Legalization of Marijuana
Legalization of Marijuana
Marijuana, when a person hears this term the first thing that comes into the mind is that it's a drug which is illegal. Many people believe that the only use of marijuana plant is that it can get you high, which isn't true. The Marijuana, cannabis, or hemp plant is one of the oldest psychoactive plants known to humanity. Its history dates back as far as 6000 B.C., when cannabis seeds were used as food in early Chinese traditions. People have used the hemp plant for fabric, ropes and even ethanol fuel. The perception of marijuana in today's society is that marijuana is an illegal drug that leads to increase in crime rate.
According to the Whitehouse "Trafficking in illicit drugs tends to be associated with the commission of violent crimes". Many people fail to realize that marijuana has a history of more than 8000 years and it has only been illegal for a short period of time. False myths have discredited marijuana for a long time, marijuana not only provides benefits in the field of medicine but it can also help our economy improve and save billions of tax dollars.
Among many myths, one of the very popular ones is that marijuana damages your brain. Although marijuana stimulates the brain cells "it does not produce toxins that kill them like alcohol, and it does not wear them out as other drugs may" (Levine). Yet many people have believed that marijuana will destroy their brain cells due to the anti drug advertisements and the knowledge of society. Because of the false information passed among society marijuana is considered to be a dangerous and evil symbol in our society.
Another common myth regarded with marijuana is that it is considered to be a gateway drug. This theory states that the use of marijuana will lead to the usage of harder drugs like cocaine and heroin. This statement isn't true because according to Joshua Levine "when the Dutch partially legalized marijuana in the 70's, heroin and cocaine use substantially declined".
Marijuana, when a person hears this term the first thing that comes into the mind is that it's a drug which is illegal. Many people believe that the only use of marijuana plant is that it can get you high, which isn't true. The Marijuana, cannabis, or hemp plant is one of the oldest psychoactive plants known to humanity. Its history dates back as far as 6000 B.C., when cannabis seeds were used as food in early Chinese traditions. People have used the hemp plant for fabric, ropes and even ethanol fuel. The perception of marijuana in today's society is that marijuana is an illegal drug that leads to increase in crime rate.
According to the Whitehouse "Trafficking in illicit drugs tends to be associated with the commission of violent crimes". Many people fail to realize that marijuana has a history of more than 8000 years and it has only been illegal for a short period of time. False myths have discredited marijuana for a long time, marijuana not only provides benefits in the field of medicine but it can also help our economy improve and save billions of tax dollars.
Among many myths, one of the very popular ones is that marijuana damages your brain. Although marijuana stimulates the brain cells "it does not produce toxins that kill them like alcohol, and it does not wear them out as other drugs may" (Levine). Yet many people have believed that marijuana will destroy their brain cells due to the anti drug advertisements and the knowledge of society. Because of the false information passed among society marijuana is considered to be a dangerous and evil symbol in our society.
Another common myth regarded with marijuana is that it is considered to be a gateway drug. This theory states that the use of marijuana will lead to the usage of harder drugs like cocaine and heroin. This statement isn't true because according to Joshua Levine "when the Dutch partially legalized marijuana in the 70's, heroin and cocaine use substantially declined".