Thesis For Marijuana Thesis

Thesis Statement: The legalization of marijuana in the U.S. would drastically reduce crime in our cities and form a more productive society through its positive uses.

II. The concentration on governmental spending to enforce marijuana laws. A. Examples of governmental spending. B. Solution to the governmental spending. C. Sources on spending. D. Quotes concerning over spending. E. In-depth explanation about spending.

V. The basic information concerning marijuana. A. Origin of marijuana. B. Active ingredient in the plant. C. Researched proof concerning the addicting powers of marijuana. D. The plant's harmful characteristics concerning pregnant women.
VI. Marijuana's positive influences
on medicine. A. Quote of marijuana's effectiveness. B. Documentation of testimony and research done to test marijuana's effectiveness. C. The proposal to legalize marijuana for medical research in San Diego.
VII. Closing arguments for the legalization of marijuana. A . Restatement of thesis. B. Comparing and contrasting alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. C. Summary for the move toward legalization of the plant. The word "marijuana" has risen a concerned eyebrow in almost every American home today. Those that oppose legalizing the use of the plant automatically believe its use is to smoke it, but those that do not choose to use marijuana are thought to be in favor of keeping it illegal. Opposing views on the subject of decriminalizing the plant has caused much controversy over the past twenty years and still remains an important issue. The legalization of marijuana in the Unites States would drastically reduce crime in our cities and form a more productive society through its positive uses.
Government spending is the major reason for the many Americans that are pushing for the legalization of pot.
The National Clearinghouse on Smoking and Health states, "The federal government spent $1 billion on marijuana enforcement in 1980 and about $5 billion in 1990. State and local spent between $3 and 4 billion in 1980 which means they may now be spending $10 billion presently" (Goldberg 80). Basically, legalization would give the government more control over the purity and potency of the marijuana that it would allow the international drug trade to be regulated more effectively. In the book entitled Drug Abuse John Clifton-Marquis
quotes:

"The problems, hurts, and difficulties that definitely result from legalized drugs will be far less numerous and less destructive to the whole society than the theft, bribery, violence, murder, mayhem, and self- degradation than our daily bread in the U.S. today. U.S. citizens must have the integrity and the honesty to keep in the forefront of their minds that they are not preventing addiction to crack or any other drug at this time. The current methods are not working."

Over the past few decades, many credible minds have stated their concern about the outrageous spending of the government on enforcing marijuana laws. All of these minds have come to the same conclusion, which is to legalize marijuana.

A view of the health aspects of the plant and its ingredients can be explained by a pamphlet written by The College of Physicians and Surgeons in their Complete Home Medical Guide. The pamphlet reads, "Marijuana is derived from the plant Cannabis Sativa (the hemp plant) and can be put in foods and eaten, but generally smoked in cigarette form or 'joint'." The active ingredient in the plant is delta-9 - tetrahydrocannibinol (THC). The author of this pamphlet, Herbert Kleber answers the question pondering every mind concerning the addicting powers of the plant in his quote saying, "It does not produce physical addiction but dependence may psychologically result with long term use" (Kleber 139). Kleber's further research talks of how the plant can be a main factor in causing bronchitis, but states that this is only a proposed theory and unproved at today's date. He does note that the plant "will enter the woman's bloodstream through the placenta during pregnancy. Evidence indicates the plant is transferred to breast milk. This could cause spontaneous abortion and babies born at a lower weight" (Kleber 139).
Another argument that is being strongly battled presently in San Diego, California and most other states is whether marijuana should be legalized for medical use because of its positive influence for several diseases.
A story in a 1994 issue of AIDS Weekly had city councilwoman Christin Kehoe on record saying, "We support the medicinal use of marijuana" (Kehoe 16). The proposed resolution for the government to legalize the plant states, "marijuana can be a drug of 'necessity' in the treatment of glaucoma, cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. The Public Services and Safety Committee heard testimony from cancer and glaucoma patients who said, "marijuana lessens side effects of chemotherapy and nausea" (Henderson 16). It has been proven by a team of doctors, who are credited for their pamphlet The Complete Home Medical Guide, that "marijuana lowers the eye pressure drastically when used causing immediate and positive results for those suffering from glaucoma disease" (Henderson 16). The nausea and pain that is brought upon by the characteristics of cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis has also been proven by the same team of physicians that the plant relaxes and soothes the patients that suffer from these diseases. So basically, this information provided the facts contained in the proposed resolution from the inhabitants of the San Diego area for their fight for legalizing the controversial
plant. Bender, David. Drug Abuse; Opposing Viewpoints. New York: Green Press, 1994.
Buckley, William. "End the Pot Penalties". The Washington Star News 10 November 1974: C4
Goldberg, Raymond. Taking Sides; Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Drugs and Society. New York: The Dushkin Publishing Group, Inc., 1993.
Henderson, Charles. "Council Committee Urges Easing on Marijuana Laws". AIDS Weekly, 21 February 1994: p. 6.
Kleber, Herbert. "Marijuana-Health Aspects". The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Medical Guide. Edition 3, 1995: p. 139.
Price, Thomas. "Legalization of Marijuana". Christian Century [Omaha]. 16 May 1981 : B5.