The decriminalization and/or legalization of marijuana seems to be a very hot topic these days. There is an ongoing debate amongst the public as well as federal and state government on whether decriminalizing and/or legalizing marijuana use is a good idea. Depending on who you ask, one could make a case for both or neither of these.
So what is marijuana exactly? “Marijuana—often called pot, grass, reefer, weed, herb, Mary Jane, or MJ—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis sativa—the hemp plant.” Marijuana contains THC which is the ingredient that gives the user a sense of euphoria or makes them feel “high”. The senses can become heightened, the person may find more pleasure in certain …show more content…
So why should marijuana use be decriminalized, or not? Some believe as long as it is used for medicinal purposes it’s okay but don’t think that recreational use should be allowed. Twenty-three states currently have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Some folks believe that decriminalizing marijuana will lead to increased pot smoking amongst users, however there is no evidence to support this. Some think that the health effects of marijuana use are minimal, but studies show that depending on the level of usage, it can lead to memory loss, lower grades in school, lower IQs, increased high school dropout rates, and social issues. Others believe that by decriminalizing and/or legalizing marijuana use, regulations surrounding the growing, consumption, possession, and sale would help to control it. They believe that “prohibition” is a hazard to public safety, that it promotes more illegal use, makes it more easily obtained by young people, and even creates a “disrespect for the law”. They feel that the resources used to fight the war on drugs, particularly marijuana, could be allocated to other things. There is even some belief that the current laws making marijuana illegal fuels to the “racial divide” contributing to more “racially skewed” arrests. Statistics state that “marijuana arrests account for over half of all drug related arrests in the United States” and a “black person is 3.73 more times likely to be arrested than a white person” for marijuana possession. Finally, many that advocate the decriminalization and/or legalization of marijuana believe that by doing so, it would provide additional tax revenue and boost the
So what is marijuana exactly? “Marijuana—often called pot, grass, reefer, weed, herb, Mary Jane, or MJ—is a greenish-gray mixture of the dried, shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of Cannabis sativa—the hemp plant.” Marijuana contains THC which is the ingredient that gives the user a sense of euphoria or makes them feel “high”. The senses can become heightened, the person may find more pleasure in certain …show more content…
So why should marijuana use be decriminalized, or not? Some believe as long as it is used for medicinal purposes it’s okay but don’t think that recreational use should be allowed. Twenty-three states currently have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes. Some folks believe that decriminalizing marijuana will lead to increased pot smoking amongst users, however there is no evidence to support this. Some think that the health effects of marijuana use are minimal, but studies show that depending on the level of usage, it can lead to memory loss, lower grades in school, lower IQs, increased high school dropout rates, and social issues. Others believe that by decriminalizing and/or legalizing marijuana use, regulations surrounding the growing, consumption, possession, and sale would help to control it. They believe that “prohibition” is a hazard to public safety, that it promotes more illegal use, makes it more easily obtained by young people, and even creates a “disrespect for the law”. They feel that the resources used to fight the war on drugs, particularly marijuana, could be allocated to other things. There is even some belief that the current laws making marijuana illegal fuels to the “racial divide” contributing to more “racially skewed” arrests. Statistics state that “marijuana arrests account for over half of all drug related arrests in the United States” and a “black person is 3.73 more times likely to be arrested than a white person” for marijuana possession. Finally, many that advocate the decriminalization and/or legalization of marijuana believe that by doing so, it would provide additional tax revenue and boost the