Persuasive Essay Legalizing Marijuana

John O’Brien
WRTG 101S – Persuasive Essay
Dr. James Wyatt
10 APR 2013
Legalizing Marijuana Although marijuana is widely thought to be party drug for immature abuse, the use of it as a marketing product could greatly benefit the United States economy. The fact that marijuana has various nicknames induced by the younger generations such as blow, weed, Mary Jane, and dank already gives it a negative reputation. Marijuana also plays a role in the war on drugs and is the cause of many gang related activities including countless deaths. It is clear that this drug has stirred up controversial issues within America, though only because it is currently outlawed. The impact marijuana has on the United States is remarkable, as it’s’ effect
Much concern is raised as whether marijuana should be classified as a schedule I controlled substance because it does not exactly fit the criteria for schedule I drugs. Marijuana is not biologically capable of becoming an addictive drug, though it is more of a psychological effect. It is also impossible to overdose on the drug to the point of death. There are currently zero deaths that have been caused by marijuana which would biologically make it a rather safe drug. This is used as an argument in the debate of whether or not marijuana should be legalized. According to the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, being that marijuana is a schedule I controlled substance, it currently has “no accepted medical use”. As far as the medical aspect of it, this is where most of the controversy is raised. Despite what the Controlled Substance Act states, many doctors would argue that the use of marijuana can help fight cancer and manage some of the side effects. Although the Controlled Substance Act bans marijuana as a medical drug, doctors in certain states are still able to and insist on administering the drug to supplement their cancer
It is of concern that people would begin to abuse the drug in school and work environments, which would inhibit progress in society. People under the influence of marijuana would be incapable of operating a motor vehicle, and it is fears that many would attempt to do so which would result in fatal accidents. Despite the concern for these disadvantages, they can be fixed with the regulation of distributing marijuana to the public. If marijuana were to be made legal, it would be smart to apply the same legal regulations to it as those associated with alcohol. Any disadvantage that exists to the legalization of marijuana is very fixable. Due to marijuana’s high demand, it would be extremely marketable as a cash crop. Not only can the taxation of the drug assist America in paying off its debts, but the production of it would create new jobs. Also, since marijuana causes so much crime within gangs and urban areas, the legalization of it would greatly reduce the crime rate. Gangs would no longer be killing each other over the drug because they would be able to purchase it in a convenient store. This would reduce neighborhood violence and en route reduce deaths. Not only does the crime rate go down, but police forces will no longer have to use tax payers’ money to go out in the streets trying to cease the drug. And with less people in jail, that reduces another chunk of tax