Support Marijuana Legalization Now! Essay - 1676 Words

Alex, who lives in Oregon, is an 11-year-old boy with severe autism. Jeremy Echols, his father, said that his son Alex was diagnosed when he was 5 years old. When seizures are coming, he becomes a self-destructive boy by banging his head and body against the wall causing bruising. However, since after treatment with marijuana (also called cannabis), Alexs illness was significantly improved. His parents curb his seizures by giving him a liquid form of marijuana by mouth 3 times a week. For Alexs family, the benefits of marijuana are greater than the risks. For us, the long-term side effects that are unknown for something that cant kill him are a lot better than the long-term side effects of him beating himself bloody, his dad said†¦show more content†¦First, opponents of medical marijuana argue that the principal constituent of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), one with more than 60 active ingredients in marijuana, which can bind to cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells and influences them, which are interfering thinking, concentration, memory and cognitive abilities on the brain over time. Thus, marijuana should not be legalized for medical purposes. However, THC in marijuana has medical benefits. A recent study by University of Saskatchewan shows that â€Å"Most ‘drugs of abuse’ suppress neurogenesis. Only marijuana promotes neurogenesis.† The study has also proven that THC in marijuana can protect and promote the growth of new brain cells from inflammation and oxidative stress (Leaf Science, 2014). Also, the Center for Mental Health Research at Australian National University researched on nearly 2000 marijuana users in age 20 to 24. After 8 years, they found that there was a little negative long-term effect on cognition and the brain within marijuana users (Time magazine). In fact, compared to modern pharmaceuticals, marijuana is viewed as a medicinal potential that proved to be more an effective treatment since it is natura l and contains unique chemical compounds as THC. PrescribingShow MoreRelatedMarijuana Decriminalization and Legalization636 Words   |  3 PagesThe validity of marijuana decriminalization (and even legalization) is illustrated in the following analysis of the social, fiscal, political, and medical attributes and conceptions associated with the drug. Marijuana has been used for thousands of years, in 2008; archeologists discovered over two pounds of cannabis in a 2,700-year-old grave of a shaman found in Central Asia. (Armentano, 1) Should marijuana be legalized or at least decriminalized in America? The following information may give theRead MoreLegalization of Marijuana: A Review of the Literature1843 Words   |  7 PagesCalifornia was the first state to pass a marijuana law in 1913 followed by the rest of the states in the nation until the year of 1937, when marijuana became completely illegal at the federal level. (Guither) Before then, marijuana and specifically hemp had man y uses for colonists and farmers and was such a critical crop for a number of purposes, that the government even encouraged its growth. It was not until Henry J. Anslinger saw the Bureau of Narcotics as a fascinating career opportunity thatRead MoreThe Social Benefits of Legalization of Marijuana1459 Words   |  6 Pagesgive the definition of Marijuana that is important for my research. â€Å"Marijuana is a mixture of leaves, stems and flowering tops of the hemp plant.†(Marijuana, 317). Today in most countries soft narcotics and especially narcotics like marijuana are illegal. Marijuana is a misunderstood drug that is thought of as dangerous but it isn’t. Because of people’s ignorance and gullibility marijuana has become illegal for all the wrong reasons and should be re-examined for legalization. Society today cannotRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1372 Words   |  6 PagesLegalization of Weed Growing up, everyone is told that, â€Å"Drugs are bad for you,† time and time again. Now as a kid you don’t really understand the reasoning behind it, but you listen to your authority figure regardless. I remember being told this my entire life and even to this very day. But as I got older I realized that people would still use drugs even though it’s illegal. I could never understand why someone would go against the law and jeopardize their life just to use drugs? The drug thatRead MoreIt Is Time to Legalize Marijana1700 Words   |  7 Pagesagain. Now as a kid you don’t really understand the reasoning behind it, but you listen to your authority figure regardless. I remember being told this my entire life and even to this very day. But as I got older I realized that people would still use drugs even though it’’s illegal. I could never understand why someone would go against the law and jeopardize their life just to use drugs? The drug that I am talking about is marijuana, and surprisingly it is all around us. Marijuana is evenRead MoreThe Prohibition Of Marijuana Should Be Banned1693 Words   |  7 Pagesprohibition of Marijuana. Marijuana or Cannabis is a plant that is cultivated in large quantities and is either consumed, smoked, or inhaled to create a certain kind of altered mental and physical effect, which is referred to as a high. Though Marijuana may be considered a dangerous substance to most, it should be legalized because the economic, social, and political standpoints outweigh the negatives and is not as harmful to the United States as perceived. Throughout history, Marijuana was legal butRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1449 Words   |  6 PagesSince the first efforts to legalize marijuana in the 1960s, Americans have become progressively more accepting of requests to liberalize laws restricting possession and use of marijuana, but the shift has not been a straight line. After 11 states decriminalized marijuana possession in the 1970s, recoil led by suburban parents led too much harsher implementation of drug laws. But since California legalized medical marijuana in 1996, outlooks toward the drug have relaxed significantly.(A Brief HistoryRead MoreThe Green Need For The Fight For Marijuana Reform1425 Words   |  6 Pagessizeable tax revenues from legalizing marijuana. The fight for marijuana reform has been an ongoing battle, and every time this matter is argued, those voting against marijuana have triumphed. A report on PBS.org titled â€Å"Busted – America’s war of Marijuana† states that sinc e 1937 attempts to criminalize marijuana began to emerge, starting with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. This act required an excise tax to be paid in order to have legal possession of marijuana. Eventually, this act was replaced byRead MoreLegalization of Marijuana: the financial, medical, social, and political benefits1349 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Brandon Smith Professor Gregor ENGL 1102 21 April 2014 Legalization of Marijuana: the financial, social, medical, and political benefits. The legalization of marijuana has been a topic of debate for many years. This may be because of the cultural diversity that the United States of America is known for. Recently, bills were passed in Colorado and Washington to implement the legalization and regulation of recreational marijuana use. These events along with the ever growing popularity of theRead MoreLegalize Marijuana; Annotated Bibliography Essay1381 Words   |  6 PagesAnnotated Bibliography on the Legalization of Marijuana Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance in United States and in many other countries; this is a statement that seems to be in each article that is written about the legalization of marijuana. This is a subject that has been up for debate for quite a few years now. There are many people who support the legalization of this drug and are strongly convinced that marijuana is not a drug in which one should be punished for, but rather