The Global Tradition Of Strict Prohibition Against Cannabis

Cannabis began being outlawed all across the U.S. during the 1900’s and has remained illegal ever since, until recent years when states began legalizing it (huffpost.com). Although many people believe that the reason behind the prohibition of cannabis was based on genuine concern for the possible consequences it may have on the well-being of people if it remained accessible to all, the truth is that the drive behind the U.S.’s prohibition of cannabis was founded on racism. During the early 1900’s cannabis was considered an “ethnic drug” due to the fact that many Mexican immigrants smoked the plant (huffpost.com). With the tension in Western states regarding the migration of Mexicans into the states, laws concerning the use regulation of

Within this paper I will ask the reader to consider different ethical aspects of the legalization of marijuana, utilizing data provided and studies from the past, attempting to further convey my stance as being pro-legalization of marijuana.

Marijuana is currently a hot topic of debate throughout Canada, and has been for the past few years. Marijuana was first banned in 1923 under the Opium and Drug Act, but since 1997 the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act have controlled it. In 2000, over 30,000 Canadians were charged with possession of marijuana. Currently, the marijuana laws are not enforced equally across the country, which has prompted the interest in changing the laws or possibly decriminalizing marijuana. Also, those convicted of marijuana related crimes usually don't go to jail, but they do receive a criminal record.

Marijuana is currently a hot topic of debate throughout Canada, and has been for the past few years. Marijuana was first banned in 1923 under the Opium and Drug Act, but since 1997 the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act have controlled it. In 2000, over 30,000 Canadians were charged with possession of marijuana. Currently, the marijuana laws are not enforced equally across the country, which has prompted the interest in changing the laws or possibly decriminalizing marijuana. Also, those convicted of marijuana related crimes usually don’t go to jail, but they do receive a criminal record.

Medical cannabis became legal in Canada in 2001, but medical professionals here and in the United States have been wary of advocating it as a treatment. Many continue to prescribe opioids in spite of patient preferences.

In its early days cannabis or “marijuana” as it’s mostly known was first established in 8000 B.C. Later becoming more and more popular cannabis was incorporated in many things such as weave to fine hemp cloths, medicine, and as a fiber for the Chinese and later all across the world. Nowadays marijuana is illegal and has been so since 1970 after the Federal Controlled Substances Act was passed. Now there’s an ongoing controversy about cannabis being legalized or decriminalized for medical or even recreational uses. Marijuana laws are getting looser and looser and states around the world and starting to be more accepted but the drug is still not legalized completely and there’s no concrete reason why.

According to Morgan Freeman (2012), “Marijuana prohibition is just the stupidest law possible...just legalize it and tax it like we do liquor”. Canada has illegalized marijuana in 1923.Since then marijuana has been the most used drug among Canadians .Moreover, Canada has the highest rate of marijuana use in the world. Therefore, many Canadians argue that the time that marijuana gets legalized in has arrived. Marijuana has been proven to be very beneficial to the country. Legalizing marijuana will reduce crimes, benefit the economy and help individuals medically.

The fight to legalize marijuana has been waged for decades and it’s about time that we find a resolution. I’m not a supporter of marijuana, I detest the culture associated with the drug and have no interest in consumption of the drug. But the effects of enforcing laws outlawing marijuana have done more harm than good in the US. The United States imprisons too many minorities due to minor drug infractions, the costs of enforcing these laws are too high, and the government is missing out on tax opportunities due to the current drug laws.

The Controlled substance act pertaining to Marijuana has been a long on going battle as to whether marijuana should be legal in Canada and taken out of this act. The law behind the drug has a long history and many failed attempts at decriminalization. There are both positive and negative effects to this law, but I believe the positive effects weigh out the negative and that because of this marijuana will be legal in the near future.

There is presently much controversy regarding Cannabis-related legislations in Canada, as while there is a great deal of individuals supporting conditions in the present, there are also numerous people who are against contemporary laws. It is presently illegal to grow cannabis plants in Canada, but the authorities allow cannabis to be consumed for medical purposes. Many people in Canada believe that cannabis should be legalized in the country, with some of the most recent polls pointing toward the belief that the majority of individuals in the country consider that the substance should not be illegal. Although it would be difficult to assess the effects that legalizing cannabis would have, it is only safe to assume that the government should express more tolerance concerning the substance, considering that more than half of Canada's population has expressed its support in regard to the drug.

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is an interest group created on January 1995. It’s the biggest organization in the United States with the objective to eliminate the prohibition of marijuana. Their main goal is to gain public support for these non threatening policies as well as gaining influence in Congress. For states to decide on their own marijuana policies without federal interference, so marijuana would be regulated as if it was beer. Thus properly informing the people about its medical and taxation benefits. But in order to overtake their task the MPP is separated into three branches: the MPP, MPP Foundation, and MPP PAC. The MPP and MPP Foundation are the influential branches. While the MPP deals with lobbying and election initiatives;

Many Canadians wanted change in the government and amongst that, they have voted for the Liberal Party. It is important that the Canadian law system changes to adapt to society and fix the patches that it has. As the government tried to introduce more severe penalties and other deterrents to stop Canadian's from using or producing marijuana. But was not very successful.

Cannabis policy will be a getting a lot of discussion in the state of New Mexico during the current legislative session. Now with seven different bills filed in the state’s House of Representatives and six additional bills in the Senate Chamber; that could affect cannabis policy for the medical cannabis program, legalization for social use, and hemp policy. New Mexico has taken the first steps needed towards legalizing, taxing and regulating cannabis and hemp. Please check back as this post will be updated throughout the week as the legislature releases Floor and Committee schedules.

The marijuana legalization is a hot potato in the world. Many people say that marijuana is a drug, so it should be illegal; however other people say that marijuana should be legalized because of the less risk than other drugs. In spite of the controversy surrounding marijuana, Canadians seem to be tolerant of marijuana; the current government of Canada tries to legalize marijuana like alcohol.

Marijuana has a long standing history of being one of the most controversial substances in America. While the history or the Cannabis plant indicates not only acceptance as a useful plant, but even advocated as a source of revenue and medicinal usage, much of the United States government propaganda over the last 100+ years has led Americans to accept very slighted and often false information about the plant and its uses. Based on the origin of the illegalization of marijuana and the inconsistent findings of its effects in comparison to other substances, both legal and illegal, marijuana should be decriminalized and treated as a recreational substance just as alcohol and tobacco are.