Legalization of Marijuana: History And Opinion
Only recently has marijuana become illegal in the United States. In fact, in the 1600s, a law in Jamestown Colony, Virginia actually required farmers to grow the plant because it was so useful! It had been grown for centuries and used in a variety of methods -- from medicine to making rope. In 1937, marijuana was made illegal in the United States through the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act, a policy that was enacted largely because of racism and financial incentives, according to Guither (2009). Today, Marijuana is effectively illegal in every state, despite the fact that some states, like California, Colorado, and Alaska, have legalized it with provisions for medical or personal use. Because federal law makes it illegal, those who use it can be prosecuted, even if marijuana is legal in their states. Today, many scientists have come out in favor of marijuana for medical use. In fact, some believe that marijuana is the safest and most effective drug that can be used to relieve the symptoms of painful diseases and their treatments. Others believe that it is no better than other drugs and can even be more dangerous when used for long periods of time ("Medical Marijuana," 2008).
After centuries of use, it seems ridiculous that the government would get up in arms about marijuana proliferation for personal or medical use in the United States. If marijuana can relieve the symptoms of deadly diseases, allowing those suffering from them to be more comfortable, it should be used. In addition, Guither (2009) makes it clear that the reason marijuana was made illegal was not a result of scientific evidence or the opinions of experts. Instead, the illegalization of marijuana was fueled by political, economic, and social incentives. By legalizing marijuana, the United States would free law enforcement from focusing on this problem to train their focus on real crime.
References
Guither, P. (2009). Why Is Marijuana Illegal? Retrieved June 18, 2009, from Salon.com.
Web Site:
http://blogs.salon.com/0002762/stories/2003/12/22/whyIsMarijuanaIllegal.html
"Medical Marijuana." (2008). Retrieved June 18, 2009, from Pro-Con.org. Web Site:
http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/viewanswers.asp?questionID=000083
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