Monday, December 8, 2014

Should marijuana be legalized?

Cannabis or commonly known as marijuana is a preparation of the cannabis plant used for medicine or as a psychoactive drug. The oldest use of cannabis recorded dates all the way back to 2727 B.C. used by the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung. The ancient Romans and Greeks were also familiar with the plant. The plant spread to the Middle East, then to North Africa, and finally in 1545 it spread to the western hemisphere through Spanish explores In North America cannabis in the form of hemp was grown on plantations to make rope, clothing and paper. The production of hemp was highly encouraged by the government in the 17th century for production of rope and other materials. In 1619 the Virginia Assembly passed legislation requiring every farmer to grow hemp. Hemp was allowed to be exchanged as legal tender in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Maryland. After the civil war hemp was replaced by other materials, but it would not be forgotten. During the late 19th century marijuana became a popular ingredient in many medicinal products and was sold openly in public pharmacies. Up until the Mexican Revolution of 1910 marijuana was only used for medicinal purposes in the United States. Mexican immigrants flooded the United States and that's when the American culture was introduced to the recreational use of marijuana. The drug quickly became associated with immigrants. During the great depression
when many Americans were unemployed they feared the Mexican immigrants. This lead to 29 states outlawing marijuana in 1931 because it was associated the "racially inferior" who were more likely to commit crime or act violent. Strict sentencing laws were set up through 1951-56 to punish people who possessed drugs including marijuana. With a first-offense of marijuana possession carried a 2-10 year minimum prison sentence and up to $20,000 in fines. By 1970 the mandatory sentences established in the 50's was repealed by congress because it had not done anything to change the minds of the growing marijuana culture. In 1986 President Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act, the new law raised federal penalties for marijuana. Possession of 100 marijuana plants received the same penalty as possession of 100 grams of heroin. Later on an amendment added the "three strikes and you're out" policy. Meaning repeated drug offenders were required to serve life sentences and drug kingpins were to be put to death. It was not until 1996 when California passed Proposition 215. This allowed marijuana to be sold to patients with Aids, Cancer, and other painful illnesses. If you cannot beat them then join them is a popular phrase used. Colorado and Washington decided to be a part of the marijuana culture on January 1, 2014 by being the only places on the planet in where you can buy and consume marijuana for
recreational uses legally, well state wise anyways. Marijuana has come a long way so why does the government stop its growth? Legalization alone would save tax payers $10 billion yearly on enforcing the prohibition. We could use this money to fund more important things like education and building new roads. It is not right that we should be spending more money trying to get people locked up than to make someone succeed in life. Marijuana legalization would reduce the prison population by a lot. In 2012 we put 749,825 people in jail because of marijuana alone. I do not think putting people in a place that is meant for murderers, rapist, and psychos because of drugs is right. Smoking
marijuana is a non-violent crime and someone guilty of it should not be going to prison. Outlawing marijuana does not work just like prohibition people continued to drink alcohol and well considering about 20 million people smoke marijuana each day I don't think it’s ever going to stop. 
Legalizing and regulating marijuana will bring the nation's largest cash crop under the rule of law, creating jobs and economic opportunities in the economy. The criminalization of marijuana harms young people and people of color, leads to massive levels of violence and corruption, and fails to stop the youth from access to it. Not only would there be less violence here in the United States but this could cause a domino effect on our neighbors down south. Mexico is going through a tough time because of drugs. There are thousands of people getting killed because the war on drugs. By legalizing marijuana we could help Mexico's violence diminish. Although there are a lot of positives to legalizing marijuana many people disagree. They say things like "marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol". I don't think that statement is completely wrong. Alcohol and tobacco are more dangerous than marijuana. Smoking cigarettes can cause addiction and lung cancer in the long run yet it is still legal. Alcohol can kill you if you binge drink while it is physically impossible to die of marijuana overdose. Marijuana has been proven to be healthier than both alcohol and tobacco .The majority of the country wants it to be legally federally anyways. California and Oregon are set to vote on
marijuana in 2016. 
 If Oregon and California are both able to pass legalization measures, then the entire U.S. west coast would be comprised of states that have ended prohibition. This could cause a domino effect that could lead it to be legally federally. "Government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the Earth"- Abraham Lincoln. If the people want marijuana then they shall have marijuana. 
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