Decriminalization Of Legalizing Marijuana

As society progresses it tends to leave behind the very principles it was established upon.

In the last half­century, the law has worked diligently to prevent and suppress the use of such

illegal drugs as marijuana. America imitated a took a stand and joined the war on drugs in the

1960’s by passing numerous policies and regulations( “A Brief History of the Drug War” 5).

American children are being taught from a young age through various school programs and

community groups to say no to drugs.The legalization of marijuana, coupled with the greed of

society, Americans are contradicting the very values they have instilled upon their children by

indulging in the use and advocating for the use of such drugs, thus legalization possesses

With the emergence of drug use as a source of rebellion for teenagers in the 1960s,

America was forced to launch a so called “War on Drugs” in 1971 by President Nixon (5). New

policies were introduced in the United States to combat the use of illegal drugs, such policies

consisted of strengthening the control agencies. Nixon even then, “temporarily placed marijuana

in Schedule One, the most restrictive category of drugs”(5). Many politicians, however,

advocated for the “decriminalization” of marijuana up until the increase in teen use of

The pure

benefits of legalization do not outweigh the contradiction of once highly esteemed values in

society.

While many argue that the legalization of marijuana would be beneficial for several

reasons to the United States government, those benefits do not provide justification for doing so.

Revenue has increased through taxation of the now legalized drug in the aforementioned four

states. Greed tends to dictate the decisions made in society. When someone of greed is presented

with an opportunity to net them money, more often than not, they will take the proposition.

When the state governments saw the legalization of marijuana as an opportunity to make money,

they took it. The economic boom is not worth the potential downfall of society and past values.

Others argue that crime rates have lowered due to legalization, but this should be expected when

making something illegal, legal. Legalization of marijuana, while it may have benefits, is not a

step America needs to take.

America is contradicting the very values it has instilled upon the youngest generations