Marijuana Research Paper
Niral Patel
Comp 111
8/10/2012
Research Paper Why Marijuana Should not be Legalized? In America today, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. The name marijuana is a Mexican slang word, which became popular in the 1930’s, which refers to the medicinal parts of the cannabis plant. Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture that is created through drying the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis plant. Some of the more popular street names are weed, pot, herb, grass, Mary Jane, boom, gangster, and chronic. One question that has haunted Americans for a long time is “Should the use of marijuana be legalized?” Some say, “Yes”, while others say, “No”. Owning marijuana was made a criminal offence in 1937 when Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act. Even with this new law, people continued to use the drug. Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana is opposed by a vast majority of American’s and people around the world. Leaders in marijuana prevention, education, treatment and law enforcement adamantly oppose the substance, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy group, who support the permissive use of illicit drugs, although small in number, are making headlines. They are influencing legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate in the United States and in other countries. The national organization for the reform of marijuana law (NORMAL) is the oldest drug user lobby in the United States. It has strong ties to the libertarian party, the drug policy foundation, and the American civil liberties union these group use a variety of strategies, which range from outright legalization to de facto legalization under the guise of “medicalization,” “harm reduction,” crime reduction, harm marijuana for the environment, free needle distribution to addicts , and controlled legalization through taxation. However, drugs like marijuana are addicting and should not be
Comp 111
8/10/2012
Research Paper Why Marijuana Should not be Legalized? In America today, marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug. The name marijuana is a Mexican slang word, which became popular in the 1930’s, which refers to the medicinal parts of the cannabis plant. Marijuana is a green, brown, or gray mixture that is created through drying the leaves and flowering tops of the cannabis plant. Some of the more popular street names are weed, pot, herb, grass, Mary Jane, boom, gangster, and chronic. One question that has haunted Americans for a long time is “Should the use of marijuana be legalized?” Some say, “Yes”, while others say, “No”. Owning marijuana was made a criminal offence in 1937 when Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act. Even with this new law, people continued to use the drug. Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana is opposed by a vast majority of American’s and people around the world. Leaders in marijuana prevention, education, treatment and law enforcement adamantly oppose the substance, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy group, who support the permissive use of illicit drugs, although small in number, are making headlines. They are influencing legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate in the United States and in other countries. The national organization for the reform of marijuana law (NORMAL) is the oldest drug user lobby in the United States. It has strong ties to the libertarian party, the drug policy foundation, and the American civil liberties union these group use a variety of strategies, which range from outright legalization to de facto legalization under the guise of “medicalization,” “harm reduction,” crime reduction, harm marijuana for the environment, free needle distribution to addicts , and controlled legalization through taxation. However, drugs like marijuana are addicting and should not be
Cited: Greenwood Publishing Group, 2004 Sabet, K.A United States. National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Law. Washington, DC, 2012.