Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, drug use was not seen as a problem in America. Opiates were used in health elixirs to treat all manners of diseases and ailments. As a result, many house wives became addicted to opiates, as did Civil War soldiers, which was referred to as “Soldiers’ Disease.” Society did not punish these addicts or believe that they were destroying society. That changed however in 1914 with the Harrison Narcotics Act which essentially made all drugs, with the exception of alcohol and marijuana, illegal to sell or consume without a license. The criminalization of alcohol followed suit with the 18th Amendment and Prohibition. A little more than 20 years after the Harrison Narcotics Act was passed, the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act was passed, effectively making Marijuana illegal for growth, sale, and consumption. This path to a harsher treatment of drugs in America was not wholly successful, as Prohibition did not stop individuals from consuming alcohol and instead helped foster the creation of crime gangs which were overly violent and highly profitable. Although Prohibition was reversed in 1933 with the 21st Amendment, laws against other drugs remained, putting many individuals behind bars without preventing the import, sale, or use of drugs. These problems were exacerbated with the War on Drugs in the Nixon and Reagan Era.

In 1920 when alcohol prohibition began the war against cannabis had been going strong for a decade. In 1910 the Mexican Revolution created a surplus of Mexican immigrants in the United States; American citizens were frightened by the Mexican culture, including their recreational use of cannabis (Marijuana Legalization, 2015, para 7). Politicians continued to use fear and racism to grow disapproval and hatred of cannabis. Beginning in 1915 twenty-nine states passed the anti-marijuana law, which was first created and passed by the state of Utah when a group of Mormons who were visiting Mexico returned home with cannabis (Marijuana Legalization, 2015, para 9). The prohibition of cannabis

Although there has been a “war on drugs” since the late 1900’s, the legalization of marijuana has been a popular topic within the past couple of years. This topic is very controversial due to the fact that many people are unable to see past the bad rap that cannabis has accumulated over past years. Among the other aspects that have already given marijuana a bad reputation, some people are trying to find more and more reasons to postpone the legalization of marijuana. Since the legalization of cannabis in Colorado, Washington and Oregon the debate of legalizing this “drug” in every state became a very important topic. Cannabis has shown how effective it can

In 2012, marijuana was legalized for recreational use in Colorado. Now it is legal in Washington D.C., Oregon and Alaska, only fully legal for recreational use in Washington D.C. and Colorado. Legalization is not necessarily the issue any more. Child psychiatrist Mitchell S. Rosenthal stated, “At this point in the country’s history, whether pot is legal or not is no longer the main issue. The issue is the danger that marijuana poses to kids, how parents can protect their children from that danger, and what the rest of society—absent the criminal justice system--can do to support them.” Although legalization is rapidly spreading, it needs to come to a halt. Marijuana should not be legalized due to the dangers it poses

For thousands of years, marijuana has been used for a myriad of purposes ranging from medical use to recreational use. Although small steps are being for marijuana legalization across the country, there is still a long way to go. Some folks argue that marijuana is a gateway drug and impairs judgement, causing people to act recklessly. However, extensive studies have been conducted on the effects, risks, and benefits of marijuana, and have proven marijuana to be safer than alcohol and most prescription, over-the-counter, and illicit drugs. Despite the extensive research and evidence backing up marijuana 's mere harmlessness, it is still a hot button topic in America. Marijuana should be legal for both medical and recreational purposes throughout every state in the US. Legalizing marijuana will boost our economy, provide treatment for the sick, as well as a safer recreational drug than alcohol.

Over the past decade the marijuana industry has grown traumatically. This notoriously famous illicit drug has grown to overcome its stereotypical label of a “gateway drug” and has become a medical breakthrough. Throughout the United States, states have become more acceptable to the use of marijuana by legalizing not only medically but for the first time in in the US, Colorado and the state of Washington legalized the recreational use of marijuana for in-state residents as well as out-of-state residents. State governments have placed an economical system and strict guidelines to ensure the proper handling of a new law. Although few states have legalized the drug American has not quite accepted it. There are numerous debates between experts and scientist referring to weed and it all comes down to one question. Is it bad for you? The United States should legalize marijuana everywhere, because it economically boosting when properly regulated, medical marijuana also has many personal health benefits, and lastly there have been many medical breakthroughs involving the use of cannabis.

Marijuana has been and continues to be a topic of major discussion in the United States. Until recently marijuana was only available in select states to people who have legitimate medical conditions and whose doctors believe that they could benefit from marijuana use. Recently however, both Colorado and Washington have both passed legislation allowing the sale and use of marijuana for recreational purposes for adults 21 years of age and older. These recreational marijuana legislations hold major implications regarding the future of marijuana and its legality in the United States. While this new legislation may be scary to some, I welcome the legalization of marijuana for recreational use for a number of different reasons.

