medal back, the cheers drowned out the boos. It was a minor scandal

involving a minor sport, but it spoke volumes about the world's shifting

relationship with its favorite illicit drug, marijuana. A decade ago,

Rebagliati would have been ostracized regardless of whether cannabis was on

the list of his sport's banned substances. What's changed today is that our

attitudes towards illegal drugs are becoming more sophisticated and

According to Joanne Baum, on the subject of statistics of marijuana:

Marijuana is the second most popular drug after alcohol in the country

today. So many people smoke marijuana that the numbers alone seem to

legitimize and condone its presence in people's lives. Yet, even in

moderation marijuana is not 'safe.' Somehow this information had not

filtered down to people who think they are smoking a fairly innocuous drug.

Our society perpetuates the myths about pot being a fun, harmless,

recreational drug. These myths feed into people's denial of marijuana's

However, the abuse of marijuana is a problem. It is not only a personal

many different cultures. The purposes have changed over time to fit in with

criminalize this plant. One major contributor to the spread of

Maine. There are many questions that still need to be answered in the realm

opposing arguments, and positive personal experiences. There are some groups

After the sustaining vote in November of 1996, marijuana is now legal to

This is a classic example of "the haves" versus "the have-nots," of the

in turn creates conflict. Additionally a power struggle ensues between

Marijuana use can be termed abuse. Today the debate over marijuana is a

of marijuana base their arguments on a number of proven facts, refuted

that support the removal of all penalties for the private possession and

Marijuana is also far less addictive and far less subject to abuse than many

mention, the lack of motivation, depression, and paranoia. In addition,

marijuana prohibition. Essentially, it is a non-profit interest lobby that

(Grinspoon 83). It has also been reported to relieve the pain suffered by

Some common words found in the essay are:
Abuse NIDA, Agency DEA, Wellness Encyclopedia, Compassionate Act, United Jamestown, Joanne Baum, Lester Grinspoon, Ross Rebagliati, Laws NORML, Arizona Proposition, marijuana abuse, power struggle, law enforcement, abuse social, conflict theory, marijuana abuse social, functionalist theorists, costs society, obtain marijuana medical, illegal substance, medical purposes, additionally power struggle, criminal prosecution, marijuana medical purposes, law enforcement agencies,
Approximate Word count = 2220
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)