Marijuana, pot, hemp, grass, reefer, Mary Jane, cannabis, the controversy that surrounds this little five to seven leafed plant has escalated into an enormous debate throughout the United States. Throughout this paper, one discusses the positive and negative affects the legalization of marijuana has on American society. Controversial issues include widespread drug use, drug money, and other uses for the cannabis plant, medicinal uses of marijuana, the infringement prohibition has on civil liberties, and damaging and positive effects it holds on our society. Studies in many different areas show that decriminalization of marijuana ceases to increase consumption. In the 1970s about twelve states decriminalize marijuana and consumption fails to increase. The Netherlands government tolerates the cultivation, sale, and possession of small amounts of marijuana. (8)
             Consumption actually decreases after decriminalization in the Netherlands. (4) Unlike alcohol, heroin, and cocaine, marijuana holds no addiction over its users, and unlike alcohol, it poses no threat of making users prone to violence. (3) No evidence presents itself toward the fact that marijuana, whether for pleasure or for pain, leads to the gateway of other drugs. (6) Decriminalization also fails to increase usage in Australia. The possibility exists that marijuana prohibition increases the likelihood of adolescents to use harder drugs due to mixed markets. As stated in a publication by the National Institution on Drug Abuse, "Using Marijuana puts children and teens in contact with people who are users and sellers of other drugs. So there is more of a chance for a marijuana user to be exposed to and urged to try more drugs." (8)
             Legalization of marijuana actually puts dealers out of a job and allows real drug education to begin. (1) Legalization allows a tax to be put on marijuana. This makes a good source of financing for drug treatment and education. (2) Drug laws only in...