Marijuana.com

Insaneteacher · 05-02-2006, 11:14 AM

just this morning i wrote a research paper for my english teacher on marijuana. i would like some input as the final copy is due tomorrow. i think i have written it pretty well, citing my sources and the like. is there anything i could add? any input would be GREATLY appreciated!

Marijuana is a mixture of the flowering buds of the cannabis plant as well as stems and sometimes seeds. The plant itself, depending on variety can grow to be anywhere from 1 foot to 12 feet. The marijuana plant usually contains from five to seven thin leaves that spread outward from the stem. The growing process is extremely difficult and the disruption of this process can lead to yellowing of the leaves or a poor yield of flower.

The chemical responsible for most of the psychological effects of marijuana is Delta 9-tetrahydrocannnibinol (THC). Most marijuana contains only 6-8% THC, although there are a variety of other psychoactive chemicals. Most THC is found in the trichomes, which are crystals usually on the flowering buds of the marijuana plant. The molecular formula for THC is C12 H30 O2. The chemical itself is solid, and not soluble in water. The THC moves through the bloodstream and within 0-10 minutes reaches the brain, where the THC is absorbed by cannabinoid receptors. (http://www.gwu.edu)

Marijuana is a drug with many different names attributed to it. Such terms include: weed, grass, ganja, boom, panda, chronic, Mary Jane, reefer, pot, smoke, herb, and green. Marijuana is typically smoked in pipes or in tubes of very thin cigarette paper, called joints or “sticks”. Marijuana can also be smoked in devices called water pipes. (www.freevibe.com)

Water pipes use filtration to cool the smoke so that it does not cause as much irritation when it enters the lungs.

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States today. In 1999, the percentage of 12-17 year olds using marijuana once a month was 37.7%. That percentage remained nearly the same in 2000. Marijuana can also impair driving ability. After smoking just one joint, reaction time during driving is decreased by 41%. After two joints, the decrease is even greater, 63%. (http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/marijuana.htm)

There are three different species of the Cannabis plant. These are Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis. The Sativa variety is usually associated with marijuana of higher quality. It can grow to be 6 feet tall and usually takes a while longer to fully mature than other varieties. The Sativa variety produces a “heady”, more energetic high. The Indica variety is commonly associated with marijuana of a lower quality. It matures quicker and is usually shorter than the Sativa variety. It produces a “couch-lock” type of high in which an effect called “the munchies” is commonly experienced. (http://www.answerbag.com) “The munchies” are a direct result of appetite stimulation caused by marijuana.

The marijuana high is a strange and mysterious thing, and is often hard to describe. It can be very relaxing, euphoric, and peaceful and can help users to cope with issues in their lives. Among first time users though, it can be stressful and cause feelings of anxiousness. Many short-term users have experienced periods of rapid heart beating as well as extreme nervousness and perspiration.

Some negative short-term effects of marijuana include short-term memory loss, loss of coordination, blurred vision, and slurred speech. Long term effects can include the loss of the ability to learn and retain information as well as a permanent slowness in speech. Positive effects of marijuana include feelings of euphoria, a feeling of being connected with others in the room, deeper thinking, a feeling of well being, and a deeper appreciation and connection to music. (www.erowid.org)

Marijuana is a substance that recently has had much controversy surrounding it. Currently, marijuana for recreational use is illegal in all fifty states, although some states are more lenient than others. Marijuana is classified as a regulated schedule 1 hallucinogen. This means it is federally illegal to grow, purchase, possess, or distribute in all forms (cannabis plants, extracts, hash, hash oil etc).

International law concerning cannabis is much different internationally than it is in the United States. In Belgium, it is acceptable for an adult to possess 3 grams of cannabis and not be arrested, detained, or prosecuted in anyway. In Canada, marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug, but its laws against possession and cultivation are spottily enforced. The area most notable for this is British Columbia. British Columbia is home to some of the purest, most desired strains of marijuana in the world. N.O.R.M.L.

