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Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

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The Jamestown Settlers where the ones who first brought the Marijuana plant over to North America in 1611. The plant is also commonly known as Hemp to people when it was first introduced. Through the Colonial period in North America hemp fiber was a very important export to this country. In 1762 Virginia would award rewards for those who would cultivate and manufacture the hemp plant. For those who would refuse to produce the hemp plant, faced consequences and penalties. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson both grew the hemp on their plantation farms for recreational and medical uses (Medical Marijuana). The current drug laws are doing more harm than actual good. Decriminalizing Marijuana would have a positive effect on the country and even put a dent in drug cartels operations.
Decriminalizing Marijuana has been a hot topic of discussion since the 1970’s. The commissioner of the (NCMDA) National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse, Raymond Shafer concluded that the personal use of Marijuana ought to be decriminalized. Though President Richard Nixon refuted the proposal of Raymond Shafer, 11 states went ahead and decriminalized marijuana and others just reduced the penalties regarding the substance. In (1977-1981) President Jimmy Carter supported the decriminalization of the drug. President Jimmy Carter was quoted saying “Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. States chose to relax all fines and

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