Argumentative Essay: The Legalization Of Marijuana

The sight of citizens getting arrested and put in jail for varied amounts of time over a little plant is common nowadays. Marijuana, as it stands now, is considered a Schedule 1 Drug, which is the harshest classification for a drug or narcotic. (DEA.gov) Drugs with this classification carry 10 years or more of jail time at minimum for those caught selling it illegally. Yet, the modern view of marijuana is of calm, happy, sedate individuals who do nothing with their time. The plant itself also has many medicinal and commercial properties that are beginning to be embraced. So, why does the United States Government seek to eradicate a plant with such low health impact and high economic potential? There is an unnecessary witch hunt surrounding

Anslinger. The first appointed Commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics, Anslinger is remembered for his extreme anti-marijuana stance (huff). Anslinger insisted that the plant, upon consummation, would send one into a state of madness and depravity (huff). He began a public smear campaign against the plant with many government-backed statements describing its terrible effects (huff). Anslinger’s view clashes with modern marijuana stereotypes of hungry, sedate individuals. Anslinger helped to pass the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 to further limit and exacerbate a problem that was not there (schaffer). Unlike most other narcotics of the time, those who sought to defend the plant spoke openly of their positive effects (Schaffer). It is theorized that Anslinger was backed by many powerful industries in his rejection of the ‘Devil’s Weed’ who could lose millions if it were to spread (huff). Under his guidance, the U.S. tried to force allied countries to outlaw it through trade deal and treaty requirements. (schaffer). Even after 3 decades of crackdown and propaganda, Anslinger was unable to wipe out Marijuana as he sought to

The government insists that the country is at war with the drug, classing it with dangerous narcotics like cocaine and heroin. Those who are arrested under a charge of possession can face between 6 months to 10 years of hard jail time (laws). The time, money, and lives lost in the Mexican cartel wars to stop the illegal trade of the plant has no sustainable tradeoff. Yet, on the other end of the spectrum, the drug has not been semi-legal for consumption long enough for life long side effects to be studied. Predictably, however, change at the state level is allowing both the pros and cons to be viewed fully. To date, close to half of the country has legalized Marijuana in either medicinal or recreational drug use, despite federal law challenging this