Legalizing Marijuana Decriminalization
Clifton Kinnee
English 11 Advanced
Miss Beattie
2/27/2013
Legalization of Marijuana
Marijuana was used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years in China, and Asia. In the 1930s, the newly founded Federal Bureau of Narcotics launched an unscientific campaign that claimed the use of marijuana provoked insanity, homicidal tendencies, and uncontrollable sexual desires. Their bias campaign worked, and by 1937 the U.S. Government outlawed its use. (Soros). By looking deeper into the subject one can see the true effects this drug has had on society, and the possible benefits that can be reaped if it is legalized. Through the decriminalization of marijuana, societies can reap the benefits of an improved economy, a reduction in violence, …show more content…
Its’ profits have made possible organized crime that cannot be stopped by law enforcement. Dangerous drug cartels compete for their place in the drug market, and use ruthless violence to do so (Cooper). They view the people that work for them a disposable, and many who work for these cartels die due to the large risk they take to smuggle the drugs. Others are killed by rival gangs trying to eliminate their competition. Every time marijuana is purchased on the black market, profits go toward fueling this violence. The violence emanating from the criminalization of marijuana is far more dangerous than the drug itself. While drug trafficking can never be eradicated, legalizing marijuana will eliminate a large part of the cartels market, and they would quickly lose their competitive advantage (Soros). Sixty years of criminalization have not reduced marijuana’s use so why should it be criminalized for another …show more content…
“Like that of alcohol the criminal prohibition of marijuana is a dismal and destructive failure”, said John McKay of the Vancouver sun. Widespread availability of the drug exists because of violent drug cartels that reap billions of dollars in revenue. History has been known to repeat its self, and when one looks at the failure of alcohol prohibition, and the benefits that came with its abolishment, it becomes clear that this also applies to marijuana today. Once alcohol prohibition was done away with, the crime rates dropped dramatically. If marijuana is legalized it will lose its social taboo as did alcohol and drug cartels will lose their edge like the moonshiners of the 1920s and 1930s lost
English 11 Advanced
Miss Beattie
2/27/2013
Legalization of Marijuana
Marijuana was used as an herbal remedy for hundreds of years in China, and Asia. In the 1930s, the newly founded Federal Bureau of Narcotics launched an unscientific campaign that claimed the use of marijuana provoked insanity, homicidal tendencies, and uncontrollable sexual desires. Their bias campaign worked, and by 1937 the U.S. Government outlawed its use. (Soros). By looking deeper into the subject one can see the true effects this drug has had on society, and the possible benefits that can be reaped if it is legalized. Through the decriminalization of marijuana, societies can reap the benefits of an improved economy, a reduction in violence, …show more content…
Its’ profits have made possible organized crime that cannot be stopped by law enforcement. Dangerous drug cartels compete for their place in the drug market, and use ruthless violence to do so (Cooper). They view the people that work for them a disposable, and many who work for these cartels die due to the large risk they take to smuggle the drugs. Others are killed by rival gangs trying to eliminate their competition. Every time marijuana is purchased on the black market, profits go toward fueling this violence. The violence emanating from the criminalization of marijuana is far more dangerous than the drug itself. While drug trafficking can never be eradicated, legalizing marijuana will eliminate a large part of the cartels market, and they would quickly lose their competitive advantage (Soros). Sixty years of criminalization have not reduced marijuana’s use so why should it be criminalized for another …show more content…
“Like that of alcohol the criminal prohibition of marijuana is a dismal and destructive failure”, said John McKay of the Vancouver sun. Widespread availability of the drug exists because of violent drug cartels that reap billions of dollars in revenue. History has been known to repeat its self, and when one looks at the failure of alcohol prohibition, and the benefits that came with its abolishment, it becomes clear that this also applies to marijuana today. Once alcohol prohibition was done away with, the crime rates dropped dramatically. If marijuana is legalized it will lose its social taboo as did alcohol and drug cartels will lose their edge like the moonshiners of the 1920s and 1930s lost