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Marijuana Should Be Legalized

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Marijuana Should Be Legalized
Currently, marijuana is criminalized, why is that? There are many reasons but one being that it is perceived as addictive.1 but literally anything can be addictive; there’s a show called “Strange Addictions”, it’s about people who are addicted to all sorts of stuff like drinking nail polish and exercising. Does that mean the government should be allowed to illegalize painting our nails or gyms, no. Most people have their own common sense they could use to decide whether it’s time to stop and how to moderate. And if people do become addicted? They could do exactly what the government recommends the alcoholics do- get help. Which brings me to my next point, alcohol and cigarettes. In 2011 78.0% of Canadians reported drinking in the past year 2 and 4.5 million (19% of Canadians) smoke.3 In particular, alcohol use can result in significant and potentially fatal physical withdrawal, whereas marijuana has not been found to produce any symptoms of physical withdrawal.4 We’re talking about the two drugs that are both scientifically proven more addictive than marijuana but are legal now and a lot of Canadians are using and impacting their health and the lives of other while drinking and driving, Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15 to 25 year olds, and alcohol is a factor in 50% of those crashes5. I’m no logic expert but legalizing the drug that’s causing that and not marijuana does not make sense to me. These drugs can be purchased in any plaza all around Canada. So, how is it any fair that alcoholics can get there drug legally with assurance no added ‘preservatives’ or other chemicals and marijuana users because let’s face the facts we all know there are quite a few marijuana users even if it is illegal, have to get it from a sketchy dealer with no assurance that no extra chemicals are added? If the government truly cared about the people of Canada and wanted to make a little more tax payment for the good of our country they would open


Cited: Websites "Common Menu Bar Links." Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey: Summary of Results for 2011. N.p., 03 July 2012. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. McCaffery, Barry. "Marijuana vs. Alcohol." SAFER -. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. . Nash, Tim. "Organized Crime in the 1920 's and Prohibition." The Finer Times: War, Crime and History Resource. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. . "Smoking In Canada." Canadian Lung Association. N.p., n.d. Web. . Times, High. "The Top Ten Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal." Alternet. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. Trimarchi, Maria. "Discovery Health." Discovery Fit and Health. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. "Youth Services - Statistics & Links." MADD Canada -Statistics. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2013. .

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