Essay Instructions: This is a what I've already stared to write. Please note that I'm not writing about why marijuana should be legal, I'm writing about why prohibition should be lifted. This is VERY important.
Current writing that I'd like to keep/incorporate:
Our country grants us so many privileges such as freedom of speech, and religion, and the freedom to walk freely and fight for what we believe in. This is that great country that is full of such innovative forward thinkers. We have nearly anything we can think of at our finger-tips, good or not-so good for us. We can have as much highly processed food as we’d like, we are allowed to choose what kind of prescription drugs we feel we should take, we are allowed to unwind with alcohol, and we’re even allowed to smoke cancer-causing cigarettes. We can do as much or as little of this and so much more at will, and rightfully so, after all this is America the great free and forward thinking country others can only dream of. However, it’s time we look at the benefits of legalizing marijuana and the problems that have been caused by prosecuting it so harshly. Marijuana should be legalized; in fact decriminalization was right around the corner in the 1970’s when President Jimmy Carter was appointed to office. Yet, so many of us in this country have had no choice but to sit back for over 30 years and watch billions of dollars spent on “The War on Drugs” and the criminalization of Marijuana. This November 2010 we will be at the cusp of new potential and positive growth when as Californians vote to get the new measure on the ballot to pass.
Decriminalization and legalization of Marijuana has been a topic of discussion with Americans for over three decades and still its been extremely difficult to have the voices be heard. When compared to other substances THC is not only a natural substance but it’s has far less side effects than any of its “legal” counterparts. However, the DEA has kept marijuana as a schedule I substance for years. Other drugs that are currently included in the schedule I rating are, heroin, LSD, and GHB just to name a few. It’s no wonder that marijuana comes with heavy punishment. For years the prohibition of this plant has torn families apart, lives have been lost, and the drug cartels are becoming stronger and stronger every day. The Mexican economy is tanking and so much of its law-enforcement is corrupt because of prohibition. Mexico hasn’t been the only country affected with corrupt law-enforcement; US law-enforcement has also seen corruption within its borders because of the prohibition of this plant. Our government for years has turned a blind eye to the fact that people are deciding to use marijuana because of conscience and intellectual choice. The question is why? Why has our government kept it out of legal reach for so long? Why has the government spent billions in American tax dollars to keep it off the streets and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law? It’s hardly believable that reasons why prohibition should be repealed far outweigh the reasons of why it currently is not.
For years the United States has been telling the American people that Marijuana is illegal because it’s a gateway drug. In my conducted research I have not found any real supporting evidence or statistics that prove this theory. The grounds for this theory are based on a few reasons; marijuana users are more likely than non-users to progress to other harder drugs, almost all people who have used marijuana and other drugs have started with marijuana, and it’s also believed that the more often marijuana is used the more likely those individuals will use harder drugs. However, there is no statistical evidence for these claims. There is evidence to support the contrary,
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The last paragraph I wrote was meant to refute the claim that marijuana is a gateway drug, and show the evidence to prove that.
I'd like the next paragraph to refute the health concerns, mainly that marijuana IS NOT lethal and is SAFER than alcohol and cigaretts. As evidence I'd like to point out that marijuana is used everyday by cancer, glacoma, and aids patients.
The following paragraph I would like to point out that if prohibition is repealed that crime rates would drop. It would also mean lower profits for international cartels, and gangs. It would help stop law enforcement corruption.
The last point I'd like to point out is that lifting prohibition would create additional tax revenue therefore lowering California state debt, and save money for other much needed programs. Show that millions of dollars could be saved from our prison systems by not prosecuting for marijuana. 750,000 people are arrested on marijuana charges annually.
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current consulted work:
Reinarman, Craig. "The Dutch Example Shows That Liberal Drug Laws Can Be Beneficial." Current Controversies: Drug Legalization. Ed. Scott Barbour. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2000. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. CCL College of the Desert. 24 Apr. 2010 .
Currents works cited:
Drug Policy Research Center. "Marijuana Use May Not Lead to the Use of Other Drugs." Opposing Viewpoints: Drug Abuse. Ed. Tamara L. Roleff. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2005.
#3
I'd like the rest to come from books please, NOT INTERNET SITES
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THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE ALREADY TURNED IN AND IT WAS TO SHOW THE PRELIMINARY WRITE UP OF WHAT I WAS DOING. PLEASE READ IT, AND IF YOU CAN FIND A WAY TO USE IT IT WOULD BE GREAT SINCE I CAN NO LONGER CHANGE IT. PLEASE READ BELOW:
A. I considered two topics, one being the legalization of marijuana and the other is the legalization of doctor assisted suicide. I’ve chosen to write on the legalization of marijuana since it seems to be headed for the 2010 ballot California ballot in November. Activists have fought hard for decades in efforts to legalize marijuana. Many people, users and even non-users see the benefits that the legalization could bring.
B. An initiative to control and tax marijuana qualified Wednesday for the November 2 state ballot, and could make California the first state to legalize cannabis.
Proponents of marijuana legalization are celebrating the announcement as a victory in a decades-long struggle to end marijuana prohibition, and seem convinced of the measure's passage. Opponents are lamenting the demise of social standards and airing concerns about a rise in crime, and promise a fight.
Wood, Daniel B. Now on the ballot, could marijuana legalization happen in California?
Christian Science Monitor; 3/25/2010, pN.PAG, 1p
http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.collegeofthedesert.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ulh&AN=48789982&site=src-live
For years, activists in the marijuana legalization movement have claimed that cannabis is America's biggest cash crop. Now they're citing government statistics to prove it. A report released today by a marijuana public policy analyst contends that the market value of pot produced in the U.S. exceeds $35 billion -- far more than the crop value of such heartland staples as corn, soybeans and hay, which are the top three legal cash crops. California is responsible for more than a third of the cannabis harvest, with an estimated production of $13.8 billion that exceeds the value of the state's grapes, vegetables and hay combined -- and marijuana is the top cash crop in a dozen states, the report states. The report estimates that marijuana production has increased tenfold in the past quarter century despite an exhaustive anti-drug effort by law enforcement.
Eric Bailey. "Pot is called biggest cash crop; The $35-billion market value of U.S.-grow cannabis tops that of such heartland staples as corn and hay, a marijuana activist says :[HOME EDITION]. " Los Angeles Times 18 Dec. 2006,Los Angeles Times, ProQuest. Web. 19 Apr. 2010.
I found the two excerpts supportive of my initial thought for writing my paper. There is so much good that can come from the legalization of marijuana. If and when marijuana becomes legal we as a state can get out of the red and be far away from bankruptcy. So much of the monies that are currently going into cutting down grow farms can be put back into some of the useful programs that are being cut statewide.
There are faxes for this order.
