Legalization Of Marijuana Essay

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People have been fighting for the legalization of marijuana for a long time. Many people use this drug and find absolutely nothing wrong with it. Others find it disgusting and are opposed to the legalization of it. The earliest use of marijuana was documented in 7000 B.C. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and many others used it for medical purposes. Marijuana was first used in the United States during the 1800’s and was banned in 1937 without any reason given by the government except that “it was for our own good” (Block, “Why Marijuana Became Illegal”). Marijuana should be legal everywhere in the world because, although it is highly addictive, marijuana is not as harmful as tobacco and alcohol, having a regulated market for it would reduce the sale and use of it amongst people under the age of eighteen, and the government can save and make money off of it. Marijuana is an extremely popular drug, not only in America, but in every other country in the world as well. However, there are many people who do not know exactly what it is or where it comes from. Marijuana is a blend of flowers, seeds, leaves, and stems from the Indian hemp planted called Cannabis. This plant contains a chemical called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which causes the “high” feeling that users experience when smoking it (“Marijuana: Effects, Medical Uses & Legalization”). The THC in marijuana is analogous to the nicotine in tobacco, but it is not as harmful. They both have many similarities, but they also have significant differences. For one, people who smoke marijuana smoke less than those who smoke tobacco. Also, Nicotine causes more damage to the body than THC does. For example, nicotine has many cancer-causing effects. It increases cholinergic signaling which... ... middle of paper ... ... are writing those laws have probably done the same thing.” • "Those who argue that legalizing marijuana is a panacea and it solves all these social problems I think are probably overstating the case." Even our own president believes that marijuana should be legalized. Looking at the true facts and benefits of legalizing marijuana can help one realize that it is not a bad idea. It is widely used around the world so one could say that there is already a market for it, but it is illegal. The government can take over this market and regulate it to make billions of dollars and decrease the amount of underage smoking at the same time. Many people look at marijuana as a bad thing, but alcohol and tobacco is no better and is actually worse. One could bet that, in a few years, all states will have a market for marijuana and many other countries, if not all, will too.

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