essay of legalize marijuana

Argumentative Essay On Marijuana Legalization

Published by gudwriter on May 27, 2018 May 27, 2018

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Why Marijuana Should be Legalized Argumentative Essay Sample 1 Outline

Thesis: Marijuana should be legalized as it is more beneficial that it may be detrimental to society.

Paragraph 1:

Marijuana has not caused turmoil in some of the countries where it has been legalized.

Paragraph 2:

Prohibiting use of marijuana does not limit its consumption.

Paragraph 3:

Legalization of marijuana would help state governments save taxpayers money.

Paragraph 4:

Marijuana is less noxious than other legal substances.

Paragraph 5:

Marijuana has been proven to have medical benefits.

Paragraph 6:

Marijuana has been proven to be a stress reliever.

Conclusion.

There are many misconceptions about marijuana existent in the modern world. People have continued to ignore health benefits linked to this substance citing their unproven beliefs. Owing to its ability to stop seizures, nausea, and stress in individuals governments should highly consider marijuana legalization. Its legalization will also help state governments reduce expenses that result from maintaining suspects convicted of marijuana possession and consumption.

Why Marijuana Should be Legalized Argumentative Essay Sample 1

The argument that marijuana use should be made legal has gained momentum both in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world in recent years. This has seen the drug being legalized in some states in the U.S. such that by 2013, twenty states had legalized medical marijuana. As of the same year, Colorado and Washington had legalized recreational marijuana. The arguments behind the push for legalization majorly revolve around the idea that the drug has medicinal effects. However, there are also arguments that there are serious health effects associated with the drug and this has only further fueled the already raging debate. This paper argues that marijuana should be legalized as it is more beneficial that it may be detrimental to society.

Marijuana has not caused any notable negative effects in countries where it has been legalized. There is a general belief that marijuana consumers are violent. However, no authentic research can prove these assertions. As already seen, some states in the United States have legalized both medicinal and recreational marijuana. In spite of this, no cases of marijuana-related violence have been recorded so far in such states (Markol, 2018). Reports reveal that the rate of violence and property crimes have decreased in Colorado following the legalization of the drug. If marijuana does not increase violent crimes, there is no reason as to why it should not be legalized.

It is also noteworthy that prohibiting marijuana use does not limit its consumption. Less than 10% of countries in the world prevent the use of marijuana, but according to research, 58% of young people in most of these countries are marijuana users (Head, 2016). General reports reveal that marijuana is one of most commonly abused drug in the world. It is also readily available in most states as it is a naturally growing plant (Head, 2016). In spite of its continued use, there are few cases, if any, of marijuana-related health complications that have been reported in any of these countries (Head, 2016). Therefore, if the illegality of marijuana does not limit its consumption, then state governments should consider its legalization.

Legalization of marijuana would further help state governments save taxpayers’ money. It is widely known that in countries where marijuana is illegal, authorities are stringent and will arrest any individual found in possession of the drug (Sanger, 2017). However, as earlier mentioned, laws prohibiting the use of the drug do not prevent its consumption, and this means that many people are arrested and prosecuted for possessing it (Sanger, 2017). State governments therefore use a lot of funds to support law enforcement agencies that seek to uphold laws prohibiting the use of marijuana (Sanger, 2017). Many people have been arrested and incarcerated for either possessing or consuming the drug, and the government has to use taxpayers’ money to sustain such people in prison. Since these actions do not limit consumption of marijuana, state governments should legalize the drug so as to save taxpayers money.

Another advantage of marijuana is that it is less noxious than other legal substances. According to research, marijuana is the least harmful drug among the many legal drugs existent in the world today (Owen, 2014). There are millions of campaigns every year cautioning people against smoking cigarettes, but there has been none seeking to warn people about marijuana consumption (Owen, 2014). Lobby groups have even been making efforts to push for legalization of marijuana. If marijuana had severe health effects as many purport, state governments would be investing heavily in campaigns aimed at discouraging its consumption (Owen, 2014). According to studies, alcohol, which is legal in many countries, is 114 times more harmful than marijuana (Owen, 2014). Therefore, if such harmful substances can be legalized, then there are no justifications as to why marijuana should not be legalized.

Further, marijuana has been proven to have medicinal benefits. Several countries, particularly in Europe, and the United States have legalized both medicinal and recreational marijuana. Their move to legalize marijuana was based on medical reports that showed a variety of health benefits linked to the drug (Noonan, 2017). Research shows that marijuana can reduce seizures in epileptic persons. Several studies have also proven that the drug indeed has a variety of health benefits. For instance, Charlotte Figi, who is now aged 10, used to have more than 100 seizures every month at age three, but since Colorado legalized medicinal and recreational marijuana, her parents started treating her with the substance, and today her seizures have significantly reduced (Noonan, 2017). Marijuana has as well been proven to reduce nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Owing to this medicinal value, state governments should consider legalizing the drug.

Additionally, marijuana has been proven to be a stress reliever. Consumption of the drug causes excitement among its users enabling them to forget about troubling situations. Unlike alcohol which is likely to aggravate stress and depression, marijuana works wonders in alleviating anxiety and depression (Sanger, 2017). There are many health and social effects associated with stress, including mental disorders and violence against others (Sanger, 2017). To avoid cases of stress-related violence and mental disorders, state governments should make marijuana consumption legal.

There are many misconceptions about marijuana in the world today. People have continued to ignore the health benefits linked with this substance and have instead focused on citing yet-to-be proven misconceptions. Owing to the ability of the drug to stop seizures, nausea, and stress in individuals, governments should seriously consider its legalization. The legalization will also help state governments reduce expenses that result from sustaining suspects convicted of marijuana possession and consumption. So far, there is more than enough evidence proving that marijuana has lots of benefits to individuals, the society, and the government, and therefore should be legalized.

Head, T. (2016). “8 reasons why marijuana should be legalized”. ThoughtCo . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://www.thoughtco.com/reasons-why-marijuana-should-be-legalized-721154

Markol, T. (2018). “5 reasons why marijuana should be legalized”. Marijuana Reform . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from http://marijuanareform.org/5-reasons-marijuana-legalized/

Noonan, D. (2017). “Marijuana treatment reduces severe epileptic seizures”. Scientific American . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/marijuana-treatment-reduces-severe-epileptic-seizures/

Owen, P. (2014). “6 powerful reasons to legalize marijuana”. New York Times . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://www.alternet.org/drugs/6-powerful-reasons-new-york-times-says-end-marijuana-prohibition

Sanger, B. (2017). “10 legit reasons why weed should be legalized right now”. Herb . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://herb.co/marijuana/news/reasons-weed-legalized

Why Marijuana Should be Legal Essay Sample 2 Outline

Thesis: Marijuana has health benefits and should thus be legal.

Benefits of Marijuana

Marijuana slows and stops the spread of cancer cells.

Marijuana helps with pain and nausea reduction for people going through chemotherapy.

Paragraph 3:

Marijuana can control epileptic seizure.

Disadvantages of Marijuana

Marijuana is addictive.

