... threat. When the Colombian Justice Minister openly supported extradition, he was assassinated. Still, the U.S. pressures the extradition issue. In 1985, anti-Government Guerillas, mainly composed of the drug dealers, attack the Colombian Supreme Court. The extradition requests were destroyed, and eleven Supreme Court Justices were ... demonstrates that smoked marijuana is good medicine, is inconsistent with the facts. Whether this is an intentional deception, as part of the federal government's stated public relations offensive against medical marijuana, or whether it is based on ignoranc...

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... threat. When the Colombian Justice Minister openly supported extradition, he was assassinated. Still, the U.S. pressures the extradition issue. In 1985, anti-Government Guerillas, mainly composed of the drug dealers, attack the Colombian Supreme Court. The extradition requests were destroyed, and eleven Supreme Court Justices were ... demonstrates that smoked marijuana is good medicine, is inconsistent with the facts. Whether this is an intentional deception, as part of the federal government's stated public relations offensive against medical marijuana, or whether it is based on ignoranc...

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... the courts came into accordance that violation of the Act was actually a tax violation. Trade, interstate commerce, and fallacious logic, these were all implements in the argument that the Federal Government could regulate what an individual chooses to put in his body. Marijuana was outlawed in 1937 during the depression, perpetuating the negative propaganda about Mexicans that were crossing the boarder ... attacked under the guise of stopping drug use. NOTE: At the time, opium had become a primary ingredient of over the counter drugs used for a myriad of ailments; also, a 1908 Federal ...

• Word Count: 3129
• Approx Pages: 13
• Grade Level: High School

... and its implied powers. The necessary and proper clause gave rights to the states that were not clearly defined and assigned to the national government. This clause was used in California a couple months ago to decide whether marijuana should be accepted as medical treatment for patients with death ... is also used in routine cases of anorexia because it brings back the appetite of the person, therefore making them eat more food. The federal government has a problem with this issue. There has been no proof shown that these people are medically dependent upon marijuana to carry on with the...

• Word Count: 1222
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• Grade Level: High School

... -called AS may use marijuana, marijuana is not the cause of their behavior (Chait and Pierri 387). Ever since marijuana has become illegal, enforcing it has been an issue. The federal government of America spends millions of dollars each year trying to keep it off the streets and into dealer's hands, but their tactics barely do a thing. Today, 62% of all inmates ... need to ticket or prison them. The amount of money the federal Drug Enforcement Agency spends each year is $1.3 billion a year. Overall, federal anti-marijuana efforts have cost taxpayers $30 billion (Schlosser 89). All of th...

• Word Count: 1605
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... drugs are not as safe, but still are sold over the counter. The use of Marijuana should be allowed for medical purposes, and the Federal Government should change its laws towards this natural substance. Cannabis sativa is a hemp plant that grows in warm weather, or inside under strictly controlled conditions ... allows patients to possess and grow marijuana for personal medicinal use providing a doctor approves it. Missouri has gone out on a limb and petitioned the federal government, requesting a lift on the ban of marijuana(http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9702/weed.wars/facts/state.chart/st...

• Word Count: 1279
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... by around thirty percent, it also works great in dealing with this symptom (MPP Homepage 1). Since marijuana is considered illegal by the federal government of the United States, most people either smoke pot with the risk of going to jail or suffer and abide by the rules. ... retired, organizations called Cannabis Buyer's Clubs were formed, or CBC's. CBC's are basically groups of people that as a civil disobedience to the government buy and sell marijuana among the group. The first CBC's were an open disobedience, but many states have recently made them illegal and have ... this time,...

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... due to their ability to more easily conceal them (Encarta, "Prohibition"). Drug smugglers tend to carry and sell hard drugs in extremely potent form (i.e. cocaine) for the same reason. The federal government also controls the amount of nicotine and other additives in cigarette and cigar manufacturing, in an effort to lessen their risk to public health. The same tactic could be used ... harmful to the American public. Graham Boyd, an attorney representing a group of plaintiffs including eleven prominent cancer and AIDS physicians in San Francisco presented to a federal judge on Friday, Apr...

