Legalization of Marijuana 6
Marijuana is a substance that has become very much a part of American culture. Nearly sixty-five million Americans have used it either occasionally or regularly. The use of marijuana hit mainstream America thirty years ago, and it has been accepted by a large segment of society ever since (Rosenthal 16). The debate on whether the mind-altering substance should be legalized remains a very hot topic today. National polls show that more than seventy percent of the American public supports the legalization of marijuana (Randall 25). However, only two states, California and Arizona, have legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes only (Randall 33). Just last month, voters in Mendocino County, California, passed a proposition that legalized the cultivation of twenty-five full-grown marijuana plants for personal use. Marijuana should be legalized for medicinal, as well as for recreational use all across the country, not just in specified areas. If public demand for the legalization marijuana is so high, then why does it remain illegal? There are several reasons why marijuana remains illegal. Mainly it is a political issue that special interest groups have been able to crush before any real
Abel, I. L. Marihuana: The First Twelve Thousand Years. New York: McGraw Hill, 1982. Drug Watch International (DWI) is a volunteer, non-profit information network and advocacy organization. The organization promotes the creation of healthy, drug-free cultures in the world. Needless to say, the members are against the legalization of marijuana, for any reason. It has about 13,000 members in fifteen countries around the world, with a budget of $1.3 million annually. The organization upholds a comprehensive approach to drug issues involving prevention, education, and harsher treatment for drug offenders (Rosenthal 46). DWI is one of the leading organizations opposing the decriminalization of marijuana. DWI supports harsh legal penalties that hold users and dealers of narcotics accountable for their actions. Leaders of DWI suggest that the minimum penalty for all drug offenders should be raised to a five-year prison sentence (Rosenthal 81). Potter, Beverly. The Healing Magic of Cannabis. California: Ronin Publishings, Inc., 1998.
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Approximate Word count = 1474
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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