Marijuana: End the War on Drugs, Legalize.

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                                                                Steve Radabaugh

                                                                ENGL 106.12

                                                                Essay #2                                                                                        7 Apr 2003

Marijuana:  End the War on Drugs, Legalize

        The great debate over the war on drugs seems to be a never ending battle that has gotten so out of control that many options are being considered to control or even solve it.  Ending the drug war seems to be impossible, but different options need to be considered to end the great debate.  Legalization is an option that has not gotten a chance, but should be given one, for I think marijuana should be legalized and will result in an overall better society.

        However, although I believe marijuana should be legalized, opponents to the legalization of marijuana claim that it’s just too dangerous to legalize.  While there are side effects to using marijuana, compared to other legalized drugs, its benefits far outweigh its dangers.  Tobacco, for instance, is one such drug.  Some claim it eases depression, or creates a sense of calmness, yet it’s very addictive still.  Approved by the government, it kills nearly half a million people annually; Thus, its benefits are so little, and its dangers are so large, but still tobacco continues to be a legal drug for all adults to buy and use.  Alcohol is another example of a legal drug with numerous negative effects on society, and no benefits other than its recreational use.  In fact, according to some experts, “Crack and heroin are much more addictive than alcohol” (Wilson 609), while other experts say “tobacco and alcohol” are “legal killer drugs” (Currie 625).  Why is it that crack and heroin are being ridiculed for being addictive, when admittedly tobacco and alcohol are being called “killer drugs”?  After all, alcohol causes a lot of deaths per year, and is legal for anyone over the age of 21.  Yet, the government is approving the use of alcohol and tobacco, but it’s not approving a drug that will benefit the entire society.  This does not say too much for the United States government when they allow drugs that kill be sold over the counter, yet drugs that often used for medicinal purposes are illegal.  

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        On the otherhand, once the legalization of marijuana takes place, many people are going to get some, but this will last for a while, and eventually sales will go down and less people will use it, especially young people.  Opponents to legalization say that when a drug is legalized, then the inspiration to keep drug free is removed (Bennett 594).  The truth is that young people often find things more appealing if they are forbidden, and taking away the very thing that makes it appealing, will result in loss of interest.  From observing friends, I have noticed that when they ...

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