legalization of marijuana

Mary Jo Copper
English 1250
December 21, 2013 Marijuana should be legalized in America for both medical and recreation use. There are many reasons to support this opinion. Marijuana probation is a costly failure; studies have shown no negative health effects from the smoking of marijuana. Organized crime would disappear by reducing the crime at the Mexican border because the major drug lords would no longer profit from the sales. Downsize jails. A major portion of tax money goes towards people being incarcerated for having marijuana. Away from their friends and family, but professional athletes movie stars and other famous people are giving far lighter punishment for the same crime (Cecilius). Nationally, over 830,000 marijuana related arrest are made every year; more than 70,000 Americans are currently in prison for possession or sale of pot. Think about that; 70,000 Americans, locked up for something that next to one thinks is as dangerous as alcohol. Another fun fact arrest for pot now out numbers those for all violent crimes combined. Studies also show that probation cost are high and law enforcement are over burden all over the country and again a major fact in the overcrowding of prisons across the United States. According to the website Blaze NC by Art Binaries says we spend 70 billion dollars a year by prosecuting the disastrous “war on drugs” (Cecilius). Cannabis sativa is a drug that is commonly known by people with the name marijuana. The legalization of marijuana has been considered as one of the most controversial issues that are prevailing all over the globe. In the United States, a lot of debate keeps focuses on the issue whether or not marijuana should be legalized or not. The Chinese writings that date back from the 2700B.C. document the use of weed for medicine (Researchomatic) Doctor W.B.O’Shaughnessy from the medical College of Calcutta first wrote about the benefits from the use of marijuana for such aliments of rheumatic fever pains, constipation, malaria and a few more. We now know that cancer and aids patients benefit from THC found in the plan. Scientist has identified sixty six biologically active ingredients the one potent is the delta nine tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC according to the American Cancer Society. They are using a form of synthetic THC for use in relieving symptoms and side effects in cancer patients. Medical marijuana is allowed in fourteen states and the District of Columbia (Fiket). Some anticancer drugs cause vomiting and nausea because the affect the part of the brain that controls vomiting and also irritate the stomach lining. Some patients do not respond to standard treatment and THC used in pill or suppository help relive these symptoms (Fiket). According to the National Cancer Institute anorexia-loss of appetites’ the common symptom in cancer patients and is frequently occurs together with cachexia-weakness and progressive loss of body weight, fat and muscle. In 1999 the institute of medicine issued a report commissioned by the office of National Drug Control Policy, where they indicated that cannabinoids, particularly THC, have some potential to relieve pain and stimulate appetite (Fiket). Marijuana should be legalized to end the brutal cartel murders and make it harder for kids to obtain. DEA Chief Administrator Law Judge C Francis L. Young-“In strict medical terms marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume.” It is physically impossible to eat enough weed to induce death. Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man. Weed does not meet the legal criteria of a Schedule one prohibited drug and should be reclassified (Sullum). .Governor Raymond P. Shafer, Commission chairman of the National Commission on Marijuana and DRUG Abuse (The Shafer Commission”), “the actual and potential harm of the use of marijuana is not great enough to justify intrusive by the criminal laws into private behavior” and recommended that “the possession for personal use no longer be an offensive, and that casual distribution of small amounts of weed for remuneration, or insignificant remuneration no longer be an offense” (Sullum). A Gallop poll released in October 2013 reveals that for the first time in history. Americans are more in favor of legalizing marijuana than criminalizing it. 2013 has markedly been a successful year for weed legalization, with Colorado and Washington both passing laws to determine decimalization of the drug, now 58 percent of Americans are in favor of allowing the plant to be legal( Sullum). While some argue that marijuana alters your ability to do certain things there has never been a single case of an overdose reported. Marijuana has far fewer dangerous and hazardous effects on society than legal drugs such as alcohol. It can be used to ease the pain of someone whom suffers chronic arthritis, soothe the upset stomach of one whose chemotherapy has deemed them unable to eat. Why not allow the natural plant with such great properties be legal? (Sullum). Has the 40 year war on drugs failed? Most Americans believe that to be true. The government should seriously consider a discussion on how to reform drug control strategies. Reduce the risk and damages from drug trafficking and the abuse of more serious street drugs. For experimental purposes the United States should allow states to legally produce marijuana for sale, taxation, and consumption. This could redirect law enforcement resources to focus on the more serious drugs (cocaine heroin and methamphetamine) where the Mexican Drug Organizations derive more than 70 percent of their proceeds.

Work Cited
Fiket, Maja. ”Live Strong Foundation.”25 August 2010. Live Strong Web Site. 25 Nov 2013.
Cecilius. Weblog Comment. Legalizing Marijuana. Cancer. Forums, 11 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov, 2013
Sullum, Jacob. “Huffington Post”18.” 18 September 2013. Reasons. 25. November 2013. < >..huffingtonpot.com/2013/10/24/marijuana-legalization_n_4151423.html>. 'Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized ' .Researchomatic. 9 , 2010. 9 , 2010 < http://www.researchomatic.com/Why-Marijuana-Should-Be-Legalized-16187.html >.

Cited: Fiket, Maja. ”Live Strong Foundation.”25 August 2010. Live Strong Web Site. 25 Nov 2013. Cecilius. Weblog Comment. Legalizing Marijuana. Cancer. Forums, 11 Nov. 2012. Web. 25 Nov, 2013 Sullum, Jacob. “Huffington Post”18.” 18 September 2013. Reasons. 25. November 2013. < >..huffingtonpot.com/2013/10/24/marijuana-legalization_n_4151423.html>. 'Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized ' .Researchomatic. 9 , 2010. 9 , 2010 < http://www.researchomatic.com/Why-Marijuana-Should-Be-Legalized-16187.html >.