Sharon Cook
SOC 120
Instructor Tim Carter
September 12, 2011
Legalizing Marijuana Legalizing Marijuana has been an ongoing controversy for many years. Marijuana is considered the gateway drug that leads to the use of much stronger drugs. The use of Marijuana is highly addictive and can cause long-term users many discomforts when trying to stop. Marijuana is also used to help lessen the pain for patients with Glaucoma, Cancer, Arthritis, and many other illnesses. Patients have reported feeling more comfort with less pain after the use of Marijuana. From an ethical standpoint and for these medical purposes Marijuana should be legal. If Marijuana is legalized it would create a number of problems. One of the problems is that the drug cartels would exploit it on the black market and it would become more of an international problem than it is now (New Push to Legalize Marijuana in Washington State, 2011). The people that would keep it alive would kill to protect it because of the money involved. Marijuana is being bought and sold all over the world and the smuggling of it in and out of the U.S. leads to many miscellaneous crimes and even death. Marijuana has many harmful chemicals to date it is registered at 425 that convert to thousands when smoked. The medical problems it causes are not just short term but can be long term as well. These problems range from pre mature cancer, depression, memory loss, and addiction. Cancer is one of the main medical threats and is more harmful than tobacco in cigarettes (Marijuana should not be legal because, 2001). Therefore, the addiction rate is higher and can lead to harder drugs. The use of Marijuana over a long period can lead to years of addiction. Drug addiction affects the lives of many people in our society today. Drug addiction is a compulsive behavior that effects how people function in their daily lives. It can affect how you treat your family, school, work, and