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 has been known for lowering testosterone levels and sperm counts in males and raising testosterone levels in females. It has a damaging effect on the fetus of the pregnant women and consequently results in poor development of the child. Evidence has proved the affects of marijuana on the normal maturation of teenagers. It is also found to affect the short-term memory and intellectual capacity of its users. Intense users of marijuana frequently sustain lung damage and its heavy usage can…...

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References

Cooper, M.H. (1993, March 19). War on Drugs. CQ Researcher, 3, 241-264. Retrieved May 25, 2013, from  http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/ 

Duke, S.B. (2013). The Future of Marijuana in the United States. Oregon Law Review, 91, 1301-1318. Retrieved May 25, 2013, from  http://law.uoregon.edu/org/olr/volumes/91/2/documents/Duke.pdf 

"It Is Time to End the War on Drugs." (2009). Judicature, 93(2), 48+. Retrieved May 25, 2013, from  http://www.questia.com/read/1P3-1898672201/it-is-time-to-end-the-war-on-drugs 

marijuana from The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. (n.d.). Questia. Retrieved May 24, 2013, from  http://www.questia.com/read/1E1-marijuan/marijuana

Marijuana Should Not Be Legalized
Physical Health Concerns

According to a Harvard University Law School document, it would be "…fallacious to conclude that because the chemicals in marijuana have been found to present fewer dangers…" than cocaine, heroin, alcohol and tobacco, that the recreational use of marijuana "is safe" (Harvard). In fact, even though many states authorize the use of cannabis for medical purposes (for AIDS sufferers and for those experiencing harmful side effects from cancer chemotherapy and glaucoma), marijuana has "potentially dangerous side effects" (Harvard).

Those "dangerous [physical] side effects" include: a) damage to cells in the bronchial passages that could cause chronic bronchitis; b) a decrease in the ability of the body's immune cells to "fight off fungi, bacteria, and tumor cells"; c) the possibility of getting "pulmonary infections and respiratory cancer"; and d) since one joint of powerful cannabis has "four times more tar than a cigarette," lungs are exposed…...

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Works Cited

Bernstein, Douglas A. (2007). Psychology. Independence, KY: Cengage Learning.

CNBC. (2010). Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana. Retrieved December 12, 2012, from  http://www.cnbc.com .

Drug Enforcement Agency. (2011). The DEA Position on Marijuana. Retrieved December 12,

2012, from http://www.justice.gov/dea/docs/marijuana_position_2011.pdf.

Marijuana
Medical Marijuana:

The Interplay between State and Federal Law

History of Criminalization

The Current ar on Drugs

Political Issues

The legal status of medical marijuana in the United States is something of a paradox. On one hand, federal government has placed a ban on the drug with no exceptions. On the other hand, over one-third of the states have that legalizes the cultivation, distribution, and consumption of the drug for medical purposes. As such, the usage of medical marijuana is an activity that is at the same time proscribed (by the federal government) and encouraged (by state governments through their systems of regulation and taxation).

This analysis will provide a recent overview on this unprecedented nebulous zone of legality in which an activity is legal and illegal (depending on the authority), an issue that one scholar on the subject has deemed "one of the most important federalism disputes in a generation." The issue has become heightened…...

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Works Cited

AMA. (N.d.). History of the American Medical Association (AMA) and Marijuana. Retrieved from ProCon.org:  http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000088 

Christensen, J., & Wilson, J. (2014, January 22). Is marijuana as safe as -- or safer than -- alcohol? Retrieved from CNN:  http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/20/health/marijuana-versus-alcohol/ 

Drug Policy Alliance. (N.d.). A Brief History of the Drug War. Retrieved November 30, 2013, from Drug Policy Alliance:  http://www.drugpolicy.org/new-solutions-drug-policy/brief-history-drug-war 

Garvey, T. (2012, March 6). Medical Marijuana: The Supremacy Clause, Federalism, and the Interplay BetweenState and Federal Laws . Retrieved from Congressional Research Service: http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/R42398_20120306.pdf

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; even if marijuana is a 'guilty pleasure' people should be given the opportunity to enjoy the drug. Furthermore, marijuana has value in enhancing visual and musical experiences, and is tied closely to some musical genres such as reggae music. Marijuana is even of value in certain, albeit rare religions. According to the doctrine of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church, a Christian religion, "Herb (marijuana) is a Godly creation from the beginning of the world" (the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church). From…...

