Legalization of Marijuana
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English 201
Molly Brost
If there was an all-natural plant that could provide pain relief to the terminally ill, ease nausea, stimulate an appetite for chemotherapy patients, encourage growth in the economy through taxation, and its development could potentially employ hundreds of thousands of people, what would stand in the way? These are real possibilities with the legalization of marijuana. This issue is a long-standing controversy that provokes credible organizations, politicians, and activists to participate. The problem is the difference of opinion about how marijuana affects an individual and society. Some people see marijuana as an “aid” and some people see it as a “harmful drug.”
Marijuana is commonly known on the street by several other names: weed, grass, pot, bud, tree, reefer, etc., and its use has been recorded throughout history. Its recreational use is known to have effects of mood lifting, relaxation, pain relief, increased appetite, sluggish or slower movement, fatigue, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, short term memory complications, confusion, and inexperienced users may feel some paranoia. Users can generally maintain the ability to perform day to day actions and functions. The monetary street value of marijuana depends on harvest seasons as well as the supply and demand.
The Federal Bureau of Narcotics, lead by its chief Harry J. Anslinger when it was first created, is responsible for the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, which inevitably initiated legislation that would prohibit marijuana altogether. The FBN employed Hollywood and especially the media to portray exaggerated violent crimes and insanity induced by marijuana to fuel the public’s disapproval of marijuana. These reports reinforced the thought that marijuana users were more than capable and prone to commit various crimes that weren’t typically possible when not under the influence. Anslinger focused all of his attention during the 1930s on associating
English 201
Molly Brost
If there was an all-natural plant that could provide pain relief to the terminally ill, ease nausea, stimulate an appetite for chemotherapy patients, encourage growth in the economy through taxation, and its development could potentially employ hundreds of thousands of people, what would stand in the way? These are real possibilities with the legalization of marijuana. This issue is a long-standing controversy that provokes credible organizations, politicians, and activists to participate. The problem is the difference of opinion about how marijuana affects an individual and society. Some people see marijuana as an “aid” and some people see it as a “harmful drug.”
Marijuana is commonly known on the street by several other names: weed, grass, pot, bud, tree, reefer, etc., and its use has been recorded throughout history. Its recreational use is known to have effects of mood lifting, relaxation, pain relief, increased appetite, sluggish or slower movement, fatigue, bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, short term memory complications, confusion, and inexperienced users may feel some paranoia. Users can generally maintain the ability to perform day to day actions and functions. The monetary street value of marijuana depends on harvest seasons as well as the supply and demand.
The Federal Bureau of Narcotics, lead by its chief Harry J. Anslinger when it was first created, is responsible for the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, which inevitably initiated legislation that would prohibit marijuana altogether. The FBN employed Hollywood and especially the media to portray exaggerated violent crimes and insanity induced by marijuana to fuel the public’s disapproval of marijuana. These reports reinforced the thought that marijuana users were more than capable and prone to commit various crimes that weren’t typically possible when not under the influence. Anslinger focused all of his attention during the 1930s on associating
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