In Mexico, a new bill was recently passed that would make possession of under 5 grams legal. It has not passed into law yet, but it is certainly on its way. In the Netherlands, it is technically illegal to possess or distribute cannabis. However, the government does not prosecute individuals over the 18 who engage in the act of smoking it. (www.erowid.org)

Legalization is a subject with much fervor and controversy surrounding both sides of the argument. For years, people like Marc Emery and organizations such as N.O.R.M.L. have fought for the reform of cannabis laws. There have been many rallies, speeches, parades, protests, and sit-ins designed to bring the issue to the government’s attention. Despite these numerous efforts, the United States government seems unwilling to budge. In fact, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is seeking to extradite Marc Emery and prosecute him for the distribution of cannabis seeds.

Decriminalization is already working for many parts of the world. For example, although the Netherlands (where the smoking of marijuana is not punished) has the fifth highest violent crime rate in the world, it is steadily decreasing. The number of drug related crimes are also rapidly decreasing.

The drug is in fact, not more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in responsibly. It is a fact, that, in its 500,000 plus years of use, there have been absolutely no documented deaths directly related to marijuana. Limiting the use of the drug also intrudes on an individual’s personal privacy. Many law enforcement officers have been known to overstep their bounds in order to arrest an individual for possession of cannabis. Such overstepping of boundaries can be hurtful to the individual being accused of the crime, usually causing a legal mess that noone should have to deal with.

If the government legalized marijuana, it would mean a lower price; thus, related crimes (like theft) would be reduced. People would no longer have to steal large quantities of money to buy marijuana, as it would be sold relatively cheaply. So called “street justice” related to drug deals would be greatly reduced. There would be no more disputes over who “ripped off” whom, and there would be fewer robberies related to marijuana in general.

Marijuana could also be a newfound source of tax revenues. If the government legally packaged and sold cannabis, it could charge a tax of a dollar or more on any amount of cannabis purchased. This would greatly increase the income of the government and could help to fund education, or the ever-growing War on Terror.

Also, law enforcement and court resources would not be tied up with petty drug crimes and would be more inclined to deal with more serious crimes.

Another reason for legalization is that drug dealers would lose most of their business. This is a good thing because usually a drug dealer’s money goes to fund other crimes. Drug dealers are also often responsible for the distribution of marijuana (among other drugs) to young children. If marijuana were legalized, the number of children using marijuana would be greatly reduced. (www.balancedpolitics.org)
Yet another reason for legalization is the growing number of people who use marijuana medicinally. Marijuana can be used to alleviate pain caused by illnesses such as glaucoma. It has also shown to be more effective at alleviating pain then most prescription pain killers such as Codeine, or Valium. It is also less addictive than the aforementioned painkillers. Millions of people a year become addicted to narcotic painkillers and it can cause many emotional and physical problems for the user. If marijuana were at least decriminalized for medical use, it could help to stop this growing addiction problem.
Marijuana can also be used to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients or people suffering from anorexia. If decriminalized, medical marijuana would do much more good than harm.
In fact, medical marijuana has been decriminalized already in California, after passing state proposition 215, the California legislature ruled it legal to possess and cultivate cannabis if the individual found to be in possession of the cannabis had a doctor’s prescription. (www.erowid.org)
There are also arguments against legalization that must be discussed. Over the course of years of long term use, marijuana has shown to be psychologically addictive. If marijuana were decriminalized, this addiction rate would surely go up. Although marijuana is not physically addictive, such as heroin or other opiates are, a psychological addiction can still be a lot to cope with. Also, if marijuana were decriminalized, it would probably be easier for it to reach the hands of children. Stoned driving would probably also increase, causing the number of automobile accidents to steadily rise.
Currently there is no movement in the federal government to make a move to decriminalize or entirely legalize cannabis in any form. Many activists fear cannabis law reform is a long time coming, and they’re right, in fact, we may see little to no law reform for many years to come.

