Legalizing Marijuana Research Paper

Grass, weed, pot, cannabis, Mary Jane, skunk, dope, Ganja: these are all names used to refer to marijuana, the drug that stirs up constant debate on its legalization. Marijuana is the most popular and widely used illegal drug in the United States, and despite its illegality, a vast number of the population of the United States has tried marijuana at some point their lives, including many high-profile individuals such as former president Barack Obama and billionaire media mogul Ted Turner. However, marijuana is an illegal drug and remains on the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Schedule I List of the Controlled Substance Act, alongside much harder drugs such as heroin, the drug currently at the forefront of the drug epidemic responsible for taking
One argument opposing the legalization is that marijuana is an addictive drug, and it is also a gateway drug to harder substance abuse. While this is a valid concern, other legal substances such as alcohol and cigarettes, and even caffeine and sugar, are more addictive, plus there is no conclusive evidence to prove that marijuana is a gateway drug. There are also concerns about the health effects of long term marijuana use and respiratory issues due to the carcinoids in it, however, the number of people with respiratory problems due to marijuana pales in comparison to the staggering amount of health and lung issues due to tobacco use. An additional argument is the health risks it poses to those who use marijuana as teenagers and young adults whose brains have not yet been fully developed, as it has been suggested that it hurts in brain development and lowers IQ. However, if the drug is legalized, the sale of marijuana would be more regulated and it would have a minimum purchase age of 21 years, thus making it harder for teens to get their hands on the drug. Another contrasting viewpoint is due to the concerns associated with driving under the influence of marijuana, as marijuana use impairs and slows reaction times which could lead to an increase in traffic accidents. Driving under the influence of marijuana would have the same implications
The United States Government must remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act for the country to reap the benefits that legalizing the drug will provide. Media outlets are constantly reporting about the number of underfunded state and federal programs such as Social Security and government pensions, and by ending marijuana prohibition, tax revenue dollars from marijuana sales can fund these programs. Moreover, there are many patient advocates across the nation for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Imagine how many ailments could be eased in patients across the nation by ending the prohibition on marijuana and how it could improve the quality of life for so many people across the nation. Finally, by ending marijuana prohibition, it would allow law enforcement officers across the nation to better use their resources and focus on more violent crime, in turn saving taxpayer money. When it comes to the legalization of marijuana, although one may feel it does not affect them personally, it is in the best interest of the nation to legalize the drug as it could aid the country in many beneficial ways, and the benefits supersede the negative