Legalizing Marijuana Issues - Research Paper Example

15 June Assignment Marijuana has been used as a recreational drug since the times of the early civilizations which inhabited the Earth. It has served the cause of humanity to a great extent, allowing people to relax within their comfort zones as well as opening up new horizons of thought process which have led to many developments over a period of time. The usage of Marijuana by humans first developed as a fiber. This fiber was used to construct houses and dwellings for the Chinese people. No one at that time knew the importance of this fiber which had the potential to change a mans perception about life. It is also believed that India was one of the few countries which pioneered the consumption of this plant as a tool for recreation and relaxation. The Sadhus and the Gurus who practiced the art of spiritual elevation found this plant to be extremely useful for their purpose. They gained a lot from its usage whereby it was considered to be a holy drug. Earlier texts of Hinduism dictate that Marijuana was used by the Hindu Gods to evolve and to relax at the same time. (ElSohly, Mahmoud) Ancient Hindu text Soma Veda refers to Marijuana as the “food of the thinking mind.” Indians call it Ganja. It has served millions of people over a period of time and has been acclaimed as a life saving drug. However, there are side effects of this plant and if consumed by the innocent it may drive one to an extremely negative frame of mind. Marijuana comes from the plant known as Cannabis Sativa. The major psychoactive compound in the plant is known as THC, and this is the element which is responsible for the psychoactive effects in the human mind. The female plant of Cannabis Sativa is consumed by people as it is said to be more potent with THC than the male plant. (Rudgley, Richard) Marijuana has been used for medicinal as well as recreational purposes. Marijuana influences the human body and mind in many different ways. It has the power of changing the mood to the perception of the human mind for a particular object. It enhances hunger when consumed and can lead to weight loss among those who consume it. It relaxes the muscles and also helps the mind calm down after the THC molecules hit the ‘cannabinoid’ receptors which are present in the human mind. The situation for the usage of Marijuana remains static as most of the countries have banned the recreational use of this drug, however, it is allowed in those countries to be used for medicinal purposes. (Gettman, Jon) Audience The topic is meant for two kinds of people: Those who have tried Marijuana in their life and are not prejudiced towards it. Those who have not tried Marijuana in their life and are prejudiced towards it For those who have tried and are not prejudiced towards it, it is very simple to explain them the benefit of legalizing the drug. However, there are arguments which come from this side of the people who say that let it be the way it is. They say that the law should not enter the domain of Marijuana and the status quo should be maintained for its use. Their reason is valid as they understand that no matter what the law says, they will still be able to find means to procure Marijuana and consume it for their relaxation purposes. (Iversen, Leslie) However, they fail to understand that in spite of them consuming the plant in such a fashion, it remains a fact that this is not the legal way and they are going beyond the boundaries of law to procure and use this item. This is where the argument of legalizing Marijuana erupts, as those who want to smoke it and want it to be legalized raise their voice. These are the people who say that the boundaries of law have to be stretched to accommodate those societies which have been living on this plant for centuries now. However, there is strong counter argument from the other camp, as they believe that it is a drug and has extremely volatile effects on the human mind and body, and therefore it should never be legalized. (Riedel, G., and S.N Davies) The topic is indeed compelling and timely. The argument of legalizing Marijuana will never run out of time. It has been a debate which has been going on for ages now and the whole process of societies opening up to it and accepting it the way they have accepted alcohol will take a lot of time and effort, from those who want to legalize it and also from those who think it is in the right domain to legalize it and let the people decide for themselves. The topic is compelling as it gives the writer to think and argue for both the sides. It has been a long drawn debate and therefore it is in the interest of the writer to engage his mind and energy into something which has been as controversial as this has been. People from all walks of life have indulged in this ecstasy, be it the rock stars, of the founding fathers of USA, or the common average man smoking in his courtyard, or the young students in college ready to take on the mantle of their life. It has been used and consumed by every kind of person out there and therefore it is a timely and a compelling topic to debate on. (World Drug Report) Arguments Even though Marijuana has been consumed for over 10,000 years, it is still illegal to smoke for recreational purposes in most of the developed countries. Apart form Netherlands; almost every country has banned the usage of the drug for recreational and private purposes. Since the beginning of the 20th century, countries all over the world have banned the cultivation, possession or transfer of Marijuana. India, however, allows the Sadhus and Gurus to smoke for religious purposes, and there is a dedicated festival which marks the celebration of consuming