Term Paper on "Marijuana Legalization John S.) "

Term Paper 7 pages (2574 words) Sources: 7 Style: MLA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Marijuana Legalization

John S.)

Why Marijuana Should be Legalized

Cultural Argument in Favor of Legalization

Marijuana is becoming more accepted in Western society, and it should become fully accepted. That is, marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana offers many benefits that completely dwarf the dangers. Marijuana offers uses across a broad range of categories from industrial uses, to medical uses, and recreational uses. It appears, however, that marijuana is illegal because of the simple fact that "a majority of Americans find marijuana morally offensive" (SoYouWannaKnow.com 2007). This is an unacceptable reason for the criminalization of such a valuable drug that is less dangerous than countless other drugs currently available to the public, including alcohol, poisons, and even over the counter painkillers.

The morality of marijuana must be reconsidered, and although much of the conservative public refuses to accept the numerous benefits of marijuana, drastic change is needed. We as a society are nearing towards acceptance of marijuana as its value is becoming recognized and it is currently legal in some places for medicinal purposes. Thus the medicinal purposes have been recognized by some of our lawmakers, but it needs to be recognized by all. Furthermore, marijuana offers benefits that exceed just its medicinal benefits, such as the aforementioned industrial value and recreational value. Its recreational value is perhaps the most ignored, however it is important. It does not make sense that a drug which offers safer and, to many people, more pleasant recreation than tobacco and alcohol is not legalized. The recreational value of marijuana, which is important to many people even as marijuana is illegal, should be recognized and given the respect it deserves. Similarly, marijuana is a plant as has industrial values which are ignored, as currently only marijuana's medicinal values are given credence. This reflects the general sentiment, which although much of the population of Western nations has tried the drug, that it is immoral, wasteful, and dangerous to use. However, an evaluation of the pros, meaning the multitude of uses for marijuana, will show it is not the case. Without evaluating the relative danger of marijuana, nor the wasted resources that go into the attempted enforcement of anti-marijuana laws, it will become clear that marijuana should be legalized because its value and its uses are widespread, numerous, and will be of benefit to society. Marijuana needs to be legalized because so many people will benefit from the uses offered by it. As a drug, as a mental enhancer, and as a product, marijuana has much to offer. Its widespread use despite it being an illegal substance only helps to prove its favored status among much of the population who appreciate its value. The moral depreciation of marijuana must therefore be overcome and marijuana should be legalized because of its values.

A first use of marijuana is its industrial uses as hemp. Currently illegal, marijuana could be used considerably more industrially. Hemp which has such low strains of TCH, "that they would be of no value to the drug culture whatsoever, are illegal for growth in the U.S." (Hemphistorian 2001). This means that even as a non-dangerous drug, the value of marijuana to be grown for industrial uses is completely ignored. Lawmakers need to recognize its industrial value. In fact, George Washington, American founding father and first President said: "Make the most of the hemp seed. Sow it everywhere" (Hemphistorian 2001). This is because the hemp seed has essential fatty acid and protein and in the eastern world it is a common product for its nutritional value. Furthermore, the fiber in hemp is very strong, one of the strongest in the world and it has been used for many years for many purposes requiring cloth, rope, textiles, and even paper. In fact, "the cannabis sativa plant produces more protein, oil and fiber than any other plan on earth," thus shedding light on the potential value of marijuana as an industrial product (CRRH 2007). Historically marijuana has been used for countless industrial purposes because of its unique value as a hemp plant, yet this value is completely restricted because marijuana cultivation is criminalized within the United States. It appears that other countries in the world reap benefits from hemp that the United States does not because it does not allow for legal cultivation of the plant. Illegal cultivation is, of course, a great risk and an undesirable action given marijuana's criminalization, thus accounting for a great loss to the public as a whole and individuals who could benefit from hemp being used even for food. Hemp has benefits over other plants that are used for similar products, such as cotton. It is pointless and even economically and environmentally wasteful to ignore the benefits offered by hemp to society. Society is losing out on important values for hemp which it does not currently receive. For instance hemp kills weeds and therefore can produce more textile fiber than cotton, and the environment would not be subjected to expensive and potentially damaging pesticide. But because marijuana is illegal, the potential rewards in this instance and many others are ignored. The industrial uses of marijuana alone offer enough evidence for the uses of marijuana.

Furthermore, as already recognized by lawmakers in California and Arizona among others, marijuana has medicinal value, thus making marijuana much more valuable than just its industrial purposes. In fact, there are many more uses for medicinal marijuana than is currently recognized. For instance, "cannabis presentations were widely used in Western medicine from 1839 to the 1940's" across a broad range of categories such as being used as a muscle relaxant, an anti-convulsant, an anti-depressant, anti-asthmatic, as an aide to fight alcoholism, and others (Mikuriya 239-241). Such uses reflect the potential of marijuana and suggest that given more study and opportunity, marijuana could find many more medicinal uses. It is an excellent painkiller and people with terminal illnesses already understand its medicinal purposes. However, unlike other prescription drugs, marijuana is criminalized despite its medicinal value. While some argue that it is not clear whether marijuana really offers the value that many argue it does, it should be noted because of the illegality and corresponding stigma of the drug, the true medicinal values will not be known until marijuana is legalized. Even as many argue against its practical uses, the fact that people who struggle with serious illness are using it points to its effectiveness, as "many epilepsy and multiple sclerosis patients believe marijuana is an effective treatment and are actively using it" (American Academy of Neurology 2004). This means that at the very least marijuana is an effective placebo, yet in all likelihood it is much more than that. Those who oppose the legalization of marijuana and argue against the medical uses of the drug clearly ignore the established value, history, and potential future of the drug's medicinal value and use. In fact, marijuana is of medicinal value to those that suffer from one of the most serious diseases in society today, and the one which the medical community has been unable to adequately address- AIDS. It has been noted that Marijuana "helps patients suffering from aids, by reducing vomiting, nausea, and lack of appetite causing the patients to eat more and gain weight" which is an obvious help to people who need it (UKCIA). Legalizing marijuana would open to the door to future uses of the powerful drug, and ensure that its current uses are permanent. The medicinal value of marijuana is incredible and it is ridiculous for such a valuable drug to be illegal when people can benefit medicinally from effects.

People also benefit from marijuana in other ways, that of which is one of the most common and perhaps the most looked down upon use of the drug, and that is recreational use. While recreational use of the drug is feared and looked down upon by authorities, marijuana offers users many pleasant experiences with little immediate danger and danger that is far less that of alcohol. Without going into comparing marijuana to other dangerous legal drugs, items, and products in our society, the recreational value of marijuana far outweighs the drawbacks. The recreational uses are ignored in their significance, and the legalization of marijuana would be to the delight of people throughout America. A poem by Matty Wanna suggests the recreational value of marijuana (which also boarders on a medicinal purpose): "Mind in a mess? / Suffering stress? Roll up a round one and give it a rest" (Wanna 1994). This poem, which not on touches upon the medicinal and industrial uses of marijuana and the contradictions and hypocrisies which make it illegal, it highlights an important recreational value of the drug to help people ease their mind after a long day or perhaps a difficult occasion. The mind is of too great a value and feeling good is an important value in society, so it is stupid to criminalize something that helps people feel better. People using marijuana do not cause trouble to others, but societal… READ MORE

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