Decriminalization of Marijuana
The word marijuana means different things to different people. To doctors and pharmacists, it means a medication that can be used to treat pain and ease sickness. To police officers, it means an illegal substance that alters a person's mood, feelings, and personality. And to most law-abiding citizens, marijuana means something that will get them into trouble. It has not always been this way in America. Not until the early twentieth century did marijuana receive its bad reputation. Marijuana cultivation in the United States can trace its lineage some 400 years. (Stroup 1) For most of our nation's history, farmers grew marijuana {then known exclusively as hemp} for its fiber content. Colonialists planted the first American hemp crop in 1611 near Jamestown, Virginia. (Stroup 2) "Marijuana cultivation continued as an agricultural staple in America through the turn of the 20th century." (Stroup 2) Marijuana first earned recognition as an intoxicant in the 1920s and 1930s. Recreational use of the drug became associated primarily with the Mexican-American immigrant workers and African-American jazz musician community. During this time, hemp was renamed "marihuana" and the plant's longstanding history as a cash crop was replaced wit
An approach like decriminalization of certain drugs would be better for our society because it would still separate the more harmful drugs from the less harmful drugs. (Stroup 2) For example, a news bulletin issued by the FBN in the mid-1930s reported that a user of marijuana "becomes a fiend with savage or 'cave man' tendencies. " (Grinspoon 17) A Washington Times editorial published shortly before Congress held its first hearing on the issue argued: "The fatal marihuana cigarette must be recognized as a deadly drug and American children must be protected against it. Not all countries of the world look at marijuana with the same hatred as the United States government. "It costs around $37,500 to imprison a person for one year, whereas it costs $15,000 for an inpatient treatment program. (Stroup 2) Once under the influence of the drug, criminals knew no fear and lost all inhibitions. " (Lawler 39) Most people who are incarcerated for sale or use of marijuana are minorities of black or Hispanic origin. Of these, 18 million have smoked within the last year, and 10 million are regular marijuana smokers (NORML 1). Supreme Court to hear medical marijuana case," Union Tribune. Like Oregon, where in 1973 it abolished criminal penalties for simple possession of marijuana and replaced the criminal penalties with a maximum civil fine of $100. (NORML 1) According to government figures, nearly 70 million Americans have smoked marijuana at some time in their lives. The federal government refuses to take a responsible look at the effects that marijuana imposes on its users. Marijuana remains the third most popular recreational drug of choice (following nicotine and then alcohol) in the United States despite 60 years of criminal prohibition. It costs much less to treat a person for drug abuse than it is to jail him or her. To get away from it, he suddenly becomes violent and may kill.
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Acceptance Essays
