Marijuana and Why the Government Should Legalize It free essay sample

Should the federal government legalize the use of marijuana? In my opinion yes it should be legalized! First off yes I have smoked it in the past as an adult and as a teenager. And I think it helped me. I have ADHD and it relaxed me. It also helped me to calm down and not be as hyper. I feel that it is not a gateway drug. Using Marijuana did not make me use other drugs. I feel it is safer than Alcohol and Tobacco. There are no additives in it. I am going to explain why I feel this in the next few pages. For those who really don’t know what Marijuana is? Marijuana is the dried blossom of cannabis sativa and cannabis indicia plants, leafy annual plants with parts that are used for as herbs, animal food, medicine and as hemp for rope-making. The flowers contain psychoactive and physiologically active chemical compounds known as Cannabinoids that are consumed for recreational, medicinal, and spiritual purposes, [ (wikipedia. We will write a custom essay sample on Marijuana and Why the Government Should Legalize It or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page org) ] So my question is why is it banned in the U. S.? Before the 20th century, cannabis plants in the U. S. were relatively unregulated, and marijuana was a common ingredient in medicines. Recreational use of marijuana was thought to have been introduced in the U. S. early in the 20th century by immigrants from Mexico. In the 1930s, marijuana was linked publicly in several research studies, and via a famed 1936 film named Reefer Madness, to crime, violence, and anti-social behavior. Many believe that objections to marijuana first rose sharply as part of the U. S. temperance movement against alcohol. Others claim that marijuana was initially demonized partly due to fears of the Mexican immigrants associated with the drug. In the 21st century, marijuana is illegal in the U. S. ostensibly due to moral and public health reasons, and because of continuing concern over violence and crime associated with production and distribution of the drug. (Legalizationofmarijuana. com) The Government should legalize marijuana. There are many reasons why it should be legalized. The first one is that it would cost the government less money if they legalize it. That is because there are so many people in jail for the use of it or because they sold it. This would eliminate the taxpayers paying for people that should not be in jail. The second reason is that the Government would make billions on it. They could tax it like they do with tobacco. They could put an age restriction on it so you had to 18 or 21 to buy it. It would open up more jobs and there would be less welfare. The third reason is that it can be used for medical use. It helps stimulate appetite and relieve nausea in cancer and AIDS patients. Like most Americans, people who smoke marijuana also pay taxes, love and support their families, and work hard to make a better life for their children. Suddenly they are arrested, jailed and treated like criminals solely because of their recreational drug of choice. State agencies frequently step in and declare children of marijuana smokers to be â€Å"in danger†, and many children are placed into foster homes as a result. (Legalizationofmarijuana. com) This causes enormous pain, suffering and financial hardship for millions of American families. It also engenders distrust and disrespect for the law and for the criminal justice system overall. Responsible marijuana smokers present no threat or danger to America or its children, and there is no reason to treat them as criminals, or to take their children away. As a society we need to find ways to discourage personal conduct of all kinds that is abusive or harmful to others. Responsible marijuana smokers are not the problem and it is time to stop arresting them. (Legalizationofmarijuana. com) Once all the facts are known, it becomes clear that America’s marijuana laws need reform. This issue must be openly debated using only the facts. Groundless claims, meaningless statistics, and exaggerated scare stories that have been peddled by politicians and prohibitionists for the last 60 years must be rejected. (Legalizationofmarijuana. com) Like any substance, marijuana can be abused. The most common problem attributed to marijuana is frequent overuse, which can induce lethargic behavior, but does not cause serious health problems. Marijuana can cause short-term memory loss, but only while under the influence. Marijuana does not impair long-term memory.