Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

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Studies in the past few years have shown that medical marijuana would be incredibly beneficial to those battling several different kinds of medical conditions. The term medical marijuana refers to utilizing the “whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts” to treat or suppress the symptoms of certain medical conditions (National Institute “Marijuana as Medicine”). Two FDA-approved medications have emerged out of the scientific study of cannabinoids, the chemicals in marijuana. These medications “contain cannabinoid chemicals in pill form,” and with more research, more medications will be formulated (National Institute “Marijuana as Medicine”). From the marijuana plant, THC and CBD are the two main cannabinoid medical interests. The benefits from THC are that it reduces nausea caused from certain illnesses and increases appetite, and decreases pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems. CBD, unlike THC, “is a cannabinoid that [does not] make people high.” Research on CBD suggests that CBD may be beneficial to those battling with pain and inflammation, epileptic seizures, and mental illnesses and addictions (National Institute “Marijuana as Medicine”). Multiple medical conditions such as anxiety, epilepsy, Parkinson’s Disease, glaucoma, arthritis, Crohn's Disease, and chronic pain can all be treated by cannabis.

Medical marijuana is one of the most simple yet useful drugs in the medical field today. Marijuana can benefit all types of people when ingested or smoked. “Marijuana can relieve many types of chronic pain, nausea and vomiting from any number of ailments. Those suffering from illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS—or even the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat these problems—may benefit from consuming marijuana.” ("The Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana | The Mindful Word.”) Marijuana has successfully treated many cases of glaucoma and other life-threatening

Marijuana has earned itself a terrible name over the years. This plant has a long history with humans, from early medical uses to spiritual and even recreational use. In recent years, many states have seen the legalization of marijuana for medical uses. Most large scale experiments have been hindered because of the difficulty of getting experiments involving marijuana approved. Despite this roadblock for the research of marijuana, surveys and observations of the medical use of marijuana show that the plant may have legitimate medical uses. The lack of evidence showing that weed is a dangerous drug also pushes for its legalization for recreational use. Based on all of the evidence about marijuana for recreational and medical use, marijuana

Scientist have been studying the benefits of marijuana that could help treat many illness. Even universities are studying the health factors of marijuana; such as, the University of Mississippi (“Marijuana”). Marijuana is believed to help treat health problems, such as, inflammation, inhibiting cancer cell growth, relieves pain, fungal infection, suppresses muscle spasm, seizures, convulsions, blood sugar levels, anxiety, vomiting, nausea, psoriasis, promotes bone growth, slows bacterial growth, stimulates appetite, the risk of artery blockage, and the possibility of many

Views on marijuana use and its legal status are slowly shifting across America. What was once viewed as a dangerous gateway drug is slowly being legalized across the nation for medicinal and recreational purposes. Alcohol is often used as a comparator to marijuana for good reason. Banning alcohol was attempted before and it was not successful. Marijuana is currently progressing through a similar phase alcohol went through during the Prohibition Era. Four states, including Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska, now allow the use of recreational marijuana. Ironically, despite marijuana use still being illegal under federal law, Washington D.C., the nation’s capital, allows it as well. Marijuana should be legalized, both medically and recreationally, across the nation because it is less deadly than alcohol, stimulates the economy and generates tax revenue, and provides medical relief for serious ailments.

The debate over legalization of marijuana for recreational use is an issue that has polarized many Americans. On one hand of the spectrum are the marijuana advocates that campaign for the government to lift the ban on the drug, citing beneficial uses for it for the economy and for medicine. On the other side are people who believe that marijuana legalization would serve as an addictive gateway drug for many people and would pose health hazards for people that uses it recreationally. My stance on this issue is that legalizing marijuana should be viewed as a correct decision and a step forward for America and I will elaborate why later on. By analyzing the economic aspects of marijuana legalization, I will argue my case that decriminalizing marijuana will generate billions in revenues for this country’s economy and on the same token save this country billions of dollars on prohibition enforcement. Therefore, I firmly support recreational marijuana being legalized because it is a drug that has the potential to boost the American economy and at the same time save billions of dollars on arresting and incarcerating people with illegal procession of marijuana.