In conclusion, one can see that cannabis is a double edged sword. It has many different positive and negative effects that must be studied and gone over very carefully to determine to which side it is best to belong, for marijuana, or against it.

420drummer · 05-02-2006, 09:24 PM

Thats a great paper, i learned things i didnt know. and you put up some good arguments for legalization.

in conclusion, i really enjoyed reading this.

homemadebubbler · 05-02-2006, 09:39 PM

Nicely written paper dude. Way to spread the truth about marijuana

TMG · 05-02-2006, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insaneteacher

just this morning i wrote a research paper for my english teacher on marijuana. i would like some input as the final copy is due tomorrow. i think i have written it pretty well, citing my sources and the like. is there anything i could add? any input would be GREATLY appreciated!

Marijuana is a mixture of the flowering buds of the cannabis plant as well as stems and sometimes seeds. The plant itself, depending on variety can grow to be anywhere from 1 foot to 12 feet. The marijuana plant usually contains from five to seven thin leaves that spread outward from the stem. The growing process is extremely difficult and the disruption of this process can lead to yellowing of the leaves or a poor yield of flower.

take a moment to explain all of the uses for marijuana, including smoking it and why.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insaneteacher

The chemical responsible for most of the psychological effects of marijuana is Delta 9-tetrahydrocannnibinol(or THC, instead of (THC), it looks nicer) (THC). Most marijuana contains only 6-8% (write the numbers out on a research paper) THC, although there are (is) a variety of other psychoactive chemicals present. Most THC is found in the trichomes, which are crystals usually found on the flowering (female species instead) buds of the marijuana plant. The molecular formula for THC is C12 H30 O2. (<---not really necessary) The chemical THC itself is solid, and not soluble in water. get rid of that) (When one smokes marijuana) the THC moves through the bloodstream and within 0-10 minutes (say one to ten) reaches the brain, where the THC is absorbed by cannabinoid receptors. (http://www.gwu.edu) (This is the process that occurs which causes one to feel blah blah blah) keep going with it.

Marijuana is a drug with many different names attributed to it. (I would say, because of it's popularity, pot has been given many different acronyms throughout history. When it first came around it was called *whatever*. In the sixties people called it *whatever*) Such terms include: weed, grass, ganja, boom, panda, chronic, Mary Jane, reefer, pot, smoke, herb, and green. Marijuana is typically smoked in pipes or in tubes of very thin cigarette paper, called joints or “sticks”. Marijuana can also be smoked in devices called water pipes. (Intead of justs howing us a picture of one, explain what it is and how they work) (www.freevibe.com) (Don't forget in India millons of people use Hookahs, and it's part of their religion I think)

Water pipes use filtration to cool the smoke so that it does not cause as much irritation when it enters the lungs. (explain why you just said that, something along the lines of "making water pipes the best choice if you choose to smoke because they are better for your health")

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States today. In 1999, the percentage of 12-17 (write them out!) year olds using marijuana once a month was 37.7%. That percentage remained nearly the same in 2000. (You really need to get more recent statistics, within the past three years at least would be better) Marijuana can also impair driving ability. After smoking just one joint, reaction time during driving is decreased by 41%. After two joints, the decrease is even greater, 63%. (http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/marijuana.htm) (Okay, woah, back up. This whole sentence is out of place. You jumped from how many people smoke it to the bad aspects of pot with no indication, keep talking about how many people smoke and what kind of people smoke (from high school kids to rown business men), and then have a separate paragraph discussing the negative and positive aspects of pot)

There are three different species of the Cannabis plant. These are Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis. The Sativa variety is usually associated with marijuana of higher quality. It can grow to be 6 feet tall and usually takes a while longer to fully mature than other varieties. The Sativa variety produces a “heady” (???,not a word! say a more a high you feel is stronger mentally than physically), (therefore) more energetic high. The Indica variety is commonly associated with marijuana of a lower quality. It matures quicker and is usually shorter than the Sativa variety. It produces a “couch-lock” (I have no clue, that's not making sense to me, and your teacher won't know) type of high(,) in which an effect called “the munchies” is commonly experienced. (say "which is commonly known to stimulate one's appetite" instead) (http://www.answerbag.com) “The munchies” are a direct result of appetite stimulation caused by marijuana.
(say "this process is commonly known among people who use marijuana as "the munchies" instead)

