Cannabis Should Be Legalized in the United States
In 1920 when alcohol prohibition began the war against cannabis had been going strong for a decade. In 1910 the Mexican Revolution created a surplus of Mexican immigrants in the United States; American citizens were frightened by the Mexican culture, including their recreational use of cannabis (Marijuana Legalization, 2015, para 7). Politicians continued to use fear and racism to grow disapproval and hatred of cannabis. Beginning in 1915 twenty-nine states passed the anti-marijuana law, which was first created and passed by the state of Utah when a group of Mormons who were visiting Mexico returned home with cannabis (Marijuana Legalization, 2015, para 9). The prohibition of cannabis
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It is also much safer for chronic pain sufferers than prescription narcotics. The country would also benefit from the tax revenue collected by the regulation of legal cannabis.
It’s baffling how alcohol and tobacco are legal for recreational consumption but cannabis is not, considering that cannabis is much safer and less damaging to the body. Philip M. Boffey (2014) wrote in an article for the New York Times, “[marijuana’s] effects are mostly euphoric and mild, whereas alcohol turns some drinkers into barroom brawlers, domestic abusers or maniacs behind the wheel” (para. 5). The immediate effects of marijuana are clearly not as harmful as alcohol to the individual consuming it and for the people around them. In fact, in a situation where alcohol consumption makes a person abusive to their family cannabis may have the opposite effect and calm the person’s nerves rather than get them railed up. Boffey (2014) also wrote that, “[w]hile tobacco causes cancer, and alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis, no clear causal connection between marijuana and a deadly disease has been made” (para. 9). For a person who uses cannabis daily, either medical or recreational, the long-term health effects are nowhere near as damaging as long-term use of alcohol or tobacco. Substances that are legally sold and regulated in the United States every day. If the immediate effects of
In more recent history, the late 1900's were filled with important decisions by politicians regarding marijuana. During the Kennedy administration in the 1960's, Vietnam was a major issue, and the public, especially college students, turned to marijuana as a form of dissent. As this happened, enforcement lessened; courts dismissed marijuana charges or imposed only "modest fines." (Gerber) In 1960, there were only 169 marijuana related convictions in the entire United States. During this time, marijuana was seen more as an escape and protest. Time Magazine saw marijuana use as an attention worthy means of protest. (Time) Crime rates did not rise, and no major health problems had appeared to be caused by the drug. The 1962 White House Conference on Drug Abuse concluded that there was only "weak" evidence indicating that marijuana leads to using harder drugs. (Eldridge) At that point in time, it almost seems as if we were the closest we've ever been as a nation to decriminalizing the drug.
Cannabis, regularly known as marijuana, and by various other names is a composition of the cannabis plant intended for utilization as a psychoactive medication and physiological effects. People usually think that marijuana is unhealthy drug that needs to be avoided, but is it harmful than alcohol and tobacco? In modern days, cannabis is used as a recreational or medical drug, depending on the laws provided by different states in the USA. Although marijuana faces a strong opposition, a force for its legalization is extending across the nation. However, what are the after effects if marijuana is legalized? What are the pros and cons of it being legalized?
The consumption of alcohol was prohibited in the United States during the years 1920 through 1933. Prohibition was mandated under the 18th amendment of the Constitution, enabling legislation to enforce the ban and state which types of alcoholic beverages were permissible. The amendment was later repealed by the 21st amendment in 1933, which once again legalized the consumption and distribution of alcohol. There were many reasons as to why the prohibition of alcohol failed, ranging from high instances of corruption to increased amount of organized crime. These common instances took away personal liberties of many people which caused major problems in the country and these particular problems can be seen arising again with the topic of the prohibition of Marijuana. Marijuana or Cannabis is a plant that is cultivated in large quantities and is either consumed, smoked, or inhaled to create a certain kind of altered mental and physical effect, which is referred to as a high. Though Marijuana may be considered a dangerous substance to most, it should be legalized because the economic, social, and political standpoints outweigh the negatives and is not as harmful to the United States as perceived.
