Essay on The Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana - 1475 Words

The war on drugs is a movement of prohibition and military aid being undertaken by the United States government intended to both define and reduce the illegal drug trade (Bullington). In the year 2010 the U.S. government spent $15 billion on the war on drugs, at a rate of $500 per second. State and local governments spent another $25 billion as well. In 2007, $42 billion was spent on the marijuana prohibition. That is more money than the war on drugs spent on all types of drugs three years before (Hardy). Why is our government focusing on a drug that can be called merely harmless to those who use it? Why is this drug getting more money spent on it than drugs that are highly addictive and life threatening? Marijuana is not as dangerous as†¦show more content†¦Several areas of the brain have high densities of these receptors, which helps explain the different effects of the drug† (Mathews). Physical effects include red eyes, dry mouth, increased heart rate, and loss of coordination. Beneficial effects for medical conditions such as cancer, AIDS, and multiple sclerosis include relief from pain and nausea, increased appetite, and reduced muscle spasms. Psychological effects, which are not apparent in ever user, may entail hallucinations, impaired judgment, and mood swings. One frightening effect is that marijuana has been linked to short-term memory loss, and although this drug does not cause physical addiction a psychological dependence can come about (Gale). Also, studies have shown that long-term effects of using marijuana include: increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia. Chronic use could also be a marker for other mental health issues (NIDA). Now that you know the basic facts of marijuana lets dive into some of the benefits and not so terrific effects of legalizing marijuana. Legalizing marijuana has both pros and cons, but which position should you take on this issue? You have the freedom to choose whatever position you would like to take, but before you do that listen to both sides of this argument first. So, why should one choose to be for legalizing marijuana? Well, there are plenty of reasons to support this position like the fact that this drug is considered notShow MoreRelatedThe Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana1631 Words   |  6 PagesMarijuana is a naturally grown plant that has beneficial properties and the ability to create textiles, paper products, and other goods. Marijuana is currently illegal in many states in the United States. The legalization of Marijuana will produce enormous tax revenue, reduce crime, give us a renewable resource, and give sick and suffering patients a new effective medicine. The legalization of Marijuana in the United States would both benefit the well-being of its citizens as well the economy. TheRead MoreThe Economic Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana1068 Words   |  5 PagesThe Economic Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana In 2007, the American economy took a downturn known as the recession. People began looking for a quick fix to our nation’s economic problems and one fix may be right in front of us, with the legalization of marijuana. The debate about legalizing marijuana has been going on for the last decade with no end in sight. Politicians, economists, and everyday people cannot come to an agreement over this growing issue. Today economists still converse overRead MoreBenefits of Legalizing Marijuana Essay1374 Words   |  6 PagesBenefits of Legalizing Marijuana Every year, 400,000 Americans die of complications caused by tobacco products. Smoking kills more Americans each year than alcohol, crack, heroin, murder, suicide, car accidents, fires, and AIDS all put together. Every week, eight children under the age of eighteen die from alcohol related crashes. 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So it isRead MoreEssay about The Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana1494 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Marijuana Despite late controversy regarding weed or as most professionals call it now medical marijuana, I have a strong opinion regarding given substance. I think marijuana should be legal but Im going to discuss this matter more in my essay. Some topics I would like to discuss would be: should it be legal, is it beneficial for medical purposes, economy, job growth and reducing crime rates. Background Industrial Hemp Plant(â€Å"Hemp, Industrial Hemp field†) For most of humanRead MoreBenefits Of Legalizing Medical Marijuana1076 Words   |  5 Pagesof life incorporated cannabis of some form. Marijuana is a psychoactive drug made from the cannabis plant. It is sometimes used as a recreational drug by a few individuals, medical ailments and for spiritual purposes as well. The key element in marijuana is the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This psychoactive component is found in the leaves of the plant (Ethan B Russo, 2013). This essay will demonstrates the advantages of legalising medical marijuana such as treatment for pain relief, nauseaRead MoreEssay about Benefits and Drawbacks of Legalizing Marijuana1177 Words   |  5 Pageswith harder drugs as cocaine and heroin, marijuana, also named as cannabis or hemp, is considered as a soft drug with less addiction and harm. In the 19th century, it was one of the most important crops in the American continent to the common wealth (Newton, 2013, p.32), but it has been banned to grow in mos t countries since the 20th century (Newton, 2013, p.45). Given the clamour for â€Å"decriminalization† of the personal possession of small amounts of marijuana is growing (Single, 2013, p.456) and theRead More The Economic, Medical and Industrial Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana1710 Words   |  7 PagesThe Economic, Medical and Industrial Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana is the dried flower clusters and leaves of the hemp plant when taken to induce euphoria. Marijuana has been in existence for centuries even Magellan spoke of it during his trip to India. In his log he spoke of a plant that you smoked that made a man drunk without drinking. Marijuana would be beneficial if legalized because it would bring in extra money, it has medical uses, hemp is one of the best materials in the