Reefer Madness
Chris Lemmon Professor Hoffman ENG101D Monday, April 22nd
REEFER MADNESS
What is marijuana? marijuana, as most know it, is derived from the plant cannabis indica. The leaves and flowering buds of the female cannabis plant are harvested and dried. The product of this process is called, among many other titles, marijuana. Cannabis is a schedule 1 drug, considered illegal in the United States. The reason for this? Smoking marijuana gets you high. The sensation of a high is hard to describe. THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, mimics the neurotransmitter anadamide, producing a slightly euphoric, stimulated, thought provoking high. Recently, marijuana has been a strong topic of debate, support for its legalization has been growing steadily. It has already been decriminalized in 18 states, and is now legalized in 2. It seems marijuana is on the fast track to social and legal acceptance, and for good reason. marijuana should be federally recognized as legal because of its relatively insignificant ill side effects, adversely positive medical value, and public support. Alcohol is one of, if not the most, popular drug in America, and its not exactly safe. Alcohol is linked to upwards of 75,000 deaths per year. To put that into perspective, thats twice as many deaths per year caused by firearms (suicide and homicide alike). This toll is accepted for a simple reason, we love alcohol. Bars and liquor stores line our city streets.. On weekend evenings, getting drunk with your buddies is a social norm. As a nation, our government attempted to end this statistic via prohibition. Making alcohol illegal didn’t stop Americans from drinking, crime
organizations started up over night, and opposition garnered until the amendment was abolished. It goes to show that no matter how dangerous a drug can be, if americans want it, they will get it. Why then is marijuana still illegal? Americans want it. Recent survey data released by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)
REEFER MADNESS
What is marijuana? marijuana, as most know it, is derived from the plant cannabis indica. The leaves and flowering buds of the female cannabis plant are harvested and dried. The product of this process is called, among many other titles, marijuana. Cannabis is a schedule 1 drug, considered illegal in the United States. The reason for this? Smoking marijuana gets you high. The sensation of a high is hard to describe. THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, mimics the neurotransmitter anadamide, producing a slightly euphoric, stimulated, thought provoking high. Recently, marijuana has been a strong topic of debate, support for its legalization has been growing steadily. It has already been decriminalized in 18 states, and is now legalized in 2. It seems marijuana is on the fast track to social and legal acceptance, and for good reason. marijuana should be federally recognized as legal because of its relatively insignificant ill side effects, adversely positive medical value, and public support. Alcohol is one of, if not the most, popular drug in America, and its not exactly safe. Alcohol is linked to upwards of 75,000 deaths per year. To put that into perspective, thats twice as many deaths per year caused by firearms (suicide and homicide alike). This toll is accepted for a simple reason, we love alcohol. Bars and liquor stores line our city streets.. On weekend evenings, getting drunk with your buddies is a social norm. As a nation, our government attempted to end this statistic via prohibition. Making alcohol illegal didn’t stop Americans from drinking, crime
organizations started up over night, and opposition garnered until the amendment was abolished. It goes to show that no matter how dangerous a drug can be, if americans want it, they will get it. Why then is marijuana still illegal? Americans want it. Recent survey data released by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH)