The document discusses the historical context and ongoing debate surrounding marijuana legalization in America, highlighting its long use for medical and recreational purposes. It contrasts the negative perceptions of marijuana with statistical evidence of its widespread use and potential medical benefits, while also pointing out claims about its effect on aggressive behavior and the risks of combining it with tobacco. Additionally, it argues for the economic advantages of legalization, suggesting significant tax revenue and the potential to alleviate pain for patients with severe medical conditions.

1. Many Americans question themselves if marijuana should be
legalized. It is illegal in the U.S and other countries. Marijuana
is a dried up Hemp plant which grows flowers and leaves. Even
though the plant is more potent than before, it has been around
since 1960. The younger generation believes it should be
legalized. What is the difference of getting drunk and smoking
marijuana? Many people believe they can get a card to smoke it
legally. (Professor Miron, Jeffrey)
Marijuana was first discovered in India. The British decided to
go get it and bring it back to their society to use it for medical
purposes. It was the cannabis that cannot be smoked which is
called hemp. There were many clothes made from hemp in the
1700’s. The first two draft papers of the U.S. Constitution were
printed on hemp paper. “Riley, Ryan. >". 2011. 8 Oct 2011”
Hemp plants even grew on George Washington’s plantation. In
Virginia it was a law and it was required to grow hemp on your
land and it was used for many things. In 1800 fifty percent of
any prescribed meds had been made from cannabis. Babies were
given hemp to calm them down. The Mexicans were the first to
use marijuana recreationally and it began to spread. (Riley,
Ryan)
In 1970 the hippies used to smoke marijuana a lot. During that
time Reagan’s team decided to conduct to research on
marijuana. They believed the proved marijuana kills brain cells.
It also caused people to increase aggressiveness and it was the
new gateway drug. “Riley, Ryan". 2011. 8 Oct 2011”
The facts they did not tell us are they tested marijuana on
monkeys. They put fitted mask on when they gave the monkeys

2. sixty three Columbian joints in five minutes. Their brain cells
were killed because of asphyxiation. In 1980 was when they
released the study and ho it was conducted.
Many users who use hard core drugs like, meth, MDMA, and
cocaine have all used marijuana at some point in their life.
Every dealer started with marijuana now deals hard drugs. There
is eighty percent of people who use marijuana will not use hard
core drugs. The DEA no longer considers marijuana the gateway
drug. They consider tobacco to be the new gateway drug.
(Professor Miron, Jeffrey)
There is no real study of increased aggressiveness. Many people
who have an increased aggressiveness from marijuana are
usually under the influence of alcohol. Being under the
influence of alcohol there was one violent incident throughout
eighty years of hemp fest in B.C. There has been a recent study
of marijuana reducing aggressiveness not increasing it.
Addiction
Marijuana does not have any physical withdrawals like hard
core drugs do. People have been using marijuana throughout
history. More than 5,000 years ago. The Aztecs were the first
recorded culture using marijuana.
Canada has 1 out of 10 homes in the B.C. having a grow op. The
B.C.’s largest cash crop is the United States. It is worth more
than the weight of gold. Many drug lords are afraid for it being
legalized. They will lose out on a lot of drug money if it does.
They will lose out and not get the profits of selling it anymore.
The U.S. will make sixteen to forty four billions of dollars off
taxes. (Riley, Ryan)

3. In today’s society many people believe that marijuana use is
only for criminals and high school dropouts. There has been
statistics that show otherwise. The DEA conducted a survey in
2008. It showed that by the time they are in the 12
th
grade, 43% of the population have used marijuana during
school.
In 2010 ten million people have used marijuana at some point in
their life.
You always wonder where the cases of lung cancer from
smoking marijuana. Do they have any memory loss? Cigarettes
have two thirds less the amount of tar than marijuana. Joints
will hit 60% less than cigarettes; there have been studies that
marijuana kills cancer cells. It has been found and proven since
the early 2004’s.
Dangers of Marijuana Use
Today there is a widespread paranoia that the use of Marijuana
is an activity solely for criminals and high school dropouts.
However the statistics indicate otherwise. A survey conducted
to high school students by the DEA in 2008 found that by 12th
grade 43% of the population had used Marijuana for at least a
month. To put that in perspective, in 2000 the US population
was 281 million people. Let’s assume about 30 million are
students. By 2010 at least 10 million will have used Marijuana
at some point. So where are all the cases of lung cancer from
smoking? The memory loss? Here are some facts.
Lung Cancer
A Joint has 2 thirds the amount of tar a cigarette does.

