Just Do It: Legalize Marijuana
Marijuana is a substance that has become very much a part of American culture. Nearly 65 million Americans have either used it occasionally or regularly. The use of marijuana hit mainstream America during the 1960's and it has been accepted by a large segment of society ever since (Rosenthal 16). The debate on whether marijuana should be legalized or decriminalized remains a very hot topic today. Despite government efforts to isolate and eliminate its use, it is clear that the use of marijuana is still very popular. Governments on all three levels: local, state, and federal are trying desperately to find an appropriate policy involving marijuana. National polls show that more than 70% of the American people, from both ends of the political spectrum liberals and conservatives, support controlled access to marijuana for medicinal purposes. Despite fierce opposition from the federal government, voters in California and Arizona passed ballot initiatives in the fall of 1996 favoring the legalization of medicinal marijuana (Randall 33). If support for marijuana at least as a medicinal remedy is so high, then why have only a few states taken steps to change their policy? There are several reaso
The only harms to society that marijuana seems to be causing are in the prohibition of the drug itself. They could cut the spending on anti-marijuana ads, cut the spending on law enforcement specific to catching marijuana offenders, make prisons less crowded and actually earn a profit due to taxes that would be put on marijuana very similar to those taxes currently instituted on cigarettes and liquor. Among the most powerful anti-marijuana groups are the combined law enforcement-judiciary-penal systems that have a vested interest in the status quo. Unlike alcohol where people can become violent and out of control, people under the influence of marijuana become sedate and happy as a whole. But it is true; now nearly 65 million people in the United States have admitted to at least trying or use marijuana. ) Lastly, Marijuana can alleviate the chronic, often debilitating pain caused by myriad disorders and injuries (www. The present policy on marijuana is that it is classified as a Schedule I drug in the Controlled Substances Act. But is it the drug that actually tears these families apart? Or is it the fact that it is "illegal" and because of this family members with strict moral background oppose those that decide to partake in the drug. "In 1970, 200,000 people were in prison. Hemp (which is also illegal), made from the marijuana plant, can be used to make many things. Legalization of a competing product that can be produced with relative ease by anyone with access to a plot of land would cut deeply into their profits. The two officers then escorted my friends into their vehicle and took them back to the base station for "processing. The criteria for Schedule I substances are: the drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse, the drug or other substance is not currently accepted for use in medical treatment in the United States, and the drug or other substance has not been proven safe for use under medical supervision. In treating epilepsy, marijuana is used to prevent both Grande mal and other epileptic seizures.
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