Legalization of Marijuana Essay -- social issues

Legalization of Marijuana Take A Closer Look Those who oppose legalizing marijuana tell us that legalizing it would be seriously detrimental. Are they looking at the facts? Or do they just believe the same myths that our parents created when they were trying to stop us from becoming drug addicts? Let&rsquos take a closer look at the facts. Violence surrounding drug dealing would be lessened by legalizing marijuana because small time drug dealers would essentially be forced out of business. Larger companies who could produce high quality marijuana at lower cost would prevail. Most people would buy from these companies because they would know the product was free of adulterants and would contain no poisons. Wars between dealers of marijuana would end, and the sale of marijuana could be monitored by government the same way as essentially any other legitimate business. Sellers would be made accountable and a culture of responsibility would be formed. Desperate acts of theft and violence associated with its distribution would disappear as the black market disappears. Additionally, marijuana abusers who are currently being forced to live a life of shame and secrecy could openly seek help. Dangerous drugs such as crack cocaine and LSD are consistently placed in the same category as marijuana. These drugs are admittedly dangerous, but research has never been able to identify a link between crime and marijuana. Countless Americans have been branded as criminals and thrown into prison for merely possessing or smoking marijuana. Truly violent criminals are often paroled early for sheer lack of prison space because users of marijuana occupy the space. Why not leave the rapists and murderers in prison and let marijuana users engage in a relatively mild form of personal stimulation? Marijuana is safe and effective for medical use. Studies have proven that it is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting and that it can stimulate the appetite. This could help cancer and AIDS patients who face emaciation. Marijuana reduces tremors, restores balance, stops muscle spasms, restores bladder control, and restores speech and eyesight for multiple sclerosis patients. It can even prevent epileptic seizures. It can also alleviate pain and sometimes stop the progression of glaucoma because it reduces intraocular pressure. Marijuana is relatively harmless. Re... ... the time of purchase (as well as any retailers in between). The companies making the cigarettes would also have to pay income taxes. As marijuana has many medical uses and is fairly expensive ($160 to $400 per ounce), pharmaceutical companies also stand to make a profit. Drug paraphernalia could be openly sold and profits could be made there as well. The court system would profit as well. Courts would not be burdened by all of the marijuana cases that come before it. The cost of imprisoning marijuana users is enormous. If they were not convicted to begin with, we wouldn&rsquot need a place to put them. The war on drugs is accomplishing as much by chasing marijuana users as a fire fighter would by trying to put out a forest fire with one fire truck. If it is fought back in one place, it pops up in another. Drug enforcement officials are wasting their time and money trying to fight marijuana use. If marijuana were legalized, the money could be better concentrated on keeping minors off drugs. Achievable objectives could be set for law enforcement. Illogical patterns of law enforcement could end and a more responsible approach to controlling marijuana could be developed.