Marijuana Legalization

This debate is becoming more and more relevant since the economy collapsed. The argument over whether marijuana should be legalized has been going on since the 70’s when the war on drugs began, and probably will be going on for many years to come. It is an argument where both sides have done multiple studies, and research over whether it should, or should not be legalized. In this paper I will be discussing both views on if it should, or shouldn’t be legalized, also if marijuana does posses medical value, and if our nation would benefit for legalization.

This problem is continuing to be ignored by Washington. With many people ill informed on this topic, they are also choosing to ignore it. This problem is increasing in priority, because the new studies on marijuana are showing it can help reduce cancers, and tumors. The consequences on not solving this problem are delaying the magical abilities this drug has.

Now let’s talk about what marijuana is. Marijuana is the common name for the drug made from the plant Cannabis sativa. The main mind-altering ingredient in marijuana is THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), but more than 400 other chemicals are also in the plant. This plant can either be eaten or smoked with the same effects.

Opponents who justify Marijuana’s prohibition choose to stick with the decision that if the FDA hasn’t approved it, it must be too dangerous for use. After all, certain studies did show that smoking five joints a week may be equivalent to smoking a full pack of cigarettes daily.

One of the most famous points made by prohibitionists is that marijuana is a gateway drug and leads to harder drugs. There was a test conducted by a Dr. Robert Heath on monkeys that revealed THC in marijuana caused serio...

... middle of paper ...

...my would be spared millions, innocents would no longer be unjustly imprisoned, our crime would be reduced, and marijuana would no longer be able to be obtained by adolescents, instead by adults who have the right to choose for themselves whether they should use this nature-grown plant or not. Marijuana should be legalized for all purposes and anyone that is semi-educated or possesses half a brain would probably agree with me. At the very least we need to leave the poor, innocent patients alone, so they are able to take the medicine they need to provide them with relief from both the physiological and psychological pain that they bare, without having to worry about the risk of possibly being arrested or imprisoned alongside murderers, rapists, and lunatics. These prohibitionist laws need to be changed before more people suffer from the consequences of this insanity.