Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. Although many slanderous claims have been made about cannabis in recent history, the truths are slowly starting to resurface. Unfortunately, these truths are under heavy criticism due to the stereotypical view of what people view as the typical “pot smoker.” This skewed perception of a lazy and unmotivated American is the result of over seventy years of propaganda and misinformation spread by private interests who relied on illegal cannabis illegal from their own personal gains. As a marijuana consumer and a current medical marijuana patient, I strongly believe that marijuana should be legalized for all users. Currently in the United States today, marijuana is prohibited by federal law and has been a topic of controversial debate since the start of the prohibition. There are several, important reasons for the legalization of marijuana, including research concerning these issues are beneficial in understanding both sides of the debate. The result of abolishing our country’s marijuana prohibition by supporting legalization will stimulate the economy, to show the medical properties, and lower the crime rate.…
Marijuana was first used for medicinal purposes dating back as early as the 1600’s. However, a law was passed in 1930, which banned the substance. Since then we have been fighting a never-ending war on drugs that has estimated to be over a trillion dollar failure, and we have nothing to show for it. There are many different takes on legalizing marijuana nation-wide but some states are not convinced yet. There are two main views on legalizing cannabis. One is the government view, which believes if marijuana was taxed like alcohol and tobacco it could yield close to 50 billion in tax revenue annually. Along with this, legalizing the drug would save the U.S. about $41 billion a year in enforcing the drug laws, and using that for education and health. The other view would be the medicinal use side of it. Proponents of medical marijuana argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions. The government should legalize marijuana for recreational and medical use because it will create tax revenue, help patients, and we will be done fighting an everlasting war.…
Marijuana is one of the most controversial topics in the U.S today. Many associate the substance with some of the most highly addictive and dangerous drugs used in our society. While others claim marijuana to be the safest substance to use to date. One of the biggest debatable topics amongst marijuana use is the legalization of the substance medically. Many people believe marijuana should be accessible to those with terminally ill diseases. While others believe the drug should be illegal at all cost. Medical marijuana presents many negative issues in our society emotionally, medically and socially. Due to the negative effects from the substance, the use of marijuana should remain illegal in the United States.…
The history of marijuana is quite interesting. Marijuana has gone from being an important crop of the early settlers, to being outlawed in many countries, including the United States. To better understand marijuana, I will trace it back to its origins, and explain how marijuana was used in the beginning. I will then take a closer look at the history of marijuana in the United States and how this plant has evolved over the years. An interesting fact that one should ponder is that ?in 1762 Virginia imposed penalties on those who did not produce it [marijuana]? (Sloman 21). This is quite a contrast to how marijuana is treated today. If one is caught growing, selling, or even using marijuana, there is consequences which vary for each above mentioned act. This plant is controversial in the since that people believe it to help with medical problems such as AIDS. So the question is whether or not to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes. One should remember that if marijuana is legal in a State for medicinal purposes, it is still illegal on the Federal level.…
This article looks at legalizing medical marijuana in the 44 states that still have it illegal. It covers the drug’s use and why there is so much debate surrounding its use. The main reason why marijuana is still illegal in so many states is because the government doesn’t want people who don’t have medical use for it to abuse the substance. "Marijuana And The Controlled Substances Act." Congressional Digest 93.8 (2014): 2-6. Academic Search Premier. Web. 5 Nov. 2014. In that case it prevents people who have serious health problems to access the medical marijuana. The statistics and citations I have for this essay will help strengthen my essay because all the information I will be giving is explaining why the drug is still illegal in 44 states for medical use.…
Medical marijuana should be legalized at the federal law for medical purposes because marijuana helps many people manage pain or illnesses. There is a lot of illnesses and pain that marijuana can treat. Marijuana does have side effects but what medication does not? Many people deal with the slight side effects and people who cannot deal with the side effects quit smoking marijuana. A problem in society is the federal law arresting people selling or smoking marijuana and giving them more years in prison than a rapist or serial killer. So what people are mostly scared of is the risk of arrest.…
