Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

The Pew Research Center for the People and the Press conducted a survey in March of 2013 concerning the public perspective on marijuana. It was seen that the majority of people support its legalization (Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2013). In addition, since the 1990’s, there has been a steady decline in the percentage of people who believe marijuana should be illegal (Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2013). Half of respondents reported that marijuana use is not a moral issue (Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, 2013). Although there were differences between political parties as far as the legalization and enforcement of marijuana laws are concerned, despite political affiliation, the majority of those who responded agreed that “government efforts to enforce marijuana laws cost more than they are worth” (Pew Research Center for the People &

This paper will look at the benefits and drawbacks to legalizing marijuana by looking in at Colorado.The state made forty million dollars by taxed marijuana in 2014 alone, also Colorado saved countless millions because of the extremely lower amounts of marijuana arrest and court cases. It is not clear how having new recreational marijuana stores opening will affect the cannabis market, or businesses expanding around them. Gov. John Hickenlooper says that the economy is thriving with record setting numbers of tourists (73.1 million). 49 percent of those tourist said that legal marijuana influenced their decisions to vacation in Colorado. The ER’s in Colorado have also seen a rise in numbers of marijuana related cases and those cases in non-residents have almost doubled. An unexpected situation that arose from legal cannabis was the amount of electricity that is being use to grow the drug. Some cannabusinesses have to go green with solar or wind power. There are many varying views on the effects of legal marijuana have developed in Colorado since marijuana became legal in 2014.

Marijuana is amongst one of the most disputable subjects in political issues. It is the most exploited drug in the United States and can even be around the globe. Marijuana is the main source of substance reliance other than alcohol in the United States. Numerous groups in recent years have come forward and claim that marijuana use has been beneficial with numerous medical conditions. In fact, it has helped numerous people with diseases, for example, Glaucoma, Cancer, and any other physical or mental pain. Medicinal cannabis should be legalized in Florida, but should be regulated accordingly. The clear majority trust that marijuana use would be more beneficial if it was not criminalized but most still believe that the government should keep it as a controlled substance. In 2008, 4 million out of the 7 million individuals, ages 12 and older, characterized as having a reliance or abusing marijuana. This implies that two out of every three Americans experiencing any substance abuse have developed marijuana reliance. The legalization of marijuana in the United States such an issue for so many individuals today. Some believe that marijuana should not be legalized in Florida because of physical health, mental health, effects of driving under the influence of marijuana, and increase in use. Others believe that is it marijuana should be legal because of its harmless if used in moderation, limits of personal freedoms, and potential FDA regulations.

Public support for legalization of marijuana has doubled since the 1970s and is continuing to develop. An ample percentage of Americans this year disclosed to having tried the drug, which may be an adding factor to greater acceptance.( "For First Time, Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana.")

The legalization of marijuana appears to be a hot topic and is definitely controversial among the American people as well as federal agencies like the DEA (The Star Ledger, 2012). From my research through the university library as well as over the intranet, I found several sources of information that referenced the legalization of marijuana. The sources were mixed in biases and opinions about marijuana usage, its affects on the human body, and whether or not marijuana is even as toxic and harmful as the government has made people believe. I read over a few sources that claimed that suggest that marijuana is not harmful enough to justify its prohibition (Dubner, 2007). I read over articles that suggest that states were marijuana has been legalized will encourage an increase in usage. I also found a source that opposed the previous idea that legalization will increase usage by suggesting that legalization does not increase usage through case studies.

The legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the “high” feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasons. First, I will present two common arguments against the legalization of marijuana and then refute them. Second, I will explain how there is no proof of harmful effects from marijuana and that there are many health benefits prominent. Third, I will describe how legalization would bring in tax revenue for the government. Finally, I will go into detail on how legalization would decrease crime rates.

Most of America’s knowledge about the drug is based off of scare tactics, propaganda, and yellow journalism from an era that is long since gone. Its reputation has been smashed to pieces to promote politicians, and a politician would commit career suicide if they were to promote its legalization. One of the most vicious politicians that targeted marijuana was Harry Anslinger. In 1930, Anslinger headed the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. As the leader of this government run organization, his department was originally conceived to support the governments stance on alcohol prohibition. Alcohol, deemed to have narcotic like effects, was legal, but wasn’t demonized for its effects on the mind. In 1933, the 21st amendment, which forbade the use and production of alcohol, was repealed, and Anslinger needed to focus his Bureau in another direction (Guither).

Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. Although many slanderous claims have been made about cannabis in recent history, the truths are slowly starting to resurface. The big question succeeding these truths is if marijuana should be legalized in the United States collectively. Unfortunately, these truths are under a substantial amount of criticism due to the stereotypical view of what people see as the typical “pot smoker.” This twisted perception of a lazy and unmotivated America is the product of almost one hundred years of propaganda and deception spread by private interests who needed cannabis to be illegal for their own personal benefits. When taking into account the positives and negatives of the legalization of marijuana in the United States, the amount of benefits greatly outweigh the costs, making legalization necessary in a

Marijuana has been used for thousands of years to treat many conditions and has never caused a single human death. The 1999 institute of medicine proved that it did not in any part reach the legal definition of a schedule 1 drug the US law put it under. The institute of medicine established that marijuana has positive medical benefits in a variation of illnesses and has a lower chance for drug abuse than alcohol and tobacco which have a higher rate of being a gateway drug used by minors. In 1988 the Drug enforcement administration also started to investigate the medical uses of marijuana. As a result the DEA discovered that there are positive medical uses for marijuana and was uncovered to be “one of the safest substances known to man” DEA Administrative Law Judge Francis Young said during a two year hearing on marijuana for medical use. Soon after the facts about the acceptable medical uses of marijuana were noted it started to attention publicly, increasing its popularity and supporters quickly.

Marijuana use has been a very prominent issue and continues to be major source of controversy in the United States. Although many claims have been made about marijuana use in recent times, the truth about this plant is slowly coming forward. Unfortunately, a heavily skewed perception of marijuana and marijuana users as a result of years and years of misinformation and propaganda further encourages ignorance on the topic of its legalization, which still continues to be spread due to many private interests who still want marijuana to remain illegal for their own personal gain, despite all its proven benefits.

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

How does marijuana affect today’s society? After spending the last few weeks researching that question, the results were very surprising. Many people probably have some general idea on what marijuana is or think that they know a lot more then they do. In reality very little is actually known about marijuana and all its mysteries. Normally when looking at the discussion of marijuana you get a variety of different viewpoints, arguments, studies and supporting details. Typically when marijuana comes into discussion it’s normally talked about in the negative. Coming from parents, teachers, and adults, most people believe that because it is illegal and it is a drug that it can’t have any medical benefits behind it. Even the federal

According to USA Today, on average, there is about 700,000 people arrested annually on marijuana-related charges (Smith). Because of this, the topic of marijuana, specifically legalizing marijuana, has been on the minds of many Americans. Some of the American population does not see marijuana as an issue because they think it is not as harmful as some other drugs. On the other hand, scientists, doctors, and the rest of Americans view marijuana as a dangerous drug that should stay illegal because of the harmful effects that it can have on a person. Negative views of marijuana present themselves in New York Times articles through the idea that it can have harmful effects on the body. These negative views about marijuana have stayed the same because of the constant concern over physical and mental repercussions for those who use it.

Marijuana has been widely viewed by many as a dangerous substance that had no benefits to society. It was criminalized by President Nixon in 1970 (LoBianco, 2016). "The war on drugs was created as a political tool to fight blacks and hippies" stated by John Ehrlichman. John Ehrlichman was one of President Nixon’s top advisors. He was also a major part in the Watergate scandal (LoBianco, 2016). Since the beginning of the modern day prohibition, it has always been surrounded with controversy. Ducatti-Flister (2012) stated that marijuana is the most used drug in the world. No wonder why it is also the most widely produced and trafficked drug than any other drug (Ducatti-Flister, 2012). Despite the billions of dollars spent on the war on drugs,

Within today’s society, Cannabis is seen as a harmful substance of such negative controversy. Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. Despite many malicious allegations have been made regarding marijuana today, the truth of what marijuana’s real dangers are are beginning to come about again. Sadly, these facts have been held under considerable judgement because of what people stereotype a pot smoker as. This has been brought under heavy criticism due to the stereotypical view of what people view as the typical “pot smoker.” This image society has of a lazy and unambitious America has all been the result of almost one hundred years of false propaganda and stereotypes gossiped by certain private individuals trying to keep weed illegal for their own personal benefit.