Marijuana use decreases mental health.

Marijuana use damages the lungs more than cigarette smoking .

Why Marijuana Should Be Legal

Improved quality and safety control.

Paragraph 8:

Marijuana has a medicinal value.

Paragraph 9:

Among the major arguments against marijuana legalization is often that legalization would yield an increase in drug-impaired driving.

Legalization of marijuana would have many benefits. The drug is associated with the treatment of many serious illnesses including the dreaded cancer. Legalization would also save users from consuming unsafe marijuana sold by unscrupulous people.

Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Essay Sample 2

There is an ongoing tension between the belief that marijuana effectively treats a wide range of ailments and the argument that it has far-reaching negative health effects. There has nevertheless been a drive towards legalization of the drug in the United States with twenty nine states and the District of Columbia having legalized it for medical and recreational purposes. It was also found by a study that there is a sharp increase in the use of marijuana across the country (Kerr, Lui & Ye, 2017). Major public health concerns are being prompted by this rise. This should however not be the case because marijuana has health benefits and should thus be legal.

Marijuana slows and stops the spread of cancer cells. A study found that Cannabidiol can turn off a gene called Id-1 and can therefore stop cancer. A 2007 report by researchers at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco also indicated that the spread of cancer may be prevented by Cannabidiol. In their lab experiment, the researchers were able to treat breast cancer cells with this component (Nawaz, 2017). The positive outcome of the experiment showed that Id-1 expression had been significantly decreased.

Marijuana also helps with pain and nausea reduction for people going through chemotherapy. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy suffer from severe pains, appetite loss, vomiting, and painful nausea. This can further complicate their already deteriorating health. Marijuana can be of help here by stirring up the appetite, decreasing nausea, and reducing pain (Nawaz, 2017). There are also other cannabinoid drugs used for the same purposes as approved by the FDA.

It was additionally shown by a 2003 study that the use of marijuana can control epileptic seizure. Synthetic marijuana and marijuana extracts were given to epileptic rats by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robert J. DeLorenzo. In about ten hours, the seizures had been stopped by the drugs (Nawaz, 2017). It was found that the seizures were controlled by the THC which bound the brain cells responsible for regulating relaxation and controlling excitability.

Some scientists claim that marijuana is addictive. According to them, one in ten marijuana users become addicted over time. They argue that if one stops using the drug abruptly, they may suffer from such withdrawal symptoms as anxiety and irritability (Barcott, 2015). However, the same argument could be applied to cigarette smoking, which is notably legal. There is need for more studies to be conducted into this claim being spread by opponents of marijuana legalization.

It is also argued that marijuana use decreases mental health. Those opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana like to cite studies that show that users of the drug suffer from memory loss and restricted blood flow to the brain. They also argue that users have higher chances of developing depression and schizophrenia. However, these assertions have not yet been completely ascertained by science (Barcott, 2015). The claim about depression and schizophrenia is particularly not clear because researchers are not sure whether the drug triggers the conditions or it is used by smokers to alleviate the symptoms.

It is further claimed that marijuana use damages the lungs more than cigarette smoking. It is presumed that marijuana smokers inhale the smoke more deeply into their lungs and let it stay there for longer. The likelihood of lung cancer, according to this argument, can be increased by this deeper, longer exposure to carcinogens. However, the argument touches not on the frequency of use between marijuana and cigarette smokers (Barcott, 2015). It neither takes into account such alternative administration methods as edibles, tinctures, and vaporizing.

Legalization of marijuana would lead to improved quality and safety control. Purchasing the drug off the street provides end users with no means of knowing what they are exactly getting. On the other hand, legalizing it would immediately lead to the creation of a set of standards for safety and quality control (Caulkins, Kilmer & Kleiman, 2016). This would certainly work in the marijuana industry just as it is working in the tobacco and alcohol industries. Users would be able to know what they exactly get in exchange for the money they offer. Additionally, there would be no risks of users taking in unknown substances mixed in marijuana sold on the streets.

Marijuana should also be legal because it has a medicinal value. It has been proven that medical marijuana treats a wide assortment of “untreatable” diseases and conditions. These include problems due to chemotherapy, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Crohn’s disease (Caulkins, Kilmer & Kleiman, 2016). Public health would be improved and the healthcare system would experience less of a drain if medical cannabis products were made available to those suffering from the mentioned conditions. Consequently, more public funds would be available for such other public service initiatives as schools and roads.

Among the major arguments against marijuana legalization is often that legalization would yield an increase in drug-impaired driving. This argument holds that even now when the drug is yet to be fully legalized in the country, it has already been cited to be a major causal factor in highway deaths, injuries, and crushes. Among the surveys those arguing along this line might cite is one that was conducted back in 2010, revealing that of the participating weekend night-time drivers, “8.6 percent tested positive for marijuana or its metabolites” (“Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana,” 2010). It was found in yet another study that 26.9% of drivers who were being attended to at a trauma center after sustaining serious injuries tested positive for the drug (“Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana,” 2010). It however beats logic why marijuana is illegalized on the ground that it would increase drug-impaired driving while alcohol is legal but also significantly contributes to the same problem.

As the discussion reveals, legalization of marijuana would have many benefits. The drug is associated with the treatment of many serious illnesses including the dreaded cancer. Legalization would also save users from consuming unsafe marijuana sold by unscrupulous people. There are also other health conditions that can be controlled through the drug. Arguments against its legalization based on its effects on human health also lack sufficient scientific support. It is thus only safe that the drug is legalized in all states.

Barcott, B. (2015). Weed the people: the future of legal marijuana in America . New York, NY: Time Home Entertainment.

Caulkins, J. P., Kilmer, B., & Kleiman, M. (2016). Marijuana legalization: what everyone needs to know . New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Kerr, W., Lui, C., & Ye, Y. (2017). Trends and age, period and cohort effects for marijuana use prevalence in the 1984-2015 US National Alcohol Surveys. Addiction , 113 (3), 473-481.

Nawaz, H. (2017). The debate between legalizing marijuana and its benefits for medical purposes: a pros and cons analysis . Munich, Germany: GRIN Verlag.

Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana. (2010). In CNBC . Retrieved June 25, 2020 from https://www.cnbc.com/id/36267223 .

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Related topic

Whether marijuana should be a legal drug or not is a controversial issue. While there are proven benefits of its use, there are also grounds for mild concern, particularly in the case of overdosing. Even worse, the inconsistent and inconclusive studies and scientific research add fuel to the fire. Several countries have decided to go in favor of marijuana liberalization. For instance, in Uruguay, Canada, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, and Portugal, it’s perfectly legit to smoke and possess small quantities of the drug. The legalization of marijuana’s in the United States is constantly on the rise. Today, 21 states allow it for recreational use, and ten have decriminalized cannabis. But why is there so much ado about drug legalization? Some studies prove its beneficial impact on several mental, physical, and emotional conditions. The alleviating effect for patients with epilepsy, cancer, and multiple sclerosis are undeniable. And while medical marijuana is potent in eliminating side effects, there are also reports of drug misuse, progression to addictive drugs, and changes in brain function. Overall, one needs convincing arguments and credible sources to firmly claim that the decriminalization of marijuana would do more good than harm. Hence, your research paper about marijuana legalization should carefully list all the pros and cons of the issue. Other essay topics you can explore include the cause and effect of using weed, remedy vs. drug, or the social and economic implications.