• Word Count: 1707
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... money off of. The war on marijuana from 1937-1947 cost 220 million dollars. From 1948-1963 the war on marijuana cost our government 1.5 billion dollars . Between 1964-1969 the war on marijuana cost 9 billion dollars. From 1970-1979 the war on marijuana cost 76 ... minor offense (like a traffic violation) and punishable by a ticket. This bold move by the Oregon State government did not cancel out the federal law, but worked along side it. The federal government could still prosecute people possessing marijuana. Nearly 99% of all marijuana arrests are by state and local officials ... maki...

• Word Count: 1519
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... the use of medical marijuana. In November 1998, voters in six states (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) passed ballot initiatives in support of medical marijuana. A federal appeals court said Tuesday the federal government could not punish California doctors who recommend marijuana to their patient (Bob Egelko, The San Francisco Chronicle). With physician- patient communications protected, patients in nine states can now ... a new drug, as well as to discriminate against the Mexican immigrants that brought marijuana across the border with them, twenty-three stat...

• Word Count: 929
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... heroin and LSD as a Schedule I drug, i.e., having the relatively highest abuse potential and no accepted medical use. Most marijuana at that time came from Mexico, but in 1975 the Mexican government agreed to eradicate the crop by spraying it with the herbicide paraquat, raising fears of toxic side effects. Colombia then became the main supplier. The "zero tolerance- climate of the ... 70s it was used by millions of young people in America; its popularity waned as its reputation for bad trips and resulting accidents and suicides became known. In 1967, the federal government classified it...

• Word Count: 5106
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... a Schedule I narcotic. In 1975, Robert Randall, who suffered from glaucoma, was arrested for cultivating his own marijuana. He won his case using the "medical necessity defense." This forced the government to find a way to provide him with the medicine. This problem resulted in the establishment of Investigational New Drug compassionate access program (IND). This procedure enabled a few patients to receive ... marijuana from the government. This program however had too many flaws. Most patients never consider the idea of an illegal drug as being their best medicine. Nearly all patients ...

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... be circumvented with legislation. MPP states, "State legislatures have several options to enable some patients to use medical marijuana even within the confines of federal prohibition. It is extremely important for state-to-state legislature and activists to understand what can and cannot be accomplished on the state level before developing ... today. Our state legislature is going against federal law. There are hundreds of Americans using marijuana despite federal law. Who has the right to choose what people can break a federal law. Former presidents were out to "fight the war on drugs....

• Word Count: 1892
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• Grade Level: High School

... and there is no direct evidence that marijuana causes cancer in humans." Because of the highly positive results received from cannabis research, the government should come up with a legalization plan that benefits all, and the rest will fall into place practically on its own. Many of ... ruled that marijuana is not dangerous, and yet, the U.S. government won't legalize it. Judge Whitman Knapp said that: "After twenty years on the bench, I have concluded that federal drug laws are a disaster. It is time to get the government out of drug enforcement." The first and most basic reason that ...

• Word Count: 2395
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• Grade Level: High School

... any willing participant to distribute, possess, or use. This means there would be laws and regulations controlling the distribution of marijuana that would involve federal and state licensed distributors. They may only distribute to consumers of a certain age. Laws concerning distribution of marijuana would have to be similar ... items such as legalized marijuana brings a flow of money into the economy that would otherwise not be there. This increase of government funds would allocate more money to federal programs that are in financial need such as public education, health education, t...

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... Possession of 30 grams of marijuana or hashish (supposedly enough to satisfy the average user's needs for several weeks) was decriminalized. With certain restrictions, the Dutch government also permitted sale of marijuana and hashish in licensed coffee shops. These shops were prohibited from advertising or selling more than 30 grams to one customer. The sale ... virtually no commercial market for domestically cultivated marijuana. Today, thirty years later and after expending billions of wasted tax dollars, domestically grown marijuana now constitutes, according to the U.S. government's ...

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... tops of the cannabis plant, is the most commonly used drug in the western world (Marijuana-Tobacco Facts). Although the use, distribution, and possession of marijuana are illegal under U.S. federal law there have been over 20 states that have legalized the use and distribution of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Furthermore, Colorado and Washington State have even legalized the use of ... imprisoned for marijuana-related crimes could be released from our already overcrowded prison system (Pot Legalization Changes). Opponents of the legalization of marijuana believe that our currently en...

