Ms. Schneider A-Teacher/Government
English 1 A, Period F-Essay format
6 November 2013 T-Effects of legalization of marijuana in the U.S.
If the U.S. Legalized Marijuana
Although marijuana has not one reported death in history the government can still find ways to convince the American people that it is deadlier than alcohol which kills 75,000 U.S. citizens per year. The government made the medicine illegal after they found out the plant could be grown in or around the home. With the plant available to the general public the government did not want to stay to themselves and thought they had to intervene. In 1937 the U.S. finally put their plan into action with the Marijuana Tax Act which made the production of marijuana illegal inside of the United States borders. The legalization of marijuana would bring together a new era of peace and put crime to sleep. Prisons would be less stocked because of a petty crime, and our economy would get back in shape with the tax revenue collected by the country itself. (Bigelow and Edgar) Dating back to 2737 BCE nations and great leaders have used marijuana as a medicinal substance. Unlike most drugs marijuana comes from a plant, Cannabis Sativa. In a concentrated state it can be used as a hallucinogen but since our forefathers came over we have used it as a cheaper alternative to paper and an alternative to deadly medicines as well. If the U.S. were to ever legalize the usage of marijuana our forests would be rebuilt. Along with that comes the possibility of new cures in the medicine making industries. Since 1937 doctors and pharmaceutical companies have not been allowed to experiment with the plant but instead are stuck with the “what ifs”. Many people argue that one “what if” includes the possibility that marijuana could be a key in curing cancer. (Bjornlund) Prisons are another issue this country has to deal with. Smoking marijuana is a
Cited: Bigelow, Barbara C., and Kathleen J. Edgar. "Marijuana." UXL Encyclopedia of Drugs & Addictive Substances. Vol. 4. Detroit: UXL, 2006. Print. Bjornlund, Lydia. Prescription Drugs. San Diego, CA: ReferencePoint, 2009. Print. Cooper, Mary H. The Business of Drugs. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Quarterly, 1990. Print. "What Are the Penalties for Possession of Marijuana?" Get Smart About Drugs. Drug Enforcement Administration n.d. Web. 08 Nov. 2013.