Should Marijuana Be Legalized
Please turn this paper into a pro and corns argument paper. No running heading necessary please
Should Marijuana Be Legalized?
Legalizing marijuana can be unpredictable because it is not known how much more marijuana might be used after legalization; whether that additional consumption would include teenagers or people with serious drug addictions; or that perhaps alcohol and drug abusers would increase or decrease as a result.Whether you vote yes or no, several facts remain—that marijuana is linked to violent crimes and many teens and children are exposed to this drug and are at great risk. Therefore marijuana can prove devastating to the lives that encounter this drug and can interrupt decent neighborhoods; it should not be legalized to further threaten public safety.
So what is marijuana?
For those who don’t know what marijuana is; it is the common name (or as some may refer to as pot, Mary Jane, weed and other names) for the plant Cannabis sativa. The flower of this plant contains a concentrated amount of psychoactive or mood-altering chemical known as cannabinoids, terpenoids and flavonoids.The leaves however, contain a lesser quantity of the same chemical.This portion known as the marijuana is what the “buzz” is about.
Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the world.It creates illicit markets that total a value that reaches billions of dollars per year.In the United States alone an estimate of about 40 billion dollars; which leads to the point that the demand for this drug and this amount of money surrounding it, also leads to violence and corruption of public officials and jeopardizes public safety. Millions of users are arrested for possessing this drug and others are going to prison for growing or selling it.
Statistics show that about half the teens today have tried some sort of illicit drug by the time they finish high school; and when it comes to marijuana, about 11% of 8th graders, 24% of 10th graders and about 32% of 12th graders have tried marijuana at least once.Eventually, those first time users may desire to feel the effects again and again, becoming chronic users. There is some evidence showing a correlation between chronic marijuana use and increased risk of violent behavior.This is the threat that teens and young children alike are faced with, when exposed to this drug.Not only do they become chronic users, but as they grow, may try other potent and illegal drugs.The positive future of youth is at stake and emphasis to vote against legalizing this devastating drug should be a priority for families.
Does legalizing marijuana serve a purpose?
Medical marijuana has become more popular and some States like Maryland and District of Columbia have already taken the step to legalize its use for patients diagnosed with diseases like cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, severe pain and nausea.Medical marijuana is controlled at the state level but still remains an illegal drug per federal law.As long as patients comply with state regulations, they would not be prosecuted.Patients abusing the use of medical marijuana for trafficking would not be tolerated.For medical purposes, marijuana is warranted but abusers still derive from its use.
The stance to vote against marijuana still stands, as it is still a devastating drug that corrupts neighborhoods and poses a threat to teenagers and young children of society.This drug should not be legalized and although this will probably be an ongoing argument, one sure thing remains that marijuana legal or illegal puts lives at risk one way or another.
Reference:
1.Jonathan P. Calulkins, Beau Kilmer, Mark Kleiman. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know. 2016. Retrieved from www.marijuanalegalization.com
2.Marijuana. Casa Palmera Staff. Retrieved from https://casapalmera.com
3. Rosalie Licardo Pacula, Beau Kilmer. Marijuana and Crime: Is There a Connection Beyond Prohibition? 2003. Retrieved from http://www.nber.org
