In recent years, more and more people's opinions on marijuana have begun to morph. With this societal shift will hopefully come a legal shift as well. Weed culture has been slowly solidifying itself in modern society likely due to celebrities such as Snoop Dogg who has been known to smoke "indo" while "sippin on gin and juice" (Dogg). It is mainly the generations prior to millennials that are hesitant to legalize cannabis, however strong political and societal shifts are broadening the minds of many. Marijuana should be legalized because it is not any more harmful than other legal drugs, in fact it can aid those who suffer from mental illnesses. The current criminalization often leads to a great amount of racial disparity in arrests and prosecutions, which is a large factor in America's economically and ethically atrocious incarceration rates. …show more content…
Recent research in a peer-reviewed journal reported on by the Washington Post has shown that "Weed... [is] roughly 114 times less deadly than booze... [and it was] the only drug studied that posed a low mortality risk to its users" (Ingraham). Yet modern society creates an environment through various media outlets that approves of social drinking and smoking, but marijuana users, who are the ones making better drug-choices, are penalized by both the legal system and society as a whole. The societal penalties lie in the perceptions individuals have of cannabis consumers. A majority of the population see users as "Pot-heads" and "lazy", despite the fact that most of them still live extremely productive lives. These notions affect people's careers, family life, and social life in often disastrous ways. People commonly view this drug as something harmful, despite the fact that marijuana is often beneficial to its users in a variety of
Finally, marijuana should not be legalized because it is a big safety issue for the states. The quote that shows this is, "For instance, low to moderate doses distort perception that is enough to cause traffic accidents. In fact, study shows that weed is one of the most prevalent illegal drugs found in fatally injured and impaired drivers," from NYLN.org(2014). Marijuana is one of the leading causes of crimes, car accidents and other violent behaviors. It[marijuana] contains the chemical, tetrahydrocannabinol(THC), which is responsible for stimulating the CNS(central nervous system).
This subject has been debated numerous times over the past few years. People’s points of view and researches about the topic have varied greatly. Some people believe that marijuana should be legalized, while the rest feel should stay prohibited. Proponents of marijuana argue that there are numerous medical benefits and that the drug is not more harmful than tobacco or alcohol. On the other hand, opponents argue that marijuana is too dangerous; its legalization would increase the chances of the drug falling into the hands of teens and that marijuana use often progresses to the use of more dangerous drugs like heroin and cocaine.
Over many years, the legality of marijuana has been widely debated. Supporters of laws that seek to legalize marijuana argue that it is a drug that is safe and that criminal sanctions against personal use indicate harsh and unwarranted penalties. The proponents also point out that the mortality, economic cost and may more negative impacts associated with alcohol and tobacco are much more grave compared to those associated with marijuana. On the other hand, the opponents of liberalization of current legal status of marijuana counter that marijuana is not mild, especially considering the new psychopharmacologic information indicating that it shares many characteristics with any other illegal drugs.
By highlighting the social construction of marijuana as a harmful substance, proponents of decriminalization aim to shift public perception and policy towards a more nuanced understanding of marijuana use and regulation. They argue that by redefining marijuana as a relatively harmless substance and focusing on harm reduction rather than punishment, society can reduce the negative consequences associated with its criminalization and address the underlying social issues more
This is a youth leaders blog called, “19 Primary Pros and Cons of Legalizing Weed.” This is an anonymous blog and the authors who contributed listed a few reasons on why marijuana is not always the greatest, and they initiate with the common factor, addictive nature. Supporters of marijuana legalization have disputed that pot is not as addictive as other hardcore drugs, ones such as heroin and cocaine, but people who have specialized in addiction treatment have come to the conclusion that yes after a long period of use, it usually does lead to addiction. Some addictions can be a good thing but in the case of drugs, it’s usually not and can lead to very bad situations. The next thing the bloggers mention is altered perception.
