Legalizing Marijuana Argumentative Essay

Lauren Villa, who possesses her Bachelor of Arts in creative writing and her master’s in public health, states the facts of alcohol versus marijuana: “Besides alcohol, marijuana is the most commonly detected drug in drivers involved in car accidents. One study found that marijuana increased the odds of being in car accident by 83% … When alcohol was involved, the odds of being in a car accident increased more than 2,200%!” (Villa). Although alcohol has a higher risk factor than marijuana it is still legal for adults 21 and over in the United States to buy and consume. Legalization of marijuana could be beneficial to the world today, but because society is fallen, similar to the civilization in The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the regulation

is not currently legal.
The law of legalizing marijuana could potentially lead to advancing society.

A credible source argues, “Legalizing and regulating marijuana will bring one of the nation's largest cash crops under the rule of law. This will create jobs and economic opportunities in the formal economy instead of the illicit market” (Marijuana Legalization). Marijuana plants need to be maintained, and if marijuana was legal it would open up a multitude of jobs. This would help people currently struggling to discover a place to work. Arthur Miller shows the opportunities witchcraft creates for certain people: “This a beloved errand for [Reverend Hale]; on being called here to ascertain witchcraft he felt the pride of the specialist whose unique knowledge has at last been publicly called for” (Miller 32-33). When the amount of people being charged for witchcraft increases rapidly, the town decides to invite Reverend Hale into town. This creates a meaning for Hale because now he can exercise his intelligence and passion: solving the mystery of witchcraft. This goes hand-in-hand with the legalization of marijuana in the way that it would be useful because “Marijuana product testing is becoming a standard requirement for legalized marijuana markets. This means consumers are better informed about the marijuana

they use” (Marijuana Legalization). If marijuana was legal, it would primarily cancel out the fear of other harmful substances being in illegally bought and sold marijuana. Miller gives context about the town by writing, “The people of Salem developed a theocracy, a combine of state and religious power whose function was to keep the community together, and to prevent any kind of disunity that might open it to destruction by material or ideological enemies” (Miller 7). The initial meaning behind analyzing everyone for witchcraft was to protect the town, but once townspeople realized they could testify against their enemies, the law was abused. Similarly to the law of legalizing marijuana: this law is intentionally for the good of society, but it can heavily be misused.
Along with the law being intentionally good, there is corruption because of the fallen society today. Marijuana can be harmful because “It has been associated with decreased motivation, which can affect one’s school or work performance. Marijuana use has been connected to increased absences and decreased work performance… These factors can eventually lead to a marijuana user losing his or her job over drug use” (Condron). Marijuana is a powerful drug that could potentially lead to having dominion over someone's life. This drug has been proven to overtake the lives of people, and have them put the substance above prior commitments or relationships. Alike The Crucible, Abigail, a manipulative girl who was questioned for witchcraft, blames Tituba, a slave, by claiming, “[Tituba] sends her spirit on me in church; she makes me laugh at prayer!” (Miller 44). Similar to the drug having top priority in the lives of many, Abigail is constantly putting herself above others. When she was confronted and accused for witchcraft, she immediately condemned Tituba. Erik MacLaren, who obtains his PhD and doctorate, writes, “The DAWN data also demonstrate that in 2010 marijuana was the second most common reason for drug-related emergency department visits after cocaine” (MacLaren). Marijuana is a harmful drug for the body, and multiple people have been admitted to hospitals because of it. In The Crucible, Elizabeth Proctor, an essential Christian character in the novel, announces, “There [are] fourteen people in the jail now… And they’ll be tried, and the court have the power to hang them too” (Miller 52). Witchcraft is becoming a more common act, and the result, if found guilty, is hanging. Already “fourteen people” are accused of doing the shameful deed. Legalization of marijuana and witchcraft have in common that they are both detrimental to the body. If somebody was associated or caught doing witchcraft they are be killed. Likewise, marijuana has sent a multitude of people to the hospital resulting in the declining of their health. Marijuana and witchcraft harm the body and put peoples lives at risk.
The use of marijuana could be used to benefit society today, but has a reputation of misuse and damage. Similar to the legalization of marijuana, characters in The Crucible have the potential to better their society, but they abuse their power. If marijuana was used correctly, our society would function in an advanced way that it currently does not. Using any material in a faulty way has more consequences than advantages. Always remember to properly use the supplies that are offered.