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

illegal substance would no longer be in the hands of the huge drug cartels,

such as members of the educational system, or government institutions, and

marijuana abuse as a social problem in that it causes a disturbance in the

laws and law makers should view it under the same light as they do alcohol.

evidence and personal testimony to show the beneficial elements of this

power struggle between law enforcement agencies and drug users would no

drugs, legalizing marijuana would virtually eliminate this. Control of this

the rebellious youth, and the "hippie movement." This evolved into increased

power would be useless. This move would go a long way towards removing the

discrimination. While the use of marijuana definitely inhibits an

purposes upon the recommendation of a physician are not subject to criminal

that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana

legislation today to make the psychoactive plant available to medical

steadily rising. What does that tell you? You make up your mind.

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 2220
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)