of society. Today, the National Association for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the most noticeable association campaigning for its authorization, asserts that about 100 million Americans have utilized marijuana. A World Health Organization study reports that more than 40 percent of Americans have attempted it. Defenders of authorizing marijuana can indicate the present lip service among legislators: potentially three Presidents, a Supreme Court Justice, California's Governor, and various conspicuous

.). With proof that US citizens continue using prescription narcotics at an alarming rate, the Drug Enforcement Agency (D.E.A) does not classify any of those substances as a Schedule I substance. However, the D.E.A. classifies marijuana as a schedule I substance; making it extremely difficult for it to be researched for its medicinal value. There is a need for the D.E.A. to reclassify marijuana; it should not be classified as a schedule I substance because marijuana has several medical uses.

In Stanislaus County at the Gallo Center for the Arts, there was a debate about legalizing marijuana for recreational use. It will be this November for Californians to vote on the ballot. The debate was composed with Sheriff Adam Christianson (against), California Growers Association executive director Hezekiah Allen (for it), Supervisor Vito Chiesa (for it) and Sacramento’s media consultant and panelist Jason Kinney (for it). The only person that was opposing the legalization of marijuana was the Sheriff and for him, it was due to see people in the streets not being able to get out of the addiction. In the panel one facilitator spoke about a research stating that marijuana alone was no addicted, people were addicted when there was another drug involved. The majority of the attendees were for the legalization of marijuana.

Today, all throughout the United States there is more public agreement for a marijuana law reform than ever. New ballots prove that more than half of the country is promoting the legalization of marijuana. “The Drug Policy Alliance asserts marijuana should be dislodged from the criminal justice system and standardized like alcohol and tobacco” (“Marijuana Legalization,”2017). Currently eight states along with Washington, D.C., accede adult use of recreational marijuana. Twenty-eight states have affirmed the use of medical marijuana (Wallace,2016).

I support the legalization of marijuana. There are many more pros than cons when it comes to passing a bill for the use of marijuana, especially medically. It is known to have many uses. You can make crafts with it, cook with it, make it into something else such as oil or THC extract. It is proven that forms of extracted THC could possibly be a potential cure for cancer, but many people are unaware of this fact. There are no proven deaths from smoking it, and it is a great stress relief tool. I have also heard it helps to prevent Alzheimer's disease and various other diseases and illnesses. It is good for pain relief both mentally and physically. I think there would be a lot less crime if it were legal and jails would not be full of people

Within today’s society, Cannabis is seen as a harmful substance of such negative controversy. Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. Despite many malicious allegations have been made regarding marijuana today, the truth of what marijuana’s real dangers are are beginning to come about again. Sadly, these facts have been held under considerable judgement because of what people stereotype a pot smoker as. This has been brought under heavy criticism due to the stereotypical view of what people view as the typical “pot smoker.” This image society has of a lazy and unambitious America has all been the result of almost one hundred years of false propaganda and stereotypes gossiped by certain private individuals trying to keep weed illegal for their own personal benefit.

According to a recent study taken by the Gallup Poll, taken by the US government, states that 58 percent a clear majority are in favor of legalization of recreational marijuana; compared to the 39 percent that say no and the additional three percent who are unsure. Although the majority of American’s are in favor of recreational marijuana federal law challenges the optimism of Americans. In 48 states marijuana is classified as a “controlled substance” putting Americans at risk of a felony charge and permanently altering the life of an individual. By letting the voters choose, we can truly see the democracy America has to offer while creating a flourishing economy simply by opening up options the public wants. But at what cause? Legalization of recreational marijuana is linked to poor grades and various amount of health illnesses. Although it may be true that marijuana is linked to poor health the economics behind legalization is far more beneficial than most realize. Legislators need see what America wants and needs, and by majority that is marijuana. As marijuana becomes a more prominent debate topic America is slowly losing out on the chance of an economic upsurge. While accepting the risk of health issues recreational marijuana needs to be legalized to create jobs for economy, end the war on drugs, and create a safer environment for all America’s citizens.