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persuasive essay arguing the legalization of marijuana
persuasive essay arguing the legalization of marijuana
persuasive essay arguing the legalization of marijuana
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High Time for Change
“I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?” -Willie Nelson ("101 Marijuana Quotes: Funny, Inspirational, And Face Palms - Mary Jane 's Diary."). Once legal, marijuana was used for medicinal purposes and the hemp from the stem of the plant was even used in products such as paper, fuel, and clothing (“5 ways Hemp Will Change Our World”). As manufactured pharmaceuticals began to grow in the 1920s and 30s, the use of herbal medicine diminished because physicians did not believe it was as effective. Now illegal, it is classified as a
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The controversy surrounding marijuana has been based on negative effects that have long been disproven such as a high rate of addiction and an increased risk of cancer. Despite this, some still believe that marijuana is dangerous and should remain illegal. Although, many others believe otherwise. The use of marijuana should be legalized due to the adverse effects of prohibition as well the inarguable economical and medical benefits.
Research shows that the prohibition of marijuana produces more unsatisfactory results than intended. Prohibition actually creates a black market rather than eliminating it, because due to marijuana being illegal people turn to these black markets in order to sell and purchase the drug. This also leads to an increase in drug and gang violence because instead of legally being able to solve conflicts that comes along with this business, some use violence to resolve
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The production and sale of marijuana could be taxed if legalized, which would cause tremendous economic growth in the United States. The cost of government expenditures could be reduced a significant amount annually. The government would no longer have to spend money used for the incarceration and prosecution of cannabis users and sellers. This would lead to 1.8 billion dollars being saved a year, which is the amount of money the police spend arresting marijuana consumers and dealers. Taxpayers would also save a hefty sum of money if marijuana were legalized. American taxpayers contribute 41.8 billion dollars a year in the enforcement of laws concerning marijuana. If marijuana was taxed like all other goods about $2.4 billion dollars in revenue could be produced annually. If it was taxed the same way alcohol and tobacco were, nearly 6.2 billion dollars in revenue could be seen every year (Miron). In addition to helping the economy, the legalization of marijuana could also help those who deal with agonizing pain due to illness or
First of all, illegal sales of marijuana are booming. According to an article on Cedro-uva.org, people often pay over eight dollars a gram for the drug, spending approximately nine billion dollars each year (Harrison)! Most of these costs are solely due to dealer inflation. Drugs are often purchased and resold multiple times, their prices increasing with each sale. Dealers sell their product for hundreds of times the production costs, making huge personal profits with each sale. This money then leaves the economic system and ends up instead in the dealers’ pockets. Having less money circulating in the economy places strain on the system. In this way, illegal sales of marijuana are directly contributing to the economic deficit in which our country is currently finding itself.
Marijuana is one of the oldest cultivated plants. (Nahas,1986) The first people to introduce the potential healing properties of marijuana were the Chinese. About five thousand years ago, the people of the plains of Central Asia began cultivating the plant for its oil and fiber. The United States was introduced to marijuana in the 16th century. It was brought over by the Spanish and British and used for its fiber. The plant’s intoxicating properties were only discovered in the late 19th century. It was used for the production of rope and cloth until the 20th century and now it is widely a drug used preferably for pleasure.
It goes by many names, including pot, grass, weed, hemp, hash, ganja, gas, and a dozen of others.Marijuana has been used by humans for many centuries. It was grew in Africa and Asia and merited because of its protein and omega-3 content. Marijuana may well have been the first cultivated speculation that Stone Age man may have used a wild herd to speed up this language skills. Some people think marijuana may have opened the door to greater consciousness. Cannabis is still inspiring new discoveries and a deeper understanding of health and nature.Marijuana has been always seen as a “safe” drug to use with no serious complications or side effects. Since the 20th Century, marijuana has been prescribed by doctors for use to deal with the bad effects
Criminalization of cannabis causes a weakened economy due to taxpayers paying to financially support America’s inmates and all of the tax money available if marijuana was regularly taxed. Also, with lawful cannabis not available, crime rate and violence within city our streets continues to be an issue. Prohibition of cannabis in the United States sponsors extreme violence and corruption and fails to curb the availability to children ("Marijuana Legalization and Regulation”). With cannabis being criminalized, the United States is also losing the largest potential cash crop because of marijuana’s many uses and benefits.
The cannabis plant has been the topic of much debate throughout the history of this country. Many people don't know that it was not the effect of cannabis that originally spurred its banning. It was actually originally the work of the cotton industry who put big money behind illegalization for the plant's mind altering effects. The cotton industry was afraid that hemp, a product of the cannabis plant, would soon overpower the strong hold of cotton since it was a more durable textile that required less work, less ground depletion, and could be grown almost anywhere. Since the time when cannabis first became illegal it has been grouped with other narcotics as a counterpart. The truth is cannabis has many benefits to society and other than the effects of smoke inhalation has very few negatives. Those against legalization try to put cannabis in the same light as other more potent drugs like cocaine and heroin. There are many misconceptions about the substance and it is clear it should be looked at separately.