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Works Cited

Gettman, John. "Industrial Uses of Marijuana." Lycaeum. Fall 2006. 10 Apr. 2007 http://leda.lycaeum.org/?ID=12426.

Hedman, Leighann. "Legalization of Marijuana." 8 Apr. 2007  http://www.usask.ca/education/ideas/tplan/sslp/values/legmarij.htm .

Helpful or Harmful?" American Academy of Neurology. 7 June 2004. Dalhouse University. 9 Apr. 2007  http://communications.medicine.dal.ca/newsroom/release83.htm .

Industrial Marijuana." The Hemp Historian. 2001. 9 Apr. 2007  http://www.glenwoodsmith.com/hemphistorian/industrial.html .

Since 1998, medical authorities including the editor of the New England Journal of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences have documented marijuana's unique ability to relieve both intractable pain and nausea."
e're in the Money

The prohibition of marijuana costs American taxpayers a fortune, in the tens of billions per year, much of which is channeled toward the cost of law enforcement and incarceration (Beatty, Holman & Schiraldi). Prominent economists including Milton Friedman point out that "Replacing marijuana prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation similar to that used for alcoholic beverages would produce combined savings and tax revenues of between $10 billion and $14 billion per year," ("Costs of Marijuana Prohibition"). In addition to the accruement of costs associated with law enforcement, prohibition of marijuana, like the prohibition of alcohol, gives credence to a vast underground economy. The black market trade in marijuana takes away potential tax revenues…...

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Works Cited

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Marijuana Use." Schaeffer Library of Drug Policy. Retrieved Aug 11, 2006 at  http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/library/mjfaq1.htm 

Beatty, Phillip, Holman, Barry and Schiraldi, Vincent. "Poor Prescription: The Costs of Imprisoning Drug Offenders in the United States." Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. 2002. Retrieved Aug 11, 2006 at  http://www.cjcj.org/pubs/poor/pp.html 

Bonnie, Richard & Whitebread, Charles H. "The Forbidden Fruit and the Tree of Knowledge: An Inquiry into the Legal History of American Marijuana Prohibition." Virginia Law Review. Vol. 56(70). Oct. 1970. Schaeffer Library of Drug Policy. Retrieved Aug 11, 2006 at  http://www.druglibrary.org/Schaffer/LIBRARY/studies/vlr/vlrtoc.htm 

Costs of Marijuana Prohibition: Economic Analysis." Marijuana Policy Project. Retrieved Aug 11, 2006 at http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/

Another study showed that "marijuana use is associated with substantial clinical problems including cognitive impairments, poor school performance, and a risk for developing abuse or dependence" (Hopfer, Stallings, Hewitt, Crowley, 2003, p. 834).
Society would be much better served by teaching these individuals the pitfalls of smoking marijuana from both a short- and long-term perspective. The effects that the drug has on individual thinking, memory and attention are not benign in nature. One place to begin this education would be with the parents and families of at risk individuals. Since "adolescents rarely seek treatment on their own but instead are brought to treatment by their parents" perhaps earlier education focused on young couples will give them the information they need as their children mature to recognize the signs of marijuana use.

Since young people seem to be the most vulnerable to the long-term effects of marijuana it may also be a…...

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References

Budney, a.; Kamon, J.; Stanger, C.; (2005) a contingency management intervention for adolescent marijuana abuse and conduct problems, Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp. 513-521

DeLuca, a.; (2004) Addiction, pain and public health website,   Accessed September 1, 2008http://www.doctordeluca.com/Library/WOD/BrainsOwnMJ-SA04.htm ,

Dennis ML, Godley SH, Titus JC (1999), Co-occurring psychiatric problems among adolescents: variations by treatment, level of care, and gender. TIE Communique 5-8;

September 1, 2008http://www.treatment.org/communique/CHIPtreatment.pdf,

1).
Secondly, because the law does not differentiate between hemp and marijuana, I believe that the legalization of marijuana would provide a major industrial and agricultural opportunity for hemp farmers and manufacturers. Hemp can be used in a variety of applications from specialty pulp, composites for autos, construction and thermal insulation, and geotextiles (Small & Marcus, 2002). If marijuana is legalized, money can be saved as the product no longer needs to be imported from foreign countries, hemp would become a viable cash crop, and it could be used in more industrial settings as listed above.

I believe that the billions of dollars that could potentially be saved by legalizing marijuana should be used to regulate marijuana and hemp production and distribution to generate more revenue and ensure that the public, which continues to use marijuana at an increasing rate despite its present illegality, is protected and made aware of the risks…...

