Willie Nelson, country music singer, author, actor, and activist, is a spokesperson for medical marijuana. Nelson once said, “Everybody’s got to kill their own snakes, as they say. I found out that pot is the best thing for me because I needed something to slow me down a little bit (Dowd).” Medical marijuana can be used for cancer patients and other disorders, can help boost the economy, and can help decrease prescription narcotics use. Marijuana has been documented in the United States since the 17th century. In the 1850 edition of United States Pharmacopeia, marijuana was recognized for its medical purposes. Up until 1970, it was legal to use marijuana for medical purposes. However, the Federal Controlled Substance Act categorized marijuana …show more content…
Legalizing marijuana could reduce spending for correctional, prosecutorial, judicial, and police resources by as much as $13.7 billion per year. Along with budgeting, marijuana supporters are claiming that the industry could generate more than $8.7 billion in government revenue (Evans 2). According to Evans, legalizing medical marijuana can cause the consumption to increase, which in turn will increase economic costs in social services, criminal justice, and healthcare. Statistics of crime indicate that offenses from marijuana accounted for almost half of the 1,531,251 drug arrests nationwide, with nine out of every ten arrests being not for distribution, but for possession (Evans 4). It can help reduce the number of work days among parents who are raising their children alone due to their spouse being in jail for marijuana possession. This will help because the responsibilities of taking care of the kids will now be shared between the two. Advocates also claim it can help communities who are disadvantaged. This can help reduce criminalization of underprivileged classes, reduce consequences of existing drug enforcement policies, and help promote social mobility (Evans 5). I know a family friend that moved out west to get a job working on a marijuana farm. Legalizing marijuana can help with more jobs, which in turn helps households afford living expenses. More jobs can help boost the
History of Marijuana Marijuana has been used both recreationally and medicinally for centuries. There are numerous accounts of its medicinal qualities in multiple historical artifacts. Its use dates back to 2737 B.C. when the Chinese emperor, Shen Nung, used it for medicinal purposes including malaria, gout, poor memory, rheumatism, and analgesia (Carter et. al., 2003). Eastern Indian documents, in the Atharvaveda, dating back to 2000 B.C. also refer to its medicinal use.
History of Marijuana Prohibition 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).
Cannabis is a natural plant that has been made illegal by the United States, and has been a controversial topic ever since the 1920’s. Marijuana is a substance that has been used hundreds of years ago as an herbal medicine and also can be used for textile products from hemp, which is from the Cannabis Sativa plant. Because of marijuana being categorized as a schedule one substance, it has no medical value and cannot be researched in the United States. Marijuana is said to be a gateway drug and is very unhealthy for adolescents with premature brains. The marijuana prohibition should finally come to a close because there are many benefits from cannabis and it is less harmful than both alcohol and tobacco.
I can still recall my first sentence: “The taxable distribution of marijuana should be legalized in the United States.” Then I paused, almost accepting the fact that everyone was going to start jeering. I am still not able to ascertain why I wrote a speech on such a controversial topic, but there is no denying how immensely influential the experience was on my literacy.
For thousands of years human beings have attempted to find ways to get passed the struggles of their lives. With the pain of the world stopping people from enjoying simple pleasures, sometimes there is a need for help. Marijuana brings millions of people relief from the pain they feel on a day-to-day basis. This completely natural plant which helped so many people has puzzled the leaders of our nation for a long time. The THC in marijuana causes its users to experience a mild-huluciginic or high. The effect that marijuana has on a person has prevented the product from being legalized. Many other details about the plant, like the speculation of it being a gateway drug, have put another blockage on its legalization. Even though there are speculations about the plant, the benefit that it brings to the table most definitely out way its disadvantages. Marijuana can also alleviate several symptoms associated with cancer and Aids treatments and disorders. While Marijuana is effective as a medicine, it is also extremely lucrative. The economic benefits that Marijuana brings to the table are endless. Upon marijuana’s legalization, the economy would experience an immediate influx. Legalization of Marijuana would also drastically reduce crime in our cities and form a more productive society through its positive uses. The benefits that marijuana brings medically and economically are considerable enough to legalize its use medically or recreational.
How does this small Earth grown plant cause such a hugely controversial issue in the United States today? The plant is known as cannabis or more likely marijuana. This plant is used for recreational and medical uses, but most of the time used illegally. Debates floods the country when the issue was first presented to the voting ballots. Personally, I believe marijuana should be legal for recreational and medical uses under with certain limitations.
Thus we conclude that no adequate justification for the state’s intrusion into the citizen’s right to privacy by its prohibition of marijuana by an adult for personal consumption in the home has been shown…The state must demonstrate a need based on proof that the public health or welfare will in fact suffer if the controls are not applied. (qtd. in Linder)
“It’s good for the flu, good for asthma, good for tuberculosis, even good for umara composis;” words sang by Peter Tosh in his famous song “Legalize It.” While we may be far from legalizing the recreational use of marijuana on a federal level, a great controversy surrounds the subject of the medical uses of marijuana. I believe the legalization of medical marijuana on a federal level will benefit our country as a whole by treating those with physical and mental ailments, no risk of an increase in crime rate, increasing tax revenue, and creating thousands of jobs across the country.