When you have the topic assigned, start with the outline of your first draft. It is also critical to conceptualize a captivating thesis statement for the essay. It should contain the arguments you will defend later in the body of your paper. Also, don’t forget to include a compelling introduction and a well-thought conclusion. Yet, some students lack solid writing experience or time to dedicate to the legalization of weed essays. If this scenario sounds familiar, you may need to search for help online. PapersOwl is a trustworthy writing platform with seasoned writers where you can find argumentative essay examples on marijuana legalization. So whenever you need a push to get writing or want to order for and against papers, this is the perfect solution.

Essay About Marijuana Legalization Marijuana also is known as weed or pot is very old. The drug is dated back to Asia in 500 BC. However, they did not use the Marijuana plant to get high, they used it as a healing factor. Marijuana was a good thing until the 20th century. During the 1950s is when the drug really became a problem. People were getting addicted and most lost their jobs to it. Then they would have to turn to petty thieving to come up with the money to buy it. Not long after it became illegal in most places. Even though medical weed is legal in some states, however federal laws always override common or city laws. If you are caught with weed you can face drug charges and maybe some time in jail. This makes these laws very confusing in some states in the United States. Also, marijuana is a schedule 1 drug that is the same level as LSD and heroin and that is not changing anytime soon. Some people argue that is has no proven medical benefit. There is a lawyer who fights for the legalization of marijuana on his free time because he says it is just to get high. That did not stop people from buying, growing, and using it illegally. Now there is an issue in current society and it has became legal again in most northern states and petitions in southern states. As for Marijuana, it is one of the fastest-growing industries in the northern states where it is has become legal. The majority of the United States supports legalizing weed. Surveys show that seniors from 55 and up are the ones that oppose. Since 2016 it has grown 34% by 2026 it is estimated to reach $50 billion dollars. In 2012 eight states has made it legal. Now there are 29 states which medical marijuana is legal. The main reason it has become legal is to be used a medical Marijuana. It has become a big debate in the south on whether it should or shouldn’t become legal. Getting marijuana on the ballot to be voted on is not easy as you might think. Some states work through the legislative process which lets the state officials decide on whether it should or shouldn’t be on the ballot. Mississippi is not completely against marijuana there are some laws about it in the books. The black market for weed is still just as big as the industries selling weed. Most people still depend on a plug then on a store. However, there is no case where weed has to lead to an overdose to where the patient dies. Doctors have been prescribing weed for opioid addiction. The medical marijuana business has expanded employment in the states where it is legal. Marijuana also has it own taxes. There is 15%, 10%, 2.9% which represents excise tax, special sales tax and a state and local tax. Just in 2017, the state of Colorado collected more than $247 million from the marijuana industry. If Mississippi was to legalize Marijuana it would become less expensive therefore the use of Marijuana would increase. However, the legalization of weed would mean big investment opportunities but it is still illegal on a federal level. If it did become legal on a federal level would it be a great business for the entire U.S? Canada right now holds the title for the second country to completely legalize weed for recreational use. However, prices for marijuana drop dramatically right before it becomes legalized from $25 a gram to $6 a gram. That is pretty big discount so when the prices begin to drop you know what’s coming. The arguments on the legalization of marijuana is very confusing because all the essays about the arguments are very biased so it is hard to understand the facts from the opinions. However, I feel, because of what I believe in and how I was raised, I do not believe it should be legalized. Especially for recreational use because once people start smoking legally then they would be able to go to jobs high then they would not have enough money. This would increase crime rates in Mississippi and that is the last thing we need. People are pushing for the legalization of weed just to get high? Also if it was for medical uses there are the companies that produce cannabis oil with though the thc which it gets you high so why isn’t that enough? That is because one it is medically legalized then there will be so many lies and stories told to doctors just to get weed. That is so selfish to me because there are people that really need those doctor’s appointments.

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Essays on Marijuana Legalization

The legalization of marijuana has been internationally debated for generations, so your marijuana legalization essay will be one among many. Policies on drugs and cannabis differ internationally, so while writing a marijuana legalization essay make sure to check different global sources. The reason for prolonged debate over marijuana legalization is due to inconclusive scientific studies as well as varying liberalization of legislation. Authors of many essays on marijuana legalization follow different countries on their way to legalizing marijuana. The international practice of legalizing marijuana in various regions of the world differs significantly – our samples of essays cover different countries’ ways to do it. A country where the possession and use of marijuana are legal are Uruguay, Georgia Canada, South Africa, part of the US (11 states, 2 territories, and DC), and part of Australia. Our handpicked marijuana legalization essay samples can make your essay more comprehensive – give them a read!

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One of the most contentious issues in today’s culture, especially in the United States, is the legalization of marijuana, which tends to split public and expert opinion equally. Numerous conferences across the country continue to be dominated by the subject, and the debates are often heated. The debate basically pits…

For a long time, many countries around the world have been troubled by the debate about whether cannabis can be legalized. When making a major federal decision like this, certain political factors must be considered. Nonetheless, prior to America’s enlightenment, most civilizations in the country had harnessed the Cannabis sativa…

Medical marijuana is a term that refers to the use of unprocessed or whole cannabis plants, or their primary extracts, to relieve various effects of diseases and disorders (Chu 121). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States has not licensed or accepted marijuana as a medicine. Various…

Marijuana legalization is one of the most contentious topics in America today. Though Colorado, Oregon, California, and five other states have all legalized marijuana, although with limits, other states are either debating the subject or have decided to ignore it entirely. New Jersey is one of the states involved in…

Colagrande writes an informative essay on a subject that has been a source of controversy in several states in the United States of America for many years. The issue of marijuana legalization is more complicated than the superficial claims and logic advanced by Colagrande. Unlike her assumptive argumentation, this is…

Legalization of leisure marijuana has various benefits when observed primarily based on the policies that have been instituted in states like Washington and Colorado where cannabis has been legalized. Firstly, legalization of marijuana will lead to reduced prices on the product as compared to the prices in the black market…

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Marijuana Legislation Essays

Legalizing Marijuana Essay

Many countries of the world are actively working to decriminalize or legalize ‘less harmful’ drugs such as cannabis (marijuana). Numerous sources have suggested and in some cases proven that legalizing or at least decriminalizing marijuana can reduce violent crime and significantly reduce the amount of people who are imprisoned for drug use. This would allow more individuals to continue to be the contributing members of society that they often were prior to being caught with a relatively harmless substance. Legalizing marijuana would also release much-needed funding and already-stretched law-enforcement manpower to fight against more urgent social issues. Although marijuana is not legal in the Netherlands as is widely believed, it is openly tolerated as evidenced by the fact that it can be both purchased and consumed in one of several Amsterdam ‘coffee houses.’ The city is thus an example of the kind of ‘anarchy’ opponents of legalization measures have warned would occur if the United States took a more lenient approach. What the evidence suggests is that legalizing marijuana can introduce a great benefit to society. This evidence is well-known throughout the scientific, political and public arena including economics and social issues but it has yet to be acted upon.

