Essay --

With the growing number of people supporting the legalization of marijuana is it time to pass laws and make recreational use legal, or do all faults outweigh the good? The debate on whether marijuana should be legalized is currently a controversial topic. Many people have expressed their views on the topic, supporting their reasons for whether they think marijuana should be legalized. For some states it was easier to decide if the pros of legalizing marijuana outweighed the cons; such as Colorado and Washington. These states have already legalized the recreational use of marijuana. Marijuana is a fast-growing bushy plant with dense sticky flowers. It has been a part of our American culture for hundreds of years. It has been referred to as a poison, drug and narcotic. It is believed that marijuana was introduced by the Spanish in 1545 to Chile. In America the plant was first grown in Virginia and Massachusetts in the sixteen hundreds. It became a major commercial crop that was grown along with tobacco and was a source of fiber for fabric, rope and cloth. Later it was used to treat many health problems. During the 19th century many medical articles were written discussing marijuana’s value in treating conditions. The plant was considered legal from the 1600’s until the 19th century. Marijuana became popular in the mid-19th century and was in most drugstores through the beginning of the 20th century. It was around this time that recreational use of marijuana was becoming acknowledged. Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since t he Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. This is a federal law that made the possession or transfer of marijuana illegal throughout the United States. This law was the precursor to the crimina... ...ression, motivational syndrome, and even death. The brain damage has been shown to cause memory loss and difficulty in problem solving. In males, it will lower testosterone levels, lower sperm count, and may cause impotence. In females, marijuana may have some effects on pregnancy and can also cause birth defects. Legalization of marijuana could eventually lead to the legalization of harder drugs. Slowly progressing till it becomes possible for harder drugs to gain acceptance. Drugs like heroin, cocaine, and amphetamines, which many view now as unacceptable could eventually be up for legalization. Both sides give legitimate reasons whether it was for or against the legalization and should be taken into consideration. In the end when all sides of the argument are considered, it is simply a matter of opinion on whether you think marijuana should be legalized.