The Legalization of Marijuana

Marijuana is a misunderstood drug. Many assume that the usage of marijuana, or cannabis, is dangerous, but it can be the exact opposite. So why is the legalization of marijuana in the United States such a problem for many people today? Considered to be a gateway drug and the reason for the downfall of our youth nowadays, marijuana has developed a negative reputation. Lester Grinspoon, a professor at Harvard University, states, “Few drugs in the United States have produced as much affective heat as marijuana, particularly during the last decade. The controversy essentially revolves around the question of how dangerous or safe the drug is." However, many people are persistent users and believe that this drug is no more harmful than smoking cigarettes. Despite its useful medical effects for relieving pain and nausea, marijuana is a psychedelic drug that will be looked down upon because of false claims about it. Because people tend to overlook the positive facts, cannabis has become illegal for all the wrong reasons. Marijuana should be legalized in the United States.

Marijuana is the most commonly used drug in the world. It is usually smoked in a cigarette or in a pipe, often referred to as a bong. Marijuana, or cannabis, can also be mixed in food or brewed as a tea. Marijuana smoke usually has a sweet-and-sour odor to it; it can be compared to the aroma of a skunk (Marshall). Smokers are attracted to marijuana because of the "high" feeling they acquire. This sensation can be different for each person. For example, one smoker may feel as if they are in a different world when marijuana is consumed; another could just feel relaxed. In the past, efforts against marijuana were slim to none. That is until 1986, when t...

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...ng marijuana doesn't really have an effect on people's lifestyle; it doesn't really work. Education and treatment are better ways to address the drug problem. Word needs to be spread about the possible legalization of cannabis. People should be educated on the constructive but unknown facts about marijuana. Americans shouldn't be ashamed of a drug that will only help everyone in the end. The fact is that the United States needs money-- and legalizing marijuana is one way to get it. If marijuana were put on the shelves next to alcohol and tobacco, imagine all the money keeping the economy strong when we are having a fall in economic growth in the United States. Not only it will no longer be considered a “gateway drug” that lead to other harder drugs, it would be the only (Foreman). Marijuana can do great things if the United States would only give it a chance.