Essay about Its Time To Make Marijuana Legal for...

The issue of legalizing marijuana has been prominent in news headlines recently with Washington and Colorado’s new laws on using marijuana for recreational use. The problems stem from the vast difference of opinion between those who support the new laws and those who oppose them. The supporters of legalizing marijuana argue that the police resources that are being used for trying to prosecute users of marijuana could be better used for violent crimes such as murder and rape. Supporters also argue that marijuana has far more positive properties than negative ones. Those who oppose the legalization state that marijuana is a gateway to other more harmful drugs such as methamphetamine and heroin. They also say that marijuana is a†¦show more content†¦Marijuana also does not, in itself, cause people to use hard drugs. Marijuana is the most popular illicit drug in our nation. Therefore, people who use less popular drugs such as heroin or cocaine are more likely to have us ed marijuana as well. The majority of marijuana users never try any other illegal drug and the vast majority of those who do try other drugs never become addicts or go on to have any other associated problems (97). The short-term effects of marijuana include almost immediate, temporary changes in thought patterns, perceptions, and data processing. The cognitive process most clearly affected is your short-term memory. In several lab studies, patients under the influence of marijuana have little to no trouble remembering things they learned before usage, however they displayed little capacity to learn and remember new information. This lowered rate only lasts for the duration of the high. There is no conceivable evidence that heavy long-term marijuana use may permanently impair memories or other brain functions (43). There has never in history been a case of a marijuana overdose. This is most likely because the estimated amount for an overdose is about 70 times more than what is neede d to get high. Marijuana hasShow MoreRelatedShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1521 Words   |  7 Pagesaccess to recreational marijuana in January 2014. People from other states can now stop by marijuana dispensary and purchase up to  ¼ ounce of retail marijuana at once. According to the Marijuana Policy Group research, out-of-state visitors purchase 44% of metro area retail demand and about 90% of retail demand in mountain counties. This demand from tourists has increased income of Colorado marijuana dispensaries dramatically. However, as there are only 2 states in the US, which legalized marijuana forRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1340 Words   |  6 PagesThe argument of legalizing medicinal marijuana and marijuana used for recreational purposes has been around for quite some time now. Recreational use is when one smokes cannabis just for fun and with the intention of altering the state of consciousness while medicinal marijuana is used for treating certain maladies and alleviating their symptoms. Though marijuana use is not as harmless as many people seem to believe. Like any other drugs, marijuana can affect the body and mind and may have a majorityRead MoreThe Legalization Of Marijuana Legalization996 Words   |  4 Pagesproductive to say the least. For example, Denver Colorado is on track to more than triple the marijuana tax revenue this year alone. $44 million was collected in 2014. In July 2015, 73.5 million was collected, while 19.6 million went to schools. A place such as Chicago could really use the legalization to help with the school system infrastructure issues they have. With a deficit of over 1.1 billion marijuana sales could alleviate both the conditions of schools themselves, as well as provide moreRead MoreLegalization Of Medical And Recreational Use Of Marijuana1385 Words   |  6 PagesThe legalization of marijuana has been a very controversial topic that has everyone asking each other, is it really worth it? For many, t he thought of legalizing a drug, which the government has classified as a Schedule 1 drug is, mind boggling to them. I am going to prove that the pros about the legalization of medical and recreational use of marijuana are greatly outweighing the cons. I will show with statistical evidence that legalization is beneficial in many ways such as generating higher stateRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1489 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Marijuana Today, the idea of marijuana (cannabis) being legalized has created major controversy within the United States. In the article, â€Å"Legislation to Legalize Marijuana Discussed,† Paul J. Nyden discusses the legislation of the legalization of marijuana use, especially for medical purposes. Nyden presents several reason’s to support his thesis, but the main issue is, should supporters of marijuana legislation in West Virginia back various reform laws saying they could offerRead MoreLegalization Of Marijuana For The United States1416 Words   |  6 Pages The use of recreational marijuana is illegal in the United States. Although cannabinoids--the active compounds in marijuana may have the potential to help manage certain symptoms. Researchers around the world, including some in the United States, are continuing to explore the potential of the marijuana drug in use to help patients who benefit from the drug. According to our class notes, marijuana and Tabaco contain almost the same amount of chemical’s at over 500. The side effects include healthRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1372 Words   |  6 Pagesâ€Å"Drugs are bad for you,† time and time again. Now as a kid you don’t really understand the reasoning behind it, but you listen to your authority figure regardless. I remember being told this my entire life and even to this very day. But as I got older I realized that people would still use drugs even though it’s illegal. I could never understand why someone would go against the law and jeopardize their life just to use drugs? The drug that I am talking about is marijuana, and surprisingly it isRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1456 Words   |  6 PagesPossession and use of marijuana is illegal in over half of the United States, but it is still the third most popular recreational drug in the United States. The debate for this drug to be legal has been going on for many years; some states have legalized the drug for medical use, and some for recreational use as well. Other states seem to disagree; they are not in favor of making the drug legal for medical use or recreational use. It has been proven that marijuana has a positive impact on societyRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1135 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"There’s nothing new about cannabis, of course. It’s been around humankind pretty much forever. In Siberia charred seeds have been found inside burial mounds dating back to 3000 B.C. The Chinese were using cannabis as a medicine thou sands of years ago. Marijuana is deeply American too—as American as George Washington, who grew hemp at Mount Vernon. For most of the country’s history, cannabis was legal, commonly found in tinctures and extracts† (Sides). This is how the national geographic articleRead MoreJail Time For A Fair Crime?1295 Words   |  6 PagesJail Time for a Fair Crime? Pot, weed, dope, Mary Jane are some of the few names that the infamous drug, marijuana is known by. Marijuana has been smoked for many years now. This drug has gotten so popular amongst high schoolers and college students. Even the President of the United States has smoked pot once in his life. This drug’s popularity has increased over the years that some states have even legalized the drug, due to it being so popular. However, with the use of such an illegal drug come