¶ … Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii have already moved to decriminalize marijuana and several are set to do so within the next several years. The legalization movement began with awareness about the health benefits of medical cannabis, which can be used to alleviate the symptoms of a number of medical conditions. Since then, a movement to legalize cannabis has been built on the grounds of human rights, civil liberties, and public health and safety. The "war on drugs" mentality has been fading into the unfortunate background of American history, leading to more intelligent and enlightened discourse on the matter. What is clear is that criminalization has not worked to reduce drug-related problems, and in fact, criminalization has actually caused more problems than it is purported to solve. Criminalization proliferates organized crime, makes drugs less safe, and creates human rights abuses and gross injustices ranging from mass incarceration to the disenfranchisement of whole communities. Decriminalizing cannabis is the only means by which to create a safer, more intelligent, and more just society committed to public health and human rights. Legalization of cannabis creates a safer society in which access to legal drugs precludes the use of black market and illegal sources with potential connections to violent organized crime rings. Not only is legalized pot apt to be regulated and ensured for its quality, but it also does not need to be purchased from black market sources that support a host of other criminal activities less benevolent than cannabis marketing. Legalization also creates a more intelligent society that bases its policies and laws on evidence-based practice rather than...
Poindexter notes that criminalization under the "war on drugs" rubric does not work and has become a scourge on the American social fabric. Cannabis is also safer than its legal counterparts like alcohol and tobacco (Poindexter). Federal legalization would also create a more intelligent and consistent application of the law. Currently, states can opt to legalize cannabis but the drug remains scheduled as a controlled substance illegal to transport across state borders. The result is inconsistency in the law and an unintelligent federal policy. Public health and safety would also improve with legalization because users would have legal access to drug rehabilitation services should they need them.
Cannabis in the UK: De-Penalisation, Decriminalisation, or Legalisation? In October of 2015, the Parliament of the United Kingdom was forced to debate whether the current prohibition on cannabis should end in some way. "Forced" is the correct word here, because Parliament seems otherwise unwilling to address the issue, but in this case it was obliged by its own policy, whereby any petition signed by at least one hundred thousand people must
Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana is one of the most popular recreational drugs in the United States, exceeded in popularity by only alcohol and tobacco. Recent research reveals that "more than 70 million Americans have smoked marijuana at some point in their lives, and that 18-20 million have smoked during the last year (NORML, 1999)." According to R. Keith Stroup, Esq., the executive director of National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws
Despite the fact that certain parties (as in Chicago) may be arguing that the war on drugs cost billions a year, it must not be forgotten that the war on drugs also yields revenue for the government, and that legalizing drugs would cost more than it saved. "Marijuana... harms society by causing lost productivity in business...and by contributing to illnesses and injuries that put further strain on the health
Marijuana Legalization Marijuana, also known as marihuana, is a drug that is taken from Cannabis sativa, a hemp plant. It is one of the most frequently used and popular drugs in the world along with caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol. The United States of America is one of the world's leading producers of marijuana where it is generally smoked and is also referred to as weed or reefer by the citizens ("marijuana"). Marijuana
However, someone sitting inside their own home smoking marijuana for pleasure is an important use in itself and one which should not be ignored. "Like sex, alcohol, or cigarettes, marijuana is one of life's little pleasures for some people," and although it can be a vice, the recreational uses are a definite reason for legalization (Messerli 2006). People should not be told what they should and should not enjoy;
Marijuana Legalization: Pro or Con? Support for marijuana legalization has increased in recent years, particularly since a number of states have legalized the drug, even though the substance is officially prohibited on the national level. The War on Drugs has had a disproportionate effect upon many communities, and there is strong support for decriminalization at minimum, given the argument that enforcement has disproportionately impacted historically discriminated-against communities in a negative fashion.
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