legalize marijuan
..., hemp was becoming a potential competitor with the timber industry and posed as a threat with its ability to produce paper. Evidence suggests that the timber industry attributed to the prohibition of marijuana. The government frequently reports that marijuana is terrible for the human body. In 1995, a prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, reported that, "The smoking of cannabis, even long term, is not harmful to health." Cigarettes and alcohol are physically addicting and kill thousands of people each year. So why would the government keep marijuana illegal if it is not addictive and does not kill thousands of people each year? Their claims state that marijuana is the "gateway" drug to harmful drug use such as cocaine and heroin. But 80 million Americans have tried marijuana and only a small percent have used hard drugs. Many countries in Europe are starting to experiment with decriminalizing marijuana. Not all European countries have the same views but they are working to create new drug policies that will satisfy the people. Germany does not view marijuana use as a criminal offense, but the acquisition of it is. In Italy, it is legal to smoke marijuana as long the possession is less then 1.5 grams. Allen St. Pierre, the Foundation Executive Director of NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), says Europe is moving towards a “harm reduction” model and “America is becoming an island unto itself regarding its wasteful and excessive drug war.” Christiana was founded by a group of hippies north of Copenhagen. The gove...