Legalizing_Mariguanna

Marijuana should be considered one of the safest drugs in the world and has been used for generations in many different cultures for medical uses, religious ceremonies, and social use. I believe that in order to control the war on marijuana in the United States the marijuana should be legalized. Cannabis was described for its therapeutic use in the first known Chinese Pharmacopoeia (medical book). Cannabis was also used in Egypt for a disease called sore eyes because it brought more blood flow to the brain and eyes. The herb was also used in India their everyday culture including religious ceremonies. According to the Sanskrit Scriptural text around 1400 B.C. cannabis was considered the “soother of grief,” “the shy flyer,” and the “poor man’s heaven (answers 4).” The ancient Greeks would use cannabis for treatment of inflammation, earache, and edema. By 100 B.C. the Chinese were already using cannabis to make paper and sails for ships. In England Queen Elizabeth the 1st issued a decree saying that and one that had 60 acres or more were required to grow cannabis or be fined as a penalty (answers 4). By 1621 the British had made it mandatory to grow hemp in Virginia and by the 1850’s hemp had grow to be the 3rd largest agricultural crop in North America with over 8, 327 plantations with about 2000 acres each. Marijuana had been grown by farmers for generations and was used to make rope, canvas, paper, or cloth (answers 4). Today about 11 million Americans age 12 and over are currently using marijuana and 77 percent of illegal drug users smoke marijuana (Lawler 5 ).According to a 1997 college freshman survey, 355 believed that marijuana should be legalized (Lawler). At Ferndale High School 50% of students believe that marijuana should be legalized, 89% thought that marijuana was easy to obtain, 33% have tried marijuana before, and 17%are current marijuana smokers (survey). Lucky for them there is an organization that is willing to help called NORML, which stands for National Organization for the Reform of marijuana laws. This organization supports campaigns like “honk if you love hemp” and similar slogans. They also have filed lawsuits against the federal government to force it to conduct tests to find medical uses for marijuana. NORML also predicts that California alone could profit 1.5 to 2.5 billion dollars a year by legalizing marijuana. The economic impact could be up to 8 to 13 billion because of the new spin of industries and the money the state would be saving in prisons and enforcement costs. If marijuana was legalized it would also mean less crowded jails. In2005 the FBI made 780,000 marijuana related arrests in the united states, that averages out to around1 every 45 seconds and 88% of these people were charged with possession (medberg 1). Legalization would mean fewer people on the civil court docket; therefore it would allow the courts to get to more legitimate court cases faster. Not only that, but the government could also be using marijuana for tax revenue because .5 grams is usually sold for about $8.60 and the cost of production is only 1.70. That means for every half gram the government sells it would be making 6.90. That would add up if it were being sold throughout the United States. If marijuana was legalized then police would no longer have to worry about major marijuana dealers. This is because of right now marijuana dealers don’t really have any completion right now except for other marijuana dealers so it allows them to make large amounts of money. Also if it were legalized the sales price would go way down because dealers would no longer have to take the risk of being arrested for selling it. Also if the government were regulating the sales prices they would be way lower and dealers would not be able to beat the competition without losing money. As with anything someone smokes, marijuana does have some long term consequences. Among these are laryngitis, hoarseness, coughing, and bronchitis (answers 9). Marijuana can also cause adverse affects to the immune system, reproductive system, adrenal hormones, growth hormones, and cognitive function like attention and memory process (answers 9). There are some health benefits as well, such as the control of nausea and vomiting from people suffering with advanced aids or cancer. Marijuana also helps with appetite stimulation and the treatment of glaucoma by reducing intraocular pressure9 the pressure created by the continual renewal of fluids within the eye) and controlling convulsions and muscle spasms. According to Tara Albrecht medicinal marijuana helps cancer and multiple sclerosis significantly for nausea, pain and to help relax. In 2001 there were 331 alcohol overdose deaths 0 marijuana overdose deaths (U.S. center for disease). There are hundreds of overdose deaths due to alcohol each year and never in history has there been a death due to overdosing on marijuana. Plus there has never been a cancer patient that only smoked marijuana (Kaufman AO3). Where there were 12,360 alcohol related deaths in just 2003. About 3 million violent crimes occur each year in which victims believe that the offender may have been drinking at the time of the offence. Two-thirds of victims who suffered violence by an intimate (a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend) reported that alcohol had been a factor. Among spouse victims, 3 out of 4 incidents were reported to have involved an offender who had been drinking (Bureau of justice statistics.) Today there are only three European nations that still follow the U.S. laws, those being Sweden, Finland and Norway. All the other European nations allow marijuana use; also they allow people to use small amounts of cocaine, heroin, and ecstasy. In most areas they have coffee shops or stores like Switzerland’s Grow lands shop that has been in business for 9 years and of those 9 years the police have only been there once. Some vineyards have already started to grow pot because it is a very profitable business. Europe has learned that they cannot control marijuana use by banning it, but only through legalization and controlled by the government distributaries and coffee shops. Through the recherché for this paper it has been found that marijuana is one of the safest drugs in the world and you would think that since it is illegal that many of the over the counter drugs would be safer and have a lower death count caused by them. As you can see in the table below tobacco, which is legal everywhere in the world are one of the deadliest drugs in the United States followed closely by alcohol and all other illegal drugs. Annual American Deaths Caused By Drugs TOBACCO…………………………….400,000 ALCOHOL…………………………….100,000 ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS…………….20,000 CAFFEINE…………………………….2,000 ASPRIN…………………………………500 MARIJUANA………………………….0 (U.S. NIDA) A recent study by Scott Bates claimed that Alaska was spending $25-30 million per year enforcing marijuana prohibition laws. Further, since there is no link between marijuana use and criminal behavior there would be no impact on crime. If the purchase of marijuana were to be taxed as a legal commodity, tax revenues would increase by about 10-20 million per year. So, voters were promised that a total of $35-50 million per year would appear in the states if marijuana were decriminalized (NORML). When legalized the government could still put a law on how much someone could contain at a time, but if over that limit only a minimal fine should be given. The government could also be distributing it collecting tax on every gram bought, but still keep it cheaper than street prices in order to put big dealers out of business. This would give law enforcement more time to deal with the major issues in our world, not petty marijuana charges. For once America should be following in Europe’s footsteps by redefining drug use as a health issue rather than a criminal one, and enacting legislation reflecting this change. For instance in belgum, government officials issued formal declaration in January 2001 mandating prosecutors and judges to no longer interfere with the lives of people who use cannabis on a personal basis, and who do not create harm or show dependence. Under the new policy, marijuana possession and cultivation for personal use is no longer being criminally prosecuted. However, the production and sale of large quantities of marijuana continues to be actively prosecuted, as is pot use that leads to “unsociable behavior.” Public smoking of marijuana remains punishable under Belgian “social nuisance” laws (NORML). This would be one good way to deal with legalization and keeping the people happy, but yet also keeping a strict law on production and sale of marijuana. \the United States is one step behind the control of marijuana and should take a good look at how it has had a positive impact on places in other parts in the world and follow inhere footsteps and legalize marijuana. Why wouldn’t the government want to make the United States more relaxed, profitable place, with less crowded jails and prisons'