Should Marijuana Be Legalized Essay


When embarking on an essay about marijuana legalization, it's crucial to begin with a comprehensive overview of the topic. Marijuana legalization is a multifaceted issue that encompasses legal, medical, social, and economic dimensions. Your introduction should briefly touch upon the history of marijuana use and its legal status over time, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the arguments for and against legalization. Establish your thesis statement, outlining the specific aspect of marijuana legalization you will focus on, whether it's the potential medical benefits, the social implications, or the economic impact of legalizing marijuana.




When embarking on an essay about marijuana legalization, it's crucial to begin with a comprehensive overview of the topic. Marijuana legalization is a multifaceted issue that encompasses legal, medical, social, and economic dimensions. Your introduction should briefly touch upon the history of marijuana use and its legal status over time, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the arguments for and against legalization. Establish your thesis statement, outlining the specific aspect of marijuana legalization you will focus on, whether it's the potential medical benefits, the social implications, or the economic impact of legalizing marijuana.

In this section, delve into the arguments commonly made in favor of legalizing marijuana. These arguments often include the potential medical benefits of marijuana, such as its use in pain management and treatment of certain medical conditions. Discuss the viewpoint that legalization could lead to better regulation and quality control of the substance, as well as potentially reduce crime rates related to illegal drug trade. It's also important to consider the economic aspect, such as the revenue generated from taxing legal marijuana sales. Provide well-researched evidence and examples to support these arguments, ensuring that your essay presents a balanced and informed perspective.

Next, address the arguments against marijuana legalization. These may include concerns about the health risks associated with marijuana use, such as potential impacts on mental health and cognitive function, especially among young people. Discuss the fears that legalization might lead to increased usage rates, particularly in adolescents, and the potential for marijuana to act as a gateway drug. There's also the argument regarding the challenges of enforcing regulations and controlling the quality and distribution of legal marijuana. Like the previous section, ensure that you present these counterarguments with supporting evidence and a fair analysis, demonstrating an understanding of the complexities of the issue.

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points from both sides of the argument. This is your opportunity to reinforce your thesis and provide a final analysis of the issue based on the evidence presented. Reflect on the potential future of marijuana legalization, considering the current trends and policy changes. A well-crafted conclusion should provide closure to your essay and encourage the reader to continue contemplating the nuanced aspects of marijuana legalization. Your concluding remarks might also suggest areas for further research or consideration, underscoring the ongoing nature of the debate surrounding marijuana legalization.

Marijuana advocates highlight the medical benefits of marijuana and how the substance is unlike other addictive drugs. Some studies support these claims, however, there are also studies that found potential negative effects of marijuana consumption. Understanding and acknowledging these potential negative effects are necessary for assessing whether marijuana should be a legal or illegal drug. The notable negative effects of marijuana relate to brain development, intelligence, mental illnesses, pregnancy, substance abuse, physical health, marijuana-related crimes, personal relations, and effects of second-hand marijuana smoke.

Why Marijuanas Should Be Legal Essay

Marijuana, a psychoactive drug derived from the Cannabis plant, has been used for both medicinal and recreational purposes across various cultures for centuries. Its introduction to the United States took place in the early 20th century, largely through Mexican immigrants. Today, marijuana continues to be a contentious issue within the nation, with opinions sharply divided on whether it should be legalized. This essay aims to explore the multifaceted arguments surrounding marijuana legalization, emphasizing its potential benefits for American society while […]

regarding the benefits of medicinal marijuana, there is substantive documentation of the consequences of the drug if abused. As New Zealand’s most widely-used illegal drug, marijuana causes significant effects in the short and long term. It is mainly dangerous because of its ‘depressive’ nature; marijuana decreases the frequency of messages from the brain to the body. The high can take effect within minutes, but prolong for up to 2 to 4 hours. Short term effects include loss of coordination, impaired thinking and memory, and drowsiness. As the dose increases, short term symptoms can escalate towards paranoia, depression and mild hallucinations. .

In recent years, marijuana has become a controversial topic, and the United States government has been struggling to find a solution for the legalization of marijuana. Some argue that the government should legalize marijuana because it is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. They also believe legalizing marijuana will decrease crime rates, especially drug trafficking. It is because marijuana is illegal in most states, and its penalties are often quite harsh, which can deter people from committing related crimes. Others […]

Scholars are increasingly exhibiting interest in matters concerning marijuana legalization especially considering laws related to healthcare. The increments in interest emanate from concerns that legalization of this drug is not in alignment with existing health-related laws according to the federal government (Kilmer et al., 2010). According to Hopfer (2014), the government has failed to fully support legalization because few studies have been conducted to prove its medicinal worth. Nonetheless, medical legalization of this particular drug is increasingly gaining support. A […]


Argumentative Essay: Why Marijuana Should Be Legal

In order to understand how marijuana poses the danger of addiction, it is essential to first understand what is known about this issue. Many users claim that controlling the use of cannabis is easy compared to other substances. But some evidence suggests otherwise. The National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA] recently released data showing that as many as 30% of marijuana users may be suffering from varying degrees of marijuana use disorder (2020). NIDA defines marijuana use disorder as a condition characterized by dependence on cannabis and the emergence of withdrawal symptoms when a person stops taking the substance. These symptoms include a decrease in appetite or increased cravings, restlessness, irritability, dramatic shifts in mood, difficulties with sleep, and varying degrees of discomfort among others. NIDA further explains that marijuana use disorder eventually becomes an addiction when an individual loses control over using the drug to the point that it disrupts various aspects of life. NIDA estimates that around 9% of cannabis users will become dependent on the substance. The risk of dependence is higher among those who start using cannabis at an early age. Studies show that people who use cannabis before they turn 18 are four to seven times more likely to experience marijuana use disorder. In 2015 alone, over 4 million Americans were diagnosed with the condition (NIDA, 2020).

Why Marijuana Should be Legalized, an argumentative essay

Marijuana for recreational use will have many adverse health effects. The drug is addictive, with mounting evidence for the existence of a withdrawal syndrome. Furthermore, it has been shown to have adverse effects on mental health, intelligence (including irreversible declines in cognition), and the respiratory system. Driving while acutely intoxicated with marijuana greatly increases the risk of fatal motor vehicle collision. Legalization for recreational use may have theoretical (but still unproven) beneficial social effects regarding issues such as domestic criminal justice policy, but these effects will not come without substantial public health and social costs. Currently there is a lack of resources devoted to educating physicians about this most commonly used illicit substance. The potential benefits and significant risks associated with marijuana use should be taught in medical schools and residency programs throughout the country.

Why medical marijuana should be legal essay

The last two decades have seen a massive shift in legislation on medical and recreational marijuana. Whereas marijuana was classified as an illegal substance across the United States and considered as dangerous, a total of 48 states today have legalized the use of marijuana in varying degrees. As of the latest count, 15 states allow recreational and medical use while 33 states allow only medical use (Berke et al., 2021). These sweeping changes are largely owed to the findings of extensive research on the effects of marijuana including its therapeutic value. But while it is true that this plant offers a lot of benefits, the question of whether marijuana is good or bad is yet to be fully settled because the use of marijuana still poses dangers. The issue of dependence on and abuse of marijuana, in particular, has been a concern to researchers and healthcare professionals. Known as marijuana use disorder, this condition can quickly develop into drug addiction and lead to an individual’s loss of control over cannabis consumption and the disruption of daily life.