ipl-logo

Decriminalization: The Dual Purpose Of Marijuana

1338 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Positive impacts of marijuana legalization

Marijuana Decriminalization: The Dual Purpose of Marijuana There is more than one purpose for marijuana in this world. If the criminal justice system took the time to explore the endless possibilities that marijuana provides then there would be a positive change made within society. When hearing about marijuana or weed one may instantly think of someone smoking out of a bong with a tie-dye shirt on listening to reggae music or one may picture a drug dealer who happens to be African American dealing drugs out of an abandoned apartment. The negative connotations that marijuana has allowed stereotypes like these to not only paint a negative image in the minds of Americans, but it also defines marijuana in a way that is more damaging to its reputation. …show more content…

There are a massive number of serious criminal cases in the criminal justice system that needs to be prioritized by prosecutors like robbery, rape, and murder. However, there are less serious criminal cases like possession of marijuana that get more attention than it should. With the large use of marijuana and the large number of cases that is placed in the criminal justice system, the decriminalization of America 's biggest illegal cash crop, marijuana, will put a stop to the many problems that is legalization creates. With marijuana having such a negative stigma attached by the government and the public, it is hard to identify the positive effects that the marijuana plant has to offer. The decriminalization of marijuana would benefit the economy, lower the …show more content…

California decriminalized marijuana use for medical purposes in the mid-1990’s (Rabe, 2002, p. 293). There are several remarkable cases that have proven marijuana for be a medical aid for many people of all ages. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon and CNN 's chief medical correspondent, spent the last couple of years examining marijuana to combine all of his research into a documentary called “Weed”. He traveled around the world to interview medical leaders, experts, growers and patients. During his study, he met a young girl, Charlotte Figi, who had been having seizures since birth and by age three she was having approximately 300 seizures a week. Charlotte had been on several medications and none of them helped. In fact, some of the medications were life threatening and did nothing but was eventually given medical marijuana that has calmed her brain, limiting her seizures. If this plant can be used for medicinal purposes then what harm is it doing to the world if a girl as young as three years old can use it to aid her illness? Currently, 35 states and Washington D.C. have laws that allow, or will allow in the future, access to medical marijuana to qualified patients (Scherf, 2015). In 1937 the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, placing a tax on the sale of marijuana. The Controlled Substances Act, CSA, eventually replaced the Marijuana Tax Act in 1970. Even though marijuana is still considered a Schedule 1 drug,

Show More
Related
1039 Words | 5 Pages

In the article “Not Just a High,” by Nathan Seppa, the author believes that medicinal marijuana is on the verge of a big breakthrough in the realm of medicine. Although the author clearly states all of the benefits there would be to using medicinal marijuana as a medicine, he also points out that there are still a lot of risks and uncertainties to deal with too. Medicinal marijuana is still in the somewhat early stages of testing, but it has already proved to alleviate pain, fight forms of inflammation, treat cancer, and even suppress tumors. Seppa gives several examples on how the views of medicinal marijuana have changed.

Read More
1229 Words | 5 Pages

I feel that the author did a great job of achieving the goal to educate the readers of the medical use of marijuana. I also feel that Horowitz successfully reached her target audience. If you think optimistically or even hypothetically, everyone could be affected by the medical conditions mentioned in the article. Medical marijuana can be used for illnesses as simple as nausea or pain. If someone who was in a legal state read this article, and they had already exhausted all options, medical marijuana can be a sense of hope.

Read More
1816 Words | 8 Pages

Marijuana should be taken as a medical remedy and not a financial gain by the government. By having a hefty and easily obtainable amount of marijuana on the streets we allow our youth to gain access to this drug stimulating the “stepping stone” effect which inevitably leads to the use of harder drugs. Extreme marketing techniques from marijuana distributors will attract consumers by using tacky and attractive

Read More
1052 Words | 5 Pages

Until recently the use of marijuana has been criminalized. In the article “Marijuana Legalization and Decriminalization” it states “Marijuana has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes.” However during its prohibition people were arrested and sent to jail for selling and using it illegally. Alcohol was banned in the 1920’s and the ban was persuaded by the Anti-Saloon League as well as ideas of progressivism and religion. Although both are now legalized and becoming legalized the legalization process is more dissimilar than it is similar because of the uses of the substance's, State vs. Federal position, effects of the movement, processes it went through, and causes of government action.

