LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA
HISTORY
Marijuana has been used as an agent for achieving euphoria since ancient times; it was described in a Chinese medical reference traditionally considered to date from 2737 B.C. Its use spread from China to India and then to N Africa and reached Europe at least as early as A.D. 500.
In 1545 the Spanish brought marijunana to the New World. The English introduced it in Jamestown in 1611 where it became a major commercial crop alongside tobacco and was grown as a source of fiber.
CONS
PROS
1.Prohibition must be weighed against the loss of personal freedom. Countries have a responsibility to respect individual free will and the right of self-determination.
2. The immorality of marijuana use can only be based on one set of moral beliefs. By taking a “moral” stand against recreational drugs, or fighting the evils caused by the illegal drug trade they increase their popularity amongst constituents.
3.The War on Drugs serves the immediate interests of politicians. By taking a “moral” stand against recreational drugs, or fighting the evils caused by the illegal drug trade they increase their popularity amongst constituents.
1. The easy availability of drugs would create new consumers rather than rescuing current ones.
2. Drugs are addictive. They rob the user of free will. A drug user cannot make an informed and rational decision to continue using drugs because the use of the drug eliminates that user’s ability to think logically. Nor can they disseminate themselves from drug taking.
3. Drug use is dangerous to persons besides the user. In the rise of health care costs, violence associated with the use of drugs, neglect of children by drug-addicted parents, and other third party effects.
HEALTH
-It can be used to treat Glaucoma.
-It may help reverse the carcinogenic effects of tobacco and improve lung health.
-It also decreases the symptoms of a severe seizure disorder known as Dravet's Syndrome.
-A chemical found in marijuana stops cancer from spreading.
-THC slows the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
-The drug eases the pain of multiple sclerosis.
LAW
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The use, sale and possession of cannabis (marijuana) in the U.S is still illegal under federal law. However, some states have created exemptions for medical cannabis use, as well as decriminalized non-medical cannabis use. In four states, Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington, the sale and possession of marijuana is legal for both medical and non-medical use.. Also, if the cannabis is called "medical cannabis" the federal law still has priority.
CRIME
Although large-scale marijuana growing operationsare frequently targeted by police in raids to attack the supply side and discourage the spread and marketing of the plant, the great majority of those arrested for cannabis are there for possession alone. However, in 1997, the vast majority of inmates in state prisons for marijuana related convictions were convicted of offenses other than simple possession.
According to the recent Federal Bureau of Investigation's annual Uniform Crime Report, There have been over twelve million cannabis arrests in the United States since 1996 including 749,825 persons for marijuana violations in 2012. Of those charged with marijuana violations in 2012, 658,231 were charged with possession only.
STATS AND GRAPHS
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METHODS
Smoking Medical Cannabis
Edible Medical Cannabis
Vaporizing Medical Cannabis
1. Each day in the United States, around 6,000 new people try weed for the very first time (and this number is growing!)
2. By most measures, it takes 800 joints to kill a person. Fortunately, no human has ever been capable of smoking 800 joints in one sitting!
3. There are almost 2,000 slang terms for cannabis in the United State alone (i.e. weed, marijuana, pot, ganja, etc)
4. The primary ingredient in marijuana is THC
5. At least one acre of marijuana product will equal out to about two to three acres of cotton product.
FACTS
Work Cited
"5 Methods of Medical Cannabis Consumption." Methods of Cannabis Consumption. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.harborsidehealthcenter.com/learn/methods-of-cannabis-consumption.html>.
"Cannabis in the United States." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 18 Nov. 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_the_United_States>.
Loria, Jennifer. "23 Health Benefits Of Marijuana." Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 20 Apr. 2014. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.businessinsider.com/health-benefits-of-medical-marijuana-2014-4?op=1>.
"History of Marijuana." Marijuana History. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/marijuana-history.html>.
"Pros & Cons of Legalizing Marijuana." Legalize Marijuana Legal Weed Marijuana Facts. Web. 21 Nov. 2014. <http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/pros-and-cons-of-marijuana.html>.