Reefer Madness

Throughout the history of policing the duty of the police has varied greatly. From the early 1600 to the modern era, police agencies have shifted responsibilities from volunteering on the night watch and collecting taxes to maintaining order and enforcing the law as prescribed by the constitution. While social reform and societal needs continue to mold the future of policing, certain aspects, no matter how controversial, will continue to dominate the policing landscape. Officer discretion has…

Under the controlled substance act (CSA), drugs are listed under schedules that are based off how likely a person is the abuse the drug and if a person will become physically or psychologically dependent on this drug. As the schedule number increases the abuse rate and dependency on this drug decreases. Some examples of schedule 1 drugs are heroin, LSD, ecstasy, methaqualone which are known as Quaaludes, peyote which is a cactus that is a hallucinogen, and marijuana. Yes, you read that correctly…

Working with Adolescents As a former high school English teacher, I have a strong affinity for working with adolescents. I made a personal decision to teach at an alternative school, as opposed to a public high school, for various reasons. Primary to this decision, however, was the ability to interact and impact disenfranchised youth, who experienced a wide range of life experiences, from mental health diagnoses, substance abuse, or violence, i.e. gang violence. Corey, Corey, and Corey (2010)…

The Legalization of Cannabis Paradox For four and a half decades, the United States has fought and spent billions on the “War on Drugs.” Most recently, cannabis (marijuana, weed, THC) has been the focal point of this costly war. Since 1990s, twenty-three states, with California being the first, have legalized cannabis for personal, medicinal, and recreational usage. However, controversy over this not-so-new public enemy remains because it is still illegal under federal law. The War on Drugs is…

graduate degree from Oxford. Scholasser is an American journalist and author who have won the National Magazine Award and the Sidney Hillman Foundation Award. Scholasser is also known for his investigative journalism in his books Fast Food Nation, Reefer Madness, and Command and Control: Nuclear Weapons along with many other books he has written. Scholasser’s rhetorical purpose was to get people to see how fast food has shaped the society around them and also that people need to know all that…

Hemp has a long history in the United States as a viable cash crop. Deeming hemp as illegal to grow is relatively recent event resulting from the passing of the Marihuana Tax Act in 1973. The earliest known cultivation was 12,000 year ago and is well documented as being used for textiles such as rope, boat sails, and fibrous paste used to caulk the hull of boats. During WWII, in response to the Pearl Harbor bombing, the United States promoted the cultivation of hemp to decrease the reliance…

While according to Robert McCoppin people who use medical Marijuana could gain an addiction to the drug.“Some pot users dismiss such stories as "Reefer Madness"-style scare tactics. Research suggests the vast majority of users don't get addicted, and many quit as they get older. But the National Institute on Drug Abuse, based on a 1994 study, estimated that 9 percent of users will become dependent--a…

Whether or not marijuana should be legal has caused controversy in the United States. In her article “The Truth About Marijuana: Health Risks Trivialized” Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum focuses on the negative effects of this narcotic. On the opposite side of the argument is the Editorial Board of The New York Times. In their article, “Repeal Prohibition, Again” they give the economic reasons for legalizing marijuana. Although both The Editorial Board of The New York Times and Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum…

Chinese writings and was a staple in American Independence because 90 percent of all American’s clothing and rope were made of hemp (Zilney 123). Cannabis became popular in the United States in 1920 but then was quickly demonized when the movie Reefer Madness was released adding to the fire of its illegalization (Zilney 123). Since the 1930’s, marijuana has been thought of as a gateway drug that leads into other harder substances. The Drug Policy Alliance Network (DPAN) states that marijuana…

Refuting “Six powerful reasons to legalize marijuana” by Owen Poindexter from NY Times The use, sale and possession of cannabis (marijuana) in the United States are considered as a schedule I control substances and illegal under federal law. However, five states have legalized marijuana for recreational use and thirty one states for medical use only. While proponents say there are legitimate reasons for cannabis legalization, concerns remain about the marijuana’s effect on users and their…