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According to a report in The Economist (Case for Legalization, 2001), concerns that a growing drug-using and dependent population would emerge if marijuana was made more available are false. Although the magazine acknowledges that the price of the drug is artificially high, it attributes this to the difficulties involved in circumventing the law. The authors of this report indicate that it is only because of the high cost and the difficulty to obtain it that more individuals have not experimented with it. Instead, they become addicted, either physically or psychologically, to other, often more harmful yet legal substances such as prescription medications or alcohol. To support their argument in favor of legalization even should the numbers of suspected users rise, the Economist article (Case for Legalization, 2001) draws on the theories of John Stuart Mill. Mill’s ideas were founded on the concept that adult citizens should have the right to make their own choices regarding whether or not to participate in activity as long as it does no harm to others. This is a founding theory that has been mostly ignored in decisions made regarding alcohol and tobacco, both of which have proven to directly cause significant harm to innocent others, but has not been ignored regarding Class C substances such as marijuana. However, the argument that more people would become regular users of the substance are unfounded. A study by O’Keefe and Earleywine (2005) conducted in California and Washington D.C. used a survey to determine the number of high school students who were using marijuana in these areas in 1996 (before legalization) and in 2004 (after medical marijuana use was approved). In all grade levels surveyed (7th grade, 9th grade and 11th grade), marijuana use actually dropped after it became legal on a limited basis.

In addition to the fallacies of the anti-legalization side regarding increased use, the damage perpetrated on those involved with marijuana far outweighs the benefits achieved by current legislation and yet continues to exist. Poor countries where the drug is produced are quickly being overrun by criminals and thugs, people who make breaking the law on numerous levels. Because production and exportation is considered a criminal activity, the actual criminals are finding success rather than defeat. Individuals within the rich countries who buy the drugs are often otherwise productive members of society. Smoking marijuana, for medical or other reasons, is often their only ‘crime’ yet they face a no tolerance policy that places them in prison, destroys their chances to continue being the productive people they were before and irreparably harms them in many other ways. Under legalization, governments would be able to standardize the quality, regulate the ages permitted to purchase the product and openly provide safety warnings directly to the population. No one is suggesting that legalization should simply make marijuana-smoking a blanket concession. Even the Economist points out any steps taken to legalize should be made slowly in order to avoid some of the pitfalls that have occurred when other historic prohibitions were lifted. One of these steps needs to be introducing a change in the United Nations policy that prevents many countries from moving in this direction (“Case for Legalisation,” 2001).

Studies prove that the majority of people who use marijuana do not become habitual, daily users. Most of these users are not involved in criminal behaviors related to the use of marijuana. After conducting an assessment of numerous studies that have been conducted since the 1970s, Chaiken and Chaiken (1989: 216) concluded that “among youths who engage in both predatory crime and substance use, the onset of crime most often comes first.” This conclusion directly refutes the claim that drug use leads teenagers to criminal activity because crime is found to occur first followed by the onset of drug use (Dembo et al, 1991). However, the study did find that alcohol use by young teenagers was an indicator of violent behavior later in life. Marijuana use, perhaps unsurprisingly given its effects, was unrelated to violent activities. It is a fallacy to suggest that teenagers commit crimes at a higher rate simply to support a cannabis habit.

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Numerous states including Rhode Island, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, Oregon, Nevada, Montana, Washington, Vermont, Michigan, New Mexico and Maine and numerous physicians have recognized the real benefits of marijuana as a natural medication to treat several forms of serious health conditions. However, Federal law supersedes state law. As a result, physicians within U.S. borders cannot legally dispense marijuana nor can a patient legally possess it regardless of how much it might help them. “The U.S. Supreme Court said federal law preempts any efforts by the state to authorize the use of marijuana for any purpose, including medicinal” (Schweitzer, 2005). Most Americans are not against the medicinal use of marijuana, but any use of marijuana remains against federal law which means people face stiffer sentences if caught. Although the U.S. government has declared a total ban on marijuana, this method has not succeeded as intended. All it has done is alter the arrangement of supply and demand by forcing the illegality of this market.

Most European nations separate cannabis from the harder drugs in their laws and language, but the United States approaches it as equally harmful. The country remains dedicated to the concept of its ‘war on drugs’ dating back into the 1970’s and accelerated by President Reagan in the 1980’s. A good example of a moderate approach to the idea of marijuana can be found in the U.K. In that country, people who are caught using or possessing the substance do not face immediate mandatory arrest. Mandatory arrest only occurs when accelerating circumstances are present such as when the drug is being used in the presence of minors or other, harder drugs are discovered as well. By contrast, individuals over the age of 18 in The Netherlands who smoke marijuana discretely are not arrested. Possession of five grams or less or the personal cultivation of less than five plants is also not prosecuted. Within the country, there are several coffee shops that are licensed to sell marijuana within their shops. Under their license, they are permitted to hold up to 100 grams of marijuana behind their counter at any given time and another 500 grams in storage. Another law passed in 2003 permits doctors to prescribe marijuana for medicinal use through local pharmacies (Coughlin, 2003). The U.K. system rests at a comfortable medium point between the no tolerance policies of the U.S. and the nearly neglectful policies of the Netherlands. However, they are still the harshest laws on the topic found in Europe.

The concept of legalization implies different meanings to different people. To some it means simple, blanket legalization. This approach would take the profit and the crime out of the trade. Another approach suggests legalizing the drug on a step by step basis. The first step would be to make marijuana legal under restricted circumstances, but not subject to such rigid laws as it exists under now. The next step would be to abolish the no tolerance policy in favor of more appropriate, sound reasoning. Varying degrees of decriminalization such as these are often confused with total legalization. Alcohol is legal, for example, but it is not legal to operate a car under its influence or to sell it to those less than 21 years of age (Nadelmann, 1990). These same approaches can be adopted concerning marijuana use. The total prohibition approach taken by the United States has led to an astronomical increase in the rates of crime and numbers of incarcerated individuals while demonstrating little to no impact on the actual availability and usage rates within the country’s borders. However, the choice is not simply a black and white issue of whether or not to legalize. Although drug laws against marijuana are relaxed in England and the Netherlands, there remain laws against it. The continued ban against marijuana makes little sense given its drain on economics, social issues and other law-fighting efforts. Legalization presents few risks not already faced by the nation, removes multiple risks introduced simply because of its illegality and provides a means for patients of serious diseases such as cancer, HIV, AIDS and other conditions to find less harmful relief.

“Case for Legalization, The.” The Economist. (July 26, 2001).

Chaiken, J. & Chaiken, M. “Drug Use and Predatory Crime.” Drugs and Crime – Crime and Justice: An Annual Review of Research. J.Q. Wilson & M. Tonry (Eds.). Vol. 13. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. (1989).

