Federal Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana, weed, cannabis, hemp, or grass, it is called by many names and has gotten a bad rap in the past few decades, but it should be federally legalized. We have been encouraged to believe it is a “gateway” drug and that it may lead to addiction and various health issues. Yet there are many therapeutic benefits as well as practical applications. The consumption of marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol and smoking cigarettes. There is an excessive amount of money spent every year on its regulation, criminalization and prohibition.
“Caulkins calculates that anywhere from $1.5 billion to $2 billion worth of marijuana might be sold in California each year. The wholesale price per pound is below $3,000, according to locals familiar with the market” (Kolhatkar, businessweek.com). Statistical figures shows that even though marijuana is illegal right now, there are still a number of marijuana trades going on furtively between drug cartels and normal citizens. Those drug cartels make uncountable profits every year by selling marijuana because they are the
Many believe marijuana is a stress reliever and a way to forget all their problems, but if one would realize the actual effects and the difficulty to be able to “cut back” on smoking/eating it, the drug lobby would not be trying so hard to con voters into believing marijuana is completely safe. To face this problem the organized participation of society is required through actions that put the health of individuals and communities before other interests. Including being worried about the number of marijuana consumers among children and adolescents in the world, and particularly worried about the age decreasing for first timers. More importantly get closer to decision makers and ask them to develop well-balanced national policies for supply reduction and demand reduction by initiating prevention programs, and offering rehabilitation as means too face this social phenomenon society calls the drug
No recorded deaths have been recorded as a result of marijuana use, it is not physically addictive like alcohol or tobacco, and doctors will agree it is safer to use than most substances. These are just a few to remind you that maybe legalizing marijuana really isn’t that bad. It is important to realize that the vast majority of deaths on the drug war simply would not happen without prohibition. When drug dealers fight it out over territory and they or their neighbors are killed in the process, it is a symptom of prohibition, much as when we suffered the scourge of alcohol prohibition many years ago. Prohibition makes violence
Both sides are fighting to be right and win. Whether drugs are legalized or stay illegal one or both sides of the argument will be unhappy, unless they come to a compromise. The recent legalization of medical marijuana in some states could be looked at as a compromise. With the compromise, marijuana is legal with the certain prescription, but still is illegal and has repercussions if used for the wrong reason. Another compromise is the decriminalization of marijuana; if someone is to be in possession of less than one ounce then it is just a misdemeanor.
More people smoke the drug today than ever before even if it is illegal. Some states have decriminalized it allowing for simple possession and consumption, but the others still believe there are many problems with allowing the use of drugs. People believe marijuana makes everyone carefree and lazy, and
The pro marijuana legalization is backed with many facts that make it the better option compared to the false assumption that marijuana is a terrible drug that only causes problems. Marijuana being legal would help the United States that is in dire need of help. Too many people still look down on the drug simply due to its false reputation. The states that have legalized marijuana have seen a change in how the drug is used. It is still in the top three drugs used around the world.
Hemp varieties typically contain around a 1:20 THC to CBD ratio, where as marijuana has been bred to lower percentages of CBD and may contain a 20:1 or even higher THC to CBD content ratio. (Hemp Facts, 1997) Not only are there not high enough levels of THC to cause the psychoactive affects that “users” are looking for, but the elevated CBD content of hemp would prevent the “user” from ever achieving a “high” no matter the amount of hemp they consumed. Countries which allow industrial hemp farming have not noted problems with hemp being used as a drug. However, the United States government appears to be unwilling to face the actual facts regarding the differences between industrial hemp and
My answer is no I think it would just cause more problems than it would solve. I believe marijuana is a good use for medicinal purposes but if it was legalized very few people would be using it medicinally. I believe the majority of people that used marijuana would be using it to achieve a high and in the repeated process would become addicted. I also believe that if marijuana was legal it would become a lot easier for teenagers and young adults to get their hands on marijuana even if your suppose to be 18 to get it there will be the sellers that don’t care about the age group their selling to. There are some teens that will stop at nothing to get their hands on any drugs but if marijuana was legalized it would be just that much easier.
Phil Lucero Shearer English 101 24 November 2012 Legalize It, Don't Criticize It Marijuana is one of the most widely used substances in the United States, third only to alcohol and nicotine. It is a plant that is capable of creating a billion dollar industry, providing jobs for many, and earning money for the federal government. Unfortunately it is illegal to grow or possess Marijuana in the United States, and because of this, the federal government has spent a substantial amount of money in an attempt to police the crime associated with its illegality. Marijuana should be legal in the United States as its legalization would create jobs, provide revenue for the government, reduce crime, and end an expensive and ineffective