Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

Over the last 30 years public opinion has changed about the legalization of marijuana, mostly likely because a sizable percentage of Americans about 38% admit to having tried the drug, according to a Gallup study (Swift, 2013), approval has risen from 28% of

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 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

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

Americans are championing for the inclusion of marijuana among other social drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. The public has

The drug is currently recognized in a majority of the country as twenty-nine states have medical marijuana laws in addition to eighteen states that have passed legislation acknowledging the health benefits (“Medical Marijuana Overview”, 2017). The growth of medical marijuana programs is a contributing factor to national polls steadily revealing a 60%-89% support rating in favor of the drug, and assisted the nation in overcoming the social stigma, specifically in the western states (Campbell et al., 2015). 64% of those between the ages of eighteen and thirty-four support marijuana legislation; and according to a 2014 national public radio poll, more than three-fourths of Americans support medical marijuana use (Campbell et al., 2015). Furthermore, a 2013 report in the New England Journal of Medicine disclosed that 76% of physicians surveyed would recommend medical marijuana to their patient (“Medical Marijuana Overview”,

More Americans are in support of legalizing marijuana than criminalizing it, according to a released Gallup poll (Jacques, 2013). Colorado and Washington both passed laws to decriminalize marijuana making 2013 a successful year (Jacques, 2013). However,

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

Over the past 46 years there has been an increased in the number of people who are in favor of legalizing marijuana. In a survey conducted in 1969, “12 percent of Americans thought marijuana used should be legal” (Jones 1). Nothing really change in the 1970’s and 1990’s, but in 2000 it “exceeded 30 percent…and was higher than 40 percent by 2013” (Jones 1). Several reasons for this dramatic increase is that more Americans are becoming aware of its medicinal use, also how the legalizing marijuana can help boost in revenue, and “newer generations of adults are more in favor of marijuana, replacing the older generation of adults who aren’t” (Jones 1).

It is time for cannabis to become legal. Galloping polls show that 50% of the U.S. population agrees with the use of marijuana. In 1965, 1 million Americans have tried weed. In 1972, that number jumped to 24 million Americans. These are hardly criminals, they are CEOs, farmers, singers and song writers, tax-paying citizens being forced to use their weed beneath the law. Every 37 seconds, someone in America is arrested for marijuana related charges, 98% of those arrest are people

The use of marijuana in the United States used to be a rather taboo subject. The infamous slogans of “Just Say No” and “Reefer Madness” filled the ears of society and many listened. However, in recent years marijuana legalization has come to the forefront of politics, as more and more Americans are opening up to the idea of legalizing marijuana nation wide for medical and recreational purposes. With about half of adults in the United States in favor of legalizing marijuana it shows that this may be the first time in history where complete legalization of the drug could be a real possibility. It’s not just millennials at the forefront of this fight either. Support from Generation X, the Baby Boomers, and even the Silent Generation have been steadily climbing over the past decade (Nathan). Legalization of marijuana would not mean a free for all for those who use cannabis for either medicinal or recreational purposes. Supporters of legalization propose that marijuana should be regulated and taxed similarly to how alcohol is. There would be a set legal age for those who wish to purchase it, the marijuana would only be available at certain retail outlets, it would be taxed, and there would still be criminal charges placed on those who drive under the influence. Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and the District of Columbia have already passed legislation to legalize marijuana and have seen positive effects from doing so. Washington and Colorado were the first two states to do

In the United States of America there are a lot of controversial issues that have been debated upon for a long time. The issue that should be discussed and given more incite in order to help the U.S. grow into success again is the legalization of marijuana in the country. The debate of legalizing marijuana in the country has gone on for a long time and still has not yet come to a conclusion. The issue has brought some states to take matters into their own hands and have actually legalized marijuana in their states such as California, Colorado etc... According to Governing.com the U.S. in total has 30 states that have legalized the use of marijuana. In these states 29 legalized medical marijuana and 8 have added legal recreational marijuana

The topic of legalizing marijuana for recreational use has long been a controversial topic. Back in 1996, California became first state to legalize medical cannabis, lighting a fuse across the nation. Fast forward to the year 2012 and thus began states legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. Those states were Colorado and Washington. Following those states was the announcement of Alaska voting to legalizing weed for recreational us in 2014. After them came Oregon and Washington D.C. in 2015 and in 2016 were the announcements California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada. From this data one can see each year more and more states have decided to lower their conditions and punishments on the use marijuana. Politicians have even gone to

This paper will show that the United States of America is moving, ever so slowly, in this direction. First with allowing the use of medical marijuana in 14 states and many other states are reducing the severity of punishment for possession of marijuana and now two states have passed laws allowing marijuana to legally consume for recreational purposes.

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.