Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere

1676 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Background history of marijuana essay

Former United States President Thomas Jefferson once declared, “Hemp is of first necessity to the wealth and protection of the country” (“Thomas Jefferson”). Unfortunately, many modern political leaders are not as enthusiastic as Jefferson regarding the beneficial uses of hemp and marijuana. Hemp, as well as marijuana, originates from the Cannabis plant. Surprisingly, marijuana dates all the way back to 2700 B.C.; where it is first mentioned in a Chinese herbal and is said to have many strong values. Regrettably, a majority of countries applied strict limitations on the substance by the late 1960’s. With those restrictions came harsh retributions involving sales and possession of the substance. As time passed, research of medicinal usage of marijuana was legalized (“Marijuana”). During the twenty first century many significant decisions have been established to make the use of marijuana permissible throughout the United States. The legalization of marijuana would provide medical benefits, increase government revenue, and regulate crime.

The undeniable medical benefits of marijuana are a key reason to legalize the substance. DEA Judge Francis Young is quoted saying, “Marijuana is the safest therapeutic substance known to man” (Kubby and Rosenthal 70). To go along with Judge Young’s theory is evidence found by Dr. Todd Mikurya. He was the director of the federal government’s marijuana study. He communicates his story: “I was hired by the government to provide scientific evidence that marijuana was harmful. As I studied the subject, I began to realize that marijuana was once widely used as a safe and effective medicine. But the government had a different agenda and I had to resign” (qtd. in Todd Mikurya’s personal...

... middle of paper ...

...ly benefit the wealth and security of the United States. Politicians need to go back and look at what Thomas Jefferson and the Founding Fathers wanted for the United States; they wanted prosperity for their country and the most logical way to achieve success is to legalize marijuana.

Works Cited

Klein, Joe. "Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense." Time. 2 Apr. 2009. Web. 29 Mar. 2012.

"Marijuana." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. .

McKinley, Jesse. "Pat Robertson Says Marijuana Should Be Legal." The New York Times. The New York Times, 7 Mar. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. .

Rosenthal, Ed, and Steve Kubby. Why Marijuana Should Be Legal. New York: Thunders Mouth, 1996. Print.

"Thomas Jefferson: 1743-1826." Hemp Car. 15 Nov. 2000. Web. 29 Mar. 2012. .

Show More
Related

  • Marijuana Should Be Illegal

    606 Words  | 2 Pages

    Legalization of Marijuana has quickly become a controversial issue in America. In the United States, legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes is spreading to the state level. For example, in November 1996, the people of California and Arizona voted to legalize marijuana for medicinal reasons. As a result of Proposition 215 in California, patients now smoke marijuana provided their physician recommends its usage. A prescription is not required, and marijuana continues to be illegal to prescribe. The Clinton administration responded that it “would not recognize these decisions, and would prosecute physicians who recommend or provide marijuana to their patients.” Although California and Arizona are the only two states to have already passed laws regulating marijuana usage, twenty-six states and the District of Columbia have laws and resolutions regarding marijuana usage. These laws and resolutions range from establishing therapeutic research programs, to allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana, to asking the federal government to lift the ban. Despite the states’ desires to have marijuana legalized for medicinal purposes, the US National Institutes of Health examined all existing clinical evidence about smoked marijuana and concluded that, “There is no scientifically sound evidence that smoked marijuana is medically superior to currently available therapies.”

    Read More

  • The Controversy of Legalizing Marijuana

    1060 Words  | 3 Pages

    Works Cited "The California Marijuana Vote." New Yorker 23 Dec 1996: 62+. Brookhiser, Richard. "Pot Luck." National Review 11 Nov 1996: 27+ Simmons, Michael. "Give Pot a Chance." Rolling Stone 26 Dec 1996: 111+. Rist, Curtis and Harrison, Laird. "Weed the People." People 21 Oct. 1996: 75+. Funk and Wagnall's Volume 23 "Marijuana" 1996 Baum, Dan. "California's Separate Peace." Rolling Stone 30 Oct. 1997: 43+ Brookhiser, Richard. "Lost in the Weed." U.S. News & World Report 3 Jan. 1997: 9 Buckley, William "Legalization of Marijuana Long Overdue" The Albuquerque Journal. Online. 8 June 1993.

    Read More

  • Legalization of Marijuana in North Carolina

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    middle of paper ... ... Should Marijuana Be Legalized? San Diego, CA: Reference Paint, Zoll.

    Read More

  • Medicinal Marijuana in Texas

    1717 Words  | 4 Pages

    Legalization of marijuana in the United States has received much attention and controversy in recent months. The federal government outlaws the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, despite proven research studies that have discovered the plant’s potential to treat the lives of many Americans affected by disease and chronic pain. Medicinal use of the marijuana plant dates back to 2700 B.C. in China. Emperor Shen Nung discovered its’ healing properties and recommended marijuana for a variety of ailments (Mack and Joy 14). Today, bias views and laws plague the advancement of marijuana in present day medicine.

