Making Marijuana Legal?
When discussing whether to ultimately make marijuana legal or maintaining the current restrictions on the substance, it is necessary to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages the general public would gain by either decision. You can go almost anywhere and find someone who is either for or against this topic. Some say marijuana is harmless and has definite medical and recreational value. Still, others say that it is a very dangerous drug and should be kept illegal and off the streets because of it being known as the “gateway” drug.
Marijuana is and, in my mind, always will be an illegal drug. Tons of it are shipped either in or out of the United States every year. It is probably one of the most attainable illegal drugs on the streets and is available pretty much everywhere. People have been abusing marijuana for centuries and still there is a debate whether to legalize it or not. It is a CNS depressant that can either be smoked or sometimes ingested orally. Marijuana has been shown to drastically slow reflexes in users and has been linked to car crashes and other accidents where fast reflexes were required. Since it is almost always smoked, the user runs the risk of contracted lung and other types of
cancer by inhaling the fumes. Especially if it is being smoked in cigar paper wrapping, or a “blunt”. In the 1930’s it was believed that smoking marijuana turned people into maniac killers. We now know that this is not true and that most of the time it does the exact opposite and makes the user very lethargic and almost catatonic if the user becomes too intoxicated by the substance. Besides the obvious risks associated with smoking marijuana there is the belief that marijuana, in some cases, can lead to the abuse of harsher more illicit drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. This is one of the most startling things about marijuana and if true, may be one of the main reasons that we never see it legalized.
Almost three-quarters of the American population think marijuana should be made legal to doctors in order to prescribe it to patients who suffer from acute pain due to different illnesses, such as cancer. It has been clinically proven to help reduce the miserable side-effects cancer patients must endure due to their kemo-therapy treatments. Besides helping cancer patients marijuana has been used to treat very severe cases of nausea, glaucoma, severe pain, depression, and even convulsions.
Many people say that marijuana should not be legalized in the United States, however, another percentage of the society says that marijuana should be legalized. Those who agree and disagree need to inform themselves about the pros and cons of marijuana. It is very important to see different point of views from each side because there are several consequences and benefits that the use of marijuana can cause. Legalizing marijuana can be dangerous because many people are not informed of the diseases they can get from using drugs. In most cases people try marijuana to see how it feels and how their bodies react, but there are many who try it once and they keep on doing it very often. Marijuana should not be legalized in the United States because
Marijuana has been used by people over many centuries for medical uses. It is a natural pain killer used today as a recreational drug by people all over the world. According to Noel Merino in, “Introduction to Gateway Drugs: Opposing Viewpoints”, “a drug is something other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body”. Marijuana is a very controversial drug and has been outlawed in many countries for its affect on the function of the body. “Effects may involve hallucinations, impaired judgment, and mood swings.” Describes the effects of marijuana in “Marijuana” Current Issues Macmillian social science library. During the past century Marijuana has been legal, made illegal, strictly enforced, decriminalized, protested, used illegally by millions of people, protested for both views, legalized for medical uses, and the debate continues. People claim that marijuana is not harmful and should be made legal; others protest that it is a dangerous drug that leads to other serious problems personally, socially, and politically. Marijuana has been to cause physical effects such as breathing problems due to the inhalation of smoke if that is the method being used to take the drug. In “Marijuana is Dangerous for Teens”, by Joseph Califano he states that, “nine percent of those who use marijuana become dependent on it”, although it is not a big number it is because that is not the biggest problem with marijuana. Along with all of the health problems that marijuana use causes it also opens up the debate over the gateway theory.
This is simply a list of pros and cons for why or why not Marijuana should be legalized. The strongest and most common argument of those that oppose legalization is that marijuana is a “gateway drug” that will lead users to use harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin down the road. Arguments from those who support legalization are that if used in moderation, marijuana is no more harful than alcohol or tobacco. Also, a strong argument is the outstanding fact that no person has been killed as a result of the use of marijuana alone. Also the benefit that states could potentially get by charging a tax on marijuana as well as the use of the drug being “morally wrong” have been brought up by either side of the debate.
