legalizing marijuana
Chris Martin
101.01
4/16/14
Legalizing Marijuana
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, and by numerous other names, is a preparation of the cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and as medicine. Contemporary uses of cannabis are as a recreational or medicinal drug, and as part of religious or spiritual rites. Throughout this paper there is a vastly debatable discussion between legalizing marijuana and regular marijuana use. Both sides of the argument have their pros and cons. Medical marijuana has been proven to be less harmful than other legal tobacco products, and is a natural drug for relieving pain. Marijuana has the potential to raise the United States out of its economic struggle if taxes were included with the sale of cannabis. The legalization could be positive by lowering the crime rate and creating more jobs. The government does not know to regulate the production or distribution of marijuana so there is resistance to legalize. Even though marijuana has a negative stigma attached by the government and public; it is natural and effective in advancing medicine, financial stability, and overall lowering the crime rate and jail population.
Cannabis has had an extended history of repeated use in the United States. First, from 1900-1940, marijuana, including opium and cocaine were considered part of everyday drugs. As time passed the United States became strict upon crack and opium, but eventually marijuana became illegal in the 80’s. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, scientific studies started to discover that marijuana can significantly cure people who have become ill. “Medical marijuana has been tested to help with cataracts, cancer, and severe depression just to name a few” (Zeese 1999). Cannabis has been part of humanity's medicine chest for almost as long as history has been recorded. Of all the negative consequences of marijuana prohibition, none is as tragic as the denial of medicinal cannabis to the tens of thousands of patients
101.01
4/16/14
Legalizing Marijuana
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, and by numerous other names, is a preparation of the cannabis plant intended for use as a psychoactive drug and as medicine. Contemporary uses of cannabis are as a recreational or medicinal drug, and as part of religious or spiritual rites. Throughout this paper there is a vastly debatable discussion between legalizing marijuana and regular marijuana use. Both sides of the argument have their pros and cons. Medical marijuana has been proven to be less harmful than other legal tobacco products, and is a natural drug for relieving pain. Marijuana has the potential to raise the United States out of its economic struggle if taxes were included with the sale of cannabis. The legalization could be positive by lowering the crime rate and creating more jobs. The government does not know to regulate the production or distribution of marijuana so there is resistance to legalize. Even though marijuana has a negative stigma attached by the government and public; it is natural and effective in advancing medicine, financial stability, and overall lowering the crime rate and jail population.
Cannabis has had an extended history of repeated use in the United States. First, from 1900-1940, marijuana, including opium and cocaine were considered part of everyday drugs. As time passed the United States became strict upon crack and opium, but eventually marijuana became illegal in the 80’s. In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, scientific studies started to discover that marijuana can significantly cure people who have become ill. “Medical marijuana has been tested to help with cataracts, cancer, and severe depression just to name a few” (Zeese 1999). Cannabis has been part of humanity's medicine chest for almost as long as history has been recorded. Of all the negative consequences of marijuana prohibition, none is as tragic as the denial of medicinal cannabis to the tens of thousands of patients