• Word Count: 1081
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... and light criminal consequences for dealing it; when compared with other drugs. Since 1969 about half a million people have been convicted for possession and use of the drug3. The Canadian government spends $100 million a year enforcing drug laws.4 The criminalization of marijuana does not prevent people from using it, in fact it makes the problem worse. People continue to consume marijuana ... 's particularly dangerous about black market drugs is that they can be mixed with other drugs or chemicals and can be contaminated with pesticides. When banning the use of marijuana the government...

• Word Count: 2828
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• Grade Level: High School

... -term future for them. He believes that because of this and the well known fact that the drug provides relief for these patients, the government is wrong in preventing the treatment from being available; as he puts it "a federal policy that prohibits physicians from alleviating suffering by prescribing marijuana for seriously ill patients is misguided, heavy handed and inhumane" (670). In the ... a common belief that legalization would result in a tremendous increase in recreational use of marijuana, yet then goes on to provide his own solution. The solution he proposes is for the govern...

• Word Count: 694
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• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... even greater number are punished with probation, fines, and civil sanctions, including having their property seized, their driver's licenses revoked, and their employment terminated. Under federal law, possessing a single joint (or less) of marijuana is punishable by a fine from $1,000 to $10,000 and up to a year in prison ... people who live in public housing, the arrest of any family member for a drug offense can cause eviction of the entire family. Under state and federal law, mere investigation for a marijuana offense can result in the forfeiture of property, including cash, cars, boa...

• Word Count: 1871
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• Grade Level: High School

... One of the most common drugs that were used was cocaine. Cocaine was used in asthma remedies, toothache drops, and even soft drinks (Bender 8). After the government realizes the negative effects it was having on people and their behavior many states passed laws to restrict it. America has been fighting this drug war for many ... an effective drug as a medicine. Medical uses for marijuana are now legal in nine states of the United States of America including Arizona and California. However, the federal government still prohibits the use (Green). According to Lonnelle Aikman, "Preliminary ...

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... decision, then the state can do whatever it wants. Unless, the government tries to bribe them to change there ways. For example, if the government said that the state wasn't going to get 10 million in federal funds unless the state forbids prostitution and marijuana. Of course the state ... would stop permitting prostitution and marijuana and take the 10 million in federal funds. It states in the 10 ... Amendment any power not given to the national government is then reserved to the states. Which means if there is no statement about forbidding usage ... The prostitutes could be carryi...

• Word Count: 487
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... , the plants long standing history as a cash crop gave way to its new image as the "Devil's Weed." In 1930, the government founded the Federal Bureau of Narcotics who started a misinformation campaign against marijuana citing reports of insanity and violence known as "reefer madness." Because of this propaganda ... nation took a strong shift to the right and responded with harsher penalties for drug offenses. This continued through the Clinton administration with massive federal funding for the war on drugs. There are arguments for and against legalization. I believe the legalization of ...

• Word Count: 1147
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... exceed arrests for murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault combined. The majority of arrests were simply possession charges also. Because of this large increase in law enforcement, the Federal Government now spends about $16 billion on drug control (Faley, 5). Taxpayers are financially targeted also, dishing out almost $10 billion yearly to arrest and prosecute minor offenders (NORML. (2002 ... ). You"re Government is Lying to You (Again) About Marijuana. NORML. 1. http://www.norml.org). Keeping violators behind bars is estimated at $8.6 billion. In 1969, Pres...

• Word Count: 481
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... -tolerance for illegal drugs is absurd. Study after study, has shown us that regular usage among people is increasing; and even the federal government admits that approximately 26 million Americans use marijuana daily'(Leshner 2)A victim of the drug Joe Nickell states, "The problem with drug prohibition ... keep their distance from the police and be more sneaky and clandestinely about it. "There was a new study compiled by the Netherlands government health ministry and Amsterdam University and the results indicated there is far less per-capita pot use in the Netherlands than in the ... 3...

• Word Count: 1673
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• Grade Level: High School