Should Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay

The truths about marijuana are slowly starting to resurface, the government keeps ignoring that cannabis could one day be as powerful for the U.S. Unfortunately, these truths about marijuana are under a lot of criticism because of the stereotype of what people see as a "marijuana or cannabis smoker." There is a great difficulty in this law because marijuana is still recognized as a harmful and dangerous substance in some states. This can cause problems because each state has their different views and opinions on the matter, and have their own rules and how the rules apply towards it. The twenty-six states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, but California, Massachusetts, and Nevada just passed the law for recreational use. The states that have medical marijuana and recreational legalization are Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Alaska. The states that only have medical marijuana legal are Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii (Ingraham). However, legalizing marijuana could have some benefits instead of being a drug with some bad reputations. Marijuana should be legalized because of medical reasons, safety reasons, and have some benefits to society.

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

Marijuana is not a recent discovery, but the mysteries surrounding the controversial topic in question remains to be disputed since its prohibition. Classified as an illegal substance, cannabis has been restricted in Canada and around the world. Marijuana is a complex drug and its contradictory claims of medical purposes, and harmful destruction, fuel the debate on whether or not the legal constraints of consuming marijuana should be reconsidered. In consideration of academic journals and news article, citizen welfare, economy benefit, social progression and legal system implications, will be focused on. Despite opposing beliefs, prohibiting the recreational usage of marijuana does not counteract the dangers of the practise thus legalizing marijuana in Canada will allow greater benefit than harm.

In 2000, the citizens of Colorado voted in an amendment to the Colorado constitution allowing for the legalization of medical marijuana. However, the amount of licensed medical marijuana card holders was small until 2009, when the U.S Attorney General gave the prosecution and legalization of marijuana over to the states. After this, the number of medical marijuana licenses increased greatly in Colorado. Then, in 2012, the sale of recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado, to all those over the age of 21, and retail stores began selling marijuana in 2014 (Monte). Public opinion on Marijuana is generally divided fifty-fifty across the United States. Some are strictly against its legalization, even for medical use, and want to see it harshly punished, while others would like to see it as readily available to the public as alcohol and cigarettes. However, in Colorado, one is able to see how the public opinion changes after marijuana’s legalization, as well as the changes in public health and usage of marijuana. Due to intergovernmental relations between the state and federal governments, governmental competition, and the cannabis laws passed by Colorado, the actions of the government have a great impact on the public’s approval of marijuana use, and the amount the public uses it.

The topic of legalizing recreational marijuana in the United States has been a very controversial one. States such as Colorado and Washington have gone on the offensive and have legalized recreational marijuana and have enjoyed the high revenues brought in from cannabis sale. On the other hand other states have kept low profiles because they are wary of the possible negative outcomes of legalizing recreational marijuana and are using the states of Colorado and Washington as guinea pigs to see what their next course of action on this controversial topic should be. This is not only a highly debated topic among politicians, but also by the people. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 52% of Americans support the

The debate over whether marijuana should be legalized nation-wide has been an ongoing one for years now. Marijuana should’ve been legalized years ago and continues to create more controversial problems within our nation. Before diving into the debate and choosing sides, one needs to understand what marijuana is and the effects that it has first, especially with it being so popular in the United States. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug created from the plant called cannabis (Happy Place). Drugs are primarily classified on whether they are stimulants or if they are depressants. Depressants are a type of drug that hinders ones psychological vitals, the major drug being alcohol. A stimulant is a substance that for a certain amount of time

The plant is believed to haveoriginated from the mountainous region of India. It is also believed that 80% of cannabis entering the UK comes from Morocco, and the herbal form comes from Jamaica. Cannabis contains more than 400 chemicals. The main psycholoactive ingerdient id delta-9-tetahydrocannabinol, or ‘THC’.

