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Raegan Tatum
Dual Enrollment112
Argument Essay
2/28/16
A Can of Pot Opened on America
As times start to evolve, American people have become more tolerant and
accepting of what is now our new normal. Mary Jane (slang term for Marijuana) has
long been considered a drug that has no purpose other than to create a sensation of
euphoria within its users, many being the younger generation in society today.
Though, much of what we know to be true, depending upon whom you ask,
viewpoints continue to change daily. Mary Jane is now a topic in homes and
classrooms across America, even politicians are now forced to speak on it. It is the
opinion many that marijuana should be looked at above its negative connotations
and relationships that have been tied to this natural plant, smoked as a drug.
Marijuana has long been a staple product in the black market of drugs,
transcending generations it doesnt sound out of place that grandparents, parents
and their children have been using it for a long period of time now. Marijuana
remains illegal in majority of the United States, additionally there are harsh
consequences which users both recreational and medical need face. Breaking
down marijuana in its chemical composition, it is made up of a familiar chemical
tetrahydrocannabinol or commonly known as, THC. This chemical triggers
receptors within the brain to send off several cellular reactions causing the high
users experience. (Office). This drug has a domino effect of connecting similar
parts of the brain to justify the physical and mental damages caused by marijuana.
When I was younger especially in elementary and middle school the foundation was
laid, I use to think that marijuana was literally dangerous like the poison of a snake.

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Within the article, Examining the Scientific Research on Medical Marijuana, they
explicitly stated there is a lack of supporting information connecting any direct
blame on THC being harmful to a user of marijuana, due largely in part to there
was little information know [n] about how THC acted on brain cells (neurons), which
cells were affected by THC, or even what general areas of the brain were most
affected by THC, thus making the affects of THC not as alarming as originally
perceived to be. (Examining). In fact, studies conducted have indicated that THC
actually has the potential to have positive therapeutic effects, instead of inflicting
negative repercussions. Changing mindsets and moving into a new way of looking
at a drug that has had its name bashed in the negative pool of society wont happen
overnight. Searching for alternatives, for the good in this drug is a continuous
cycle, starting with its composition to see how marijuana may be naturally
beneficial to people as well as good for their health.
People opposing the legalization of marijuana, more particularly the medicinal
use of marijuana point out that there are no benefits derived from its use. They
suggest that using marijuana will and has shown the side effect of addiction and
creates dependency. The ASAM, American Society of Addiction Medicine, reaffirmed
the fact legalizing medical marijuana is a ruthless idea for society as a whole. . The
ASAM backups the notion, [that] there are real consequences associated with
marijuana use, ( Office). Addiction presents the greatest concern associated with
smoking marijuana, whether medically or recreationally. Legalizing marijuana,
overall, contradicts the godly facts that this particular drug presents a catastrophic
effect on the well-being of society. Denying the fact that any drug can become
addictive, is the way the government looks at most issues with conflicting and
contradicting sides. People have the freedom to choose the road to addiction on

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their free-will, or use it for its intended purpose for medical use. Marijuana addiction
shows ties to it being a big business and experts denying the correlation of severe
addiction,
Well, according to the nonpartisan National Academy of Sciences Institute of
Medicinewhich published a multiyear, million-dollar federal study assessing
marijuana and health in 1999"millions of Americans have tried marijuana, but
most are not regular users [and] few marijuana users become dependent on it." The
investigator added, "[A]though [some] marijuana users develop dependence, they
appear to be less likely to do so than users of other drugs (including alcohol and
nicotine), and marijuana dependence appears to be less severe than dependence
on other drugs, (Armentano).
Abusing the idea of having marijuana as a medical drug contributes to more social
warfare, where the real warfare is with the federal and dependent state
governments that will continue the cycle of funding medical addiction research
and studies, then companies make more and more drugs to treat the patients,
mostly criminals, for their addictions, then profit off of the revenue (Page). Moving
back to the issue of whether marijuanas affects are concrete from science or more
of opinionated science depicted through the federal government?
The standard way of thinking about marijuana is that massive exposure from
all aspects of using and selling this drug causes harsh consequences to the
economy and organizations nationally and on a state level. The number of criminals
being put in jail is rising with the correlation of it being from marijuana charges.
States are legalizing medical marijuana, not realizing the consequences of losing
funds from the federal government, losing business from medical organizations and

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clinics. Money being spent on incarcerated people with charges behind the
possession of marijuana, or abuse of using medical marijuana outside of states that
allow it can better be used elsewhere. In federal law, stated by Laura M. Nagel,
deputy assistant administrator, the Supreme Court ruled that people who use
medical marijuana can still face federal charges, regardless if their state is under
jurisdiction (Nagel). The supporters of the ruling of the Supreme Courts decision not
to sway in favor of states going their own way to fund, tolerate, and allow access of
a drug that is not nationally decriminalized. You would think that states would back
down to the federal governments cold shoulder, however states are taking risks to
focus more on the economic benefits associated to the marijuana industry. There
are more states jumping on the bandwagon to legalizing marijuana. State wise, this
decision has brought more pros than cons to the improvement of the state overall.
From Alaska, Colorado, to Washington State, twenty-three states total have
compromised. Colorado is well known from the press for their high profile of
legalizing marijuana in 2012-13. As a state it has taken full advantage of a drug
being legal for not only medical, but for recreational use as well. Jackson, editor of
the article Christian Science Monitor, stated that , [s]tate law mandates that
voter-approved taxes, like the one on marijuana, be returned to citizens if revenue is
higher than predicted in the first year. [Following] this year, the overflow [gave]
each Coloradan roughly $8. Instead, they voted to let the state hold on to its $66
million, of which $40 million will go to school construction, $2.5 million to drug
education, and another $2 million to other youth programs, ( Jackson). Its a
weighty topic splitting America on social and ethical views. The legalization of
marijuana clearly has its standing objections of being a drug with a negative
reputation. Marijuana, partially a diamond in the rough has shown its potential to

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help the economy on different levels filling the voids where money always seems to
fall short, and this could be the unpredicted solution.
On one side you have the shared belief that Mary Jane is a harmful, addictive,
mind altering drug which has no positive benefits to its users. The shared belief
from the other side broadly paints a contrasting view, one which leverages the
medicinal benefits, therapeutic qualities and potential economic gains as the
foundation to fully legalize marijuana. Lines have been firmly drawn in the sand, no
matter which side ones on, the issue of fully legalizing marijuana seems to be here
to stay.