Legalization of Marijuana

Paper Summary:

Following the introduction in the paper, which explains why prohibition of marijuana in the US has been a failure, the writer presents a brief description of the history of marijuana and looks at its use in different cultures. The writer explains why marijuana is harmless and argues that marijuana should be legalized or at least decriminalized. After mentioning a few of many convincing reasons to legalize marijuana, the writer explains why one should and how one could move beyond the failure of prohibition. In addition, the writer suggests ways to take action in the fight to legalize marijuana.

From the Paper:

"The first recorded incident of the discovery of marijuana was made by Herodotus, a Greek historian, who recorded its psychedelic effects during his travels through northern Europe in 430 BC. A study of scriptural texts even shows that Jesus was almost certainly a cannabis user and an early proponent of the medicinal properties of the drug. In AD 1563, Queen Elizabeth I ordered landowners with 60 acres or more to grow cannabis or face a fine, and cannabis was not outlawed in Britain until 1928. Marijuana was first outlawed in the US in 1937, at which time over 3,000 doctors were prosecuted for illegally prescribing cannabis-derived medicines. Rallies and protests for the legalization of marijuana have continued to exist ever since it was prohibited in every country that outlawed it."
"Despite marijuana's legal status, it is still openly used in many countries, and it is used differently among many different cultures. Most people are aware of marijuana's legality in Amsterdam, which has made that country famous and recognized for one thing only."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Berg, Jessica. "Smokescreen." Hastings Center Report 36.4 (July 2006): 49-49. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Mullins Library, Fayetteville, AR. 3 December 2007. <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=22079513&s ite=ehost-live&scope=site>.
• Engber, Daniel. "NOTEBOOK." Chronicle of Higher Education 51.15 (03 Dec. 2004): A35-A35. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Mullins Library, Fayetteville, AR. 3 December 2007 <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=15324116&s ite=ehost-live&scope=site>.
• Hardy, Quentin, and Quentin Q. H.. "Inside Dope. (Cover story)." Forbes 172.10 (10 Nov. 2003): 146-154. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Mullins Library, Fayetteville, AR. 3 December 2007. <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=11225635&s ite=ehost-live&scope=site>.
• "Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth." Pediatrics 113.6 (June 2004): 1825-1826. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Mullins Library, Fayetteville, AR. 3 December 2007. <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=13164809&s ite=ehost-live&scope=site>.
• Thornton, Mark. "Prohibition versus Legalization: Do Economists Reach a Conclusion on Drug Policy?." Independent Review 11.3 (Winter 2007): 417-433. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Mullins Library, Fayetteville, AR. 3 December 2007. <http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=23590915&s ite=ehost-live&scope=site>.

More papers on Legalization of Marijuana:

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• Argumentative Essay # 123773 : "Reasons Against the Legalization of Marijuana"
• Argumentative Essay # 131436 : "Flaws in the Legalization of Marijuana"

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