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Should Marijuana Be Legalized in the United States? Essay Example

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Should Marijuana Be Legalized in the United States? Essay Example
Should Marijuana be legalized in the United States?

Since 1961 marijuana has been illegal in the United States but in the 2012 election Colorado and Washington voters decided they wanted that to change. Marijuana has very valuable medical use to patients suffering from some terminal diseases. It also has a very valuable industrial use with the cultivation of hemp from the cannabis plant. Along with this marijuana is also a fun recreational drug that is used by many to create a fun social environment among friends. The legalization of marijuana would make it so law enforcement could stop wasting there time with non-violent marijuana users and spend it on finding the real criminals in the US.

Marijuana, or cannabis as it is more properly called can be used to treat pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Currently Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington all have medical marijuana laws. As of Nov 7th 2012 Illinois, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania all have pending legislation to legalize marijuana for medical use. Patients suffering from glaucoma have turned to cannabis as a treatment for decades now. Marijuana lowers the intraocular pressure to treat the symptoms of glaucoma. Cannabis is also used by cancer patients to remedy these symptoms nausea, appetite loss, pain, anxiety and depression. Marijuana can stop and reduce the growth of tumors in cancer patients. More specifically a more aggressive form of brain cancer called Glioblastoma. Marijuana is used by arthritis patients for a safe alternative to the addictive prescription painkillers that they would regularly be prescribed.

For over 75 years now the United States has tried to prevent the use and sale of marijuana but despite this valiant effort there are over 25 million Americans that use marijuana annually, and cannabis is

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