Marijuana or cannabis, according to the Federal Government is considered dangerous and addictive and is, therefore, placed on the controlled substance list as a schedule 1 drug, making its use and possession illegal, as well it is considered one of the worst drugs. Other more harmful drugs such as cocaine are considered schedule II drugs, so according to the U.S Government cocaine is considered less hazardous than marijuana. There have been many studies conducted by scientist proving the benefits of medical marijuana in relieving chronic pain, nausea and a full array of other ailments. The benefits of legalizing marijuana far outweigh the bad. By allowing people to possess and use marijuana for medicinal purposes, we are improving society as a whole and increasing the happiness or utility of individuals who are living with debilitating conditions in turn this would create a happier society all around.
Marijuana was first introduced by the Chinese back in the B.C (before Christ) time period where it existed as a substance that carried ability to achieve a euphoria or a “high” as we refer to it today. In the early 4200s B.C. marijuana was better known for its medicinal value where it was being used to treat rheumatism, gout and malaria (Narcocon International ). Of course, society at the time was aware of the other effects marijuana had however at the time, they primarily focused on the medication capacity marijuana contained. Fast forwarding to 2015 where the medical use of marijuana is the biggest controversial topic, society views marijuana more of a harmful substance than a solution to nearly all of
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.
Marijuana has been used as medicine since the beginning of time, but because of the bad reputation surrounding marijuana you wouldn’t believe that marijuana first use was for medical purposes. Marijuana dates all the way back to 2900 BC, in China, where the Chinese emperor Fu Hsi noted that cannabis was a very popular medicine that possessed both yin and yang. The Egyptians also used cannabis for glaucoma, inflammation, and enemas. In India, they use Bhang, a drink of cannabis and milk, as an anesthetic and anti-phlegmatic. By the mid-1930s, marijuana was regulated in every state by laws instituted through The Uniform State Narcotic Act. Then in 1937 the Marihuana Tax Act was passed. The Act imposed a tax on anyone who dealt with marijuana, which lead to a decline in marijuana prescriptions. The Act didn’t criminalize the possession or use of marijuana but it did include penalty and enforcement provisions to which marijuana handlers were subject. Violation of these procedures could result in a fine up to $2000 and five years in prison. In 1972, the US congress placed marijuana in Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act because they considered it to have “no accepted medical use.” Research has shown that marijuana use is medically beneficial and that legalization would have a positive impact on patients who suffer from symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS. By keeping marijuana illegal, we are denying relieve, that marijuana provides to the patients that does not respond to the medicines that physicians prescribe or suffer from the side effect of these harsh drugs causes.
Since the 1930's marijuana has been illegal in the United States. Marijuana can relieve pain; it can prevent formations of cancer growths, mental health and chronic illnesses. Marijuana is one of the least known drugs to be known as the cause of a human beings death. According to the article by Morgan fox, Alcohol’s dangers undersold to youth, states that” There has never been a single death attributable solely to marijuana” (Alcohol's dangers). Millions of people in the United States suffer from chronic pain. A lot of that suffering cannot be relieved by existing treatments, for example subscribed pain killers. In the article by Bill McCarberg Marijuana Can Help in the Treatment of Pain it stated that “Patients are in desperate need of new pain management approaches” (McCarberg).
Marijuana is the 3rd most commonly abused substance in the world behind alcohol and tobacco, and the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States and should be illegal. Abuse refers to the misuse, excessive use, or recurrent use of marijuana. Marijuana is a hallucinogen, which means it distorts the way the brain sees the world. Think about what the world would be like if everyone had a distorted view of everything. When marijuana is smoked, the effects are felt within minutes. Most of the time, immediate effects include an increased heart rate, decreased coordination, and an unreal state of mind that is similar to being in a dream. Therefore, using marijuana could possibly lead to making irrational decisions. Marijuana should be illegal because of the health issues, the increased crime rate, and more. Smart people that don’t want to end up in the emergency room should be aware of all the possible dangers that come with marijuana abuse.
