The exact amount lost under prohibition is difficult to estimate, but probably approaches several billion dollars.
Secondly, the projected problems for youth and workers and the state of the nation as a whole are far grimmer than the reality, which has been shown in other countries to actually decrease abuse of the substance. Dr. Lester Grinspoon assures that, "Marijuana itself is not criminogenic; it does not lead to sexual debauchery; it is not addicting; there is no evidence that it leads to the use of narcotics." (4).
Finally, the facts show that the war on drugs has undeniably failed. Illegal street drugs continue to frustrate law enforcement officials who have yet to make a noticeable dent in the status quo. Ed Rosenthal and Steve Kubby quote U.S. District Judge Thomas Weisman as saying, "We've just about lost a generation of young people. We're building new prison beds at the rate of about 1,000 a week and we're still overcrowded. & #8230; We've spent $100 Billion on the war on drugs and we're losing it," (56). Legalizing marijuana would greatly contribute to reducing the overcrowding of prisons, both because of the legalization of the drug itself and the consequential reduction in crimes such as theft that are a direct result of the illegal status of the substance.
Legalization does not, of course, have to be an all or nothing proposition -- there are shades of gray and alternative proposals to be considered as well. According to Rosenthal and Kubby, several states in America keep production and distribution of marijuana...
Already, "lawmakers in at least three states are considering joining the 13 states that have legalized pot for medical purposes. Massachusetts voters last fall decided to decriminalize possession of an ounce or less of pot; there are now a dozen states that have taken such steps." (Crary, 1) And as demonstrated by the Appendix B contained below, there is a clear penetration of legalization in every region of the U.S.,
Criminalisation, legalization and the mixed blessing of medicalisation in the U.S.A." Reinarman discusses the issues related to the use of Marihuana. Marijuana or Marihuana has long been used to in America for recreational and medicinal purposes. As Manderson stated, "Debates on the reasons and rationalizations behind drug laws, their cost-effectiveness and their possible moral justification, have for a long time and will continue to rage" (Manderson, 1995, p. 800).
Legalizing Marijuana in Florida The dividing lines have been drawn once again in the state of Florida with a controversial issue being put forth in the limelight. There is an initiative in the State Legislature to introduce a bill that will decriminalized and legalized the prescription and use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Led by Florida Rep. Jeff Clemens, D-Lake Worth, who "is introducing a bill that would put legalizing marijuana
This act enlarged the labels on the cigarettes, and required that the labels on cigarettes and cigarette ads say things like,."..Cause lung cancer...may complicate pregnancy...quitting smoking now greatly reduces hazards to your health... may result in low birth weight and fetal injury." Yet despite all these attempts to educate, all the package warnings and all the public service ads, we still see that despite the millions of dollars spent
Cannabis in ancient history: From no courage necessary to the courage to explore the mind. Cannabis cultivated in ancient China as hemp for fiber and cannabis for medicine. Cannabis spread to India, where it is used as a religious sacrament as well as a medicinal herb. Cannabis spread to Europe with the Scythians, who used it also as a mind-altering substance. By the end of the Hellenistic and Roman eras, cannabis use becomes widespread,
Black Markets and Their Results Introduction to black markets, and why they exist Drug trafficking Its related problems Nuclear weapons The trafficking of nuclear weapons Affect on society and safety Human trafficking Organ trafficking and its morality Baby trafficking for profit Slave trade today Results of human trafficking BLACK MARKETS The purpose of this paper is to introduce and discuss the recurring problem of black markets, including drug trafficking, nuclear weapons, and human black markets (consisting of organs, babies, and slaves). It will
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