Coughlin, Geraldine. “Dutch to Prescribe Cannibis.” BBC News. (September 1, 2003).

Dembo, R.; Williams, L.; Getreu, A.; Genung, L.; Schmeidler, J.; Berry, E.; Wish, E.D.; & La Voie, L. “A Longitudinal Study of the Relationships Among Marijuana/hashish Use, Cocaine Use, and Delinquency in a Cohort of High Risk Youths.” Journal of Drug Issues. Vol. 21, (1991). pp. 271-312.

Nadelmann, Ethan. “Should Some Illegal Drugs be Legalized?” Science and Technology. Vol. 6, (1990). pp. 43-46.

O’Keefe & Earleywine. “Marijuana Use by Young People: The Impact of State Medical Marijuana Laws,” Marijuana Policy Project. 2005.

Schweitzer, Sarah. “R.I. may allow medical marijuana” The Boston Globe. (June 28, 2005)

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Legalization Of Marijuana Argumentative Academic Essay

Type of paper: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Drugs , Marijuana , Criminal Justice , Government , Law , Taxes , Politics , System

Published: 12/17/2021

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With a large number of marijuana users based in the United States of America, criminalization has been significantly costly for the federal government, medical service providers and the criminal justice system. Over the years, many patients have experienced the advantages of using medical marijuana and doctors have been prescribing marijuana in cases they find necessary. On the economic point of view, prohibition of marijuana costs the federal government billions of dollars in expenses to regulate and the government misses out on the tax revenue, significantly powerful industry for job creation and supporting other industries and alleviates the price for regular users. The criminal justice system suffers the most with the criminalization as a significant portion of their budget is allocated to arresting and correctional expenses of marijuana users. With the legalization of marijuana, it is possible that the medical, economic and criminal justice system of the country can be liberated and users can openly use the herb rather than get involved in an illegal trade that costs the government billions of dollars annually. Keywords: marijuana, incarceration, tax. Thesis: Research shows that federal legalization of cannabis would benefit society as a whole because it has proven medical value, would increase tax revenues and decrease expenditures, and ease the burden on our overloaded justice system, allowing more time to focus on fighting more severe/violent crimes.

Economic Benefits/Impact of Legalization

For the four decade period (1970-2010), the government of the United States of America has spent around US$ 2.5 trillion for prohibiting drug control. This expenditure also includes a prohibition on illegal trade of marijuana under the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. Legalizing marijuana will certainly reduce U.S. government’s expenditure utilized in taking prohibitive actions against illegal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. In addition, a report from Cato Institute in 2010 identified that government can save around US$ 8.7 billion from marijuana legalization. This revenue is supposed to be earned from taxes collected in the trade of legal cannabis taxed on the same scale of tobacco and alcohol (Miron & Waldock, 2010). With revenue of US$ 8.7 billion to be made in 2010, which is supposed to increase annually the federal government is missing out on a major source of tax revenue. This further proven by a paper taken out by 300 economists in 2012, which proved that the federal government can save around US$ 13.7 billion annually by legalizing marijuana (Huffington Post, 2012). Such an increase within two years shows the increasing demand for marijuana in the country for recreational and medicinal purposes. The federal government, avoiding such a fast growing and taxable industry would only be an economic mistake. The state of Colorado which was one of the first states in the country to legalize marijuana under Amendment 64, estimated that they would earn around $60 million in savings and additional revenue from taxes. Another economic advantage of legalizing marijuana is a reduction in the market prices of marijuana. It is expected that the prices of marijuana could drop by an estimated 100 times, which will help the marijuana buyers to invest their money in other products and facilities. A 2007 report in Forbes revealed that prohibition of marijuana cost around US$ 41.8 million annually to the federal government. This seems like an extreme overhead for the government, which was going through an economic recession at the same time. Spending billions on prohibiting marijuana could have been used in several other ways to help sustain the American economy (Hardy, 2007). In 2009, another report in the TIME magazine revealed that the total value of the marijuana crop only in the California state was around US$ 14 billion (Stateman, 2009). This is such a huge source of revenue for the California government that could have easily helped the economically suffering government from generating revenue. Only the tax bill on the US$ 14 billion crop would be around $1.3 billion annually. Therefore, it makes sense to legalize marijuana in the state and ensure they earn revenue from taxing the herb rather than spend billions on prohibiting the use. In 2010, the illegal marijuana industry was worth an estimated US$ 36 billion in the United States. Therefore, the government needed to spend billions to prohibit the illegal trade of marijuana in the country. This all happened when the country was recovering from one of the worst economic recessions in the history and could have implemented the same expenses in finding economic reparation. It would have been much better for the government to legalize marijuana and tax the trade through dispensaries, which would generate billions of dollars annually (Cain, 2010). In addition, the dispensary ads would have helped in boosting revenue of the nationwide newspapers and created jobs not only in the marijuana trade industry, but also in support industries such as medical dispensaries, newspapers and other forms of media (Phan, 2011). Another essential economic impact of marijuana legalization is the number of jobs it can create. It is expected that every weGrow Center in the country can create around 75 jobs, which can certainly impact the unemployment rates throughout the country. With the hydroponic marijuana supply chain active, around 75 unemployed individuals can be hired indirectly and help the federal government to reduce the unemployment rate without spending billions on helping traditional industries (Bradford, 2012). Overall, according to Bloomberg estimates, the overall size of the legalized marijuana industry can be over US$ 100 billion in the United States (Easton, 2009). Legalizing marijuana would not only provide economic advantages such as eliminating prohibition expenses, adding tax revenues, adding jobs and revenue for alternative and support industries, reduce the retail price of marijuana among many others; but it would also build ground for another major industry with readymade demand in the market.