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References

Bates, S. (2004). The economic implications of marijuana legalization in Alaska. Alaskans for Rights & Revenues. Accessed 22 May 2013, from  http://www.cannabis-commerce.com/library/Bates_Alaska.pdf 

Miron, J.A. (2003, August). The budgetary implications of marijuana legalization in Massachusetts. Accessed 22 May 2013, from  http://ukcia.org/research/MassachusettsBudgetaryImplications.pdf 

Miron, J.A. & Waldock, K. (2010). The Budgetary Impact of Ending Drug Prohibition. Cato Institute. Accessed 22 May 2013, from  http://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/DrugProhibitionWP.pdf 

Office of National Drug Policy. (2011, October). Marijuana legalization fact sheet. Accessed 22 May 2013, from  http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/ncnu02/v5-284.html

Mice were exposed to a small amount of THC, and their blood vessel blockages were reduced by as much as 30% (Khamsi). The research is preliminary and involved pure THC as opposed to marijuana but nevertheless shows some areas for future research into the biological benefits of the drug's main psychoactive chemical.
Several similar studies show that marijuana and THC may benefit the heart and circulatory system. Marijuana may eventually be recommended o treat heart disease and ancillary problems (Roth, cited in Scienceeek). Moreover, marijuana may benefit the immune system. Some studies show an immune system regulatory function, but THC might also cause immunosuppression because of its effect on the synthesis of cytokines (Roth, cited in Scienceeek).

Long-term marijuana use may or may not be dangerous. Some research reveals possible cognitive dysfnctions associated with heavy, long-term use. For example, "brain imaging studies of cannabis users have demonstrated altered function, blood flow,…...

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Works Cited

American Council for Drug Education. "Basic Facts About Drugs: Marijuana." 1999. Retrieved Nov 4, 2007 at http://www.acde.org/common/Marijana.htm

Brumfiel, Geoff. "Marijuana may make your brain grow." Nature News. Published on BioEd Online. Oct 13, 2005. Retrieved Nov 4, 2007 at  http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm?art=2083 

Khamsi, Roxanne. "Cannabis compound benefits blood vessels." Apil 6, 2005. Retrieved Nov. 4, 2007 at  http://www.bioedonline.org/news/news.cfm?art=1705 

Science Week. "Medial Biology: Marijuana and the Heart." Retrieved Nov 4, 2007 at  http://scienceweek.com/2005/sw050617-5.htm

Marijuana should be legalized. There is no sensible argument for the ongoing prohibition of marijuana. The prohibition of this plant robs governments of potential tax revenues, diverts spending to the prison industrial complex, leads to racially-biased incarceration rates, and violates America's principle of personal freedom. The counterarguments are rooted in fear, ignore evidence and impose the morality of one group of people on all. It is time to leave the past in the past, with the senseless, fear-based marijuana policy, and start using our brains a little.
Credibility

There is a tremendous credibility gap between those in favor of ending prohibition and those in favor of sustaining it. Those in favor of ending prohibition frequently have little economic stake, and they consist of experts from a wide range of disciplines. A group of law enforcement officers -- LEAP -- has recognized that enforcing this prohibition is a poor use of limited police…...

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References

Chaloupka, F. & Laixuthai, A. (1997). Do youths substitute alcohol and marijuana: Some econometric evidence. Eastern Economic Journal. Vol. 23 (3) 253-275.

Dingfelder, S. (2011). Teen marijuana use is on the rise. American Psychological Association. Retrieved February 18, 2014 from https://www.apa.org/monitor/2011/02/marijuana.aspx

Hartnett, E. (2005). Drug legalization: Why it wouldn't work in the United States. The Police Chief. Retrieved February 18, 2014 from  http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_arch&article_id=533&issue_id=32005 

Hawken, A., Caulkins, J., Kilmer, B., Kleiman, M. (2013). Quasi-legal cannabis in Colorado and Washington: Local and national implications. Addiction. Vol. 108 (5) 837-838.

Marijuana is a substance nearly everyone from adolescence on has heard about, and nearly everyone has an opinion about it. Not everyone has accurate information about it, however. Some people believe that people who smoke marijuana will become addicted to it and feel desperate to have it when they do not. Others believe that it is not addicting, and not terribly dangerous, but creates a feeling of euphoria. Others note that smoking marijuana can make someone feel detached from people and things around them. ut none of this tells what the drug is really like and whether it is safe or not.
I heard about marijuana before high school. My parents talked to me about drugs, especially alcohol and marijuana. They warned me that both drugs could be dangerous but that friends might try to tempt me into trying them. They were so right. Only one person offered me marijuana, but…...

