The Advantages of Legalizing Marijuana

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What comes to mind when you think of drugs? Perhaps you think of the nightly news talking about killings on the streets or maybe you think of those unforgettable meth ads on television and billboards. But what seems to be very popular when the word drug comes up is the controversial ongoing debate on whether or not marijuana should be legalized. Many advocates believe prohibiting marijuana reduces crime, trafficking and increases health. However, marijuana is one of the most misunderstood drugs on the market. Keeping it illegal just causes more problems. Fully legalizing marijuana, while making sure it is controlled with limitations much like alcohol and tobacco, would boost our economy, bring in more jobs, and medically help many people. Even with the inevitable negatives that come with the legalization, it is definitely safe to say that the positives outweigh those negatives.
The source for what we like to call “hemp” or “marijuana” is the cannabis plant. The term hemp is used more for the industrial uses of the plant, such as for the fiber and seeds, and the term marijuana is used more for the medicinal or therapeutic uses (Deitch). The cannabis plant grows like a weed, which is why it is often called weed, but it is actually an herb and can be grown in various different environments in many parts of the world (Fortenbery & Bennett). Hemp was an important valuable commodity in the American colonies all the way up to World War II. Since the outlaw of marijuana for all purposes in 1937, we have been socially, environmentally, and economically suffering. Many are unaware that our use of cannabis as fiber, fuel, and paper could solve a lot of these problems we face today.
The outlaw of marijuana reveals a lot of racism and hyste...

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... 12 Oct. 2013.
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Miron, Jeffrey A. "The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition." N.p., June 2005. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
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