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Amber K. FordhamProfessor PitocchiEN 110 56March 13, 2013Legalize ItLimiting use of marijuana through prohibition betrays personal freedom. Bob Marley once said, “When you smoke herb, it reveals you to yourself.” For some people, marijuana is one of life’s little pressures, like alcohol, sex, chocolate, etc. (Messerli). It reduces stress and enhances creativity. There have been no reported deaths caused by marijuana, like cigarettes, marijuana consists of tar, but there are no deaths caused by marijuana smoke. One of the leading causes of death in the United States is cigarettes, not marijuana.Marijuana is not physically addicting, only mentally, like soda, which is certainly legal. Some things are legal that cause deaths in the United States; alcohol and tobacco being the main causes. If you think about it, if marijuana was legalized in New York, street crime derived from drug disputes would be reduced. Law enforcers could focus on more serious crimes that take place in NYS.Our economy could make money off of legalizing marijuana by taxing it. When used in moderation, the drug is no more harmful that legal drugs, such as alcohol or tobacco. Legalizing would result in lower prices. This would help reduce crime, such a theft. If other states can legalize marijuana, why can’t NY?Marijuana is not a dangerous drug, in the way that narcotics and other drugs are. Prescribed medicine is more dangerous than marijuana. Although marijuana is illegal, it is not as harmful as the “medicine” our doctors prescribe for us. People don’t stab others on the street for the cash to buy weed, the way they might if they were addicted to crack or heroin, eve prescription drugs. Some people say marijuana is no worse than alcohol. If this is the case, why ban it?There’s a stronger financial argument for legalizing marijuana, it is an utter waste of money and resources to arrest and prosecute people for marijuana possession. Cash-strapped states have better use for money, courts and prison space. Some prisons are over capacity as it is now, so why put even more people in prison for marijuana possession if it can be legalized? Some states in the US need to realize that legalizing marijuana could be a huge benefit. Our economy could tax it and the arrest rate would go down drastically.Tobacco is just as dangerous as any other drug, if not worse. In some cities in NY, you only have to be 18 to purchase tobacco. Cigarette smokers do not crash into trees or into other cars, but they still kill themselves and others by ingesting and exhaling toxic smoke. While cigarette taxes bring cash to the government, we all end up paying more for the added healthcare costs of caring for smokers with emphysema, lung cancer and other illnesses caused by cigarette smoke.Research has shown that there are in fact very strong reasons why marijuana should be legalized. Some of the reasons overshadow the negative reasons that contribute to marijuana being associated with Rastafarians and the gangsters who consume it in immense quantities since it is not legalized. Marijuana is not a legal drug and is safer to consume than alcohol. Compared to tobacco, marijuana is far less harmful when used in moderation. Most doctors would agree that marijuana consumption is not harmful when used in moderation as well. The problem why marijuana has been associated with opposing medical problems like mental retardation and is the abuse and misuse of the substance mainly through administration in large quantities that don’t align with the body system, which means, some people smoke more than they can tolerate. Even then, marijuana is not deadly. Marijuana has several medical values like reduction of nausea induced by chemotherapy, stimulation of appetite in AIDs patients, reduction of swelling in glaucoma patients, and many other values. Marijuana doesn’t interfere with male or female sex hormones; also, marijuana has no memory impairments. When consuming marijuana, your lungs function better than when consuming tobacco.Marijuana is quite expensive for the justice system and should instead be taxed to support beneficial government programs. Over 750,000 people are arrested every year for marijuana possession. In NY, marijuana arrests are costly while misusing jail cells, distracting time of attorneys, judges and police and corrections officials (Hightimes).Border patrol spends time arresting people smuggling drugs into the US when they could be arresting illegal immigrants trying to cross over to the US. Illegal immigrants sometimes come to the United States and do the right thing. They get jobs and sometimes start small businesses. However, many illegal immigrants come to the US and join gangs and increase crime rate in the states where they reside.Some things are legal that cause deaths in the United States; alcohol and tobacco being the main causes of death in NY. If you think about it, if marijuana was legalized in New York, street crime derived from drug disputes would be reduced. Law enforcers could focus on more dangerous and serious crimes such as homicide, rape, assault, burglary, and so many other serious crimes that take place in NY.Our economy could make money off of legalizing marijuana by taxing it. When used in moderation, the drug is no more harmful than drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco. Legalizing would result in lower prices. This would help reduce crime, such as theft. Law enforcers could focus on more dangerous and serious crimes such as homicide, rape, assault, burglary, and so many other serious crimes that take place in NY.Marijuana is not a dangerous drug, in the way that narcotics and other drugs are. Prescribed medicine is more dangerous than marijuana. Although marijuana is illegal, it is not as harmful as the “medicine” our doctors prescribe for us. Some prescribed medicines are lethal is too much is consumed. There are no known deaths caused by marijuana.Limiting use of marijuana through prohibition betray personal freedom. Bob Marley once said, “Herb is the healing of the nation, alcohol is the destruction.” He’s basically saying marijuana heals people and brings peace, but alcohol is the destruction of the human race; alcohol causes death and violence. Think about it; people aren’t violent when they consume marijuana. They’re more relaxed and feel at ease.“Herb is the unification of mankind.”-Bob MarleyWorks Cited“Arguments For and against Legalizing Marijuana.” Umsl. Nd. Web. Goldstein, Margaret. Legalizing Drugs: Crime Stopper or Social Risk?. Twenty-First Century Books, 2010.Inciardi, James. The Drug Legalization Debate. SAGE, 1999. Print. Marley, Bob. “Kaya.” Kaya. 1978.Rosenthal, Ed and Steve Kubby. Why Marijuana Should Be Legalizing. Running Press, 2003. Print. ................
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