The Issue of Legalizing Marijuana - 1918 Words

The argument of legalizing marijuana has been in the forefront of politics in the United States of America for the last few years. Marijuana comes from the plant Cannabis sativa which has been used throughout history in religious practices, medicine, paper, fiber, and recreation. Its use was banned in the United States of America during the 1930s. This ban was due to public fears surrounding the negative social effects of the drug. Not only were many of these negative effects exaggerated, but the use of this plant has been shown to have many positive attributes. Allowing citizens of the United States of America to plant marijuana could help save the environment. Allowing marijuana to be sold in the United States of America could also help boost the economy. Most of all, the use of marijuana is capable of helping to prevent many individuals who have life-long or terminal diseases from suffering. Marijuana should be legal in all 50 states because of its environmental, economic, and med ical benefits. Throughout thousands of years of history, marijuana was not seen as a harmful plant. Randi Mehling, author of the nonfiction book Marijuana, states â€Å"the plant was first cultivated 12,000 years ago. According to written accounts, it has been used for medicinal purposes for over 5,000 years as a Chinese remedy† (Mehling 8). According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine, due to hemps use in making paper and rope, Queen Elizabeth I passed a law stating if a personShow MoreRelatedThe Issue Of Legalizing Marijuana1324 Words   |  6 PagesDoes it really come to morality after all? The decision to legalize marijuana has been subject for debate since first introduced in 1969; many arguing the fact that we are sitting on an industry worth an estimated 113 billion dollars. For once we have an opportunity to make a real impact in our economy. We have an aid on â€Å"the war on drugs†. But are we then showing our children that legalizing drugs is really the answer to our problems or does only the big picture mater in the end? Will this bringRead MoreThe Issue Of Legalizing Marijuana1821 Words   |  8 PagesThe issue of Legalizing marijuana is a very controversial topic of modern times. The use of marijuana is all over the media with celebrities doing it and young people in on the craze. Marijuana is the world’s oldest illegal drug, not only that, it is also the drug that is most widely used among society today (Aanstoos, 2015). Different types of people use this drug for a variety of reasons, such as, as a way to disconnect from todays hectic world, something they are peer pressured into, or even medicalRead MoreEssay The Ethical Issues of Legalizing Marijuana749 Words   |  3 Pagesaccording to the law on marijuana? It’s true. In 2008 Time Magazine reported that researchers had found more than 42% of people surveyed in the United States had tried marijuana at least once (Lynch, 2008). So if marijuana u se is so common in the United States, why should it not be legalized? In this paper I will discuss both the supporting and opposing positions on the legalization of marijuana. I will also explore the moral and ethical views for legalizing marijuana. Utilitarianism is theRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1314 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana, also known as cannabis, has been deemed an unacceptable and illegal substance in Canada, as well as in many other nations. It is a drug which can alter an individual’s sense of perception and distort one’s senses, and may become addictive if used repeatedly. Although marijuana is looked down upon in society when used for recreational purposes, it serves several beneficial purposes in the medical field. The legalization of marijuana is a prominent growing issue in several Canadian provincesRead MoreThe Origns of Marijuana726 Words   |  3 Pages Coca, and Poppy). Therefore, Marijuana should be removed from the criminal justice system. Legalizing and regulation marijuana can bring cash crop under the criminal justice law, bring in jobs, medical use, and overall create economic opportunities to The United States of America. There has been reports of marijuana being less harmful than alcohol or tobacco. According to the British research foundation two deaths worldwide can be directly caused by marijuana, yet 150,000 people die from alcoholRead MoreThe Legalization of Marijuana Essay868 Words   |  4 Pagescontroversial topics in the news today is the legalization of marijuana. Supporters believe that the drug is not harmful and can have numerous benefits. However, opponents argue that marijuana can lead to addiction and other more dangerous drugs. In the end, marijuana should be legal based on economic, medicinal, and philosophical factors. First, the legalization of marijuana would have a tremendous economic impact. Since â€Å"marijuana is thought to be the second most profitable cash crop in theRead MoreThe Legalization Of Recreational And Medical Use Of Marijuana1237 Words   |  5 PagesThe legalization of recreational and medical use of marijuana is still a controversial social issue faced by the United States. Although marijuana was seen as a dangerous drug back in the 1900’s, research has revealed the truth about marijuana, making the drug less frightening towards Americans. Now in the year 2015, marijuana is generally more accepted by Americans and many more see marijuana in a positive manner. Although marijuana does have some negative side effects, the side effects are notRead MoreAn Analysis of President Obama’s Remarks about Marijuana Essay624 Words   |  3 Pagesmagazine, President Barack Obama made some controversial remarks about legalizing marijuana. President Obama stated that he did not think that marijuana was â€Å"more dangerous than alcohol† (Remnick). This comment has caused proponents of legalizing marijuana to praise the President, while opponents are criticizing him for seemingly supporting this banned substance. Author Frank James of NPR.org wrote an article entitled â€Å"Obamas Marijuana Remarks Light Up Legalization Debate.† James explains how those whoRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1714 Words   |  7 PagesApril 2016 Drugs in the United States There has been controversy centered around the thought of legalizing drugs in the U.S and the effects of legalizing or not legalizing drugs. There are several drugs such as cocaine, heroin, opium, to name a few, with the most common being marijuana. The question raised on this topic is whether we should prohibit drug use, making it illegal or only allow marijuana to be legal. Discussions on this topic mention that drugs will be available in the market despiteRead MoreEssay on Legalizing Marijuana: Pros and Cons1599 Words   |  7 PagesIn 2007, $42 billion was spent on the marijuana prohibition. That is more money than the war on drugs spent on all types of drugs three years before when $40 billion was spent all together. Why is our government focusing on a drug that can be called merely harmless to those who use it? Why is this drug getting more money spent on it than drugs that are highly addictive and life threatening? Marijuana is not as dangerous as people may want it to seem . Marijuana is a product of the Cannabis stavia