I got the project done. This is interesting stuff. I wrote this in about an hour, so it could be better but I think I did a decent job, what do you think I'll get on it/how can I revise it to make it better?
Also I'll post this video I'm showing my class.
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[SPOIL]
Legalizing cannabis, or marijuana, is a well debated topic. Both sides of the issue have valid arguments, and I stand on the pro-marijuana side, to be legal to use privately for recreational or medical use. In my opinion, our country only can benefit from the decriminalization of the plant. If we were to legalize marijuana, our country would enjoy the benefits of a large economical increase, hundreds of thousands of jobs, new medicine, and new educational areas.
Before going into those details, you should first know a little about cannabis. Marijuana is a plant, just like fruits and vegetables, it requires only sunlight and water, and can be harvested just like any other crop. It first began in the United States as a requirement of farmers, to be used for rope. If cannabis was not grown, the farmers would be fined. The part of the plant used is called hemp, and it has many uses. These include a food source, fuel, fiber for clothing, paper, and even a house. Hemp is actually the world’s premier food source – no other plant can compare to its nutritional benefits. It contains fiber, protein, and essential fatty acids. Hemp may be used to produce a non-toxic diesel fuel, non-toxic paint, does not need to be chlorine bleached – this reduces water pollution into rivers from wood paper mills. As for building a house, hemp can be used to produce cement, flooring, insulation, paneling, plaster, plywood, and roofing. If it has all of these benefits, why is it illegal? It began mostly when a group of Mormons brought marijuana with them back into America from Mexico in 1910, which played a part to jumpstart the states’ legislation.The history behind marijuana legislation owes a lot to Harry J. Anslinger, the head of the Bureau of Narcotics. When he realized that he couldn’t build his agency up with only opiates and cocaine, he decided to go after marijuana. Racism played a large role in Anslinger’s campaign to ban marijuana. He constantly would quote stories from the “Gore File”, a collection of police reports, to say that marijuana made people go insane and violent. These reports were not average crimes, Anslinger just happened to read only the most heinous cases. He would play on the public’s fear to help get his way. He had used racism against blacks and Hispanics, saying that they were the main users and that their “satanic music, jazz and swing, result from marijuana usage.” He also had said that the drug causes white women to want to have sex with anybody. Using these tactics, he successfully got marijuana outlawed without much debate.
Today, marijuana possession and sale are still prohibited, but the penalties have been reduced – from a felony to a misdemeanor, and the maximum first offense ruling is $5000 and a one year imprisonment. Most of today’s legislation on the plant is based on politicians wanting to appear tough on drugs, increases in funding against marijuana, and skilled political opposing speech.
Economically, our country can greatly benefit from decriminalization of the drug. Right now, America is spending billions of dollars on the war against cannabis. If it was made legal and sold in stores, our country could be generating more than $14 billion if the government taxes and regulates the product. Legalizing it means that our already over-populated prisons would have 17-percent more room for real criminals, and would save around $11 billion in housing the prisoners. Close to 100 million Americans will admit that they have tried smoking at least once. That means that if the law was enforced fully, a large amount of the population would be imprisoned. Most of the victims of the law have not committed other crimes, and if they have, the crimes are nonviolent. The decriminalization of marijuana would lead to hundreds of thousands of new jobs, and a nice amount of new businesses. Schools would be created to teach the process of growing and harvesting cannabis, such as Oaksterdam University, which is one of the first institutions of its kind. If this country allowed marijuana to be sold, it would generate more money than what fruits and vegetables combined bring in.
Medically, marijuana is an astounding tool. Studies show that marijuana has the ability to heal patients dealing with glaucoma, and aid those with asthma, arthritis, brain, breast, and lung cancer, AIDS, Alzheimer’s. depression, hypertension, and pain. Marijuana acts as an anti-inflammatory, it stops the spread of breast cancer, reduces tumors, and opens up airways for breathing. It is not connected to deaths, and is proven to be non-addictive and not a gateway drug. When used, marijuana can be absorbed into the blood and brain almost instantly. It calms people down, and increases appetite – a great side effect for any cause of loss of appetite. So far, fourteen states have made medicinal marijuana legal with a doctor’s recommendation. Imagine what medicines could be created from this great plant!
Marijuana has been given a bad name over the years, and I think it is time to legalize it and reap the benefits, economically and medically.[/SPOIL]
Originally Posted by messiah