Marijuana is a commonly used illegal substance since 1545 when the Spanish brought it to the new world. Cannabis is a touchy topic; it will always be that topic of which that there will be the extremists on both sides. This is a topic that can go on forever in a debate because both sides have strong beliefs and people become very passionate on their opinions. In today’s world, this is one of many debated topics and right now is the time where it keeps coming up in politics and other aspects. More people are speaking up within the last decade or two about legalizing it finally.
But according to many studies done by scientists and many public health organizations, marijuana isn't as harmful as the federal government and many Americans claim it to be. Marijuana is actually far safer than alcohol, tobacco and multiple illicit substances. There are also
Marijuana should remain illegal in the United States, and states that have passed laws to make it legal should reverse those laws. Marijuana is addictive and a gateway drug. Legalizing marijuana will make it generally more available to the public, which will also make it more likely to be used by young adults and children that are not old enough to make smart decisions regarding drug
In an increasing number of U.S. sates marijuana (also known as cannabis) is becoming legal alongside other drugs such as tobacco and alcohol.1 Eight states now have legislation granting marijuana a legal status for recreational use, and twenty- eighth states have legislation legalizing medical marijuana.2 Additionally, corresponding to this legalization is a rise in positive public opinion on marijuana consumption.1 Currently in the U.S., among adults 18-29, 44% support legalization, with 23% in strong support and 21% that somewhat support legalization.3 Among the public debate on the legalization of marijuana are concerns about the medical applications of marijuana, economic concerns regarding the buying and selling of marijuana and the effects marijuana criminalization laws have had minority populations in the criminal
Marijuana has been around since the beginning of civilization. Experts have found that the ancient Chinese had used it for medical purpose, in which the popularity then spread throughout other continents. Different cultures have accepted this earth grown substance into their society. Unfortunately, the United States has a different view. With the prohibition on marijuana in the United States, advocates are finding solutions because the legalization will expose government lies, stimulate the economy, and benefit the individual.
This drug ruins people’s lives! The Drug Policy Administrations even states that there are over “700,000 arrests each year” on the basis of marijuana violations. Anyone can go online and find that there are copious amounts of scientific evidence repeatedly showing how harmful this drug is, and how its use does nothing but get people high and degrade cognitive functions…right? Not only has marijuana been proven to have a number of positive medicinal properties, it has been proven to be over 110 times less deadly than alcohol (Lachenmeir and Rehm). As marijuana continues to be studied, more and more evidence is coming to light that marijuana should not only be decriminalized, it should be legalized.
The use of marijuana in the medical field has been a hot topic over the last few years. There have been many instances in which the use of medicinal marijuana has proved to be helpful to many people suffering from chronic diseases. What worries people is the dependence factor that can lead people to addiction, not necessarily on the substance, but on the habit. The addiction to marijuana has been shown to have some pretty big repercussions. Users have demonstrated withdrawals from social interaction and focus is put more on obtaining marijuana than anything else.
Marijuana does not have affects that negatively impact other people, whereas almost all other drugs, including cigarettes and alcohol, can negatively impact every one of the people surrounding us. A professor at Claremont Graduate University did some research on the subject. By measuring the “effective” dose of a substance and the “lethal” dose of the same substance, he showed how to find a “safety margin”. From this data, we can compare which drugs are less harmful in terms of chemical toxicity. “Based on my research, the safety margin of recreational substances as normally used is: 6 for heroin; 10 for alcohol; 15 for cocaine; 16 for MDMA; 20 for codeine; and 1,000 for LSD or marijuana.
The medical field is always expanding with new research to treat and fight illnesses and severe conditions. There comes a point where certain people have no options left and the only option could be an illegal treatment. One of these treatments is known as medical cannabis, or medical marijuana. Marijuana is illegal on the federal level, however there are certain states that have legalized it for its medical purposes. This has caused families to move across the United States to receive treatment for either them or a loved one because it is not available in their home state.
Many people have preconceived ideas about the use of marijuana. Some believe the drug causes infertility or harm to the body. Regardless to this being true, I believe our government should address these questions. Therefore, ensuring that the public receives accurate information. The eradication of such myths can truly help by getting peoples attention and getting them to realize the importance of this issue.