Benefits/impact on the Justice System

The United States of America has the highest rate of incarceration in the world, which is due to the presence of federal prohibitive policies such as illegal trade of marijuana. It is fascinating to identify that inmates incarcerated for charges related to marijuana are costing around $1 billion in 2007 (Bradford, 2012). This is such a huge expense on incarcerating people on consumption and trade of marijuana, when there are many other crime activities that need further investigation and criminals living freely in the country. In addition, as per FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), around half of the arrests related to drugs in 2013 in the country were related to possession of marijuana or manufacturing/sale of cannabis. With half of the drug incarcerated convicts coming from the illegal trade of marijuana, it is justifiable that legalization will certainly lessen the burden on the justice system in the country. In 2010, around 55,000 individuals in the state of New York were incarcerated for possession of marijuana, which turns out to be a fifth degree offence in the state (Sacco & Finklea, 2014). This means around 55,000 people were convicted for possession of marijuana and the state was burdened with the cost of their misdemeanor and incarceration. Legalizing marijuana would certainly help in reducing the number of people in federal jails and help the criminal justice system to focus on other important cases. Another important thing to note is that the total number of arrests related to possession and use of marijuana is significantly smaller when compared with the estimated number of users. By the conservative estimates of the government, around 12 million Americans are regularly using marijuana and only 2-3 percent gets arrested annually. This leaves an open question for the criminal justice system and whether they can even afford to incarcerate 12 million people all over the country. The answer is obviously no as it would bankrupt the justice system and the federal government cannot afford to have a defunct criminal justice system (McVay, 1991). The criminal justice system that ranges from police arrests to corrections department needs to allocate a significant amount in their budget towards arrests, prosecution, sentencing and incarceration of the marijuana dealers, users, and other parties involved in the infrastructure such as manufacturers of drug paraphernalia, transporters, etc.). If marijuana use is decriminalized, the criminal justice system would witness a reduction in processing and enforcement tasks that are associated with the criminalizing marijuana use. A direct relationship exists between the numbers of cases processed or arrests made for crimes related to marijuana by the justice system and the proportion of the budget expended by these agencies. By eliminating and reducing these events related to marijuana arrests, the agency expenses can be reduced proportionately and spent in incriminating other serious crimes (Austin, 2016). In 2012, within the state of New York around 39,218 arrests were made for the criminal possession of marijuana this number meant that around 440,000 people have been arrested only in New York State for marijuana possession since 2002. The problem with this number is the number of police hours (1 million) that have been utilized in making these arrests (Levine, Siegel & Sayegh, 2013). This is a huge number and could have been utilized in controlling other crime rings and cartels based in a major city such as New York. Overall, legalizing marijuana throughout the country would help the justice system to reduce the number of police hours spend on making arrests and incarcerating people, eliminate the need for criminal rings and drug cartels that supply illegal marijuana and possibly reduce violent crimes that are caused in the illegal trade of marijuana. Another aspect of the society that can be impacted through legalization of marijuana is practice of racial disparity in the criminal justice system. It is reported that blacks and whites, roughly consume marijuana at the same rate; but blacks are arrested 3.7 times more than whites for possession. The issue is serious is states such as Iowa, where the rate is around 8.3 times and in few of well-known racist counties this rate reaches up to 30 times. Therefore, a problem caused by the criminalization of marijuana is the scapegoating of the black marijuana users. Another aspect of marijuana criminalization is only a small percentage of arrests get felony conviction, the rest are parried off as misdemeanors in the form of probation or fines. The impact of every arrest made on the future of the individual is grave as marijuana convictions often have consequences on individual’s education, employment, family life and immigration status (Wegman, 2014).

Legalization of marijuana has been in identified as a possible solution to several problems of the American economy, medical treatment procedures and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Marijuana has been used as a medicinal product for several centuries and has been part of the American medical system in the past. There are many states and doctors who have utilized marijuana as a means to calm the pain and anguish of their patients and identify the advantages of using marijuana in treatment. Similarly, legalizing marijuana also has economic implications of the American economy as it will surely help in generating tax revenue and jobs, reduce prohibition expenses, fund support industries and reduce the retail price of marijuana. All these economic advantages are attractive enough for the federal government to consider legalizing marijuana. Finally, legalization of marijuana will also help in improving the effectiveness of the criminal justice system as it will reduce the number of hours and budget spent on arresting and incriminating marijuana users, manufacturers and suppliers. In addition, other issues which creep up with marijuana arrests such as racial disparities, permanent black mark on the individual’s record and will help the justice system to focus on other important issues and crimes in the society. To conclude, legalization of marijuana would turn out to be a beneficial outcome in the medical sphere, economic quarters and criminal justice system of the United States of America.

Austin., J. (2016). The Decrim. Movement. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://norml.org/component/zoo/category/rethinking-the-consequences-of-decriminalizing-marijuana Bradford., H. (7 November 2012). 14 Ways Marijuana Legalization Could Boost The Economy. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/marijuana-economy-14-reasons_n_2089107.html?section=india Cain,. A. (28 December 2010). Capitalizing on the Billion Dollar Marijuana Industry. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://madamenoire.com/106691/capitalizing-on-the-billion-dollar-marijuana-industry/ Derrickson, J. (2014). Marijuana legalization: State initiatives, implications, and issues. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers. Easton., S. (2009). Legalize Marijuana for Tax Revenue. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2010/03/legalize_mariju.html Levine., H, Siegel., L & Sayegh., G. (March 2013). One Million Police Hours: Making 440,000 Marijuana Possession Arrests in New York City. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, https://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/One_Million_Police_Hours.pdf Miron, J.A. & Waldock, K. (2010). The Budgetary Impact of Ending Drug Prohibition. CATO Institute. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://www.cato.org/publications/white-paper/budgetary-impact-ending-drug-prohibition Hardy., Q. (1 October 2007). Marijuana's $42 Billion Question. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://www.forbes.com/2007/09/29/marijuana-laws-work-biz-cx_qh_1001pot.html Huffington Post. (28 August 2012). Pot Legalization Could Save U.S. $13.7 Billion Per Year, 300 Economists Say. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/economists-marijuana-legalization_n_1431840.html?section=india\ McVay, D. (1991). The Drug Legalization Debate, edited by James A. Inciardi. In Marijuana Legalization: The Time Is Now. New York, NY: SAGE Publications. Phan., S. (4 July 2011). Marijuana ads mean big money for weekly newspaper. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://archive.news10.net/news/local/article/144285/2/Marijuana-ads-mean-big-money-for-weekly-newspaper Sacco., L.N. & Finklea., K. (4 December 2014). State Marijuana Legalization Initiatives: Implications for Federal Law Enforcement. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R43164.pdf Stateman., A. (13 March 2009). Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1884956,00.html Wegman., J. (28 July 2014). The Injustice of Marijuana Arrests. Retrieved 27 January 2016 from, http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/29/opinion/high-time-the-injustice-of-marijuana-arrests.html?_r=0

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Legalization of Marijuana

Prohibiting marijuana calls for thorough research due to the drug’s legalization in most states. On the same note, marijuana has been suspected to be a popular drug, with its revelation in an escalation in its growth and consumption (Meisel, 2017). Additionally, there are different viewpoints related to its economic effect in a state. Conversely, different positions stress on marijuana legalization long-term effects including the crop’s price as well as lower tax returns as a result of its global availability. Therefore, research must be focused on the creation of an in-depth response to the marijuana’s social effects and its long-term impact on a state’s economy through diminished productivity rate.

Recently, such efforts are being extended past cannabis therapeutic uses to fruitful debates in different states for legalizing the crop’s recreational use. Notably, most people hail these attempts as average citizens triumph over the draconian legal system imprisoning many nonviolent cannabis users unnecessarily. In other words, although broadly prohibited since the nineteenth century in America, currently, states like Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, as well as Washington have legalized marijuana possession for both medical and personal use (Caulkins, 2016).

Similar to other drugs, marijuana as well affects one socially. In this case, the crop can have both positive and adverse effects to a person. Pursuing this further, research has it that legal cannabis strong demand growth in the past decades might continue (Caulkins, 2016). With many states debating changes to the laws of cannabis, the future seems to open legal markets for cannabis. On this note, major states such as Massachusetts, California, and Nevada might legalize usage by adults while Florida might pass medical bills on cannabis.

