The Legalization Of Drugs A Controversial Issue

The legalization of drugs has been and still is a controversial issue that is quite difficult to settle. Drugs can be harmful but very resourceful. It is used to relieve minor or major pains but could also send thousands to emergency rooms. Throughout this paper, you will learn about the brief history of the prohibition of drugs and how it led to the ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution. The factors that the prohibition brought will also be discussed in this paper and how the damages of prohibition led to the passing of the 21st Amendment, bringing back prohibited substances. In addition, reasons to why legalization of drugs should be considered like how it could reduce crime and mass incarceration of minorities in the justice system, as well as their importance in the medical field, will be stated in this paper also. History of Drug Use Drugs have been abused for various reasons and have been a rolling factor in every corner of the globe. Alcoholism as well as marijuana and a couple of other illicit drugs have plagued America throughout history. Opium, a narcotic drug which is also known as the â€Å"plant of joy† was used 4,000 years ago; sales of cocaine and heroin solutions to the British royal family were recorded from around 1900 – 1920, and records from the year of 1912 indicate that a cocaine solution was sold to Winston Churchill (Siegel, 2010, p. 366). â€Å"Prior to the 1800 s†¦ most societies used drugs for medicinal or religious purposes†Show MoreRelatedAn Analysis of President Obama’s Remarks about Marijuana Essay624 Words   |  3 Pagesmade some controversial remarks about legalizing marijuana. President Obama stated that he did not think that marijuana was â€Å"more dangerous than alcohol† (Remnick). This comment has caused proponents of legalizing marijuana to praise the President, while opponents are criticizing him for seemingly supporting this banned substance. Author Frank James of NPR.org wrote an article entitled â€Å"Obamas Marijuana Remarks Light Up Legalization Debate.† James explains how those who support legalization were encouragedRead MoreThe Pros And Cons Of Marijuana Legalization1442 Words   |  6 PagesOf the many social issues that plague American society, the issue over the legalization of Marijuana remains as one of the most controversial topics. Marijuana, also known as Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. According to national surveys conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), â€Å"marijuana use rose from 4.1 percent to 9.5 percent of the U.S. adult population in the past decade.† The increase of Marijuana use created an ongoingRead MoreIs Cannabis Dangerous? This Particular Issue Has Been Discussed,1291 Words   |  6 Pagescannabi s dangerous? This particular issue has been discussed, contemplated, and argued in several settings throughout our country’s history, but it is a particularly prominent issue in today’s society. Many individuals have their own opinions on marijuana, whether it be positive or negative, but an objective perspective is necessary to justly weigh the benefits and detriments of marijuana use and legalization. When an unbiased person analyzes the controversial topic of cannabis, he or she would realizeRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1601 Words   |  7 PagesIllinois, New York, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey and Hawaii have legalized Marijuana for medical purposes only, the rest of the states have no laws legalizing marijuana (Governing). The legalization of marijuana on the states referred here have different governing rules, some states as Delaware have limited the use to private use up to an ounce, repl acing penalties for civil fines, California legalized marijuana only for medical purposes allowingRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Illegal?989 Words   |  4 PagesThe word marijuana gained attention in almost every American household today. Those who oppose the legalization of the use of plants that its use is automatic smoke , but those who do not choose to use marijuana is considered to be conducive to maintaining its illegal. On legal objections relating to chemical plant has caused much controversy in the past two decades, is still an important issue. In the Unites States to legalize marijuana would greatly reduce crime in our city , and is formed byRead MoreLegalizing Marijuana in the U.S. Essay1344 Words   |  6 PagesRunning head: LEGALIZATION OF Legalization of Marijuana: A hot topic Tonie J. Moutra GEN 499 Dr. Curt Sobolewski November 26, 2012 The legalization of marijuana for recreational usage could may be a new trend in America but the Federal government will likely oppose usage through the end of time. The Drug Enforcement Administrations (DEA) stance is that marijuana is an illegal drug and that using this drug whether for medicinal or recreational purposes is illegalRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized?1615 Words   |  7 PagesGrowing up, everyone has been taught that Drugs are bad. As kids, we nodded and promised not to be influenced by drugs; however, many people in society today are drug users or addicts. If legalized, marijuana would benefit the United States in terms of health, economy, and social reparations. Marijuana restriction laws may have a huge effect on underage usage. There has been similar evidence from the regulation of tobacco and alcohol. The correlation of smoking and drinking limits with the loweredRead MoreRhetorical Analysis Essay1443 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Rhetorical Analysis on â€Å"Here’s Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense† In ‘Here’s Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense’, Alex Newhouse, a lawyer who resides in the area of Sunnyside, Washington addresses the controversial issue of the legalization of cannabis. The sole purpose of Newhouse’s article is to persuade readers and voters that marijuana should be legalized. Throughout his article, Newhouse focuses on the use of ethos and logos, while also slightly focusing on the use of pathos, to helpRead MoreEssay on Legalization of Marijuana, Cocaine, and Prescription Pills1713 Words   |  7 Pages In the United States, there are many drugs that are outlawed due to their supposed harmful and dangerous effects on humans. Some of these drugs include marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and prescription pills that are abused by people to whom they are not prescribed. Recent movements have called for the legalization of all of these drugs. Although it appears that legalization of all drugs on the market seems like a valid movement, in reali ty, all hard drugs such as cocaine and prescription pills shouldRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay1470 Words   |  6 PagesBefore its prohibition, marijuana was a common ingredient found in different medicinal products. The drug was commercialized in the liquid form of hashish in most pharmaceutical stores across America. However, it was not until the early twentieth century that several states passed laws prohibiting the plant; at the time the case was not controversial and had little public outcry. Back then marijuana smoking was mostly performed by the lower class and immigrants, mainly of Mexican origin. Therefore