The marijuana high is a strange and mysterious thing, and is often hard to describe (unless you have experienced it yourself). It can be very relaxing, euphoric, and peaceful(. end sentence) and can help users to cope with issues in their lives. say SOME pople use it to cope with issues, such as cancer and/or HIV, in their lives Among first time users though, it can be stressful and cause feelings of anxiousness. Many short-term users have experienced periods of rapid heart beating as well as extreme nervousness and perspiration.
(get rid of all of this, it's out of place, unecessary, and you didn;t talk enough about why people smoke it. Talk about people who use it for medical purposes as well as the commercial use for hemp instead)

Some negative short-term effects of marijuana include short-term memory loss, loss of coordination, blurred vision, and slurred speech. Long term effects can include the loss of the ability to learn and retain information as well as a permanent slowness in speech. (but unlike otther drugs, none of this has ever been scientifically proven, it's pretty much all speculation, whcih should say something) Positive effects of marijuana include feelings of euphoria, a feeling of being connected with others in the room, deeper thinking, a feeling of well being, and a deeper appreciation and connection to music. (www.erowid.org) (Come on, you can think of more, be cheesy, it's a research paper)

Marijuana is a substance that recently has had much controversy surrounding it. (say "Now more than ever marijuana reform laws are taking center stage, as usual, shrouded in controvery".) Currently, marijuana for recreational use is illegal in all fifty states, although some states are more lenient than others. (explain more ann arbor, california, etc, also mention the current university of Colorado incident) Marijuana is classified as a regulated schedule 1 hallucinogen. This means it is federally illegal to grow, purchase, possess, or distribute in all forms (cannabis plants, extracts, hash, hash oil etc). (instead say "According to the US federal government it is illegal to blah blah blah)

International law concerning cannabis is much different internationally than it is in the United States. (The laws are much different internationally tan in America) In Belgium (say "for example"), it is acceptable for an adult to possess 3 grams of cannabis and not be arrested, detained, or prosecuted in any(space)way. In Canada, marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug, but its (their) laws against possession and cultivation are spottily enforced. The area most notable for this is British Columbia. British Columbia is home to some of the purest, most desired strains of marijuana in the world. N.O.R.M.L. (<----- Why did you randomly say NORML, make that make better sense)

In Mexico, a new (<--get rid of "new") bill was recently passed that would make possession of under 5 (five) grams legal. It has not passed into law yet, but it is certainly on its way. (will be shortly) In the Netherlands, it is technically illegal to possess or distribute cannabis. (cannabis; however, the) However, the government does not prosecute individuals over the 18 who engage in the act of smoking it. (www.erowid.org)

Legalization is a (heated) subject with much fervor (say debate instead) and (ferverous, GOOD GOD that's the last one for now, I'll do more later) controversy surrounding both sides of the argument. For years, people like Marc Emery and organizations such as N.O.R.M.L. have fought for the reform of cannabis laws. There have been many rallies, speeches, parades, protests, and sit-ins designed to bring the issue to the government’s attention. Despite these numerous efforts, the United States government seems unwilling to budge. In fact, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is seeking to extradite Marc Emery and prosecute him for the distribution of cannabis seeds.

Decriminalization is already working for many parts of the world. For example, although the Netherlands (where the smoking of marijuana is not punished) has the fifth highest violent crime rate in the world, it is steadily decreasing. The number of drug related crimes are also rapidly decreasing.

The drug is in fact, not more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in responsibly. It is a fact, that, in its 500,000 plus years of use, there have been absolutely no documented deaths directly related to marijuana. Limiting the use of the drug also intrudes on an individual’s personal privacy. Many law enforcement officers have been known to overstep their bounds in order to arrest an individual for possession of cannabis. Such overstepping of boundaries can be hurtful to the individual being accused of the crime, usually causing a legal mess that noone should have to deal with.