Scientifically, smoking marijuana can be linked to fewer fights (Meisel, 2017). Evidently, smokers have a peaceful state of mind and are quite friendly. Additionally, cannabis bringing about relaxation by minimizing ones’ stress levels. Weed serves a relaxation role similar to that of alcohol. The drugs also improve a person’s creativity (Meisel, 2017). This is reflected in world’s renowned artists like Jay-Z, Bob Marley, Rihanna, Stephen King as well as Lady Gaga. On the federal level, marijuana legalization can offer economic advantages for America to great sums, precisely when the U.S. national economy calls for a significant support.

Concisely, weed is safer than other illicit substances like tobacco or alcohol. As a result of this, firm legal marijuana regulations may be a practical approach to addressing the legalization issue. Following this further, cannabis is causing fewer adverse effects than alcohol or tobacco; there is a need to develop policies prioritizing on the management of the dangers related to tobacco and alcohol, rather than cannabis. Further, marijuana use has little risk which recommends the government employ robust approaches on regulation instead of the prohibition of the drug.

Future research must focus on three major areas: the process of registration, consistent compounds evaluation as well as addressing the barriers associated to weed legalization and determine the effects of marijuana, on social and economic backgrounds. Therefore, researchers should indicate and explain how the registration process leads to administrative challenges, acting as disincentives to research conduction. Also, it should be elaborated why every marijuana cannabinoids are termed as compounds in Schedule I and the reason CBD lacks an abuse liability (Caulkins, 2016). The research should be concluded by elaborating on how multiple agencies should work to identify approaches of streamlining the process of facilitating research as well as meeting legislative and international obligations related to Controlled Substances and Narcotic Drugs Act (Caulkins, 2016).

Essay On Legalizing Marijuana

Argumentative essay on recreational marijuana.

Let me begin by warning you, this is an extremely controversial topic. Legalizing recreational marijuana should be a top priority for the state of Florida. When put on a scale the benefits outweigh the cons. For one, the crime rate in our state will lower. Secondly, many people cannot afford prescription drugs, recreational marijuana can be used for various ailments and its health benefits exceed expectation. To add, recreational marijuana is taxable! Therefore, it is money that can be put into our communities. Recreational marijuana as intimidating as some may think, can actually benefit our community in many ways.

Persuasive Essay On Legalizing Marijuana

While growing up, everyone is constantly told how drugs are bad for you, over and over again and nobody ever seems to question it. They just listen to their parents, teachers, or whoever is their superior. The majority of drugs are, in fact, bad for you. However, marijuana has never been proven to be harmful to the body. Shockingly enough, there has never been a single recorded death caused by use of or an overdose of the drug. The effects of marijuana on the body and whether it should be legalized or not is in high debate, and has been for as long as the drug has existed. In today's society marijuana is constantly brought up in all the medias mainstream sources like social media, TV and movies, and music. Time and time again the drug has been proven to be beneficial in a number of ways, including health, economy, and crime. The legalization of marijuana will greatly impact American society in a positive way. Many people would be very unhappy about its legalization due to a number of reasons, but the recreational use of the drug could be limited to users only being able

Benefits Of Legalizing Marijuana In Canada

The benefits from the legalization of marijuana could benefit consumers, owners of dispensaries, and the government. Advocates of medical marijuana believe it should be covered like any other drug. Marijuana could help people get what they need at a cheaper price because a joint may only cost you $2 or $3. As far as paying for it, it could take the price of other medications that group benefits would pay for (Paterson 3-4).

Cons Of Legalizing Marijuana

There are thirty million Americans that have smoked marijuana in the past year. Sixty eight percent of Americans live in states that are working are trying to reform their laws (2016 Marijuana Policy Reform Legislation). Legalizing marijuana is becoming the number one phenome in America. There are multiple reasons on why it should be legalized but with all the pros comes the cons. By legalizing marijuana America can provide more jobs, and lower the crime rate tremendously.

Medical Marijuana Argumentative Essay

People believe that if marijuana is legalized users will get addicted. Marijuana use disorder become what is known as addiction when “the person cannot stop using the drug even though it interferes with many aspects of his or her life” (“Is Marijuana Addictive”). Although addiction is a problem, out of all the people who use marijuana, only 9% become dependent on it (“Is Marijuana Addictive”). Also, opioids and painkillers are very addictive as well, and they can lead to an overdose resulting in death. The second concern is abuse. States are worried that people who get the medical marijuana card will abuse it and get more than needed or sell it for money. While people may abuse their card just to get high or make money, there is a limit on how much a person with the card. The limit depends on the state and it only exceeded if the doctor recommends it and the state approves it. There are also laws one when and where the marijuana can be in possession. Although these problems have serious concerns, people are making a bigger deal out of them than is

Argumentative Essay: Keeping Marijuana Illegal

Marijuana is a drug that is used by approximately 38% in America. Recently, there has been a movement to legalize marijuana for both medical and recreational use. Some states and communities have already passed laws to legalize marijuana and many more have plans to bring legalization to a vote in the near future. While there are many arguments for why marijuana should be legalized, legalizing marijuana is the wrong choice. Marijuana is addicting, can lead to usage of other drugs and has negative impact on society.

Argumentative Essay on The Benefits of Marijuana

Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is derived from the Cannabis plant and is used commonly for either recreational or medical purposes. Marijuana is composed of chemicals such as tetrahydrocannabinol (HTC, and over eighty cannabinoids. Marijuana is acknowledged for providing smokers with a “high” feeling. Since the twentieth century, this illicit drug has been banned across the world. However, over the past few years studies have been conducted on marijuana and the results show that it can actually be helpful in many different areas of society. The legalization of marijuana has widespread benefits for the medical, law enforcement, and economic sectors.Marijuana has a variety of benefits in the medical field because it can control many side effects from different diseases. For instance, cancer is a deadly disease that kills over seven million people across the world every year. Patients diagnosed with cancer go through several painful treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy. Thankfully, marijuana helps to alleviate pain and suppress nausea from cancer treatments. Moreover, it has been proven to prevent cancer cells from spreading throughout the body. According to Business Insider, cannabidiol (CBD),

Argumentative Essay: Why Marijuana Should Be Legal

Marijuana is a very prominent issue in society today. Many false and slanderous things have been said about marijuana in recent times. But the truth about marijuana continues to reveal itself. Sadly these truths are being criticised because of the stereotypical view that many people call the typical “pot smoker”. This false perception of a lazy and unmotivated America is the result of over seventy years of propaganda and misinformation. In my opinion for many reasons, the Federal Government should legalize marijuana in all 50 states.

Essay On Decriminalizing Marijuana

Marijuana has been proven to be a “gateway” drug, therefore, if marijuana were to be legalized, eventually other harmful substances could be legalized as well causing many deaths and various forms of

The War On Drugs: The Legalization Of Marijuana

The War on Drugs has been a long battle between the government and drugs in the United States. Legalizing marijuana for medicinal purposes can have a great impact on society and legalizing marijuana for recreational use can have a much larger impact. Some people believe that legalizing marijuana would do more harm than good; but this is not the case. In this essay, I will be arguing for the legalization of marijuana because it reduces the stats for the number of criminals, it saves taxpayers money, it strengthens the economy, it is beneficial to health, and it is less harmful than other drugs, along with countering the common misconception of marijuana as a gateway drug for teenagers its abuse.

