Legalizing Marijuana For my annotated bibliography, I choose to write about the effects of legalizing marijuana. Throughout this essay, I will be comparing some of the positives and negatives effects legalizing marijuana would have on our society, to see whether or not it should be legalized. Some believe that it should be legalized, but others believe the opposite. Let's take a look at both viewpoints on this topic to see the pros and cons of legalization. Vartabedian, Ralph. A.S.A. Medical Marijuana Users Are a Public Safety Risk on the Road. Medical Marijuana, edited by Margaret Haerens and Lynn M. Zott, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010828224/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=22dc4f …show more content…
Brown, Lee P. "Legalizing Marijuana Is Irresponsible." Marijuana, edited by Joseph Tardiff, Greenhaven Press, 2008. Contemporary Issues Companion. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010202211/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=40ddfb9a. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024. The. Originally published as "Keynote Address to the National Conference on Marijuana Use: Prevention, Treatment and Research," 1995. The author, Lee Brown, believed that legalizing marijuana would be an irresponsible decision. Lee Brown believes in the dangers of marijuana, and how it not only affects adults, but also young children. Some believe that marijuana doesn’t have addictive properties, which is false. This can be very critical to brain development in young children and even early adulthood. He believes that marijuana use should be controlled and there should be funded treatment to reduce the amount of addiction. Carlsson, Sven. - Olov. Marijuana Use and Alcohol Use Are Dangerous for Society. The Legalization of Marijuana, edited by Nol Merino, Greenhaven Press, …show more content…
Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010991215/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=99a9690e. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024. The. Originally published as "Open Letter to President Barack Obama: The Notorious Comparison of Alcohol and Marijuana, and the Most Important Aspect That Is Conspicuously Absent," Iogt.org, vol. 1, 2014. Mr. Carlsson wrote an open letter to the President at the time, Barack Obama, including statements about how fewer drugs in a society could have a positive effect overall. Carlsson compared the harms of alcohol to marijuana. He also includes three important points on how marijuana and alcohol can impact society. Miron, Jeffrey. A. Legalizing Marijuana Would Save Money and Generate Tax Revenue." Marijuana, edited by Noah Berlatsky, Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010381260/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=bookmark-OVIC&xid=6b8e9739. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024. The. Originally published as "A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Legalizing Marijuana," The Pot Book: A Complete Guide to Cannabis: Its Role in Medicine, Politics, Science, and Culture, edited by Julie Holland, Park Street Press, 2010,
Observe, then, that an increase in the use of some drugs as a result of legalization might actually result in a net decrease in the independent harms of drug and alcohol abuse taken together” (Husak 112). Being that alcohol is currently legal, there’s a 99.9% chance that it won’t change soon. Some drugs are banned, but, alcohol is still being sold in stores. Marijuana is a nonviolent drug, whereas alcohol promotes anger and pure violence. By legalizing marijuana and making drinking alcohol illegal, there’s a chance that violence will decrease.
Lately it seems that drug policy and the war on drugs has been in the headlines quite a lot. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the policies that the United States government takes against illegal drugs are coming into question. The mainstream media is catching on to the message of organizations and individuals who have long been considered liberal "Counter Culture" supporters. The marijuana question seems to be the most prevalent and pressed of the drugs and issues that are currently being addressed. The messages of these organizations and individuals include everything from legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, to full-unrestricted legalization of the drug. Of course, the status quo of vote seeking politicians and conservative policy makers has put up a strong resistance to this "new" reform lobby. The reasons for the resistance to the changes in drug policies are multiple and complex. The issues of marijuana’s possible negative effects, its use as a medical remedy, the criminality of distribution and usage, and the disparity in the enforcement of current drug laws have all been brought to a head and must be addressed in the near future. It is apparent that it would be irresponsible and wrong for the government to not evaluate it’s current general drug policies and perhaps most important, their marijuana policy. With the facts of racial disparity in punishment, detrimental effects, fiscal strain and most importantly, the history of the drug, the government most certainly must come to the conclusion that they must, at the very least, decriminalize marijuana use and quite probably fully legalize it.
Although there are numerous deaths, at least 100,000, from prescription drugs each year, there has never been a death attributed to marijuana. The late Dr. Tod Mikuriya, a former administrator of the US government’s marijuana research programs, stated that after he had treated about 10,000 patients in 15 years, he felt that there are about 200 different medical conditions that respond favorably to medical marijuana.
This article is very useful for people who need to understand why people use the drug and where there may be problems. There are some parts of this piece that are hard to follow as he uses jargon that is used in research on cannabis. This is a great starting point to my paper as I can discuss what users are doing with this plant and the pros and cons, they will help me make a strong argument. This story talks about something that I am against, which is synthetic marijuana and the problems that consumers are having with it. This article is written in simple language, but it contains some parts where a simple knowledge of cannabis would be useful.
in Colorado and Washington as not only medicinal, but recreational use. They have also begun
Today’s economy is struggling and it is in dire need of relief. As of 2013, the United State’s debt was $17 trillion, and if marijuana were to be legalized than it would help raise more money. It could be taxed and distributed for consumption sold like alcohol and tobacco. Taxes on cigarettes amounted to more than $43.3 Billion in 2012 (RJReynolds). The legalization of marijuana could possibly one day make that money helping to reduce this nation's debt. But, as the United States continues to prohibit the use of marijuana, it will make the taxpayers pay more money each year on the illegal usage of the drug. The marijuana prohibition costs both state and federal governments more than $20 billion a year (CATO Institute). One drug policy could change how much it wastes on the prohibition but the government has done so. A study by the CATO institute showed that...