Marijuana. (Rubin, Vera D) There are countries where it is decriminalized, while countries like India, Australia have it as a “banned” substance but the rule is often not enforced properly. However, lets argue as to why Marijuana should be legalized as a substance. Alcohol and Cigarettes are allowed to be used and therefore are legal in most of the countries around the world. However, the story is not the same for Marijuana. The reason is that these countries have a negative attachment to this substance, and after having been labeled as a “drug”, Marijuana did not have much chance to be legalized in such countries. Even though there is not a single reported death of Marijuana usage as against the likes of Alcohol and Cigarette, this substance still remains to be banned all over the world. Marijuana is the safest substance out of all three, but yet it is still used behind the shadows of the dark. Marijuana should be legalized as it helps people to calm their minds down and reach a stage of extreme spiritual elevation where the mind reaches the highest stage of thinking, and it keeps on exploring new avenues as the person grows in life.This has had huge advantages for people who have indulged in profession which requires a lot of thinking and analyzing of information. (Forbes, Daniel) It has influenced the minds of the great people in science, arts and literature. The great founding fathers of the USA smoked Marijuana and so did the Beatles and the Led Zeppelin. It cannot be denied that it has enormous effects on the mind and only the smart and clever should consume it, but on the other hand there is no evidence of it destroying the mind of the weak. On the other hand, it has helped the weak people overcome their negative inhibitions in life and start a new beginning with a fresh thought process to take on in life. Works Cited ElSohly, Mahmoud A. Marijuana and the Cannabinoids. Totowa, NJ: Humana, 2007. Print. Rudgley, Richard. The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Substances. London: Abacus, 1999. Print. Gettman, Jon. Home Page and Index for | MarijuanaLibrary.org. Web. 16 July 2011. . Riedel, G., and S.N Davies. Handb Exp Pharmacol. 2005. Print. Iversen, Leslie. "Long-term Effects of Exposure to Cannabis." Current Opinion in Pharmacology 5.1 (2005): 69-72. Print. The long-term use of cannabis, particularly at high intake levels, is associated with several adverse psychosocial features, including lower educational achievement and, in some instances, psychiatric illness. There is little evidence, however, that long-term cannabis use causes permanent cognitive impairment, nor is there is any clear cause and effect relationship to explain the psychosocial associations. There are some physical health risks, particularly the possibility of damage to the airways in cannabis smokers. Rubin, Vera D. Cannabis and Culture. The Hague: Mouton, 1976. Print. This book talks about the kind of culture that the use of cannabis has created all over the world; various people and communities make use of this drug for several reasons including achieving a perception of life and understanding the world around them. "Why Is Marijuana Illegal? « Drug WarRant." Drug WarRant. Web. 16 July 2011. . Marijuana is considered to be illegal in most parts of the world and that has been characterized and described on this very website. It talks about the different ways because of which the drug has been shunned by most parts of society around the world and has helped to supplement the negative aspect of this paper. World Drug Report 2008. Viena, Austria: United Nations, Office on Drigs and Crime, 2008. Print. This report written by the United Nations has been released for the purpose of understanding statistics and information based on the usage of drugs in the year 2008. Forbes, Daniel. "The Myth of Potent Pot. - By Daniel Forbes." Slate Magazine. Web. 16 July 2011. . This intelligent article talks about the myths related to the use and abuse of marijuana and how people around the world have taken to creating myths about the same in order to discourage its use because of their belief that the same is not good for the general people. "Many Dutch Coffee Shops Close as Liberal Policies Change." Expatica – News and Information for the International Community. Web. 16 July 2011. . Since 1999 Dutch local politicians have had the right to shut down shops even if there were no reports of trouble or disturbances and in Enschede alone the number of shops fell from 17 in 1999 to 9 in 2007. Christian Schultz reports. ROUGH DRAFT The article has been written on the basis of several points that have made up the essay and help the reader to understand the background and history of the drug marijuana. It has been divided into various parts which have been explained below; these are: 1. Definition and usage of marijuana around the world. 2. Uses of marijuana other than for the purpose of a drug. 3. Background and history regarding the source and place of the drug. 4. All about the historical aspect of the use of marijuana in places like India. 5. Targeting an apt audience that will be able to understand and ratify the uses of the drug, as well as the people who will not be able to do so. 6. Arguments for the use of and legalizing the drug marijuana because of the advantages that it poses to people. 7. The use of a strong bibliography and annotated sources in order to help the reader understand the importance and strength of the arguments posed forth for proposing marijuana legalization. In conclusion, the article has tried to help the reader understand the advantages that are associated with legalizing marijuana and using it in a man’s day to day lifestyle. Read More