A Comprehensive Position on Psychoactive Substances - Essay Example

"A Comprehensive Position on Psychoactive Substances" is a great example of a paper on addiction. Marijuana is the most important psychoactive substance that the United States should address. Psychoactive drugs have long been used in society and Marijuana is no exception. Attention should, however, be drawn to this drug because it is produced naturally by growing plants. The drug is easily accessed by people since all one needs is a portion of land to grow it. In the same way, alcohol remains paramount in social events, Marijuana is also being incorporated in religious ceremonies, rites of passage, and other community celebrations. Given that the drug has devastating long-term effects, there is a need to thoroughly address all that concerns the drug (“Whitehouse”).

There are several strategies that have been put in place to address the use of Marijuana. After the enactment of the Controlled Substance Act, Congress maintained that Marijuana is a dangerous drug. It also stated that illegal growth, sale, and distribution of the drug are crimes. The Department of justice also committed to helping the federal and state governments realize the provisions of CSA. The two strategies will, therefore, control and help reduce the growth and use of Marijuana (“ONDCP”).

A new strategy to curb the use of Marijuana would be to reinforce the existing federal and state regulations with local-based partnerships. The prevention efforts for the use of Marijuana would be most effective if they would involve all the sectors of society. These sectors are such as social service systems, schools, religious and faith groups, local businesses, health service systems, and neighborhood organizations. United States residents can support this strategy because they are the worst hit when their relatives engage in Marijuana use. Furthermore, they understand enforcement officers can have difficulties dealing with people at grass-root levels. They can, however, oppose the strategy because they use Marijuana in almost all community celebrations.

 

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