The debate between prohibitionists and citizens who believe in the legalization of illegal drugs provide many arguments. Since there are many drugs that are illegal there are many different arguments on what should be legal and what shouldn’t. The biggest debate, and the argument that I will mostly focus on, is the reform of marijuana. Prohibitionists argue that marijuana has adverse health, safety, social, academic, economic, and behavioral consequences (Goldberg 183). Not only do they claim that it causes all of those consequences but it also can cause harm to others including family and friends (Rachels 228). The obvious argument in harming others is driving under the influence of the drug but proh...
Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana is opposed by a vast majority of American’s and people around the world. Leaders in Marijuana prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement adamantly oppose the substance, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the use of illegal drugs, are making headlines. They are influencing decision making thru legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate here in the United States and in other countries. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the oldest drug user lobby in the U.S. It has strong ties to the Libertarian party, the Drug Policy Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union. These groups use a variety of strategies, which range from outright legalization to de facto legalization under the guise of medicalization, control legalization through taxation. However, drugs like marijuana are addicting and should not be legalized. Marijuana should not be legalized because it can cause overwhelming damage to the society as a whole. As Bennett says, “Drug use- especially heavy drug use- destroys human character. It destroys dignity and autonomy, it burns away the sense of responsibility, it subverts productivity, it makes a mockery of virtue” (Husak 663). People throughout the nation have witnessed law changes regarding the possession of marijuana to its physical and social effects on society. Marijuana should not be legalized for the following reasons namely for the legal, physical, and social aspects of its use.
Ever since marijuana’s introduction to the United States of America in 1611, controversy of the use and legalization of the claimed-to-be Schedule I drug spread around the nation. While few selective states currently allow marijuana’s production and distribution, the remaining states still skepticize the harmlessness and usefulness of this particular drug; therefore, it remains illegal in the majority of the nation. The government officials and citizens of the opposing states believe the drug creates a threat to citizens due to its “overly-harmful” effects mentally and physically and offers no alternate purposes but creating troublesome addicts hazardous to society; however, they are rather misinformed about marijuana’s abilities. While marijuana has a small amount of negligible effects to its users, the herbal drug more importantly has remarkable health benefits, and legalizing one of the oldest and most commonly known drugs would redirect America’s future with the advantages outweighing the disadvantages.
Many could argue that marijuana is destructive physically as well as mentally. “The National Institute on Drug Abuse says marijuana can cause heart irregularities, lung problems, and addiction” (Welch). “One joint can be just as damaging to [the lungs] as smoking at least two and a half cigarettes” (Ruff). According to Dr. Tom Wright, director of a substance abuse treatment center for adolescents in Rockford, “teens may be especially sensitive to marijuana’s effects because their brains are still being formed” (MJ Rebuttal). However, the marijuana legalization proposition would have tight restrictions and regulations by the states that would eliminate some of those issues, such as age. These facts are not consistent; the evidence is not backed from reliable sources. One institute is referred to, but more experts are needed to verify the information.
The legalization of marijuana has been a highly debated topic for many of years. Since the first president to the most recent, our nation’s leaders have consumed the plant known as weed. With such influential figures openly using this drug why is it so frowned upon? Marijuana is considered a gateway drug, a menace to society, and mentally harmful to its consumers. For some people weed brings a sense of anxiety, dizziness, or unsettling feeling. Like alcohol, tobacco or any other drug, those chemicals may not respond well with their body. For other people marijuana brings joy, a sense of relief, and takes the edge off of every day stress. For those who are associated with cannabis, purposes usually range from a relaxant, or cash crop, to more permissible uses such as medicine, and ingredient to make so many other materials. We now need to look at what would change if marijuana were legal. Benefits to the economy and agriculture, health issues, and crime rates are three areas worth looking at. Deliberating on the pros and cons of this plant we can get a better understanding for marijuana. From there it will be easier to make a clear consensus on what is best for the nation.
The budgetary implications of marijuana prohibition. Marijuana Policy Project, 2005. Nelson, Steve. A great idea. Marijuana Use
The legalization of marijuana is considered a controversial issue, something that can benefit people for medical purposes, but what about recreationally? Marijuana has been illegal since 1937, but there’s never been a bigger push for legalization. There are several reasons why it is illegal, because of government propaganda and big industry not wanting to lose money, but this will be discussed later. The purpose of this paper is to educate, theorize, and discuss various aspects of marijuana, such as its history, development, and the advantages and disadvantages of marijuana legalization. Finally, my personal reflection on legalization and marijuana in general will be discussed.
The discussion whether marijuana should be legalized and taxed is very present within the last month. That’s why I’m going to discuss the pro and cons about the legalisation of weed, as it is often called, in the following research paper.
There has always been controversy about marijuana and the affects it has on health and the issue of legalization. Some people believe it is very destructive to one’s health, and yet others feel the complete opposite about it. Is Marijuana truly harmful to one’s health? “Marijuana, the Deceptive Drug”, written by George Bierson, was published in the Massachusetts News. In this article, Bierson determines that marijuana is harmful in many ways. He seems to think that it damages the brain, the reproductive system, and also contributes to the halt of production in the immune system. Bierson also tries to persuade the reader that marijuana is a “gateway drug” that leads to larger drugs in the future. However, by conducting research of my own, I have come to the conclusion that Bierson’s article simply lacks truth.