The Cannabis plant grows extensively on most continents on Earth, this plant does exist in the wild and just like many other crops it has become domesticated, cultivated and selectively bred over time. The first documented introduction of the plant in the United States of America took place the southern most parts of Texas in the late 1800s. Many immigrants from Mexico brought it with them claiming it had healing and medicinal purposes. Eventually some Texan pharmacies would sell what then became know as “Marihuana”. Then cannabis began to take off with many different products such as tinctures, in the early 1900s which many Americans used extensively. Soon after came the first prohibition of the plant in the
There has always been controversy over the subject of legalizing marijuana. As the drug has evolved into something to help treat major illnesses such as schizophrenia, AIDS, and cancer, it continues to bring skepticism on why it needs to be legalized. No matter where the thought of legalizing the drug occurs, a large debate over legalization arises due to the fact that families do not want any sort of involvement with their areas selling the “devil’s herb”. The main area of concern for families, is the challenges they have on keeping the drug out of kids hands as well as keeping it from crossing state line. Though these concerns are difficult to control, it is not just marijuana which creates these problems for families. Alcohol, tobacco, Adderall, etc. are just as easy of kids to get their hands on, if not easier.
With America’s war on drugs being highly focused on the increased use of marijuana, there is not much time for officers to focus on crimes of greater importance. Crimes related to illegal marijuana use are becoming more problematic due to drug deals that go bad, occasionally ending with murder. It has been estimated that one marijuana-related arrest is made every 42 seconds. With marijuana being illegal, keeping crime related activities under control cost the United States approximately twenty billion dollars per year (Sledge). According to Brian Bremner and Vincent Del Giudice, “A 2010 study by the libertarian Cato Institute, forecasted that states could save $17.4 billion annually from reduced drug enforcement costs and increased tax revenue, assuming marijuana production and sales were legal nationwide” (11). Several law enforcement hours are exhausted with pursing, questioning, and arresting citizens that are in possession of or consuming marijuana. There would be a decrease in the number of misdemeanor possession cases that are pending hearing. These cases would be dismissed, decreasing costs affiliated with each case. There are excessive numbers of people who remain incarcerated for nonviolent crimes related to illegal marijuana use. Legalizing marijuana would allow these people to be released, opening jail space for the true criminals. Legalizing marijuana would free up law enforcement officers from focusing on illegal marijuana use and allow focus to be put on more serious
Would you rather have a opioids that could keep you alive for a small amount of time or a remedy that could get rid of all of your problems but is illegal? This is the daily struggle of any marijuana user that takes the risk and dangers to get the satisfaction in life. Marijuana is a drug that is used by adults and kids with serious health issues, yet in our society we have a stigma that marijuana users are using the drug to get high, when there are people who are utilizing the drug for basic survival for everyday functioning. So the US Government should enact legislation that nationally legalizes the use of recreational and medical marijuana for medical research, economic benefits, and job growth.
Is it possible that our forefathers didn’t know marijuana could be smoked? Historically cannabis was seen as one of the most versatile plants. It was used for paper documents, sail making, rope, fibers for clothing, and even Ford motor company began testing it as an alternate fuel source. It was a valuable agricultural commodity even though it was labour intensive to refine. Once cotton became a better resource with less labour intensity, cannabis fell out of favour as a cash crop. This had much to do with the timing of bad media and fear that was generated at the start of the 1900's. At one time, farmers in Virginia state were required by law to grow it because it was such a critical crop. It is a fast growing plant, sometimes growing 2 inches per day and can grow in a variety of regions. It was used in Russia, Asia, South America, Europe, India, the Middle East; almost the entire world, as a medicinal source for a myriad of ailments. It was a drug before humans had drug addictions and could be found in
New polls are showing an increase want of marijuana to be legalized among states. Currently a poll was done by Quinnnipiac and it showed that 61% of Americans are for legalizing recreational use for marijuana. 94% say it should be legal for medicinal use and 70% say it should be left up to states to legalize it. However, some people in legislation, especially Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He is known to be old school and once even quoted, “I am astonished to hear people suggest that we can solve our heroin crisis by legalizing marijuana.” Currently 8 states have legalized recreational use of marijuana and 21 states and Washington D.C. have legalized marijuana more medical use. In present time, ⅗ of nation is in a state that has legalized marijuana of some form. Sessions has been noted to say, there is a New War on Weed. Sessions and the Trump team currently do not have any deal in progress in terms of legalizing marijuana. The controversy of legalized pot
A contemporary issue that I would like to discuss, is the legalization of marijuana for medical use. It is a bit weird that I have a strong opinion on legalizing marijuana, but the purpose why I want to write about it, is not for those who use them incorrectly, but those who need marijuana for medical purpose. Throughout my high school years until now, I have seen many situations when it comes from some individuals that are currently in need of marijuana for medical purpose, unfortunately, there are some several states that haven’t allow a law to be passed. The reason that certain states haven’t passed a law on legalizing marijuana, is mainly about how marijuana is being used. Between those who use marijuana, are both medical and recreational