Persuasive Essay

Livin’ by the W’s

Marijuana is a drug that is always being talked about all over the media. There is constant debate on whether it should be legalized or not. Also, debate on if it were to be legalized, how would they make it work. All these questions are things the government takes into account every day. There is a big divide between people’s beliefs on this matter. Some people think it should be, others think it shouldn’t, and some think it should be with some modifications on the usage. When you look at the benefits, there is no question that marijuana should be legal throughout the entire country. There are way more positive things that could come out of it being legal.

The first reason weed should be legalized is because how many other drugs are legal. Weed is one of a few not too harmful drugs that are illegal. Many hard drugs such as painkillers, heroine, and cocaine are drugs that are very destructive to your health and possibly even your life. Marijuana should not be put under the same category as these drugs. It should be under the category that includes alcohol, tobacco, and even sugar. These drugs are more commonly related to marijuana than hard drugs (Nathan). Also, it is clear that alcohol and tobacco are more harmful to a person that marijuana. That’s why I don’t understand how the policy on marijuana isn’t equal if not more in favored than the policies on alcohol and tobacco. Even sugar in many health aspects can be considered more harmful than marijuana. Marijuana is a drug that is a lot safer and harder to over dose than alcohol (Nathan). That’s why many cannot understand why marijuana isn’t legal and alcohol is. Marijuana should have fair legal policies just like all the other “drugs” that are considered to be in the same category as it. The policy must be changed.

The next reason marijuana should be legalized is because it would keep kids off the streets and away from drugs that are more harmful. Marijuana in many cases could be sold from dealers who also sell hard drugs. Therefore, if marijuana was legal and sold in a store in the correct way, it would help kids stay away from other drugs that dealers have to offer (Nathan). Also, it would stop kids from getting into the drug dealing business. They would have fewer motives to sell to their friends and other people. If the policy was changed and it could be sold in stores it would stop kids from selling all together. Being a dealer would be way less effective and it could stop many drug dealers and clean up the streets (Alternet). Marijuana is going to be sold either way, so it might as well be sold legally. If the policy was changed and it was sold legally it would keep kids out of danger and make it harder to be a drug dealer.

Another very good reason to legalize marijuana is how much it could save our government money, and maybe even make money out of it. Marijuana is very hard on our justice system financially. If the policy was changed and it was legalized it could be taxed and used for government funding (Alternet). It has been studied and many studies show that weed could create very good revenue (Head). Not only can legal marijuana help make money but it can also help out the justice system a lot. Over 750,000 people are arrested for marijuana a year. This number is crazy if you think about the danger level of marijuana. 750,000 people are arrested for something that doesn’t directly cause harm to anyone else. Also, not only does enforcement have to arrest these people but also they have to pay for each individual case. Another way it could help out the justice system is by opening up jail spots. Marijuana users take up far to much jail space which could be used for much more serious offenders (Alternet). All in all, legalizing marijuana could help out the justice system immensely and the policy should be changed immediately.

The health and comfort of the people should be the major concern of the government. Marijuana has many positive attributes that could help people in every day life. Many Americans that are suffering from ailing symptoms could use this drug. Marijuana could be used to help with pain, nausea, spasticity, and other symptoms that normal drugs just simply aren’t curing. Also, it could be a great way to allow people to relax themselves on a normal basis. For the most parts the symptoms of marijuana are very mild and are easy to deal with. Not very often are people uncontrollable or in a state of danger when using this drug. Marijuana is a drug that easily builds tolerance and allows people to handle the symptoms better. If people can handle the symptoms and use the drug properly I don’t understand why it shouldn’t be legalized. Many Americans will tell you that the symptoms are much more positive than negative (Alternet).

Last, does the government ever ask themselves the question “has anyone ever died from marijuana usage?” They must not ask themselves that question because the answer would be no. There isn’t even a section for marijuana in the disease control and protection section. That is because marijuana is not linked to death in any way. Also, it is shown to have no link to cancer or any other harmful diseases there are out there. Marijuana isn’t even linked to lung cancer. Many people would think it would be linked to cancer especially of the throat but that is not the case (huffing). The fact that marijuana doesn’t directly cause death and also doesn’t lead to other harmful diseases just proves why it should be legal. The policy clearly should be changed if the government doesn’t even consider the drug a danger to disease. However, the government has such a big concern on alcohol use and spends most its time worrying about that. If marijuana isn’t a major concern for the government then why not just make it legal. If it isn’t dangerous enough to even have a category then why wouldn’t it be legal. The policy is clearly not right and much be changed.

The use of marijuana has always been questioned but now is the time our country is at a time where the usage of the drug is at a peak and the issue needs to be addressed.  It is no longer acceptable to not consider legalization because states within the country have already taken matters into their own hands by making it legal, Colorado and Washington were the first to do so this past election season.  The counter argument to legalization of marijuana would be studies that show smoking “weed” would change emphazama and lower IQ’s but smoking cigarettes or any tobacco product also cause emphazema and drinking alcohol is proven to harm your IQ and kill your brain cells.

All in all, marijuana should be legalized and the policy should be changed immediately. There is too much good to come from this policy changed not to do it. There are many people that agree with a policy change and the government needs to do the same. Marijuana can clearly help make this country better for the people in many ways. Health is obviously a major concern for the government and that is why they might hesitate to legalize it. But, as studies show there are few health risks and even some positive health factors that weed could contribute. Also, how much legal marijuana can help our government funding and justice system is another reason the policy needs to be changed now. Keeping kids off the streets and drug dealers from selling to kids is also more proof of how poorly the current policy is running. Legal marijuana could help hard drugs from spreading to the wrong people. Also, it will keep the amount of drug dealers down and the amount of legal shops up. All in all marijuana would do much more positive than it would negative if it were to be legalized. The policy that is preventing the legalization of marijuana must be changed at once. Legal marijuana can help. The government needs to see these facts and change the marijuana policy as soon as possible.

Works Cited 

Head, Tom. “8 Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal.” About. N.p.. Web. 16 Apr 2013.

Nathan , David. “Why Should Marijuana Be Legal.” CNN. N.p.. Web. 16 Apr 2013.

“Ten Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal.” Alternet. N.p.. Web. 16 Apr 2013.

“Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized.” Huffing. N.p.. Web. 16 Apr 2013.

 

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