Causes Of Marijuana Legalization
Erin Doris de Cesare
Frederick Miller
ENG 111, Sec. PI
22 Oct. 2013 Cause and effects of Marijuana Use and Legalization
Believe it or not, marijuana has been a part of human society for longer than history has been recorded by man. Dating as far back as the 6th millennium B.C., far before the Sumerians began recording history around 3500 B.C., marijuana had made it 's first appearance into society as a source of food (“History of Marijuana”). By 1500 B.C., however, it was already being used for medical purposes, as we recorded Chinese Pharmacopeia that year (“Historical Timeline”). From this time up until 1937, when the Marijuana Tax Act officially made marijuana illegal to possess in the United States, people had been allowed to freely …show more content…
If alcohol and tobacco, drugs that can have devastating effects on their users and have no medical benefits whatsoever, can remain legal, then marijuana, with its less devastating effects and clear medicinal value, should be considered for legalization as well. In addition, it can clearly be shown through statistical data that the war on marijuana has been ineffective in reducing marijuana use and that has only caused unnecessary government spending over the years. The US Government has been spending useful resources on marijuana prohibition that could instead be used for the development of new alternative energy sources and the securing of our nation against terror and other threats.
Bibliography
“16 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC.” ProCon.org Medical Marijuana. ProCon.org, 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2013 .
“About Marijuana.” NORML. NORML Foundation, 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Armentano, Paul. “Recent Research on Medical Marijuana.” NORML. NORML Foundation, 7 Jan. 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“A Weed Card to Be Introduced in the Netherlands.” International Drug Policy …show more content…
NIDA, Nov. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“Is Marijuana Significantly More Potent Now than in the Past?” ProCon.org Medical Marijuana. ProCon.org. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“Marijuana.” The Partnership at Drugfree.org. The Partnership at Drugfree.org, 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Marklein, Mary Beth. “Colleges See Risk to Easing Pot Bans.” USA TODAY. 7 Mar. 2011: A.3. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Melamede, Robert. “Cannabis and Tobacco Smoke Are Not Equally Carcinogenic.” Harm Reduction Journal. Biomed Central Ltd., 2005. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“Milton Friedman, 500+ Economists Call for Marijuana Regulation Debate; New Report Projects $10-$14 Billion Annual Savings and Revenues.” Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States. Marijuana Policy Project, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Newport, Frank. “Record-High 50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana Use.” GALLUP Politics. Gallup, Inc., 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“Non-smoked Uses of Cannabis.” ProCon.org Medical Marijuana. ProCon.org, 28 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Prater, Alicia Mae. “The Origins of Marijuana.” Abuse @ Suite 101. GlamEntertainment, 16 Apr. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Frederick Miller
ENG 111, Sec. PI
22 Oct. 2013 Cause and effects of Marijuana Use and Legalization
Believe it or not, marijuana has been a part of human society for longer than history has been recorded by man. Dating as far back as the 6th millennium B.C., far before the Sumerians began recording history around 3500 B.C., marijuana had made it 's first appearance into society as a source of food (“History of Marijuana”). By 1500 B.C., however, it was already being used for medical purposes, as we recorded Chinese Pharmacopeia that year (“Historical Timeline”). From this time up until 1937, when the Marijuana Tax Act officially made marijuana illegal to possess in the United States, people had been allowed to freely …show more content…
If alcohol and tobacco, drugs that can have devastating effects on their users and have no medical benefits whatsoever, can remain legal, then marijuana, with its less devastating effects and clear medicinal value, should be considered for legalization as well. In addition, it can clearly be shown through statistical data that the war on marijuana has been ineffective in reducing marijuana use and that has only caused unnecessary government spending over the years. The US Government has been spending useful resources on marijuana prohibition that could instead be used for the development of new alternative energy sources and the securing of our nation against terror and other threats.
Bibliography
“16 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC.” ProCon.org Medical Marijuana. ProCon.org, 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 22 Oct. 2013 .
“About Marijuana.” NORML. NORML Foundation, 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Armentano, Paul. “Recent Research on Medical Marijuana.” NORML. NORML Foundation, 7 Jan. 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“A Weed Card to Be Introduced in the Netherlands.” International Drug Policy …show more content…
NIDA, Nov. 2010. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“Is Marijuana Significantly More Potent Now than in the Past?” ProCon.org Medical Marijuana. ProCon.org. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“Marijuana.” The Partnership at Drugfree.org. The Partnership at Drugfree.org, 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Marklein, Mary Beth. “Colleges See Risk to Easing Pot Bans.” USA TODAY. 7 Mar. 2011: A.3. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.
Melamede, Robert. “Cannabis and Tobacco Smoke Are Not Equally Carcinogenic.” Harm Reduction Journal. Biomed Central Ltd., 2005. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“Milton Friedman, 500+ Economists Call for Marijuana Regulation Debate; New Report Projects $10-$14 Billion Annual Savings and Revenues.” Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition in the United States. Marijuana Policy Project, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Newport, Frank. “Record-High 50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana Use.” GALLUP Politics. Gallup, Inc., 17 Oct. 2011. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
“Non-smoked Uses of Cannabis.” ProCon.org Medical Marijuana. ProCon.org, 28 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 Oct. 2013. .
Prater, Alicia Mae. “The Origins of Marijuana.” Abuse @ Suite 101. GlamEntertainment, 16 Apr. 2008. Web. 22 Oct. 2013.