The Legalization of Marijuana
... 2,000 noxious chemicals invade the lungs” (82). With all of the research that has been done on marijuana, these facts are well-justified, and should be taken into consideration when discussing the legalization of marijuana. There are numerous misconceptions about cannabis such as marijuana being more dangerous than cigarettes. In reality cannabis is essentially nontoxic. No one has ever died of THC poisoning. A lethal dose of THC would require a 160 pound person to smoke 900 marijuana cigarettes within a fifteen hour time frame (Earleywine 144). Not even the most dedicated pot-head could achieve such a feat. I’ll pose a question that I still have yet to have answered: How is it fair that alcohol and tobacco, which kill thousands every year, are legal, while marijuana which is much safer than both is illegal? Another misconception people have about marijuana is that it is a “gateway drug”, meaning that it leads to the use of other drugs such as cocaine or acid. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) a recent survey has proved that sixty-one percent of all illicit drug users report that marijuana is the only drug that they have used. They also have found that one-third of the voting adults in the country—acknowledged having smoked marijuana at some point in their lives (Stroup 10). It has been proven that between sixty-five and seventy-one million Americans have smoked marijuana at some time in their lives, and ten million are current smokers (Stroup 10). These percentages raise the question, should responsible marijuana smokers be treated as criminals since they present no threat or danger to America? In America we are so worried about terrorism and it has been published that drug money supports terrorists. If marijuana is legalized, this would take the money out of the terrorists’ hands and be put in the pockets of our government. I believe the smoking of marijuana should be strictly a moral issue for the individual. It should be the user’s choice if he or she wishes to partake in the smoking of marijuana. The most astonishing difference between alcohol and marijuana is that alcohol is America’s most used and abused drug, and yet it is legal while marijuana is still illegal. Drinking alcohol is far more dangerous than smoking marijuana in several aspects. Alcohol can cause dependence and alcoholics are prominent in our society, while marijuana is incapable of causing a person to become addicted. Humans can only with-stand a certain amount of alcohol in their systems. Over-intoxication can lead to death. Alcohol also causes short-term effects such as nausea, vomiting, and headaches. There are other uses for marijuana other than being just a way to “get high”. Marijuana has also been proven to have medical benefits, which results in debates over the controversial “medical marijuana”. In an article written by Lester Grinspoon and James B. Bakalar in Understanding Marijuana, they state: Marijuana can relieve vomiting in cancer chemotherapy, restore appetite in AIDS patients, and help people suffering from glaucoma, epilepsy, Crohn’s disease, mood disorders, and other diseases. Marijuana is less toxic or dangerous than most prescription medicines. Physicians have the obligation to provide informative answers to patients’ questions about marijuana and to challenge government policies preventing its use. (34) The biggest qualm that I found in this statement is that some legal prescription medication has worse health effects than marijuana. If marijuana can help the less fortunate who have been diagnosed with terminal diseases, then why not allow them to have the help while they are still alive? With the benefits that marijuana is capable of, it is ludicrous that this natural herb is illegal even though it can help the victims of these horrible diseases. Since the national debt is as high as it is, should the government be spending more money on the drug war? Instead of spending millions of dollars to try to stop people from using marijuana, the government could legalize it, and make profit from it. The government could have complete control of it, and be able to regulate how much of it is in society. They will never be able to regulate marijuana as long as it is illegal. People can grow it and sell it all they want. Web sites such as www.worldwideseeds.com, which sells marijuana seeds, give advice as to the best way to grow marijuana, and even comment on the strength and taste. Here is an example of one of their reviews about “Original Blueberry”: Blueberry is a mostly Indica (80% Indica, 20% Sativa) strain, that dates to the late 1970s. A large producer under optimum conditions. A dense and stout plant with red, purple and finally blue hues, usually cures to lavender blue. The finished product has a very fruity aroma and taste of blueberry. It produces a notable and pleasantly euphoric high ...