I never dreamed that one-day people could walk into a retail store and buy marijuana! The states of Colorado and Washington are already allowing this (Pro & Con 2014 p.20). I feel strongly that the drug marijuana should not be legalized. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug (Pro & Con 2014 p.19). When Colorado legalized this their “state went from the healthiest in the nation to one with thousands of mostly young adults in need of medical treatment (Congressional 2014 p.5). To me this is a big indicator to stay away from it. Some may say that marijuana has benefits but its consequences far outweigh the benefits. I will first inform you of the benefits of marijuana and then inform you of the negative aspects of the drug.
Herbs have been used for centuries as spices, flavoring and medicine. The use of cannabis has been questioned for years, whether or not it is a brilliant idea to legalize its beneficial purposes. Cannabis should be legalized because it has great medical benefits, will boost the economy by creating more job opportunities, and will replace the productions of resources that can harm the planet.
Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug globally; different types of the drug have been used for many years for their social, aesthetic, and medicinal effects. International laws and treaties have forbidden farming, possession, and selling of marijuana. This makes lawbreakers out of more than the 125 million people marijuana consumers and those who supply them. The trade makes illicit markets totalling to billions of dollars per year, some of the illegal activity results in violence and corruption by public officials. Millions of marijuana users are arrested annually for possession of drugs, and some traffickers also land in prison (Kacey, 2014).
In order to more effectively address the growing problem of the ‘war on drugs,’ many countries are striving to decriminalize or legalize drugs such as marijuana, considered to be less harmful than other, more dangerous and addictive drugs. Marijuana is currently classified as a Class C drug in the United States, the inclusion of marijuana in the ‘war on drugs’ has not provided the kind of results expected. Rather than eliminating undesirable drugs from the streets, the war on drugs has had the effect of increasing the level of violence in the drug trade, encouraged the development of organized crime, filled prison cells to unprecedented and beyond capacity levels, consumed huge amounts of government capital and yet has done very little to reduce the presence of these drugs within the general population or the numbers of people who make use of them. More recent theories have suggested that legalizing, or at least decriminalizing, lesser drugs such as marijuana may be a more effective approach as a means of reducing levels of violence, decrease incarceration, allow more individuals to remain productive members of society, and make more resources available to combat more harmful substances and criminals. To more fully understand the issue, available literature and theory regarding the topic of legalization will be examined as well as the results of decriminalization in those pockets of government where it’s been allowed and compare these to drug-related crime and possible
According to Time Magazine, 44% of people in the United States have tried marijuana at least once. Marijuana was listed in the United States Pharmacopoeia from 1850 until 1942 and was prescribed for various conditions, including labor pains, nausea, and rheumatism. It wasn’t until 1970 when the Controlled Substances Act passed, classifying marijuana along with heroin and other illegal substances as a Schedule 1 Drug.
The police and prosecution are capable of pursuing criminal charges for marijuana possession, however there is a lack of consensus with regard to the legal status of marijuana in Canada. Where the superior and appellate courts in Ontario have declared marijuana laws to be of no force and/or effect and public opinion polls have found an increasing majority of agreement in that marijuana use should not be a criminal offence, Justin Trudeau announced that the possession of marijuana for recreational and medicinal use would be legalized. Taking the form of a federal/provincial/territorial process created to discuss a joint suitable process for the legalization of possession for recreational and medicinal purposes, the plan is to remove marijuana consumption and incidental possession from the Criminal Code. Nevertheless the Liberal governments pledge to legalize marijuana use is a step that raises health, social policy, and criminal justice issues, whilst also encompassing economic and financial impacts. However, the news article “Legal pot revenue could reach $5B a year”, neglects to incorporate many of these themes, focusing strictly on the tax revenues in which Canada 's federal and provincial governments will collect from the sale of legal marijuana.
