Argumentative Essay: Why Marijuana Should Be Legal

Emily Young
Mrs. King
ELA 8th Hour
07 April 2017
Marijuana should be legal. Have you ever thought about not being able to get the best treatments medical wise? Or have you thought about how damaging the things our government allows to be legal really are to us and our communities? For examples, Marijuana can be used to treat some medical problems, but it is illegal while cigarettes kill people, and it is legal. That doesn’t make sense. Therefore, Marijuana should be legal because it helps with medical problems and it does more good to you than things that are legal. Reason one for marijuana legalization is marijuana help people with their medical problems. Rosenthal and Kubby claim that, “Marijuana helps with depression and Other Mood
An example of this would be “Marijuana” causes “breathing problems. Marijuana smoke irritates the lungs, and people who smoke marijuana frequently can have the same breathing problems as those who smoke tobacco. These problems include daily cough and phlegm, more frequent lung illness, and a higher risk of lung infections. Researchers still don't know whether people who smoke marijuana have a higher risk for lung cancer” (“marijuana”). This is true but, this also could be said for cigarettes and they are legal. Further evidence “Marijuana” also claims that, “marijuana Increased heart rate. Marijuana raises heart rate for up to 3 hours after smoking. This effect may increase the chance of heart attack. Older people and those with heart problems may be at higher risk” (“Marijuana”). The same can be said for some forms of chewing tobacco but yet chewing is still legal. Jennifer Robinson, MD claims that marijuana causes “slowed reaction time (If you drive after using marijuana, your risk of being in a car accident more than doubles.)” (Robinson 1). This is true but when you drive under the influence of alcohol you are also more than double times likely to get in ac car accident and alcohol is legal. Because of all the benefits we get medically from marijuana and how much better it is for you then the things that are legal everywhere marijuana should be legal. If marijuana is legalized then we could find new ways to help people with sicknesses
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Rosenthal, Ed, and Steve Kubby. "Marijuana Should Be Legalized for Medical Use." The War on Drugs, edited by Tamara L. Roleff, Greenhaven Press, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/EJ3010172266/OVIC?u=pub_ovrc&xid=d44eb5e7. Accessed 15 Mar. 2017. Originally published in Why Marijuana Should Be Legal, Thunder's Mouth Press, 2003. "Smoking." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2015. Research in Context, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=MSIC&sw=w&u=leb32560&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CD ECYWH4405