If the government legalized marijuana, it would mean a lower price; thus, related crimes (like theft) would be reduced. People would no longer have to steal large quantities of money to buy marijuana, as it would be sold relatively cheaply. So called “street justice” related to drug deals would be greatly reduced. There would be no more disputes over who “ripped off” whom, and there would be fewer robberies related to marijuana in general.

Marijuana could also be a newfound source of tax revenues. If the government legally packaged and sold cannabis, it could charge a tax of a dollar or more on any amount of cannabis purchased. This would greatly increase the income of the government and could help to fund education, or the ever-growing War on Terror.

Also, law enforcement and court resources would not be tied up with petty drug crimes and would be more inclined to deal with more serious crimes.

Another reason for legalization is that drug dealers would lose most of their business. This is a good thing because usually a drug dealer’s money goes to fund other crimes. Drug dealers are also often responsible for the distribution of marijuana (among other drugs) to young children. If marijuana were legalized, the number of children using marijuana would be greatly reduced. (www.balancedpolitics.org)
Yet another reason for legalization is the growing number of people who use marijuana medicinally. Marijuana can be used to alleviate pain caused by illnesses such as glaucoma. It has also shown to be more effective at alleviating pain then most prescription pain killers such as Codeine, or Valium. It is also less addictive than the aforementioned painkillers. Millions of people a year become addicted to narcotic painkillers and it can cause many emotional and physical problems for the user. If marijuana were at least decriminalized for medical use, it could help to stop this growing addiction problem.
Marijuana can also be used to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients or people suffering from anorexia. If decriminalized, medical marijuana would do much more good than harm.
In fact, medical marijuana has been decriminalized already in California, after passing state proposition 215, the California legislature ruled it legal to possess and cultivate cannabis if the individual found to be in possession of the cannabis had a doctor’s prescription. (www.erowid.org)
There are also arguments against legalization that must be discussed. Over the course of years of long term use, marijuana has shown to be psychologically addictive. If marijuana were decriminalized, this addiction rate would surely go up. Although marijuana is not physically addictive, such as heroin or other opiates are, a psychological addiction can still be a lot to cope with. Also, if marijuana were decriminalized, it would probably be easier for it to reach the hands of children. Stoned driving would probably also increase, causing the number of automobile accidents to steadily rise.
Currently there is no movement in the federal government to make a move to decriminalize or entirely legalize cannabis in any form. Many activists fear cannabis law reform is a long time coming, and they’re right, in fact, we may see little to no law reform for many years to come.

In conclusion, one can see that cannabis is a double edged sword. It has many different positive and negative effects that must be studied and gone over very carefully to determine to which side it is best to belong, for marijuana, or against it.

Insaneteacher · 05-02-2006, 10:10 PM

i appreciate your replies. thank you TittsMcghee for your very THOROUGH picking apart of my paper. i really appreciate it as i wasn't confident this was written too well. i don't want you to think i'm unintelligent though, i am writing this for a freshman english class, and i mean freshman in high school, so it isn't like it's the most important thing in the world. if it was i probably would have worked on it last night instead of this morning. anyway, i still very much appreciate your changes and will incorporate them into the final copy. thanks again!

TMG · 05-02-2006, 10:32 PM

No prob, sorry I got so carried away there. I'm an english minor, therefore I write term papers and research papers constantly.

Insaneteacher · 05-02-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titts McGhee

No prob, sorry I got so carried away there. I'm an english minor, therefore I write term papers and research papers constantly.

haha that certainly explains it, i'm confident you've helped me enough to earn me a nice big A. that will definitley look good in the gradebook so thank you!!!!!

Lady_Mary · 05-08-2006, 12:28 PM

Wow, thanks - both of you.

I haven't been in this part of the site for quite a long time and just happened to find this thread. I learned a lot from the original paper and the critique of it also.

Since it's past the due date, did you get that A? If you didn't, I'd like to have a word with your teacher.

Is this all true????

Quote:

just this morning i wrote a research paper for my english teacher on marijuana.

Quote:

i am writing this for a freshman english class, and i mean freshman in high school,

Assuming it is am impressed as all get out!?

All the best,
Lollie

Insaneteacher · 05-08-2006, 08:23 PM

well i did have alot of help from TittsMcghee, as i'm sure you've figured out from reading the thread. but yes i am a freshman in highschool and i did write the final copy rather early in the morning. i'm glad you liked it, and it was turned in on time (to the best of my knowledge

) although i haven't gotten it back with a grade on it yet. i'll certainly let you (and anyone else who is interested

) know.

carlover_36 · 09-21-2006, 11:33 PM

was just stoning through posts and read this one.Reminded me of when I was a freshman in high school and wrote a paper entitled "The Rising Cost of Marijuana",got an A on that paper.But that was back in 1977-78.Hope you did as well on yours.

05-02-2006, 11:14 AM	#1
Insaneteacher Friend of the Devil Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,503 Grams: 2,271.98 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: -1.000%	PLEASE READ!! research paper on marijuana! just this morning i wrote a research paper for my english teacher on marijuana. i would like some input as the final copy is due tomorrow. i think i have written it pretty well, citing my sources and the like. is there anything i could add? any input would be GREATLY appreciated! Marijuana is a mixture of the flowering buds of the cannabis plant as well as stems and sometimes seeds. The plant itself, depending on variety can grow to be anywhere from 1 foot to 12 feet. The marijuana plant usually contains from five to seven thin leaves that spread outward from the stem. The growing process is extremely difficult and the disruption of this process can lead to yellowing of the leaves or a poor yield of flower. The chemical responsible for most of the psychological effects of marijuana is Delta 9-tetrahydrocannnibinol (THC). Most marijuana contains only 6-8% THC, although there are a variety of other psychoactive chemicals. Most THC is found in the trichomes, which are crystals usually on the flowering buds of the marijuana plant. The molecular formula for THC is C12 H30 O2. The chemical itself is solid, and not soluble in water. The THC moves through the bloodstream and within 0-10 minutes reaches the brain, where the THC is absorbed by cannabinoid receptors. (http://www.gwu.edu) Marijuana is a drug with many different names attributed to it. Such terms include: weed, grass, ganja, boom, panda, chronic, Mary Jane, reefer, pot, smoke, herb, and green. Marijuana is typically smoked in pipes or in tubes of very thin cigarette paper, called joints or “sticks”. Marijuana can also be smoked in devices called water pipes. (www.freevibe.com) Water pipes use filtration to cool the smoke so that it does not cause as much irritation when it enters the lungs. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States today. In 1999, the percentage of 12-17 year olds using marijuana once a month was 37.7%. That percentage remained nearly the same in 2000. Marijuana can also impair driving ability. After smoking just one joint, reaction time during driving is decreased by 41%. After two joints, the decrease is even greater, 63%. (http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/marijuana.htm) There are three different species of the Cannabis plant. These are Sativa, Indica, and Ruderalis. The Sativa variety is usually associated with marijuana of higher quality. It can grow to be 6 feet tall and usually takes a while longer to fully mature than other varieties. The Sativa variety produces a “heady”, more energetic high. The Indica variety is commonly associated with marijuana of a lower quality. It matures quicker and is usually shorter than the Sativa variety. It produces a “couch-lock” type of high in which an effect called “the munchies” is commonly experienced. (http://www.answerbag.com) “The munchies” are a direct result of appetite stimulation caused by marijuana. The marijuana high is a strange and mysterious thing, and is often hard to describe. It can be very relaxing, euphoric, and peaceful and can help users to cope with issues in their lives. Among first time users though, it can be stressful and cause feelings of anxiousness. Many short-term users have experienced periods of rapid heart beating as well as extreme nervousness and perspiration. Some negative short-term effects of marijuana include short-term memory loss, loss of coordination, blurred vision, and slurred speech. Long term effects can include the loss of the ability to learn and retain information as well as a permanent slowness in speech. Positive effects of marijuana include feelings of euphoria, a feeling of being connected with others in the room, deeper thinking, a feeling of well being, and a deeper appreciation and connection to music. (www.erowid.org) Marijuana is a substance that recently has had much controversy surrounding it. Currently, marijuana for recreational use is illegal in all fifty states, although some states are more lenient than others. Marijuana is classified as a regulated schedule 1 hallucinogen. This means it is federally illegal to grow, purchase, possess, or distribute in all forms (cannabis plants, extracts, hash, hash oil etc). International law concerning cannabis is much different internationally than it is in the United States. In Belgium, it is acceptable for an adult to possess 3 grams of cannabis and not be arrested, detained, or prosecuted in anyway. In