Should Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay

Marijuana charges reflect the still-existing discrimination in society. Although use rates for African-Americans are only around 25% greater than that of whites, marijuana possession arrests are about three times greater for blacks than whites (Gettman, 2009). Legalizing marijuana would eliminate this aspect of racial disparity in the United States, where any single step could be seen as a move in the right direction. This would also help decrease the population of those in jail or prison for marijuana offenses, instead allowing those individuals to become productive members of society.

Ever since marijuana’s introduction to the United States of America in 1611, controversy of the use and legalization of the claimed-to-be Schedule I drug spread around the nation. While few selective states currently allow marijuana’s production and distribution, the remaining states still skepticize the harmlessness and usefulness of this particular drug; therefore, it remains illegal in the majority of the nation. The government officials and citizens of the opposing states believe the drug creates a threat to citizens due to its “overly-harmful” effects mentally and physically and offers no alternate purposes but creating troublesome addicts hazardous to society; however, they are rather misinformed about marijuana’s abilities. While

The plant is believed to haveoriginated from the mountainous region of India. It is also believed that 80% of cannabis entering the UK comes from Morocco, and the herbal form comes from Jamaica. Cannabis contains more than 400 chemicals. The main psycholoactive ingerdient id delta-9-tetahydrocannabinol, or ‘THC’.

Cannabis commonly known as “weed” or “marijuana” has been around since the early 2700 B.C. for medicinal purposes. Now and days cannabis has more uses than medicinal reasonings, people use it as a drug and as a product to sell. Studies states that weed has no negative impact to the human body, unlike alcohol which causes brain damage, and serious mental health problems within short and long term useage but, yet it is legal. That brings up the question “why not legalize cannabis?” With the legalization of cannabis there are no death with over using the plant. It can help the government generate addition revenue, and it has nutritional values along with its medicinal purposes.

In this country, there are parents of sick children driving across state lines, breaking state and federal law by transporting medical marijuana. The drug is legal in several states for personal use, and 23 states for medical use. This does not change the fact that it is still a federally illegal drug under the Federal controlled substances act. There are stiffer penalties for being caught with even a small amount of marijuana, than those given to murderers and rapists. The federal government has the right to come into your home and arrest you for an ounce of marijuana, even for medical use. A first offence possession charge, for any amount of the drug is a $1,000 fine and 1 year in prison. Cultivation of the plant, even for personal use will give you 5 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. It has been viewed by some to be a wonder drug. And yet it remains misunderstood and vilified.

Should marijuana be legalized? Marijuana is the most commonly used drugs in all of the United States. Some reasons why marijuana should be legalized is because it will help increase the country’s economy , help people to function better , to help generate taxes , help out with all the medical purposes. Legalizing marijuana could benefit all levels of the government, which may include the federal and local. Marijuana is a commonly used illegal drug made from dried leaves of the hemp plant. Some of the ways marijuana is used is by smoking, eating, beverages, capsules or sprays.

Medical marijuana has been a touchy subject the last few years. From being legalized in multiple states to being enforced more heavily by the DEA. It has been under scrutiny because of the people that use and sell it. The uses of marijuana not only medically but economically are quite vast and could benefit us greatly. This essay will put forth the reasons why it can stimulate our economy and society while disproving the arguments of why it is bad.

In order to start a discussion about whether marijuana should be legal, we must first begin with the history of marijuana. How long has marijuana been around? The earliest recorded use of marijuana is from the island of Taiwan off the coast of mainland china over 10,000 years ago in the Stone Age (Marijuana, 2014). They wove their clothes and made their shoes from hemp. The first paper was made from a combination of crushed hemp fibers and mulberry tree bark. This fact would later lead to the illegalization of marijuana, for reasons to be explained later. Around the first century B.C.E., marijuana is mentioned in the Materia Medica, a kind of herbal medical manual. In Japan, hemp fiber was highly regarded among the Japanese and used for Japanese clothes, bedding, mats and nets. Hemp fiber is mentioned many times in Japanese legends, and also in ceremonial purification rites. The ancient world abounds with tales of the use of cannabis by numerous cultures in many countries, among the ancient Rome. The Romans had their own version of the Materia Medica for the Western world. Again mentioned among its pages is cannabis. The use of cannabis, also known as hemp, spread throughout the Middle East and also spread to the New World. In 1619 farmers in Jamestown Virginia colony were required to grow hemp. In 1840 medicines with cannabis were available in United States pharmacies. Even George Washington grew hemp (42, 2014).

