Marijuana Argument

The New 21st Century

Brandon Wilson

English 102

Professor Morrow

February 3, 2010

Should the use and possession of Marijuana be legalized in the United States? That is a question that is highly debated and evokes many different emotions within different people. Marijuana also known as cannabis, pot, ganja, reefer, weed, etc. is a drug in which upon use causes a person to become relaxed and elevates their mood. This could take effect within just a few minutes after the use of the drug or may take a bit longer to take effect depending on how the drug is consumed. It is classified as a Schedule I narcotic and therefore is illegal within the United States. Certain people view the illegalization of Marijuana as an effective policy, but one must take a better look into it. Does it really make sense to prohibit the use, possession, and distribution of Marijuana but allow the sale of addictive drugs such as alcohol and nicotine? One must look at Marijuana as the lesser of two evils! Legalizing marijuana can awaken health benefits and prevent underground markets. With its medical value in addition to its popularity, legalizing marijuana can reap financial benefits significantly in a short period of time.

Behind alcohol and tobacco, marijuana stands in as the third most popular recreational drug in America. Results from a government survey report, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year and more than 14 million do so regularly despite the harsh laws against it. Sums of 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning. With more than 400,000 deaths per year are held responsible from tobacco smoking. Unlike alcohol and tobacco, marijuana standing as a harmless nontoxic plant, does not cause poisoning or any sort of death from overdose. The main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, THC for short. The amount of THC in the marijuana determines how strong its effects will be. However the type of plant, weather...