Essay about Should Marijuana Be Legalized in the United...

The topic of legalizing recreational marijuana in the United States has been a very controversial one. States such as Colorado and Washington have gone on the offensive and have legalized recreational marijuana and have enjoyed the high revenues brought in from cannabis sale. On the other hand other states have kept low profiles because they are wary of the possible negative outcomes of legalizing recreational marijuana and are using the states of Colorado and Washington as guinea pigs to see what their next course of action on this controversial topic should be. This is not only a highly debated topic among politicians, but also by the people. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, 52% of Americans support the†¦show more content†¦Meanwhile marijuana has not accounted for a single death in the United States. This has led many teenagers to switch over to marijuana and by legalizing it the switch to a safer drug would continue and it would also make it chea per than other illicit drugs. This correlation can be seen by the statistics provided by the NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) 2011 study. About 25% of teens surveyed said they tried marijuana at least once last year, a statistically significant rise of about 4% since 2007. Additionally, 6.6% of 12th graders also admitted to smoking weed daily (Gwynne). The study has also shown historic lows of use of alcohol and cigarettes since 1981.Over the past 20 years, from 1991 to 2011, the proportion of 8th graders reporting any use of alcohol in the prior 30 days has fallen by about half (from 25% to 13%), among 10th graders by more than one third (from 43% to 27%), and among 12th graders by about one fourth (from 54% to 40%), (Gwynne). As teenagers will always continue to experiment with illegal substances, its best we influence them with the safest drug, marijuana. This change is already happening as NIDA studies have shown teenager marijuana use at historic highs and alcohol and ci garette use at historic lows, and will continue if marijuana is perceived as safe and becomes cheaper withShow MoreRelatedEssay about Marijuana Should Be Legalized in the United States1288 Words   |  6 PagesThere have been zero deaths in America directly contributed to marijuana use, yet there are an estimated 20,000 deaths in America due to alcohol. One of these substances is legal and the other one isn’t. If you were to guess which one was legal based off this fact you would most likely choose marijuana, but you would be wrong. Marijuana is not only illegal in America, but it is classified as a schedule 1 drug meaning it is in the same category as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. Cocaine and meth are knownRead MoreMarijuana Should Not Be Beneficial For Medical Purposes1080 Words   |  5 PagesMarijuana has proven to be beneficial for medical purposes. It has therapeutic effects that will ultimately allow patients with adverse health conditions to improve their quality of lif e. Legalizing marijuana can also improve the state of the United States’ economy through taxation and creation of job opportunities. Additionally, it can reduce the crime rate in the United States and save the United States tons of money. Contrarily, marijuana should not be legalized for recreational usage. ExtensiveRead MoreEssay on Legalization of Marijuana, Cocaine, and Prescription Pills1713 Words   |  7 Pages In the United States, there are many drugs that are outlawed due to their supposed harmful and dangerous effects on humans. Some of these drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and prescription pills that are abused by people to whom they are not prescribed. Recent movements have called for the legalization of all of these drugs. Although it appears that legalization of all drugs on the market seems like a valid movement, in reality, all hard drugs such as cocaine and prescription pills shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1456 Words   |  6 Pages 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 society. Marijuana shouldRead MoreHow Can Legalize Marijuana Help The United States Economically And Medically?1033 Words   |  5 Pagescan legalizing marijuana help the United States economically and medically? The United States has, in some states, legalized the use of marijuana. Studies done have shown that it helps the state economies grow, and has given the states millions of dollars in tax revenue. So imagine the money that would be saved if marijuana were legalized in the whole country. The United States would benefit from a stronger economy, increased jobs, reduced prison costs, lower medicinal marijuana prices, and theRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1231 Words   |  5 Pagesshows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years, numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being listed as a Schedule I drugRea d MoreJail Time For A Fair Crime?1295 Words   |  6 PagesTime 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 consequencesRead MoreEssay on Legalizing Medical Marijuana1254 Words   |  6 PagesShould medical marijuana be legal across the United States? Imagine a world where individuals who have chronic pain did not have to suffer anymore. Envision a cure for cancer, a disease many Americans are killed by daily. Picture people with severe, violent mood disorders being treated. Most people think the answers to these problems are simple and could be solved by over medicating patients. Today, there are twenty states in A merica who have legalized medical marijuana for specific health and medicalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?997 Words   |  4 PagesLegalize It: The Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana Should marijuana be legalized? Many Americans have been asked this question or have heard some type of news about the issue. Marijuana is commonly known as cannabis which refers to the dried up hemp plant cannabis sativa, even though marijuana is a plant and has no chemical additives it has been a tropic of controversy for many years but nowadays it is in the spotlight more than ever. For centuries, marijuana has been used by people throughout theRead MoreThe Battle Of Legalizing Marijuana1289 Words   |  6 Pages4/20/17 The Battle to Legalize Marijuana in the United States The United States is splitting up into two sides with the date of 4/20 coming closer with one wanting the legalization of the plant substance and the other opposing it. According to the United Nations, 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana—more than 3.8% of the planet’s population. Marijuana was legalized on the 20th of April in Colorado in 2014. It has been legalized in various other states such as: Alaska, California, Colorado