The Legalization of Marijuana for Recreational and Medical Purposes

Marijuana commonly known as "pot" or "weed" is widely used in the United States for recreational and medical purposes

. When used recreationally marijuana is illegal and uses of the product can result in heavy fines, probation, or prison. Also, the possession and distribution can result in many harsh consequences. "Police make about 700,000 arrests per year for marijuana offenses" (Nadelmann 1). What for? Marijuana is not more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in moderation. According to a 2003 Zogby poll--say "the government should treat marijuana more or less the same way it treats alcohol: It should regulate it, control it, tax it, and only make it illegal for children" (qtd. in Nadelmann 1).

Many people believe that marijuana should not be legalized for a single reason, and that is because marijuana is a gateway drug. They believe that if a person tries marijuana, eventually they will move on to more illicit drugs such as cocaine (Nadelmann 2). The truth is that many "Americans who have tried marijuana have never gone on to try other illegal drugs, much less get in trouble with them" (Nadelmann 2). Marijuana is not a gateway or stepping-stone drug, but its use may simply encourage people to experience with other drugs (Nadelmann 2).

Another myth many people get confused with is that people believe that marijuana causes cancer and can result in death. THC is the main ingredient in marijuana that causes the "high" feeling that people experience, and "no one has ever died of THC poisoning, mostly because a 160-lb. person would have to smoke roughly 900 joints in a sitting to reach a lethal dose" (Cloud 2). There are many arguments on whether smoking marijuana causes cancer or not, but "a 1999 study of 173 patients with head and neck cancers found that pot smoking elevated the risk of such cancers" (Cloud 2). It is not clear whether THC is carcinogenic (Cloud 2). The only thing all smokers should worry about is lung cancer because any kind of smoke in the lungs is harmful to the human body.

The reason that marijuana should be legalized is because the government could regulate it, and use it as a source of additional tax revenues. "No one knows how much the war on marijuana has cost, the manpower consumed, the volume of plants seized or the number of dealers put out of business" (Nakaso 1). An enormous amount of money is raised through government taxation of alcohol, tobacco, and other "sins" (Cloud 3). The legalization of marijuana would create another item that could be taxed. I am sure the government would have no problem spending all that money.

The second reason why marijuana should be legalized is because many people believe that the war on drugs is an expensive failure. Add in the cost of police officers, judges, public defenders, prosecutors, juries, court reporters, prison guards, and so on. Legalization of marijuana would free up those people to concentrate on more important things like terrorism, harder drugs, rape, murder, and so on (Messerli 2). By legalizing marijuana legitimate cases will not have to be put on hold for minor cases such as these.

When the founding fathers made the Constitution was being written, was it not all about freedom and free will? Should we be taking away people's free will by restricting their morals? No one has control over another person's morals. All people think differently and no one has the same values. Would anyone take away someone's right to practice their own religion or have a job that they want? No. Even if the drug is wrong or harmful we cannot take away marijuana because we cannot regulate their morality (Messerli 2). So would it go against the constitution to take away that free will?

Marijuana should be legalized in my book. There are many positive reasons why the government should legalize the drug. Some of the reasons include health, taxes, free will, and more time to fight other adverse crimes. In conclusion, marijuana legalized but regulated by the FDA such as other drugs like alcohol and tobacco.

The Legalization of Marijuana for Recreational and Medical Purposes

By: Jonathan Nguyen

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