Canada, marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug, but its laws against possession and cultivation are spottily enforced. The area most notable for this is British Columbia. British Columbia is home to some of the purest, most desired strains of marijuana in the world. N.O.R.M.L. In Mexico, a new bill was recently passed that would make possession of under 5 grams legal. It has not passed into law yet, but it is certainly on its way. In the Netherlands, it is technically illegal to possess or distribute cannabis. However, the government does not prosecute individuals over the 18 who engage in the act of smoking it. (www.erowid.org) Legalization is a subject with much fervor and controversy surrounding both sides of the argument. For years, people like Marc Emery and organizations such as N.O.R.M.L. have fought for the reform of cannabis laws. There have been many rallies, speeches, parades, protests, and sit-ins designed to bring the issue to the government’s attention. Despite these numerous efforts, the United States government seems unwilling to budge. In fact, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is seeking to extradite Marc Emery and prosecute him for the distribution of cannabis seeds. Decriminalization is already working for many parts of the world. For example, although the Netherlands (where the smoking of marijuana is not punished) has the fifth highest violent crime rate in the world, it is steadily decreasing. The number of drug related crimes are also rapidly decreasing. The drug is in fact, not more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in responsibly. It is a fact, that, in its 500,000 plus years of use, there have been absolutely no documented deaths directly related to marijuana. Limiting the use of the drug also intrudes on an individual’s personal privacy. Many law enforcement officers have been known to overstep their bounds in order to arrest an individual for possession of cannabis. Such overstepping of boundaries can be hurtful to the individual being accused of the crime, usually causing a legal mess that noone should have to deal with. If the government legalized marijuana, it would mean a lower price; thus, related crimes (like theft) would be reduced. People would no longer have to steal large quantities of money to buy marijuana, as it would be sold relatively cheaply. So called “street justice” related to drug deals would be greatly reduced. There would be no more disputes over who “ripped off” whom, and there would be fewer robberies related to marijuana in general. Marijuana could also be a newfound source of tax revenues. If the government legally packaged and sold cannabis, it could charge a tax of a dollar or more on any amount of cannabis purchased. This would greatly increase the income of the government and could help to fund education, or the ever-growing War on Terror. Also, law enforcement and court resources would not be tied up with petty drug crimes and would be more inclined to deal with more serious crimes. Another reason for legalization is that drug dealers would lose most of their business. This is a good thing because usually a drug dealer’s money goes to fund other crimes. Drug dealers are also often responsible for the distribution of marijuana (among other drugs) to young children. If marijuana were legalized, the number of children using marijuana would be greatly reduced. (www.balancedpolitics.org) Yet another reason for legalization is the growing number of people who use marijuana medicinally. Marijuana can be used to alleviate pain caused by illnesses such as glaucoma. It has also shown to be more effective at alleviating pain then most prescription pain killers such as Codeine, or Valium. It is also less addictive than the aforementioned painkillers. Millions of people a year become addicted to narcotic painkillers and it can cause many emotional and physical problems for the user. If marijuana were at least decriminalized for medical use, it could help to stop this growing addiction problem. Marijuana can also be used to stimulate appetite in AIDS patients or people suffering from anorexia. If decriminalized, medical marijuana would do much more good than harm. In fact, medical marijuana has been decriminalized already in California, after passing state proposition 215, the California legislature ruled it legal to possess and cultivate cannabis if the individual found to be in possession of the cannabis had a doctor’s prescription. (www.erowid.org) There are also arguments against legalization that must be discussed. Over the course of years of long term use, marijuana has shown to be psychologically addictive. If marijuana were decriminalized, this addiction rate would surely go up. Although marijuana is not physically addictive, such as heroin or other opiates are, a psychological addiction can still be a lot to cope with. Also, if marijuana were decriminalized, it would probably be easier for it to reach the hands of children. Stoned driving would probably also increase, causing the number of automobile accidents to steadily rise. Currently there is no movement in the federal government to make a move to decriminalize or entirely legalize cannabis in any form. Many activists fear cannabis law reform is a long time coming, and they’re right, in fact, we may see little to no law reform for many years to come. In conclusion, one can see that cannabis is a double edged sword. It has many different positive and negative effects that must be studied and gone over very carefully to determine to which side it is best to belong, for marijuana, or against it. __________________ I watched with glee While your kings and queens Fought for ten decades For the gods they made I shouted out, Who killed the kennedys? When after all It was you and me

05-02-2006, 09:39 PM	#3
homemadebubbler Blue Bubblin' Bubbler Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3,921 Grams: 7,169.07 Groans: 3 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 82 Thanked 89 Times in 50 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Nicely written paper dude. Way to spread the truth about marijuana __________________ When they took the 4th Amendment away I was quiet because I didnt deal drugs//When they took the 6th Amendment away I was quiet because Id never been arrested//When they took the 2nd Amendment away I was quiet because I didnt own a gun//Now they took the 1st Amendment and all I can do is be quiet...

09-21-2006, 11:33 PM	#10
carlover_36 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 376 Grams: 2,520.81 Groans: 0 Groaned at 1 Time in 1 Post Thanks: 29 Thanked 44 Times in 28 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	just a thought was just stoning through posts and read this one.Reminded me of when I was a freshman in high school and wrote a paper entitled "The Rising Cost of Marijuana",got an A on that paper.But that was back in 1977-78.Hope you did as well on yours.

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05-02-2006, 09:24 PM	#2
420drummer Jr. Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 199 Grams: 1,486.30 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	Thats a great paper, i learned things i didnt know. and you put up some good arguments for legalization. in conclusion, i really enjoyed reading this.

05-02-2006, 10:10 PM	#5
Insaneteacher Friend of the Devil Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,503 Grams: 2,271.98 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: -1.000%	i appreciate your replies. thank you TittsMcghee for your very THOROUGH picking apart of my paper. i really appreciate it as i wasn't confident this was written too well. i don't want you to think i'm unintelligent though, i am writing this for a freshman english class, and i mean freshman in high school, so it isn't like it's the most important thing in the world. if it was i probably would have worked on it last night instead of this morning. anyway, i still very much appreciate your changes and will incorporate them into the final copy. thanks again!

05-02-2006, 10:32 PM	#6
TMG Sr. Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 821 Grams: 2,195.45 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: 0.000%	No prob, sorry I got so carried away there. I'm an english minor, therefore I write term papers and research papers constantly.

05-08-2006, 08:23 PM	#9
Insaneteacher Friend of the Devil Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,503 Grams: 2,271.98 Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Thanks: 4 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Stock Portfolio Total Value: 0.000 Gain/Loss: -1.000%	well i did have alot of help from TittsMcghee, as i'm sure you've figured out from reading the thread. but yes i am a freshman in highschool and i did write the final copy rather early in the morning. i'm glad you liked it, and it was turned in on time (to the best of my knowledge ) although i haven't gotten it back with a grade on it yet. i'll certainly let you (and anyone else who is interested ) know.

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