Should Marijuana Be Legal?

In America there are a lot of problems, ranging from violence to obesity. A growing concern of many Americans is the drug “epidemic” with the growth of the war on drugs. Marijuana, throughout history, has been demonized and illegalized, however now a newfound acceptance of the drug is growing rapidly with some states fully legalizing the drug recreationally, and others medically.

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

Although it is a highly common defense that marijuana is not addictive, it in fact is. Many regular smokers find themselves ridden with very similar withdrawal symptoms of a tobacco addict (Marijuana Addiction Symptoms and Effects). Around 9% of people who use find themselves dependent on marijuana (Is Marijuana Addictive?). That may not seem like much, but that is almost 1 in every 10 people hooked on a drug that is supposedly “non-addictive.” Legalizing a drug that causes disorientation, paranoia, depression, anxiety, dizziness, and a slowed reaction time is not safe, not to mention the fact that it is a gateway drug, often leading users to use even more damaging and dangerous drugs (Is Marijuana Addictive?). With the legalization of a drug like marijuana comes increased use and abuse of the drug. Marijuana is unsafe medically for the individual using and for the people around them when the user is under the influence, it will cost the government money and time and it will cost employers tons. Legalizing marijuana would be a huge mistake by our country.

The role of how marijuana is used in the United States is being reexamined, rethought, and recalibrated, Barcott emphasize throughout his book. The new adjustment in America's relationship with cannabis cannot be measured in just monetary or social terms, “there are more profound movements going ahead here; social realignments, social alterations, and budgetary modifications” Barcott believes. Barcott show marijuana came to be one of the most vilified drugs in the market ever since the war on drugs was announced in the 1980s. However, the author shows how those who were against that movement are now cheerful that the way of that line of thinking is finally coming to a close. “Weed the

Marijuana has been a hot topic of conversation over the last few years, as some states in America have legalized it medically and recreationally. By discussing the legal aspect of marijuana, the economic benefits, medical usage and how marijuana affects the family, we can see the positive and negative impact that marijuana has on sociology.

Ever since marijuana’s introduction to the United States of America in 1611, controversy of the use and legalization of the claimed-to-be Schedule I drug spread around the nation. While few selective states currently allow marijuana’s production and distribution, the remaining states still skepticize the harmlessness and usefulness of this particular drug; therefore, it remains illegal in the majority of the nation. The government officials and citizens of the opposing states believe the drug creates a threat to citizens due to its “overly-harmful” effects mentally and physically and offers no alternate purposes but creating troublesome addicts hazardous to society; however, they are rather misinformed about marijuana’s abilities. While

The flame ignites, the smoke builds, the mind relaxes. It’s a process that at one point, could have

Schwartz (2014) writes that the chief of undergraduate studies for the Department of Economics at Harvard University takes note of that of the $48.7 billion spent by states and the government in 2008, $13.8 billion was entirely utilized for cannabis authorization. Sanctioning cannabis would lessen state costs by $10.4 billion, government costs by $3.4 billion (Schwartz, 2014). Generally, large portions of the Americans now support legalizing recreational marijuana. Various states are exploring different avenues regarding therapeutic and recreational cannabis leaving the requirement for government policies on marijuana. Marijuana legalization speaks to the most pointed government- state policy struggle subsequent to racial integration. Permitted by twenty states, restorative utilization of cannabis (and in two states, "recreational" utilization of pot) remains precluded by federal criminal law (Schwartz, 2014).

Since the very first day marijuana began dominating our country over 30 years ago, federal control of the drug has been the topic of an continuing arguments. Marijuana is a crushed up blend of dried out herbs, seeds and stems of the plant cannabis. Most people inhale it in the shape of cigarettes for pleasure and relief. Should marijuana be made legal? Advocates of the drug argue that there are multiple medical advantages and that tobacco and alcohol are far more harmful for us than the drug itself. This causes us to believe that banning this drug interferes with our rights to freedom. Within the past 10 years, a very high number of operations to allow the use of marijuana have been significantly strengthening in size. Based purely off of the 2011 Gallup survey, 50% of Americans argue that marijuana should not be banned. This high number marks a 4% increase in comparison to the year before. In 2000, this number was only 30%, increasing to 40% in 2009, before reaching 50% in 2011. What this proves, is that aside from our federal attempts to eradicate the use of it, marijuana is seemingly more attractive in society. Not only does it provide medical advantages to the deathly ill, it could also be the root of tax earnings and could be the reason that taxpayers save millions, if not billions of money that is used in the budget for prosecuting these people. It seems as though we are blowing huge amounts of government funding to imprison the citizens participating in nonviolent

Marijuana use, be it for medical or recreational purposes, is quickly becoming a more socially acceptable activity within the United States. As time goes on and more is understood about the medicinal qualities of marijuana, the longstanding illegality of the substance has come into question within many states across the country. With marijuana being legalized in multiple states for medical, and sometimes even recreational purposes, the looming federal ban on the substance is at conflict with state law and is causing some problematic legal situations. For the workplace, there is little said about employee rights within state laws on marijuana. Thus, disabled employees who may legally use medical marijuana within their state could still be punished by employers who are citing federal law.

Since the 1950’s, the United States has had mandatory sentencing for possession of marijuana. Throughout this country’s history, marijuana has been used as a productive attribute to society. In the 17th century, the production of hemp, the plant which marijuana is diverted from, was in fact encouraged by the government. While leaving the 60’s and 70’s decades, marijuana became looked down upon for social media became more conservative and more hard on crime. Marijuana, like any other drug, may come with adverse side effects but the scale of societal benefits would greatly overcome the negative attitude towards marijuana use. Legalizing marijuana would give American’s much to gain for it can be used for medical purposes, as a resource, and

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

Growing up, everybody is informed that, " to don’t do drugs," or that drugs are bad for them consistently. Usually as a child you don 't generally comprehend the “why “behind it, yet you listen to your parents. I was told this my whole life by my elders and the people around me and even right up today. Be that as it may, as time went on I noticed that people still use drugs even though it is against the lawl. I would never comprehend why somebody would be willing to break the law and endanger their life just to utilize drugs? One specific drug that am referring to is marijuana also known as marijuana or weed, and shockingly it is surrounding us. This topic is all over today 's media sources that we use every day, similar to music, films, and TV appears, I have never used the drug myself, but I had some friends who experienced with marijuana and knowing its consequences for others, I ask why it 's not legitimate. Can any anyone explain why marijuana has ended up legal almost everywhere throughout the world? I believe that marijuana in the United States of America has been battled with this drug since it first was presented. Marijuana has been verified to give an exceptionally positive effect on the American culture for some reasons. Some of these reasons are for America 's economy. . These reasons could extremely well help America flourish later on and that is the reason Marijuana ought to be legitimized in the United States of America.

Did you know that every 42 seconds, someone is arrested on marijuana related charges? Marijuana, refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds. Others may refer to it as pot, grass, reefer, weed, herb, or Maryjane. This plant has raised concerns in almost every American household today. Due to a shift in attitudes and demographic changes, twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have now legalized marijuana for medicinal uses. In addition, four of those states have begun to legally tax and regulate the plant for recreational use. As the United States progresses toward legalizing the plant, we are seeing many opposing viewpoints beginning to surface about its decriminalization. Most people who oppose its legalization believe that its only use is to smoke it; they don’t realize the true benefits of the plant. Legalizing marijuana in the U.S. would directly benefit the economy by boosting revenue, reducing crime and aiding in the treatment of medical conditions.

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.