The argument of legalizing medicinal marijuana and marijuana used for recreational purposes has been around for quite some time now. Recreational use is when one smokes cannabis just for fun and with the intention of altering the state of consciousness while medicinal marijuana is used for treating certain maladies and alleviating their symptoms. Though marijuana use is not as harmless as many people seem to believe. Like any other drugs, marijuana can affect the body and mind and may have a majority of side affects. It has an addictive nature and is also known as the gateway drug. It can even affect those around you in more ways than one. For instance if something were to happen to you or if for whatever reason you lash out at them. The

Only authorized in 23 states thus far, medical marijuana can be used to treat an astounding number of medical issues without the nasty ingredients and intimidating side effects listed on many prescription pill bottles. Marijuana provides users with relief from various pains such as nausea and joint pain. Not only can marijuana relieve pain when being used in cancer treatment, but it 's also known to slow or even halt the growth of tumor cells as well as the potential spreading of cancer. Epilepsy is another medical condition that marijuana has been

On the other end of the spectrum, many frequent marijuana users are against legalization for the many constraints it will place on their use. The way the states have been regulating the drug disallows anyone under twenty-one to obtain the drug, even for medical needs, and it hinders their ability to drive while the drug is in their system (Evergreen). The stipulations concerning driving will cause inconveniencies for frequent users due to the variations of time in which the drug stays in a person’s system, often ranging from hours, to days, or even weeks. (Evergreen). Many varying conflicts of interest collide when discussing how to legalize the drug. All sides must be considered. There must be stipulations to appease the government, laws for those who need it medically, those who want to benefit from the drug recreationally must be considered, those who do not want the drug at all, and those who want the drug for its business opportunities must all be recognized. The laws created will not be perfect and they will require all parties to afford a bit of flexibility.

The debate over whether marijuana should be legalized has long troubled many American citizens. There are many political aspects that have to be taken into account when making a big federal decision such as this. However, long before America was even an idea, many cultures had harnessed the plant, and used it for many primitive medical procedures. Within certain states it is legal to use marijuana for medical treatments, but this is a relatively new idea in the United States. However, marijuana was not always deemed an illegal substance and because of its inherent medical value should be legalized at the federal level.

Today, more than 20 states are currently approving the use of Medical Marijuana. Gathering statistical data from Gallup Politics in 2013, 58% of Americans say the drug Marijuana should be legalized, for the first time ever recorded. Gallup had first asked the question of legalization in 1969, when only 12% favored legalization. Had I been included in the study, I likely would have been for the legalization. Medical Marijuana had been used for centuries prior to it becoming illegal, and it is important to know what decided the illegalization of medical marijuana, whether there is currently a benefit of treatment with medical marijuana, and the regulation of Marijuana.

Marijuana is a greenish brown or gray mixture of the shredded leaves, flower and stems of the cannabis plant, smoked as a cigarette or in a special pipe. During my research I found out that Marijuana has been a controversial topic for many years about whether or not legalize it, the side effects of using it, and the medicinal aspect of it. In the next pages I will write about the Marijuana Law in Washington State, the history of the marijuana, and the effects in the body when it used.

Legalizing the recreational use of marijuana would have many benefits for the United States. This is a very common argument with people of all ages in 2016. Marijuana is a dried bud and leaf from the Cannabis sativa plant, which can grow anywhere in warm, humid weather. This plant also goes by many names, including pot, grass, weed, hemp, hash, ganja, and many others. Many people look at the legalization of marijuana as a way for potheads to smoke without getting busted for it anymore. For this very reason, people want to keep this drug illegal. Marijuana is more than a quick high a quick high at a party. This drug is used for preventing seizures, to cure Glaucoma, and much more. Marijuana will not only benefit the United States for several health reasons but also in the economy. This controlled industry could bring in billions of dollars in tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments. Cannabis could be the next best thing for the U.S.

Obviously, the Swiss later improved upon their first experiment. However, the Swiss “needle park experiment” is the example that drug war advocates like to cite when claiming that decriminalization isn’t effective; however, there isn’t a cookie cutter method for harm reduction and decriminalization. In fact, one of the best kept secrets in America is the success other countries have had from experimenting with decriminalizing drugs. The rate of drug use in America is the highest in the world, whereas many other countries, in particular many European countries, have reduced their drug usage with a more laissez faire approach. Various countries have implemented different policies which open the door for creating a hybrid model from other countries.