Marijuana: a Benefit or Menice to Society

Marijuana: A Benefit or Menace to Society?

Over the last few years there has been a great deal of controversy as to whether or not marijuana should remain a schedule I drug, be decriminalized, or should be completely legalized. Both opponents and proponents seem to have valid cases for their own respective side’s arguments, but ultimately the decision lies in the hands of lawmakers on both the state and federal levels. After the research I’ve conducted, I feel as though marijuana should be legalized or at least decriminalized based on a multitude of reasons including medical, environmental, economic, and social reasons. The majority of United States citizens want marijuana to be decriminalized and I have a feeling that the people who feel differently are either misinformed or have some sort of alternate agenda. I feel like this is a very important issue that should be discussed more frequently with our government and that this issue does not get the attention that it deserves.

The first reason that marijuana should be legalized is because there is no good reason for it not to be. The government has no place in telling a citizen what he or she can and cannot do unless it is specifically harming another person. This does not apply to marijuana because the person who is using marijuana is not hurting anyone. There is no statistical evidence that marijuana causes an increase in violence or crime (NORML). People who use marijuana are doing so of their own free will and should have the right to make that decision based on their own views and needs. Marijuana is also a victimless crime; the government has no business dictating morality. Additionally, some people’s religious practices call for the use of marijuana such as some Hindu, Buddhis, and Rastafarian sects. These people deserve to have the freedom to practice their religion and spirituality as they see fit. In fact, the first amendment to the constitution says the government cannot prohibit the free exercise...