Each year the United States government documents drug related deaths in our country, breaking the deaths down into categories of cause. These categories include tobacco, alcohol, prescription medications, illegal drug, and of course marijuana related deaths. Every year the number of deaths coming from marijuana is equivalent to zero. So why is there even controversy over the issue of legalization? Obviously, there are still some people out there who believe the drug is a topic for concern in our nation. In recent years, there has been tremendous progress being made in the field of medicine. University hospitals around the country have been proving again and again that the drug poses no threat to human health and well being, even among patients who have used marijuana excessively. Recreational use of the drug marijuana will most likely continue until the end of humankind. Because of this, legalization of marijuana should be instated to prevent illegal trade of the drug and to shut down the black market. Many people are proposing the legal trade of marijuana in our country. To allow for this, some individuals argue to tax the sale of the drug just like alcohol and tobacco. State governments in the United States are beginning to push for legalization and the decriminalization of the drug. It is possible that after years of debate, many people are beginning to see the light and understand that marijuana poses no negative effects on the body, only positive effects when the drug is used safely for both recreational and medicinal purposes. These positive effects come in the form of treating many illnesses such as arthritis, simple aches and pains, nervosa, relief for chemotherapy patients, migraine headaches, asthma, glaucoma, epilepsy, and eating disorders. (http://www.skunked.co.uk/articles/medicinal-marijuana.htm)…
The word "marijuana" has been a concerned topic in almost every American home today. Marijuana, whose botanical name is cannabis, has been used by humans for thousands of years. It was classified as an illegal drug by many countries in the 20th century. Over the past two decades, there has been a growing movement to legalize marijuana, primarily for medical purposes. 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 United States would drastically reduce crime in our cities and help reduce some of the national debt through its positive uses.…
Many American are still unfamiliar with Medical Marijuana, so what is medical marijuana? Medical marijuana also known as “cannabis sativa”(Harold E Dowieko 2009) is a naturally growing plant that produces tetra-hydrocannabinol and cannabidiol.(Harold E Dowieko 2009) These chemicals are both thought to have possible effects on lessening the bad side effects from chronic diseases. Medical marijuana has been used for health reasons for centuries. Marijuana was a legal herb in the United States until 1937 when the United States passed a law making it illegal to sell. (Kring, Davinson, Naele & Johnson 2007)…
In the U.S. the possession, cultivation, and distribution of Marijuana has been illegal since 1937 by the federal government. However medicinal marijuana is currently legal in 16 states by state law. Cannabis was first made illegal by the state of California in 1913. Which is ironic because California was first to legalize the use of medicinal marijuana. The constitutional issue with marijuana is between Federal law and State law in which whether or not, marijuana can be used for medical purposes. I believe medicinal marijuana should be legal because people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. If marijuana has the medical benefits they need to make life easier then they should be able to use it.…
The issue of legalizing medical marijuana was brought on because of the various medical and recreational benefits that it claims to offer, as well as financial benefits the government would receive through taxes. The policy would include decriminalization of marijuana, and the legalization for medicinal use as prescribed by a physician. Changing the federal government’s policies on medical marijuana is thought to be an effective treatment for a variety of terminal illnesses, will help people from being criminalized for using a substance that is being used as a medication, and the government regulating the growth and sale of marijuana will allow these patients a safe and legal access to cannabis (MPP, 2014).…
The cannabis plant (marijuana) has been used medicinally by a variety of cultures around the world. It was used as medicine in the United States until when a new tax fee led to its discontinued use. Congress has voted on several bills to legalize the medical use of marijuana; however none of those bills were passed. In June 2005 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that federal laws against marijuana, including its medical use, are valid. The government has authorized few research studies into the health effects of medical marijuana. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved marijuana as a medicine, citing the fact that it has not gone through rigorous clinical testing like other new drugs must. The Government is not allowing enough testing, why? Many Americans using medical marijuana claim it helped them when other medicines couldn’t, the United States Government owes it to these sick Americans to do the proper testing.…
Medical marijuana, is this going to medical miracle or a medical disaster? Medical marijuana should be legalized for patients in their end stages of disease and have no other options. The legalize marijuana, is a question many state governments are fighting against federal governments to stop the recession of legalizing the drug everyone talks about. What is marijuana, what is the used for? It is becoming legal in many states, which states passed a law to use medical marijuana and why haven’t all the states passed a law, should it become legal for medical use? What are the pros and cons of using medical marijuana are there more health benefits or health risks? So will marijuana be the drug of the future, legalization of marijuana: yes or no?…
What is a Weed? A plant whose virtues have yet to be discovered. – Ralph Waldo Emerson. Weed the People: From Founding Fiber to Forbidden Fruit.…
Legalization of Marijuana has become a controversy in the United States. Medical marijuana has many benefits although recreational marijuana cannot yet be controlled. Many important medical improvements will be gained when marijuana is legal. There will be a time, within the near future, when it is legal federally. Today there are many states in the United States that have legalized marijuana for medical use. There are two states, as of November 2012, which legalized marijuana for recreational use. The federal government still states that marijuana, to be grown or used in any form, is illegal and will be prosecuted. It is our duty to become well informed and change laws which will help us all.…