Read More
599 Words | 3 Pages

Peer Review Outline Thesis: It is time to get rid of the stereotypes of marijuana and starts evaluating it in the medical field, the article shows both sides of medical marijuana the good and the side effects. “So What” Statement: Marijuana has the potential to treat all kinds of medical conditions symptoms and more, but marijuana also has side effects of its own as stated in this article. Which is very important to get to see both sides of the topic. The article “The NEW SCIENCE of Marijuana” by Ginny Graves is about how studies have shown that marijuana can relieve chronic pain from migraines and much more.

Read More
546 Words | 3 Pages

Marijuana is not only seen as a drug, but seen as a vital medication. To some people, it’s used as a cure. They don’t use it to get “high” or to relive their teenage years, but they use it to keep themselves out of pain and suffrage. Some patients spend hundreds of dollars on medication

Read More
397 Words | 2 Pages

There are many people who argue that marijuana should be legal for medical purposes. In fact, a growing number of states have legalized marijuana for medical use. Marijuana contains delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main ingredient in marijuana that makes people ‘high’, that may help treat a range of illnesses and symptoms such as increasing one’s appetite and reducing nausea. It can also decrease pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems (Abuse, National Institute on Drug). Furthermore, the chemical cannabidiol (CBD), another ingredient in marijuana, but it does not get people ‘high’, could potentially help reduce pain and inflammation, control epileptic seizures, and possibly treat mental illness and

Read More
734 Words | 3 Pages

Back in the early twentieth century, marijuana was mainly used for medical purposes in the US. Now, both it 's recreational and medical use is increasingly being consumed by the population and the tendency is to continue increasing. Much has been said about the use of marijuana as a solution to different health problems, and although not everything that is said is true, it cannot be ignored that marijuana can help in the treatment of some cases of adult patients. CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, was opposed to the medicinal use of cannabis. Based on his knowledge as a neurologist, he was convinced that the drug was dangerous and had dismissed its supposed therapeutic benefits.

Read More
1990 Words | 8 Pages

In 1937, cannabis’s first official prohibition in the Unites States was through the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, which was later deemed unconstitutional. This act was quickly replaced by the Controlled Substance Act in the 1970, which was based on the premise of its potential for addiction, which is what finally made the standing law that banned marijuana. (Bonnie and Whitebread 2011). More recently, many states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes and in some, recreational use.

Read More
1403 Words | 6 Pages

In American society, the use of marijuana, whether it’s medical or recreational, is a highly discussed topic. There are arguments for and against both recreational and medical marijuana. Between the arguments of safety and practicality, the truth about this drug has gotten mixed around and changed. Although it is believed that marijuana would only negatively affect our society, the use should be federally legalized, at least medically, in all 50 states because it has a very low risk when it comes to an individuals health, would improve the economy, and aid medical advances.

Read More
1178 Words | 5 Pages

Today the demands are changing in different states. In States such as Colorado and Washington, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use. This move raised several questions as far as decriminalization of marijuana is concerned. Besides portraying the US in a bad light, legalization of marijuana for recreation increases the risk of developing mental problems, increases government expenditure on public health, jeopardizes the future of children, and is a gateway to other dangerous drugs. Increased health problems and public health expenditure-

Read More
1455 Words | 6 Pages

The history of marijuana as well as the information and studies drawn and discussed in this essay show that marijuana legalization for medical and/or recreational purposes will not only positively impact society, but also change the society’s idea of marijuana use as a deviant act. Deviant behavior negatively impacts society, therefore the idea that marijuana use is a positive impact for society will, in turn, change the idea that marijuana use is an act/form of

Read More
1693 Words | 7 Pages

In the past decade, a number of movements to legalize the use of marijuana has been gaining momentum. According to the 2016 Gallup survey, a record high 60% of Americans say that marijuana should be legalized and this figure marks a 9% increase compared to 2014. Support for legalizing marijuana was 31% in 2000, 50% in 2016 before reaching 60% last year. This shows that despite government efforts to eliminate its use, marijuana is becoming more popular. It is clear that

Read More
929 Words | 4 Pages

The legalization of marijuana has widespread benefits for the medical, law enforcement, and economic sectors. Marijuana has a variety of benefits in the medical field because it can control many side effects from different diseases. For instance, cancer is a deadly disease that kills over seven million people across the world every year. Patients diagnosed with cancer go through several painful treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy. Thankfully, marijuana helps to alleviate pain and suppress nausea from cancer treatments.

Read More
1015 Words | 5 Pages

However from the information that I have gathered from many different articles and news pages, the legalization of marijuana would not only be majorly beneficial to the medical field but it would be an excellent boost for our economy by better spending our money on things that matter. Like repairing our schools, and

Read More

More about Decriminalization: The Dual Purpose Of Marijuana

Open Document