4. It is hit 60% less.
Recent studies as early as 2004 have found that the smoking of
Marijuana actually kills cancer cells.
Memory Loss
Next to no long term studies have been done
One of the few referenced in Buzzed(used and abused drugs
from alcohol to ecstasy) stated that daily users who started at
age 16 and were in their 40’s, smoked 4 joints a day had no
memory loss, users who started at age 12 and smoked 8 joints a
day scored only slightly less.
Hormonal Effects For men almost exclusively
Slightly reduced sex drive
Sperm swim slower
No permanent effects.
Workload on the Heart
When you Smoke Marijuana your heart rate increases slightly,
akin to what it would be for a short jog. Your heart is less
efficient so it must work harder; this lasts about an hour at

5. most. Having looked at these negative effects I personally see
none that jump out at me. But if it’s a schedule one drug that
means that somebody must have died overdosing. It wouldn’t
make sense otherwise; here are the death counts for tobacco,
alcohol, and Marijuana.
Tobacco
400,000 deaths a year in the US
Alcohol
160,000 deaths a year, alcohol poisoning only.
Marijuana
Throughout over 5000 years of use, no recorded deaths.
On the Science side it has been hypothesized that you would
have to smoke 15,000 joints in 5 minutes to overdose on
Marijuana, and then death would be from asphyxiation.
The Science behind Marijuana
In the 1980’s the discovery of THC showed the world what
made you high. It is a variation of a chemical already in your
brain. Yes, you have a form of Cannabis in your brain; it
controls hunger, pain response, when to tell a cell to die (why it
can stop cancer) and a host of other responsibilities. Due to the
high amount of processed foods in our diet today this level of
Cannabis has dropped which some scientists have linked to the
rising rate of cancer patients, this theory however is untested.

6. So what happens when you smoke? The smoke moves into your
lungs where the THC then moves into your bloodstream, from
there it spreads out in all directions heading all over your body
and more directly into your brain. “Professor Miron, Jeffrey.
2005. 3 Jun 2005”.
How can Cannabis move so effectively throughout our bodies?
Simply because our body is designed to receive it, of all the
“drugs” this is the only one where the body develops receptors.
You read correctly, your entire body harbors THC receptors;
they exist in your brain, in your major organs, throughout your
bloodstream. When you take MDMA it dumps all the serotonin
stored up in your brain directly into your bloodstream, so the
following days are often depressing ones. The same is true of
Heroin, Cocaine, Meth, and many others. Marijuana is the only
drug that introduces a new chemical your brain receives,
through the receptors. This creates euphoria, the feeling of
being high.
During this time your brain perceives things in a different light.
Users have reported Color Changes, Increased Amount of focus,
Time Slows, Attention to detail, Difference in perception. The
actual high takes about 20 minutes to take hold after the initial
intake, and will last an hour to in the most extreme cases 3
hours. During this time if you have smoked a large amount of
Cannabis before (studies indicate that can mean more than or
equal to 6 joints a day (Buzzed)) then you will not be able to
create new memories during the high, or you will only
remember certain parts. This only happens to the most extreme
cases of heavy use however. “Knoller, Mark. 2011. 3 Jan 2011”
In today’s day and age there has been much speculation on the
issue of whether or not the underground drug marijuana should

7. be legalized. Whilst critics of this drug state a solid argument
against it, this drug can be used for medical use and occasional
enjoyment by responsible adults. Unfortunately this does not
matter when a vast majority is frequently consuming copious
amounts of pot and collecting profit from the cultivation and
manufacturing of illegal dope. Another concerning issue is the
rapidly growing trend in irresponsible marijuana usage in teens
and young adults who not only abuse this substance, but are
damaging their undeveloped brains at a rapid pace. The truth,
however sad it is, is that the complete legalization of marijuana
in our consumerism based society would be disastrous, as the
majority of the population in Canada and the rest of North
America due to the fact that most people are chiefly concerned
with only their own pleasure and satisfaction. “Knoller, Mark.
2011. 3 Jan 2011”
Despite the fact that the drug marijuana has a reputation as a
“soft drug” in fact the truth is that it every bit as harmful as
every other type. Pot becomes even more damaging when
smoked in combination with tobacco or cigarettes which make
the Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol go to your brain in a rush. The
combination is called a “rocker” which with continued use will
cause drastic weight loss and serious lung damage, worse if
possible from the usual one or the other. Marihuana while not
being addicting, is a habitual drug meaning that it builds usage
habits.
“Professor Miron, Jeffrey.
2005. 3 Jun 2005”.
Legalizing marijuana is one main topic in America. The surveys
conducted on substance abuse shows 95 million people use
marijuana. When it comes to medical potential there are many
reasons for wanting to know understand the science of it. Some

8. people believe marijuana can improve the quality of life for
having aids cancers, or many other life threating diseases
When they continue the debate about legalizing marijuana they
should look at all the fact. It is helping patients cope with pain
they endure during having such medical issues. It cannot be any
worse than alcohol. The patients cannot get addicted to
marijuana it is a habit not an addiction. The patients only have a
certain amount of life to live. Let them live some kind of pain
free. “Professor Miron, Jeffrey.
2005. 3 Jun 2005”.
References
web.PBworks

9. H, T. "Legalization of Marijuana: The Time Has Come".
Knoller, Mark. 2011. 3 Jan 2011.
"National Debt Tops $14 Trillion: ".
Professor Miron, Jeffrey.
2005. 3 Jun 2005. "Budgetary Implications of Marijuana:
Prohibition in the United States ".
Riley, Ryan. >". 2011. 8 Oct 2011 "Legalization of Marijuana: