Headlines are captured nationwide concerning the allowance of marijuana for medical usage. However, there is also an ongoing, quieter campaign to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Canada and Britain have recently taken major steps toward reassessing their anti-marijuana laws, following the lead of most European countries. In the United States, proposals to ease the penalties for marijuana use and possession will appear on the ballot in November in at least three different states. The legalization of marijuana is quite a controversial topic, since the general attitude of our country is one of “status-quo” conservatism. Three basic stances on the issue of legalization include those who feel marijuana should stay prohibited, those who feel marijuana should be completely decriminalized, and those who feel a middle ground should be reached by permitting usage for medical purposes only. Because of the many different stances concerning marijuana and the reality that it is a rising issue, key questions become evident. Should whether or n
and needlessly imposes on the lives and careers of genuinely good citizens. Advocates for legalization emphasize that an abundance of time, money, and power is being needlessly wasted on the war against marijuana, when other national harms and dangers are being placed on the back burner. Supporters of reform base their argument on the stance that marijuana use and possession should not be treated as a criminal issue, but as a social and health concern.
ot an individual chooses to possess and/or use marijuana be a personal choice, not subject to criminal penalties? What are the cultural risks involved, and is legalization deemed to be positive or negative?
Legalization for medical purposes is an issue that is rapidly gaining momentum and urgency. It is speculated that merely legalizing marijuana in the name of medicine should be allowed, although use for any other purpose should be prohibited. Since 1996, voters in eight states have passed initiatives supporting medical marijuana. Polls show more than 70% of voters support medical marijuana. Ground has been broken by medical marijuana, which correlates directly with the increasing support voiced from marijuana acti
Example Essays Home
