Don’t Decriminalize Marijuana “One function of government is to protect citizens from harm, whether it is from foreign enemies or from internal causes such as poisonous food or contaminated water” (Wright). Therefore that is what one should be doing. Marijuana use to be legal in the United States. About 90% of the 782,000 people that are in the United States in 2007 were arrested for marijuana- related crimes (Decriminalizing). They were kept in custody for having possession of the drug (Decriminalizing). Between 60,000- 85,000 people of those 782,000 arrested were put in prison (Decriminalizing). Marijuana should not become decriminalized for many reasons. Some of the reasons include that it doesn’t meet classification standards to be a legal or illegal drug for medical purposes and people aren’t using the drug for the right reasons. Marijuana used to be legal in the mid-1930s, “until the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was passed by Congress” (Drug Legalization) . Congress passed this to make it illegal to have sold marijuana to anyone without having tax on the product (Drug Legalization). From that point on, marijuana was made illegal because of the few tax stamps that were being sold. During the 1970’s and the 1984’s, Congress was revoking laws that involved drug offenses (Drug Legalization). At the same time, the federal government was toughening the drug sales and possession laws (Drug Legalization). This has been going on for the past 80 years (Drug Legalization). Doctors then started to recognize the medical uses of marijuana (Rich). That made marijuana become deliberately sold in pharmacies (Rich). “The origins of marijuana prohibition in the United States stem from fears of a criminal element sneaking into the country, in t... ... middle of paper ... ...r to congress or by just spreading the word that marijuana is not a productive drug. Therefore, marijuana should not become decriminalized. Works Cited "Decriminalizing Marijuana." Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 25 Apr. 2011. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. "Drug Legalization." Issues & Controversies On File: n. pag. Issues & Controversies. Facts On File News Services, 5 Jan. 2001. Web. 20 Feb. 2014. "Legalizing Marijuana." CQ Researcher 15 June 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. Rich, Alex K.Stingl, Alexander. "Legalization Of Marijuana: An Overview." Points Of View: Legalization Of Marijuana (2013): 1. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 13 Feb. 2014. Wright, George and Heather Newton. "Counterpoint: There Are No Good Reasons To Legalize Marijuana." Points Of View: Legalization Of Marijuana(2013): 2. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.
Throughout history people have used marijuana for its dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds to relieve pain, stress, and other medical issues from one’s life. Within the recent years it has become one of the most debated issues in the United States. In the 1930s, the U.S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics (now the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) claimed that marijuana was a “gateway” drug and was a powerful, addicting substance. During the sixties marijuana became a symbol for rebellion against authority so it became very popular by college students and “hippies”. So in 1982, Drug Enforcement Administration increased pressure on drug farms and houses which decreased the use of marijuana. In the past twenty years marijuana has become a
Simoni-Wastila, Linda, and Francis B. Palumbo. "Medical Marijuana Legislation: What We Know-- And Don't." Journal Of Health Care Law & Policy 16.1 (2013): 59-75. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Stack, P, Suddath, C. (2009). A Brief History of Medical Marijuana. Retrieved November 4, 2010 from http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1931247,00.html.
Marijuana can do so much for the society if it is used right, which is why marijuana should be legal. The government should try and do their best if they do not want to have more people in jail , and that way they can build more schools by using the taxes of marijuana. Marijuana legalization can help so many people by taking away the pain and not have to worry about money on medication. Legalizing Marijuana is not as bad as alcohol or tobacco, which will not cause so much deaths, unlike alcohol or tobacco. If marijuana is legal then people will not have to worry about being prosecuted or even arrested for the simple possession of marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized and the government should stop making it such a big deal and not get more people into prison because studies have shown that there has been more prisons built since the 1980s compared to schools, and more money goes to prisons than to
Drugs have largely been viewed with fear and disgust by society, and rightly so. Certain drugs do horrible things to people. They can make one lose their self control, see things that aren’t there, damage the mind, deteriorate the body, and cause a dependency in the user that utterly consumes them. But while this is the case for many drugs, it is in no way universal. This is the case of Marijuana, which has long been subject to the same treatment as other, illegal, drugs and, despite it’s many benefits, is currently illegal in The Greater United States. Marijuana is not only less dangerous than other drugs, legal or otherwise, but provides many medical benefits. And yet, someone in The United States found using or possessing the substance can face harsh jail time. Marijuana should be legalized because it would provide medical benefits, help the economy, and it is no more harmful than other legal substances.
Cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, is a plant that people have been using recreationally for years. In fact, people have consumed marijuana since ancient times. Until 1906, the year the United States Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act. The debate on whether or not marijuana should be legalized in the United States has really blown up within the last decade. And finally, in 2012, Colorado became the first state to officially legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational uses. The prohibition of marijuana has gone on for far too long, and it is time for America to change its views.
“Prior to 1937, at least 27 medicines containing marijuana were legal in the U.S. Many of these medicines were made by well-known pharmaceuticals that are still around today. Eli Lilly being one of there that sold medicines containing marijuana had to stop production because of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. It was legal once so let it be legal again.
Marijuana has been illegal for less than 1% of the time that it’s been in use (Guither, 2014). Going back to 1619, the Virginia Assembly passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland (Block, 2014). It was actually a crime in some states to refuse to grow hemp in the 1700's. In the late 19th century, marijuana was a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was sold openly in public pharmacies (PBS, 2014). However, in the early 1900’s things changed, a prejudice and fear began to develop around marijuana because it was being used and associated with Mexican immigrants. In the 1930’s, the massive unemployment rates increased public resentment and disgust of Mexican immigrants, which escalated public and governmental concern (PBS, 2014). In 1930 a new federal law enforcement agency, the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN) was created. Harry J. Anslinger was appointed the first commissioner of the FBN in 1930 (...
Rosenthal, Ed, and Steve Kubby (2004) " Marijuana Should Be Legalized for Medical Use." Retrieved from Opposing Viewpoints: The War on Drugs. Sports Illustrated 97.23 (Dec 9, 2002) "Scorecard." Retrieved from 25+ pages.
Wright, GeorgeNewton, Heather. "Counterpoint: There Are No Good Reasons To Legalize Marijuana." Points Of View: Legalization Of Marijuana (2013): 2. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 20 Mar. 2014
"Myths and Facts About Marijuana." Marijuana: The Facts. Drug Policy Alliance Network. 27 Apr. 2009.
Should Marijuana Be Legalized? In society today, many people look for a feeling of freedom. Many people go on vacation and spend money. The most common escape for people is drugs. Our American society is facing a tremendous drug problem. In order to eradicate the drug problem, a public debate is going on to find some solutions to this drug dilemma. It has become a highly controversial issue whether drugs such as marijuana should be legalized or not. Some people advocate this issue and believe that legalization is the only solution left for the nation while others oppose because it will increase the number of drug users and drug related crimes. Marijuana is a drug that is illegal in the United States. This drug as you know is bad and causes severe side effects to your brain and body. Scientist have found that smoking marijuana can cause you to loose your memory. Marijuana has many psychological and physical effects.
Marijuana continues to be one of the most used illegal drugs in the United States. Marijuana has been used for many years and at one time was legal to consume. Throughout the years, marijuana has been used for treatment of different medical conditions and has been used recreationally by people of all ages. While the use of medicinal marijuana has proven to be effective in treating medically ill patients, society continues to question its recreational use and the long term effects it will have on its users. Some feel that legalizing marijuana will only open up avenues for the use of more potent drugs, causing an increase in criminal activity. However, a number of people question why it is considered illegal being it is a naturally growing
The first law that regarded marijuana in America required farmers to grow hemp in the year 1619 for clothing, rope, and other materials, but “as early as 1840, doctors recognized the medical applications of marijuana, and the drug was freely sold in pharmacies for over a century.” (Rich and Stingl). In 1937, the use and possession of marijuana was made illegal, but “before 1937 marijuana was freely bought, sold, grown, and used. ”(Rich and Stingl). In 1970 the Congress decided to classify marijuana as a schedule one drug, which has made the legalization more difficult.
In the perspective of America's war on drugs, marijuana is one of the biggest enemies. And since alcohol and tobacco, two life threatening substances, are legal it is a relevant question to ask why marijuana is illegal. The taxpayers of America can partly answer this question when they fill out their tax forms and when they hear the hash rhetoric used against marijuana by the government. The fact that marijuana is illegal is sufficiently caused by the amount of money, jobs, and pride invested in the drug war. In other words, the government cannot turn back now.