Even though if Cannabis were to be legalized there would be no way to regulate its use, Cannabis should be legalized for both medicinal and recreational use because Cannabis is not a lethal drug and is safer than alcohol. Cannabis use has positive effects, such as its medicinal value and use as a recreational drug with few side effects. Cannabis has been on earth in various regions for thousands and thousands of years. Its many benefits, both medicinal and recreational, have only just been theorized and scrutinized as seen in its current classification as a Schedule I narcotic drug. It has not always been this way. Cannabis has been documented countless times in history as being used as an herbal supplement, in ancient ceremonies, and the early years of medicine. Its legality has been the cause of great debate, both sides arguing tooth-and-nail, fighting for their side of the issue. Personally, I believe that Cannabis should be legalized in its entirety for both medicinal and recreational use in adults in the United States. A great example of how safe Cannabis is can be found by reading “Here Are All The People Who Have Died From A Marijuana Overdose”, an article published by The Huffington Post. The article clearly states that not a single person has ever died from a [Cannabis] overdose. This information is further affirmed by stating, “a [Cannabis] smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times the amount of THC in a joint in order to be at risk of dying” (Wing, 2013). The author, Nick Wing, clearly points out that Cannabis is a non-lethal, safe, humanly consumable plant with no obvious risks of death from its use whether it be medicinal or recreational. Does this show that the United States has wrongly placed Cannabis as a... ... middle of paper ... ...l being around today? Works Cited Mokdad AH, Marks JS, Stroup DF, Gerberding JL. Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. (2004, March 10). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15010446?dopt=Abstract ("Actual causes of," 2004) High Times Magazine. 10 Reasons marijuana should be legal. (2014, January 17). Retrieved from http://www.hightimes.com/read/10-reasons-marijuana-should-be-legal (“10 Reasons,” 2014) Wing, Nick. Here Are All The People Who Have Died From A Marijuana Overdose. (2013, September 4). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/marijuana-deaths_n_3860418.html (Wing, 2013) Young, F. L. U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Agency. (1988). Marijuana rescheduling petition (Docket Number 86-22). Retrieved from http://www.oregon.gov/pharmacy/Imports/Marijuana/Public/SRay/CourtDocket86-22.pdf (Young, 1988)
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.
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.
Khamsi, R. (2013, May 31) How Safe Is Recreational Marijuana. Scientific American. Retrieved from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-safe-recreational-marijuana
Wilson, Clare “The Case for Marijuana by Prescription." Marijuana (Contemporary Issues Companion). Tardiff, Joseph, ed. Farmington Hills: Greenhaven Press, 2008. 63-70. Print
"NIDA InfoFacts: Marijuana.” National Institute of Drug Abuse, Nov. 2010. Web. 12 Dec. 2011. .
Marijuana is a harmful drug and should not be legalized. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug used in the United States. It is a plant that grows from the ground however, it contains many harmful toxins. There are many pros and cons for the legalization of marijuana although there are more cons than there are pros; one being that children are the ones who abuse marijuana the most. Surprisingly, against other beliefs, marijuana smoking actually does impair the user’s ability to drive a lot like the effects of alcohol and it is more addictive than alcohol. Based on this information, many have concluded that marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use.
25% of the deaths h in 1991 and is the most common cause of death
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.
Cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, is a plant that people have been using recreationally for years. In fact, people have consumed marijuana since ancient times. Until 1906, the year the United States Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act. The debate on whether or not marijuana should be legalized in the United States has really blown up within the last decade. And finally, in 2012, Colorado became the first state to officially legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational uses. The prohibition of marijuana has gone on for far too long, and it is time for America to change its views.
Smith, Dave. "‘Medical’ Marijuana: 10 Health Benefits That Legitimize Legalization." . N.p., 8 Aug. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Stack, Patrick, and Claire Suddath. “A Brief History of Medical Marijuana.” Time Health and Family. Time, Inc., 21 Oct. 2009. Web. Dec. 2013.
"Myths and Facts About Marijuana." Marijuana: The Facts. Drug Policy Alliance Network. 27 Apr. 2009.
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.
Over two thirds of deaths in each year among estimated yearly deaths are due to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetics, cancer and upper res...
Bienenstock, David. "Nope, Still No Such Thing as a Fatal Marijuana Overdose." VICE. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Feb. 2014.