Should Marijuana Be Unregulated?

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Across the United States, men and women are serving multiple years in prison for marijuana related crimes. According to King and Mauer’s research about war on drug, “New York experienced an 882% growth in marijuana arrest including an increase of 2,461% for possession offenses” (King & Mauer). The essential issue about an increase in marijuana related arrests diverts law enforcer’s attention away from greater criminal activities. It has such an immense effect on citizens today because they are forced to break the law in order to relieve their chronic pain, similarly; arresting citizens for marijuana possession creates a criminal record that they will forever carry along their life. Over the past years, the arguments about marijuana have concerned many citizens whether if it should be used for medical purposes or as a recreational drug. It is important to realize marijuana is considered to be less dangerous than tobacco and alcohol combined. So how did marijuana become illegal in the first place? It began back in the early 1900’s century; when hemp turned into a huge industrial usage because it could turn into, fuel, paper, food, textile, and oil. Soon enough hemp was going to be the next billion-dollar product; it became a threat to several multi-billion dollar markets across the nation. William Randolph Hearst owned a chain of newspaper companies, and used everything in his power to have marijuana outlawed. The real threat against Hearts was because hemp could produce paper much more efficient and could easily turn his company down, so he then began printing stories in the newspaper about a new drug called “marijuana,” and said people were smoking it, and made black people rape white women’s. Within the next few years, congress ...

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"Marijuana Legalization | The White House." The White House. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013. .

Miron, Jefferey. "Cost of Marijuana Prohibition: Economic Analysis." Prohbitioncosts. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 July 2013. .

Ramer, Robert , and Burkhard Hinz. "Inhibition of Cancer Cell Invasion by Cannabinoids via Increased Expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Matrix Metalloproteinases-1." Oxford Journals | Medicine. N.p., 24 Apr. 2007. Web. 29 July 2013. .

Sayegh, Gabriel. "Marijuana Arrests in NYC Cost One Million Police Hours." The Huffington Post. N.p., 20 Feb. 2013. Web. 28 July 2013. .

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