Sarah Hamad
Mrs. Thayer
English 7
2 March 2023
Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized Marijuana is the most widely used illicit substance in the United States, with approximately 25 million users (Strouse). Cannabis is a drug that is made from the dried leaves and other cannabis plant components. It can be smoked or consumed, but using it can have both positive and negative side effects. This makes substance use for recreational purposes very contentious. Marijuana should be legalized because it would benefit the economy, assist with peoples’ medical conditions, and lower crime rates nationally. Marijuana is well known for it’s numerous positive side effects. The drug should be made lawful because it can treat a wide range of medical
…show more content…
They may say that it could lead to increased use and abuse of marijuana, particularly among vulnerable populations such as adolescents and those with a history of substance abuse (Wilkinson). While there may be concerns about increased substance abuse, it's crucial to recognize that many individuals with certain medical conditions rely on marijuana for symptom management. Therefore, denying these individuals access to an effective treatment based on concerns about substance abuse is not a reasonable solution. The potential for substance abuse should not outweigh the fact that it has been shown to provide relief for many medical conditions. Some have the belief in that marijuana has not been proven to be an effective treatment for any medical condition. They believe there is not enough regulation, and this might lead to patients receiving wrong treatments. However, this argument ignores the fact that medical marijuana has been legalized in several states and is prescribed by licensed professionals. In addition, studies have shown that marijuana can be a safe and effective treatment for conditions such as chronic pain, seizures, and more …show more content…
2020, https://www.liberty.edu/champion/2013/10/marijuana-legalization-proscons/.
Marshall, Lisa. “'Gateway Drug' No More: Study Shows Legalizing Recreational Cannabis Does Not Increase Substance Abuse.” CU Boulder Today, University of Colorado Boulder, 26 Jan. 2023, https://www.colorado.edu/today/2023/01/24/gateway-drug-no-more-study-shows-legalizing-recreational-cannabis-does-not-increase.
Royall, Jere. “Why Medical Marijuana Should Not Be Legalized.” Carolina Journal -, John Locke Foundation, 10 Nov. 2022, https://www.carolinajournal.com/opinion/why-medical-marijuana-should-not-be-legalized/.
Strouse, Thomas. “Marijuana's Public Health Pros and Cons - US News & World Report.” US NEWS, 2020, https://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2016-10-12/marijuanas-public-health-pros-and-cons.
“Why Medical Marijuanas Should Be Legal.” HomeworkMarket_us, HomeworkMarket, 2 Apr. 2019, https://homeworkmarket.us/blog/why-medical-marijuanas-should-be-legal.
Wilkinson, ST. “Marijuana Legalization: Impact on Physicians and Public Health.” Annual Review of Medicine, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2022,