First, the most important aspect of any drug is health. Marijuana, contrary to common beliefs, does not pose a serious health risk. It is accepted that while under its influence, people can experience hallucinations, impaired judgment, mood swings, and memory problems (“Marijuana”). Many people use marijuana because they enjoy its hallucinations and the feeling of happiness that accompanies them. Others with serious diseases such as cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis, benefit from the pain and nausea relief, appetite stimulation, and reduced muscle spasms (“Marijuana”). Opponents of marijuana legalization argue that marijuana causes brain damage, lung diseas...
There are pros and cons to the issue. People have proposed many advantages and disadvantages to having marijuana legalized, however a lot of thought would need to be given to how this is actually done. There are issues such as legal limit, taxes, strength, and agricultural issues. Legalizing marijuana could also end, or significantly reduce, the drug trade as far as "pot" is concerned. Marijuana aka Pot, is a substance that could be rolled into a cigarette or smoked through a pipe. It is already being used for medical purposes. Proponents of smoking marijuana state that it "mellows people out", and can be relaxing. Some people state it can make a person "paranoid". It could also affect judgment. If marijuana is legal, at what point is a person under the influence? When can it be used safely? The following essay will discuss the pros and cons of legalized marijuana. There are several advantages to legalizing marijuana. Most importantly, regulations would make marijuana a certain strength and the product safer. Secondly, it would make sense to purchase it like tobacco in a safe, tax paying store as opposed to "on the street." The United States could also grow the crops and and keep the money in the US. Finally, the taxes generated would help improve the depressed economy. Many say marijuana should not be bought in the store like milk. It is a mind altering drug and is not safe. People
As of today the nation stands behind three basic ideas of what to do with marijuana; legalize marijuana, make it legal only as a prescription drug, or keep it as it is, illegal. People, who are pro-marijuana like me, argue that marijuana is considerably less harmful than tobacco and alcohol, the most frequently used legal drugs. Furthermore marijuana has never directly caused anyone's death. People who side with the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes believe that the ends justify the means. But the people who want to keep it illegal think that the medical uses do not outweigh the harmful side effects.
Marijuana use for medical purposes has been a major controversy in the United States and other countries for several years. A few doctors favor medical marijuana use because it specifically helps certain types of medial issues such as cancer, Aids, etc. It is obviously hazardous to give a patient too much medication and in some cases, the medications that is prescribed does not help and can make the patient more sick. Across the United States doctors should be allowed to use it to help patients whose conditions may be alleviated by marijuana use. Doctors should legally be able to use marijuana to assist patients who have certain types of medical problems.
For cancer patients that help try to erase and remove cancer cells from the body. The process of chemotherapy, a common cancer treatment process can be long and harsh on the human body since you are putting in harmful chemicals into the body. The patients suffer because there is no medicine that is allowed to be prescribed by doctors that can legitimately help the patient with their pain. However, there are people who are trying to make a case for medical marijuana. Medical Marijuana has been proven to help people who suffer from severe pain and also it has shown that it can slow down the cancer cell activity by about 25%. Given these reasons, Medical Marijuana should be allowed to be prescribed by doctors because it benefits the health of
The Drug Trafficking is the terminology used for addressing production, cultivation, distribution and selling of the drugs in an illicit manner against the laws that prohibit the use of such drugs like cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, heroine etc. Crime and violence spreading due to growing influence of drug industry and international drug trafficking and its impact on the economic opportunities of the citizens and geopolitical stability worldwide has been emerging as a core and prominent issue concerned with the Geopolitical Science. From past one decade, this illegal international drug trafficking has occupied almost 1% of the global business as more than 1.3 trillion dollars have been traded in 2009 into it.1 The illegal trading, economic instability, deterioration of human life, geo-political instability and burgeoning dominance of crime and violence proliferated by the Drug Trafficking encourages transnational organized crime across the borders and poses a threat to the sanity, morality, humanity harmony and democratic values of our society and hence it should be handled proactively in collaboration with IGOs and NGOs by implementing stern strategies for diminishing its impact across the society.