Marijuana Should Be Legal

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Today it is not uncommon to be watching television and come across an advertisement promoting the use of alcohol and cigarettes. Both substances are detrimental to your health, and have no medical value yet both are legal to anyone of age.

To a Cancer or AIDS patients seeking relief from marijuana, these commercials must be difficult to bear. Peter McWilliams stated, "Marijuana is the finest anti-nausea medication known to science, and our leaders have lied about this consistently. (Arresting people for) medical marijuana is the most hideous example of government interference in the private lives of individuals. It's an outrage within an outrage within an outrage”. Many people do not realize the benefits of Marijuana and hemp because of conservative views and misconceptions.

Marijuana, or Hemp has been used since the beginning of recorded history. It has been used recreationally, medically, and for industrial uses. On August 2, 1937 Marijuana was made illegal. The cause was based on discrimination and racism most notably by Harry J. Anslinger director of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics.

Anslinger brought the Marijuana Tax Act to congress in 1937 making many racial slurs and statements such as “ There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others”. After a series of statements like this Congress passed the bill and Marijuana became officially illegal. This was hard to believe since less than a decade before the government encouraged the growing of hemp because of its many uses.

The main reason Marijuana is still illegal is mainly due to misconceptions about the drug, and conservatives who would not stand for it….Until they are diagnosed with Glaucoma, Cancer, or Aids; That might change there view a bit. Many people do not even know the benefits of the hemp plant. It can be used for fuel, food, oil, housing, paper, textiles, and for medicinal uses. People who are undergoing Chemotherapy are suffering from nausea and lose all sense of hunger; marijuana is the perfect antidote. It a...

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...e role, and routinely contact our elected officials.

There is no reason America should be denied this god-given plant. Its uses are endless unlike drugs such as cigarettes and alcohol. Whether you hate or love the ideal of marijuana being decriminalized, America is about freedom, and If you want to use marijuana medically you should be given your freedom of choice.

Works Cited

www.ThinkExist.com

Marijuana and Health, May 24 2014 www.Norml.com

Why is Marijuana Illegal? December 22 2014 www.blogs.salon.com

Anslinger sees a Demon. www.drug-culture.com/history

Hemp Could Save America. February 2 2014 www.RENSE.com EPSCOhost

Paul, Pamela Attitudes Towards Marijuana. American Demographics June 2014 p18 2p EPSCOhost

Sheramata, Davis. The Rehabilitation of Hemp Newsmagazine August 8 2014 p14 2p EPSCOhost

Klein, David. Marijuana During Adolescents Medical Journal November 2014 p976 EPSCOhost

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