Through recent years, society has been faced with the controversial and obtrusive issue of whether or not to legalize marijuana. In the past, and even still in the present, marijuana has often been regarded as an illicit and malicious drug. However, research shows that marijuana is not nearly as bad as society deems it to be. Rather it can be used to greatly benefit humanity. Cannabis’ (marijuana) range of beneficial uses include: helping former veterans cope with life after war, alleviate symptoms for people who suffer with Parkinson 's and epilepsy, and replace prescription drugs. This disputation regarding marijuana can be solved by simply legalizing it for recreational purposes, and implementing laws and regulations similar to that of alcohol.
The issue of legalizing marijuana has been around for decades and there are many people on either side of the issue. Millions of people support the legalization of marijuana and those people have reasons as to why they think marijuana should be legalized throughout the United States. People for the legalization of the drug argue it will boost the already weak economy and bring in large sums of money for the national and state governments. Another claim they have made is that it will help prevent the war on drugs in Mexico and the public concern for the war has given momentum to the cause of legalizing marijuana. On the other side of this situation, millions of people oppose legalizing marijuana because of the ill-effects it has on its users.
Marijuana is a fast-growing bushy plant with dense sticky flowers. It has been a part of our American culture for hundreds of years. It has been referred to as a poison, drug and narcotic. It is believed that marijuana was introduced by the Spanish in 1545 to Chile. In America the plant was first grown in Virginia and Massachusetts in the sixteen hundreds. It became a major commercial crop that was grown along with tobacco and was a source of fiber for fabric, rope and cloth. Later it was used to treat many health problems. During the 19th century many medical articles were written discussing marijuana’s value in treating conditions. The plant was considered legal from the 1600’s until the 19th century. Marijuana became popular in the mid-19th century and was in most drugstores through the beginning of the 20th century. It was around this time that recreational use of marijuana was becoming acknowledged. Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. This is a federal law that made the possession or transfer of marijuana illegal throughout the United States. This law was the precursor to the crimina...
In the last fiscal year alone, marijuana brought 70 million dollars in tax revenue in the state of Colorado. Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana recreationally in the fall of 2012, and since then three other states and the District of Columbia have legalized the plant. Based off of sales in states that have legalized marijuana recreationally, if all fifty states legalized marijuana, they would bring in a combined 3 billion dollars in tax revenue yearly. That much money from sales of the plant alone could help to stabilize the suffering economy. Moreover, the American Government would be able to control the plant and distribute it how ever they see fit. The economic growth marijuana legalization could bring to the United States outweighs any argument against
A recurring question in the United States, should marijuana be legalized for recreational use? Although it once was seen as a gateway drug that would lead to a life spiraling out of control. Today, that is not the case in most Americans minds. The support for legalization of marijuana has continued to grow throughout the years and it shows with many Americans now flying in the clouds. Bill Hicks once said, “ Why is marijuana against the law? It grows naturally upon our planet. Doesn’t the idea of making nature against the law seem to you a bit . . . unnatural?”. Legalizing recreational use of marijuana will impact economy with tax revenue, marijuana decriminalization would free up law enforcement resources and positively take place of addictive prescription drugs. Colorado for example, in the first six months marijuana was legal a huge sector of jobs became available. Job opportunities within the community balances the economy and lowers the unemployment rate. In an article written by Jeff Roberts he declares that, “The
First, the legalization of marijuana would have a tremendous economic impact. Since “marijuana is thought to be the second most profitable cash crop in the United States,” (Erb __) the government could control and then tax the drug if it is legal. This would mean that an enormous amount of money could be raised through the taxing of the drug. A recent study at Harvard estimated that “marijuana legalization would yield tax revenue of $2.4 billion dollars annually if marijuana were taxed like all other goods and $6.2 billion annually if marijuana were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol or tobacco” (Miron ____). The money raised from this tax could be used to improve schools, roads, and public parks. In the end, legalizing marijuana would be a great benefit to the economy.
It’s dangerous, addictive, and destroys millions of teen lives, that is what we are led to believe about marijuana. We have been conditioned to think it is bad and the people that use it are bad. Over 98 million people over the age of 12 have smoked. It is very common, and plays a substantial role in modern day pop culture. The problem is that so many of us are unfamiliar with all the benefits marijuana provides. Instead of assuming it’s dangerous, as a country we should keep an open-mind to the positives it may bring to the United States. That is why the legalization of marijuana should be available for those at least 21 years of age because of the economic, health and social benefits.
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.
...llegalized for a long time without any evidence of success. The drug has become purer, more available, and cheap in the recent past. Demand and supply for marijuana has increased despite the harsh policies and the war on drugs. Legalizing marijuana will reduce the boom in the black market and reduce crime, corruption, and violence associated with drug cartels. Millions of dollars used for incarceration will be redirected to rehabilitation, which will reduce dependence, especially among younger users. Legalization will allow users of marijuana to buy from legal and safe sources. The war on drugs has been ineffective in reducing drug use despite spending a lot of money on incarcerations. Mass incarceration in the drug war has had negative effects on the society because most imprisoned individuals are non-violent offenders who pose no legitimate threat to the community.
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.