    Read More

  • Economic Effects of Legalization of Marijuana

    958 Words  | 2 Pages

    Caulkins, J. P. (2013). Marijuana legalization: What everyone needs to know. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Read More

  • Marijuana:Good or Evil?

    1401 Words  | 3 Pages

    Gerber, Rudolph J. "Beneficial Effects of Marijuana as a Medical Prescription." Marijuana. Ed. Joseph Tardiff. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Contemporary Issues Companion. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 22 Nov. 2010.

    Read More

  • Legalization of Marijuana

    1053 Words  | 3 Pages

    Ever since marijuana’s introduction to the United States of America in 1611, controversy of the use and legalization of the claimed-to-be Schedule I drug spread around the nation. While few selective states currently allow marijuana’s production and distribution, the remaining states still skepticize the harmlessness and usefulness of this particular drug; therefore, it remains illegal in the majority of the nation. The government officials and citizens of the opposing states believe the drug creates a threat to citizens due to its “overly-harmful” effects mentally and physically and offers no alternate purposes but creating troublesome addicts hazardous to society; however, they are rather misinformed about marijuana’s abilities. While marijuana has a small amount of negligible effects to its users, the herbal drug more importantly has remarkable health benefits, and legalizing one of the oldest and most commonly known drugs would redirect America’s future with the advantages outweighing the disadvantages.

    Read More

  • Why Marijuana Should be Legalized

    2031 Words  | 5 Pages

    Wilson, Clare “The Case for Marijuana by Prescription." Marijuana (Contemporary Issues Companion). Tardiff, Joseph, ed. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2008. 63-70. Print

    Read More

  • Legalizing Marijuana Will Decreased Crime

    1426 Words  | 3 Pages

    Marijuana is the cause of much commotion and debating, as the question of legalization becomes more of an issue. Drugs are a major influential force in countries all over the world today. Legalization is an option that has not had a chance, but really should be given one. Although many people feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of drug use, legalization would benefit for the following reasons: 1)reduction of money spent on law enforcement 2)increase in the countries revenue 3)lessen crime 4)useful in treating certain medical conditions.

    Read More

  • Pros and Cons of Marijuana

    850 Words  | 2 Pages

    The legalization of marijuana has been a highly debated topic for many of years. Since the first president to the most recent, our nation’s leaders have consumed the plant known as weed. With such influential figures openly using this drug why is it so frowned upon? Marijuana is considered a gateway drug, a menace to society, and mentally harmful to its consumers. For some people weed brings a sense of anxiety, dizziness, or unsettling feeling. Like alcohol, tobacco or any other drug, those chemicals may not respond well with their body. For other people marijuana brings joy, a sense of relief, and takes the edge off of every day stress. For those who are associated with cannabis, purposes usually range from a relaxant, or cash crop, to more permissible uses such as medicine, and ingredient to make so many other materials. We now need to look at what would change if marijuana were legal. Benefits to the economy and agriculture, health issues, and crime rates are three areas worth looking at. Deliberating on the pros and cons of this plant we can get a better understanding for marijuana. From there it will be easier to make a clear consensus on what is best for the nation.

    Read More

  • The Debate Over Legalizing and Taxing Marijuana

    670 Words  | 2 Pages

    Krayewski, Ed. "What legalization looks like." Reason Apr. 2014: 10. Student Edition. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.

    Read More

  • Could the Legalization of Marijuana Save Our Economy?

    1211 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smith, Dave. "‘Medical’ Marijuana: 10 Health Benefits That Legitimize Legalization." . N.p., 8 Aug. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Pros & Cons of Legalization of Marijuana

    1651 Words  | 4 Pages

    The legalization of marijuana is considered a controversial issue, something that can benefit people for medical purposes, but what about recreationally? Marijuana has been illegal since 1937, but there’s never been a bigger push for legalization. There are several reasons why it is illegal, because of government propaganda and big industry not wanting to lose money, but this will be discussed later. The purpose of this paper is to educate, theorize, and discuss various aspects of marijuana, such as its history, development, and the advantages and disadvantages of marijuana legalization. Finally, my personal reflection on legalization and marijuana in general will be discussed.

    Read More

  • Legalizing Marijuana Is our Solution

    1390 Words  | 3 Pages

    Millions of people are suffering needlessly because of the prohibition against using medical marijuana, Rosenthal and Kubby assert. They conclude that marijuana should be decriminalized. ”(Rosenthal, Kubby) Today, I am going to help you understand the real benefits of marijuana. By the time that we are through, you will be agreeing with me and will want to be a part of the effort needed by citizens to legalize such a beneficial drug.

    Read More

  • Recreational Marijuana Should NOT Be Legal

    1696 Words  | 4 Pages

    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.

    Read More

More about Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere

Open Document