Gateway Drug Research Paper

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Dana Sigman Mrs. Atchison AP190 23 March 2012 The Gateway Drug to a Decent Economy and Healthcare System What kind of money grows on trees? Marijuana. It reigns as the most popular drug in America, but it remains illegal. In the past, prohibition failed during the Great Depression, and it will fail now. The prohibited drug, marijuana, scientifically known as cannabis sativa, typically provides a psychedelic high and relaxes the muscles. Tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive chemical commonly known as THC, causes this high that provides great uses to the medical field. Adversely, society tacks several false theories onto the subject of marijuana, including its title as the “gateway drug” to the worst. American even criminalized the drug…show more content…
Its medical use must be approved before scientists can gain research to make a decision. “The science on medical marijuana remains unacceptably thin, largely because a drug-war mind-set has kept the U.S. government from commissioning research that could give insight into its efficacy” (“To Clear”). Even California rejected the proposition of recreational marijuana because of the uncertainty behind it. In addition, once medical marijuana gains approval, the cause for recreational legalization lacks victims for which people have sympathy. Society feels compassion towards those with illnesses that need the drug, but they will not feel remorseful towards people seeking a high. With that argument, some advocates of legalization relate it to alcohol and tobacco products in their arguments, but those drugs do not have the same properties. Until society knows enough information, recreational legalization must remain a secondary…show more content…
Owning up to facts on marijuana would cause them to lose conservative votes. Their selfish attitudes only starve America. After all, medical marijuana would transform illegal jobs into legal ones. Besides that, it would stimulate the economy. In this recession, a new source of revenue would greatly help. Americans established that they will never completely eliminate drug use. “Pot legalization supporters have argued for decades that prohibition has failed to curb pot use, and that the policy enriches drugs cartels, hurts casual users and deprives governments of a potentially lucrative source of tax revenue” (“Pot”). Most of all, it wastes time. Recently, a city council distributed scratch and sniff cards to households, in hopes that residents would assist in the war by pointing out smells to the police (Webb). The idea of doling out perfumed papers seems ridiculous and inane in a sophisticated society. The illogical, billion dollar war continues to fail because politicians know that “…being “tough” on drugs is politically safer than the uncertain ground of moderation” (Schrag). Alas, they choose to play out of harm’s way in order to stay in
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