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Marijuana: Don t Deny the Truth Marijuana, the word makes most Americans shutter with the thought of drugs and the drug war. But, have we really sat down and looked at the facts. Without any question, I know that we have not. The actual truth is that the Cannabis plant actually has more good than bad that may come out of it. If one were to add to that statement the fact that total legalization would even have more good come out of it than bad, then maybe the simple thought of legalizing marijuana wouldn t be such a simple thought.
First let s look at the comparison of legalization of marijuana to alcohol. Alcohol use has long been associated with producing health problems. Everyone who reads a newspaper or watches the news has heard of the loss of life and the health problems caused by accidents involving drunken drivers. In addition to endangering public safety on the road, excessive drunkenness can lead to trouble on the job and at home.
Absenteeism reduces job productivity and can result in job loss. Marital discord, child abuse and spouse abuse are all associated with alcohol use. Chronic heavy alcohol consumption is associated with cirrhosis of the liver, heart disease and bladder cancer. Despite these health and social problems, alcohol remains legal. Our one attempt to prohibit the sale and consumption alcohol was a dismal failure because it criminalized not only those who could not drink responsibly, but those who could. Rather than benefiting society, prohibition harmed society by criminalizing harmless behavior and promoting organized crime.
Anti marijuana laws are much like prohibition in that they criminalize otherwise harmless behavior and promote organized crime. But the social harm of a blanket prohibition against marijuana use extends further. Marijuana, unlike alcohol, can be medically beneficial to people suffering from cancer and AIDs by reducing nausea, promoting appetite and alleviating suffering. Rather than benefiting society, the prohibition against marijuana promotes illness and needless suffering. Cigarettes could also be questioned when arguing the case of marijuana. Ironically, a patient suffering from nausea caused by drugs given to cure his tobacco-related cancer may be denied a remedy for that nausea because of anti marijuana laws.
Tobacco, especially cigarette smoking, is associated with heart disease, circulatory problems and several different cancers. Non- smokers are afflicted by second hand smoke in public places, merely annoying some, and provoking allergic reactions in others. Finally, though marijuana is maligned as the gateway drug to more serious drug use, a childs first experience with an illicit drug is more likely to be with cigarette smoking than marijuana use. Despite the well-documented negative effects of tobacco use, its use and sales remain legal. Not only is the sale of tobacco legal in this country, it is also heavily taxed. Because it is illegal to sell or use marijuana, it is impossible to tax it, making unavailable an additional source of tax revenue.
Free research essays on topics related to: heart disease, marijuana laws, cigarette smoking, anti marijuana, organized crime
Research essay sample on Cigarette Smoking Marijuana Laws
