Argument for and Against
Factors For and Against
Marijuana should be legalized in the United States.
Reasons for legalization (ranked from strongest to weakest)
1. Medical benefits for terminal illnesses such as cancer.
2. Police and court resources would be freed to pursue more serious crimes.
3. The FDA could regulate the quality and safety of the drug.
4. This drug has fewer side effects that most currently legal narcotics.
5. Legalization would lower prices, thereby reducing crimes such as theft.
6. If taxed sales of this drug would help lift the U.S. economy by billions of dollars a year.
Reasons against legalization (ranked from strongest to weakest)
1. Issues such as driving under the influence may increase.
2. Legalizing this drug might increase the number of juvenile users.
3. This drug may be a gateway drug to more dangerous drugs such as heroin or cocaine
4. There would be an increase in lung damage and the damage to non-users through second hand smoke.
5. Legalization of this drug could lead to legalization of “harder” drugs
6. Some consider this drug morally wrong.
I have seen the effects this drug has on a terminally ill patient. My late husband, who was just 39 years old when he died of colon cancer, used Marijuana on just a couple of occasions and the difference before and after its use were abundantly clear. Tom was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 36, and only given 15 months to live, because of his military and ethical background he swore he would never use Marijuana unless it was legalized. As his illness got worse his thinking changed, he just wanted to feel better, and the narcotics he was prescribed by his oncologist made him weak, tired, decreased his appetite and caused nausea. He hated being on these narcotics as he didn’t feel he could enjoy the little life he had left, he could barely get out of bed let alone play with his children. During the second year of his illness we went camping with some friends,
Marijuana should be legalized in the United States.
Reasons for legalization (ranked from strongest to weakest)
1. Medical benefits for terminal illnesses such as cancer.
2. Police and court resources would be freed to pursue more serious crimes.
3. The FDA could regulate the quality and safety of the drug.
4. This drug has fewer side effects that most currently legal narcotics.
5. Legalization would lower prices, thereby reducing crimes such as theft.
6. If taxed sales of this drug would help lift the U.S. economy by billions of dollars a year.
Reasons against legalization (ranked from strongest to weakest)
1. Issues such as driving under the influence may increase.
2. Legalizing this drug might increase the number of juvenile users.
3. This drug may be a gateway drug to more dangerous drugs such as heroin or cocaine
4. There would be an increase in lung damage and the damage to non-users through second hand smoke.
5. Legalization of this drug could lead to legalization of “harder” drugs
6. Some consider this drug morally wrong.
I have seen the effects this drug has on a terminally ill patient. My late husband, who was just 39 years old when he died of colon cancer, used Marijuana on just a couple of occasions and the difference before and after its use were abundantly clear. Tom was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 36, and only given 15 months to live, because of his military and ethical background he swore he would never use Marijuana unless it was legalized. As his illness got worse his thinking changed, he just wanted to feel better, and the narcotics he was prescribed by his oncologist made him weak, tired, decreased his appetite and caused nausea. He hated being on these narcotics as he didn’t feel he could enjoy the little life he had left, he could barely get out of bed let alone play with his children. During the second year of his illness we went camping with some friends,