Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

Also, marijuana can be seen as being addictive in nature. “Approximately 9% of individuals that use marijuana become addicted” (Marijuana Statistics). Marijuana contains many chemicals, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can cause many positive and negative effects to the human body and brain. A major attribute for medical marijuana is the economic advantages that are produced from the distribution of the drug. Also, the legalization of medical marijuana can portray positive and negative outcomes for law enforcement. Therefore, medical marijuana has many positive effects, such as treatment for diseases, and negative effects, such as immune system suppression. Throughout this research paper, medical marijuana will be thoroughly explained to exemplify the advantages and disadvantages of legalizing the

According to “ Marijuana: A Continuing Concern for Pediatricians” from the journal Pediatrics, marijuana has major effects on the human body and one’s personal life. The author feels that people need to be aware of these effects. Therefore, marijuana should not be legalized in the United States. In this article the author wants to advise people of all the effects that can take place after smoking marijuana. One of the author’s largest ideas, is that marijuana is known as a gateway drug. Therefore, the drug itself can cause addiction, and if you smoke marijuana you can likely become addicted to another type of drug. Once someone uses the drug, issues regarding school, grades, money, and a job come into play as well (Marijuana: A Continuing Concern).

The proposition known as Prop 64 is the California Marijuana Legalization Initiative. This proposition was on the ballot November 8th, 2016 and supporters have also referred this initiative as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act. In which has been approved. Those who have voted yes supported legalizing marijuana usage for recreational purposes for those who are aged 21 years or older. This measure has created two taxes, one for cultivation and the other on retail prices. The money from the taxes will go to drug research, enforcements, youth programs, health and safety grants addressing marijuana, and preventing damage to the environment resulting from illegal marijuana production. Proposition 64 legalized permitting smoking marijuana in a private home, or at a business that has been licensed for on-site marijuana consumption. Although smoking while driving, in all public places, and anywhere smoking tobacco is, has remained illegal. Along with, possession on school grounds, daycare center, or youth center where children are present. For businesses to sell marijuana for recreational use, they need to have a state license and are not authorized to sell within 600 feet of a school, daycare, or youth center. In order to regulate this, the Bureau of Marijuana Control (BMC) are responsible to regulate and licensing marijuana businesses. ("California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016) - Ballotpedia." Ballotpedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2016.)

Although drugs like cocaine, tobacco, alcohol, and methenfetime are all well known, none of these drugs have the political charge that marijuana has. During the past few years, frequent headlines of states such as Colorado, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Vermont, Massachusetts, and Nevada legalizing the drug for recreational and medicinal use (“State Medical Marijuana Laws.”), despite federal law banning the drug since May 1st, of 1971 (Gabay par. 1). However, despite where one may stand regarding whether or not marijuana should be legalized, there is no denying that marijuana is potentially harmful, just like any other drug, due to the addictive properties of the drug, and its ability to damage various bodily systems, especially the brains

Marijuana has always been a major topic on War on Drugs, either to let it stay illegal or to decide whether to legalize it. Marijuana can give off deadly or fatal actions that could to harm toward the user or those around the user. While also marijuana can be a help to the economic problems that America faces today. The Hawaii State Government should legalize marijuana because it is a non-addictive substance, it has the potential to increase tax revenue, and there are medical benefits to its use.

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.

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.

The college campuses in the United States have the majority of the population that uses drugs among society (Wadley& Carlier, 2014). The ages of these students range from “18 to 24” that are the most likely candidates to use marijuana and are more susceptible to use and find themselves addicted while they are in college (College Drug Abuse, 2015). There is conflict on college campuses between the state and federal government laws because the college is ran by the state by falls under federal laws when marijuana is involved. The students may experience long term effects of the use of marijuana in their lifetime that they don’t factor into their health because they are not able to understand the risks involve with use. There are many aspects of marijuana that effect college campuses and the students need to find alternatives to stay on the straight and narrow path to become successful drug free adult.