Persuasive Essay On Legalization Of Marijuana

Millions of people around the world are consumers of marijuana. The demand for legalizing marijuana has grown throughout the years. Users of marijuana pledge for it to be legalized to avoid the prison life. For now, marijuana is an illegal drug in almost all countries. With the demand of it increasing, the legalization of marijuana has grown to be a very controversial topic recently. This subject has been debated numerous times over the past few years. People’s points of view and researches about the topic have varied greatly. Some people believe that marijuana should be legalized, while the rest feel should stay prohibited.

Argumentative Essay: The Decriminalization Of Marijuana

As a nation we have come to point where we must take a unified stand on the issue of marijuana. Since 1937 the drug has been deemed illegal by the U.S. government but over the best decade, people have been pushing for the decriminalization of the cannabis plant. As a non drug user, i have researched the internet in search of unbiased information regarding the drugs health, economic, and crime influences on society. The fruits of my labor have brought me to the undisputable conclusion that our continued restriction on possession and use of the drug not only violates the liberties of U.S. citizens, but it also is costing Americans Billions of dollars, and something, our lives.

Argumentative Essay On Marijuana

According to Bernie Sanders, “It is time to tax and regulate marijuana like alcohol. It is time to end the arrest of so many people and the destruction of so many lives for possessing marijuana”. This argument is important because marijuana is considered a "gateway drug," which has not been scientifically proven. Many people have tried marijuana or at least know someone who has attempted to smoke weed. A person most likely does not know as much as they think they know about what it is or the effects. Connected to this topic, conversations about smoking or legalizing marijuana is being brought up a lot everywhere. Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mix of dried, crumbled parts from the marijuana plant. People sometimes mix it in their food like brownies, cookies, or candy. These are are edibles. People also inhale it using a vaporizer. It is smoked using hand-rolled cigars, cigarettes, or papers filled with weed to make joints, bongs, and pipes. Marijuana smoke usually has a sweet-and-sour odor to it. Many people are attracted by the high feeling of smoking marijuana. It affects everyone differently. After smoking weed, someone might feel relaxed. Another person might be very energetic. A person’s behavior can change like being aroused. Marijuana is a misunderstood drug. Many assume that the use of marijuana is dangerous, but it can be the exact opposite. So why is the legalization of marijuana in the United States such a problem for many people today? Some states have

Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Marijuana

Marijuana legalization, for whatever reason, has been a topic of heated debate for years now. Different people express different opinions about why or why not it should be legalized for recreational use. The American FDA categorizes marijuana as a Schedule I drug meaning that its benefits are not guaranteed as many people claim. Although the drug has been said to contain medical benefits, the reality is that further research on how and when to use it is needed. Different states have legalized the use of Marijuana for medical reasons. Today the demands are changing in different states. In States such as Colorado and Washington, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use. This move raised several questions as far as decriminalization of marijuana is concerned. Besides portraying the US in a bad light, legalization of marijuana for recreation increases the risk of developing mental problems, increases government expenditure on public health, jeopardizes the future of children, and is a gateway to other dangerous drugs.

In 1919, alcohol was made illegal across the United States with the goal to better people’s lives and make society safer. During the fourteen years that the prohibition lasted, crime rate nearly doubled, unemployment rose, and tax revenue decreased. Eventually the ban on alcohol was repealed because of its negative impact on the economy and society. Now fast forward to the year 2015, where a common substance known as marijuana is illegal. It was made illegal in the 1930’s for the same reasons as alcohol, because it was believed that it was going to do harm to society. As years have gone by, it is obvious that a mistake was made. The fact that marijuana was made illegal has created numerous problems for the United States that on the long run could have been easily avoided. Countries in different parts of the world and some states within the United States have already legalized marijuana and they have all shown positive outcomes out of their decisions. Although marijuana is illegal in majority of the states, legalizing marijuana for recreational use would bring about social and economical reforms that would help deter crime in the country, increase the amount of money the government makes, and also help people that are medically in need of the drug.

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COMMENTS

Argumentative Essay On Marijuana Legalization - Gudwriter.com
Thesis: Marijuana should be legalized as it is more beneficial that it may be detrimental to society. Paragraph 1: Marijuana has not caused turmoil in some of the countries where it has been legalized. Marijuana does not increase violent, and property crimes as many suggest.
Marijuana Legalization Essay Examples - PapersOwl.com
Some argue that the government should legalize marijuana because it is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. They also believe legalizing marijuana will decrease crime rates, especially drug trafficking.
Essays on Marijuana Legalization - WritingUniverse
Legalization of leisure marijuana has various benefits when observed primarily based on the policies that have been instituted in states like Washington and Colorado where cannabis has been legalized. Firstly, legalization of marijuana will lead to reduced prices on the product as compared to the prices in the black market…
Legalization Of Marijuana Argumentative Essay - WOWEssays.com
Legalization of marijuana only means lower prices. Low prices for marijuana will reduce the number of crimes committed with the intention of getting money to access the illegal drugs (Earleywine, 2007). Such crimes as mugging, conning, burglary and the like will be less heard of in society. Essentially therefore, legalization of marijuana is ...
Legalizing Marijuana Essay Sample, 1713 Words, 5 ... - Studyfy
Legalization presents few risks not already faced by the nation, removes multiple risks introduced simply because of its illegality and provides a means for patients of serious diseases such as cancer, HIV, AIDS and other conditions to find less harmful relief. Works Cited “Case for Legalization, The.” The Economist. (July 26, 2001).
Argumentative Essay On Legalization Of Marijuana | WOW Essays
Conclusion. Legalization of marijuana has been in identified as a possible solution to several problems of the American economy, medical treatment procedures and effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Marijuana has been used as a medicinal product for several centuries and has been part of the American medical system in the past.
Legalization of Marijuana Essay Example [608 Words] | EssayWriter
Legalization of Marijuana. Prohibiting marijuana calls for thorough research due to the drug’s legalization in most states. On the same note, marijuana has been suspected to be a popular drug, with its revelation in an escalation in its growth and consumption (Meisel, 2017). Additionally, there are different viewpoints related to its economic ...
Essay On Legalizing Marijuana - 955 Words | Internet Public ...
The legalization of marijuana has widespread benefits for the medical, law enforcement, and economic sectors.Marijuana has a variety of benefits in the medical field because it can control many side effects from different diseases. For instance, cancer is a deadly disease that kills over seven million people across the world every year.
Persuasive essay done - Medical marijuana - The Benefits of ...
The Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana. Many people who are suffering from mental disabilities can be helped by the legalization of marijuana. The controversy over legalizing marijuana has been a hotly debated topic in the United States. Many people are fervently against the legalization of marijuana, while others are for it.