Argumentative Essay On Legalization Of Marijuana

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Recommended: How legalizing marijuana impacts society in a positive way

Alyssa Aguilar
Mrs. Martinucci
English Honors Period 3
14 May 2014
Legalization of Marijuana
Is marijuana really as terrible as most people say? The marijuana industry is worth 141.80 billion dollars, and there are about 180.6 marijuana smokers in this world as of 2013 (24 Mind-Blowing Facts About Marijuana Production in America). Marijuana, more formally known as cannabis, is a very important crop in this world, and it should be legalized. Marijuana should be legalized because it is not dangerous, especially compared to the other legalized drugs out there today, such as alcohol and tobacco, it is beneficial, prohibition of marijuana is a useless waste of time and money, and because marijuana prohibition is unconstitutional.
First of all, marijuana is not dangerous. The short and long term effects of marijuana aren’t harmful, especially compared to the effects of legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. Short term effects of marijuana include the feeling of being high. When a person is high, they have memory problems, sensory distortion, panic, anxiety, poor coordination of movement, lowered reaction time, and sleepiness. Most of these effects are not felt each time a smoker smokes, and many people enjoy these feelings (Short- & Long-Term Effects of Marijuana). There are quite a few long term effects of marijuana. One long term effect of marijuana is cancer because marijuana contains some of the same cancer-causing chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Though marijuana contains some harmful chemicals that cause cancer, it isn’t nearly as dangerous as tobacco smoke. Another long term effect of smoking marijuana is respiratory problems. Cannabis can cause a person to cough and wheeze. The possibility of cancer and respiratory proble...

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...ealed due to its conflict with the tenth amendment, why is marijuana still illegal? Marijuana prohibition goes against the second, tenth and fourteenth amendment, so it is clearly unconstitutional (Is Marijuana Prohibition Unconstitutional?).
All in all, marijuana should be legalized because marijuana is not dangerous, marijuana is beneficial, prohibition is a useless waste of time and money, and because marijuana prohibition is unconstitutional. “Marijuana prohibition causes more problems than it solves, and ruins thousands more lives than it supposedly saves” (About Marijuana). 2014 is anticipated to be a big year for marijuana legalization. More than 5 states are predicted to legalize marijuana. Legalization of marijuana won’t likely cause a great increase in marijuana smokers, but it will save a lot of people a few years in jail and a ruined permanent record.

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