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Alex Guelcher
Chris Tomlinson
Honors English
26 April 2009
Legalization of Marijuana
For years people have been saying that marijuana is bad for you, but is it really?
There have been many new studies that show that marijuana is not so harmful. Many
doctors believe that marijuana is no more addictive than alcohol or tobacco (Messerli). If
used in moderation, marijuana will have no long-term effects (Dubner, Grinspoon, and
DuPont). Marijuana should be legal because it is less dangerous than drugs that are
legal now, it can free up jail space while bringing in revenue for the government, and it
will considerably decrease the crime rate in the United States, and it can be used for
medical purposes.
Marijuana is less dangerous than drugs that are legal now. Patients who have
used marijuana have said that it works better than more toxic drugs. Marijuana would
also be cheaper and more cost effective. There are a lot of studies that show that
alcohol and tobacco are more addictive than marijuana. Alcohol and tobacco contain
highly addicting chemicals while marijuana has no real addictiveness. Also, while both
tobacco and alcohol cause cancer, a recent study shows that even with long term
effects marijuana does not cause cancer (Marijuana Legalization Organization).
Marijuana also has less harmful long term effects than many other drugs. “If
used properly, marijuana leads to a gentle alteration of consciousness. There is very
little risk to health, and the experience does not lead to any kind of antisocial behavior”
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(Dubner). Marijuana tends to make people calmer, while alcohol often makes people
more aggressive.
Marijuana can be used to help bring in government revenue and considerably
decrease the number of people incarcerated in the United States. The government
would save $ 7.7 billion in anti-marijuana expenditures every year, and if marijuana is
taxed like alcohol or tobacco the government would make $ 6.2 billion every year,
coming out to an amazing 13.9 billion dollars in income (Moffatt). We would also
experience a 40 to 45 percent drop in our crime rate from legalizing marijuana; under
current laws, 90 percent of those people who would have been arrested just for mere
possession (Siegel).
Marijuana can be used for medical purposes. People using marijuana for medical
reasons have said that it works better than other, more addictive drugs, plus it is more
cost effective than many other drugs (DUBNER, Grinspoon, and DuPont). Marijuana
seems to work better with certain medical conditions such as cancer and neurological
problems than conventional drugs (Zeese and Ruzzamenti). Moreover, the National
Academy of Sciences conducted a two-year study in the late 1990s which found that
“marijuana is most effective in treating pain and wasting syndrome, and in relieving the
nausea and vomiting caused by cancer therapies” (Parker).
Marijuana offers many benefits and few disadvantages, and so any reasonable
person should support its legalization. Time and time again studies have proven that
marijuana is a very useful drug, and no matter how much we do to prevent its use
people still get it. Finally, as Dr. Lester Grinspoon, associate professor of psychiatry at
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the Harvard Medical School puts it so well: “Marijuana has become part of our culture,
and it is here to stay.”
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Works Cited
DUBNER, STEPHEN J., Lester Grinspoon, and Robert L DuPont. On the Legalization
— or Not — of Marijuana. Weblog. 30 Oct. 2007. 19 Apr. 2009
<http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/on-the-legalization-or-not-ofmarijuana/>.
- - -. On the Legalization — or Not — of Marijuana. Weblog. 30 Oct. 2007. 19 Apr. 2009
<http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/on-the-legalization-or-not-ofmarijuana/>.
Marijuana Legalization Organization. 2007. 26 Apr. 2009 <http://www.mjlegal.org>.
Messerli, Joe. “Should Marijuana be Legalized under any Circumstances?”
http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm. 7 Apr. 04/07/2008.
19 Apr. 2009 <http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm>.
- - -. “Should Marijuana be Legalized under any Circumstances?”
http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm. 7 Apr. 04/07/2008.
19 Apr. 2009 <http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm>.
Moffatt, Mike. “Time to Legalize Marijuana? - 500+ Economists Endorse Marijuana
Legalization.” About.com. 2009. 19 Apr. 2009 <http://economics.about.com/od/
incometaxestaxcuts/a/legalize_pot.htm>.
- - -. “Time to Legalize Marijuana? - 500+ Economists Endorse Marijuana Legalization.”
About.com. 2009. 19 Apr. 2009 <http://economics.about.com/od/
incometaxestaxcuts/a/legalize_pot.htm>.
Parker, Jim. Marijuana: Medical Uses / Is Pot Medicine? Do It Now Foundation, Jan
2007. 27 Apr. 2009 <http://www.doitnow.org/pages/124.html>.
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- - -. Marijuana: Medical Uses / Is Pot Medicine? Do It Now Foundation, Jan 2007. 27
Apr. 2009 <http://www.doitnow.org/pages/124.html>.
Siegel, Robert. “Making the Case for Legalizing Marijuana.” Making the Case for
Legalizing Marijuana (Apr. 2007). Newspaper Source. EBSCO. 17 Apr. 2009
<http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=6XN200704062006&site=ehost-live>.
- - -. “Making the Case for Legalizing Marijuana.” Making the Case for Legalizing
Marijuana (Apr. 2007). Newspaper Source. EBSCO. 17 Apr. 2009
<http://search.ebscohost.com/
login.aspx?direct=true&db=nfh&AN=6XN200704062006&site=ehost-live>.
Zeese, Kevin, and William Ruzzamenti. “Should marijuana be legalized for medical
uses?” SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED FOR MEDICAL USES? 7.7
(1993): 1. Abstract. Health Library. EBSCO. 19 Apr. 2009
<http://search.ebscohost.com/>.
- - -. “Should marijuana be legalized for medical uses?” SHOULD MARIJUANA BE
LEGALIZED FOR MEDICAL USES? 7.7 (1993): 1. Abstract. Health Library.
EBSCO. 19 Apr. 2009 <http://search.ebscohost.com/>.
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