There was a time when talks of legalizing marijuana went largely untouched by statesmen and policymakers. It seemed that considering legalization was unpopular and that the demand for it existed only in the minds of few. In this ever-changing world, we now see the rhetoric of the matter gradually fade away. That old approach of conservatism seems to be marginalized regarding this groundbreaking social topic. With 75% of the nation expecting that marijuana will find a federal path to legality, the ability to buy, possess, and consume recreational cannabis is perfectly legal in four states. Furthermore, economists have begun to study this subject in great depth. By and large, their analysis has concluded that the nationalized legalization of cannabis would stimulate the American economy. Additionally, black-market criminals would no longer profit from the vast exploitations of the marijuana plant, while licensed growers, retailers, and consumers would all reap the positive ends. In summation, revenue from the federally-mandated legalization of marijuana would prove economically beneficial to both the federal government and domestic businesses. Legalization would, in turn, affect a number of different economic systems, but it might pose some ethical questions for the Catholic Church and other religious institutions.
With progressive advances in technology, advances in medicine and an understanding of the human body have also consistently increased. New drugs are available for safe consumption to combat a plethora of illnesses and disorders ranging from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to chronic depression. As a result of the growing options for prescribed remedies to health complications, there has been a blur on the line distinguishing beneficial medicine to recreational drug use. The growing call in the United States for a legalization of recreational marijuana has led to much criticism of apparent double standards between medications and marijuana. Critics of the current ban in most U.S. states claim that there is no substantial difference to medical pills and smoking marijuana for some sort of health benefit, but the primary use of marijuana is for leisure only and has copious negative health effects as a result. Medications legal in the U.S. all have a medical purpose that recreational weed falls short on in addition to chances of addiction without proper guidance from medical professionals that often come with many legalized pills; over the counter, or prescribed. The satirical cartoon does not effective describe any contradiction in the thinking of those that do not support marijuana.
The argument over whether marijuana should be legalized has always been a controversial topic, troubling many American citizens. However, marijuana and its essential cannabinoids, such as THC, were used long before America was even an idea. Many ancient civilizations have used marijuana in medical practices. For example, the Egyptians used marijuana to treat sore eyes. As scientific studies continue, some effects of cannabis on the body are proving to be more positive. Recreational laws in four states and medical laws in more than twenty states have led to more research. Consequently, the benefits of marijuana are beginning to rise and marijuana is becoming more and more socially acceptable. Medical marijuana should be legalized nationwide because of its many positive benefits on American medical care, and its ability to boost the economy and provide job opportunities.
According to information collected by the drug policy alliance organization, it shows heavy financial spending “amount spent annually in the U.S. on the war on drugs: more than $51,000,000,000”. ? Have you ever been in trouble for smoking marijuana? Do you know someone that is in jail for possession of marijuana? This is an issue that has become prevalent in recent years. The whole country along with its citizen is divided on legalization of marijuana. ? How marijuana became illegal is by a tax act. The citizens that desired to consume marijuana had to pay a marijuana tax act. Most people didn’t pay the tax act and that led to prison time and hefty fines. A drug prohibition was initiated and targeting marijuana. Anslinger who is the commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotic had tried to eradicate marijuana with great prejudice. In 1952 nearly all states had established their own anti-narcotic laws. The legalization of Marijuana would yield revenue, make jails less crowed and slow cartel activity.
In the United States, there has been a long history of arguing over states’ rights and federal rights due to the vagueness in the language of the Constitution. This has led to different interpretations of laws by those in government positions and continues to be an issue especially when state and federal governments have conflicting laws. Currently, almost every state has legalized the medical use of marijuana to some degree, and 8 states and the District of Columbia have legalized its recreational use. The federal government, however, still states that marijuana is a Schedule 1 Drug. Its status means that the DEA still believes it has no medical use and has high potential for abuse, holding the same status as heroin and LSD. This
Though all of these factors must be considered, one must also think about the reasons why legal weed could improve the quality of life. For various sicknesses, weed can act like morphine in dulling out reality and ‘Zenning’ a patient out until they reach a certain numbness. In TIME magazine, Andrew Ferguson states that “marijuana is addictive for 10% of regular users—making it less addictive than alcohol (15%) and much less addictive than cigarettes (32%), which are, they point out, perfectly legal.” The main problem the government has with marijuana is the fact that the side effects directly hinder normal functioning, preventing people to make logical decisions and suffering from impaired judgment.