In most countries, possession and use of cannabis that is also commonly known as marijuana is considered illegal. In fact, it can be noted that for many years, cannabis has been considered to an illegal drug in most countries. Nevertheless, mainly today, some countries have legalized cannabis while other countries have not. Small quantities of cannabis have been allowed in regions such as Europe, North America and South America. Moreover, in the United
States, some states such as Washington and Colorado have also legalized the possession and usage of marijuana for medical purposes but this can also be a problem because many people and young people try to take advantage of the fact its legal and abuse it. On the other hand, various penalties are imposed for use or possession of cannabis in most countries. The penalties generally range from simple to severe punishments. Possession of small quantities of marijuana is not punished the same way as possession of large quantities. In this argumentative essay, I hope to find and argue the reasons why cannabis should be legalized, and why it should not.
Primarily, cannabis should be legalized not only in some of the states but everywhere in the United States since it is used for medication, for example and its legalization means better and higher quality health standards. For example, Sativex is a recent drug that has been discovered to cure small cases of Sclerosis. The drug has been used in the United Kingdom to treat MS patients, and it has been found to work effectively. Therefore, banning of cannabis would be a disadvantage to people who suffer from diseases that use cannabis as a major component in their medicine. The usage of cannabis for medical purpose is the strongest reason
Running head: Legalization in the U.S.
3
to legalize it. Cannabis helps a condition that is known as cancer chemotherapy. The condition causes extreme vomiting to its patients. It also helps to open up lungs of an asthma patient.
On the other hand, people who argue that marijuana should not be legalized argue that marijuana is more lethal to the human body than alcohol, which is legal. According to them, the effects of alcohol and cigarettes to the human body are dangerous since among others, they cause cancer, and liver cirrhosis. The United States department of health and human studies in 2008 found a study that in the country, 69.7 million people use tobacco, while about 15 million people abuses alcohol. Also the study found out that 4.2 million of the American population abuses cannabis while every 1000 deaths were found to have been caused by smoking related diseases, while 550 deaths were
