Legalizing Marijuana Essay -- Papers Weed Drugs Legalization Essays

Legalizing Marijuana Why marijuana? Why legalize marijuana for recreational use? I think the question we should ask ourselves is ?why not Are there any benefits? Again, the focus is misplaced. The question should be how do the benefits of decriminalizing marijuana far outweigh the negative aspects. Why was marijuana made illegal in the first place? Marijuana is certainly not illegal due to health concerns, because if that were the case alcohol and tabacco would be illegal as well. The fact is Americans demand the freedom to choose. Freedom of choice is one of the basic principles this country was founded on. If that freedom of choice is the right to choose to indulge in vices that may be detrimental to one?s health, whether it be alcohol, tabacco or marijuana, than that must be a decision that we as Americans are able to make for ourselves. Why is the third most popular drug in the U.S., behind alcohol and tobacco, the only one of the three still illegal? It?s because most of the public is blind to th e benefits marijuana?s decriminalization would bring. This narrow minded way of thinking is similar to the kind of paranoia that caused it?s prohibition in 1937. Although legalizing the use of marijuana for recreational purposes would call for a greater sense of responsibility, it?s positive effects would have a profound impact on this nation. One of the largest and most costly problems concerned with this issue is overcrowded prisons. I think Nick Hexum illustrates it best when he sings, ?The war on drugs may be well intentioned-but it falls?flat when you stop and mention-the overcrowded prisons where a rapist gets paroled-to make room for a?[guy] who has sold-a pound of weed-to me that?s a crime? Although these are ... ...th Esq. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources Committee on Government Reform U.S. House of Representatives, July 13, 1999 http://www.norml.org/recreational/testimony99.shtml Bibliography: Gazzaniga, Michael S. ?An Interview With Michael Gazzaniga? The National Review Accessed March 4, 2001 http:members.dencity.com/warmth/ Hexum, Nicholas ?Grassroots? 311, 1994 Capricorn Records Jackson, Ted. ?Today, in Another Drug-Related www.intellectualcapital.com, accessed March 7, 2001. Stroup, R. Keith Esq. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources Committee on Government Reform U.S. House of Representatives, July 13, 1999 http://www.norml.org/recreational/testimony99.shtml