Reason For The Legalization Of Marijuana example essay topic

Marijuana is a major part of society today in the United States. It can be found in many parts of our culture from music to attire. It also is the most widely used illegal drug; almost 18 million Americans used it last year. It is the fourth most widely used drug in the world behind caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Approximately 200 to 300 million people worldwide use marijuana (Hollister 660).

More than 65 million Americans will try it in their lifetime (Dawsey 73). In recent years the debate on whether marijuana should be legalized or not, has been growing. In both California and Arizona legislation was passed to make marijuana available by prescription for people with diseases like glaucoma or cancer. This is a very tough debate because there are many good reasons why and why not to legalize marijuana. Marijuana is nothing new to American society.

It has been around for a very long time. Hemp, a fiber in the plant's stem, was once used to make clothes. It was so valuable in the mid-1800's that it could be used to pay taxes (Dawsey 74). The legalization of marijuana could positively impact our society. The first way marijuana legalization could help our society is from a crime aspect. If marijuana were legal, then there would be less marijuana related crimes.

For instance, during prohibition there were a lot of gang wars over alcohol, but once prohibition was repealed, the violence stopped because gangsters no longer controlled the alcohol supply. All of the marijuana brought into the United States is brought in by criminals and sold by ruthless people like gang members. If it were legal, companies instead of gangs and drug dealers would sell it. Also, when something is illegal its price is higher because of supply and demand.

This causes poor people to commit crimes to support their habit. If marijuana were legal it would be a lot cheaper. Another reason for legalization is that people are willing to kill for drugs because they can make so much money (Kane 61). The temptation would not be there though if marijuana were cheap and easily accessible. Also if marijuana were legalized it would put less of a burden on our criminal justice system and our jails.

The courts are overwhelmed with the amount of marijuana cases that they see each year. In 1994,402,717 people where arrested for possession of marijuana (Dawsey 74). If marijuana offenders weren't arrested and imprisoned, there would be more room for dangerous criminals in our over crowded prisons. Also the police could spend more time pursuing violent and dangerous criminals instead of harmless marijuana users. Another reason for the legalization of marijuana is for its medicinal purposes.

In both California and Arizona, a doctor can prescribe the drug if you suffer from certain ailments. For example, if one suffers from cancer and are having chemotherapy, marijuana can control the nausea associated with it. It also helps with diseases like AIDS, glaucoma, and epilepsy. If marijuana can help stop people's physical suffering, then it should be available to them. Lastly, if marijuana is legal people can get treatment if they have a problem instead of being sent to jail. Sending a person with a drug problem to jail doesn't help them as much as a treatment program would.

Treatment is a lot cheaper. In New York City it costs 150 dollars a day to incarcerate someone arrested for a marijuana offense, but for only half the cost the marijuana offender can receive treatment. Studies show that the Dutch policy of treating drug abusers as people with a "sickness" instead of as criminals is more effective (Kane 62). The legalization of marijuana isn't going to come easily. There are many people against it with good reason. There are many reasons why marijuana shouldn't be legal, which counter its positives.

It has been illegal since the 1930's. The legalization of marijuana could drastically change our society and the way drugs are viewed. The first reason that marijuana shouldn't be legalized is that it is a harmful drug. Marijuana smoked today is much more potent than marijuana smoked in the past. One joint does the same damage as four cigarettes to the lungs. There are many bad side effects that come with the use of it.

It distorts perception, impairs memory, and reduces concentration. It also weakens your body's immune system. Babies that are born to smoking mothers have IQ's that are reduced. Marijuana also can become psychologically addicting (Forbes). Also there is the chance that the marijuana is laced with another dangerous drug without one realizing it. Marijuana is also referred to as a "gateway" drug.

A "gateway" drug is a drug that leads to harder drugs. Statistics show that using marijuana leads to cocaine and heroin use. Studies show that 43 percent of the people that smoke marijuana before the age of 18 go on to use cocaine (Dawsey 76). Also legalizing marijuana would have many costs on society.

Children would believe that it is all right to smoke marijuana and they would start smoking a younger ages. The amount of marijuana use would drastically jump like it did in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands it has increased by 250 percent (Forbes). There would also be more public health spending because of the drug. This is a very complex issue with a lot of good arguments of both sides. In my opinion though I don't believe that marijuana should be legal and available to the public.

I believe that if marijuana can be helpful in treating diseases then it should be able to be prescribed to patients that need it. It should be like all other prescription drugs. People that smoke marijuana will continue to smoke marijuana whether it is legal or not. If it is legalized though, many people that would have not otherwise smoked it will be drawn to it by its legal status. It will become overwhelmingly used by America's youth, which has only bad effects.

The DEA only seizes 10 percent of the marijuana smuggled into the United States or grown here each year (Anderson 311). The only way to truly curtail marijuana use is to have the public perception of the drug change. The only way that this will occur is through drug awareness programs and anti-drug campaigns. The issue of marijuana legalization will not be solved easily.

There will always be two sides to the issue. It is in the best interest of the United States to keep marijuana illegal. More harm than good will come with the legalization of marijuana. Legalizing the drug goes against what the United States stands for as a major world leader in the war against drugs.

Besides, marijuana has illegally been part of our society for a long time. Changing its status to a legal drug would in no way positively impact our society in the long run. It may bring about short-term goals like reduced crime, but in the end it will just be another health hazard like cigarettes. Ackerman, Elise. "The Latest Buzz on Hemp". U.S. News 15 Mar. 1999.10 Apr. 2000 Dawsey, Kier no Mayo. "Blunted".

Essence Aug. 1996. SIRS Researcher. CD-ROM. SIRS Inc. 1997 "History of Marijuana: Intoxicant Use". 14 Apr. 2000.

Hollister, Leo E. "Marijuana". Encyclopedia of Drugs and Alcohol. 1995 ed. Vol. 2.659-663. Wik man, Erik.

"Prohibition and Marijuana: History Does Repeat". 360^0 of Marijuana Nov. 1995.16 Apr. 2000.