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History of legalizing marijuana
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Texas Junior Senator Ted Cruz
Russell Senate Office Bldg
404
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Cruz, As a resident of the state of Texas, I’d like to raise awareness an issue that affects our entire country, yet can be resolved by changing many of the regulations in our own state. This issue is the legalization of marijuana; specifically, the legalization of recreational use. In the past you’ve openly supported the rights of the states to control their own laws in regards to things like marijuana use, but opposed to the idea of ever voting for it should it appear on Texas ballots. However, I will explain how it’s in the best interest of your state, and the nation to start thinking otherwise. To begin, any personal disdain for recreational
Students, graduates, those seeking jobs, and normal working-class Texans (not anybody working in the top 1% though) face criminal charges for an arguably harmless act. Why do I bring this issue to you though? I don’t smoke illegally and likely won’t anytime past legalization, but that doesn’t change how it effects those around me. The mindset of the public is repulsed at the primitive reaction of our government towards something so strikingly beneficial that you seem oblivious to have not picked up on this trend that is demonstrating such financial and social promise. And now a student from our very college could face 54 years in prison for 14 counts of misconduct relating to marijuana(6). The Alumna has a very promising career in the music industry, but might possibly spend half a decade behind bars, ruining any chance of that career taking off, and upsetting many here at the University of Texas at Arlington for the lack of kindness and generosity from both her old home, and Alaska, despite the recent legalization of marijuana [in Alaska]. These cases arise all over the state and to be frank, it’s horrible; losing one to such a petty crime. As I said in the beginning, I’ll put aside the personal anecdotes, though “personal” doesn’t really begin to describe how massively relatable this misfortune is. I’ll focus on the national benefits to our case, looking
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.
The controversy of legalizing marijuana has been raging for quite a while in America. From some people pushing it for medical purposes to potheads just wanting to get high legally. Marijuana has been used for years as a popular drug for people who want to get a high. All this time it has been illegal and now it looks as if the drug may become legal. There has been heated debate by many sides giving there opinion in the issue. These people are not only left wing liberals either. Richard Brookhiser, a National Review Senior editor is openly supportive of medical marijuana yet extremely conservative in his writing for National Review (Brookhiser 27). He is for medical marijuana since he used it in his battle with testicular cancer. He says "I turned to [marijuana] when I got cancer because marijuana gives healthy people an appetite, and prevents people who are nauseated from throwing up. "(Brookhiser 27) Cancer patients are not the only benefactors from the appetite enhancer in marijuana, but so are any other nauseous people. Arizona and California have already passed a law allowing marijuana to be used as a medicinal drug. Fifty Six percent of the California voters voted for this law. "We've sent a message to Washington," says Dennis Peron. "They've had 25 years of this drug was, and they've only made things worse." (Simmons 111) The Arizona proposition garnished an even wider margin of separation between the fore's an against in a sixty five percent support tally. Ethan Nadelmann insists that " these propositions are not about legalization or decriminalization. They're about initiating some non radical, commonsense approaches to drug policy." General Barry McCaffery disagrees saying, "I...
Strict approval processes are limiting the research necessary for such advancements (Medical Marijuana Research News). Despite federal and state illegalization, twenty-one states over the past decade have made advances to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes (“State Medical Marijuana Laws”). It is time for Texas to acknowledge the benefits and eliminate the stigma surrounding medicinal marijuana. Medical marijuana should be legalized in Texas because of its’ medicinal benefits associated with many chronic diseases and the potential revenue the state could benefit from during this time of recession. Marijuana in America became a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was openly sold in pharmacies in the late nineteenth century (“Busted-America’s War on Marijuana Timeline”).
Cannabis, since its discovery, has been used for recreational and medical purposes. It was seen as a drug that was “safe” and did put the body at risk but benefited it. However, this is not the case anymore because the government under I Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970 law banned the use of the narcotic and has the right to persecute anyone who attains the substance. Nonetheless, the question is not whether the drug is “safe” to use but whether the States should have the power to regulate marijuana or the federal government should continue having the control over the drug. Since 1996, 23 states including Washington D.C have passed laws that have legalized the medical use of marijuana, yet the federal government does not protect or even recognize the rights of users or possessors. The debate over marijuana has picked up momentum and many would agree that all this uprising conflict can be traced back to the constitution and the flaws it presents. The constitution is blamed for not properly distributing the States and Federal powers. Although the federal government currently holds supremacy over marijuana, States should have the power to regulate the drug because under the 10th amendment the federal government only has those powers specifically granted in the constitution, Likewise the States have the right to trade within their own state under the Commerce Clause.
Suppose your government made the decision that Christmas or your favorite coffee was suddenly criminalized. How would you react? America faced the prohibition of many substances throughout time, however, no law has been so controversial as the criminalization of marijuana. As a result of the criminalization of the drug, it has been illegal for citizens to use cannabis recreationally and medically, as well as for practical purposes. Marijuana has many medical uses as well as practical uses, such as using hemp instead of rope or taking advantage of marijuana as a paper resource instead of our diminishing trees.With marijuana still illegal in the United States, our country is taking a huge loss by squandering money by putting citizens in jail, wasting a valuable cash crop, as well as sponsoring violence and corruption throughout the streets.
Cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, is a plant that people have been using recreationally for years. In fact, people have consumed marijuana since ancient times. Until 1906, the year the United States Congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act. The debate on whether or not marijuana should be legalized in the United States has really blown up within the last decade. And finally, in 2012, Colorado became the first state to officially legalize marijuana for medicinal and recreational uses. The prohibition of marijuana has gone on for far too long, and it is time for America to change its views.
We need to realize that legalizing marijuana would be a huge step into creating a sense of revenue within the United States without the problems that alcohol and cigarettes bring. Marijuana can ruin people’s lives by making a criminal record for those who simply choose to be in possession and smoke marijuana. Why should the government continue to inflict harm on a drug that has virtually no reason to be banned in the first place? Children are impacted by the legal battle of marijuana legalization as well, with some states legalizing it on a state level we still see that it’s only legal above 18. One needs to look at how if it’s not legal for all they will continue to do it because of parental influence. Marijuana needs to be legalized for everyone including adolescents as this drug is one of the least harmful drugs out in the market. Let us legalize marijuana for it is one drug that ca...
My speech is about why I think weed should be legal. I think weed should be legal because it helps people with medical conditions so that they don't have to take a bunch of pills that can cause more harm to them. Weed is all natural and comes from the earth it ease stress and cannabis decreases anxiety and helps you relax.it's a lot better than smoking cigarettes.Believe it or not, people who smoke weed are at less risk for diabetes and obesity weed can stop cramps and headaches. Even though there are pills that can stop headaches but causes another problem that you have to get more pills for and those pills cause more problems then soon your taking a bunch of pills that you don't need to take if you smoke weed.There are over 100 peer-reviewed
Marijuana legalization in Texas should include mandatory taxation and regulation of all sales. As stated in the previous section Washington generated eighty-three million dollars in tax revenue from the sale of legal marijuana (Marijuana Legalization in Washington State, 2015). If Texas taxed legal marijuana, the tax revenue received from it could be used to fund education or other civil services that are in need of state funding. Washington has proved the effectiveness of marijuana revenue by its funding of “substance abuse prevention and treatment programs, youth and adult drug education, community health care services, and academic research and evaluation on the effects of marijuana legalization in the state” (Marijuana Legalization in Washington State, 2015). The distribution of tax revenue received from the sale of legal marijuana in Texas is something that would have to be carefully analyzed to determine which specific state services need additional funding. The reduction of violent crime and marijuana conviction rates in Washington are key components in supporting similar marijuana legislation in Texas. Texas has three great examples with evidence to support the effectiveness of legalizing marijuana.While Texas has had a mixed history with marijuana, there is nothing stopping it from beginning a new
Cannabis is a natural plant that has been made illegal by the United States, and has been a controversial topic ever since the 1920’s. Marijuana is a substance that has been used hundreds of years ago as an herbal medicine and also can be used for textile products from hemp, which is from the Cannabis Sativa plant. Because of marijuana being categorized as a schedule one substance, it has no medical value and cannot be researched in the United States. Marijuana is said to be a gateway drug and is very unhealthy for adolescents with premature brains. The marijuana prohibition should finally come to a close because there are many benefits from cannabis and it is less harmful than both alcohol and tobacco.
I hope everything is going good for you. It has been a while since we see each other. This election has become from sane to insane maybe just little. At least we should be happy with voter turnouts especially younger voters. What do you think of candidates between Hillary, Bernie, and Jill?
To the AIDS or cancer patient, marijuana is the plant that fights nausea and appetite loss. To the nutritionist, its seed is second only to the soybean in nutritional value and is a source of cooking oil and vitamins. To the paper or cloth manufacturer, it is the plant that provided much of our paper and clothing for hundreds of years and produces four times more fiber per acre than trees. To the environmentalist, it is the plant that could greatly slow deforestation, restore robbed nutrients by other crops, and help prevent erosion. Preliminary findings show the drug may prove effective against glaucoma and asthma, and control such side nausea in cancer treatment. I concretely believe that marijuana should be legalized in the United States, primarily for the use of medicinal purposes. In technical or for the average American, marijuana, it is used only for recreational purposes. I think marijuana is a plant that could save many lives if it was made legal. My goal is to reverse prejudices, relieve ignorance, and inform people of the known and potential therapeutic uses of this remarkable plant.
Right now in this country (and many other countries for that matter) we are experiencing a transitional period that is dependent on legislation, legislation that is bound to reinforce or oppress marijuana legalization. It’s not every day that states have policy that conflicts with federal laws and everyone seems to have an opinion. There are many options on the table for law makers. We could see the federal government enforce their current marijuana laws by cracking down and increase their raids on dispensaries, or they could make marijuana a higher priority with agencies from the DEA to local law enforcement. Another option is to loosen up on what some would deem a “futile” war on drugs; the end result would be each individual state deciding if medicinal marijuana would be ideal for their state. Last but not least there is the route that the states Colorado and Washington took which is to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Every option has their pros and cons. However I believe the option where the pros most heavily outweigh the cons is legalizing recreational use.
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.
As you know, marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the U.S., causing a huge controversy in today’s society. I think that in some ways, not legalizing marijuana could hurt us and our country. I know that you, as a member of the CALM, feel very strongly about your opinion of legalizing marijuana. The CALM does make very convincing arguments about crime, youth, and health with the use of marijuana. While some of these arguments can be persuasive to many, I think that my following propositions on crime, health, and medicinal marijuana also provide a swaying argument.