Take A Closer Look Essay Research Paper

Take A Closer Look Essay, Research Paper

Those who oppose legalizing marijuana tell us that legalizing it would be

seriously detrimental. Are they looking at the facts? Or do they just

believe the same myths that our parents created when they were trying to

stop us from becoming drug addicts? Let&rsquos take a closer look at the

facts.

Violence surrounding drug dealing would be lessened by legalizing

marijuana because small time drug dealers would essentially be forced out

of business. Larger companies who could produce high quality marijuana at

lower cost would prevail. Most people would buy from these companies

because they would know the product was free of adulterants and would

contain no poisons. Wars between dealers of marijuana would end, and the

sale of marijuana could be monitored by government the same way as

essentially any other legitimate business. Sellers would be made

accountable and a culture of responsibility would be formed. Desperate

acts of theft and violence associated with its distribution would

disappear as the black market disappears. Additionally, marijuana abusers

who are currently being forced to live a life of shame and secrecy could

openly seek help.

Dangerous drugs such as crack cocaine and LSD are consistently placed in

the same category as marijuana. These drugs are admittedly dangerous, but

research has never been able to identify a link between crime and

marijuana.

Countless Americans have been branded as criminals and thrown into prison

for merely possessing or smoking marijuana. Truly violent criminals are

often paroled early for sheer lack of prison space because users of

marijuana occupy the space. Why not leave the rapists and murderers in

prison and let marijuana users engage in a relatively mild form of

personal stimulation?

Marijuana is safe and effective for medical use. Studies have proven that

it is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting and that it can stimulate

the appetite. This could help cancer and AIDS patients who face

emaciation. Marijuana reduces tremors, restores balance, stops muscle

spasms, restores bladder control, and restores speech and eyesight for

multiple sclerosis patients. It can even prevent epileptic seizures. It

can also alleviate pain and sometimes stop the progression of glaucoma

because it reduces intraocular pressure.

Marijuana is relatively harmless. Researchers from Kaiser Permanente in

Oakland and the University of California School of Public Health in

Berkeley compared the health risks of smoking tobacco, smoking marijuana,

and drinking alcohol. They found that smoking tobacco was a greater

hazard than smoking marijuana, and that the dangers of drinking alcohol

and smoking marijuana were about the same. Their studies indicated that

regular use of marijuana did not lead to a higher mortality rate. The DEA

has also admitted that marijuana does not pose a very big health risk.

There is a difference between “relatively harmless” and “safe”. Drinking

water is relatively harmless until you drink too much, upset your

electrolyte balance, and suffer death. Driving a car is relatively

harmless until you drive into a tree. Nothing is safe for all people all

the time. Marijuana, like anything else, will pose health risks when