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Author not available. 2005. "Blunt facts on marijuana use." Philadelphia Tribune, January 25.

Columbia. "Marijuana." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2005. 2/24/2005

Sundeep. 2005. "Study: Treatment for marijuana abuse rose 162% from 1992-2002." University Wire, March 15.

Rabren, Karen. 2004. "Variables affecting students' decisions to drop out of school." Remedial and Special Education, September.

In addition to its effects on the body, marijuana also has distinct neurological actions. The primary psychoactive chemical in marijuana is delta-9 tetrahydrocannibinol, or THC. THC content in marijuana varies greatly, which is one of the reasons why it is difficult to generalize about marijuana effects. However, THC does have certain specific actions on brain chemicals and structures. According to Alexander, "THC has been proven to affect the transferring of pain in the brain and that it "interacts with the brain's endogenous opioid system, an important system for the medical treatment of pain." For this reason, marijuana is frequently recommended as a pain relief medication ("Medical Marijuana").

Marijuana affects neurons as well as neurological receptors. The specific brain receptors sensitive to THC include CB1, CB2 and anandamide. Anandamide is "a substance naturally produced by the body that acts at the cannabinoid receptor and has effects similar to those of THC," (Alexander).…...

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Works Cited

Alexander, Alissa. "Neurobiological Effects of Medicinal Marijuana." Retrieved Dec 9, 2009 from  http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro02/web3/aalexander.html 

Hall, Wayne. "The Health and Psychological Effects of Cannabis Use." Current Issues in Criminal Justice 6(208). 1994-1995.

Hanson, Glen R., Venturelli, Peter J., and Fleckenstein, Annette E. Drugs and Society. New York: Jones and Bartlett, 2006.

"Marijuana Use and Its Effects." WebMD. 2008. Retrieved Dec 9, 2009 from  http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/marijuana-use-and-its-effects

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., suggesting that the economic properties discussed here throughout make marijuana an appealing cash crop regardless of cultural and political orientation. Additionally, many physicians agree that for conditions such as the nausea produced by chemotherapy for cancer patients, the intraocular pressure caused by glaucoma, for anxiety, bulimia, migraines and other types of chronic pain, the availability of medicinal marijuana can be extremely beneficial. Essentially, the interceding economic, practical and medical imperatives discussed here suggest that the current legal status of marijuana…...

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Works Cited:

Cohen, A. (2009). Time for Marijuana Legalization? CBS News. Online at  http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/02/25/opinion/courtwatch/main4828659.shtml 

Crary, D. (2009). Momentum Builds for Broad Debate on Legalizing Pot. Associated Press. Online at http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i_7aIzdypWz2A-dtVHeJ8VZ7vLFAD98R92S80

Drug War Chronicle (DWC). (2009). Marijuana Legalization Legislation in the Works in Portugal. Stop the Drug War.org.

McKeehan, S. (2009). Marijuana Legalization. The Seattle Times. Online at  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/northwestvoices/2009346413_marijuana_legalization.html

Marijuana became accused of being a "gateway" drug that led to the use of harder and more dangerous substances. The astafarian movement in Jamaica also re-introduced the role of marijuana as an aid to spiritual growth. Marijuana has been and still is considered to be a spiritual drug in India, which also fueled hippie interest in the drug. The Beatles and other famous rock bands championed its use, and marijuana became mainstream even if still illegal.
The war on drugs that began in the early 20th century escalated. Presidents Nixon and especially eagan demonized marijuana and during the 1980s penalties for pot possession, cultivation, and distribution became severe. American prisons have been long filled with non-violent drug offenders, and marijuana is the most widely used illict substance in the United States.

Actors and other celebrities ranging from Willy Nelson to Woody Harrelson to Bill Maher have spoken out against marijuana prohibition…...

