Should Marijuana Be Legalized in the United States?

Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal substance in United States. Through the past years, the question of legalizing marijuana has been becoming more popular. There are many people who support the legalization of this illegal substance due to its really good effects on the economy and medicine but, there are also people who are against the legalization and support that marijuana is a gateway drug —a drug that may lead to the use of other addictive drugs—.

My interest in the economy led me to wonder what could happen if United States legalizes marijuana. Also, I wondered why is it still illegal if we can obtain it so easy. I know many people that use this drug and they purchase it as if they are going to the store to get food. I believe that United States would gain a lot from the legalization of this drug.

The following annotated bibliography presents many different points of view towards the legalization of marijuana and it will also inform the readers about this drug. This annotated bibliography presents the good effects of the legalization of marijuana as a medical drug and, it also presents the good effect on the economy.

Annotated Bibliography

Ferner, Matt. “Colorado Recreational Marijuana Sales Exceed $5 Million In First Week.” TheHuffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 23 Jan. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

This source covers all the monetary information during the first week that Colorado legalized marijuana. On the first day, exceeded $ 1 million. “Every day that we’ve been in business since Jan. 1 has been better than my best day of business ever,” shared an owner of a medicine dispensary. The Legalizing marijuana could help economy to expand adding more movement to it by selling and buying (legally) marijuana.

 

“In Debate Over Legalizing Marijuana, Disagreement Over Drug’s Dangers.” Pew Research Center for the People and the Press RSS. 14 Apr. 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

This article shows how the public opinion has changed trough the past years, and the reasons to this changes. In 2006, just 32% supported marijuana legalization but, now in 2015 the support has increase to 53%. The reason to this big difference is that many people have changed their mind due to its medicinal benefits. Charts are used on this article to support the data.

 

Jacques, Renee. “This Is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere.” The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 24 Oct. 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

The authors share that there are more dangerous drugs than marijuana. If we compare, the numbers of annual deaths caused by legal drugs as tobacco, alcohol, caffeine and aspirin we see a huge difference as the number of deaths caused by illegal drugs in this case, marijuana. They do not support the idea that marijuana is a gateway drug. “People who go on to use harder drugs also tend to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol before trying the other substances”.  This article gives many reasons to legalize marijuana and they also include that many successful people smoke marijuana.

 

KA, Scott. “Is Marijuana Medicine?” DrugFacts:. N.p., 5 July 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

This article explains what medical marijuana is and why it isn’t an approved medicine. Medical marijuana is the whole unprocessed marijuana plant.  Because the marijuana plant contains chemicals that can help pain, many people support its legalization for medical purposes. In order to legalize the medical marijuana, the FDA requires conducted studies in hundreds to thousands of human to determine the benefits and risks of a possible medication. So far, researchers have not demonstrated yet that this could be a safe medication.

 

“Medical Marijuana.” Www.drugpolicy.org. N.p., 15 June 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

For many patients, medical marijuana is the only medicine that relieves their pain and suffering. on this article the writer explains that the Drug Policy Alliance is committed to increasing the number of states with medical marijuana laws, supporting and improving existing state medical marijuana programs, protecting medical marijuana patients, and ending the federal ban on medical marijuana so that all patients within the United States have safe access to quality medicine and research into marijuana’s medicinal benefits can move forward.

 

KA, Scott. “Is Marijuana Medicine?” DrugFacts:. N.p., 5 July 2015. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

This article explains what medical marijuana is and why it isn’t an approved medicine. Medical marijuana is the whole unprocessed marijuana plant.  Because the marijuana plant contains chemicals that can help pain, many people support its legalization for medical purposes. In order to legalize the medical marijuana, the FDA requires conducted studies in hundreds to thousands of human to determine the benefits and risks of a possible medication. So far, researchers have not demonstrated yet that this could be a safe medication.

 

Roleff, Tamara L. War on Drugs: Opposing Viewpoints. San Diego, CA: Greenhaven, 2004.                    Print.

This book shares many different points of view and the different ways that marijuana could impact our country and/or life. Tamara had many interviews with experts on this case. Almost all of them agree with the legalization of this drug, but not just because of its benefits on medicine or the economy but because they think that when people want to use a drug, they find the way to get it no matter what. This is a free country where people should be free to decide what they want to consume. Tamara also includes in her book the opposing views. This is a drug considered a gateway drug that can lead to the use of other drugs and this is the strongest reason people do not support the legalization.

 

Swaine, Jon. “Barack Obama Says Smoking Marijuana Less Dangerous than Drinking Alcohol.” The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group, 19 Jan. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2015.

This particular article shares the opinion of the president Barack Obama on the legalization of marijuana.  Mr. Obama said that using the drug, which remains illegal under US federal law, was safer than drinking “in terms of its impact on the individual consumer”. But he does not say anything about legalizing it or not. I include this website because his comment on this subject is very important. Even if he is not saying that marijuana should be legalized he agrees that alcohol is more dangerous.