Recently doctors have prescribed marijuana, and “the Clinton administration threatened to prosecute doctors who prescribe marijuana,” (Gonnerman 40). Doctors are prescribing marijuana for its medical benefits. The Clinton administration on the other hand is outlawing marijuana because it has not been approved by the FDA. Since doctors feel marijuana has medical benefits it should be clinically tested so they can prescribe it for their patients. Marijuana can be used for many medical reasons. For cancer patients receiving chemotherapy marijuana decreases vomiting and nausea; it also helps them deal with the anxiety of the treatment. AIDS patients can use marijuana because of its ability to stimulate their appetite. Marijuana can also be

To begin with, a cannabis law was passed by the Virginia gathering in the pivotal year of its establishing indeed, 1619. It constrained each agriculturist to develop pot since hemp was viewed as deliberately imperative. Nobody has ever kicked the bucket of a marijuana overdose. You may think having a lot of THC in your framework will kill you, yet you are incorrect. As far back as marijuana has been known to humankind, not one single record of death from overdose has been registered. Then again, in 2010, 38,329 individuals died from medication overdoses. 60% of those were identified with doctor-prescribed medications. In that same year, 25,692 people passed on from liquor-related causes. Around 40% of Americans as of now have confessed to utilizing weed (Sznitman). Most surveys on Americans and their marijuana use float around the 40% stamp for having attempted pot in any event once. This is contrasted with the 16% of Americans who have tried cocaine, which is clearly a substantially lower rate. Weed is turning out to be increasingly pervasive consistently in spite of being less addictive than espresso. There 's a reason people are feeling more secure and more reliable attempting the medication, which leads us to our next point. Marijuana is much more secure as of now than legitimized drugs (Jacques).

Weed, bud, ganja, chronic, dro, herbs, grass, trees, pot, reefer; these are all names of the one drug that causes so much dispute, marijuana. Loved by so many, and hated by the law. It’s a two sided argument which everyone has their own opinion on. Is there any specific reason why weed should be illegal, or is the government just making money from catching people with it? Is there any real medical purpose for marijuana, or is it just a gateway drug for kids? These are the questions everyone should know the answers to. Whose side are you on?

In recent studies, studies have lead to the discovery that marijuana cures pain better than prescription and other over the counter pills, and it is cheaper than a multitude of the prescription pill counterparts, but marijuana is prescribed less than painkillers and is still illegal in numerous states. Although a numerous amount of marijuana researchers claim that marijuana could end the need for various prescription drugs because marijuana can help with such a diverse amount of illnesses and diseases, marijuana is still considered to be a Schedule 1 narcotic, with no medicinal properties. Considering that oxycontin and Zoloft are schedule 2 narcotics, which means they have medicinal benefits, although they put thousands of people in the hospital yearly unlike marijuana. Although medical marijuana is a safer, more affordable, and has been researched less than a multitude of the FDA-approved drugs on the market, marijuana is still only legal in 25 states and D.C. but needs to be legalized nationwide.

On August 11, 2016 the DEA reported that marijuana would stay a schedule 1 drug. The DEA (2016) stated through they’re report in the federal register, “the known risks of marijuana use have not been shown to be outweighed by specific benefits in well-controlled clinical trials that scientifically evaluate safety and efficacy". This decision was one that took many people by surprise, especially with the growing number of states deciding to legalize the use of the plant. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2015), in 2013, there were 19.8 million current users, up from 14.5 million (5.8 percent) in 2007. This shows a steady grow in the use of marijuana. Acknowledging the steady grow of marijuana users, the federal government should take steps to begin federal legalization across the United States. The report published by the DEA focused solely on weighing the medical benefits of the plant; however, the positive effects on the economy and the nation’s crime rate should also be taken into consideration when providing legalization of marijuana.

Legalizing Marijuana has been a common subject for debate in the United States. As the debate continues on in the political system, marijuana has become the most popular illegal drug in the United States. There are many arguments for and against the legalization of marijuana ranging from the effects on the mind and body to the economic possibilities after legalization. Both sides embrace strong facts and stronger support, but much of these facts consist of similar research with contradicting results. The side that tends to have the most and the strongest support in the most prominent arguments, economics, health, and criminal association, is the group for legalizing marijuana.

Should marijuana be legalized for recreational or medical use? This is a debate that has been happening for quite some time and this is not just a debate that is happening among people. There are many that have taken sides including medical personal and government officials. Currently in the United States there are two states in which recreational use of marijuana is legal; Colorado and Washington. There are three states currently that have pending legislation to legalize recreational use; California, Maine, and Oregon. On the other hand there are 21 states in which medical use of marijuana is legal; Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New