Dylan Kelley Rough Draft 11-15-10 Yes We Cannabis Should marijuana be legalized in the United States? Should people be punished for smoking a harmless natural plant? The legalization of marijuana is a topic that most Americans have a powerful say in. Some believe it should remain illegal because they believe it’s a “gateway” drug or because it causes violence. Others, like me, think that the government shouldn’t have the power to outlaw if it’s not harming or endangering others.
An estimated 1,663,582 arrests were issued in 2009 alone, this is an extreme amount of arrests, and it’s aiding to the overcrowding of jails. If Marijuana were to be legalized, these 1,663,582 jail cells would be open to inmates who deserve to be there. Another benefit to the jails is that with fewer inmates, they could control the populations easier, and have less trouble keeping peace amongst prisoners. Along with reducing inmate numbers, the legalization would also help free up time for attorneys and court appointed lawyers to help with larger cases. This intern will reduce the time for a prisoner to go through the judicial system, most inmates spend a good deal of time waiting for their court appearance, if they are innocent then this conflicts with their work and life.
The Legalization of Marijuana in America The debate on the legalization of marijuana is a very big concern. Many believe that it is time for a change. Marijuana has many medical uses that can help our sick. A lot of people in America argue that it is our bodies and we should be able to put what we want in them, so if a cancer patient is going through chemotherapy he/she should have the right to use marijuana to ease his pain. They say that marijuana is not as harmful as alcohol or tobacco products so why shouldn’t it be legal?
It is then left up to the patient to find a medical marijuana clinic and obtain a legal medical marijuana card. Marijuana has a plethora of benefits not only to our society but more for medical purposes. In an article written by John Burnett, he discusses possible outcomes if marijuana was legalized. He states that legalizing marijuana would drop crime and addiction rates. People who are addicted to narcotics due to chronic pain, would more than likely stop using if they could legally obtain marijuana.
In addition, smoking and having small possessions would no longer be considered a crime, so the smokers will not be sent to jail for simple possession of marijuana. With less marijuana related “crimes” the government can focus on catching real criminals, like crack cocaine dealers and
Marijuana’s Underground With the black-market marijuana industry becoming increasingly wealthy, the drug czars, are finding themselves dealing with several competitors. A quick and easy way to rid them of this competition is to threaten and murder the respective groups causing the competition. According to Harvard economist, Jeffery Miron, “Prohibition…drives the market underground…This means buyers and sellers cannot resolve their disputes with lawsuits, arbitration or advertising, so they resort to violence instead. (qtd. in
To Legalize Marijuana or Not.. General Goal: To persuade Specific Goal: To persuade individual to legalize marijuana Central idea: To educate individuals on what the benefits are for legalizing marijuana. Organization pattern: Introduction Attention step: We all have an opinion on the use of marijuana. Is it safe for us on a medical view or will it get out of hand and still be abused. Thesis statement: Marijuana has been decriminalized in several states on the basis that it will benefit the sick and boost the economy. Credibility statement: Marijuana has come along way from being the illegal substance that people abuse.
Some people think that legalizing marijuana is the only choice left. (Legalizing Marijuana) Others who disagree say that making marijuana legal will create more drug addicts and drug related crimes. (Zive, 2010) The people that want to make marijuana legal say that there is no good reason for it not to be legal. (Why Marijuana Shouls be Legal) We should have the right to make choices for ourselves as long as we are not harming others with our choice. The use of marijuana is far less harmful than other
Final Paper 5/13/2011 Marijuana in California. The debate regarding the legalization of soft drugs such as marijuana is capable of being characterized as one which pits the concept of freedom of the individual against the concept of a paternalistic State. Advocates of legalization argue that amongst other things, marijuana is not only less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are legal substances, but also as a matter of fact has been proven to possess certain medicinal property. The people who support the legalization are member of law enforcement and medical professionals, who really know how ineffective and unnecessary in stance prohibitionist. In contrast, those opposed to legalization argue that the legalization of marijuana will
With all the facts showing how much the decriminalization of marijuana would help benefit individuals, society and the government it is unclear as to why there are prohibitions put in place against the use of marijuana. It would be an overall great profit if marijuana were made legalized because it is such a growing industry that is not going to leave. Marijuana benefits individuals with serious and fatal illnesses and when compared to tobacco and alcohol it has less harsh health risks. There is no reason why marijuana should be illegal in Canada and it would only help benefit the majority of people if it were declared legal. As marijuana is a large part of Canadian society the issue needs to be addressed with an open