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References

Abel, E.L. (1980). "Marijuana - the First Twelve Thousand Years." Schaeffer Library of Drug Policy. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at  http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/hemp/history/first12000/abel.htm 

Armentano, Pl. (2008). "President-Elect Obama, the People Have Spoken; Will You "Answer" Their Question?" NORML. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at  http://norml.org/ 

Marijuana is America's Number One Cash Crop, Study Finds." (2006). Drug War Chronicle. Dec 22, 2006. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at  http://stopthedrugwar.org/chronicle/466/marijuana_is_americas_number_one_cash_crop_study_says 

Stack, P. (2002). "Medical Marijuana: A History." Time. Oct 27, 2002. Retrieved Dec 15, 2008 at  http://www.time.com/time/covers/1101021104/history.html

The state currently spends a great deal of money on detaining people on marijuana related offenses. Legalization could help to free up some of these resources which could then be used on more important programs throughout the state.
When examining the economic benefits of marijuana legalization it is important to weigh the social costs related to outlawing access to goods, because such restrictions create black markets. lack markets are associated with social costs because they assists in the perpetuation of that affects innocent citizens and communities. This violence takes place because gangs start to compete form markets and a natural outcome of black markets is a decrease in respect for established laws (oyd). Additionally one aspect of the impact of the black market that is usually overlooked is the cost of production that dealers are able to lower (oyd). Dealers on the black market do not have to adhere to…...

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Bibliography

Boyd L.W. nd the Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Decriminalization and Legalization for Hawai'i. Web. 14 May 2010.   Implications_ Marijuana_Decrim.pdfhttp://www.dpfhi.org/A_PDF/Budgetary_ 

Eastori, S. Legalize Marijuana for Tax Revenue. 26 March 2009. Web. 14 May 2010.

Galbiati, R. And P. Vertova 2008. 'How laws affect behaviour', mimeo, available at: http://

ssrn.com/abstract=1295948.

Marijuana Studies
According to a 2001 survey published in the Economist, America's Illegal-Drugs policy is a dismal re-run of it's attempt to prohibit the sale of alcohol. One of the government's most controversial targets is marijuana. Although marijuana is generally disapproved of for causing lethargy and memory loss and shares tobacco's propensity for causing lung cancer, it is widely and safely used by a significant percentage of America's population. In several recent state initiatives, Marijuana decriminalization efforts were voted down. However, in some states such as Ohio, possession of small amounts of marijuana results in little more than a 100 dollar fine, while in California, marijuana cigarettes may be prescribed by doctors.

Attempts to stop marijuana use in the United States were initiated in the 1930's - the same decade that the federal government guaranteed a state's right to sterilize negros for being unfit to breed. The first "drug czar" in the…...

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Bibliography

2001, June 28). Survey: Illegal Drugs; Stumbling in the Dark. Economist, 1-3

2001, June 28). Survey: Illegal Drugs; The Harm Done. Economist, 6-9

Robert J. Blendon, ScD; John T. Young, MA. (1998, March 18). The Public and the War on Illicit Drugs. Journal of the American Medical Association, 279:827-832.

1995, November 11). Deglamorizing Cannabis. The Lancet, Vol. 346, #8985.

Choosing how to start your essay on deviance depends on the type of essay you are writing and the type of coursework you are trying to complete.  Deviance is a broad topic that is covered in many of the soft sciences, including (but not limited to) sociology, psychology, and criminology.  It is also discussed in the humanities, particularly philosophy and history.  Therefore, we would probably begin the essay with two things: a definition of deviance and an explanation of how that definition fits into the context of the essay we are writing. 

Generally, deviance is a sociological concept....

Writing an essay about drug abuse, it is important to start by distinguishing it from drug usage. Most people use some type of drugs casually or recreationally.  Whether it is a morning caffeine fix, a glass of wine with dinner, over-the-counter painkillers when a headache strikes, or some recreational marijuana, substances are a part of everyday life.  While using drugs may be an acceptable way to relax, to ease pain, or to handle other issues, drug abuse can have profoundly negative effects on a person’s life.

Unfortunately, there is not a bright-line between drug use and drug abuse. ....

With so many states legalizing marijuana, whether recreational marijuana, medical marijuana, or both, the idea that medical marijuana is still being withheld from many patients, including nursing home residents, who are experiencing pain and could get relief from the treatment is ridiculous.  Marijuana remains illegal on a federal level, however, and this complicates it usage for pain in nursing homes. That is because many people in nursing homes are dependent upon both state and federal aid for their medical care and there could be issues with funding if they were treated with....

Writing a persuasive essay is different from other types of academic writing.  Rather than simply presenting facts, you are trying to convince the reader to agree with your opinion or position on a topic.  The topic of psychology is extremely broad.  There are several different types of psychological theories, and each of these theories have several subtypes.  They also have different degrees of support among psychologists, so you could pick one of those theories or sub-theories and use it as the basis for a persuasive essay. 

To help you with writing your persuasive....