This impact of recreational marijuana use can cause harm to its users and those around them. One impact of marijuana abuse is that it can hurt our senses, which can lead to hallucinations, not hearing important announcements, or even car accidents. THC affects certain parts of the brain by destroying their cells. When THC affects the cerebellum, neocortex, and the hippocampus, then it can affect that person’s judgement, and learning and memory issues. When THC goes to the amygdala and the hypothalamus, then it can cause bad behavior, aggressiveness, rebellion, poor relationships, and an increased sexual appetite. Sadly, addiction comes when THC goes to the nucleus accumbens. A few states such as Colorado and Idaho, have legalized marijuana for recreational use. As a result in Denver, Colorado there has been an increase of emergency room visits, exposed to by youth from curiosity and it having a presence in some baked goods, 40% more drug expulsions at schools, and 10% increase in

Weed, bud, ganja, chronic, dro, herbs, grass, trees, pot, reefer; these are all names of the one drug that causes so much dispute, marijuana. Loved by so many, and hated by the law. It’s a two sided argument which everyone has their own opinion on. Is there any specific reason why weed should be illegal, or is the government just making money from catching people with it? Is there any real medical purpose for marijuana, or is it just a gateway drug for kids? These are the questions everyone should know the answers to. Whose side are you on?

300 seizures a week. For over five years a little girl named Charlotte underwent constant seizures. They began when she was about 3 months old and averaged about 300 a week for five years. Charlotte had seizures so frequently it slowed her mental development and put her in a catatonic state. Nothing could help her. But after five years her parents finally tried marijuana. Now Charlotte has less than one seizure a week and has become a normal child. What if her parents were too afraid to try it? Marijuana can help people and our country in many ways. So, Recreational marijuana should be legalized because it poses numerous benefits which outweigh the minor downsides.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in November of 2013, Jeanette Bokland faced an unforeseeable future. She struggled through radiation, chemotherapy, and breast reconstruction. She pushed through painful needles filled with medication that left her exhausted and extremely ill. Due to the constant nausea and fatigue she could no longer be active and enjoy the happiness of life. Many months in to her struggle with cancer, she was weak and ready to give up her fight against breast cancer. That’s when a friend told her about marijuana, and though it was illegal she was desperate for a solution to her illness. In a last effort for relief, she tried marijuana. She described its medicinal effect as a “miracle drug”. Marijuana took away her fatigue and nausea, so she could eat healthy and continue her fight against cancer. Today marijuana is still illegal in many states. Is prosecuting sick patients, for using a drug that helps them, and has less side effects than prescription medication really the compassionate thing to do? Marijuana is not only medically, but economically valuable to our society. Tennessee should follow other states such as Colorado, Oregon, and Washington in the legalization of marijuana, for medical and recreational use.

On August 11, 2016 the DEA reported that marijuana would stay a schedule 1 drug. The DEA (2016) stated through they’re report in the federal register, “the known risks of marijuana use have not been shown to be outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically evaluate safety and efficacy". This decision was one that took many people by surprise, especially with the growing number of states deciding to legalize the use of the plant. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2015), in 2013, there were 19.8 million current users, up from 14.5 million (5.8 percent) in 2007. This shows a steady grow in the use of marijuana. Acknowledging the steady grow of marijuana users, the federal government should take steps to begin federal legalization across the United States. The report published by the DEA focused solely on weighing the medical benefits of the plant; however, the positive effects on the economy and the nation’s crime rate should also be taken into consideration when providing legalization of marijuana.

Marijuana was first criminalized in 1923 when it was added to the narcotics act. In 1971 the LeDain commission recommended the decriminalization of simple possessions of marijuana, followed by the legalization of medical marijuana in 2001. Currently, the liberal government is taking steps towards their promise, to legalize marijuana, made during the 2015 election. Currently, there are laws that regulate the use of marijuana in Canada. It is illegal to possess or sell marijuana for non-medial purposes. Marijuana remains a Schedule II drug under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act, unless used for medical purposes. Due to it’s positive affects socially, politically and economically, marijuana should be legalized in Canada.

It is heavily debated as to whether or not marijuana should be legalized. There are numerous reasons for and against legalizing marijuana, some say that the government can tax it, some say that it helps with certain medical conditions. People also say that it is not a gateway drug and does not lead to drug abuse. Then there is the question of should we legalize it now even though there is no way to test the levels in your blood at a routine police stop. There are some really good points as to why marijuana should be legalized and some good reasons as to why it should not be legalized, the truth is that people are going to smoke marijuana whether it is legal or not.

Marijuana is a cannabaceae plant, which has always been associated with negative connotations until recently, when it has been discovered that this plant may be used to cure diseases and improve a country economy. Thus, the American opinion is split on the question of “Marijuana Legalization”. In fact, a survey undertaken by CNN/ORC International Poll states that 55 % of Americans believe that the use of marijuana should be legal, while only 44 % think it should be illegal (CNN). I also share the American majority opinion since there is some evidence that marijuana yields positive results.