Legalize It Already

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Life has its daily complications and we often need an escape. Some of us find relief in a nice glass of red wine and a piece of double chocolate cake. Others may find their arrival in paradise on the rim of an ice cold beer. An abundant amount of us turn to more common fixes like cigarettes or food. Then there are the ones that can’t find pleasure in common fixes, they’d rather turn to drugs for peace. Drugs like Marijuana (Cannabis) are often frowned upon because of its effect on the brain and has been constituted as illegal. But alcohol also affects the brain and it is legal. The question could be what’s the difference between alcohol and marijuana that makes marijuana illegal? Or it could be; what is the sole purpose for making it illegal?

Marijuana or as it is sometimes called “the gateway drug” is commonly used as an immediate fix and tends to be abused also. So the question is why hasn’t marijuana be legalized yet? Maybe the issue is that Marijuana happens to be one of the most abused recreational drugs available.

Defined by TheFreeDictionary.com Marijuana is a preparation made from the dried flower clusters and leaves of the hemp plant (Cannabis Saliva), usually smoked or eaten to induce Euphoria (a feeling of happiness, confidence or well-being). This greenish-gray substance alters the mind due to the active ingredient it contains called THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). The strength of this plant increases greatly depending on the weather, time of harvest and several other components. Marijuana can be vaporized, drank as a tea, consumed orally or baked into foods and give the same but slowed affect.

The origination of Marijuana is unknown but is said to be the Spanish name for Maria and Juana (Mary Jane). Accord...

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...3 May 2011.

American Council for Drug Education. AXA Foundation, Verizon Foundation. n.d. Web. 3 May 2011.

Medical Marijuana Hut.com. May 2010. Web. 3 May 2011.

United States. Dept. of Health and Human Services. “Marijuana Abuse.” nih.gov. October 2002. Web. 3 May 2011.

Eisenman, Russell. Using Marijuana: Positive/Negative Experiences. n.d. Web. 3 May 2011.

Division of Alcohol and Drug Abuse. well.com. National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1984. Web. 3 May2011.

“Marijuana.” thefreedictionary.com. FARLEX, n.d. Web. 3 May 2011

Cancer and Medical Marijuana. Americans for Safe Access, 2002. Web. 3 May 2011.

Anderson, George. Marijuana: A Wikifocus Book. Wikifocus Book Intr.,2011. Print.

Carter, Gregory T., Dale Gieringer, and Ed Rosenthal. Marijuana Medical Handbook: Practical Guide to Therapeutic Uses of Marijuana. Revised ed. California: Oakland, 2008. Print.

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