At the present time the use of Marijuana is considered illegal in most of the states of the United States. Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Alaska legalized the use of Marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Montana, Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey and Hawaii have legalized Marijuana for medical purposes only, the rest of the states have no laws legalizing marijuana (Governing). The legalization of marijuana on the states referred here have different governing rules, some states as Delaware have limited the use to private use up to an ounce, replacing penalties for civil fines, California legalized marijuana only for medical purposes allowing the use of Cannabis based on the medical condition.

November 2000 Colorado resident voters passed Amendment 44 into law the legalization of the use of medical marijuana. Furthermore in November 2012, recreational marijuana use was legalized when Colorado resident voters passed Amendment 64 into law. Although these laws were passed in Colorado legalizing marijuana, it does not protect an employee’s job from a company zero-tolerance drug policy. Many companies such as Breeze view the use of marijuana as a violation of their policy and cause for termination, especially since marijuana is still illegal on the federal level.

Marijuana has been illegal since the early 1900s, but not for the reasons most people think. The real reason has nothing to do with its effects on the mind and body. The hemp plant is a danger to oil companies, alcohol, tobacco industries, and many chemical corporations. Their manipulation in the 1900s is the reason people see it as a harmful drug today, when in reality it is a medicine. Given a bad reputation over the years, no one finds the time to do their own research and find out the facts; they simply believe what they’ve been told. Marijuana is illegal because billionaires owning large companies want to remain billionaires, legalizing marijuana could severely cut their profits.

Recreational marijuana use is an issue that affects so many lives of people over the years. Whether the user is young or old, it can still harm their health both physically and mentally, and despite the fact that people say it can help reduce or put an end to the drug war violence and thus lower down crime rates in countries like Mexico (Berlatsky, 2), meaning it would decrease the amount of violence and problems from occurring, it’s not enough to outweigh the risks of recreational marijuana on people. Basically, since marijuana has several harmful health effects like impairing your memory, respiratory problems and even cancer, behavior change, and so much more (Thompson, 1), the government should NOT legalize recreational marijuana.

Many states have started the process of decriminalizing marijuana and taking away the criminal offense associated with marijuana usage. The idea of making marijuana a legal drug is a cause for concern for many people. Especially, those who believe that using marijuana will cause more reckless and criminal behavior. Looking at research, there are other sides to the argument that recognize methods in which marijuana could be decriminalized with lower repercussions. Regarding the argument of decriminalizing marijuana, this paper will focus on the reasons for decriminalization and setting adequate and safe restrictions.

Whether you refer to this plant as Mary Jane, cannabis, weed, ganja, or one of the other nicknames for marijuana it is still the same. Marijuana is a plant that can be cultivated for use directly from the earth. Unlike heroin, crack, cocaine, meth, or other drugs it is a plant that doesn’t have to be synthesized or mixed with any other products to create. Many individuals look down upon the use of marijuana, let alone any discussion whatsoever about the plant. The controversy over several states legalizing the usage of the plant has built the hatred within some people’s minds while providing relief for those that wish to use it freely. There are many very ill people using marijuana as medical treatment for their sicknesses. Cancer, epileptic seizures, arthritis, gout, social anxiety disorders, insomnia, and PTSD are rumored to be lessened in severity and, in some cases, eradicated from the people suffering from these conditions. Speculation of whether these claims are true continues to run rampant as the same “haters” of the plant consider it an illegal and illicit street drug. Also, the Federal government and its officiates will not scientifically support the cases of illnesses being helped and/or cured by marijuana.

“Someday pray that he will grow a farm barn full, recent research shows it’s not so darn harmful.” (Madvillain, “America’s Most Blunted”) Despite the wide amount of research that shows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drug has ruined thousands of lives. Not to mention, an anti-marijuana agenda being broadcasted on behalf of multiple organizations combined with an uninformed population are a portion of the reasons why it remains illegal under federal law. Although federal legalization may be well out of the picture, Arizona should demonstrate progressiveness and legalize marijuana for recreational use. Legalizing marijuana would be beneficial as the local economy would experience an increase in revenue similar to other states that have legalized the substance, and citizens who partake in using a minimally harmful substance would not have to worry about local law enforcement ruining their lives.