I once heard an inmate patient of mine say “Weed might be illegal but that doesn’t make it bad. Is everything that’s legal, good for you?” This statement begs attention when the argument of whether or not marijuana should be legalized is of topic. According to The Foundation for a Drug Free World, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States; however after years of studies this drug is still illegal in almost all states while alcohol and tobacco continues to claim thousands of lives every year (n.d). Don’t get the wrong idea, this is not to persuade you into thinking that smoking weed or eating a marijuana brownie does not have its disadvantages. However the idea is to get you to understand and see that smoking

A very well-known topic in today 's society is marijuana also known as cannabis or weed. As a matter of fact, the big question today that many people tend to disagree on is whether or not marijuana should be legalized? Recently, all eyes have been focused on Colorado due to the fact that they became the first state in the U.S to officially pass an amendment legalizing the consumption and use of marijuana.

Marijuana makes you calm. Marijuana reduces stress. Marijuana cures diseases such as cancer. Marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is a plant; therefore it is not dangerous to one’s health and overall being. Many have heard it all before, the hundreds of reasons as to why marijuana is deemed as a “safe” drug and why it should be legalized, yet people have not quite heard the hundreds of reasons as to why it should stay illegal. In today’s society, there is a huge controversy on the topic of marijuana legalization. Marijuana, or Cannabis, is a greenish-gray mixture of dry, shredded leaves of Cannabis Sativa, a hemp plant. It has many different uses, including smoking for a high effect, brewing into tea, mixing it into foods, and for medicinal purposes. Although marijuana is currently illegal in Canada, at one point it was not. It was not until 1923 that cannabis was added to the schedule of the Opium and Narcotic Act (Dyck, 2014). Also, it was not until recently that the Canadian Medical Marijuana Access Regulations allowed legal access to cannabis for individuals with severe illnesses; only authorized personnel can grow pot or obtain it from authorized producers or Health Canada (Dyck, 2014). In 2014, Canada banned Canadians with a permit for medicinal marijuana use to grow their own supply, the only way they would be able to receive it was by going to an authorized provider (Dyck, 2014). However, many people do not feel as though marijuana should be illegal, as it has upsides,

To Some people, it’s a relaxing herb, something to temporarily pull the mind from reality. The aroma is unmistakable, the potency various, and there are roughly sixty five million people smoking it. I’m talking about Cannabis Sativa, the illegal strain of hemp known as marijuana. This plant provides many medical benefits that far outweigh the side effects. It has yet to be proven to be addictive or deadly. Marijuana as it stands right now is an illegal narcotic, but I think the drug, with it’s physical, psychological, spiritual, but most importantly, medical benefits, should be legalized.

The legalization of marijuana has been a very controversial issue in America’s society. Many citizens of America are very against the legalization due to false assumptions about the plant. The truth has been in the process of being uncovered for a couple years now but is heavily criticized because of the stereotypical picture of a “pot smoker”. This stereotype has brought years of misinformation and propaganda that comes off as ignorant. Marijuana should be legalized, not only for medical purposes, but for industrial and revenue purposes.

Zoned out looking, T-shirt wearing Grateful Dead slacker, long hair and unwashed, their brain cleansed out with any thought is a stereotypical marijuana user. The thought of someone like this makes people cringe. Society looks at marijuana as a drug that people go to, so they are able to escape their problems and worries. The older population seems to oppose the legalization of marijuana while younger age groups along with ethnic groups tend to be more open to legalize the use of marijuana. Marijuana is one of many substances that have acquired a lot of awareness in recent years. However, marijuana is one of the most misunderstood drugs on the market. Legalizing marijuana is a very controversial issue in the American society. Although

Five territories in the United States; Colorado and Washington in 2012, with Oregon, Alaska and Washington D.C. quickly following their example, have already found substantial evidence to support the legalization of marijuana. I absolutely agree with the legislation passed in these areas making the use of marijuana legal, so long as it is sold and regulated by the government in a similar fashion to alcohol and tobacco. Like tobacco and alcohol there should only be certain settings in which it is acceptable to engage in such activities. The use of marijuana as a medicinal drug is absolutely agreeable because it can help so many who cannot find relief from their disorders through any other means, but the recreational use would also have a number of positive effects on America as a whole.

The legalization of marijuana in the United States would drastically reduce crime in our cities and form a more productive society through its positive uses. The United States government is spending millions and millions of dollars each year to enforce petty marijuana crimes and it’s time for this change. Embracing marijuana for personal, medical, and industrial use will encourage economic growth and stability. Associating taxes along with eliminating risk of illegal activity will increase consumer confidence whereas the ease of growing requirements will boost substantial profit. Over the next couple pages I hope to convince you as to why marijuana should be legalized for the many reasons that I will touch on throughout this paper.